Prosecution Insights
Last updated: October 23, 2026
Application No. 18/411,027

CONDUCTIVE BINDER, PREPARATION METHOD, SECONDARY BATTERY, BATTERY MODULE, BATTERY PACK AND ELECTRICAL APPARATUS

Non-Final OA §102
Filed
Jan 12, 2024
Priority
Aug 05, 2022 — continuation of PCTCN2022110673
Examiner
MARTIN, ANGELA J
Art Unit
Tech Center
Assignee
Contemporary Amperex Technology Co., Limited
OA Round
1 (Non-Final)
67%
Grant Probability
Favorable
1-2
OA Rounds
1y 2m
Est. Remaining
36%
With Interview

Examiner Intelligence

Grants 67% — above average
67%
Career Allowance Rate
601 granted / 893 resolved
+7.3% vs TC avg
Minimal -31% lift
Without
With
+-31.4%
Interview Lift
resolved cases with interview
Typical timeline
3y 12m
Avg Prosecution
57 currently pending
Career history
976
Total Applications
across all art units

Statute-Specific Performance

§101
0.3%
-39.7% vs TC avg
§103
66.2%
+26.2% vs TC avg
§102
24.4%
-15.6% vs TC avg
§112
8.1%
-31.9% vs TC avg
Black line = Tech Center average estimate • Based on career data from 893 resolved cases

Office Action

§102
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 . Election/Restrictions Claims 9-12 are withdrawn from further consideration pursuant to 37 CFR 1.142(b) as being drawn to a nonelected method, there being no allowable generic or linking claim. Election was made without traverse in the reply filed on 8/7/2026. Applicant’s election without traverse of Group I (claims 1-8, 13-17) in the reply filed on 8/7/2026 is acknowledged. The pending claims are claims 1-8, 13-17. Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 102 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) 1-8, 13-17 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(1) as being anticipated by Yan et al., CN 109755582. Regarding claim 1, Yan et al., teaches a conductive binder (abstract; 0030; 0075), wherein the conductive binder is formed by reacting polyimide with a conductive agent (0006-0007), and the conductive binder comprises a structural unit represented by formula I containing trifluoromethyl, (0012-0015), wherein, R₁ and R₂ are each independently selected from substituted C₆-C₂₅ aromatic groups (0012-0015). Regarding claim 2, Yan et al., teaches wherein the R₁ is an aromatic tetracarboxylic dianhydride residue selected from (0016-0018). Regarding claim 3, Yan et al., teaches wherein the molar content of the structural unit represented by formula I containing trifluoromethyl in the conductive binder is 20%-40% (0036), based on the total number of moles of the structural units (0012-0015). Regarding claim 4, Yan et al., teaches wherein the conductive binder further comprises a structural unit represented by formula I containing sulfonyl (0013; 0083; 0092). Regarding claim 5, Yan et al., teaches wherein the structural unit represented by formula I containing sulfonyl is selected from (0048-0051). Regarding claim 6, Yan et al., teaches wherein the molar content of the structural unit represented by formula I containing sulfonyl in the conductive binder is 1 %- 15%, based on the total number of moles of the structural units (1% to 15%; 0030). Regarding claim 7, Yan et al., teaches wherein the mass fraction of the conductive agent is 3%-20%, (0030). Regarding claim 8, Yan et al., teaches wherein the surface of the conductive agent contains carboxyl groups, and the conductive agent is selected from one or more of acetylene black (0032), Ketjen black (0032), conductive carbon black (0032), and carbon nanotubes (0032). Regarding claim 13, Yan et al., teaches positive electrode plate (0002) comprising a conductive binder (0005-0008) and a positive electrode active material (0005-0008), the conductive binder being the conductive binder according to claim 1 (0005-0008), wherein the mass ratio of the conductive binder to the positive electrode active material is 0.4:100-2.8:100. Regarding claim 14, Yan et al., teaches secondary battery comprising a positive electrode plate (0002), a separator (0062), a negative electrode plate (0005; 0046) and an electrolyte solution (0008-0010), wherein the positive electrode plate is the positive electrode plate according to claim 13 (0010; 0016; 0030). Regarding claim 15, Yan et al., teaches battery module comprising the secondary battery according to claim 14 (0060-0064). Regarding claim 16, Yan et al., teaches battery pack comprising the battery module according to claim 15 (0060-0064). Regarding claim 17, Yan et al., teaches electrical apparatus comprising the secondary battery according to claim 14 (0062-0064; 0098). Thus, the claims are anticipated. Conclusion Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to ANGELA J MARTIN whose telephone number is (571)272-1288. The examiner can normally be reached 7am-4pm. 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, Barbara Gilliam can be reached at 571-272-1330. 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. ANGELA J. MARTIN Examiner Art Unit 1727 /ANGELA J MARTIN/Examiner, Art Unit 1727
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Prosecution Timeline

Jan 12, 2024
Application Filed
Oct 08, 2026
Non-Final Rejection mailed — §102 (current)

Precedent Cases

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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
67%
Grant Probability
36%
With Interview (-31.4%)
3y 12m (~1y 2m remaining)
Median Time to Grant
Low
PTA Risk
Based on 893 resolved cases by this examiner. Grant probability derived from career allowance rate.

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