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 .
Status of Claims and Other Notes
Claims 3 and 5–7 are pending.
Claims 1, 2, and 4 are canceled.
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 text of those sections of Title 35, U.S. Code not included in this action can be found in a prior Office action.
The paragraph numbers cited in this Office Action in reference to the instant application are referring to the paragraph numbering of the PG-Pub of the instant application. See US 2024/0250258 A1.
Specification
Applicants' amendments have overcome the objections to the specification.
Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 103
Claims 3 and 5–7 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Adachi et al. (US 2019/0296338 A1, hereinafter Adachi) in view of Miki et al. (US 2018/0309127 A1, hereinafter Miki).
Regarding claims 3 and 5–7, Adachi discloses a fluoride ion battery (see fluoride ions, [0042]) comprising:
a positive electrode active material layer, an electrolyte layer, and a negative electrode active material layer, wherein the positive electrode active material layer comprises a positive electrode active material (see battery, [0040]),
wherein the positive electrode active material (1, [0023]) comprises copper selenide (4p, [0028]);
wherein the electrolyte layer comprises a solid electrolyte (see solid, [0042]).
Adachi does not explicitly disclose:
the solid electrolyte comprises at least one selected from: a fluoride including La and Ba; a fluoride including La and Sr; a fluoride including Ca and Ba; and a fluoride including Pb and Sn;
wherein the solid electrolyte comprises at least La, Sr and F; at least Ca, Ba and F; or at least Pb, Sn and F; and
wherein the solid electrolyte comprises at least one compound selected from La0.9Ba0.1F2.9, La0.95Sr0.05F2.95 and Ca0.5Ba0.5F2.3.
Miki discloses a solid electrolyte comprising at least one selected from: a fluoride including La and Ba; a fluoride including La and Sr; a fluoride including Ca and Ba; and a fluoride including Pb and Sn (see solid electrolyte, [0049]); wherein the solid electrolyte comprises at least La, Sr and F; at least Ca, Ba and F; or at least Pb, Sn and F (see solid electrolyte, [0049]); and wherein the solid electrolyte comprises at least one compound selected from La0.9Ba0.1F2.9, La0.95Sr0.05F2.95 and Ca0.5Ba0.5F2.3 (see solid electrolyte, [0049]) to improve the charge-discharge potential (FIG. 6, [0082]). Adachi and Miki are analogous because they are directed to batteries including copper chalcogenides active materials. Therefore, it would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art at the effective filing date of the invention to make the solid electrolyte of Adachi with the solid electrolyte of Miki in order to improve the charge-discharge potential.
Response to Arguments
Applicant’s arguments with respect to claims 3 and 5–7 have been considered but are moot because the new ground of rejection does not rely on any reference applied in the prior rejection of record for any teaching or matter specifically challenged in the argument.
Conclusion
The prior art made of record and not relied upon is considered pertinent to applicant's disclosure.
Ide (US 2018/0159129 A1) discloses a solid electrolyte, and the solid electrolyte comprises at least one selected from: a fluoride including La and Ba; a fluoride including La and Sr; a fluoride including Ca and Ba; and a fluoride including Pb and Sn (see solid electrolyte, [0088]).
Applicant's amendment necessitated the new ground(s) of rejection presented in this Office action. Accordingly, THIS ACTION IS MADE FINAL. See MPEP § 706.07(a). Applicant is reminded of the extension of time policy as set forth in 37 CFR 1.136(a).
A shortened statutory period for reply to this final action is set to expire THREE MONTHS from the mailing date of this action. In the event a first reply is filed within TWO MONTHS of the mailing date of this final action and the advisory action is not mailed until after the end of the THREE-MONTH shortened statutory period, then the shortened statutory period will expire on the date the advisory action is mailed, and any nonprovisional extension fee (37 CFR 1.17(a)) pursuant to 37 CFR 1.136(a) will be calculated from the mailing date of the advisory action. In no event, however, will the statutory period for reply expire later than SIX MONTHS from the mailing date of this final action.
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to Sean P Cullen, Ph.D. whose telephone number is (571)270-1251. The examiner can normally be reached Monday to Thursday 6:00 am to 4:00 pm CT, Friday 6:00 am to 12:00 pm CT.
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, Basia A Ridley can be reached at (571)272-1453. The fax phone number for the organization where this application or proceeding is assigned is 571-273-8300.
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/Sean P Cullen, Ph.D./Primary Examiner, Art Unit 1725
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