Notice of Pre-AIA or AIA Status
The present application, filed on or after March 16, 2013, is being examined under the first inventor to file provisions of the AIA .
Continued Examination Under 37 CFR 1.114
A request for continued examination under 37 CFR 1.114, including the fee set forth in 37 CFR 1.17(e), was filed in this application after final rejection. Since this application is eligible for continued examination under 37 CFR 1.114, and the fee set forth in 37 CFR 1.17(e) has been timely paid, the finality of the previous Office action has been withdrawn pursuant to 37 CFR 1.114. Applicant's submission filed on 2/23/2026 has been entered.
Claim(s) 9 is/are cancelled, claims 17-20 are withdrawn and pending claims 1-8, 10-16, 21-22 are addressed below.
Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 103
In the event the determination of the status of the application as subject to AIA 35 U.S.C. 102 and 103 (or as subject to pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 102 and 103) is incorrect, any correction of the statutory basis for the rejection will not be considered a new ground of rejection if the prior art relied upon, and the rationale supporting the rejection, would be the same under either status.
The following is a quotation of 35 U.S.C. 103 which forms the basis for all obviousness rejections set forth in this Office action:
A patent for a claimed invention may not be obtained, notwithstanding that the claimed invention is not identically disclosed as set forth in section 102, if the differences between the claimed invention and the prior art are such that the claimed invention as a whole would have been obvious before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to a person having ordinary skill in the art to which the claimed invention pertains. Patentability shall not be negated by the manner in which the invention was made.
Claim(s) 1, 4-7, 10-13, 16 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Gulliksson (US20230081826; with foreign priority dated 10/10/2019) in view of Zhang (CN209237239U).
Regarding claims 1 and 10-11, Gulliksson discloses a fire suppression system and method (fig. 3) for a vehicle (par. 3), the fire suppression system comprising:
a housing (17);
a plurality of battery cells (4, 6) positioned within the housing (17; see fig. 3) and configured to provide power to a system of the vehicle (par. 10);
an off-gas detector (fig. 3, 13 and/or 14) coupled to the housing (see fig. 3) and configured to detect a presence of off-gas in the housing (par. 77-78: “carbon monoxide and/or methane”); and
a controller (11) configured to:
receive signals from the off-gas detector indicating whether off-gas is detected in the housing (par. 167-168, 190);
activate a first fire suppression apparatus (9, 5 at top side of 17 as shown in fig. 3) to provide fire suppressant agent to any of an exterior or interior of the housing in response to detecting off-gas in the housing (see fig. 3);
activate a second fire suppression apparatus (9, 5 at bottom side of 17 as shown in fig. 3) to provide fire suppressant agent to any of an exterior or interior of the housing in response to detecting off-gas in the housing (see fig. 3; par. 173: “The control unit 11 is configured to … discharge the fire extinguishing fluid 5 on and/or into and/or fully around and/or partly around the electric battery cell 3 if the first comparison execution signifies that the detected gas character corresponds with the pre-set indicative gas character”).
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Gulliksson does not teach the suppression apparatus includes a first suppression apparatus providing a first suppressant agent and a second suppression apparatus providing a second suppressant agent different from the first suppression agent in response to detecting off-gas in the housing (claims 1 and 11), wherein the controller is configured to activate the first fire suppression apparatus to provide the first fire suppressant agent to the plurality of battery cells at a first time, and activate the second fire suppression apparatus to provide the second fire suppressant agent to the plurality of battery cells at a second time, wherein the second time occurs after the first time (claim 10).
However, Gulliksson does teach that each of the first suppression system and secondary suppression system are configured to trigger discharge of suppression fluid in response to detection of gas (par. 128 and par. A130).
In addition, Zhang discloses a comparable battery safety protection (pg. 1) having two suppression apparatus including a first type of agent, agent (page 3: suppression drug canister 5), and a second type of agent, water (from water tank 7) and a control system (pg. 3, ln 6) configured to activate the first apparatus to provide the first type of agent (pg. 3: “When it is detected that an uncontrollable temperature rise or smoke generation occurs in the power battery in the test box, the signal of the thermal runaway suppression device is fed back, and the suppression agent is sprayed by the thermal runaway suppression device”) at a first time, and activate the second apparatus to provide the second type of agent at a second time after the first time (pg. 4: “When the above measures still cannot prevent the power battery from catching fire, …, the control unit sends a control signal, activates the booster pump, and performs water sprinkler”).
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It would have been prima facie obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to have modified Gulliksson to incorporate the teachings of Zhang to provide the second suppression agent different from the first suppression agent, and to provide discharge of the first and second agents at first and second times as claimed. Doing so would effectively address the battery overheating and fire risk potential in two stages for fire prevention and treatment to improve safety of user (abstract).
Note: all references made in parenthesis hereafter are referencing the primary reference Gulliksson, unless otherwise indicated.
Regarding claims 4 and 16, Gulliksson, as modified above, teaches the fire suppression system of Claim 1, wherein the off-gas detector comprises a plurality of off-gas detectors (13, 14), wherein each of the plurality of off-gas detectors is configured to detect the presence of off-gas emitted by a corresponding plurality of battery cells (fig. 3 shows four gas detectors 13 to detect gas from cells 4/6).
Regarding claim 5, Gulliksson, as modified above, teaches the fire suppression system of Claim 1, wherein the off-gas detector (13, 14) is configured to detect a presence or concentration of any of a lithium-ion battery off-gas (par. 77-78: “methane”), carbon dioxide, methane, ethane, hydrogen, oxygen, nitrogen oxides, volatile organic compounds, ash, soot, hydrogen sulfide, sulfur oxides, ammonia, chlorine, propane, ozone, ethanol, hydrocarbons, hydrogen cyanide, combustible cases, flammable gases, toxic gases, corrosive gases, oxidizing gases, or an electrolyte vapor in an air sample.
Regarding claim 6, Gulliksson, as modified above, teaches the fire suppression system of Claim 1, wherein the controller (11) is configured to: receive signals from the off-gas detector indicating a concentration of off-gas (par. 238); compare the concentration of off-gas to a threshold value (par. 238, 293); and activate the fire suppression apparatus in response to the concentration of off-gas in an air sample exceeding the threshold value (par. 238).
Regarding claim 7, Gulliksson discloses the controller (11) is configured to deactivate the plurality of battery cells in response to detecting the off-gas in the housing (par. 87, 90, 206).
Regarding claims 12-13, Gulliksson discloses an electric motor (par. 97: “electric vehicle”) configured to draw power from the plurality of battery cells for one or more operations of the vehicle (claim 12); wherein the one or more operations of the vehicle powered by the electric motor and the plurality of battery cells comprise any of: a driving operation (par. 10, 145); lighting operations; accessory drive operations; or vehicle-specific operations (claim 13).
Claim(s) 2-3, 14, 15 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Gulliksson (US20230081826; with foreign priority dated 10/10/2019) in view of Zhang (CN209237239U), further in view of Brosig (WO2010025761A1).
Regarding claims 2 and 14, Gulliksson, as modified above, teaches the fire suppression system of Claim 1, further comprising one or more temperature sensors (15) configured to be positioned about the vehicle
Gulliksson does not teach the temperature sensors are outside the battery housing.
Brosig discloses a comparable fire protection system for a battery storage 2 having a plurality of battery cabinet 8, each cabinet housing a plurality of battery cells/modules 5 (fig. 2; pg. 9, ln 31-32). The system includes a plurality of temperature sensors 21a-21n positioned outside the housing/cabinets 8 at a plurality of locations about the battery storage (see fig. 2) to detect temperatures (pg. 11, ln 25-pg. 12, ln 7).
It would have been prima facie obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to have modified Gulliksson to incorporate the teachings of Brosig to provide one or more temperature sensors outside the battery housing. Providing additional temperature sensor(s) outside the battery housing would allow redundant battery condition monitoring for prompt and precise treatment to cool the batteries. In the alternative, one of ordinary skill in the art would have had the technological capabilities to rearrange the temperature sensors 15 of Gulliksson to outside the battery housing in case faulty detection is a concern.
Regarding claims 3 and 15, Gulliksson, as modified above, teaches the fire suppression system of Claim 2, wherein the controller (Gulliksson’s controller 11, as modified in view of Brosig above) is configured to selectively activate the fire suppression apparatus to provide the fire suppressant agent to one or more of the plurality of locations about the vehicle based on the detected temperatures (Brosig, pg. 12, ln 25-29).
Claim(s) 8 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Gulliksson (US20230081826; with foreign priority dated 10/10/2019) in view of Zhang (CN209237239U) and Brosig (WO2010025761A1), further in view of Shinoda (US 20120049621).
Regarding claim 8, Gulliksson, as modified above, teaches the fire suppression system of Claim 1, but does not teach the plurality of battery cells are removable from the housing.
Shinoda discloses a comparable battery management apparatus on a vehicle wherein a battery 511 is detachable from the battery housing 510 (par. 79).
It would have been prima facie obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to have modified Gulliksson to incorporate the teachings of Shinoda to provide the plurality of battery cells are removable from the housing. Doing so would allow ease of replacement when the installed batteries malfunction.
Claim(s) 12-13 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Gulliksson (US20230081826; with foreign priority dated 10/10/2019) in view of Zhang (CN209237239U) and Brosig (WO2010025761A1), further in view of Kim (US 20180289996).
Regarding claims 12-13, Gulliksson, as modified above, teaches the vehicle of Claim 11, but does not explicitly teach an electric motor configured to draw power from the plurality of battery cells for one or more operations of the vehicle (claim 12); wherein the one or more operations of the vehicle powered by the electric motor and the plurality of battery cells comprise any of: a driving operation; lighting operations; accessory drive operations; or vehicle-specific operations (claim 13).
Kim discloses an electric car is configured to include, in general, a battery, a power converter (inverter), and a motor. The battery is an energy storage device and the power converter is a device for converting electric energy of the battery to generate a required driving force, and the electric energy is used to drive the motor and the vehicle (par. 4).
It would have been prima facie obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to have modified Gulliksson to incorporate the teachings of Kim to provide an electric motor configured to draw power from the plurality of battery cells for one or more operations of the vehicle (claim 12); wherein the one or more operations of the vehicle powered by the electric motor and the plurality of battery cells comprise any of: a driving operation; lighting operations; accessory drive operations; or vehicle-specific operations (claim 13), doing so would yield the predictable result of facilitating generation of driving force in alternative to gasoline.
Claim(s) 21-22 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Gulliksson (US20230081826; with foreign priority dated 10/10/2019) in view of Zhang (CN209237239U), further in view of Cordani (US 20190319234).
Regarding claims 21-22, Gulliksson, as modified above, teaches the vehicle of respective claims 1 and 11, but is silent regarding further comprising an automatic activation system comprising a fusible link coupled to the first fire suppression apparatus, wherein activation of the fusible link causes activation of the first fire suppression apparatus configured to provide the first fire suppressant agent to any of an exterior or interior of the housing.
Cordani discloses a suppression system for lithium ion battery (figs. 1-2) wherein the system includes fusible links (fusible plugs 20) coupled to the fire suppression apparatus (16, 18, 22), wherein activation of the fusible link causes activation of the fire suppression apparatus configured to provide the first fire suppressant agent to the battery inside the housing (par. 20-21).
It would have been prima facie obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to have modified Gulliksson to incorporate the teachings of Cordani to provide an automatic activation system comprising a fusible link coupled to the first fire suppression apparatus, wherein activation of the fusible link causes activation of the first fire suppression apparatus configured to provide the first fire suppressant agent to any of an exterior or interior of the housing. Doing so would yield the predictable result of facilitating an additional redundant quick activation in case the controller malfunction, consequently preventing the battery passing into a thermal runaway so that the battery does not reach the stage of spontaneous combustion (paragraph 21).
Response to Arguments
Applicant's arguments filed 2/23/2026 have been fully considered but they are not persuasive.
Remarks pages 8-9 against the combination of Gulliksson in view of Zhang: applicant argues that Zhang fails to teach or suggest a controller to both activate the first and second suppression apparatus in response to detecting off-gas.
This is found not persuasive. Gulliksson has already taught two separate suppression apparatuses (see annotation on page 4 above) that can be activated by a controller 11 in response to off-gas detection. The lack of controller or plural off-gas detection teachings in Zhang does not conflict with the fact that Zhang showed how fire suppression can utilize two different types of agents (see annotation on page 6 above).
Remarks pages 9-10 against the combination of Gulliksson in view of Zhang: applicant argues that Zhang is directed to the experimental testing of batteries and cannot be combined with the system of Gulliksson, since Zhang’s spraying water is intended to be a backup measure to protect safety of the field tester in the event the battery is already on fire and Gulliksson’s system might sustain significant water damage if water suppression is incorporated. Zhang therefore teaches away from activating the second suppression apparatus in response to off-gas detection.
This argument is found not persuasive for various reasons. Firstly, Gulliksson’s system involves fire protection of batteries specifically inside a vehicle, which involves driver and passengers being in close proximity of the targeted batteries. The common sense is to prioritize safety to people over properties. Therefore, if the batteries will be beyond saving, a person of ordinary skill in the art would have had the technological capabilities to assess the fire risk and potential damage to utilize the available suppression options. So while Zhang’s disclosure involves fire safety in battery testing, teaching of fire safety is relevant to those of option used for any system with batteries, such as those in vehicles.
Secondly, additional evidence is found in Kim reference (US 20180289996; cited above) to show water spray to be used on overheated batteries to prevent vehicle from being completely burned out, so that vehicle can normally operate by replacing only the battery, thereby protecting the consumer’s physical assets (par. 54-55).
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In light of the responses above, all prior art rejections shall be maintained.
Conclusion
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to TUONGMINH NGUYEN PHAM whose telephone number is (571)270-0158. The examiner can normally be reached 9AM - 5PM M-F.
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/TUONGMINH N PHAM/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 3752