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 .
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and the fee set forth in 37 CFR 1.17(e) has been timely paid, the finality of the previous Office action has been withdrawn pursuant to 37 CFR 1.114.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 8/25/2026 has been entered.
Response to Arguments
Applicant’s arguments, see page 14 paragraph 2, filed 8/25/2026, with respect to the rejection(s) of amened claim(s) 1, 18, and 19 under 103 in view of Katano and Mak have been fully considered and are persuasive. Therefore, the rejection has been withdrawn. However, upon further consideration, a new ground(s) of rejection is made in view of Katano and the new prior art of Yagi et al. (US 2006/0258185 A1, hereafter Yagi). Yagi is relied upon for teaching a coupling unit with distinct mounting and fastening components as detailed in the claim rejections below.
Applicant's arguments filed 8/25/2026 from page 12 to page 14 paragraph 1 have been fully considered but are considered moot due to the Mak reference no longer being used in the prior art rejections.
Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 103
The text of those sections of Title 35, U.S. Code not included in this action can be found in a prior Office action.
Claim(s) 1-6 and 18-20 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Katano et al. (US 2013/0045398 A1, hereafter Katano) in view of Yagi et al. (US 2006/0258185 A1, hereafter Yagi).
With regard to claim 1, Katano teaches a flat fuel cell device comprising:
a fuel cell (21) comprising a cell stack in which a plurality of unit cells are stacked [0066];
a junction box electrically connected to the fuel cell comprising a first part (lower base) overlapping the fuel cell in a horizontal direction (lower part of case 35 containing junction box 44 is side by side with fuel cell 21 as seen in fig. 2-3) and a second part extending from the first part in a vertical direction (vertical walls extending from base as seen in fig. 6) [0009, 0066, 0080, 0088, 0091, fig. 2-3, fig. 6];
an air-processing device configured to manage inflow and outflow of air containing oxygen between an outside and the fuel cell (air compressor and valves in fluid supply/discharge unit 22) [0080]; and
a hydrogen processing device configured to manage inflow and outflow of hydrogen to and from the fuel cell (fuel gas pump and valves in fluid supply/discharge unit 22) [0067, 0080]; and
wherein each of the junction box (in case 35), the air-processing device (in fluid supply/discharge unit 22), and the hydrogen processing device (in fluid supply/discharge unit 22) are disposed so as to be contiguous with the fuel cell in a horizontal direction (as seen in fig. 2-3 the components are side by side with fuel cell 21) [0066, 0080, 0088, fig. 2-3].
Katano teaches a system frame (vehicle with bottom plate 11) to which the fuel cell and junction box are mounted to a side portion (bottom plate 11) [0074, 0077, 0130, fig. 2-3, fig. 16] but does not teach a coupling unit disposed between a side portion of the junction box and a side portion of the system frame in a horizontal direction to couple the junction box to the system frame. However, in the same field of endeavor, Yagi teaches a fuel cell vehicle [0027] with a junction box (distribution box A) coupled to a frame (frame rails 300) with a coupling unit (mounting portions 12b and screws) disposed between a side portion of the junction box and the frame in a horizontal direction wherein the mounting unit comprises a mounting part disposed between the frame and the junction box and physically coupled to the frame (by screws) and a fastening part (screws) to physically couple the junction box to the mounting part [0030, 0037, fig. 1]. It would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art at the time the invention was made to use the coupling unit (mounting portions 12b and screws) of Yagi with the fuel cell device of Katano for the benefit of being able to fix the junction box (distribution box) to a frame of a vehicle [Yagi 0037].
Modified Katano would not explicitly teach the mounting part and fastening part extending through the mounting part are located on the side portion of the second part of the junction box. However, this would be an obvious variant to one of ordinary skill in the art since it would perform the same function of fixing the junction box to the frame and only require a rearrangement of parts. See MPEP 2144.04 VI.
With regard to claim 2, Katano teaches a cooling-medium-processing device (coolant supply pipes in fluid supply/discharge unit 22) configured to manage inflow and outflow of a cooling medium to and from the fuel cell, the cooling-medium-processing device being disposed so as to be contiguous with the fuel cell in the horizontal direction (as seen in fig. 2-3 the components are side by side with fuel cell 21) [0066-0067, 0080, 0088, fig. 2-3].
With regard to claim 3, Katano teaches a portion of the hydrogen-processing device (fuel gas pump and valves in fluid supply/discharge unit 22) is disposed in a side area in a left extension area extending from the left area in as second direction (unit 22 is left of fuel cell 21 as seen in fig. 3) [0067, 0080, fig. 3].
With regard to claim 4, Katano teaches the cooling medium processing device (coolant supply pipes in fluid supply/discharge unit 22) is disposed in the left area (unit 22 is left of fuel cell 21 as seen in fig. 3) [0067, 0080, fig. 3]. Katano teaches a hydrogen processing device (fuel gas pump and valves in fluid supply/discharge unit 22) [0067, 0080] but does not explicitly teach it is located in a right area. However, this would be an obvious variant to one of ordinary skill in the art since it would perform the same functions and only require a rearrangement of parts. See MPEP 2144.04 VI.
With regard to claim 5, Katano teaches the hydrogen processing device (fuel gas pump and valves in fluid supply/discharge unit 22) is disposed in the left area (unit 22 is left of fuel cell 21 as seen in fig. 3) [0067, 0080, fig. 3]. Katano teaches a cooling medium processing device (coolant supply pipes in fluid supply/discharge unit 22) [0067, 0080, fig. 3] but does not explicitly teach it is located in a right area. However, this would be an obvious variant to one of ordinary skill in the art since it would perform the same functions and only require a rearrangement of parts. See MPEP 2144.04 VI.
With regard to claim 6, Katano teaches a junction box (in case 35) [0009, 0088 [0009, 0066, 0080, 0088, fig. 2-3] but does not explicitly teach it is in a rear area. However, this would be an obvious variant to one of ordinary skill in the art since it would perform the same functions and only require a rearrangement of parts. See MPEP 2144.04 VI.
With regard to claim 18, Katano teaches a flat fuel cell device comprising:
a fuel cell (21) comprising a cell stack in which a plurality of unit cells are stacked [0066];
a junction box electrically connected to the fuel cell comprising a first part (lower base) overlapping the fuel cell in a horizontal direction (lower part of case 35 containing junction box 44 is side by side with fuel cell 21 as seen in fig. 2-3) and a second part extending from the first part in a vertical direction (vertical walls extending from base as seen in fig. 6) [0009, 0066, 0080, 0088, 0091, fig. 2-3, fig. 6];
an air-processing device configured to manage inflow and outflow of air containing oxygen between an outside and the fuel cell (air compressor and valves in fluid supply/discharge unit 22) [0080]; and
a hydrogen processing device configured to manage inflow and outflow of hydrogen to and from the fuel cell (fuel gas pump and valves in fluid supply/discharge unit 22) [0067, 0080]; and
wherein the fuel cell has a planar shape (planar fuel cell 21 as seen in fig. 2) that is surrounded by the junction box (in case 35), the air-processing device (in fluid supply/discharge unit 22), and the hydrogen processing device (in fluid supply/discharge unit 22) in a horizontal direction (as seen in fig. 2-3 the components are side by side with fuel cell 21) [0066, 0080, 0088, fig. 2-3].
Katano teaches a system frame (vehicle with bottom plate 11) to which the fuel cell and junction box are mounted to a side portion (bottom plate 11) [0074, 0077, 0130, fig. 2-3, fig. 16] but does not teach a coupling unit disposed between a side portion of the junction box and a side portion of the system frame in a horizontal direction to couple the junction box to the system frame. However, in the same field of endeavor, Yagi teaches a fuel cell vehicle [0027] with a junction box (distribution box A) coupled to a frame (frame rails 300) with a coupling unit (mounting portions 12b and screws) disposed between a side portion of the junction box and the frame in a horizontal direction wherein the mounting unit comprises a mounting part disposed between the frame and the junction box and physically coupled to the frame (by screws) and a fastening part (screws) to physically couple the junction box to the mounting part [0030, 0037, fig. 1]. It would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art at the time the invention was made to use the coupling unit (mounting portions 12b and screws) of Yagi with the fuel cell device of Katano for the benefit of being able to fix the junction box (distribution box) to a frame of a vehicle [Yagi 0037].
Modified Katano would not explicitly teach the mounting part and fastening part extending through the mounting part are located on the side portion of the second part of the junction box. However, this would be an obvious variant to one of ordinary skill in the art since it would perform the same function of fixing the junction box to the frame and only require a rearrangement of parts. See MPEP 2144.04 VI.
With regard to claim 19, Katano teaches a flat fuel cell device comprising:
a fuel cell (21) comprising a cell stack in which a plurality of unit cells are stacked [0066];
a junction box electrically connected to the fuel cell comprising a first part (lower base) overlapping the fuel cell in a horizontal direction (lower part of case 35 containing junction box 44 is side by side with fuel cell 21 as seen in fig. 2-3) and a second part extending from the first part in a vertical direction (vertical walls extending from base as seen in fig. 6) [0009, 0066, 0080, 0088, 0091, fig. 2-3, fig. 6];
an air-processing device configured to manage inflow and outflow of air containing oxygen between an outside and the fuel cell (air compressor and valves in fluid supply/discharge unit 22) [0080]; and
a hydrogen processing device configured to manage inflow and outflow of hydrogen to and from the fuel cell (fuel gas pump and valves in fluid supply/discharge unit 22) [0067, 0080];
a cooling-medium-processing device (coolant supply pipes in fluid supply/discharge unit 22) configured to manage inflow and outflow of a cooling medium to and from the fuel cell, the cooling-medium-processing device being disposed so as to be contiguous with the fuel cell in the horizontal direction (as seen in fig. 2-3 the components are side by side with fuel cell 21) [0066-0067, 0080, 0088, fig. 2-3]; and
wherein the fuel cell is surrounded by the junction box (in case 35), the air-processing device (in fluid supply/discharge unit 22), the hydrogen processing device (in fluid supply/discharge unit 22), and the cooling-medium-processing device in a horizontal direction (as seen in fig. 2-3 the components are side by side with fuel cell 21) [0066, 0080, 0088, fig. 2-3].
wherein the fuel cell (21), the junction box (in case 35), the air-processing device (in fluid supply/discharge unit 22), the hydrogen processing device (in fluid supply/discharge unit 22), and the cooling-medium-processing device (in fluid supply/discharge unit 22) do not overlap each other in a vertical direction (as seen in fig. 2-3 the components are side by side with fuel cell 21 without any vertically overlapping areas) [0066, 0080, 0088, fig. 2-3].
Katano teaches a system frame (vehicle with bottom plate 11) to which the fuel cell and junction box are mounted to a side portion (bottom plate 11) [0074, 0077, 0130, fig. 2-3, fig. 16] but does not teach a coupling unit disposed between a side portion of the junction box and a side portion of the system frame in a horizontal direction to couple the junction box to the system frame. However, in the same field of endeavor, Yagi teaches a fuel cell vehicle [0027] with a junction box (distribution box A) coupled to a frame (frame rails 300) with a coupling unit (mounting portions 12b and screws) disposed between a side portion of the junction box and the frame in a horizontal direction wherein the mounting unit comprises a mounting part disposed between the frame and the junction box and physically coupled to the frame (by screws) and a fastening part (screws) to physically couple the junction box to the mounting part [0030, 0037, fig. 1]. It would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art at the time the invention was made to use the coupling unit (mounting portions 12b and screws) of Yagi with the fuel cell device of Katano for the benefit of being able to fix the junction box (distribution box) to a frame of a vehicle [Yagi 0037].
Modified Katano would not explicitly teach the mounting part and fastening part extending through the mounting part are located on the side portion of the second part of the junction box. However, this would be an obvious variant to one of ordinary skill in the art since it would perform the same function of fixing the junction box to the frame and only require a rearrangement of parts. See MPEP 2144.04 VI.
With regard to claim 20, Katano teaches a portion of the hydrogen-processing device (fuel gas pump and valves in fluid supply/discharge unit 22) is disposed in a side area in a left extension area extending from the left area in as second direction (unit 22 is left of fuel cell 21 as seen in fig. 3) [0067, 0080, fig. 3].
Claim(s) 7-10 and 12 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Katano and Yagi as applied to claims 1-6 and 18-20 above, and further in view of Ogawa et al. (US 2010/0173219 A1, hereafter Ogawa).
With regard to claim 7, Katano teaches an air compressor, humidifier, cutoff valve, and discharge pipe [0074, 0080] but does not explicitly teach the claimed details of the moisture controller. However, in the same field of endeavor, Ogawa teaches the use of a moisture controller (humidifier) that humidifies air discharged from an air compressor with oxygen dehumidified from a fuel cell exhaust prior to being discharged to the outside (which would obtain humidified air and dehumidified oxygen) [0031, fig. 1]. It would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art to use the moisture controller (humidifier) configuration with the fuel cell of modified Katano for the benefit of using recovered moisture to humidify supplied air [Ogawa 0031].
With regard to claim 8, modified Katano teaches an air processing device (air compressor and valves in fluid supply/discharge unit 22) [0080] but does not explicitly teach the device is located in a front area. However, this would be an obvious variant to one of ordinary skill in the art since it would perform the same functions and only require a rearrangement of parts. See MPEP 2144.04 VI.
With regard to claim 9, Katano teaches a manifold (unit pipes 25 and fluid supply/discharge unit 22) which would interconnect the air cut off valve and fuel cell [0085, fig. 3].
With regard to claim 10, Katano teaches a coolant inlet (supply pipe) and outlet (discharge) pipe and teaches the pipes are oriented toward a front area pipes leaving (fluid supply/discharge unit 22) are oriented forward as seen in fig. 3 [0080, fig. 3].
With regard to claim 12, Katano teaches an exhaust hose configured to discharge reactant gas to the outside (discharge pipe) [0080, fig. 3]. Katano does not explicitly teach the claimed details of the moisture controller or exhaust duct. However, in the same field of endeavor, Ogawa teaches the use of a moisture controller (humidifier) that humidifies air discharged from an air compressor with oxygen dehumidified from a fuel cell exhaust prior to being discharged to the outside and an exhaust duct defining a path through which the output from the moisture controller (humidifier) passes (exhaust line leaving humidifier 4 through valve 5 seen in fig. 1) [0031, fig. 1]. It would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art to use the moisture controller (humidifier) configuration with the fuel cell of Katano for the benefit of using recovered moisture to humidify supplied air [Ogawa 0031].
Claim(s) 11 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Katano, Yagi, and Ogawa as applied to claims 7-10 and 12 above, and further in view of Lee et al. (US 2016/0344046 A1, hereafter Lee).
With regard to claim 11, modified Katano would teach a humidifier and cut-off valve as detailed in the rejection of claim 7 above. Modified Katano would not teach the claimed valve with multiple opening/closing portions. However, in the same field of endeavor, Lee teaches a valve (unified valve module 50) with a first opening/closing portion (first valve 51) to discharge air from a humidifier (34) to a fuel cell in a first horizontal direction (right) and a second opening/closing portion (second valve 55) configured to discharge oxygen discharged from the fuel cell to the humidifier in a second horizontal direction (left) [0061, 0075, fig. 3]. It would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art at the time the invention was made to use the dual opening/closing valve arrangement of Lee with the fuel cell of modified Katano for the benefit of preventing valve freezing and fuel cell stack degradation [Lee 0033-0034].
Claim(s) 13 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Katano, Yagi, and Ogawa as applied to claims 7-10 and 12 above, and further in view of Haase et al. (US 2015/0111123 A1, hereafter Haase).
With regard to claim 13, modified Katano does not explicitly teach a multi-pipe exhaust. However, in the same field of endeavor, Haase teaches the use of multiple pipes for fuel cell exhaust [0008]. It would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art to use the multiple pipes of Haase with the exhaust of modified Katano for the benefit of being able to adjust exhaust speed by deactivating pipes [Haase 0008].
Claim(s) 14 and 16 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Katano, Yagi, and Ogawa as applied to claims 7-10 and 12 above, and further in view of Ushio et al. (US 2007/0031710 A1, hereafter Ushio).
With regard to claim 14, Katano does not explicitly teach the claimed hydrogen discharge components. However, in the same field of endeavor, Ushio teaches a blower (circulation pump 6) configured to suction and discharge hydrogen and condensate water [0051, fig. 1]; a fluid classifier (gas liquid separator 5) configured to separate the hydrogen and condensate water discharged from the blower (after cycling through anode channel 1a) [0051, fig. 1]; an ejector configured to supply the hydrogen separated by the fluid classifier (gas liquid separator) to the fuel cell [0045, 0051, fig. 1]; and a drain/purge valve (control valve 10 and valve below gas liquid separator 5) connected to the exhaust duct and configured to discharge condensate water and reactant gas separated by the fluid classifier [0051, fig. 1]. It would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art to use the hydrogen discharge components (gas liquid separator, pump, nozzle, valves) taught by Ushio with the fuel cell of Katano for the benefit of improving efficiency by re-circulating unreacted fuel gas without flooding the fuel cell system [Ushio 0015].
With regard to claim 16, Katano and Ushio teach the hydrogen discharge components as detailed in the rejection of claim 14 above. Modified Katano would not explicitly teach the claimed outlet being located at a higher position than the drain/purge valve. However, this would be an obvious variant to one of ordinary skill in the art. While the drawings of Ushio are not taught to be to scale, Ushio teaches embodiments with drain purge valves (under gas liquid separator 5 seen in fig. 4) being located at lower levels than fuel cell outlets (line from fuel cell 1 to gas liquid separator 5 seen in fig. 4). This would suggest and render obvious placing fuel cell outlets at higher positions than drain/purge valves.
Claim(s) 15 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Katano, Yagi, Ogawa, and Ushio as applied to claims 14 and 16 above, and further in view of DeWald et al. (US 2015/0192138 A1, hereafter Finnerty).
With regard to claim 15, modified Katano does not teach the details of the blower. However, in the same field of endeavor, DeWald teaches a partition wall (upper wall of duct 13) configured to separate an inlet (15) and outlet (outlet housing 24) from each other [0037, fig. 1A]. It would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art at the time the invention was made to use the blower with partition (duct 13) of DeWald with the fuel cell of modified Katano for the benefit of required flows in less time and with less turbulence [DeWald 0015, 0039].
Conclusion
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/BRENT C THOMAS/Examiner, Art Unit 1724
/MIRIAM STAGG/Supervisory Patent Examiner, Art Unit 1724
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