CTNF 17/989,190 CTNF 89180 DETAILED ACTION Notice of Pre-AIA or AIA Status 07-03-aia AIA 15-10-aia 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 07-42-04 AIA 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and the fee set forth in 37 CFR 1.17(e) has been timely paid, the finality of the previous Office action has been withdrawn pursuant to 37 CFR 1.114.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 04/16/2026 has been entered. 12-151 AIA 26-51 12-51 Status of Claims Claims 1-13 were rejected in the Office Action from 01/16/2026. Applicant filed a response, amended claim 1, 6-7 and cancelled claim 3. Claims 1-2 and 4-13 are currently pending in the application and are being examined on the merits in this Office Action. Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 112 07-30-02 AIA 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. 07-34-01 Claims 1-2 and 4-13 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 1 recites the expression: 3 < ( b 1 + b 2 ) a < 11 Where b 1 , b 2 = µm and a = mA/cm 2 The units then become: μ m m A / c m 2 This is not dimensionless, so comparing it to plain numbers 3 and 11 is unit-inconsistent. Therefore, the expression mixes unlike units and does not clearly define a dimensionless ratio. Clarification or amendment to the claim is required. Regarding dependent claims 2 and 4-13, these claims do not remedy the deficiencies of parent claim 1 noted above, and are rejected for the same rationale. Allowable Subject Matter The “closest” prior art found is Hwang et al. (U.S. Patent Application Publication 2005/0069775). Regarding claim 1, Hwang teaches an all-solid-state battery comprising (paragraph [0003]): a cathode active material layer (paragraph [0009]); an anode active material layer (paragraph [0009]); and a solid electrolyte layer interposed between the cathode active material layer and the anode active material layer (paragraph [0016], [0018]). Hwang teaches a surface roughness of the positive electrode of 0.15-0.30 µm (i.e., 150-300nm) (paragraph [0019]), a surface roughness of the negative electrode of 0.165-0.965 µm (i.e., 165-965 nm) (paragraph [0020]), and a current density of 0.1 to 5.0 mA/cm 2 . If both, the positive electrode and the negative electrode are taken as 0.165 µm and the current density 0.1 mA/cm 2 , then ( b 1 + b 2 ) a would result in 3.3 μ m m A / c m 2 . However, Hwang fails to teach the limitation: “ 3 < ( b 1 + b 2 ) a < 11 , wherein a is current density [mA/cm 2 ] of the all-solid-state battery, b 1 is surface roughness [µm] of one side of the cathode active material layer facing the solid electrolyte layer, and b 2 is surface roughness [µm] of one side of the anode active material layer facing the solid electrolyte layer, wherein a ratio of the surface roughness of one side of the cathode active material laver facing the solid electrolyte layer to the surface roughness of one side of the anode active material layer facing the solid electrolyte layer ranges from about 1/3 to 1.” Regarding claims 2 and 4-13, the would be allowable based on their dependency of parent claim 1 above. Pertinent Prior Art 07-96 The following prior art made of record and not relied upon is considered pertinent to applicant's disclosure: Fujiki et al. (U.S. Patent Application Publication 2018/0351159). Fujiki teaches an all-solid-state battery comprising (abstract): a cathode active material layer (paragraph [0054]); an anode active material layer (paragraph [0054]); and a solid electrolyte layer interposed between the cathode active material layer and the anode active material layer (paragraph [0054]), wherein the surface roughness of the positive and negative electrode is 1µm or less (paragraph [0008]). Conclusion Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to CHRISTIAN ROLDAN whose telephone number is (571)272-5098. The examiner can normally be reached Monday - Thursday 9:00 am - 7:00 pm. 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, TONG GUO can be reached at 571-272-3066. 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. /CHRISTIAN ROLDAN/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 1723 Application/Control Number: 17/989,190 Page 2 Art Unit: 1723 Application/Control Number: 17/989,190 Page 3 Art Unit: 1723 Application/Control Number: 17/989,190 Page 4 Art Unit: 1723 Application/Control Number: 17/989,190 Page 5 Art Unit: 1723
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