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 .
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, 6-7 and 11 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(1) as being anticipated by XU BOGAO (CN111279573, hereinafter XU).
Regarding claim 1, XU discloses a method for charging a traction battery, comprising:
obtaining a negative electrode potential of the traction battery (See Fig.2, Step#202 and Par.48, discloses obtaining the negative electrode voltage [the machine translation has a typo; instead of 220 it lists the step as 202, as evidenced by the attached google translate abstract]) during a charging process of the traction battery (See Fig.2, Step#210, and Par.46 disclose charging the battery at a first charging current [the machine translation has a typo; instead of 210 it lists the step as 201, as evidenced by the attached google translate abstract]); and
controlling the traction battery to be discharged when a difference between the negative electrode potential and a preset potential is less than or equal to a safety threshold (See Fig.2, Steps#230 and 240, Pars.56-58, disclose determining when the battery’s negative electrode voltage meets a first preset condition [the machine translation has a typo; instead of 230 it lists the step as 203, as evidenced by the attached google translate abstract]. Pars.65 and 68 disclose the first preset condition is when the negative electrode voltage less than or equal to 0.05V. Step#240 and Par.58, disclose when the first preset condition is met, the battery is discharged according to a second current [the machine translation has a typo; instead of 240 it lists the step as 204, as evidenced by the attached google translate abstract]).
Regarding claim 2, XU discloses the method according to claim 1 as discussed above, wherein controlling the traction battery to be discharged when the difference between the negative electrode potential and the preset potential is less than or equal to the safety threshold (See Pars.65 and 68 disclose the first preset condition is when the negative electrode voltage is less than or equal to 0.05V. V>0.05, that means when V-0.05>0 then discharge of the battery is performed, however when V-0.05=0 then discharge of the battery is performed) comprises:
sending a first charging request to a charging pile, the first charging request being used to request that a charging current be 0 (See Figs.2 and 4, at T1 and Par.72, disclose when a first condition is detected, the charging current through the battery is suspended i.e. 0 and the battery is discharged at a smaller current); and
when a collected actual charging current of the traction battery is less than or equal to a current threshold, controlling the traction battery to be discharged (See Fig.2, discloses discharging performed between T1 and T2 is done when the charging current is 0 i.e. when charging is stopped).
Regarding claim 6, XU discloses a battery management system, comprising:
an obtaining module, configured to obtain a negative electrode potential of a traction battery during a charging process of the traction battery (See Fig.6, Item#630 and Par.92-93, disclose a detection circuit for detecting the voltage of the negative electrode); and
a control module (See Fig.6, Item#610 and Par.93), configured to control the traction battery to be discharged when a difference between the negative electrode potential and a preset potential is less than or equal to a safety threshold (See Par.97, discloses the control circuit 610 controls the charging and discharging of the battery. See Fig.2, Steps#230 and 240, Pars.56-58, disclose determining when the battery’s negative electrode voltage meets a first preset condition [the machine translation has a typo; instead of 230 it lists the step as 203, as evidenced by the attached google translate abstract]. Pars.65 and 68 disclose the first preset condition is when the negative electrode voltage less than or equal to 0.05V. Step#240 and Par.58, disclose when the first preset condition is met, the battery is discharged according to a second current [the machine translation has a typo; instead of 240 it lists the step as 204, as evidenced by the attached google translate abstract]).
Claim 7, XU discloses the battery management system according to claim 6, wherein in controlling the traction battery to be discharged when the difference between the negative electrode potential and the preset potential is less than or equal to the safety threshold, the control module is configured to:
when the difference between the negative electrode potential and the preset potential is less than or equal to the safety threshold, send a first charging request to a charging pile, the first charging request being used to request that a charging current be 0 (See Figs.2 and 4, at T1 and Par.72, disclose when a first condition is detected, the charging current through the battery is suspended i.e. 0 and the battery is discharged at a smaller current); and
when a collected actual charging current of the traction battery is less than or equal to a current threshold, control the traction battery to be discharged (See Fig.4, discloses discharging performed between T1 and T2 is done when the charging current is 0 i.e. when charging is suspended).
Regarding claim 11, XU discloses a battery management system for a traction battery, comprising a memory and a processor, wherein the memory is configured to store instructions, and the processor is configured to read the instructions and perform, based on the instructions (See Fig.6, Item#610, discloses a control unit, Pars.131 and 143, discloses the control unit comprising a processor executing instructions stored in a memory), a method for charging a traction battery that comprises:
obtaining a negative electrode potential of the traction battery during a charging process of the traction battery (See Fig.6, Item#630 and Par.92-93, disclose a detection circuit for detecting the voltage of the negative electrode); and
controlling the traction battery to be discharged when a difference between the negative electrode potential and a preset potential is less than or equal to a safety threshold (See Par.97, discloses the control circuit 610 controls the charging and discharging of the battery. See Fig.2, Steps#230 and 240, Pars.56-58, disclose determining when the battery’s negative electrode voltage meets a first preset condition [the machine translation has a typo; instead of 230 it lists the step as 203, as evidenced by the attached google translate abstract]. Pars.65 and 68 disclose the first preset condition is when the negative electrode voltage less than or equal to 0.05V. Step#240 and Par.58, disclose when the first preset condition is met, the battery is discharged according to a second current [the machine translation has a typo; instead of 240 it lists the step as 204, as evidenced by the attached google translate abstract]).
Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 103
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 text of those sections of Title 35, U.S. Code not included in this action can be found in a prior Office action.
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) 3-5 and 8-10 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over XU in view of LI (US 2022/0255336 A1, hereinafter LI).
Regarding claim 3, XU discloses the method according to claim 2, wherein discharging is performed until the negative electrode voltage meets a second preset condition (See Par.58 and Fig.2, Step#204), However, XU does not disclose further comprising:
when a duration elapsed after the first charging request is sent is greater than or equal to a first time interval, controlling the traction battery to stop being discharged.
LI discloses a battery charging and management method comprising discharging a battery to prevent plating, wherein when a duration elapsed after the discharging request is sent is greater than or equal to a first time interval, controlling the traction battery to stop being discharged (See Fig.4, Steps#S403-S404, discloses that when the battery reaches a preset condition, charging is suspended and discharging takes place for a duration t. After the duration t expires, charging is continued).
XU and LI are analogous art since they both deal with battery management methods and systems.
It would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the invention to modify the invention disclosed by XU with the teaching of LI by discharging the battery for a duration and after the duration is elapsed stop discharging the battery for the benefit of simplifying the method by performing a single detection signaling the presence of the preset condition which satisfies discharging the battery and ending the discharging after a timer has expired.
Regarding claim 4, XU discloses the method according to claim 1 as discussed above, However, XU does not disclose further comprising:
when a duration for controlling the traction battery to be discharged is greater than or equal to a second time interval, controlling the traction battery to stop being discharged.
LI discloses a battery charging and management method comprising discharging a battery to prevent plating, when a duration for controlling the traction battery to be discharged is greater than or equal to a second time interval, controlling the traction battery to stop being discharged (See Fig.4, Steps#S403-S404, discloses that when the battery reaches a preset condition, charging is suspended and discharging takes place for a duration t. After the duration t expires, charging is continued).
XU and LI are analogous art since they both deal with battery management methods and systems.
It would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the invention to modify the invention disclosed by XU with the teaching of LI by discharging the battery for a duration and after the duration is elapsed stop discharging the battery for the benefit of simplifying the method by performing a single detection signaling the presence of the preset condition which satisfies discharging the battery and ending the discharging after a timer has expired.
Regarding claim 5, XU and LI disclose the method according to claim 3 as discussed above, further comprising:
when the traction battery is controlled to stop being discharged, sending a second charging request to the charging pile based on a charging matching table (See LI, Fig.4, Step#S404, discloses a second charging request after discharging is completed. The second charging request takes place when a duration time period expires as disclosed by LI or when a negative electrode voltage reaches a preset voltage as disclosed by XU. In both instances the “based on a charging matching table” is fulfilled as the charging request is sent when a discharging time is fulfilled or when the negative electrode voltage rises to a preset value) the second charging request being used to request the charging pile to charge the traction battery (See XU, Fig.6, Item#620, and Par.91, disclose a charging/discharging circuit used to charge/discharge the lithium battery, interpreted as the charging pile).
Regarding claim 8, XU discloses the battery management system according to claim 7 as discussed above, wherein discharging is performed until the negative electrode voltage meets a second preset condition (See Par.58 and Fig.2, Step#204), However ZU does not disclose the control module is further configured to:
when a duration elapsed after the first charging request is sent is greater than or equal to a first time interval, control the traction battery to stop being discharged.
LI discloses a battery charging and management method comprising discharging a battery to prevent plating, wherein when a duration elapsed after the discharging request is sent is greater than or equal to a first time interval, controlling the traction battery to stop being discharged (See Fig.4, Steps#S403-S404, discloses that when the battery reaches a preset condition, charging is suspended and discharging takes place for a duration t. After the duration t expires, charging is continued).
XU and LI are analogous art since they both deal with battery management methods and systems.
It would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the invention to modify the invention disclosed by XU with the teaching of LI by discharging the battery for a duration and after the duration is elapsed stop discharging the battery for the benefit of simplifying the method by performing a single detection signaling the presence of the preset condition which satisfies discharging the battery and ending the discharging after a timer has expired.
Regarding claim 9, XU discloses the battery management system according to claim 6 as discussed above, However, XU does not disclose wherein the control module is further configured to
when a duration for controlling the traction battery to be discharged is greater than or equal to a second time interval, control the traction battery to stop being discharged.
LI discloses a battery charging and management method comprising discharging a battery to prevent plating, when a duration for controlling the traction battery to be discharged is greater than or equal to a second time interval, control the traction battery to stop being discharged (See Fig.4, Steps#S403-S404, discloses that when the battery reaches a preset condition, charging is suspended and discharging takes place for a duration t. After the duration t expires, charging is continued).
XU and LI are analogous art since they both deal with battery management methods and systems.
It would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the invention to modify the invention disclosed by XU with the teaching of LI by discharging the battery for a duration and after the duration is elapsed stop discharging the battery for the benefit of simplifying the method by performing a single detection signaling the presence of the preset condition which satisfies discharging the battery and ending the discharging after a timer has expired.
Regarding claim 10, XU and LI disclose the battery management system according to claim 8, further comprising:
a communication module (See LI, Par.96, discloses the detection unit 630 and the control unit 610 have a communication unit);
wherein the communication module is configured to:
when the traction battery is controlled to stop being discharged, send a second charging request to the charging pile based on a charging matching table (See LI, Fig.4, Step#S404, discloses a second charging request after discharging is completed. The second charging request takes place when a duration time period expires as disclosed by LI or when a negative electrode voltage reaches a preset voltage as disclosed by XU. In both instances the “based on a charging matching table” is fulfilled as the charging request is sent when a discharging time is fulfilled or when the negative electrode voltage rises to a preset value), the second charging request being used to request the charging pile to charge the traction battery (See XU, Fig.6, Item#620, and Par.91, disclose a charging/discharging circuit used to charge/discharge the lithium battery, interpreted as the charging pile).
Conclusion
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to AHMED H OMAR whose telephone number is (571)270-7165. The examiner can normally be reached 10:00 am -7:00 PM EST.
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/AHMED H OMAR/ Primary Examiner, Art Unit 2859