CTNF 18/281,364 CTNF 76667 Notice of Pre-AIA or AIA Status 07-03-aia AIA 15-10-aia The present application, filed on or after March 16, 2013, is being examined under the first inventor to file provisions of the AIA. Priority 02-26 AIA Receipt is acknowledged of certified copies of papers required by 37 CFR 1.55. Information Disclosure Statement The information disclosure statement (IDS) submitted on 9/11/23 has been considered by the examiner. Claims Analysis Claim 1 recites a battery comprising an electrode having a core and a mixture layer formed over the core. The mixture layer includes a first layer, a second layer and a third layer wherein each of the first layer, the second layer and the third layer includes a binder. A content of binder in the second layer is lower than or equal to a content of the binder in the first layer. Therefore, claim 1 encompasses an embodiment wherein the first layer and the second layer of the mixture layer are not structurally distinguished from each other (content of binder is equal). Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 112 07-30-02 AIA 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. 07-34-01 Claims 1-6 are 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. Claim 1 recites “a content of the binder in the third layer is higher than a content of the binder in the first layer, and is greater than 0.8 mass% and lower than 2.0 mass%”, which is indefinite. It is unclear what the claimed “mass%” is based upon. Furthermore, the claim should clearly recite if the content of the binder of “greater than 0.8 mass% and lower than 2.0 mass%” is referencing the binder in the first layer or the binder in the third layer. Claim 2 recites “at respective end portions in a width direction”, which is indefinite. Claim 1 recites “at least a part of an end portion of the electrode”. It is unclear what “respective end portions in a width direction” encompasses. The location of the third layer is not distinctly claimed. Claim 4 recites “the binder in the third layer is greater than or equal to 1.0 mass% and less than or equal to 1.5 mass%”, which is indefinite. It is unclear what the claimed “mass%” is based upon. Claim 6 recites “a ratio of thicknesses of the second layer and the third layer to a thickness of the first layer is 30:70 to 70:30”, which is confusing. It is unclear how “thicknesses of the second and the third layer” are determined in the ratio. To the extent the claims are understood in view of the 35 USC 112 rejections above, note the following prior art rejections. Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 102 07-07-aia AIA 07-07 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 – 07-08-aia AIA (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. 07-15-aia AIA Claim(s) 1-4 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102 (a)(1) as being anticipated by Moriyama et al., JP 2012-028006 A . Moriyama teaches an electrode plate for a nonaqueous electrolyte secondary battery having an electrode mixture layer (mixture layer) containing a binder and an electrode active material on a current collector (core). The electrode mixture layer is divided into an inner region (first layer/second layer) and an end region (third layer), and the weight ratio of the binder based on the active material is larger in the end region (third layer) than in the inner region (first layer/second layer) [0014]. The inner region may contain the binder in an amount of 1 part by weight [0049] and the end region may contain the binder in an amount of 2 parts by weight [0050]. See the Figures of Moriyama wherein the end region 3 is formed along a longitudinal direction of the electrode, at respective end portions in a width direction. PNG media_image1.png 246 327 media_image1.png Greyscale The boundary region between the inner region and the end region is 0.5 mm or more and 10 mm or less from the end of the electrode plate [0015]. In the end region 3, the width A is 0.5 mm to 10 mm [0022]. Thus, the claims are anticipated. * 07-15-aia AIA Claim(s) 1-6 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102 (a)(1) as being anticipated by Watanabe et al., US 2015/0380739 A1 . Watanabe teaches a negative electrode for a nonaqueous electrolyte secondary battery comprising a belt-shaped negative electrode collector 32 (core) and a negative electrode mixture layer 50 (mixture layer) disposed on the negative electrode collector [0020]. See Figure 2, 3A and 3B of Watanabe. PNG media_image2.png 278 378 media_image2.png Greyscale PNG media_image3.png 403 317 media_image3.png Greyscale In the negative electrode mixture layer 50, the content of the binding materials in the mixture is preferably the highest in the vicinity (for example, 30% or less of the thickness of the negative electrode mixture layer from the interface) of the interface with the negative electrode collector 32. In such a structure, the binding materials are concentrated near the interface between the negative electrode mixture layer 50 and the negative electrode collector 32 to enhance the binding property and inhibit peeling. More specifically, when the negative electrode mixture layer (a) 52 is divided into two equal parts at the center in the thickness direction, the negative electrode mixture layer (c) 56 is one half on the negative electrode collector side of the negative electrode mixture layer (a) 52, and the negative electrode mixture layer (d) 58 is the other half on the negative electrode mixture layer (b) 54 side of the negative electrode mixture layer (a) 52, where the content C (% by mass) of the binding materials relative to the mass of the negative active material in the negative electrode mixture layer (c) 56 and the content D (% by mass) of the binding materials relative to the mass of the negative active material in the negative electrode mixture layer (d) 58 preferably satisfy a relationship: C>D>B. The ratio C/D is preferably higher than 1.0 and 50 or less and more preferably 2 or more and 20 or less [0025]. The total amount of the first binding material 61 and the second binding material 62 in the negative electrode mixture layer 50 is preferably 0.45% by mass to 2.0% by mass based on the total amount of the mixture (solid content) of the negative electrode mixture layer 50. An amount of less than 0.45% by mass may deteriorate the current collecting properties due to insufficient binding strength. An amount of higher than 2.0% by mass may decrease the flexibility of the mixture layer and may inhibit the diffusion of lithium ions by the excess binding materials, which may cause deterioration of the characteristics [0030]. The content of the first binding material 61 is 0.4% to 1.9% by mass based on the total amount of the negative active material in the resulting negative electrode mixture layer 50 [0038]. The first negative electrode mixture layer formed in the first drying step preferably has a dried thickness of 0.5 to 5 μm [0039]. The content of the second binding material 62 is 0.02% to 1.5% by mass based on the total amount of the negative active material in the resulting negative electrode mixture layer 50 [0040]. The negative electrode mixture layer 50 has a thickness of, for example, 20 to 200 μm [0021]. The content A (% by mass) of the binding materials 60 relative to the mass of the negative active material in the negative electrode mixture layer (a) 52 and the content B (% by mass) of the binding materials 60 relative to the mass of the negative active material in the negative electrode mixture layer (b) 54 satisfy a relationship: 0.04 ≦ B/(A+B)<0.5. The ratio B/(A+B) is preferably 0.06 or more and 0.3 or less [0023]. Thus, the claims are anticipated. Conclusion Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to TRACY DOVE whose telephone number is (571)272-1285. The examiner can normally be reached M-F 9:00-3:00. 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, Nicole Buie-Hatcher can be reached at 571-270-3879. 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. /TRACY M DOVE/ Primary Examiner, Art Unit 1725 Application/Control Number: 18/281,364 Page 2 Art Unit: 1725 Application/Control Number: 18/281,364 Page 3 Art Unit: 1725 Application/Control Number: 18/281,364 Page 4 Art Unit: 1725 Application/Control Number: 18/281,364 Page 5 Art Unit: 1725 Application/Control Number: 18/281,364 Page 6 Art Unit: 1725