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 .
The information disclosure statement (IDS) submitted on 06/05/2023 is in compliance with the provisions of 37 CFR 1.97. Accordingly, the information disclosure statement is being considered by the examiner.
Applicant is required to submit an amendment which clarifies the disclosure so that the examiner may make a proper comparison of the invention with the prior art.
Applicant should be careful not to introduce any new matter into the disclosure (i.e., matter which is not supported by the disclosure as originally filed).
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 1-13 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, 12, and 13, recites in part”… a plurality of first connection terminals provided on the base plate; a plurality of first power lines each connecting the first connection terminal to a positive electrode terminal and a negative electrode terminal of the storage battery...” It is unclear how the first power lines are connecting the positive electrode terminal and the negative electrode terminal to the first connection terminals; are the plurality of power lines each connecting to a positive electrode terminal and a negative electrode terminal and to a first connection terminal, or are one of the plurality of the power lines connected to a positive electrode terminal or a negative electrode terminal connected to one of a plurality of first connection terminals. The connection relationship between the plurality of storage batteries and the plurality of first connection terminals is unclear. Which therefore makes the claim indefinite.
Claim 1, recites in part,”… a plurality of first power lines each connecting the first connection terminal to a positive electrode terminal.” It is unclear which of the plurality of first terminals is “the” first terminal. Which therefore makes the claim indefinite.
Claim 2 recites in part “a dedicated product,” and “exclusively manufactured.” It is unclear what degree of “dedicated” power line, sized by voltage, size by current, sized by power, otherwise any power line works with a battery. Similarly, what degree of “exclusively manufactured;” manufactured for storage batteries only, manufactured for power lines only, manufactured for specific battery types lithium, Nickel-metal Hydride (NiMH), lead acid, etc. Which makes the claim indefinite.
Claim 3 recites in part “the plurality of connection units are common products having common structures.” It is unclear want is meant by common; relays, jumpers, electronic switches, MOSFETs, etc. Therefore the claim is indefinite.
Claim 4 recites in part bypassing the first connection terminal. It is unclear if “bypassing the first connection terminal” is for each of a plurality of first connection terminals, bypassing the first connection terminal only or all first connection terminals. Therefore is indefinite.
Claim 5 includes the first connection terminal on the switch units however Claim 1 limits the first connection terminal to be provided on the base plate. It is unclear how first connection terminal can be mounted in two places. Therefore is indefinite.
Claim 6, depends from claim 5, recites in part, “…mounting and non-mounting of the switch unit on the base plate or mounting and non-mounting of at least one of the first switch and the second switch on the switch unit is selectable, when the switch unit is not mounted on the base plate, the second power line is connected by a jumper, when the first switch is not mounted on the switch unit, the bypass line is connected by jumper, and when the second switch is not mounted on the switch unit, the second power line is connected by a jumper.” It is unclear where the non-mounting of the switch unit would locate the switch unit if not on the base plate and the first connection terminal. Further if the switch unit is not mounted on the base plate where is the switch unit mounted so that a bypass line located on the base plate, as provided by claim 4, may be connected by a jumper, and as provided by claim 1 the second power line is provided on the base plate, connected by a jumper to the second switch unit not mounted on the switch unit, where is the second switch located. It is unclear how a first switch and second switch mounting and non-mounting is selectable. Therefore the claimed circuit is indefinite.
Claim 7, depends from claim 5, It is unclear how a first switch and second switch mounting and non-mounting is selectable, and where the switch unit is mounted if not on the base plate and when the second switch is not mounted on the switch unit where is the second switch mounted. Therefore the claimed circuit is indefinite.
Claim 8, depends from claim 5, and therefore is indefinite.
Claim 9, It is unclear if the plurality of third connection terminals is located on the based plate or the switch unit, and where the second signal lines connect to a first connection terminal or a second connection terminal or a new connection terminal. Therefore the claim is indefinite.
Claim 10 recites in part “a dedicated product,” and “exclusively manufactured.” It is unclear what degree of “dedicated” signal line; point to point signal line, unidirectional, bi-directional, component specific, etc. Similarly, what degree of “exclusively manufactured;” manufactured for storage batteries only, manufactured for signal lines only, manufactured for specific battery types lithium, Nickel-metal Hydride (NiMH), lead acid, etc. Which makes the claim indefinite.
Claim 11, depends from claim 9, and recites in part, “…a plurality of bypass lines each provided on the base plate and bypassing the first connection terminal…” However there are a plurality of first connection terminals and it is unclear if the plurality of bypass lines bypass all of the first connection terminals, only one of the first connection terminals, or each one of a plurality of bypass lines bypass each one of the plurality of first connection terminals. Therefore it is indefinite.
Claim 12, recites in part, “ the wire harness connects the connection terminal to a positive electrode terminal and a negative electrode terminal of the storage battery”, “a dedicated product,” and “exclusively manufactured.” It is unclear how the wire harness connects both the positive electrode terminal and a negative electrode terminal of the storage battery to a connection terminal, and how the plurality of storage batteries and plurality of connection terminals are connected through the wire harness. It is unclear what degree of “dedicated” wire harness; power line, signal line, shielded, etc.. Similarly, what degree of “exclusively manufactured;” manufactured for storage batteries only, manufactured for signal lines only, manufactured for specific battery types lithium, Nickel-metal Hydride (NiMH), lead acid, etc. Which makes the claim indefinite.
Claim 13, It is unclear how the first power line connects both the positive electrode terminal and a negative electrode terminal of the storage battery to a connection terminal, and how the plurality of storage batteries and plurality of connection terminals are connected through the second power lines. The connection relationship between the storage batteries and the connection terminals is unclear.
For the purpose of examination, because the indefiniteness of the claims makes the scope thereof unable to be reasonably ascertained, art is not applied to the pending claims
The claims are generally narrative and indefinite, failing to conform with current U.S. practice. They appear to be a literal translation into English from a foreign document and are replete with grammatical and idiomatic errors.
Conclusion
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to BART A HORNSBY whose telephone number is (313)446-6637. The examiner can normally be reached 9:00-6:00 EST.
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BART HORNSBY
Examiner
Art Unit 1728
/MATTHEW T MARTIN/Supervisory Patent Examiner, Art Unit 1728
Prosecution Insights