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 .
Response to Amendments/Arguments
The applicant has amended the independent claims to include the limitation,
“wherein the instruction provides voltage balancing for the target battery management unit having either a relatively high voltage or a relatively low voltage.”
The applicant arguing the applied prior of Abe et al. (US 2014/0021924) does not have voltage balancing. In fact, voltage balancing is present as is clear throughout, starting with the abstract. Emboldening is by the examiner.
“An assembled battery control system is provided with an assembled battery composed of a plurality of rechargeable battery packs connected in series, and a control unit for controlling the assembled battery. Each battery pack has a discharge unit. The control unit confirms the open-circuit voltage of each battery pack in the assembled battery after the assembled battery has been fully charged, determines a target voltage on the basis of the open-circuit voltage confirmation results for each battery pack in the assembled battery, causes the discharge unit to discharge each battery pack in the assembled battery that has an open-circuit voltage greater than the target voltage until the open-circuit voltage of each of said battery packs reaches the target voltage, fully charges the assembled battery again, discharges the assembled battery until a first predetermined level has been reached, and learns the capacity of each battery pack in the assembled battery.”
Thus voltage balancing is clearly a feature of Abe et al.
Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 103
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 1-18 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Abe et al. (US 2014/0021924).
Re claim 1:
Abe et al. teaches a distributed power supply system meeting the general teachings of the claimed invention. See especially figure 2.
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Abe et al. teaches in part at paragraphs 0034 to 0046, with emphasis by the examiner:
“[0034] FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the schematic configuration of the power supply system in an embodiment. However, in FIG. 2, the thick lines connecting the block are power lines, and the thin lines connecting blocks are communication lines. In the present embodiment, the communication lines are used to perform wired communication which is more reliable. However, wireless communication can also be used. Communication may be performed, for example, using TCP (Transmission Control Protocol)/IP (Internet Protocol) or UDP (User Datagram Protocol)/IP (Internet Protocol).
[0035] The power supply system in the embodiment shown in FIG. 2 is provided with a master controller 1, power conditioning systems (PCS) 2, PCS management control units 3, battery switching units (BSU) 4, battery management units (BMU) 5, a master BMU 6, and assembled batteries 7. The power supply system in the embodiment shown in FIG. 2 is provided with a plurality of series which are composed of a PCS 2, a PCS management control unit 3, a BSU 4, a BMU 5 and an assembled battery 7, and each series is connected to the master controller 1 so that the assembled batteries 7 of each series are connected in parallel.
Overview of the Master Controller
[0036] The master controller 1 is connected to an external load 100 and the power grid 200. The load 100 has AC power input terminals, and the power grid 200 supplies AC power. The master controller 1 integrally monitors and controls the PCS management control unit 3 in each series. during normal operation, the master controller 1 determines the charge and discharge capacity of each series, and sends charge and discharge control commands to the PCS management control unit 3 of each series in response to said determination. When an abnormality occurs, the master controller 1 sends to the PCS management control unit 3 of the series in which the abnormality has occurred a stop command for the PCS 2, a standby command for the PCS 2, or a shutdown command for the breaker (not shown) installed near the PCS 2.
Overview of the PCS
[0037] A PCS 2 is a bidirectional AC/DC power converter, which converts AC power supplied from the power grid 200 via the master controller 1 to DC power during charging, and converts DC power supplied from the assembled battery 7 belonging to the same series via the BSU 4 belonging to the same series to AC power during discharging. Unlike the present embodiment, the PCS 2 may be changed to a bidirectional DC/DC power converter when the master controller 1 is connected to an external DC load (a load having DC power input terminals) and to a DC power source (for example, photovoltaic cells).
Overview of the PCS Management Control Unit
[0038] The PCS management control unit 3 controls the operation of the PCS 2 belonging to the same series on the basis of charge and discharge control commands sent from the master controller 1, and monitors the state of the PCS 2 belonging to the same series. When an abnormality occurs, the PCS management control unit 3 stops the PCS 2 belonging to the same series, puts the PCS 2 belonging to the same series into standby, or shuts down the breaker (not shown) installed near the PCS 2 belonging to the same series.
[0039] The PCS management control unit 3 also monitors the BMU 5 for abnormalities by periodically communicating with the BMU 5. Because abnormalities detected in the BMU 5 are included among the abnormalities mentioned above, the PCS management control unit 3 stops the PCS 2 belonging to the same series, puts the PCS 2 belonging to the same series into standby, or shuts down the breaker (not shown) installed near the PCS 2 belonging to the same series.
Overview of the BSU
[0040] The BSU 4 is a switch which is used to turn ON and OFF the electrical connection between the PCS 2 belonging to the same series and the assembled battery 7 belonging to the same series. This switch is controlled by the BMU 5 belonging to the same series. In the present embodiment, the BSU 4 is composed of a power field-effect transistor (FET), a conductor, and a breaker connected in series. When the electrical connection between the PCS 2 and the assembled battery 7 is switched from ON to OFF, the power FET serving as the electrical switch is switched from ON to OFF before the conductor and breaker serving as the mechanical switches are switched from ON to OFF. when the electrical connection between the PCS 2 and the assembled battery 7 is switched from OFF to ON, the conductor and breaker serving as the mechanical switches are switched from OFF to ON before the power FET serving as the electrical switch is switched from OFF to ON.
Overview of the BMU
[0041] The BMU 5 controls the BSU 4 belonging to the same series, and monitors the state of the BSU 4 belonging to the same series and the assembled battery 7 belonging to the same series.
[0042] The BMU 5 also sends log information related to the state of the assembled battery 7 belonging to the same series, the state of the BSU 4 belonging to the same series, its own state (BMU 5), and the state of the PCS 2 belonging to the same series to the master BMU 6. Because the BMU 5 cannot directly acquire the state of the PCS 2 belonging to the same series, the state of the PCS 2 belonging to the same series is acquired via periodic communication with the PCS management control unit 3 described above.
[0043] When an abnormality has been detected during state monitoring, the BMU 5 sends commands to the BSU 4 belonging to the same series to turn OFF the power FET, the conductor and the breaker in the BSU 4.
[0044] The BMU 5 also monitors for abnormalities in the PCS management control unit 3 by periodically communicating with the PCS management control unit 3. Because abnormalities detected in the PCS management control unit 3 are included among the abnormalities mentioned above, the BMU 5 sends commands to the BSU 4 belonging to the same series to turn OFF the power FET, the conductor and the breaker in the BSU 4.
Overview of Master BMU
[0045] The master BMU 6 integrally monitors and controls the assembled battery 7, BSU 4 and BMU 5 in each series. In other words, it collects and stores log information related to the state of the assembled battery 7, the state of the BSU 4, the state of the BMU 5, and the state of the PCS 2 sent from the BMU 5 in each series, and if necessary, sends a command to a BMU 5 to turn OFF the power FET, the conductor, and the breaker in the BSU 4 belonging to the same series as the BMU 5. For example, when the master BMU 6 has determined on the basis of log information that the number of series experiencing abnormalities exceeds a predetermined number, it sends a command to the BMU 5 of each series not experiencing an abnormality to turn OFF the power FET, the conductor, and the breaker in the BSU 4 belonging to the same series as each BMU 5 to ensure their safety.
[0046] The master BMU 6 also sends information related to charge and discharge allocation to the BMU 5 in each series so that the master controller 1 can allocate charge and discharge amounts to each series in consideration of the state of health (SOH) of each assembled battery 7.”
Abe further teaches (para 0064 to 0066) with emphasis by examiner:
“[0064] FIG. 7 is a flowchart of the capacity learning process performed on each assembled battery by the power supply system in the embodiment shown in FIG. 2. The flowchart shown in FIG. 7 may be implemented in sequential order on the assembled battery 7 in each series.
[0065] First, the master BMU 6 determines whether the battery pack voltage difference in an assembled battery 7 targeted for the capacity learning process (the difference between the maximum and minimum values for the voltage of each battery pack in the assembled battery 7 targeted for the capacity learning process) is equal to or greater than a predetermined threshold value (Step S10). When the battery pack voltage difference in the assembled battery 7 targeted for the capacity learning process is equal to or greater than the predetermined threshold value (Step S10: YES), the master BMU 6 sends a capacity learning request command to the BMU 5 corresponding to the assembled battery 7 targeted for the capacity learning process. The process then advances to Step S50 described below.
[0066] When the battery pack voltage difference in the assembled battery 7 targeted for the capacity learning process is not equal to or greater than the predetermined threshold value (Step S10: NO), the master BMU 6 determines whether or not the charge and discharge amount at the time of completion for the latest (most recent) capacity learning process for the assembled battery 7 targeted for the capacity learning process is equal to or greater than a predetermined threshold value (Step S20). When the charge and discharge amount at the time of completion for the latest (most recent) capacity learning process for the assembled battery 7 targeted for the capacity learning process is equal to or greater than a predetermined threshold value (Step S20: YES), the master BMU 6 sends a capacity learning request command to the BMU 5 corresponding to the assembled battery 7 targeted for the capacity learning process. The process then advances to Step S50 described below.”
And para 0094:
“[0094] Afterwards, when the series voltage of the assembled battery 7 corresponding to the BMU 5 or the maximum value of the voltages of each battery pack in the assembled battery 7 corresponding to the BMU 5 reaches a given voltage threshold value, the BMU 5 sends a constant voltage charge command to the PCS management control unit 3 in communication with the BMU 5 to charge the assembled battery 7 corresponding to the BMU 5 using a constant voltage. When a constant voltage charge command has been received from the BMU 5, the PCS management control unit 3 sends an affirmative acknowledgement signal ACK to the BMU 5 in acknowledgement of the constant voltage charge command from the BMU 5.”
And para 0102:
“[0102] When a low remaining capacity flag (a flag indicating that the SOC has reached 8%) has been received from one or more of the battery packs in the assembled battery 7 corresponding to the BMU 5, the BMU 5 determines that the assembled battery 7 corresponding to the BMU 5 has been discharged to the first predetermined level, and a stop discharge command is sent to the PCS management control unit 3. When a stop discharge command has been received from the BMU 5, the PCS management control unit 3 replies to the BMU 5 with an affirmative acknowledgement signal ACK. In the present embodiment, the low remaining capacity flag indicates that the SOC has reached 8%. However, a value other than 8% may be used. The BMU 5 does not have to send a stop discharge command to the PCS management control unit 3 when a low remaining capacity flag (a flag indicating that the SOC has reached 8%) has been received from one or more of the battery packs in the assembled battery 7 corresponding to the BMU 5. Instead, the BMU 5 may send a stop discharge command to the PCS management control unit 3 when a discharge terminated flag (a flag indicating that the SOC has reached 0%) has been received from one or more of the battery packs in the assembled battery 7 corresponding to the BMU 5.”
Abe et al. is very detailed and wordy about the processes and the use of machine learning, but the gist is equivalent to what is claimed, namely:
The state of individual battery modules is tracked and individual battery modules can be turned on and off during charging and discharging
Balance is achieved in charging and discharging by comparing individual battery modules against thresholds to turn them on and off in response to individualized state monitoring.
Regarding the amendment of 8/4/2026:
The applicant has amended the independent claims to include the limitation,
“wherein the instruction provides voltage balancing for the target battery management unit having either a relatively high voltage or a relatively low voltage.”
The applicant arguing the applied prior of Abe et al. (US 2014/0021924) does not have voltage balancing. In fact, voltage balancing is present as is clear throughout, starting with the abstract. Emboldening is by the examiner.
“An assembled battery control system is provided with an assembled battery composed of a plurality of rechargeable battery packs connected in series, and a control unit for controlling the assembled battery. Each battery pack has a discharge unit. The control unit confirms the open-circuit voltage of each battery pack in the assembled battery after the assembled battery has been fully charged, determines a target voltage on the basis of the open-circuit voltage confirmation results for each battery pack in the assembled battery, causes the discharge unit to discharge each battery pack in the assembled battery that has an open-circuit voltage greater than the target voltage until the open-circuit voltage of each of said battery packs reaches the target voltage, fully charges the assembled battery again, discharges the assembled battery until a first predetermined level has been reached, and learns the capacity of each battery pack in the assembled battery.”
Thus voltage balancing is clearly a feature of Abe et al.
Re claim 2: Abe et al. is concerned specifically with state-of-charge (paragraphs 0010, 0050, 0076, 0102, 0105, 0106) and this is measured by voltage, generally.
Re claims 3-8: As discussed and seen above and throughout Abe et al., the explicit goal is to balance charging and discharging among many individual battery modules, comparing them against each other, and achieving balanced and even charging and discharging.
Within that, the claimed comparisons are either inherent or obvious, and are not a significant departure from what Abe et al. teaches.
Each individual battery module can be stopped and started and individual addressed as needed.
Re claim 9:
See para 0050:
“[0050] When the voltage value of each stage of rechargeable battery cells 701 connected in parallel is detected, the battery state detection unit 702 detects the current value and voltage value between the positive and negative electrodes of the battery pack 700, the SOC of the battery pack 700, and the temperature of the battery pack 700, and then sends the detection data to the control unit 703. The SOC of a battery pack 700 can be obtained from the cumulative value of the charge and discharge current to and from the battery pack 700, or by referencing an equation or table indicating the predetermined relationship between the open-circuit voltage (OCV) of the battery pack 700 and the SOC. The control unit 703 transmits the detection data obtained from the battery state detecting unit 702 as battery data via the optical communication unit 704. The optical communication unit 704 comprises an optical transmission module and an optical reception module. The discharge unit 705, which has a resistor and a switch connected to each other in series, is arranged between the positive and negative electrodes of the battery pack 700. When the switch in the discharge unit 705 is turned ON, the rechargeable battery cells 701 are discharged by the resistor in the discharge unit 705.”
Thus, there is an energy dissipation resistor. It has already been seen that there is a replenishment power source.
Re claims 10-11: Heat dissipation has long been an essential and standard part of electric vehicle battery systems.
Re claims 12-18: See discussions above.
Re claims 19 and 20:
The applicant has amended the independent claims to include the limitation,
“wherein the instruction provides voltage balancing for the target battery management unit having either a relatively high voltage or a relatively low voltage.”
The applicant arguing the applied prior of Abe et al. (US 2014/0021924) does not have voltage balancing. In fact, voltage balancing is present as is clear throughout, starting with the abstract. Emboldening is by the examiner.
“An assembled battery control system is provided with an assembled battery composed of a plurality of rechargeable battery packs connected in series, and a control unit for controlling the assembled battery. Each battery pack has a discharge unit. The control unit confirms the open-circuit voltage of each battery pack in the assembled battery after the assembled battery has been fully charged, determines a target voltage on the basis of the open-circuit voltage confirmation results for each battery pack in the assembled battery, causes the discharge unit to discharge each battery pack in the assembled battery that has an open-circuit voltage greater than the target voltage until the open-circuit voltage of each of said battery packs reaches the target voltage, fully charges the assembled battery again, discharges the assembled battery until a first predetermined level has been reached, and learns the capacity of each battery pack in the assembled battery.”
Thus voltage balancing is clearly a feature of Abe et al.
Conclusion
THIS ACTION IS MADE FINAL. 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 DANIEL A HESS whose telephone number is (571)272-2392. The examiner can normally be reached Monday through Friday, from 9 AM to 5 PM.
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, Thomas K. Pham can be reached at (571)272-3689. 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.
/DANIEL A HESS/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 2876
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