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 Interpretation
Claim 7 includes the limitation “bus-bar-divided body.” The broadest reasonable interpretation of this limitation consistent with the disclosure is the ordinary meaning of the term. That is to say, the limitation has been interpreted to mean that the first bus bar includes a first and second portion that are separate (i.e, divided) from one another but joined together via “the first joining portion.”
Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 112
The rejection of claim 1 under 35 USC 112(b) is withdrawn in view of Applicant’s deletion of the term "separated members" in lines 8 and 11.
Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 102
The rejection of claim(s) 1-6 under 35 U.S.C. 102a1 as being anticipated by Suzuki (US2021/0226304) is withdrawn in view of Applicant’s amendments.
Suzuki (US2021/0226304) It is noted that the “second joining portion” (W1 and W2) are welded and the “first joining portion (M) is a mechanical joint. Thus, the two are “different” as per claim 1. The limitation of claim 2 is also met for the foregoing reason.
With regard to claim 4, busbars 20P and 20N, corresponding to the claimed first and second busbars, are mainly formed with aluminum and copper, respectively (see abstract). Thus, the two busbars inherently exhibit differing electric resistances because Cu and Al are well known and widely understood to have different electrical resistivities.
Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 103
The rejection of claim(s) 7-8 under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Suzuki (US2021/0226304) is withdrawn in view of Applicant’s amendments.
Claim(s) 1, 4-5 and 7-10 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Drozdz et al. (WO 2008/095313) in view of .
Drozdz et al. disclose a battery module including a plurality of battery cells (12) stacked in a predetermined direction and having external terminals. A restraint member including top cap (20), bottom cap (22) and side plate (26) restrain the members and apply a restraint force in the stacking direction. See Fig 1 and description thereof. A plurality of bus bars connect the cells together and a first bus bar connects individual cells through a first joining form and a second bus bar having a second joining form different from the first as shown in the following annotated Figure:
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The reference teaches that a plurality of the above battery cell units are combined and connected to form a bank of modules via the first joining portions (see Fig 3). A plurality of these banks of modules are then combined within a holding member(see Fig 4) to be collectively held.
Drozdz et al. is silent with regard to forming second joining forms via welding.
Suzuki et al. teach a similar battery module structure wherein individual cells are connected via bus bar wherein the bus bar is joined to the external terminal of each cell via welding (see abstract and W1 in Fig1).
It would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art prior to the effective filing date of the claimed invention to form the connection between bus bar and individual cells in the structure taught by Drozdz via welding as suggested by Suzuki et al. in order to form permanent connections.
With regard to claims 4-5, the first and second bus bars have different shapes and sizes as follows:
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The second bus bar would be expected to have greater resistance than the first bus bar in view of its longer length.
With regard to claim 7, see Figure 3.
With regard to claim 8, Drozdz does not disclose the output density of the battery cells used therein. However, it would have been obvious and within the level of routine skill in the art prior to the effective filing date of the claimed invention to determine the optimal output density for the battery cells disclosed by Drozdz based on the desired end use of the battery module.
With regard to claim 9, see p. 9, lines 10-11.
With regard to claim 10, see Figures 4 and 6 and description thereof.
Conclusion
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 HOLLY RICKMAN whose telephone number is (571)272-1514. The examiner can normally be reached Mon, Tues, Thurs, 9am-3pm ET.
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/Holly Rickman/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 1785