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 .
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.
DETAILED ACTION
Continued Examination Under 37 CFR 1.114
A request for continued examination under 37 CFR 1.114, including the fee set forth in 37 CFR 1.17(e), was filed in this application after final rejection. Since this application is eligible for continued examination under 37 CFR 1.114, and the fee set forth in 37 CFR 1.17(e) has been timely paid, the finality of the previous Office action has been withdrawn pursuant to 37 CFR 1.114. Applicant's submission filed on 08/10/2026 has been entered.
Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 103
2. 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.
Claim(s) 1-7, 9-15 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over MATTHEY et al. (.US Patent Application Publication 20210336299 A1, Date Published: 2021-10-28 in view of Chen, CN 111342515 A, DATE PUBLISHED
2020-06-26, CPC H02J 7/54.
Regarding claim 1:
MATTHEY described a method of diagnosing a battery pack including a plurality of battery banks, the method comprising: determining, by a battery management system (BMS), whether there is a target battery bank satisfying discharge conditions among the plurality of battery banks (0036, temperature satisfied by the degradation speed, 0038, permissible value limit of the charging-discharging); discharging, by the BMS, the target battery bank detected through the determining for a predetermined time (0028, the time of charging/discharging ); storing, by the BMS, a first bank voltage of the target battery bank before discharging the target battery bank and a second bank voltage of the target battery bank after discharging the target battery bank (0027, detects a voltage of each battery cell); deriving, by the BMS, a current voltage variation based on the first bank voltage and the second bank voltage (0027, detects a voltage of each battery cell); estimating, by the BMS, a degree of resistance degradation with respect to the target battery bank based on a reference voltage variation of the target battery bank and the current voltage variation (0027-0030, 0053, detect voltage, resistance increases); and diagnosing, by the BMS, the plurality of battery banks based on the degree of resistance degradation with respect to each of the plurality of battery banks (0027-0030, 0053, detect voltage, resistance increases), wherein the discharging conditions include at least one of a bank voltage, a bank temperature (0027-0030, bank temperature), and a rest time of each of the plurality of battery banks.
MATTHEY does not described variation, the resistance degradation being an increase in a resistance of the target battery bank based on an increase in an internal resistance of a battery cell in the target battery bank; wherein the diagnosing of the plurality of battery banks includes: calculating, by the BMS, a multi-parallel ideality factor based on a number of parallel connections of the plurality of battery banks; calculating, by the BMS, an upper limit threshold value of a non-degraded range based on an entire representative value of the plurality of degrees of resistance degradation and the multi-parallel ideality factor, the non-degraded range being a range of resistance degradation values equal to or less than the upper limit threshold based on the multi-parallel ideality factor; and deriving, by the BMS, the non-degraded range based on the upper limit threshold value and diagnosing a state of each of the plurality of battery banks according to the non- degraded range, and wherein the BMS distinguishes the plurality of battery banks included in the battery pack in a non-degraded state from each of the plurality of battery banks in a degraded state using the non-degraded range.
Chen described variation, the resistance degradation being an increase in a resistance of the target battery bank based on an increase in an internal resistance of a battery cell in the target battery bank (page 3, internal resistance relative variation), wherein the diagnosing of the plurality of battery banks includes:calculating, by the BMS, a multi-parallel ideality factor based on a number of parallel connections of the plurality ofbattery banks (page 6, B1-BN parallel) ;calculating, by the BMS, an upper limit threshold value of a non-degraded range based on an entire representative value of the plurality of degrees of resistance degradation (page 8, differential dtp tp integrating the threshold if the integral value is less thanTHpuL,) and the multi-parallel ideality factor, the non-degraded range being a range of resistance degradation values equal to or less than the upper limit threshold based on the multi-parallel ideality factor (page 8, differential dtp tp integrating the threshold if the integral value is less thanTHpuL),; and deriving, by the BMS, the non-degraded range based on the upper limit threshold value and diagnosing a state of each of the plurality of battery banks according to the non- degraded range (page 8, product of the measurement time interval differential dtp tp is integrated, if the integral value is greater than thethreshold value THpdL,), and wherein the BMS distinguishes the plurality of battery banks included in the battery pack in a non-degraded state from each of the plurality of battery banks in a degraded state using the non-degraded range (page 8, the previous resistance relative variation value of amount to give the current resistancerelative variation, namely Δ ri (j) = Δ, ri (j-1);), for the advantage of to improve the accuracy of the measurement (page 5, instant discharge relative variation and charging and discharging charge relativechange as battery state criterion, can improve the state monitoring and diagnostic accuracy)
It would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art at the time the invention was made to modify MATTHEY to have variation, the resistance degradation being an increase in a resistance of the target battery bank based on an increase in an internal resistance of a battery cell in the target battery bank; wherein the diagnosing of the plurality of battery banks includes: calculating, by the BMS, a multi-parallel ideality factor based on a number of parallel connections of the plurality of battery banks; calculating, by the BMS, an upper limit threshold value of a non-degraded range based on an entire representative value of the plurality of degrees of resistance degradation and the multi-parallel ideality factor, the non-degraded range being a range of resistance degradation values equal to or less than the upper limit threshold based on the multi-parallel ideality factor; and deriving, by the BMS, the non-degraded range based on the upper limit threshold value and diagnosing a state of each of the plurality of battery banks according to the non- degraded range, and wherein the BMS distinguishes the plurality of battery banks included in the battery pack in a non-degraded state from each of the plurality of battery banks in a degraded state using the non-degraded range for the advantage of to improve the accuracy of the measurement
Both MATTHEY and Chen are relevant for 103 because from the same field of invention (battery charge)
Regarding claim 6:
MATTHEY described a battery system comprising: a plurality of battery banks in each of to which a plurality of battery cells are connected in parallel (0040, parallel connections of the battery cells); a discharge circuit connected in parallel between a positive electrode and a negative electrode of each of the plurality of battery banks and configured to discharge each of the plurality of battery banks (0038-0040, battery discharge cells); and a battery management system (BMS) configured to: determine whether there is a target battery bank satisfying discharge conditions among the plurality of battery banks; discharge the target battery bank detected through the determining by the discharge circuit (0036, temperature satisfied by the degradation speed, 0038, permissible value limit of the charging-discharging);
store a first bank voltage of the target battery bank before discharging the target battery bank and a second bank voltage of the target battery bank after discharging the target battery bank (0038, permissible value limit of the charging-discharging )
derive a current voltage variation based on the first bank voltage and the second bank voltage (0040, OCV);
estimate a degree of resistance degradation with respect to the target battery bank based on a reference voltage variation of the target battery bank and the current voltage variation, (0027-0030, 0053, detect voltage, resistance increases); and
diagnose the plurality of battery banks based on the degree of resistance degradation with respect to each of the plurality of battery banks (0027-0030, 0053, detect voltage, resistance increases),
wherein the discharging conditions include at least one of a bank voltage, a bank temperature (0027-0030, bank temperature), and a rest time of each of the plurality of battery banks.
Both MATTHEY and Chen are relevant for 103 because from the same field of invention (battery charge)
Regarding claim 2, MATTHEY further described the reference voltage variation of the target battery bank is an initial voltage variation stored in the BMS with respect to the target battery bank, and wherein the initial voltage variation is a voltage variation before and after a first discharge of each of the plurality of battery banks (0040, store all parameter model).
Regarding claim 3, MATTHEY further described based on the plurality of degrees of resistance degradation with respect to the plurality of battery banks; calculating, by the BMS, a multi-parallel ideality factor based on a number of parallel connections of the plurality of battery banks (0040, parallel connections of the battery cells); calculating, by the BMS, an upper limit threshold value of a normal range based on the entire representative value of the plurality of degrees of resistance degradation and the multi- parallel ideality factor (0027, total voltage); and deriving, by the BMS, the normal range based on the upper limit threshold value, and diagnosing a state of each of the plurality of battery banks according to the normal range (0033, polarization voltage Vp).
MATTHEY does not described variation, the resistance degradation being an increase in a resistance of the target battery bank based on an increase in an internal resistance of a battery cell in the target battery bank; wherein the diagnosing of the plurality of battery banks includes: calculating, by the BMS, a multi-parallel ideality factor based on a number of parallel connections of the plurality of battery banks; calculating, by the BMS, an upper limit threshold value of a non-degraded range based on an entire representative value of the plurality of degrees of resistance degradation and the multi-parallel ideality factor, the non-degraded range being a range of resistance degradation values equal to or less than the upper limit threshold based on the multi-parallel ideality factor; and deriving, by the BMS, the non-degraded range based on the upper limit threshold value and diagnosing a state of each of the plurality of battery banks according to the non- degraded range, and wherein the BMS distinguishes the plurality of battery banks included in the battery pack in a non-degraded state from each of the plurality of battery banks in a degraded state using the non-degraded range.
Chen described variation, the resistance degradation being an increase in a resistance of the target battery bank based on an increase in an internal resistance of a battery cell in the target battery bank (page 3, internal resistance relative variation), wherein the diagnosing of the plurality of battery banks includes:calculating, by the BMS, a multi-parallel ideality factor based on a number of parallel connections of the plurality ofbattery banks (page 6, B1-BN parallel) ;calculating, by the BMS, an upper limit threshold value of a non-degraded range based on an entire representative value of the plurality of degrees of resistance degradation (page 8, differential dtp tp integrating the threshold if the integral value is less thanTHpuL,) and the multi-parallel ideality factor, the non-degraded range being a range of resistance degradation values equal to or less than the upper limit threshold based on the multi-parallel ideality factor (page 8, differential dtp tp integrating the threshold if the integral value is less thanTHpuL),; and deriving, by the BMS, the non-degraded range based on the upper limit threshold value and diagnosing a state of each of the plurality of battery banks according to the non- degraded range (page 8, product of the measurement time interval differential dtp tp is integrated, if the integral value is greater than thethreshold value THpdL,), and wherein the BMS distinguishes the plurality of battery banks included in the battery pack in a non-degraded state from each of the plurality of battery banks in a degraded state using the non-degraded range (page 8, the previous resistance relative variation value of amount to give the current resistancerelative variation, namely Δ ri (j) = Δ, ri (j-1);), for the advantage of to improve the accuracy of the measurement (page 5, instant discharge relative variation and charging and discharging charge relativechange as battery state criterion, can improve the state monitoring and diagnostic accuracy)
It would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art at the time the invention was made to modify MATTHEY to have variation, the resistance degradation being an increase in a resistance of the target battery bank based on an increase in an internal resistance of a battery cell in the target battery bank; wherein the diagnosing of the plurality of battery banks includes: calculating, by the BMS, a multi-parallel ideality factor based on a number of parallel connections of the plurality of battery banks; calculating, by the BMS, an upper limit threshold value of a non-degraded range based on an entire representative value of the plurality of degrees of resistance degradation and the multi-parallel ideality factor, the non-degraded range being a range of resistance degradation values equal to or less than the upper limit threshold based on the multi-parallel ideality factor; and deriving, by the BMS, the non-degraded range based on the upper limit threshold value and diagnosing a state of each of the plurality of battery banks according to the non- degraded range, and wherein the BMS distinguishes the plurality of battery banks included in the battery pack in a non-degraded state from each of the plurality of battery banks in a degraded state using the non-degraded range for the advantage of to improve the accuracy of the measurement
Regarding claim 3, MATTHEY further described based on the plurality of degrees of resistance degradation with respect to the plurality of battery banks; calculating, by the BMS, a multi-parallel ideality factor based on a number of parallel connections of the plurality of battery banks (0040, parallel connections of the battery cells).
Regarding claim 4, MATTHEY further described the calculating of the upper limit threshold value includes: , by the BMS, as a target group, a plurality of first battery banks having a degree of resistance degradation less than or equal to the entire representative value of the plurality of degrees of resistance degradation among the plurality of battery banks; deriving, by the BMS, a target representative value of a plurality of degrees of resistance degradation of the plurality of first battery banks belonging to the target group; and calculating the upper limit threshold value of a of the normal range based on the target representative value and the multi-parallel ideality factor (fig. 9, 102, 501-506, 0048, specified threshold).
Regarding claim 5, MATTHEY further described the diagnosing of the state of each of the plurality of battery banks includes: determining, by the BMS, a battery bank having a degree of resistance degradation equal to or less than the upper limit threshold value as a as the non-degraded state among the plurality of battery banks; and determining, by the BMS, a battery bank having a degree of resistance degradation greater than the upper limit threshold value as an abnormal state among the plurality of battery banks (fig. 9, 102, 501-506, 0048, specified threshold).
Regarding claim 7, MATTHEY further described the reference voltage variation of the target battery bank is an initial voltage variation stored in the BMS with respect to the target battery bank, and wherein the initial voltage variation is a voltage variation before and after a first discharge of each of the plurality of battery banks (0040, store all parameter model).
Regarding claim 9, MATTHEY further described deriving the entire representative value of the plurality of degrees of resistance degradation based on the plurality of degrees of resistance degradation respectively with respect to the plurality of battery bank (fig. 9, 102, 501-506, 0048, specified threshold, 0027-0030, 0053, detect voltage, resistance increases).
Regarding claim 10 MATTHEY further described the BMS is configured to: determine a battery bank having a degree of resistance degradation equal to or less than the upper limit threshold value of the degree of resistance degradation (0027-0030, 0053, detect voltage, resistance increases) as a as the non0degraded state among the plurality of battery banks and determine a battery bank having a degree of resistance degradation greater than the upper limit threshold value of the degree of resistance degradation as an degraded state among the plurality of battery banks (fig. 9, 102, 501-506, 0048, specified threshold).
.
Regarding claim 11 MATTHEY further described the BMS is configured to diagnose a state of the plurality of battery banks by distinguishing whether each of the plurality of battery banks is in the degraded state (0037, outputs the set value to the current limiting value calculation unit).
Regarding claims 12, 14, MATTHEY further described wherein the multi-parallel ideality factor is a ratio that is proportional to the number of the parallel connections, and is greater than 1 (0048, changes from the initial value T.sub.limit 1 to a final value T.sub.limit N in N steps.).
Regarding claims 13, 15, MATTHEY further described wherein the upper limit threshold value of the non-degraded range is changed by the BMS based on the number of the parallel connections (0026, battery cells serially/parallelly, 0070, the degradation speed, 0030, battery is normally maintained as a constant value).
Contact information
3. Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to Tung Lau whose telephone number is (571)272-2274, email is Tungs.lau@uspto.gov. The examiner can normally be reached on Tuesday-Friday 7:00 AM-5:00 PM EST.
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/TUNG S LAU/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 2857
Technology Center 2800
August 20, 2026
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