Prosecution Insights
Last updated: July 17, 2026
Application No. 17/958,130

PACKAGING STRUCTURE AND ELECTROCHEMICAL DEVICE APPLYING PACKAGING STRUCTURE

Non-Final OA §102
Filed
Sep 30, 2022
Priority
Mar 31, 2020 — continuation of PCTCN2020082590
Examiner
APPLEGATE, SARAH ARIMINTIA
Art Unit
1725
Tech Center
1700 — Chemical & Materials Engineering
Assignee
Ningde Amperex Technology Limited
OA Round
4 (Non-Final)
53%
Grant Probability
Moderate
4-5
OA Rounds
0m
Est. Remaining
99%
With Interview

Examiner Intelligence

Grants 53% of resolved cases
53%
Career Allowance Rate
10 granted / 19 resolved
-12.4% vs TC avg
Strong +53% interview lift
Without
With
+52.9%
Interview Lift
resolved cases with interview
Typical timeline
3y 3m
Avg Prosecution
36 currently pending
Career history
71
Total Applications
across all art units

Statute-Specific Performance

§103
89.1%
+49.1% vs TC avg
§102
3.3%
-36.7% vs TC avg
§112
0.5%
-39.5% vs TC avg
Black line = Tech Center average estimate • Based on career data from 19 resolved cases

Office Action

§102
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. (a)(2) the claimed invention was described in a patent issued under section 151, or in an application for patent published or deemed published under section 122(b), in which the patent or application, as the case may be, names another inventor and was effectively filed before the effective filing date of the claimed invention. Claims 1-16 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(2) as being anticipated by Jiang (US 20190296271 A1, “Jiang”). The applied reference has a common applicant with the instant application. Based upon the earlier effectively filed date of the reference, it constitutes prior art under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(2). This rejection under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(2) might be overcome by: (1) a showing under 37 CFR 1.130(a) that the subject matter disclosed in the reference was obtained directly or indirectly from the inventor or a joint inventor of this application and is thus not prior art in accordance with 35 U.S.C. 102(b)(2)(A); (2) a showing under 37 CFR 1.130(b) of a prior public disclosure under 35 U.S.C. 102(b)(2)(B) if the same invention is not being claimed; or (3) a statement pursuant to 35 U.S.C. 102(b)(2)(C) establishing that, not later than the effective filing date of the claimed invention, the subject matter disclosed in the reference and the claimed invention were either owned by the same person or subject to an obligation of assignment to the same person or subject to a joint research agreement. Regarding claim 1, Jiang discloses a packaging structure, comprising an accommodating part and a sealing part extending from the accommodating part (see abstract “package structure”; see [0030] “electrode assembly 28 to be packaged may be accommodated in the electrode assembly accommodating groove” & see FIG. 2 describes “14 sealing side” which extends from the accommodating part), wherein, the accommodating part comprises a first edge, a second edge, a third edge and a fourth edge; wherein the first edge, the second edge, the third edge, and the fourth edge are connected in sequence (see annotated FIG. 2 “1” describes the first edge, “2” describes the second edge”, “3” describes the third edge” & “4” describes the fourth edge); the first edge and the third edge are disposed oppositely (see annotated FIG. 2); the second edge is connected to the first edge and the third edge (see annotated FIG. 2); and the fourth edge is connected to the first edge and the third edge (see annotated FIG. 2); wherein an entire length of the first edge is less than an entire length of the second edge, and the entire length of the first edge is less than an entire length of the fourth edge (see annotated FIG. 2); and wherein the sealing part is disposed at the second edge, the third edge, and the fourth edge (see annotated FIG. 2 “14 sealing side”; see [0028] “top edge 20” & see [0014] “top seal and the sealing side” & see [0036] “top seal 24”); the sealing part comprises a first sealing edge disposed along the second edge and a second sealing edge disposed along the fourth edge (see annotated FIG. 2); wherein a part of the first sealing edge extending beyond the first edge and a part of the second sealing edge extending beyond the first edge are folded towards the first edge respectively (see FIG. 2 & [0026] “folded along the fold line A”); wherein the packaging structure is formed by turning over and sealing of a packaging film, and the first edge corresponds to a turning-over region of the packaging film (see FIG. 2 & [0026] “folded along the fold line A” & “sealing side 14” & see annotated FIG. 1); and wherein the sealing part is a part of the packaging film directly connecting with and extending away from edges of the accommodating part (see FIG. 2 “sealing segment 18” & “sealing side 14”), and the sealing part is not disposed along at least a part of the first edge (see FIG. 2 annotated “1” & see [0025] “sealing segment 18” is not disposed along a part of “1”). PNG media_image1.png 640 523 media_image1.png Greyscale Regarding claim 2, Jiang discloses the packaging structure of claim 1 and further discloses wherein the entire length of the first edge is equal to an entire length of the third edge (see annotated FIG. 2 “1” & “3”). Regarding claim 3, Jiang discloses the packaging structure of claim 1 and further discloses wherein an entire length of the part of the first sealing edge extending beyond the first edge is less than the entire length of the first edge (see annotated FIG. 2 “1” & “sealing segment 18”). Regarding claim 4, Jiang discloses the packaging structure of claim 3 and further discloses wherein an entire length of the part of the second sealing edge extending beyond the first edge is less than the entire length of the first edge (see annotated FIG. 2 “2” & “18 sealing segment”). Regarding claim 5, Jiang discloses the packaging structure of claim 4 and further discloses wherein a sum of the entire length of the part of the first sealing edge extending beyond the first edge and the entire length of the part of the second sealing edge extending beyond the first edge is less than the entire length of the first edge (see annotated FIG. 2 “18” & “1” & “2”). Regarding claim 6 and claim 13, Jiang discloses the packaging structure of claim 1 and discloses the electrochemical device of claim 8 and further discloses wherein the first edge is an uneven edge (see annotated FIG. 2 “1” is an uneven edge). Regarding claim 7 and claim 14, Jiang discloses the packaging structure of claim 1 and discloses the electrochemical device of claim 8 and further discloses wherein the accommodating part is a cuboid (see FIG. 2). Regarding claim 8, Jiang discloses the packaging structure of claim 1 and further discloses an electrochemical device (see [0003] “battery”), comprising a cell (see FIG. 2 describes “28 electrode assembly”), wherein the cell is accommodated in the accommodating part (see [0030] “electrode assembly 28 to be packaged may be accommodated in the electrode assembly accommodating groove”). Regarding claim 9, Jiang discloses the electrochemical device of claim 8 and further discloses wherein the entire length of the first edge is equal to the entire length of the third edge (see annotated FIG. 2 “1” & “3”). Regarding claim 10, Jiang discloses the electrochemical device of claim 8 and further discloses wherein an entire length of the part of the first sealing edge extending beyond the first edge is less than the entire length of the first edge (see annotated FIG. 2 “18” & “1”). Regarding claim 11, Jiang discloses the electrochemical device of claim 10 and further discloses wherein an entire length of the part of the second sealing edge extending beyond the first edge is less than the entire length of the first edge (see annotated FIG. 2 “18” & “1” & “2”). Regarding claim 12, Jiang discloses the electrochemical device of claim 11 and further discloses wherein a sum of the entire length of the part of the first sealing edge extending beyond the first edge and the entire length of the part of the second sealing edge extending beyond the first edge is less than the entire length of the first edge (see annotated FIG. 2 “18” & “1” & “2”). Regarding claim 15, Jiang discloses the electrochemical device of claim 8 and further discloses wherein the electrochemical device further comprises a tab (see FIG. 1 describes “100 electrode tab”), one end of the tab is located in the accommodating part and connected to the cell, and the other end of the tab extends from the packaging structure along the sealing part (see FIG. 1 & [0028] “the electrode tab 100 is arranged on the top edge 20 and the second sealing segment 18 is formed on the bottom edge 22. That is, when the package is completed, the electrode tab 100 on the top of the electrode assembly 28 may be exposed by the top of the package structure 10”; see [0036] “top seal 24”). Regarding claim 16, Jiang discloses the packaging structure of claim 1 and further discloses wherein along a direction perpendicular to the first edge, a length of the sealing part extending beyond the first edge is shorter than a length of a third sealing edge disposed along the third edge (see annotated FIG. 2 describes “18” & “3”; see [0036] “top seal 24”). Response to Amendment Applicant’s arguments with respect to claim(s) 1-16 have been considered but are moot because the new ground of rejection does not rely on any reference applied in the prior rejection of record for any teaching or matter specifically challenged in the argument. Conclusion Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to SARAH APPLEGATE whose telephone number is (571)270-0370. The examiner can normally be reached Monday - Friday 9:00 am - 5:00 pm ET. 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, Nicole Buie-Hatcher can be reached at (571) 270-3879. 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. /S.A.A./Examiner, Art Unit 1725 /JAMES M ERWIN/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 1725 04/17/2026
Read full office action

Prosecution Timeline

Show 11 earlier events
Nov 19, 2025
Response after Non-Final Action
Nov 26, 2025
Non-Final Rejection mailed — §102
Jan 15, 2026
Examiner Interview Summary
Jan 15, 2026
Applicant Interview (Telephonic)
Feb 12, 2026
Response Filed
Apr 22, 2026
Non-Final Rejection mailed — §102
Jun 04, 2026
Applicant Interview (Telephonic)
Jun 04, 2026
Examiner Interview Summary

Precedent Cases

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Study what changed to get past this examiner. Based on 5 most recent grants.

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Prosecution Projections

4-5
Expected OA Rounds
53%
Grant Probability
99%
With Interview (+52.9%)
3y 3m (~0m remaining)
Median Time to Grant
High
PTA Risk
Based on 19 resolved cases by this examiner. Grant probability derived from career allowance rate.

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