DETAILED ACTION
Notice of Pre-AIA or AIA Status
1. The present application, filed on or after March 16, 2013, is being examined under the first inventor to file provisions of the AIA .
Remarks
2. Applicant’s amendments submitted on 7/24/26 have been received. Claim 1 has been amended. Claim 4 has been cancelled.
Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 102
3. 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.
4. 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)(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.
5. Claim(s) 1-2, 5-7 and 9 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(2) as being anticipated by Su et al. (US 2022/0166017).
Regarding claim 1, Su discloses an anode current collector for an all-solid-state battery(battery 20 with negative electrode current collector 32, Figs. 1 & 2, [0053], [0075]), comprising: a current collecting layer(32, Figs. 1 & 2, [0053]); a first coating layer disposed directly on a first surface of the current collecting layer and comprising a metal component capable of forming an alloy with lithium(negative electrode layer 22 comprising aluminum, indium, or zinc, Fig. 2, [0085]); and a second coating layer disposed on the first coating layer and having less electronic conductivity than the first coating layer(first layer 50, Fig. 2, [0056]), wherein the second coating layer comprises a metal oxide having lithium ion conductivity ([0055]-[0058]).
Regarding claim 2, Su discloses the first coating layer comprises one or more selected from the group consisting of zinc (Zn), aluminum (Al), and indium (In) ([0085]).
Regarding claim 5, Su discloses the second coating layer comprises one or more selected from the group consisting of titanium dioxide (TiO₂), silicon dioxide (SiO₂), aluminum oxide (Al₂O₃), and cerium oxide (CeO₂), ([0058]).
Regarding claim 6, Su discloses the second coating layer has a thickness of about 10 nm to 100 nm ([0066]), thus reading on the limitation.
According to the MPEP, “"[W]hen, as by a recitation of ranges or otherwise, a claim covers several compositions, the claim is ‘anticipated’ if one of them is in the prior art." Titanium Metals Corp. v. Banner, 778 F.2d 775, 227 USPQ 773 (Fed. Cir. 1985) See MPEP 2131.03.
Regarding claim 7, Su discloses an all-solid-state battery (20, Fig. 1, [0075]) comprising: the anode current collector of claim 1([0053]); a solid electrolyte layer disposed on the anode current collector([0053], [0075]); a cathode active material layer disposed on the solid electrolyte layer(24, Fig. 1, [0053]); and a cathode current collector disposed on the cathode active material layer(34, Fig. 1, [0053]), wherein the second coating layer of the anode current collector is in contact with the solid electrolyte layer([0053], [0075]).
Regarding claim 9, Su discloses a vehicle comprising an all solid state battery of claim 7 ([0071]).
6. Claim(s) 8 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(2) as being anticipated by Su et al. (US 2022/0166017) as evidenced by Mori et al. (US 2003/0036000).
Regarding claim 8, Su does not explicitly disclose when the all-solid-state battery is charged, lithium ions react with the first coating layer of the anode current collector to form a lithium alloy layer. However, Su discloses the first coating layer of the anode current collector is formed of a material including at least one or more elements selected from Al, In, and Zn ([0085]), in the lithium alloy, the lithium content varies from 10% to 90% depending on the progress of the charge and discharge reaction as evidenced by Mori ([0030], [0036]).
Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 103
7. 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.
The factual inquiries for establishing a background for determining obviousness under 35 U.S.C. 103 are summarized as follows:
1. Determining the scope and contents of the prior art.
2. Ascertaining the differences between the prior art and the claims at issue.
3. Resolving the level of ordinary skill in the pertinent art.
4. Considering objective evidence present in the application indicating obviousness or nonobviousness.
8. 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.
9. Claim(s) 3 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Su et al. (US 2022/0166017).
Regarding claim 3, Su discloses the first coating layer is relatively thin, for example, several microns or millimeter or less in thickness ([0074]) which overlaps the claim range of a thickness of about 10 nm to 10 µm, thus reading on the limitation.
Su is explicitly silent to the claim range however “in the case where the claimed ranges "overlap or lie inside ranges disclosed by the prior art" a prima facie case of obviousness exists”. In re Wertheim, 541 F.2d 257, 191 USPQ 90 (CCPA 1976); In re Woodruff, 919 F.2d 1575, 16 USPQ2d 1934 (Fed. Cir. 1990). MPEP 2144.05.
Response to Arguments
10. Applicant’s arguments with respect to claim(s) 1-9 have been considered but are moot because the new ground of rejection does not rely on the combination of references 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 VICTORIA HOM LYNCH whose telephone number is (571)272-0489. The examiner can normally be reached 7:30 AM - 4:30 PM EST M-F.
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If attempts to reach the examiner by telephone are unsuccessful, the examiner’s supervisor, Miriam Stagg can be reached at 571-270-5256. The fax phone number for the organization where this application or proceeding is assigned is 571-273-8300.
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/VICTORIA H LYNCH/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 1724
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