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 .
This communication is responsive to amendments/remarks filed on 5/11/2026.
Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 102
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)(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.
Claim(s) 1-4, 7-10 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(2) as being anticipated by LEE et al. (KR 20200051394).
With respect to claim 1, LEE discloses a battery management apparatus (battery management 100), comprising: a converter unit (DC-DC converter 131, figure 2) electrically connected to a first node between a battery (battery 20) and a first end of a positive electrode relay connected in series to the battery (contactor 30, figure 1), the converter unit being configured to convert a voltage of the battery into a predetermined voltage and output the predetermined voltage based on an operation mode (paragraphs 0059-0060); and a converter driving unit (133) connected to the first node to receive the battery voltage from the battery (paragraph 0059), the converter driving unit being configured to control the operation mode of the converter unit based on the battery voltage to a shutdown mode in which the converter unit is inactivated (paragraphs 0062-0063 discloses that when the voltage of the control signal input is less the a threshold the system enters a turn-off state) or to a wakeup mode in which the converter unit is activated (paragraphs 0062-0063 discloses that when voltage of the control signal input is greater than a threshold the system is in a turn-on state).
With respect to claim 2, LEE discloses the battery management apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the converter driving unit is configured to compare the battery voltage with a preset criterion voltage and control the operation mode of the converter unit based on the comparison result. Paragraphs 0062-0063 discloses comparing the signal to a threshold (e.g., 5V) to control operation based on the comparison.
With respect to claim 3, LEE discloses the battery management apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the converter driving unit is configured to control the operation mode of the converter unit to the shutdown mode, when the battery voltage is less than the criterion voltage, and wherein the converter driving unit is configured to control the operation mode of the converter unit to the wakeup mode, when the battery voltage is equal to or greater than the criterion voltage. Paragraphs 0062-0063 discloses that when the voltage of the control signal input is less than a threshold the system enters a turn-off state; and when voltage of the control signal input is greater than a threshold the system is in a turn-on state.
With respect to claim 4, LEE discloses the battery management apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the converter driving unit is further connected to a second node at a second end of the positive electrode relay and is configured to control the operation mode of the converter unit when an external voltage is input through the second node. Figure 2 discloses that the converter driving unit 133 is connected to a second node of relay and controls operation based on an external input IN.
With respect to claim 7, LEE discloses the battery management apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising: a control unit configured to: control an operation state thereof to an inactive mode or an active mode based on whether a power is applied according to the operation mode of the converter unit, and control an operation state of the positive electrode relay according to the controlled operation state. Control unit 133 controls the operation state to an active or inactive mode, paragraphs 0059-0063.
With respect to claim 8, LEE discloses the battery management apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the control unit is configured to: control the operation state to the active mode by receiving a power from the converter unit, when the operation mode of the converter unit is controlled to the wakeup mode, and control the operation state to the inactive mode by not receiving a power from the converter unit, when the operation mode of the converter unit is controlled to the shutdown mode. Figure 2, paragraphs 005-0063 discloses that the control unit 133 controls operating mode based on the input received from the converter unit 131.
With respect to claim 9, LEE discloses the battery management apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the control unit is configured to: control the operation state of the positive electrode relay to a turn-off state, when the operation state is controlled from the active mode to the inactive mode, and control the operation state of the positive electrode relay to a turn-on state, when the operation state is controlled from the inactive mode to the active mode. Control unit 133 controls operation of the relay unit to turn-on state and turn-off state based on the active and inactive modes, paragraphs 0059-0064, 0098.
With respect to claim 10, LEE discloses a battery pack, comprising the battery management apparatus according to claim 1. Battery pack 10 comprises battery management device 100.
Response to Arguments
Applicant's arguments filed 5/11/2026 have been fully considered but they are not persuasive.
With respect to the argument that Lee merely teaches connection between the converter 131 and the battery module. And the Lee provides no teaching or suggestion regarding a direct connection between the control unit 133 and the battery module 20. And that the control unit 133 is not directly connected to a first node connected to the battery module 20, and that the control unit is merely connected to the converter 131. It is respectfully submitted that Lee discloses in figure 2 and paragraphs 0051, 0086 that the control unit 133 is connected to sensing unit 110 that is in series between the battery 20 and the positive electrode of the relay. Thus, the control unit 133 is connected to the node between the battery and the relay, as required by the claim.
With respect to the argument that Lee discloses that the DC-DC voltage converter 131 receives an input voltage of battery module 20 (or an external power supply) and outputs a driving voltage to the control unit. And the Lee does not disclose that the control unit 133 is connected to the node to receive the input voltage from the battery module 20, rather is receives the output voltage of the DC-DC voltage converter 131. As stated above figure 2 and paragraph 0051 discloses that the unit is connected to the node to receive input voltage from the battery 20 via sensing unit 110.
Allowable Subject Matter
Claims 5, 6 were previously 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.
Claim 11 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.
Claim 11 is allowable over the prior art of record, because the prior art of record does not disclose wherein the converter driving unit is directly connected to the first node to receive the voltage of the battery.
Conclusion
THIS ACTION IS MADE FINAL. Applicant is reminded of the extension of time policy as set forth in 37 CFR 1.136(a).
A shortened statutory period for reply to this final action is set to expire THREE MONTHS from the mailing date of this action. In the event a first reply is filed within TWO MONTHS of the mailing date of this final action and the advisory action is not mailed until after the end of the THREE-MONTH shortened statutory period, then the shortened statutory period will expire on the date the advisory action is mailed, and any nonprovisional extension fee (37 CFR 1.17(a)) pursuant to 37 CFR 1.136(a) will be calculated from the mailing date of the advisory action. In no event, however, will the statutory period for reply expire later than SIX MONTHS from the mailing date of this final action.
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/CARLOS AMAYA/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 2836
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