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 of Application
Claims 1-20 are pending and presented for examination on the merit.
Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 102
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 –
(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.
Claims 1-20 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(1) as being anticipated by WO 2022/104548 to Liang et al. (English equivalent US 2023/0066562 used for citation).
Regarding claim 1, Liang et al. teaches a battery pack 1 comprising:
a plurality of first battery cells 101 comprising a first cell chemistry, e.g. a lithium nickel manganese cobalt oxide (LiNiMnCoO2, NCM) battery cell or a lithium nickel cobalt aluminum oxide (LiNiCoAlO2, NCA) battery cell, each one of the plurality of first battery cells comprising a same first height, a same first width, and a same first length; and
a plurality of second battery cells 102 comprising a second cell chemistry different than the first cell chemistry, e.g. a lithium iron phosphate (LiFePO4, LFP) battery cell or a lithium cobalt oxide (LiCoO2) battery cell, the second cell chemistry providing a lower capacity than the first cell chemistry, each one of the plurality of second battery cells comprising the same first height, the same first width, and a same second length, the second length greater than the first length, length being interpreted to refer to the dimension in z direction (all figures; [0049]; [0100]).
Regarding claim 8, Liang et al. a vehicle (Fig. 1; [0047]) comprising:
an electric motor in drive mechanism 51; and
a battery pack 1 electrically coupled to the electric motor, the battery pack comprising:
a first cell chemistry, e.g. a lithium nickel manganese cobalt oxide (LiNiMnCoO2, NCM) battery cell or a lithium nickel cobalt aluminum oxide (LiNiCoAlO2, NCA) battery cell, each one of the plurality of first battery cells comprising a same first height, a same first width, and a same first length; and
a plurality of second battery cells 102 comprising a second cell chemistry different than the first cell chemistry, e.g. a lithium iron phosphate (LiFePO4, LFP) battery cell or a lithium cobalt oxide (LiCoO2) battery cell, the second cell chemistry providing a lower capacity than the first cell chemistry, each one of the plurality of second battery cells comprising the same first height, the same first width, and a same second length, the second length greater than the first length, length being interpreted to refer to the dimension in z direction (all figures; [0049]; [0100]).
Regarding claim 15, Liang et al. envisions a method for providing a battery pack 1 that leverages mixed chemistry cells for maximal volume utilization, the method comprising:
providing a plurality of first battery cells 101 comprising a first cell chemistry, e.g. a lithium nickel manganese cobalt oxide (LiNiMnCoO2, NCM) battery cell or a lithium nickel cobalt aluminum oxide (LiNiCoAlO2, NCA) battery cell, each one of the plurality of first battery cells comprising a same first height, a same first width, and a same first length; and
providing a plurality of second battery cells 102 comprising a second cell chemistry different than the first cell chemistry, e.g. a lithium iron phosphate (LiFePO4, LFP) battery cell or a lithium cobalt oxide (LiCoO2) battery cell, the second cell chemistry providing a lower capacity than the first cell chemistry, each one of the plurality of second battery cells comprising the same first height, the same first width, and a same second length, the second length greater than the first length, length being interpreted to refer to the dimension in z direction (all figures; [0049]; [0100]).
Regarding claims 2, 9, and 16, Liang et al. teaches that each one of the plurality of first battery cells comprises a nickel-cobalt-manganese (NCM) cell ([0100]).
Regarding claims 3, 10, and 17, Liang et al. teaches that each one of the plurality of second battery cells comprises a lithium-iron-phosphate (LFP) cell ([0100]).
Regarding claims 4, 11, and 18, Liang et al. teaches that a first number of first battery cells and a second number of second battery cells are selected to maximize a volume utilization of the battery pack as Liang et al. demonstrates packing a number of first battery cells and a number of second battery cells into protective box 20 (all figures; [0049]).
Regarding claims 5, 12, and 19, Liang et al. teaches that the plurality of first battery cells and the plurality of second battery cells are staggered in the battery pack in a brick style arrangement (all figures; [0049]; [0061]; [0088]).
Regarding claims 6, 13, and 20, Liang et al. teaches that at least one cell of the plurality of second battery cells is between each pair of the plurality of first battery cells as seen in all figures.
Regarding claims 7 and 14, Liang et al. teaches that each line of the battery pack comprises at least one cell of the plurality of first battery cells as seen in all figures.
Conclusion
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to HENG M CHAN whose telephone number is (571)270-5859. The examiner can normally be reached 9 am - 5:30 pm on Monday, 9 am - 3 pm on Tuesday, and 9 am to 1 pm on Wednesday and Thursday.
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, Basia Ridley can be reached at 571-272-1453. 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.
/Heng M. Chan/ Examiner, Art Unit 1725
/BASIA A RIDLEY/ Supervisory Patent Examiner, Art Unit 1725
Prosecution Insights