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 .
Status
This Office Action is in response to the remarks and amendments filed on 02/16/2026. The objections to the drawings and specification have been withdrawn. The 35 USC 112 rejections have been withdrawn. Claims 1 and 3-17 remain pending for consideration on the merits.
Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 112(b)
The following is a quotation of 35 U.S.C. 112(b):
(b) CONCLUSION.—The specification shall conclude with one or more claims particularly pointing out and distinctly claiming the subject matter which the inventor or a joint inventor regards as the invention.
The following is a quotation of 35 U.S.C. 112 (pre-AIA ), second paragraph:
The specification shall conclude with one or more claims particularly pointing out and distinctly claiming the subject matter which the applicant regards as his invention.
Claims 1and 3-17 rejected under 35 U.S.C. 112(b) or 35 U.S.C. 112 (pre-AIA ), second paragraph, as being indefinite for failing to particularly point out and distinctly claim the subject matter which the inventor or a joint inventor (or for applications subject to pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 112, the applicant), regards as the invention.
Regarding Claims 1, 15 and 16 the recitation of “… the first heat exchange portion is capable of being not in communication with the second heat exchange portion” renders the claim unclear.
It is unclear what kind of communication the applicant means does this refer to fluid communication, direct communication, or another type of communication.
Therefore, one skilled in the art would not necessarily have the ability to ascertain the metes and bounds of the particular claim limitation.
Therefore, the claim is indefinite and is rejected under 35 U.S.C. 112(b) or pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 112, second paragraph.
For examination purposes, the limitation has been interpreted as - - fluid communication - - for clarity.
Claims 3-14 and 17 are rejected to because of dependency from an objected to claim.
Appropriate correction is required.
Allowable Subject Matter
Claims 1 and 3-17 would be allowable if rewritten or amended to overcome the rejection(s) under 35 U.S.C. 112(b) or 35 U.S.C. 112 (pre-AIA ), 2nd paragraph, set forth in this Office action.
Reasons for Allowance
The following is an examiner’s statement of reasons for allowance:
Regarding Claim 1, the subject matter which is considered to distinguish from the closest prior art of record, Durrani et al. (US 20190366800 A1), Kim et al. (US20200338950A1) and Ishizeki (US20210309070A1).
Regarding Claims 1, The prior art of record teaches a thermal management system, comprising:
a compressor, a first heat exchanger, a second heat exchanger, a third heat exchanger, a first throttler and a first flow direction switcher;
the first flow direction switcher comprising a first port, a second port and a third port; the first flow direction switcher having a first working state;
in the first working state, the first port communicating with at least one of the second port and the third port;
the thermal management system comprising a controller;
the thermal management system having a heating mode;
the controller being capable of executing the heating mode; in the heating mode, the first throttler being in a throttling state;
the first flow direction switcher being in a first working state;
an outlet of the compressor communicating with an inlet of the first heat exchanger;
an outlet of the first heat exchanger communicating with a second end port of the first throttler;
a first end port of the first throttler communicating with the first port; the first port communicating with the second port;
the second port communicating with a first end port of the second heat exchanger;
a second end port of the second heat exchanger communicating with an inlet of the compressor; or, the first port communicating with the third port; the third port communicating with a first end port of the third heat exchanger; a second end port of the third heat exchanger communicating with the inlet of the compressor;
the thermal management system further comprises a first pump, a battery heat exchanger, a motor heat exchanger and a heater;
the heating mode comprises a rapid heating mode and a waste heat recovery mode;
in the rapid heating mode and the waste heat recovery mode, the first throttler is in the throttling state;
the first port communicates with the third port;
the third port communicates with a port of the first heat exchange portion;
another port of the first heat exchange portion communicates with the inlet of the compressor;
the compressor, the first heat exchanger, the first throttler and the first heat exchange portion are capable of being in communication;
the first throttler is disposed between the outlet of the first heat exchanger and an inlet of the first heat exchange portion;
in the rapid heating mode, the heater, the first pump and the second heat exchange portion are capable of being in communication:
the first heat exchange portion exchanges heat with the second heat exchange portion; in the waste heat recovery mode, the battery heat exchanger, the first pump and the second heat exchange portion are capable of being in communication, or the battery heat exchanger, the motor heat exchanger, the first pump and the second heat exchange portion are capable of being in communication;
the first heat exchange portion exchanges heat with the second heat exchange portion wherein the third heat exchanger comprises a first heat exchange portion and a second heat exchange portion; the first heat exchange portion is capable of being not in fluid communication with the second heat exchange portion; the first heat exchange portion and the second heat exchange portion are configured to perform heat exchange.
In contrast to the claimed features of the first heat exchange portion is communicated between the third port and the inlet of the compressor; or, the first heat exchange portion is communicated between the third port and the outlet of the compressor.
Therefore, it would not be obvious to modify the technique of the prior art structures to have the apparatus as claimed without improper hindsight and independent claim 1 with dependent claims therefrom are considered allowable.
Regarding Claim 15, the subject matter which is considered to distinguish from the closest prior art of record, Durrani et al. (US 20190366800 A1), Kim et al. (US20200338950A1) and Ishizeki (US20210309070A1).
Regarding Claims 15, The prior art of record teaches a control method of a thermal management system, the thermal management system comprising a compressor, a first heat exchanger,
a second heat exchanger, a third heat exchanger, a first throttler, a first flow direction switcher and a controller;
the first flow direction switcher comprising a first port, a second port and a third port; the first flow direction switcher having a first working state;
in the first working state, the first port communicating with at least one of the second port and the third port;
the controller being configured to execute the control method of the thermal management system, so as to control a working state of the thermal management system;
the control method of the thermal management system comprising:
controlling the thermal management system to enter a heating mode by the controller;
in the heating mode, the first throttler being in a throttling state;
the first flow direction switcher being in the first working state;
an outlet of the compressor communicating with an inlet of the first heat exchanger;
an outlet of the first heat exchanger communicating with a second end port of the first throttler;
a first end port of the first throttler communicating with the first port; the first port communicating with the second port;
the second port communicating with a first end port of the second heat exchanger; a second end port of the second heat exchanger communicating with an inlet of the compressor; or, the first port communicating with the third port; the third port communicating with a first end port of the third heat exchanger;
a second end port of the third heat exchanger communicating with the inlet of the compressor,
the thermal management system further comprises a first pump, a battery heat exchanger, a motor heat exchanger and a heater;
the heating mode comprises a rapid heating mode and a waste heat recovery mode;
in the rapid heating mode and the waste heat recovery mode, the first throttler is in the throttling state: the first port communicates with the third port;
the third port communicates with a port of the first heat exchange portion;
another port of the first heat exchange portion communicates with the inlet of the compressor; the compressor, the first heat exchanger, the first throttler and the first heat exchange portion are capable of being in communication;
the first throttler is disposed between the outlet of the first heat exchanger and an inlet of the first heat exchange portion;
in the rapid heating mode, the heater, the first pump and the second heat exchange portion are capable of being in communication;
the first heat exchange portion exchanges heat with the second heat exchange portion; in the waste heat recovery mode, the battery heat exchanger, the first pump and the second heat exchange portion are capable of being in communication; or,
the battery heat exchanger, the motor heat exchanger, the first pump and the second heat exchange portion are capable of being in communication;
the first heat exchange portion exchanges heat with the second heat exchange portion wherein the third heat exchanger comprises a first heat exchange portion and a second heat exchange portion; the first heat exchange portion is capable of being not in communication with the second heat exchange portion; the first heat exchange portion and the second heat exchange portion are configured to perform heat exchange.
In contrast to the claimed features of the first heat exchange portion is communicated between the third port and the inlet of the compressor; or, the first heat exchange portion is communicated between the third port and the outlet of the compressor.
Therefore, it would not be obvious to modify the technique of the prior art structures to have the apparatus as claimed without improper hindsight and independent claim 15 with dependent claims therefrom are considered allowable.
Regarding Claim 16, the subject matter which is considered to distinguish from the closest prior art of record, Durrani et al. (US 20190366800 A1), Kim et al. (US20200338950A1) and Ishizeki (US20210309070A1).
Regarding Claim 16, The prior art of record teaches a thermal management system, comprising:
a refrigerant system and a coolant system;
the refrigerant system including a compressor, a first heat exchanger, a second heat exchanger and a first throttler;
the first throttler having a throttling state and a cut-off state;
the coolant system including a first pump and a battery heat exchanger;
wherein the thermal management system further includes a third heat exchanger and a damper;
the third heat exchanger includes a first heat exchange portion and a second heat exchange portion which are capable of exchanging heat with each other; the first heat exchange portion and the second heat exchange portion are capable of being not in communication;
the first heat exchange portion is connected to the refrigerant system;
the second heat exchange portion is connected to the coolant system;
the damper is located on a windward side of the first heat exchanger;
the damper is configured to control an air volume flowing through the first heat exchanger;
the thermal management system includes a battery single heating mode;
the first pump, the second heat exchange portion and the battery heat exchanger are communicated to form a coolant circuit;
in the battery single heating mode, the damper is controlled so that wind does not flow through the first heat exchanger;
the first heat exchanger is positioned between an outlet of the compressor and an inlet of the first heat exchange portion;
in the hybrid heating mode, the damper is controlled to allow the wind to flow through the first heat exchanger;
the compressor, the first heat exchanger, the first heat exchange portion, the first throttler, the second heat exchanger are communicated to form a refrigerant circuit;
the first pump, the second heat exchange portion and the battery heat exchanger are communicated to form a coolant circuit.
In contrast to the claimed features of the thermal management system includes a hybrid heating mode
in the battery single heating mode and the hybrid heating mode, the first throttler is in the throttling state;
the first throttler is disposed between an outlet of the first heat exchange portion and an inlet of the second heat exchanger; and
in the hybrid heating mode, the damper is controlled to allow the wind to flow through the first heat exchanger.
Therefore, it would not be obvious to modify the technique of the prior art structures to have the apparatus as claimed without improper hindsight and independent claim 16 with dependent claims therefrom are considered allowable.
Any comments considered necessary by applicant must be submitted no later than the payment of the issue fee and, to avoid processing delays, should preferably accompany the issue fee. Such submissions should be clearly labeled “Comments on Statement of Reasons for Allowance.”
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 Adam D Moore whose telephone number is (703)756-1932. The examiner can normally be reached Monday-Thursday: 09:00AM-07:00PM (Eastern).
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, Jerry-Daryl Fletcher can be reached at (571) 270-5054. The fax phone number for the organization where this application or proceeding is assigned is 571-273-8300.
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/ADAM DORREL MOORE/Examiner, Art Unit 3763
/ELIZABETH J MARTIN/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 3763