DETAILED ACTION
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 .
Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 102
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 (i.e., changing from AIA to pre-AIA ) 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 the appropriate paragraphs of 35 U.S.C. 102 that form the basis for the rejections under this section made in this Office action:
A person shall be entitled to a patent unless –
(a)(1) the claimed invention was patented, described in a printed publication, or in public use, on sale, or otherwise available to the public before the effective filing date of the claimed invention.
Claims 1-7, 9-12, 15, 17, and 18 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(1) as being anticipated by Lee et al. (US 2018/0048033), cited in the Information Disclosure Statement dated October 23, 2023.
Regarding independent claims 1 and 9, Lee et al. disclose a battery module and its method of manufacture (paragraphs [0069]-[0072] and [0119]-[0133]; and Figures 1, 2, 10, 11, and 14), in which the battery module (120) and its method of manufacture comprise the following structural features and process steps:
stacking a plurality of battery cells (30) to be mounted in cartridges (10) of a cartridge stack (10A), into which the plurality of battery cells (30) including electrode leads (25) are stacked, wherein coupling of the electrode leads (25) results in the electrode leads (25) protruding from at least two adjacent battery cells (30) among the plurality of battery cells (30) to form an electrode lead joint body (see paragraphs [0069]-[0072]; and Figures 1 and 2);
providing a sensing assembly (97) to be coupled to the electrode lead joint body (see Figure 2), wherein the sensing assembly (97) transmits voltage information for one or more of the plurality of battery cells (30) via a voltage sensing module (84) of the sensing assembly (97), and the sensing assembly (97) further comprises a connector, a connection member for coupling the connector and one of the electrode leads (25), and providing a joining member disposed at a first end of the connection member (see Figure 10),
wherein at least two (including more than two) of the electrodes leads (25) are bent to face away from the battery cell stack (see Figure 3 that refers to a roughly perpendicularly bent portion for electrode lead (25b) – see paragraph [0074]), being similar to applicants’ invention set forth in the newly amended limitations, to be welded via laser welding (see paragraph [0073]) to be coupled to form an electrode lead joint body, and the joining member is coupled to the surface of the electrode lead joint body that faces away from the battery cell stack (see paragraphs [0074] and [0129]; and Figures 3 and 10).
Regarding claim 2, Lee et al. disclose that a first surface of the electrode lead joint body that faces away from the battery cell stack lies in a plane perpendicular to a direction in which the one of the electrode leads (25) protrudes from the battery cell (30), as shown in Figures 2 and 10.
Regarding claim 3, Lee et al. disclose that the electrode leads (25) include positive and negative electrode leads (25), wherein the positive and negative electrode leads (25) of a single battery cell (30) protrude in directions facing each other (see paragraph [0072]; and Figures 2 and 10).
Regarding claims 4 and 10, Lee et al. disclose that an insulating cover (88) covers first and second surfaces of the battery cell stack from which the electrode leads (25) protrude, and wherein the sensing assembly (97) is coupled by being positioned on an inside surface of the insulating cover (88) and coupled to the electrode leads (25), such that the sensing assembly (97) is mounted on first and second surfaces of the battery cell stack (see Figures 2 and 10).
Regarding claims 5-7, 11, and 12, Lee et al. disclose that the inside surface of the insulating cover (88) faces the electrode leads (25) and is formed with a mounting part that is indented so as to couple the sensing assembly (97) thereto (see Figure 11), wherein the insulating cover (88) comprises a cover part and an opening part that is formed at a position corresponding to a section where the joining member is coupled to the electrode lead joint body, wherein the cover part covers the opening part to be formed as an opening/closing structure (see Figures 11 and 14).
Regarding independent claim 15, as well as claims 17 and 18, Lee et al. disclose a battery module (paragraphs [0069]-[0072] and [0119]-[0133]; and Figures 1, 2, 10, 11, and 14), in which the battery module (120) comprises the following structural features:
a plurality of battery cells (30) to be mounted in cartridges (10) of a cartridge stack (10A), into which the plurality of battery cells (30) including electrode leads (25) are stacked, wherein coupling of the electrode leads (25) results in the electrode leads (25) protruding from at least two adjacent battery cells (30) among the plurality of battery cells (30) to form an electrode lead joint body (see paragraphs [0069]-[0072]; and Figures 1 and 2);
a sensing assembly (97) to be coupled to the electrode lead joint body (see Figure 2), wherein the sensing assembly (97) transmits voltage information for one or more of the plurality of battery cells (30) via a voltage sensing module (84) of the sensing assembly (97), and the sensing assembly (97) further comprises a connector, a connection member for coupling the connector and one of the electrode leads (25), and a joining member formed of a metal material disposed at a first end of the connection member (see Figure 10); and
an insulating cover (88) with an opening (W1) that covers first and second surfaces of the battery cell stack from which the electrode leads (25) protrude, and wherein the sensing assembly (97) is coupled by being positioned on an inside surface of the insulating cover (88) and coupled to the electrode leads (25), such that the sensing assembly (97) is mounted on first and second surfaces of the battery cell stack (see paragraph [0012]; and Figures 2 and 10),
wherein at least two of the electrode leads (25) are bent and coupled to form an electrode lead joint body, and the joining member is coupled to the electrode lead joint body (see paragraph [0129]; and Figure 10).
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 (i.e., changing from AIA to pre-AIA ) 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.
This application currently names joint inventors. In considering patentability of the claims the examiner presumes that the subject matter of the various claims was commonly owned as of the effective filing date of the claimed invention(s) absent any evidence to the contrary. Applicant is advised of the obligation under 37 CFR 1.56 to point out the inventor and effective filing dates of each claim that was not commonly owned as of the effective filing date of the later invention in order for the examiner to consider the applicability of 35 U.S.C. 102(b)(2)(C) for any potential 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(2) prior art against the later invention.
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.
Claims 8 and 13 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Lee et al. (US 2018/0048033), and further in view of KR 20190134229 A, of which a complete copy of the Korean document with a machine translation was provided with the Information Disclosure Statement dated July 26, 2022.
Regarding claims 8 and 13, Lee et al. disclose a battery pack that includes the battery module (120) and its method of manufacture (of independent claims 1 and 9, respectively), wherein the battery module (120) would be operable to be housed in a pack frame, but fail to teach a thermal conductive resin layer disposed between the battery module and the pack frame.
However, KR ‘229 discloses a plurality of battery modules (100) provided inside a pack frame (module case (200)) that includes a thermal conductive resin (300) provided therebetween (abstract; paragraphs [0090]-[0092] of translation; and Figures 1-4), in which the thermal conductive resin to be applied adjacent battery modules (100) and between adjacent battery cells (20) during the stacking step (and including the bending and coupling of the electrode leads of independent claim 9 above), as shown in Figures 3 and 4, would be advantageous for the purpose of obtaining efficient adhesion and heat dissipation characteristics (see abstract and paragraph [0092] of translation).
Therefore, it would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art to include the thermal conductive resin to be disposed between the battery module and the pack frame, as taught by KR ‘229, to be applied to the battery module and battery cells disclosed by Lee et al., in order to prevent overheating via efficient heat dissipation and adhesion characteristics (KR ‘229; see abstract and paragraph [0092] of translation).
Claims 14, 16, 19, and 20 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Lee et al. (US 2018/0048033).
Regarding claim 14, although Lee et al. disclose the steps of independent claim 9 above, including coupling the sensing assembly (97), Lee et al. fail to explicitly teach a step of wrapping the battery cell stack with a holding band prior to coupling with a sensing assembly (97). However, and as set forth in applicants’ claim 10 above, the sensing assembly (97) is coupled by being positioned on an inside surface of the insulating cover (88) and coupled to the electrode leads (25), such that the sensing assembly (97) is mounted on first and second surfaces of the battery cell stack (see Figures 2 and 10), thus providing secure connections. In view of the teachings of Lee et al., it would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art to use a holding band or other type of holding means to improve stability to the battery cell stack and subcomponents thereof, in order to obtain a secure connection to the sensing assembly and battery cell stack (Lee et al.; see paragraphs [0131]-[0133]; and Figures 2 and 10).
Regarding claim 16, although Lee et al. disclose the structural features of the battery module of independent claim 1 above, including that the joining member extends from the connection member to the electrode lead joint body (see paragraph [0129]; and Figure 10), Lee et al. do not explicitly disclose that the joining member includes first and second portions extending in different directions. However, one of ordinary skill in the art would have recognized that inclusion of first and second portions (broadly interpreted to be extending ends and/or projections of the joining member) to have any desired orientation (including in different directions), would be obvious to try with a reasonable expectation of success, since orientation is merely a parameter having a finite number of predictable solutions, in order to obtain a more secure connection of subcomponents within the battery module.
Regarding claims 19 and 20, although Lee et al. disclose the structural features of the battery module of independent claim 1 above, including the joining member and the electrode lead joint body, Lee et al. do not explicitly disclose the first and second joining members, each of which is coupled to the connector via the connection member. However, one of ordinary skill in the art would have recognized that a single joining member could be duplicated for use as a plurality of joining members for coupling to the connector via the connection member, for the purpose of obtaining a more secure connection of subcomponents within the battery module. Moreover, it has been held that mere duplication of the essential working parts of a device involves only routine skill in the art. St. Regis Paper Co. v. Bemis Co., 193 USPQ 8.
Response to Arguments
The examiner acknowledges the applicants’ amendment provided with the request for continued examination received by the USPTO on July 9, 2026. Also, an Information Disclosure Statement dated January 29, 2026 has been considered and initialed, and a copy is provided with this Office Action. The amendments (and remarks pertaining to the 35 USC 112(a) rejection of claims 19 and 20) overcome the prior 35 USC 112(a) and 35 USC 112(b) rejections. The applicants have amended independent claims 1, 9, and 15, as well as a portion of the dependent claims. Claims 1-20 remain under consideration in the application.
Applicants’ arguments with respect to claims 1-20 have been considered but are moot because the argument pertaining to the new limitations has been addressed in the newly underlined portions applied above in the 35 USC 102(a)(1) and 35 USC 103 rejections addressing the applicants’ amendments to independent claims 1, 9, and 15.
Conclusion
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to KEVIN P KERNS whose telephone number is (571)272-1178. The examiner can normally be reached Monday-Friday 8am-430pm.
If attempts to reach the examiner by telephone are unsuccessful, the examiner’s supervisor, Keith Walker can be reached at (571)272-3458. The fax phone number for the organization where this application or proceeding is assigned is 571-273-8300.
Information regarding the status of published or unpublished applications may be obtained from Patent Center. Unpublished application information in Patent Center is available to registered users. To file and manage patent submissions in Patent Center, visit: https://patentcenter.uspto.gov. Visit https://www.uspto.gov/patents/apply/patent-center for more information about Patent Center and https://www.uspto.gov/patents/docx for information about filing in DOCX format. For additional questions, contact the Electronic Business Center (EBC) at 866-217-9197 (toll-free). If you would like assistance from a USPTO Customer Service Representative, call 800-786-9199 (IN USA OR CANADA) or 571-272-1000.
/KEVIN P KERNS/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 1735 July 24, 2026
Prosecution Insights