Prosecution Insights
Last updated: October 02, 2026
Application No. 18/044,971

ADDITIVE, AND LITHIUM SECONDARY BATTERY ELECTROLYTE AND LITHIUM SECONDARY BATTERY, WHICH COMPRISE SAME

Final Rejection §102§103
Filed
Mar 10, 2023
Priority
Nov 25, 2020 — RE 10-2020-0160280 +1 more
Examiner
WEINER, LAURA S
Art Unit
1723
Tech Center
1700 — Chemical & Materials Engineering
Assignee
Samsung SDI Co., Ltd.
OA Round
2 (Final)
85%
Grant Probability
Favorable
3-4
OA Rounds
0m
Est. Remaining
99%
With Interview

Examiner Intelligence

Grants 85% — above average
85%
Career Allowance Rate
991 granted / 1162 resolved
+20.3% vs TC avg
Moderate +14% lift
Without
With
+14.3%
Interview Lift
resolved cases with interview
Typical timeline
3y 1m
Avg Prosecution
39 currently pending
Career history
1194
Total Applications
across all art units

Statute-Specific Performance

§101
1.0%
-39.0% vs TC avg
§103
30.0%
-10.0% vs TC avg
§102
21.6%
-18.4% vs TC avg
§112
35.1%
-4.9% vs TC avg
Black line = Tech Center average estimate • Based on career data from 1162 resolved cases

Office Action

§102 §103
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 . Response to Arguments Applicant's arguments filed 7-21-2026 have been fully considered but they are not persuasive. The rejection of claim(s) 1-2 and 7-13 remain rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(1) as being anticipated by Ji et al. (US 2020/0144672) because Ji et al. teaches in [0010-0011], that the phosphorus-based compound can be Formula (B): PNG media_image1.png 67 87 media_image1.png Greyscale where Y is PNG media_image2.png 45 31 media_image2.png Greyscale and specific examples of phosphorus-based compounds are taught in on page 17, [0072], such as PNG media_image3.png 157 387 media_image3.png Greyscale . Applicant’s arguments with respect to claim(s) 1-13 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. 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)(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. Claim(s) 1-2 and 7-13 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(1) as being anticipated by Ji et al. (US 2020/0144672). Ji et al. teaches in [0010-0011], that the phosphorus-based compound can be Formula (B): PNG media_image1.png 67 87 media_image1.png Greyscale where Y is PNG media_image2.png 45 31 media_image2.png Greyscale and specific examples of phosphorus-based compounds are taught in on page 17, [0072], such as PNG media_image3.png 157 387 media_image3.png Greyscale [teaching where A, B and C are substituted or unsubstituted nitrogen containing heterocyclic groups which is non-aromatic, teaching claims 1-2]. Ji et al. teaches in [0073], that the concentration of the phosphorus-based compound in the electrolyte solution can be 0.1-10 wt% or 1-5 wt% or 1-3 wt% [teaching claims 7-10]. Ji et al. teaches in [0158], a battery comprising an anode comprising a Si-based material, a cathode and an electrolyte system comprising a phosphorus-based compound, a solvent and a lithium salt [teaching claim 11]. Ji et al. teaches in [0079], that the cathode can comprise LiCoO2, LiNi0.6Co0.2Mn0.2O2, etc. [teaching claims 12-13]. Claim(s) 1-3 and 5-6 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(1) as being anticipated by Vinogradov et al. article given in IDS filed 6-30-2026. Vinogradov et al. teaches that PNG media_image4.png 75 106 media_image4.png Greyscale is known. Thus, teaching when A,B and C are imidazole groups. Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 103 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. Claim(s) 1-2, 4 and 7-13 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Ji et al. (US 2020/0144672). Ji et al. teaches in [0010-0011], that the phosphorus-based compound can be Formula (B): PNG media_image1.png 67 87 media_image1.png Greyscale where Y is PNG media_image2.png 45 31 media_image2.png Greyscale and specific examples of phosphorus-based compounds are taught in on page 17, [0072], such as PNG media_image3.png 157 387 media_image3.png Greyscale and PNG media_image5.png 148 139 media_image5.png Greyscale [teaching where A, B and C are substituted or unsubstituted nitrogen containing heterocyclic groups which is non-aromatic, teaching claims 1-2]. Ji et al. teaches in [0073], that the concentration of the phosphorus-based compound in the electrolyte solution can be 0.1-10 wt% or 1-5 wt% or 1-3 wt% [teaching claims 7-10]. Ji et al. teaches in [0158], a battery comprising an anode comprising a Si-based material, a cathode and an electrolyte system comprising a phosphorus-based compound, a solvent and a lithium salt [teaching claim 11]. Ji et al. teaches in [0079], that the cathode can comprise LiCoO2, LiNi0.6Co0.2Mn0.2O2, etc. [teaching claims 12-13]. Ji et al. discloses the claimed invention as explained above teaching an additive containing A, B and C are pyrrolidine groups but does not specifically teach that the additive containing A, B and C are substituted pyrrolidine groups. It would have been obvious to one having ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to use add a -CH3 group to the nitrogen ring because Ji et al. teaches that having a substituted group or non-substituted group on the nitrogen-containing heterocyclic ring is known. Conclusion The prior art made of record and not relied upon is considered pertinent to applicant's disclosure. Kodama et al. (JP 2014-127354, translation given) teaches in the abstract, a nonaqueous secondary battery capable of achieving both high overcharge prevention properties and deterioration suppression of battery performance even if a positive electrode potential is used at high potential comprising an electrolyte solution comprising at least one of nitrogen containing compound additive having a specific structure such as PNG media_image6.png 132 169 media_image6.png Greyscale , a metal ion belonging to Group I or Group II of the periodic table or salt thereof and an organic solvent.Kodama et al. teaches in [0147] PNG media_image7.png 106 132 media_image7.png Greyscale [a pyrazolyl group which is not substituted]. Kodama et al. teaches in Example 1, an electrolyte solution for battery (1) where the component (A) is added to the solvent shown in Table 1 in the amount of 0.1, 0.5, 3, 5 and 10wt% and the electrolyte comprising 1M of LiPF6 or LiBF4 is added. Kodama et al. teaches a battery comprising a positive electrode comprising LiNi1/3Mn1/3Co1/3O2; a negative electrode and the electrolyte solution. Applicant's amendment necessitated the new ground(s) of rejection presented in this Office action. Accordingly, THIS ACTION IS MADE FINAL. See MPEP § 706.07(a). 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. Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to Laura Weiner whose telephone number is (571)272-1294. The examiner can normally be reached 9 am-5 pm EST M, Th and F. 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. /LAURA S. WEINER/ Primary Examiner Art Unit 1723 /Laura Weiner/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 1723
Read full office action

Prosecution Timeline

Mar 10, 2023
Application Filed
Apr 22, 2026
Non-Final Rejection mailed — §102, §103
Jul 21, 2026
Response Filed
Aug 11, 2026
Final Rejection mailed — §102, §103 (current)

Precedent Cases

Applications granted by this same examiner with similar technology

Patent 12749711
Lithium Secondary Battery
3y 11m to grant Granted Sep 29, 2026
Patent 12744205
POSITIVE ELECTRODE ACTIVE MATERIAL FOR NONAQUEOUS ELECTROLYTE SECONDARY BATTERY, AND NONAQUEOUS ELECTROLYTE SECONDARY BATTERY
4y 6m to grant Granted Sep 22, 2026
Patent 12744249
Reduced Vapor Pressure Liquefied Gas Electrolytes Using High Concentration Salt
3y 5m to grant Granted Sep 22, 2026
Patent 12683186
ALL-SOLID-STATE SECONDARY BATTERY
4y 2m to grant Granted Jul 14, 2026
Patent 12683166
Composite Particle Including Electrode Material and Electrode for Electrochemical Device Including the Same
1y 11m to grant Granted Jul 14, 2026
Study what changed to get past this examiner. Based on 5 most recent grants.

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Prosecution Projections

3-4
Expected OA Rounds
85%
Grant Probability
99%
With Interview (+14.3%)
3y 1m (~0m remaining)
Median Time to Grant
Moderate
PTA Risk
Based on 1162 resolved cases by this examiner. Grant probability derived from career allowance rate.

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