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 .
Election/Restrictions
Applicant’s election without traverse of claims 1-11 in the reply filed on 11/19/2025 is acknowledged.
Claims 12-17 are withdrawn from further consideration pursuant to 37 CFR 1.142(b) as being drawn to a nonelected invention, there being no allowable generic or linking claim. Election was made without traverse in the reply filed on 11/19/2025.
Status of Claims
Claims 1-17 are currently pending in the application, of claims 12-17 are withdrawn from consideration.
Claims 1-11 are being examined on the merits in this Office Action.
Claim Objections
Claim 3 is objected to because of the following informalities:
In claim 3, line 1, it is suggested to amend “the length” to - -the predetermined length- - to conform to prior recitation.
In claim 7, it is suggested to amend “An electrode assembly comprising an electrode and a separator according to claim 1.” to - -An electrode assembly comprising the electrode according to claim 1, and a separator.- -.
Appropriate correction is required.
Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 112
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 1-11 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 the limitation "the boundary region" in line 5. There is insufficient antecedent basis for this limitation in the claim.
Claim 2 recites the limitation “the center of the coated portion” and “the other end of the coated portion”. There is insufficient antecedent basis for this limitation in the claim.
Claim 3 recites the limitation “the length” in line 1. There is insufficient antecedent basis for this limitation in the claim.
Claim 5 recites the limitation “the length” in line 1. There is insufficient antecedent basis for this limitation in the claim.
Claim 6 recites the limitation “the length of a side”. There is insufficient antecedent basis for this limitation in the claim.
Claims 10 recites the limitation “a first straight section”. It is not clear if such limitation is the same or different from the limitation “a first straight section” recited in claim 1. For purposes of examination, it will be interpreted as the same.
Claims 11 recites the limitation “a second straight section”. It is not clear if such limitation is the same or different from the limitation “a second straight section” recited in claim 1. For purposes of examination, it will be interpreted as the same.
Regarding dependent claims 4 and 7-9, these claims do not remedy the deficiencies of parent claim 1 noted above, and are rejected for the same rationale.
Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 102
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.
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.
Claim(s) 1-2, 4 and 7-11 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(1) as being anticipated by Jang et al. (U.S. Patent Application Publication 2011/0081570).
Regarding claim 1, Jang teaches an electrode (i.e., electrode plate) (paragraph [0032]) (see figures 7A and 7B) comprising a coated portion (212) that is coated with an active material (paragraph [0078);
an uncoated portion (213a; 213b) that is not coated with the active material (paragraph [0010]) (see figure 7A below); and
at least one selected from the group consisting of a first straight section formed by cutting out a part of the boundary region between the coated portion and the uncoated portion (see figure 7A below) and a second straight section (216a) formed by cutting out an edge of the coated portion (paragraph [0086]).
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Regarding claim 2, Jang the first straight section comprises at least one selected from the group consisting of a 1-1 straight section having a predetermined length in a direction from one end of the coated portion to the center of the coated portion that is set to be perpendicular to the boundary region (see figure 7a below).
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Regarding claim 4, Jang teaches the coated portion comprises a first edge portion adjacent to the boundary region with the uncoated portion (see figure 7a below); and a second edge portion spaced apart from the boundary region with the uncoated portion (see figure 7a below), and the second straight section comprises at least one selected from the group consisting a 2-1 straight section and a 2-2 straight section formed by cutting out the first edge portion (see figure 7a below).
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Regarding claims 7-8, Jang teaches an electrode assembly comprising an electrode including a cathode or an anode and a separator interposed between the cathode and the anode (paragraph [0016]).
Regarding claim 9, Jang the electrode assembly may be one in which the cathode and the anode are alternately stacked (i.e., stacked structure) (paragraph [0037]).
Regarding claims 10-11, Jang teaches the electrode assembly include a plurality of positive electrodes, a plurality of negative electrodes, and a plurality of separators in a stacked structure (paragraph [0037]) therefore, the first and second straight sections on the cathode or anode would be align in the stacking direction.
Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 103
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.
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.
The factual inquiries for establishing a background for determining obviousness under 35 U.S.C. 103 are summarized as follows:
1. Determining the scope and contents of the prior art.
2. Ascertaining the differences between the prior art and the claims at issue.
3. Resolving the level of ordinary skill in the pertinent art.
4. Considering objective evidence present in the application indicating obviousness or nonobviousness.
This application currently names joint inventors. In considering patentability of the claims the examiner presumes that the subject matter of the various claims was commonly owned as of the effective filing date of the claimed invention(s) absent any evidence to the contrary. Applicant is advised of the obligation under 37 CFR 1.56 to point out the inventor and effective filing dates of each claim that was not commonly owned as of the effective filing date of the later invention in order for the examiner to consider the applicability of 35 U.S.C. 102(b)(2)(C) for any potential 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(2) prior art against the later invention.
Claim(s) 3 and 5-6 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Jang et al. (U.S. Patent Application Publication 2011/0081570) as applied to claims 1-2 and 4 above, and further in view of Byun et al. (U.S. Patent Application Publication 2012/0177982).
Regarding claims 3 and 5-6, Jang teaches the electrode as described above in claim 1 including the first straight section and the second straight section.
Jang fails to disclose or suggest the particular dimensions of the straight sections as described in the instant claims.
Byun, also directed to an electrode assembly (paragraph [0007]), teaches an electrode assembly with a coated and uncoated portion (paragraph [0007]) with a boundary region (paragraph [0008]). Further, Byun teaches the dimension of the boundary regions are selected to reduce heat generated during current flow (paragraph [0008]). Thus, it is interpreted that Byun recognizes that the boundary geometry/dimension and length affect electrical resistance, and heat dissipation may be optimized accordingly.
Therefore, a person of ordinary skill in the art seeking to improve thermal performance of the electrode of Jang would be motivated to modify the dimensions of the straight sections of the boundaries in view of Byun teaching that such dimension directly affects heat generation. It would have been obvious to optimize the lengths of the straight sections and boundary interfaces in Jang to achieve a reduce heat generation, as taught by Byun. Adjusting a dimension (such as a length ≥ 2mm or making one side longer than the opposite side) to achieve a know performance (i.e., heat reduction) is generally considered an instance of routine optimization of a result-effective variable.
Pertinent Prior Art
The following prior art made of record and not relied upon is considered pertinent to applicant's disclosure:
Shin (U.S. Patent Application Publication 2021/0143466). Shin teaches an electrode assembly with coated and uncoated portions and a boundary region where a first straight section and a second straight section is formed (paragraph [0038]) (see figure 3).
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Kim (U.S. Patent Application Publication 2019/0013524). Kim teaches an electrode assembly (10) with an uncoated (12,13) and a coated portion (11) and a boundary region (region between the uncoated and coated portion) (paragraph 0027]) (see figures 1a and 1b).
Correspondence
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to CHRISTIAN ROLDAN whose telephone number is (571)272-5098. The examiner can normally be reached Monday - Thursday 9:00 am - 7:00 pm.
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/CHRISTIAN ROLDAN/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 1723