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 .
Priority
Receipt is acknowledged of certified copies of papers required by 37 CFR 1.55.
Information Disclosure Statement
The information disclosure statement(s) (IDS) submitted on 09/29/2025 has been considered by the examiner.
Election/Restrictions
Applicant’s election without traverse of claims 1-10 in the reply filed on 11/25/2025 is acknowledged.
Drawings
The drawings are objected to as failing to comply with 37 CFR 1.84(p)(5) because they include the following reference character(s) not mentioned in the description: 7, in figure 3. Corrected drawing sheets in compliance with 37 CFR 1.121(d), or amendment to the specification to add the reference character(s) in the description in compliance with 37 CFR 1.121(b) are required in reply to the Office action to avoid abandonment of the application. Any amended replacement drawing sheet should include all of the figures appearing on the immediate prior version of the sheet, even if only one figure is being amended. Each drawing sheet submitted after the filing date of an application must be labeled in the top margin as either “Replacement Sheet” or “New Sheet” pursuant to 37 CFR 1.121(d). If the changes are not accepted by the examiner, the applicant will be notified and informed of any required corrective action in the next Office action. The objection to the drawings will not be held in abeyance.
Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 102
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.
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) 1-7, 9 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(1) as being anticipated by Liu (US 20210083256 A1).
Regarding claim 1, Liu teaches all of the following elements:
A secondary battery, comprising a top cover, (cover plate 30, Liu figure 5)
a pole, (insulating spacer 50, Liu figure 5)
a cell (poles 10 and 11, Liu figure 5)
and a transfer sheet, (Terminal 40/41/42, Liu figure 2)
wherein the pole comprising a first pole, which is provided in the top cover; (insulating spacer 50, Liu figure 5 is clearly within/underneath the cover plate 30.)
the cell comprising a first cell, (poles 10 and 11, Liu figure 5. The battery of Liu clearly comprises a first and second cell. See below for comparison of Liu battery structure to instant battery structure)
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the first cell leading out a first tab and a second tab with opposite polarity; (first and second tabs 211 and 212, Liu figure 2.)
the transfer sheet comprising a first transfer sheet, (Terminal 41 and 42, Liu figure 2.)
the first transfer sheet electrically connecting the first tab to the first pole; (Terminal 41 and 42, and positive and negative tabs 211 and 212, Liu figure 2.)
wherein the first transfer sheet has a first surface and a second surface oppositely, (Terminal 41 and 42, Liu figure 2. Both contain multiple surface, both in the vertical and horizontal direction)
the first tab and the first transfer sheet being connected in any of the following two ways: a part of tabs of the first tab being connected to the first surface, other part of tabs of the first tab being connected to the second surface, the first transfer sheet being located between the part of tabs of the first tab and the other part of tabs of the first tab, or, all tabs of the first tab being connected to the first surface of the first transfer sheet. (As can be seen in Liu figure 2, a part of each tab is connected to a first surface of the first transfer sheet. See below for a comparison between the schemes of Liu and the instant invention.)
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Regarding claim 2, Liu teaches all of the following elements:
The secondary battery according to claim 1, wherein the cell further comprises a second cell, the second cell leading out a third tab and a fourth tab with opposite polarity; (Liu second pole 11, comprises a positive and negative tab as well—see Liu figure 2)
the third tab and the first tab being located on the same side of the first transfer sheet. (See Liu figure 2 above.)
Regarding claim 3, Liu teaches all of the following elements:
The secondary battery according to claim 2, wherein when all tabs of the first tab are connected to the first surface of the first transfer sheet, (Liu figure 2 clearly depicts the entire first tab connected to the first transfer sheet.)
and all tabs of the third tab are connected to the second surface of the first transfer sheet, (Liu figure 2 clearly depicts the entire third tab being connected to a second surface of the first transfer sheet.)
the first transfer sheet is located between the first tab and the third tab. (Liu figure 2 depicts the first transfer sheet 41 being located in between the first and third tab.)
Regarding claim 4, Liu teaches all of the following elements:
The secondary battery according to claim 2, wherein when a part of tabs of the first tab are connected to the first surface of the first transfer sheet, (Liu figure 2 depicts a part of the first tab 221 being connected to the first transfer sheet 41.)
other part of tabs of the first tab and all tabs of the third tab are connected to the second surface of the first transfer sheet, (“According to the battery 100 in one embodiment of the present disclosure, as shown in FIG. 5, the tab 20 may be bent to make it easier to connect the tab 20 to the terminal 40. The tab 20 may include a bending portion 201, the bending portion 201 may form a socket 203, and the insulating spacer 50 may be located in the socket 203.” Liu [0054]. In this case, by bending the tabs around the terminal 40, the tabs would be in contact with multiple surfaces of the terminal.)
the first transfer sheet is located between a part of tabs of the first tab and other part of tabs of the first tab and the third tab. (Liu figure 2 clearly depicts the first transfer sheet 41 being located between part of the first tabs and the third tab.)
Regarding claim 5, Liu teaches all of the following elements:
The secondary battery according to claim 2, wherein when all tabs of the first tab are connected to the first surface of the first transfer sheet, (Liu figure 2 clearly depicts the entire first tab connected to the first transfer sheet. In the case where there is no bending portion, the first tab would all be connected to a single surface.)
all tabs of the first tab and a part of tabs of the third tab are being connected to the first surface of the first transfer sheet, and other part of tabs of the third tab are connected to the second surface of the first transfer sheet, (“According to the battery 100 in one embodiment of the present disclosure, as shown in FIG. 5, the tab 20 may be bent to make it easier to connect the tab 20 to the terminal 40. The tab 20 may include a bending portion 201, the bending portion 201 may form a socket 203, and the insulating spacer 50 may be located in the socket 203.” Liu [0054]. In this case, by bending the tabs around the terminal 40, the tabs would be in contact with multiple surfaces of the terminal. In the case where the third tab has a bending portion, the third tab would be connected to multiple surfaces of the terminal.)
the first transfer sheet is located between the first tab and a part of tabs of the third tab and other part of tabs of the third tab. (Liu figure 2 clearly depicts the first transfer sheet 41 being located between part of the first tabs and the third tab.)
Regarding claim 6, Liu teaches all of the following elements:
The secondary battery according to claim 2, wherein the first tab is led out from the outer side of the first cell, and the third tab is led out from the outer side of the second cell. (Liu figure 2 clearly depicts a first tab led out from an outer side of the first cell, and the third tab led out from the outer side of the second cell.)
Regarding claim 7, Liu teaches all of the following elements:
The secondary battery according to claim 1,
wherein a tab and the first transfer sheet form a first connection area on the first surface, a tab and the first transfer sheet forming a second connection area on the second surface, the first connection area and the second connection area being opposite or at least partially staggered. (Liu figure 2 clearly depicts both a first and second tab being connected to opposite surfaces of the transfer sheet, transversely, and the first and second connection areas are opposite each other in the horizontal direction.)
Regarding claim 8, Liu teaches all of the following elements:
The secondary battery according to claim 1, wherein a tab located on the first surface of the first transfer sheet and a tab located on the second surface of the first transfer sheet have equal or unequal lengths, and the tab located on the first surface of the first transfer sheet and the tab located on the second surface of the first transfer sheet have the same or different number of layers. (The first and third tab of Liu, both attached to the surface of transfer sheet 41, are depicted as having both an equal length and an equal number of layers, thus meeting all of the additional limitations of claim 8.)
Regarding claim 9, Liu teaches all of the following elements:
The secondary battery according to claim 1, wherein the projections on the first surface of a tab located on the first surface of the first transfer sheet and a tab located on the second surface of the first transfer sheet do not completely overlap. (Liu figure 2 clearly depicts both a first and second tab being connected to opposite surfaces of the transfer sheet, transversely, and the first and second connection areas are opposite each other in the horizontal direction, and they do not overlap each other.)
Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 103
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.
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.
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.
Claim(s) 10 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Liu (US 20210083256 A1) in view of Wang (CN 112864539 A)
Regarding claim 10, Liu teaches all of the elements of claim 1, as shown above. Liu is silent on the following elements of claim 10:
The secondary battery according to claim 1, wherein the cell further comprises a third cell,
the third cell leading out a fifth tab and a sixth tab with opposite polarity;
the first tab being located on one side of the first transfer sheet,
the fifth tab being located on the opposite side of the first transfer sheet,
a part of tabs of the fifth tab being connected to the first surface,
and other part of tabs of the fifth tab being connected to the second surface;
or, the cell further comprise a third cell and a fourth cell,
the third cell leading out a fifth tab and a sixth tab with opposite polarity,
and the fourth cell leading out a seventh tab and an eighth tab with opposite polarity;
the first tab being located on one side of the first transfer sheet,
the fifth tab and the seventh tab being located on opposite side of the first transfer sheet;
wherein all tabs of the fifth tab being connected to the first surface of the first transfer sheet,
and all tabs of the seventh tab being connected to the second surface of the first transfer sheet,
or, a part of tabs of the fifth tab being connected to the first surface of the first transfer sheet,
other part of tabs of the fifth tab and all tabs of the seventh tab being connected to the second surface of the first transfer sheet,
or, all tabs of the fifth tab and a part of tabs of the seventh tab being connected to the first surface of the first transfer sheet,
other part of tabs of the seventh tab being connected to the second surface of the first transfer sheet.
However, Wang teaches all of the elements of claim 10 that are not found in Liu. Specifically, Wang teaches a combination of 4 cells via tabs and a transfer sheet that, when combined with Liu, would create the secondary battery described in the instant claims. Wang teaches the following:
or, the cell further comprise a third cell and a fourth cell, (“Specifically, as shown in FIG. 2 and FIG. 3 again, in this embodiment, the power battery 100 includes two sets of battery cells 110. The two groups of battery cell pole groups 110 are respectively a first battery cell pole group 110a and a second battery cell pole group 110b.” Wang [58])
the third cell leading out a fifth tab and a sixth tab with opposite polarity, (As can be seen in Wang figure 10 below, each cell has two tabs leading out of it. Wang additionally states that there is a positive and negative tab leading out of each cell: “As mentioned above, in FIG. 2, the positive electrode connecting piece 113a of the first cell electrode group 110a is located under the corresponding first positive electrode tab 1111a and the second positive electrode tab 1121a, and the negative electrode connecting piece 114a is located on the corresponding first negative electrode. Below the tab 1112a and the second negative tab 1122a.” Wang [80])
and the fourth cell leading out a seventh tab and an eighth tab with opposite polarity; (As can be seen in Wang figure 10 below, each cell has two tabs leading out of it. Wang additionally states that there is a positive and negative tab leading out of each cell: “As mentioned above, in FIG. 2, the positive electrode connecting piece 113a of the first cell electrode group 110a is located under the corresponding first positive electrode tab 1111a and the second positive electrode tab 1121a, and the negative electrode connecting piece 114a is located on the corresponding first negative electrode. Below the tab 1112a and the second negative tab 1122a.” Wang [80])
the first tab being located on one side of the first transfer sheet, (See Wang figure 10 below for demonstration of the first tab being located on one side of the first transfer sheet. This is additionally taught in Liu.)
the fifth tab and the seventh tab being located on opposite side of the first transfer sheet; (See Wang figure 10 below for demonstration of the fifth and seventh tabs being located on the opposite side of the first transfer sheet.)
wherein all tabs of the fifth tab being connected to the first surface of the first transfer sheet, and all tabs of the seventh tab being connected to the second surface of the first transfer sheet, (As can be seen below in Wang figure 10, the fifth and seventh tabs are connected to opposite surface of the first transfer sheet in the horizontal direction, similar to that between the first and third tabs of Liu.)
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Liu and Wang are considered to be analogous because they are both within the same field of lithium-ion batteries that electronically connect together a plurality of cells using electrode tabs and a welding method. Therefore, it would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to modify Liu to include a third and fourth cell to its tab connecting structure in order to produce a battery with increased power output and battery life. This would be desirable as by adding more cell groups, the capacity would increase (“The third battery cell pole group 210c is disposed between the first battery cell pole group 210a and the second battery cell pole group 210b, thereby forming a three-layer battery cell pole group laminated structure, which improves the capacity of the power battery 200.” Wang [93]). It would be well within the skill of a person of ordinary skill in the art to either modify Liu to include a third and fourth cell via the welding method of Wang, or to include the cell structure and tabs of Wang within the battery casing including a pole and cover portion of Liu.
Conclusion
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to BENJAMIN ELI KASS-MULLET whose telephone number is (571)272-0156. The examiner can normally be reached Monday-Friday 8:30am-6pm except for the first Friday of bi-week.
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If attempts to reach the examiner by telephone are unsuccessful, the examiner’s supervisor, NICHOLAS SMITH can be reached at (571) 272-8760. The fax phone number for the organization where this application or proceeding is assigned is 571-273-8300.
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/BENJAMIN ELI KASS-MULLET/Examiner, Art Unit 1752
/NICHOLAS A SMITH/Supervisory Primary Examiner, Art Unit 1752