DETAILED ACTION
Claims 1, 2, 5, 6 and 8-10 are pending as amended on 7 August 2026.
The text of those sections of Title 35, U.S. Code not included in this action can be found in a prior Office action.
Applicant’s amendments to the claims and the remarks/arguments have been entered and fully considered.
Response to Amendment and Arguments
Applicant’s amendment overcomes the rejection under 35 U.S.C. 112(d) or pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 112, 4th paragraph of claim 9. The rejection has been withdrawn.
Applicant’s amendment does not distinguish from US 20210019258A1(Zou).
Applicant’s arguments in light of the amendment have been fully considered but are not persuasive.
Applicant argues that Zou does not disclose the additive as amended. The examiner disagrees. Zou teaches the electrolyte salt comprises lithium difluorooxalate borate ([0080]), which meets the claimed LiFOB additive.
In response to applicant's argument that Zou fails to disclose various effects, it is noted that the features upon which applicant relies are not recited in the rejected claim(s). Although the claims are interpreted in light of the specification, limitations from the specification are not read into the claims. See In re Van Geuns, 988 F.2d 1181, 26 USPQ2d 1057 (Fed. Cir. 1993). Further, Zou teaches the same electrolytic solution thus inherently exhibits the same effects.
Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 102
Claims 1-2, 5, 6 and 8-10 stand rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(1)/(a)(2)as being anticipated by Zou.
Regarding claims 1-2, 6 and 8, Zou teaches an electrolytic solution for lithium battery comprises an electrolyte salt selected from one or more of lithium hexafluorophosphate (LiPF6), lithium tetrafluoroborate (LiBF4), lithium perchlorate (LiClO4), lithium hexafluoroarsenate (LiAsF6), Lithium bisfluorosulfonimide (LiFSI), lithium bistrifluoromethanesulfonimide (LiTFSI), lithium trifluoromethanesulfonate (LiTFS), lithium dioxalate borate (LiBOB) and lithium difluorooxalate borate, i.e., LIFOB([0080]) , which anticipates the claimed combination of a lithium salt and an additive LiFOB
Zou exemplifies the lithium salt as LiPF6 in the amount of 1 mol/L ([0123]), which meets the claimed electrolyte salt and amount.
Zou teaches that the electrolytic solution further comprises a low viscous solvent and a certain amount of wetting agent ([0074]), wherein the wetting agent includes 1,1,2,2-tetrafluoroethyl-2,2,2-trifluoroethyl ether ([0077]), which meets the claimed first solvent 1,1,2,2-tetrafluoro-1-(2,2,2-trifluoroethoxy)ethane thus inherently a vapor pressure at 25°C of 0.003 MPa or more and no flash point, and the wetting agent can present in an amount of 10 wt.% ([0078]), which meets the claimed amount of the first solvent.
Zou teaches the low viscous solvent includes 1,2-dimethoxyethane ([0075]), which meets the claimed second solvent thus inherently a vapor pressure at 25°C of 0.007 MPa or less, and the low viscous solvent can be present in an amount of 30 or 40 wt.% ([0076]), which meets the claimed amount of the second solvent.
Regarding claim 5, Zou teaches the electrolytic solution has a viscosity of 0.5 mPa·s to 5.0 mPa·s at 25±3° C ([0073]), which meets the claimed viscosity.
Regarding claim 9, Zou teaches that the electrolytic solution may further include one or more of ethylene carbonate (EC), propylene carbonate (PC), ethyl methyl carbonate (EMC), diethyl carbonate (DEC) and sulfolane (SF) ([0079]).
Regarding the flashing point of claim 10 , Zou teaches all the claimed component of the electrolyte solution in the same amount, the claimed flash point would naturally arise and be achieved by a composition with all the claimed components. "Products of identical chemical composition can not have mutually exclusive properties." In re Spada, 911 F.2d 705, 709, 15 USPQ2d 1655, 1658 (Fed. Cir. 1990). A chemical composition and its properties are inseparable. Therefore, if the prior art teaches the identical chemical structure, the properties applicant discloses and/or claims are necessarily present. See MPEP § 2112.01.
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.
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to AIQUN LI whose telephone number is (571)270-7736. The examiner can normally be reached Monday-Friday 9:00 am -4:00 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, Randy Gulakowski can be reached at 571-2721302. 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.
/AIQUN LI/Ph.D., Primary Examiner, Art Unit 1766
Prosecution Insights