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 Objections
Claim 10 is objected to because of the following informalities:
In claim 10, please correct “a battery occupying in the accommodating space”. Removing “in” would suffice.
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.
Claims 1-18 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Bhardwaj et al. (“Bhardwaj”, US 9,040,187 B2) in view of Rockford (US 2016/0093861 A1).
Regarding claims 1 and 10, Bhardwaj discloses a battery pack with cells (i.e. electrode cores) of different capacities electrically coupled in parallel (title). Bhardwaj depicts in Fig. 2 cells having different thicknesses and/or sizes (4:22-33). Bhardwaj teaches conductive tabs may extend through seals in the pouch to provide terminals for battery cells, which may then be used to electrically couple a battery cell with one or more other battery cells to form a battery pack (4:54-60). In Fig. 5, Bhardwaj depicts a portable electronic device (i.e. housing) with a processor, display, and memory (i.e. plurality of functional devices).
Bhardwaj does not explicitly teach accommodating grooves.
However, Rockford discloses a power supply system for a portable electronic device (abstract) and teaches that one way to increase the structural soundness of a housing of a portable electronic devices [sic] is to add structural ribs or stiffening features to the housing ([0020]). These types of structural support features can make the portable electronic device less susceptible to damage and in some cases can include integrated features for helping to mount various internal components within the housing ([0020]).
It would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art at the effective filing date of the invention to include structural ribs or stiffening features (which form the claimed accommodating grooves) in order to increase structural soundness and make the device less susceptible to damage, as taught by Rockford.
Regarding claims 2-3 and 11-12, Bhardwaj depicts in Fig. 1 the wiring connections between cells through conductive tabs and terminals (4:54-60) and shows a plurality of connection portions and a plurality of wire sections (Fig. 1).
One of ordinary skill in the art would appreciate that there are many ways to make the electrical connections using one or more wires and one or more tabs and terminals, including disposing on circumferences and integrally forming a terminal with a wire section.
Regarding claims 4 and 13, Bhardwaj depicts gaps between cells with an electrical connection (i.e. wire portion) depicted in the gap (Fig. 1), which reads on embedded in the gap.
Regarding claims 5 and 14, Bhardwaj teaches jelly rolls enclosed in a flexible pouch, which is formed by folding a flexible sheet along a fold line, followed by sealing by applying heat along a side seal and along a terrace seal (4:47-53).
Bhardwaj teaches folding a single flexible sheet instead of a first and second packaging film. However, folding a single sheet followed by sealing the edges and sealing two sheets together is considered an obvious difference. Accommodating grooves would necessarily be present to conform to the shape of the battery cell / jelly roll.
Regarding claims 6 and 15, Bhardwaj does not expressly teach the lead-out portions of the electrode cores and the connection wiring are disposed closer to the first packaging film than to the second packaging film.
However, deciding which part of the sheet/film to place components closer to is considered within the level of ordinary skill in the art and simply a matter of design choice.
Regarding claims 7 and 16, Bhardwaj depicts a battery cell in Fig. 3, where a jelly roll is enclosed in a flexible pouch, which is formed by folding a flexible sheet along a fold line and sealed, for example, by applying heat along a side seal and along a terrace seal (4:47-53). Conductive tabs may extend through seals in the pouch (for example, formed using sealing tape) to provide terminals (4:54-60), as discussed above.
Regarding claims 8 and 17, Bhardwaj depicts electrical connections (see Fig. 1) but does not expressly teach the outer side of the wire portion is covered with an insulating film.
However, It would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art at the effective filing date of the invention to use an insulated wire in Bhardwaj to prevent short circuit, as is well known in the art.
Regarding claims 9 and 18, Bhardwaj teaches cells of different thickness and/or sizes (4:22-32).
Conclusion
The prior art made of record and not relied upon is considered pertinent to applicant's disclosure.
US 2011/0183169 A1 discloses battery with multiple jelly rolls in a single pouch.
US 2016/0336562 A1 discloses packaging of bare cell stacks within device enclosures for portable electronic devices.
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to DANIEL H. LEE whose telephone number is (571)272-2548. The examiner can normally be reached M-F 8:30-5:00.
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If attempts to reach the examiner by telephone are unsuccessful, the examiner’s supervisor, Michael Orlando can be reached at 5712705038. The fax phone number for the organization where this application or proceeding is assigned is 571-273-8300.
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DANIEL H. LEE
Primary Examiner
Art Unit 1746
/DANIEL H LEE/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 1746