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
Applicant’s election without traverse of claims 1-7 in the reply filed on April 23, 2026 is acknowledged.
Claims 8-14 are withdrawn from further consideration pursuant to 37 CFR 1.142(b) as being drawn to a nonelected invention, there being no allowable generic or linking claim. Election was made without traverse in the reply filed on April 23, 2026.
Claim Objections
Claim 1 is objected to because of the following informalities: in line 11, “the sensing” should read “the thermal event”. Appropriate correction is required.
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.
Claim 1 is rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(1) as being anticipated by Yun (US 2021/0284005 A1).
Regarding claim 1, Yun discloses a battery system for an electrified vehicle ([0037] and Fig. 3, battery release system), the battery system comprising: a battery pack comprising a battery module assembly having at least a first battery module and a second battery module ([0037] and Fig. 3, battery pack 1 with two battery modules); a fastening assembly including a fastening set associated with each battery module of the battery module assembly ([0045] and Fig. 4, mounting structure 30 comprising two straps 44); a decoupler configured to initiate decoupling of a selected battery module from the battery pack ([0040]-[0042] and Fig. 1, actuator 55 of locking device 50 releases battery pack 1); a sensor that senses a thermal event at a faulty battery module of the battery module assembly and communicates a thermal event signal in response to the sensing ([0040]-[0042] and Fig. 1, fire detection sensor 10 that outputs a signal according to measured temperature); and a controller that receives the thermal event signal and responsive to the thermal event signal communicates a decoupling signal to the decoupler to decouple the faulty battery module from the battery pack ([0040]-[0042] and Fig. 1, controller 20 receives signal from fire detection sensor 10 and outputs control signal to actuator 55 to release battery pack 1).
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.
This application currently names joint inventors. In considering patentability of the claims the examiner presumes that the subject matter of the various claims was commonly owned as of the effective filing date of the claimed invention(s) absent any evidence to the contrary. Applicant is advised of the obligation under 37 CFR 1.56 to point out the inventor and effective filing dates of each claim that was not commonly owned as of the effective filing date of the later invention in order for the examiner to consider the applicability of 35 U.S.C. 102(b)(2)(C) for any potential 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(2) prior art against the later invention.
Claims 1-7 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Lejosne et al. (US 2020/0083513 A1, hereinafter “Lejosne”) in view of Yun (US 2021/0284005 A1).
Regarding claim 1, Lejosne discloses a battery system for an electrified vehicle ([0051] and Fig. 46), the battery system comprising: a battery pack comprising a battery module assembly having at least a first battery module and a second battery module ([0498] and Fig. 46, battery pack P1 comprising branches M1-M3 having accumulators A1-Ax); a fastening assembly including a fastening set associated with each battery module of the battery module assembly ([0500] and Figs. 7A, 7B, 10, 44, and 45, connection assembly 100 and magnetic connection/disconnection device 10); and a decoupler configured to initiate decoupling of a selected battery module from the battery pack ([0065], [0328], [0334], [0377], and Fig. 19 and 24, BMS 30 electrically powers coil 21 or heating resistor 22 to mechanically disconnect busbar B1 and conductive part 17).
Lejosne further discloses that the BMS detects a thermal failure of the accumulator ([0065] and [0457]-[0458]) and controls the decoupling of the accumulator ([0377]), but does not specifically disclose at least one sensor that senses a thermal event at a faulty battery module of the battery module assembly and communicates a thermal event signal in response to the sensing; and a controller that receives the thermal event signal and responsive to the thermal event signal communicates a decoupling signal to the decoupler to decouple the faulty battery module from the battery pack.
Yun discloses a sensor that senses a thermal event at a faulty battery module of the battery module assembly and communicates a thermal event signal in response to the sensing ([0040]-[0042] and Fig. 1, fire detection sensor 10 that outputs a signal according to measured temperature); and a controller that receives the thermal event signal and responsive to the thermal event signal communicates a decoupling signal to the decoupler to decouple the faulty battery module from the battery pack ([0040]-[0042] and Fig. 1, controller 20 receives signal from fire detection sensor 10 and outputs control signal to actuator 55 to release battery pack 1).
Lejosne and Yun are considered to be analogous to the claimed invention because they are in the same field of high voltage battery systems. It would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to have modified the BMS of Lejosne with the teachings of Yun according to known methods to yield the predictable result of a BMS including a sensor and controller, and one of ordinary skill in the art would have a reasonable expectation of success in doing so (see MPEP § 2143(I)(A)).
Regarding claim 2, modified Lejosne discloses the limitations of claim 1. Lejosne further discloses wherein the fastening set associated with each battery module comprises at least one nut and threaded fastener ([0313] and Figs. 7A and 7B, magnetic connection/disconnection devices 10 comprise a ferromagnetic part 15 that is screwed into the busbar B1).
Regarding claim 3, modified Lejosne discloses the limitations of claim 2. Lejosne further discloses wherein the decoupler is configured to send an electric pulse to the fastening set causing the fastening set to fail ([0324]-[0329], [0377], and Fig. 10, coil 21 in devices 10 is powered by a BMS, causing mechanical disconnection between busbar B1 and conductive part 17).
Regarding claim 4, modified Lejosne discloses the limitations of claim 3. Lejosne further discloses wherein the fastening set comprises a first plurality of fasteners on a first side of the battery module ([0498]-[0500] and Figs. 44 and 45, magnetic connection/disconnection devices 10 on busbar B1).
Regarding claim 5, modified Lejosne discloses the limitations of claim 4. Lejosne further discloses wherein the fastening set further comprises a second plurality of fasteners on a second side of the battery module ([0498]-[0500] and Figs. 44 and 45, magnetic connection/disconnection devices 10 on busbar B2).
Regarding claim 6, modified Lejosne discloses the limitations of claim 1. Lejosne further discloses wherein the fastening set comprises an electromagnetic fastener and wherein the decoupler sends an electromagnetic signal that demagnetizes the fastening set ([0330]-[0334], [0377], and Fig. 11, permanent magnet 12 is demagnetized by a heating resistor 22 powered by a BMS).
Regarding claim 7, modified Lejosne discloses the limitations of claim 1. Modified Lejosne further discloses wherein the sensors comprise a sensor associated with each battery module of the battery module assembly ([0502] and Figs. 19 and 45, each accumulator A1-Ax comprises its own BMS 30 that includes a sensor and a controller as taught by Yun).
Conclusion
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to Jackie Liang whose telephone number is (571)-272-0880. The examiner can normally be reached M to F 8:45AM to 4:45PM.
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If attempts to reach the examiner by telephone are unsuccessful, the examiner’s supervisor, Jeffrey T. Barton can be reached at (571)-272-1307. The fax phone number for the organization where this application or proceeding is assigned is 571-273-8300.
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/J.L./Examiner, Art Unit 1726
/JEFFREY T BARTON/Supervisory Patent Examiner, Art Unit 1726 17 July 2026
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