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 .
Information Disclosure Statement
2. The information disclosure statements (IDS) submitted on 12/4/2025 has/have been received and complies with the provisions of 37 CFR 1.97, 1.98 and MPEP § 609. Accordingly, the information disclosure statement(s) is/are being considered by the examiner, and a copy with initials is attached herewith.
Drawings
3. The drawings were received on 5/2/2023. These drawings are acceptable.
Election/Restrictions
4. Applicant's election with traverse of Group II (Claims 8-20) in the reply filed on 12/4/2025 is acknowledged. The traversal is on the ground(s) that the search and examination of all of the claims could be made without serious burden on the Examiner. This is not found persuasive because: The inventions require a different field of search (e.g., searching different classes or electronic resources, or employing different search strategies or search queries).
The requirement is still deemed proper. Therefore, claims 8-20 are examined on the merits.
Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 102
5. 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.
6. 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.
(a)(2) the claimed invention was described in a patent issued under section 151, or in an application for patent published or deemed published under section 122(b), in which the patent or application, as the case may be, names another inventor and was effectively filed before the effective filing date of the claimed invention.
7. Claim(s) 8, 9-15 and 17-20 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102 (a)(1)/(a)(2) as being anticipated by David et al (US 20200282863 A1).
Regarding claim 8, David discloses a system (100) for heating a battery of a vehicle, comprising a first cell (110) having a first cell type; a second cell (130) having a second cell type; a direct current converter (DC/DC converter) (120) having a first side coupled to the first cell and a second side coupled to the second cell; and a processor (102) configured to control flow of a first current between the first cell and the second cell through the DC/DC converter to heat the first cell and the second cell during a first heating phase (first mode); and control flow of a second current between the second cell and the DC/DC converter (102) to heat the second cell during a second heating phase (second mode) [Abstract; Fig. 1; paragraph 0008, 0014, 0035-0036, 0039-0040, 0042-0048, 0050; claim 1].
Regarding claim 10, David teaches that the first heating rate of the first cell (110) is greater than a second heating rate of the second cell (130) [paragraph 0014, 0050, 0063].
Regarding claim 11, David teaches that the processor is further configured to select a magnitude of the first current based on the first heating rate [paragraph 0009, 0016, 0040, 0044-0045, 0048, 0061]
Regarding claim 12, David teaches that the processor is further configured to switch from the first heating phase to the second heating phase when a first temperature of the first cell rises to a target temperature [paragraph 0009, 0016, 0040, 0044-0045, 0048, 0061].
Regarding claims 13-14, David teaches that the processor is further configured to operate the vehicle in one of a propulsion mode and a heating mode, wherein the DC/DC converter couples the second cell to a motor of the vehicle in the propulsion mode and couples the second cell to the first cell in the heating mode [paragraph 0009, 0016, 0040, 0044-0045, 0048, 0061].
Regarding claim 15, David discloses vehicle comprising a system (100) for heating a battery of the vehicle. The system comprises a first cell (110) having a first cell type; a second cell (130) having a second cell type; a direct current converter (DC/DC converter) (120) having a first side coupled to the first cell and a second side coupled to the second cell; and a processor (102) configured to control flow of a first current between the first cell and the second cell through the DC/DC converter to heat the first cell and the second cell during a first heating phase (first mode); and control flow of a second current between the second cell and the DC/DC converter (102) to heat the second cell during a second heating phase (second mode) [Abstract; Fig. 1; paragraph 0006, 0008, 0014, 0035-0036, 0039-0040, 0042-0048, 0050; claim 1].
Regarding claim 17, David teaches that the first heating rate of the first cell (110) is greater than a second heating rate of the second cell (130) [paragraph 0014, 0050, 0063].
Regarding claim 18, David teaches that the processor is further configured to select a magnitude of the first current based on the first heating rate [paragraph 0009, 0016, 0040, 0044-0045, 0048, 0061]
Regarding claim 19, David teaches that the processor is further configured to switch from the first heating phase to the second heating phase when a first temperature of the first cell rises to a target temperature [paragraph 0009, 0016, 0040, 0044-0045, 0048, 0061].
Regarding claim 20, David teaches that the processor is further configured to operate the vehicle in one of a propulsion mode and a heating mode, wherein the DC/DC converter couples the second cell to a motor of the vehicle in the propulsion mode and couples the second cell to the first cell in the heating mode [paragraph 0009, 0016, 0040, 0044-0045, 0048, 0061].
Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 103
8. 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.
9. 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.
10. 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.
11. Claim(s) 9 and 16 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over David et al (US 20200282863 A1) as applied in claims 8 &15 and further in view of Shidore et al (US 20220102769 A1).
Regarding claims 9 and 16, David remains silent that the DC/DC converter generates an alternating current to heat the first cell and the second cell. However, it is known in the art to control the DC/DC converter to provide alternating current to both sub-packs to result in battery self-heating [paragraph 0049, 0052]. Therefore, the claim would have been obvious because a particular known technique was recognized as part of the ordinary capabilities of one skilled in the art (KSR v. Teleflex, 82 USPQ2d 1385, 127 S. Ct. 1727 (2007)) and an ordinarily skilled artisan would have recognized such a substitution without undue experimentation and with a reasonable expectation of success.
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to MUHAMMAD S SIDDIQUEE whose telephone number is (571)270-3719. The examiner can normally be reached Monday - Friday, 8:00 am - 5:00 pm.
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, Tong Guo can be reached at (571) 272-3066. 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.
/MUHAMMAD S SIDDIQUEE/ Primary Examiner, Art Unit 1723