DETAILED ACTION
This application includes independent claims 28 and 37 and dependent claims 29-36 and 38-54.
The Preliminary Amendment has been entered.
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 .
Drawings
The drawings are objected to under 37 CFR 1.83(a). The drawings must show every feature of the invention specified in the claims. Therefore, the “aperture with a center axis”; the “insertion of the grasping point into the aperture along the center axis”; and the “protrusion” of the “end effector” must be shown or the feature(s) canceled from the claim(s). No new matter should be entered. (The examiner notes that Fig. 13 illustrates an “end effector” having some kind of structure for the addition of different types of “grasping structures” disclosed in para. 0053 of the publication of this application (US 2024/02364926))
The drawings are also objected to as failing to comply with 37 CFR 1.84(p)(5) because they include the following reference character(s) not mentioned in the description: “137”.
Corrected drawing sheets in compliance with 37 CFR 1.121(d), or amendment to the specification to add the reference character(s) in the description in compliance with 37 CFR 1.121(b) are required in reply to the Office action to avoid abandonment of the application. Any amended replacement drawing sheet should include all of the figures appearing on the immediate prior version of the sheet, even if only one figure is being amended. Each drawing sheet submitted after the filing date of an application must be labeled in the top margin as either “Replacement Sheet” or “New Sheet” pursuant to 37 CFR 1.121(d). If the changes are not accepted by the examiner, the applicant will be notified and informed of any required corrective action in the next Office action. The objection to the drawings will not be held in abeyance.
Claim Objections
Claims 48 and 53 are objected to because of the following informalities: the claims are missing “from”. Appropriate correction is required.
Claim Interpretation
The claims in this application are given their broadest reasonable interpretation using the plain meaning of the claim language in light of the specification as it would be understood by one of ordinary skill in the art. The broadest reasonable interpretation of a claim element (also commonly referred to as a claim limitation) is limited by the description in the specification when 35 U.S.C. 112(f) or pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 112, sixth paragraph, is invoked.
As explained in MPEP § 2181, subsection I, claim limitations that meet the following three-prong test will be interpreted under 35 U.S.C. 112(f) or pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 112, sixth paragraph:
(A) the claim limitation uses the term “means” or “step” or a term used as a substitute for “means” that is a generic placeholder (also called a nonce term or a non-structural term having no specific structural meaning) for performing the claimed function;
(B) the term “means” or “step” or the generic placeholder is modified by functional language, typically, but not always linked by the transition word “for” (e.g., “means for”) or another linking word or phrase, such as “configured to” or “so that”; and
(C) the term “means” or “step” or the generic placeholder is not modified by sufficient structure, material, or acts for performing the claimed function.
Use of the word “means” (or “step”) in a claim with functional language creates a rebuttable presumption that the claim limitation is to be treated in accordance with 35 U.S.C. 112(f) or pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 112, sixth paragraph. The presumption that the claim limitation is interpreted under 35 U.S.C. 112(f) or pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 112, sixth paragraph, is rebutted when the claim limitation recites sufficient structure, material, or acts to entirely perform the recited function.
Absence of the word “means” (or “step”) in a claim creates a rebuttable presumption that the claim limitation is not to be treated in accordance with 35 U.S.C. 112(f) or pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 112, sixth paragraph. The presumption that the claim limitation is not interpreted under 35 U.S.C. 112(f) or pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 112, sixth paragraph, is rebutted when the claim limitation recites function without reciting sufficient structure, material or acts to entirely perform the recited function.
Claim limitations in this application that use the word “means” (or “step”) are being interpreted under 35 U.S.C. 112(f) or pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 112, sixth paragraph, except as otherwise indicated in an Office action. Conversely, claim limitations in this application that do not use the word “means” (or “step”) are not being interpreted under 35 U.S.C. 112(f) or pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 112, sixth paragraph, except as otherwise indicated in an Office action.
Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 112
The following is a quotation of the first paragraph of 35 U.S.C. 112(a):
(a) IN GENERAL.—The specification shall contain a written description of the invention, and of the manner and process of making and using it, in such full, clear, concise, and exact terms as to enable any person skilled in the art to which it pertains, or with which it is most nearly connected, to make and use the same, and shall set forth the best mode contemplated by the inventor or joint inventor of carrying out the invention.
The following is a quotation of the first paragraph of pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 112:
The specification shall contain a written description of the invention, and of the manner and process of making and using it, in such full, clear, concise, and exact terms as to enable any person skilled in the art to which it pertains, or with which it is most nearly connected, to make and use the same, and shall set forth the best mode contemplated by the inventor of carrying out his invention.
Claims 28-54 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 112(a) or 35 U.S.C. 112 (pre-AIA ), first paragraph, as failing to comply with the written description requirement. The claim(s) contains subject matter which was not described in the specification in such a way as to reasonably convey to one skilled in the relevant art that the inventor or a joint inventor, or for applications subject to pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 112, the inventor(s), at the time the application was filed, had possession of the claimed invention.
Independent claim 28 recites ”the end effector configured to facilitate connection of the robotic device and the battery via insertion of the grasping point into the aperture along the center axis”. There is no support for this claim limitation in the disclosure as filed on 10/18/2023.
Independent claim 37 recites “causing . . . a grasping point of a battery to be inserted into an aperture along a center axis of the aperture so as to connect the battery to the robotic device . . . the aperture being of an end effector of the robotic device”. There is no support for this claim limitation in the disclosure as filed on 10/18/2023.
Regarding the dependent claims, claim 31 recites “the end effector comprising a protrusion”. There is no support for this claim limitation in the disclosure as filed on 10/18/2023. Claim 41 recites “causing . . . the grasping point to be withdrawn from the aperture along the center axis so as to disconnect the battery from the robotic device.” There is no support for this claim limitation in the disclosure as filed on 10/18/2023. Claim 42 recites “causing the grasping point to be withdrawn from the aperture, causing, by the controller, a second grasping point of a second battery to be inserted into the aperture along the center axis so as to connect the second battery to the robotic device”. There is no support for this claim limitation in the disclosure as filed on 10/18/2023. Claim 43 recites “before causing the grasping point to be inserted into the aperture”. There is no support for this claim limitation in the disclosure as filed on 10/18/2023. Claim 46 recites “the grasping point to be withdrawn from the aperture along the center axis”. There is no support for this claim limitation in the disclosure as filed on 10/18/2023. Claim 47 recites “after causing the grasping point to be withdrawn from the aperture, causing, by the controller, a second grasping point of a second battery to be inserted into the aperture along the center axis so as to connect the second battery to the robotic device”. There is no support for this claim limitation in the disclosure as filed on 10/18/2023. Claim 49 recites “the second grasping point to be withdrawn from the aperture along the center axis”. There is no support for this limitation in the disclosure as filed on 10/18/2023. Claim 51 recites “the grasping point to be withdrawn from the aperture along the center axis”. There is no support for this limitation in the disclosure as filed on 10/18/2023. Claim 52 recites “causing the grasping point to be withdrawn from the aperture, causing, by the controller, a second grasping point of a second battery to be inserted into the aperture along the center axis so as to connect the second battery to the robotic device”. There is no support for this limitation in the disclosure as filed on 10/18/2023. Claim 54 recites “after causing the second battery to be moved, causing, by the controller, the second grasping point to be withdrawn from the aperture along the center axis”. There is no support for this limitation in the disclosure as filed on 10/18/2023.
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.
(a)(2) the claimed invention was described in a patent issued under section 151, or in an application for patent published or deemed published under section 122(b), in which the patent or application, as the case may be, names another inventor and was effectively filed before the effective filing date of the claimed invention.
Claim(s) 28-32 and 36-42 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(2) as being anticipated by Corser et al. (US 2024/0425279).
Regarding independent claim 28, Corser discloses a system for replacing a battery in a vehicle, the system comprising: a battery comprising: a housing (202), and a grasping point (206) extending from a portion from a housing; a robotic device comprising an end effector (226) having an aperture (opening between “pair of gripping members” see para. 0122) with a center axis, the end effector configured to facilitate connection of the robotic device and the battery via insertion of the grasping point into the aperture along the center axis.
Regarding independent claim 37, Corser discloses a method removing a battery from a vehicle, the method comprising: causing, by a controller (see at least para. 0168) of a robotic device (220), a grasping point (206) of a battery to be inserted into an aperture (opening between “pair of gripping members” see para. 0122) along a center axis of the aperture so as to connect the battery to the robotic device, the grasping point extending from a portion of a housing (202, see Fig. 6B) of the battery, the aperture being of an end effector (226) of the robotic device; and after the battery is connected to the end effector, causing, by the controller, the battery to be moved (see at least para. 0122).
Regarding dependent claims 29-32, 36, and 38-42, Corser discloses a charging repository (340) containing a plurality of charging bays (344), each of the charging bays configured to receive the battery and charge the battery (see at least para. 0161). Corser discloses a controller configured to: determine when the battery is received in any of the charging bays (see at least paras. 0166 and 0168); and cause electrical power to be provided to one of the charging bays when the battery is received within the one of the charging bays (see at least paras. 0166 and 0168). The grasping point is a post comprising a groove (see at least Fig. 6b); and the end effector comprising a protrusion (see para. 0122, “gripper finger” configured to be positioned within the groove when the robotic device is connected to the battery. The battery further comprises a flat surface (see Fig. 8) extending around an entirety of the post. The robotic device comprises a detector mounted on the end effector, the detector configured to facilitate detection of a position of the battery when the robotic device is not connected to the battery (see at least para. 0138). Causing the battery to be moved comprises removing the battery from a housing assembly of a vehicle (100). Causing the battery to be moved comprises inserting the battery into a charging bay (344) of a charging repository (340). After causing the battery to be moved, determining, by the controller, that the battery is received in the charging bay (see at least paras. 0166 and 0168); and after determining that the battery is received in the charging bay, causing, by the controller, electrical power to be provided to the charging bay (see at least paras. 0166 and 0168). After causing the battery to be moved, causing, by the controller, the grasping point to be withdrawn from the aperture along the center axis so as to disconnect the battery from the robotic device (see at least paras. 0122, 0164, and 0168). After causing the grasping point to be withdrawn from the aperture, causing, by the controller, a second grasping point of a second battery to be inserted into the aperture along the center axis so as to connect the second battery to the robotic device, the second grasping point extending from a portion of a second housing of the second battery; and after the battery is connected to the end effector, causing, by the controller, the second battery to be moved (see at least paras. 0122, 0164, and 0168).
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.
Claim(s) 33-35 and 43-54 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Corser et al. (US 2024/0425279) in view of Bakogiannis (WO 2022/064230 A1).
Regarding claims 33-35, Corser discloses a system for replacing a battery in a vehicle, the system comprising: a battery comprising: a housing (202), and a grasping point (206) extending from a portion from a housing; a robotic device comprising an end effector (226) having an aperture (opening between “pair of gripping members” see para. 0122) with a center axis, the end effector configured to facilitate connection of the robotic device and the battery via insertion of the grasping point into the aperture along the center axis. The grasping point is a post comprising a groove (see at least Fig. 6b); and the end effector comprising a protrusion (see para. 0122, “gripper finger” configured to be positioned within the groove when the robotic device is connected to the battery. The battery further comprises a flat surface (see Fig. 8) extending around an entirety of the post. The robotic device comprises a detector mounted on the end effector (see at least para. 0138). Corser further discloses a vehicle including a housing assembly comprising an outer wall and an outer wall aperture (see Fig. 6A). Corser discloses all the limitations of the claims, but it does not disclose that the battery comprises a readable indicia comprising at least one of a bar code or a QR code; the detector configured to facilitate detection of the readable indicia when the robotic device is not connected to the battery; and it does not disclose a second readable indicia located on the outer wall; wherein the detector is further configured to facilitate detection of the second readable indicia when the robotic device is not connected to the battery; and wherein the controller is configured to: receive a first signal from the detector, the first signal associated with the readable indicia and a characteristic of the battery, and receive a second signal from the detector, the second signal associated with the second readable indicia and a position of the housing assembly. However, Bakogiannis discloses a similar system which includes a battery comprising a readable indicia comprising at least one of a bar code or a QR code (see at least paras. 0060 and 0066); a detector configured to facilitate detection of the readable indicia when a robotic device is not connected to the battery; and a second readable indicia located on an outer wall of the robotic device; wherein the detector is further configured to facilitate detection of the second readable indicia (see at least para. 0060) when the robotic device is not connected to the battery; and a controller configured to: receive a first signal from the detector, the first signal associated with the readable indicia and a characteristic of the battery, and receive a second signal from the detector, the second signal associated with the second readable indicia and a position of the housing assembly (see at least paras. 0060 and 0066) for the purpose of ensuring an appropriate battery is exchanged for a specific battery of a particular vehicle. It would have been obvious for a person of ordinary skill in the art, before the effective filing date of the applicant’s invention to modify Corser by having the battery comprise a readable indicia comprising at least one of a bar code or a QR code; the detector configured to facilitate detection of the readable indicia when the robotic device is not connected to the battery; and a second readable indicia located on the outer wall; wherein the detector is further configured to facilitate detection of the second readable indicia when the robotic device is not connected to the battery; and wherein the controller is configured to: receive a first signal from the detector, the first signal associated with the readable indicia and a characteristic of the battery, and receive a second signal from the detector, the second signal associated with the second readable indicia and a position of the housing assembly, as disclosed by Bakogiannis, for the purpose of ensuring an appropriate battery is exchanged for a specific battery of a particular vehicle.
Regarding claims 43-54, Corser discloses a method removing a battery from a vehicle, the method comprising: causing, by a controller of a robotic device (220), a grasping point (206) of a battery to be inserted into an aperture (opening between “pair of gripping members” see para. 0122) along a center axis of the aperture so as to connect the battery to the robotic device, the grasping point extending from a portion of a housing (202, see Fig. 6B) of the battery, the aperture being of an end effector (226) of the robotic device; and after the battery is connected to the end effector, causing, by the controller, the battery to be moved (see at least para. 0122). Causing the battery to be moved comprises inserting the battery into a charging bay (344) of a charging repository (340). After causing the battery to be moved, causing, by the controller, the grasping point to be withdrawn from the aperture along the center axis so as to disconnect the battery from the robotic device (see at least paras. 0122, 0164, and 0168). After causing the grasping point to be withdrawn from the aperture, causing, by the controller, a second grasping point of a second battery to be inserted into the aperture along the center axis so as to connect the second battery to the robotic device, the second grasping point extending from a portion of a second housing of the second battery; and after the battery is connected to the end effector, causing, by the controller, the second battery to be moved (see at least paras. 0122, 0164, and 0168). Causing the battery to be moved comprises removing the second battery a second charging bay of the charging repository and inserting the second battery into a housing assembly of the vehicle (see at least paras. 0122, 0164, and 0168). Causing the battery to be moved comprises removing the battery from a first charging bay of a charging repository and inserting the battery into a second charging bay of the charging repository (see at least paras. 0122, 0164, and 0168). Causing the battery to be moved comprises removing the second battery a third charging bay of the charging repository and inserting the second battery into a housing assembly of the vehicle (see at least paras. 0122, 0164, and 0168). After causing the second battery to be moved, causing, by the controller, the second grasping point to be withdrawn from the aperture along the center axis so as to disconnect the second battery from the robotic device (see at least paras. 0122, 0164, and 0168). Corser discloses all the limitations of the claims, but it does not disclose that before causing the grasping point to be inserted into the aperture, causing, by the controller, a detector mounted on the end effector to detect a readable indicia of the battery and determining, by the controller, based on the readable indicia, at least one: a position of the battery or a characteristic of the battery. However, Bakogiannis discloses a similar method which includes before causing ta grasping point to be inserted into an aperture, causing, by a controller, a detector mounted on an end effector to detect a readable indicia of a battery and determining, by the controller, based on the readable indicia, at least one: a position of the battery or a characteristic of the battery (see at least paras. 0060 and 0066) for the purpose of ensuring an appropriate battery is exchanged for a specific battery of a particular vehicle. It would have been obvious for a person of ordinary skill in the art, before the effective filing date of the applicant’s invention to modify Corser by having before causing the grasping point to be inserted into the aperture, causing, by the controller, a detector mounted on the end effector to detect a readable indicia of the battery and determining, by the controller, based on the readable indicia, at least one: a position of the battery or a characteristic of the battery, as disclosed by Bakogiannis, for the purpose of ensuring an appropriate battery is exchanged for a specific battery of a particular vehicle.
Conclusion
The prior art made of record and not relied upon is considered pertinent to applicant's disclosure. Sachdev et al. (US 2025/0051042) discloses a battery exchange system including a robotic arm having an end effector with an aperture. Gulmarin et al. (US 5,612,606) discloses an automatic battery exchange system.
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to PATRICK HEWEY MACKEY whose telephone number is (571)272-6916. The examiner can normally be reached M - F 9-5.
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If attempts to reach the examiner by telephone are unsuccessful, the examiner’s supervisor, Michael McCullough can be reached at 571-272-7805. The fax phone number for the organization where this application or proceeding is assigned is 571-273-8300.
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/PATRICK H MACKEY/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 3653