Prosecution Insights
Last updated: April 19, 2026
Application No. 18/320,051

Vehicle Charging Station

Non-Final OA §102§103
Filed
May 18, 2023
Examiner
CASS, JEAN PAUL
Art Unit
3666
Tech Center
3600 — Transportation & Electronic Commerce
Assignee
ABB E-Mobility B V
OA Round
1 (Non-Final)
73%
Grant Probability
Favorable
1-2
OA Rounds
3y 1m
To Grant
99%
With Interview

Examiner Intelligence

Grants 73% — above average
73%
Career Allow Rate
719 granted / 984 resolved
+21.1% vs TC avg
Strong +26% interview lift
Without
With
+25.9%
Interview Lift
resolved cases with interview
Typical timeline
3y 1m
Avg Prosecution
83 currently pending
Career history
1067
Total Applications
across all art units

Statute-Specific Performance

§101
10.5%
-29.5% vs TC avg
§103
56.8%
+16.8% vs TC avg
§102
12.6%
-27.4% vs TC avg
§112
12.8%
-27.2% vs TC avg
Black line = Tech Center average estimate • Based on career data from 984 resolved cases

Office Action

§102 §103
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. (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. Claim s 1 -3 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. sec. 10 2(a)(2) as being anticipated by a German Patent Pub. No.: DE102015101140B4 to FUHRER . FUHRER discloses “... 1. A vehicle charging station, comprising: a holder configured to hold a battery charging connector; and a cooling device configured to remove heat from a heat source of the battery charging connector when the battery charging connector is on the holder, wherein the cooling device is configured to convectively dissipate the removed heat into ambient air. ” (see abstract and claims 1-5) FUHRER discloses “... 2. The vehicle charging station according to claim 1, wherein the cooling device is a passive cooling device configured to be plugged into a socket of the battery charging connector, thereby providing a thermal connection to the heat source of the battery charging connector ” . (See FIG. 1-2 and where the charger plug is plugged back to the body and is charging using a cooling device, see abstract and claims 1-15) FUHRER discloses “... 3. The vehicle charging station according to claim 2, wherein the passive cooling device comprises cooling fins. ” (see paragraph 1-10 where the device can include a number of spiraled cooling channels; In the DE 10 2010 050 562 B3 a charging station for charging a vehicle drivable with electrical energy is described, wherein the charging station comprises a cooling unit, which is coupled by means of at least one cooling hose to the charging connector. In the charging connector spiral cooling channels are formed, which are fluidly connected to the cooling hose. ) 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 . Claim s 4 -9 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. sec. 103 as being unpatentable as obvious in view of German Patent Pub. No.: DE102015101140B4 to FUHRER and in view of European Patent Pub. No.: EP 3 257 701 A1 to KOHLER. Fuhrer is silent but KOHLER teaches “... 4. The vehicle charging station according to claim 2, wherein the passive cooling device is a heat pipe comprising condenser fins ” . (See claims 1-5) It would have been obvious for one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date with a reasonable expectation of success to combine the teachings of KOHLER with the disclosure of FUHRER since KOHLER teaches that an electrically connected thermoelectric device to provide cooling to the charging plug via an active device. See claims 1-3. Fuhrer is silent but KOHLER teaches “... 5. The vehicle charging station according to claim 1, wherein the vehicle charging station further comprises an active cooling device ” . (See claims 1-7 where the device includes an active thermoelectric device) It would have been obvious for one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date with a reasonable expectation of success to combine the teachings of KOHLER with the disclosure of FUHRER since KOHLER teaches that an electrically connected thermoelectric device to provide cooling to the charging plug via an active device. See claims 1-3. Fuhrer is silent but KOHLER teaches “... 6. The vehicle charging station according to claim 5, wherein the active cooling device is a fan. ( According to the invention, the cooling device has an air cooling device. With the help of an air cooling device, a surface of heat-generating objects can be cooled by air flowing past it. The air movement necessary for air cooling can occur either by convection or by a fan. The charging plug can also have cooling fins and/or a heat sink as a heat exchanger in order to enable greater heat dissipation through a larger surface area. ) It would have been obvious for one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date with a reasonable expectation of success to combine the teachings of KOHLER with the disclosure of FUHRER since KOHLER teaches that an electrically connected thermoelectric device to provide cooling to the charging plug via an active device. See claims 1-3. Fuhrer is silent but KOHLER teaches “... 7. The vehicle charging station according to claim 5, wherein the active cooling device is configured to direct an air flow to at least one passive cooling device in the charging station or to at least one passive device of the charging connector. (see claims 1-7 and where the device has a thermoelectric device and that can provide cooling with a fan ) (According to the invention, the cooling device has an air cooling device. With the help of an air cooling device, a surface of heat-generating objects can be cooled by air flowing past it. The air movement necessary for air cooling can occur either by convection or by a fan. The charging plug can also have cooling fins and/or a heat sink as a heat exchanger in order to enable greater heat dissipation through a larger surface area.) It would have been obvious for one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date with a reasonable expectation of success to combine the teachings of KOHLER with the disclosure of FUHRER since KOHLER teaches that an electrically connected thermoelectric device to provide cooling to the charging plug via an active device. See claims 1-3. Fuhrer discloses “... 8. The vehicle charging station according to claim 5, wherein the vehicle charging station further comprises a temperature sensor and a control circuit, and wherein the control circuit is configured to control the active cooling device in dependence on the temperature measured by the temperature sensor ” ( In the GB 2489988 A is the use of a temperature sensor on a charging plug described. The present invention has for its object to provide a charging station for delivering electrical energy to an energy receiver, by means of the short-term energy receiver, in particular batteries of electric vehicles, are rechargeable. ) It would have been obvious for one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date with a reasonable expectation of success to combine the teachings of KOHLER with the disclosure of FUHRER since KOHLER teaches that an electrically connected thermoelectric device to provide cooling to the charging plug via an active device. See claims 1-3. The primary reference is silent but KOEHLER teaches “.. 9. The vehicle charging station according to claim 5 , wherein the vehicle charging station further comprises a clock and a control circuit, wherein the control circuit is configured to activate or de-activate the active cooling device in dependence on pre-defined times using the clock ” . (see specification as paragraph 1-10 and The invention relates to a charging device for an energy storage device of an electrically driven vehicle, comprising a charging plug for transmitting an electrical charge to the energy storage device of the motor vehicle, a charging line for connecting the charging plug to a power grid, and a charging station with a docking station for receiving the charging plug when not in use and for connecting the charging line to the power grid, with a cooling device for cooling the charging plug being arranged in the docking station. The charging device can be a charging station for an electrically powered vehicle. The energy storage can be a battery, in particular a traction battery. By arranging the cooling device in the charging station, the charging plug can be cooled to a predetermined temperature or maintained at a predetermined temperature in the docking station during a rest phase before charging a vehicle. In this way the charging plug can be switched to one predetermined desired low temperature, for example less than or equal to 10 ° C, can be preconditioned. A pre-cooled charging plug can therefore be used to charge a motor vehicle. After charging is complete, the plug can be put back into the docking station to cool down. The cooling device can be designed and/or selected in such a way that it corresponds to the frequency of use of the charging device. The period of time between driving away and the subsequent vehicle driving up can be used to cool the charging plug and should be sufficient to cool the charging plug to a predetermined desired temperature. If, for example, the charging process is interrupted due to the charging plug overheating at high ambient temperatures, the charging plug can be cooled briefly in the docking station. ) It would have been obvious for one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date with a reasonable expectation of success to combine the teachings of KOHLER with the disclosure of FUHRER since KOHLER teaches that an electrically connected thermoelectric device to provide cooling to the charging plug via an active device. See claims 1-3. Claim 10 is rejected under 35 U.S.C. sec. 103 as being unpatentable as obvious in view of German Patent Pub. No.: DE102015101140B4 to FUHRER and in view of European Patent Pub. No.: EP 3 257 701 A1 to KOHLER. Kohler discloses “... 10. The vehicle charging station according to claim 5 , wherein the vehicle charging station further comprises a mechanical temperature switch to activate or and/or deactivated the active cooling device ” . ( The charging device can be a charging station for an electrically powered vehicle. The energy storage can be a battery, in particular a traction battery. By arranging the cooling device in the charging station, the charging plug can be cooled to a predetermined temperature or maintained at a predetermined temperature in the docking station during a rest phase before charging a vehicle. In this way the charging plug can be switched to one predetermined desired low temperature, for example less than or equal to 10 ° C, can be preconditioned. A pre-cooled charging plug can therefore be used to charge a motor vehicle. After charging is complete, the plug can be put back into the docking station to cool down. The cooling device can be designed and/or selected in such a way that it corresponds to the frequency of use of the charging device. The period of time between driving away and the subsequent vehicle driving up can be used to cool the charging plug and should be sufficient to cool the charging plug to a predetermined desired temperature. If, for example, the charging process is interrupted due to the charging plug overheating at high ambient temperatures, the charging plug can be cooled briefly in the docking station. ) It would have been obvious for one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date with a reasonable expectation of success to combine the teachings of KOHLER with the disclosure of FUHRER since KOHLER teaches that an electrically connected thermoelectric device to provide cooling to the charging plug via an active device. See claims 1-3. Claims 11-13 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. sec. 103 as being unpatentable as obvious in view of German Patent Pub. No.: DE102015101140B4 to FUHRER and in view of European Patent Pub. No.: EP 3 257 701 A1 to KOHLER a nd in view of Chinese Patent Pub. No. : CN110626197A . The 197 publication teaches “.. 11. The vehicle charging station according to claim 5 , wherein the active cooling device is a pump configured to provide a liquid cooling for the passive cooling device ” . (see abstract) It would have been obvious for one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date with a reasonable expectation of success to combine the teachings of KOHLER with the disclosure of FUHRER since KOHLER teaches that an electrically connected thermoelectric device to provide cooling to the charging plug via an active device. See claims 1-3. The ‘197 publication teaches “... 12. The vehicle charging station according to claim 5 , wherein the vehicle charging station further comprises a mechanical temperature switch to activate and/or deactivated the active cooling device ” . ( In order to achieve the purpose, the invention is realized by the following technical scheme: the utility model provides an adopt intelligent charging stake of decompression back-rise principle, its structure is including heat dissipation cover, the rifle charges, the charging wire, unable adjustment base, the lifter, the electric pile host computer, the art designing lines, control switch, operating panel installs in electric pile host computer top through the embedding mode, electric pile host computer surface is equipped with the recess of installation art designing lines, control switch installs in art designing lines top through the embedding mode, heat dissipation cover installs in electric pile host computer rear side upper end through the lock mode, electric pile host computer bottom and lifter upper end registrate are connected, the lifter bottom is connected through the welding mode with unable adjustment base, charging wire head end through connection is inside the electric pile host computer, the rifle that charges installs in heat dissipation cover right side lower extreme through the embedding mode, the charging wire is terminal to be connected with the rifle rear end registrate of charging. As the further optimization of this technical scheme, the heat exchanger that looses is equipped with four including decompressing mechanism, casing, pneumatic base, the subassembly that rises back, pneumatic base, and four end registries are connected with the subassembly bottom that rises back, and the subassembly that rises back is installed in the casing top through the lock mode, and the inside lower extreme of casing is equipped with decompresses the mechanism, decompresses the mechanism left end and is connected with the rifle lock that charges, and pneumatic base passes through the lock mode and installs in the casing middle part. ) It would have been obvious for one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date with a reasonable expectation of success to combine the teachings of the ‘197 publication with the disclosure of FUHRER since the ‘197 publication teaches that a plug can be fastened into the charger and upon that contact of the thrusting the plug can be cooled with the charging cooling structure. See claims 1-7. The 197 teaches “... 13. The vehicle charging station according to claim 5 , wherein the vehicle charging station comprises a liquid-cooled rod configured to be plugged into the power contacts, and wherein the active cooling device is a pump connected to the liquid-cooled rod and configured to provide the liquid flow to and from the rod ” . (see abstract and paragraph 1-10 and claims 1-2 and s the further optimization of the technical scheme, the back lifting assembly comprises descaling glue, a ventilation box, a lifting push rod and a heat dissipation hose, the lifting push rod is connected with the pneumatic base in a sleeved mode, the top of the heat dissipation hose is installed at the bottom of the ventilation box, the descaling glue is arranged on the periphery of the ventilation box, and the lifting push rod is distributed at four ends of the bottom of the ventilation box. As the further optimization of this technical scheme, the box that ventilates includes thermovent , assembly horizontal bar, controllable blade, spring, reverse frame that pushes away, and ventilation box top is located to the thermovent to structure as an organic whole, ventilation box middle part is equipped with the assembly horizontal bar, and controllable blade is equipped with more than two, and even equidistance distributes in the assembly horizontal bar inboard, and reverse frame that pushes away is equipped with two, and the end is connected through spring and the inside both ends lock of ventilation box, and controllable blade bottom meshes with reverse frame upper end mutually. As the further optimization of the technical scheme, the controllable blades comprise two turning wheels, a blade main body and sealing strips, the turning wheels are installed at the left end and the right end of the blade main body in a sleeving mode, the sealing strips are arranged at the front end of the bottom of the blade main body, and the turning wheels are meshed with the reverse pushing frame and connected. As the further optimization of the technical scheme, the pulleys are arranged on the two sides of the decompression sliding seat, so that the resistance can be effectively reduced, and the sliding performance is improved. As the further optimization of the technical scheme, the pistons at two sides in the magnetic reversal grooves are made of the positive pole magnet material, so that the reverse transmission can be carried out according to the principle that the positive poles repel each other. As a further optimization of the technical scheme, the surface of the turnover wheel is provided with a meshing tooth surface for meshing control with the reverse pushing frame when the reverse pushing frame is pushed out, and finally the turnover of the controllable blade is realized. Advantageous effects The invention relates to an intelligent charging pile adopting a decompression and lifting principle, which is characterized in that when the intelligent charging pile is used, an electric pile main machine is started through a control switch, a charging gun is taken out and then is connected with a charging port of a vehicle, intelligent adjustment and control are carried out on an operation panel, a decompression mechanism releases pressure and decompresses the pressure after the charging gun is taken out, a pneumatic base is further driven by air pressure to enable a lifting assembly to integrally lift up and dissipate heat, the interior of the decompression mechanism is used as power through magnetic repulsion of a magnetic reaction groove, a decompression sliding seat is controlled to move outwards to provide air pressure conveying for an air connector, a lifting push rod drives a rear ventilation box to integrally lift out of the top of the electric pile main machine through the air pressure in a sliding barrel, hot air discharge is carried out through connection of a heat dissipation hose, descaling glue is used for scraping dirt in the inner cavity of a heat dissipation cover during ascending so as, the blade main bodies are turned to be in a vertical state by the reverse pushing frame meshed driving of the turning wheels, heat dissipation is not affected at the moment, when the reverse pushing frame contracts, the turning wheels drive one end of each blade main body to be stacked and placed, sealing effect is achieved, and the sealing strips are used for increasing sealing performance. ) It would have been obvious for one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date with a reasonable expectation of success to combine the teachings of the ‘197 publication with the disclosure of FUHRER since the ‘197 publication teaches that a plug can be fastened into the charger and upon that contact of the thrusting the plug can be cooled with the charging cooling structure. See claims 1-7. Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to FILLIN "Examiner name" \* MERGEFORMAT JEAN PAUL CASS whose telephone number is FILLIN "Phone number" \* MERGEFORMAT (571)270-1934 . The examiner can normally be reached FILLIN "Work Schedule?" \* MERGEFORMAT Monday to Friday 7 am to 7 pm; Saturday 10 am to 12 noon . 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, FILLIN "SPE Name?" \* MERGEFORMAT Scott A. Browne can be reached at FILLIN "SPE Phone?" \* MERGEFORMAT 571-270-0151 . 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. /JEAN PAUL CASS/ Primary Examiner, Art Unit 3666
Read full office action

Prosecution Timeline

May 18, 2023
Application Filed
Mar 05, 2026
Non-Final Rejection — §102, §103 (current)

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Study what changed to get past this examiner. Based on 5 most recent grants.

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Prosecution Projections

1-2
Expected OA Rounds
73%
Grant Probability
99%
With Interview (+25.9%)
3y 1m
Median Time to Grant
Low
PTA Risk
Based on 984 resolved cases by this examiner. Grant probability derived from career allow rate.

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