DETAILED ACTION
The response filed March 12, 2026 has been entered. Claims 1-4 are pending.
Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 112
The previous 112 rejections of claims 1 and 4 have been withdrawn in view of Applicant’s amendment.
In claim 3, “the fillers” is indefinite for lacking sufficient antecedent basis. The examiner suggests replacing “the fillers” with “the plurality of fillers” for consistency and clarity.
Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 103
The text of those sections of Title 35, U.S. Code not included in this action can be found in a prior Office action.
Claims 1-4 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Pearson et al. (“Pearson”, US 2021/0362580 A1) in view of Enright et al. (“Enright”, US 2020/0089293 A1).
Regarding claim 1, Pearson discloses thermal management fluid systems (abstract) and teaches such systems are useful in cooling electronic devices such as lithium-ion batteries ([0001]) or a battery pack ([0045]). Fig. 1B depict a housing 150 of electrical component 140 (i.e. battery pack / plurality of battery cells) contains a reservoir of first thermal management fluid 120 (i.e. circulation space).
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The squiggly lines show thermal energy moving from the electrical component 140 to the thermal management fluid 120.
The housing 150 corresponds to Applicant’s claimed thermal conducting shell, which contains the battery cells and the convection [sic] space (see 112 rejection above).
Pearson teaches the first thermal management fluid may comprises one or more dielectric fluids ([0053]). Fig. 1B depicts electrical component 140 (i.e. battery pack/cells) immersed in the first thermal management fluid 120 (dielectric fluid) and shows natural circulation for transferring heat (fluid path 122). Pearson teaches batteries may be cooled by direct or indirect cooling ([0004]). Direct cooling advantageously allows the thermal management fluid (i.e. cooling fluid) to come into direct contact with the ”hot” components ([0004]).
Pearson teaches the first thermal management fluids can also include a variety of other components (i.e. fillers) such as viscosity index modifiers and surfactants, inter alia ([0073]), which are both known in the art to control viscosity. Pearson also teaches adding halocarbons, which can also generally have advantageously low viscosities ([0052]).
Pearson does not teach vacuuming the battery pack.
However, Enright discloses a liquid immersion cooling system (title) and teaches that by operating the computing and immersion cooling system under a vacuum, the components may be maintained at the reduced, low-pressure boiling point of the dielectric fluid ([0038]).
It would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art at the effective filing date of the invention to operate under a vacuum as this has the benefit of increased cooling resulting in greater performance of the components ([0038]), as taught by Enright.
As to claim 2, Pearson teaches an expansion chamber is configured to receive a vapor from the first thermal management fluid ([0041]). See Fig. 3A, which shows expansion chamber 354 configured to receive a vapor component 325 from the first thermal management fluid ([0041]). Pearson teaches vaporization-based cooling in ([0052]).
As to claim 3, Pearson teaches one or more halocarbons may be present as small particles that are evenly (or homogeneously) mixed throughout the first thermal management fluid ([0072]), which reads on uniformly mixing the dielectric liquid and fillers.
As to claim 4, Pearson teaches the synergistic combination of halocarbon (filler) with dielectric fluid and teaches both provide the dielectric properties necessary for direct cooling of electrical devices and systems ([0052]).
Response to Arguments
Applicant's arguments have been fully considered but are not found persuasive.
Applicant argues that Pearson teaches the battery cells are not immersed in dielectric liquid.
The examiner respectfully disagrees.
Pearson teaches batteries may be cooled by direct or indirect cooling ([0004]). Direct cooling advantageously allows the thermal management fluid (i.e. cooling fluid) to come into direct contact with the ”hot” components ([0004]).
Direct contact would read on immersing the battery cells in dielectric liquid.
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 DANIEL H. LEE whose telephone number is (571)272-2548. The examiner can normally be reached M-F 8:30-5:00.
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, 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
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