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 § 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, 2, 4, 5, 9, 11, 12, 14, 15, & 19 are 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 second battery module" in line and 30. There is insufficient antecedent basis for this limitation in the claim, as claim 1 previously recites “a plurality of first battery modules,” and it is unclear which of the plurality of first modules is being referred to.
Claim 1 recites the limitation "the third battery module" in line 27 and 30. There is insufficient antecedent basis for this limitation in the claim, as claim 1 previously recites “a plurality of second battery modules,” and it is unclear which of the plurality of second modules is being referred to.
Claim 1 recites the limitation "the first battery module" in line 29. There is insufficient antecedent basis for this limitation in the claim, as claim 1 previously recites “a plurality of third battery modules,” and it is unclear which of the plurality of third modules is being referred to.
Claim 2 recites the limitation "the first battery module" in line 3. There is insufficient antecedent basis for this limitation in the claim, as it depends on claim 1, which recites “a plurality of first battery modules,” and it is unclear which of the plurality of first battery modules is being referred to.
Claim 2 recites the limitation "the second battery module" in line 4. There is insufficient antecedent basis for this limitation in the claim, as it depends on claim 1, which recites “a plurality of second battery modules,” and it is unclear which of the plurality of second battery modules is being referred to.
Claim 2 recites the limitation "the third battery module" in line 5. There is insufficient antecedent basis for this limitation in the claim, as it depends on claim 1, which recites “a plurality of third battery modules,” and it is unclear which of the plurality of third battery modules is being referred to.
Claim 4 recites the limitation "the third battery module" in line 3. There is insufficient antecedent basis for this limitation in the claim, as it is dependent on claim 1, which recites “a plurality of third battery modules,” and it is unclear which of the plurality of third battery modules is being referred to.
Claim 5 recites the limitation "the second battery module" in line 4. There is insufficient antecedent basis for this limitation in the claim, as it depends on claim 1, which recites “a plurality of second battery modules,” and it is unclear which of the plurality of second battery modules is being referred to.
Claim 5 recites the limitation "the third battery module" in line 5. There is insufficient antecedent basis for this limitation in the claim, as it depends on claim 1, which recites “a plurality of third battery modules,” and it is unclear which of the plurality of third battery modules is being referred to.
Claim 9 recites the limitation "the transverse beam" in lines 8 and 10. There is insufficient antecedent basis for this limitation in the claim.
Claim 9 recites the limitation "the first battery module" in lines 2 and 7. There is insufficient antecedent basis for this limitation in the claim, as it is dependent on claim 1, which recites “a plurality of first battery modules,” and it is unclear which of the plurality of first battery modules is being referred to.
Claim 9 recites the limitation "the second battery module" in lines 3 and 4. There is insufficient antecedent basis for this limitation in the claim, as it is dependent on claim 1, which recites “a plurality of second battery modules,” and it is unclear which of the plurality of second battery modules is being referred to.
Claim 9 recites the limitation "the third battery module" in lines 5 and 6. There is insufficient antecedent basis for this limitation in the claim, as it is dependent on claim 1, which recites “a plurality of third battery modules,” and it is unclear which of the plurality of third battery modules is being referred to.
Claim 11 recites the limitation "the second battery module" in lines 27 and 31. There is insufficient antecedent basis for this limitation in the claim, as claim 11 previously recites “a plurality of first battery modules,” and it is unclear which of the plurality of first modules is being referred to.
Claim 11 recites the limitation "the third battery module" in lines 28 and 31. There is insufficient antecedent basis for this limitation in the claim, as claim 11 previously recites “a plurality of second battery modules,” and it is unclear which of the plurality of second modules is being referred to.
Claim 11 recites the limitation "the first battery module" in line 30. There is insufficient antecedent basis for this limitation in the claim, as claim 11 previously recites “a plurality of third battery modules,” and it is unclear which of the plurality of third modules is being referred to.
Claim 12 recites the limitation "the first battery module" in line 3. There is insufficient antecedent basis for this limitation in the claim, as it depends on claim 11, which recites “a plurality of first battery modules,” and it is unclear which of the plurality of first battery modules is being referred to.
Claim 12 recites the limitation "the second battery module" in line 4. There is insufficient antecedent basis for this limitation in the claim, as it depends on claim 11, which recites “a plurality of second battery modules,” and it is unclear which of the plurality of second battery modules is being referred to.
Claim 12 recites the limitation "the third battery module" in line 5. There is insufficient antecedent basis for this limitation in the claim, as it depends on claim 11, which recites “a plurality of third battery modules,” and it is unclear which of the plurality of third battery modules is being referred to.
Claim 14 recites the limitation "the third battery module" in line 3. There is insufficient antecedent basis for this limitation in the claim, as it is dependent on claim 11, which recites “a plurality of third battery modules,” and it is unclear which of the plurality of third battery modules is being referred to.
Claim 15 recites the limitation "the second battery module" in line 4. There is insufficient antecedent basis for this limitation in the claim, as it depends on claim 11, which recites “a plurality of second battery modules,” and it is unclear which of the plurality of second battery modules is being referred to.
Claim 15 recites the limitation "the third battery module" in line 5. There is insufficient antecedent basis for this limitation in the claim, as it depends on claim 11, which recites “a plurality of third battery modules,” and it is unclear which of the plurality of third battery modules is being referred to.
Claim 19 recites the limitation "the transverse beam" in lines 8 and 10. There is insufficient antecedent basis for this limitation in the claim.
Claim 19 recites the limitation "the first battery module" in lines 2 and 7. There is insufficient antecedent basis for this limitation in the claim, as it is dependent on claim 11, which recites “a plurality of first battery modules,” and it is unclear which of the plurality of first battery modules is being referred to.
Claim 19 recites the limitation "the second battery module" in lines 3 and 4. There is insufficient antecedent basis for this limitation in the claim, as it is dependent on claim 11, which recites “a plurality of second battery modules,” and it is unclear which of the plurality of second battery modules is being referred to.
Claim 19 recites the limitation "the third battery module" in lines 5 and 6. There is insufficient antecedent basis for this limitation in the claim, as it is dependent on claim 11, which recites “a plurality of third battery modules,” and it is unclear which of the plurality of third battery modules is being referred to.
Regarding claims 3, 6-8, 10, 13, 16-18, & 20, these claims are rejected as being dependent upon a rejected base claim.
Allowable Subject Matter
Claims 1 & 11 would be allowable if rewritten or amended to overcome the rejection(s) under 35 U.S.C. 112(b) or 35 U.S.C. 112 (pre-AIA ), 2nd paragraph, set forth in this Office action.
The following is a statement of reasons for the indication of allowable subject matter:
Claim 1 of the present application would be found allowable because prior art fails to teach “the front cover having a fluid inlet and a fluid outlet;” “a first pipe set disposed at a first side portion of the casing,” “a second pipe set disposed at a second side portion of the casing being opposite to the first side portion,” “a third pipe set disposed at the second side portion of the casing,” and “an output pipe set coupled to the second battery module, the third battery module, and the fluid outlet.” The closest prior art references are Boecker et al. (US 11,283,121 B1), Buckhout et al. (US 2017/0288286 A1), Zhang (US 2025/0015381 A1), and Shin (KR 20220168596 A). However, the references neither teach nor reasonably suggest the combination of features claimed.
Boecker is the closest prior art. Boecker teaches a battery pack (battery pack 200) comprising: a casing (casing 204) having a first frame (Annotated Fig. 3, Fig. 5; first cooling element 302 has a cooling plate 510 which acts as a frame), a second frame (Annotated Fig. 3, Fig. 5; second cooling element 302 has a cooling plate 510 which acts as a frame), and at least one third frame (Annotated Fig. 3, Fig. 5; third cooling element 302 has a cooling plate 510 which acts as a frame) sequentially arranged from up to down (Annotated Fig. 3), the casing further having a front cover covering a front portion of the casing (Col. 5, Ln. 35; “front side wall”); a plurality of first battery modules (Annotated Fig. 3; battery modules 202) disposed within the first frame (Annotated Fig. 3); a plurality of second battery modules (Annotated Fig. 3; battery modules 202(2)) disposed within the second frame (Annotated Fig. 3); and a plurality of third battery modules (Annotated Fig. 3; battery modules 202(1)) disposed within the at least one third frame (Annotated Fig. 3); and a pipe assembly comprising: an input pipe (Col. 10, Ln. 35-42; coolant manifold 208 brings in coolant, and may be in the form of tubes) coupled to a fluid inlet (connection port 212; Col. 10, Ln. 24-27), a first pipe set (Annotated Fig. 3, first cooling element 302; Col. 10, Ln. 38-42, tubes may carry the coolant), the first pipe set being coupled to the input pipe (Col. 10, Ln. 35-38) and coupled in series to the plurality of first battery modules (Annotated Fig. 3, first cooling element 302 extends along the plurality of first battery modules 202; Col. 10, Ln. 35-45, each battery module is cooled by the element); a second pipe set (Annotated Fig. 3, second cooling element 302; Col. 10, Ln. 38-42, tubes may carry the coolant) coupled in series to the plurality of second battery modules (Annotated Fig. 3, second cooling element 302 extends along the plurality of second battery modules 202(2); Col. 10, Ln. 35-45, each battery module is cooled by the element); a third pipe set (Annotated Fig. 3, third cooling element 302; Col. 10, Ln. 38-42, tubes may carry the coolant) coupled in series to the plurality of third battery modules (Annotated Fig. 3, third cooling element 302 extends along the plurality of first battery modules 202(1); Col. 10, Ln. 35-45, each battery module is cooled by the element); and a communication pipe set (coolant manifold 208, Fig. 2) disposed at a back portion of the casing (front and rear sides are not specified by Boecker, thus this side may be interpreted as the back), coupled to the first battery module (Col. 10, Ln. 21-23), and coupled in parallel to the second battery module and the third battery module (Fig. 2).
Buckhout teaches a fluid inlet (coolant inlet 210) and a fluid outlet (coolant outlet 210) on a front cover (cover wall 230b) of a battery pack (battery housing 200; Fig. 2).
Zhang teaches a first pipe set (Fig. 2; top delivering line 42, inlet tube 46) disposed at a first side portion of a battery pack casing (the delivering line 42 and inlet tube 46 are positioned on the front of the battery modules 22), and a second side portion at which a second pipe set (Fig. 2; second receiving lines 44, outlet tubes 48) and a third pipe set (Fig. 2; third receiving lines 44, outlet tubes 48) are disposed (Fig. 2; the second and third receiving lines 44 from the top and their outlet tubes 48 are positioned on the back of the battery modules 22).
Shin teaches an output pipe set (outlet cooling water lines 12d, 12e, 12f) coupled to a second battery module (Fig. 1, second battery module 22), third battery module (Fig. 1, third battery module 22), and a fluid outlet (shut-off valve 15).
While Buckhout, Zhang, and Shin teach the claimed limitations, these teachings are not combinable with the teachings of Boecker. There is no demonstrated need by Boecker for the claimed limitations, and one of ordinary skill would not be drawn to the combinations of limitations.
Claim 11 of the present application would be found allowable because prior art fails to teach “the front cover having a fluid inlet and a fluid outlet;” “a first pipe set disposed at a first side portion of the casing,” “a second pipe set disposed at a second side portion of the casing being opposite to the first side portion,” “a third pipe set disposed at the second side portion of the casing,” “an output pipe set coupled to the second battery module, the third battery module, and the fluid outlet,” “a pump coupled the fluid inlet and the fluid outlet,” and “a thermal management module coupled to the pump for thermal management of the battery pack in an immersion cooling manner by controlling the pump to pump a fluid into the battery pack.” The closest prior art references are Boecker et al. (US 11,283,121 B1), Buckhout et al. (US 2017/0288286 A1), Zhang (US 2025/0015381 A1), and Shin (KR 20220168596 A). However, the references neither teach nor reasonably suggest the combination of features claimed.
Boecker is the closest prior art. Boecker teaches a battery pack (battery pack 200) comprising: a casing (casing 204) having a first frame (Annotated Fig. 3, Fig. 5; first cooling element 302 has a cooling plate 510 which acts as a frame), a second frame (Annotated Fig. 3, Fig. 5; second cooling element 302 has a cooling plate 510 which acts as a frame), and at least one third frame (Annotated Fig. 3, Fig. 5; third cooling element 302 has a cooling plate 510 which acts as a frame) sequentially arranged from up to down (Annotated Fig. 3), the casing further having a front cover covering a front portion of the casing (Col. 5, Ln. 35; “front side wall”); a plurality of first battery modules (Annotated Fig. 3; battery modules 202) disposed within the first frame (Annotated Fig. 3); a plurality of second battery modules (Annotated Fig. 3; battery modules 202(2)) disposed within the second frame (Annotated Fig. 3); and a plurality of third battery modules (Annotated Fig. 3; battery modules 202(1)) disposed within the at least one third frame (Annotated Fig. 3); and a pipe assembly comprising: an input pipe (Col. 10, Ln. 35-42; coolant manifold 208 brings in coolant, and may be in the form of tubes) coupled to a fluid inlet (connection port 212; Col. 10, Ln. 24-27), a first pipe set (Annotated Fig. 3, first cooling element 302; Col. 10, Ln. 38-42, tubes may carry the coolant), the first pipe set being coupled to the input pipe (Col. 10, Ln. 35-38) and coupled in series to the plurality of first battery modules (Annotated Fig. 3, first cooling element 302 extends along the plurality of first battery modules 202; Col. 10, Ln. 35-45, each battery module is cooled by the element); a second pipe set (Annotated Fig. 3, second cooling element 302; Col. 10, Ln. 38-42, tubes may carry the coolant) coupled in series to the plurality of second battery modules (Annotated Fig. 3, second cooling element 302 extends along the plurality of second battery modules 202(2); Col. 10, Ln. 35-45, each battery module is cooled by the element); a third pipe set (Annotated Fig. 3, third cooling element 302; Col. 10, Ln. 38-42, tubes may carry the coolant) coupled in series to the plurality of third battery modules (Annotated Fig. 3, third cooling element 302 extends along the plurality of first battery modules 202(1); Col. 10, Ln. 35-45, each battery module is cooled by the element); and a communication pipe set (coolant manifold 208, Fig. 2) disposed at a back portion of the casing (front and rear sides are not specified by Boecker, thus this side may be interpreted as the back), coupled to the first battery module (Col. 10, Ln. 21-23), and coupled in parallel to the second battery module and the third battery module (Fig. 2).
Buckhout teaches a fluid inlet (coolant inlet 210) and a fluid outlet (coolant outlet 210) on a front cover (cover wall 230b) of a battery pack (battery housing 200; Fig. 2).
Zhang teaches a first pipe set (Fig. 2; top delivering line 42, inlet tube 46) disposed at a first side portion of a battery pack casing (the delivering line 42 and inlet tube 46 are positioned on the front of the battery modules 22), and a second side portion at which a second pipe set (Fig. 2; second receiving lines 44, outlet tubes 48) and a third pipe set (Fig. 2; third receiving lines 44, outlet tubes 48) are disposed (Fig. 2; the second and third receiving lines 44 from the top and their outlet tubes 48 are positioned on the back of the battery modules 22).
Shin teaches an output pipe set (outlet cooling water lines 12d, 12e, 12f) coupled to a second battery module (Fig. 1, second battery module 22), third battery module (Fig. 1, third battery module 22), a fluid outlet (shut-off valve 15), a pump (circulation pump 13) coupled to the fluid inlet and fluid outlet (Fig. 1; pump 13 is connected to cooling water line 12, which serves as the inlet and outlet lines); and a thermal management module (radiator 16; the term “thermal management module” is broad, and radiators manage heat) coupled to the pump (Fig. 1).
While Buckhout, Zhang, and Shin teach the claimed limitations, these teachings are not combinable with the teachings of Boecker. There is no demonstrated need by Boecker for the claimed limitations, and one of ordinary skill would not be drawn to the combinations of limitations.
Claims 2-10 and 12-20 would be allowable if rewritten to overcome the rejection(s) under 35 U.S.C. 112(b) or 35 U.S.C. 112 (pre-AIA ), 2nd paragraph, set forth in this Office action and to include all of the limitations of the base claim and any intervening claims.
Conclusion
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to CAMERON M BAIRD whose telephone number is (571)272-9742. The examiner can normally be reached 7:30am-5pm.
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/CAMERON M BAIRD/Examiner, Art Unit 1728
/MATTHEW T MARTIN/Supervisory Patent Examiner, Art Unit 1728
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