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 allowance or after an Office action under Ex Parte Quayle, 25 USPQ 74, 453 O.G. 213 (Comm'r Pat. 1935). 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, prosecution in this application has been reopened pursuant to 37 CFR 1.114. Applicant's submission filed on 01/20/2026 has been entered. Claims 1-5 are currently amended while claims 6-16 have been newly added. By this amendment, claims 1-16 are now pending in the application.
Claim Objections
Claim 1 is objected to due to minor informalities: In claim 1, lines 6-8, the limitations of, “a first analog-to-digital converter (ADC) having first and second inputs, the first input of the ADC coupled to the output of the first multiplexer,” should read -- a first analog-to-digital converter (ADC) having first and second inputs, the first input of the first ADC coupled to the output of the first multiplexer,--.
Claim 1 is further objected to due to minor informalities: In claim 1, lines 14-15, the limitations of, “a second terminal coupled to the second input of the first multiplexer and the first input of the second multiplexer” should read for examination purpose -- a second terminal coupled to the second input of the first multiplexer and the first input of the first ADC—to be consistent with Fig. 3 and paragraph [0027] of the specification.
Claim 12 and 14 are objected to because of the following informalities: In claim 12, the underlined limitations of, “wherein the monitor circuit includes: a first ADC having first and second inputs and an output…” must be defined in the claim as it was done in claim 1. For examination purpose, the limitations of, “ wherein the monitor circuit includes: a first ADC having first and second inputs and an output…” should and would read -- wherein the monitor circuit includes: a first a first analog-to-digital converter (ADC) having first and second inputs and an output…--
In claim 14, the underlined limitations of, “wherein the monitor circuit includes: a third ADC having first and second inputs and an output,…” must be defined in the claim as it was done in claim 1. For examination purpose, the limitations of, ““wherein the monitor circuit includes: a third ADC having first and second inputs and an output,…” should and would read --“wherein the monitor circuit includes: a third analog-to-digital converter (ADC) having first and second inputs and an output,…”
Appropriate correction is required.
Drawings
The drawings are objected to under 37 CFR 1.83(a). The drawings must show every feature of the invention specified in the claims. Therefore, the limitations of, “a second terminal coupled to the second input of the first multiplexer and the first input of the second multiplexer”, as recited in claim 1 must be shown or the feature(s) canceled from the claim(s). No new matter should be entered.
Corrected drawing sheets in compliance with 37 CFR 1.121(d) are required in reply to the Office action to avoid abandonment of the application. Any amended replacement drawing sheet should include all of the figures appearing on the immediate prior version of the sheet, even if only one figure is being amended. The figure or figure number of an amended drawing should not be labeled as “amended.” If a drawing figure is to be canceled, the appropriate figure must be removed from the replacement sheet, and where necessary, the remaining figures must be renumbered and appropriate changes made to the brief description of the several views of the drawings for consistency. Additional replacement sheets may be necessary to show the renumbering of the remaining figures. Each drawing sheet submitted after the filing date of an application must be labeled in the top margin as either “Replacement Sheet” or “New Sheet” pursuant to 37 CFR 1.121(d). If the changes are not accepted by the examiner, the applicant will be notified and informed of any required corrective action in the next Office action. The objection to the drawings will not be held in abeyance.
Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 112
The following is a quotation of 35 U.S.C. 112(b):
(b) CONCLUSION.—The specification shall conclude with one or more claims particularly pointing out and distinctly claiming the subject matter which the inventor or a joint inventor regards as the invention.
The following is a quotation of 35 U.S.C. 112 (pre-AIA ), second paragraph:
The specification shall conclude with one or more claims particularly pointing out and distinctly claiming the subject matter which the applicant regards as his invention.
Claims 14-16 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 112(b) or 35 U.S.C. 112 (pre-AIA ), second paragraph, as being indefinite for failing to particularly point out and distinctly claim the subject matter which the inventor or a joint inventor (or for applications subject to pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 112, the applicant), regards as the invention.
Claim 14 recites the underlined limitations of, “The apparatus of claim 13, wherein the monitor circuit includes: a third ADC having first and second inputs and an output,…”. “A second ADC” must be first recited before “a third ADC”. Note that claim 13 depend from claim 11 and not from claim 12.
Claims 15-16 depend directly from claim 14 and thus are also rejected for the same reasons.
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.
Claim(s) 11,13 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(1) as being anticipated by An US 2020/0355747 A1.
Regarding claim 11: An at least discloses and shows in Fig. 7: An apparatus (battery management apparatus; see Fig. 7)comprising: a monitor circuit(110) having a first battery terminal(11a), a second battery terminal(11b), a bus bar terminal(bus var 20 has terminals, see Figs. 6-7)(S1 is connected to positive terminal of bus bar 20 if switch 123 is closed and Switch 124” is opened and S1 is connected to negative terminal of bus bar 20 if switch 123 is opened and switch 124” is closed; see [0066]-[0067]), selection inputs(via measurement target changing unit 120/120”)(see Figs. 4-5 and 7 and [0055],[0062], [0093] and [0094]), a first measurement output(as output at S1), and a second measurement output(as output at S2), the monitor circuit(110) configurable(see [0058]-[0061]) to, responsive to states of the selection inputs(depending of selection of measurement channels S1…Sn+1):provide a first signal at the first measurement output(first measurement line 121) indicative of a voltage difference between the first and second battery terminals(11a and 11b)(see Fig. 6)9; and provide a second signal(second measurement line 122) at the second measurement output indicative of a voltage difference between the second battery terminal and the bus bar terminal(see [0063]-[0064],[0070],[0076]-[0079],[0083],[0087]).
Regarding claim 13, An discloses all the claimed invention as set forth and discussed above in claim 11. An further discloses, wherein the monitor circuit(110) has a third battery terminal(connected at S3), a fourth battery terminal(connected at S4), a fifth battery terminal(connected at S5), a third measurement output(at S2 or between C11 and C12)(see [0058]), and a fourth measurement output(at S4 or between C13 and C14)(see [0058]), the monitor circuit configurable(via measurement target changing unit 120/120”)(see Figs. 4-5 and 7 and [0055],[0062], [0093] and [0094]) to, responsive to the states of the selection inputs: provide a third signal at the third measurement output indicative of a voltage difference between the third and fourth battery terminals(at S3 or between C12 and C13)(see [0058]-[0059]); and provide a fourth signal at the fourth measurement output indicative of a voltage difference between the fourth and fifth battery terminals(at S4 or between C13 and C21)(see [0058]-[0059])(note- in case where there are 3 or more modules, there will inherently exists first, second third, fourth and fifth battery terminals; see [0047]-[0048]).
Allowable Subject Matter
Claims 1-10 are objected to but are otherwise allowable over the prior art of record.
Regarding claim 1, the prior art, when taken alone, or, in combination, cannot be reasonably construed as adequately teaching or suggesting the combination of elements and features arranged, disposed, or provided in the manner as claimed by the applicants, most particularly, “a system, comprising among other patentable features: a first multiplexer having first and second inputs and an output; a second multiplexer having first and second inputs and an output; a first analog-to-digital converter (ADC) having first and second inputs, the first input of the ADC coupled to the output of the first multiplexer, a second ADC having first and second inputs, the first input of the second ADC coupled to the output of the second multiplexer, a first terminal coupled to the first input of the first multiplexer and to the first input of the second ADC; and a second terminal coupled to the second input of the first of the first multiplexer and the first input of the first ADC”
Claim 12 is objected to as being dependent upon a rejected base claim, but would be allowable if rewritten in independent form including all of the limitations of the base claim and any intervening claims.
Regarding claim 12, patentability exists at least in part with the claimed limitations of, “wherein the monitor circuit includes: a first analog-to-digital converter (ADC) having first and second inputs and an output, the first input of the first ADC coupled to the first battery terminal, and the output of the first ADC coupled to the first measurement output; a second ADC having first and second inputs and an output, the first input of the second ADC coupled to the second battery terminal, and the output of the second ADC coupled to the second measurement output; a first multiplexer having first and second inputs and an output, the first input of the first multiplexer coupled to the second battery terminal, the second input of the first multiplexer coupled to the bus bar terminal, and the output of the first multiplexer coupled to the second input of the first ADC; and a second multiplexer having first and second inputs and an output, the first input of the second multiplexer coupled to the bus bar terminal, and the output of the second multiplexer coupled to the second input of the second ADC”.
Claims 14-16 would be allowable if rewritten to overcome the rejection(s) under 35 U.S.C. 112(b) or 35 U.S.C. 112 (pre-AIA ), 2nd paragraph, set forth in this Office action and to include all of the limitations of the base claim and any intervening claims.
Regarding claim 14,assuming proper dependency from claim 12, the prior art fails to teach or reasonably suggest, “wherein the monitor circuit includes: a third ADC having first and second inputs and an output, the first input of the third ADC coupled to the third battery terminal, and the output of the third ADC coupled to the third measurement output; a fourth ADC having first and second inputs and an output, the first input of the fourth ADC coupled to the fourth battery terminal, the second input of the fourth ADC coupled to the fifth battery terminal, and the output of the fourth ADC coupled to the fourth measurement output; and a third multiplexer having first and second inputs and an output, the first input of the third multiplexer coupled to the fourth battery terminal, the second input of the third multiplexer coupled to the bus bar terminal, and the output of the third multiplexer coupled to the second input of the third ADC”.
Claims 15-16 depend directly from claim 14 and thus are also allowable for the same reasons.
Conclusion
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to M'BAYE DIAO whose telephone number is (571)272-6127. The examiner can normally be reached M-F; 10:00AM-6:30PM and OFF most of the time Friday when working IFP.
Examiner interviews are available via telephone, in-person, and video conferencing using a USPTO supplied web-based collaboration tool. To schedule an interview, applicant is encouraged to use the USPTO Automated Interview Request (AIR) at http://www.uspto.gov/interviewpractice.
If attempts to reach the examiner by telephone are unsuccessful, the examiner’s supervisor, TAELOR KIM can be reached at 571-270-7166. 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.
M'BAYE DIAO
Primary Examiner
Art Unit 2859
/M BAYE DIAO/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 2859 January 28, 2026