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 .
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 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.
Priority
Acknowledgment is made of applicant’s claim for foreign priority under 35 U.S.C. 119 (a)-(d). The certified copy has been filed in parent Application No. 18/492,999, filed on December 6th, 2023.
Information Disclosure Statement
The information disclosure statement (IDS) submitted on October 24th, 2023; October 3rd, 2024; and January 29th, 2025 comply with the provisions of 37 CFR 1.97. Accordingly, the information disclosure statement has been considered by the examiner.
Specification
The specification is objected to because of the following informalities:
The specification sets forth two regions, the buffer region referred to as R2 in brief description of the drawings, and the region referred to as R1 in brief description of the drawings. The region R2 is a region formed by the buffer region formation member on the outside of the electrode laminate. The region R1 is a region formed by the sealing portion between the pair of electrodes uncoated portions.
Beginning on page 9 the region previous cited as R1 is cited only as the region. While it is understood the recitation of the region refers to the region formed by the sealing portion between the pair of electrodes uncoated portions, it causes ambiguity upon initial reading because of the two regions set forth.
It is respectfully suggested to continue the distinction between the buffer region and the region by continuing the labeling of R1 and R2 or renaming the region to sealed uncoated region to provide straightforward interpretation on which region is referenced.
Claim Objections
Claim 1 objected to because of the following informalities:
Claim 1 recites:
“The sealing portion seals a region formed between the positive electrode uncoated portion and the negative electrode uncoated portion in a state where a pressure within the region is lower than atmospheric pressure,
And the buffer region formation member forms the buffer region at a position overlapping the region in the stacking direction”.
There are two regions set forth, the buffer region formed by the buffer region formation member, and the region formed by the sealing portion and the uncoated portions of the positive and negative electrode.
While it is understood the recitation of the region refers to the region formed by the sealing portion between the pair of electrodes uncoated portions, it causes ambiguity upon initial reading because of the two regions set forth.
It is respectfully suggested to add further distinction between the buffer region and the region. See discussion under specification above for suggestions on labeling.
Claims 2 – 4 are objected for virtue of dependency from claim 1.
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.
Claims 1 and 4 are rejected to under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(1) and 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(2) as being unpatentable over Nakamura et al. (US 2021/0296706 A1; “Nakamura”).
Regarding claim 1, Nakamura discloses a power storage module [see e.g. 40 in Fig. 6 and see e.g. power storage module in par. 62], comprising:
An electrode laminate [see e.g. 11 in Fig. 6 and see e.g. electrode laminate in Par. 65]. having a plurality of bipolar electrodes [see e.g. plurality of bipolar electrodes in Par. 6].
A positive terminal electrode [see e.g. 16 in Fig. 6 and see e.g. positive electrode in Par. 60].
And a negative terminal electrode [see e.g. 18 in Fig. 6 and see e.g. negative electrode in Par. 60].
A sealing portion that seals a pair of electrodes mutually adjacent in a stacking direction of the electrode laminate [see e.g. 21B in Fig. 6 and see e.g. the second sealing portions 22 seal, together with the first sealing portions 21, spaces between the bipolar electrodes 14 adjacent to each other along the laminating direction D in Par. 50].
And a buffer region formation member [see e.g. 15 in Fig. 6] that forms a buffer region sealed on an outside of the electrode laminate in the stacking direction [see e.g. VA in Fig. 6 and see e.g. surplus space (second surplus space) VA surrounded by the first sealing portion 21, the metal plate 15 of the negative terminal electrode 18, and the metal plate 20 is formed in Par. 62].
Wherein a positive electrode charge collector foil in each of the bipolar electrodes [see e.g. 15 in Fig. 6 and see e.g. metal plate 15 of the positive terminal electrode in Par. 73] and a positive electrode charge collector foil in the positive terminal electrode have a positive electrode coated portion [see e.g. positive electrode 16 is a positive electrode active material layer formed by applying a positive electrode active material to the metal plate 15 in Par. 41] and a positive electrode uncoated portion [see e.g. an edge portion 15c of the metal plate 15 has a rectangular frame shape and is an uncoated region to which neither the positive electrode active material nor the negative electrode active material is applied. In Par. 44].
A negative electrode charge collector foil in each of the bipolar electrodes [see e.g. 15 in Fig. 6 and see e.g. metal plate 15 of the negative terminal electrode in Par. 62] and a negative electrode charge collector foil in the negative terminal electrode have a negative electrode coated portion [see e.g. negative electrode 17 is a negative electrode active material layer formed by applying a negative electrode active material to the metal plate 15 in Par. 41] and a negative electrode uncoated portion [see e.g. an edge portion 15c of the metal plate 15 has a rectangular frame shape and is an uncoated region to which neither the positive electrode active material nor the negative electrode active material is applied. In Par. 44].
The sealing portion seals a region formed between the positive electrode uncoated portion and the negative electrode uncoated portion [see e.g. V in Fig. 6 and see e.g. first sealing portions 21 and the second sealing portions 22 seal internal spaces V formed between the electrodes adjacent to each other in Part. 50] in a state where a pressure within the region is lower than atmospheric pressure [see e.g. the internal pressure of the internal space V can be set to 0.1 MPa or higher and 1 MPa or lower in Par. 62 and see e.g. internal space V is approximately the atmospheric pressure in Par. 62].
And the buffer region formation member forms the buffer region at a position overlapping the region in the stacking direction [see e.g. VA in Fig. 6 and see e.g. a surplus space (second surplus space) VA surrounded by the first sealing portion 21, the metal plate 15 of the negative terminal electrode 18, and the metal plate 20 is formed in Par. 62].
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Figure 1: Annotated Figure 6 from US 2021/0296706 A1 for claim 1
Regarding claim 4, Nakamura discloses the power storage module according to claim 1, wherein the buffer region formation member comprises:
A cover that covers the sealing portion [see e.g. 20B in Fig. 6 and see e.g. a surface of the outermost metal plate that faces the metal plate side of the negative terminal electrode is bonded to the sealing body in Par. 8].
And a seal portion that connects the cover to the electrode laminate [see e.g. K in Fig. 6 and see e.g. bonding regions in Par. 58].
The cover has an inside edge portion formed at a position overlapping the positive electrode coated portion and the negative electrode coated portion in the stacking direction [0008].
And the seal portion connects the inside edge portion to the electrode laminate [0008].
Nakamura disclose a metal plate (20) that is placed on the negative electrode for the purposes of creating a secondary space (VA) which acts as a buffer for the electrolyte solution that would normally leak from the negative electrode and contribute to the alkaline creep phenomenon [0008].
The metal plate has two surfaces, a second surface (20b) and first surface (20a). The second surface is facing the electrode stack and fully covers the uncoated portion of the positive and negative electrode. The second surface should fully cover the uncoated portions (V) because this places secondary space (VA) on the migration path for the electrolyte solution which helps prevent the alkaline creep phenomenon [0008]. This second surface acts as an inside edge portion overlapping the uncoated electrode regions.
Furthermore, the metal plate placed on the negative electrode has a raised section that covers a portion of the sealing portion (21). Therefore, the metal plate (20) and its second surface acts as a cover for the sealing surface.
Metal plate (20) is connected to the electrode laminate by bonding region K on the raised section.
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Figure 2: Annotated Figure 6 from US 2021/0296706 A1 for Claim 4
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.
Claims 2 and 3 are rejected to under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Nakamura et al. (US 2021/0296706 A1; “Nakamura”) in further view of Hamaoka et al. (US 2021/0234221 A1; “Hamaoka”).
Regarding claim 2, Nakamura discloses the power storage module according to claim 1, Nakamura further discloses wherein the buffer region formation member comprises:
A negative electrode side conductive member disposed so as to contact an outer surface of the negative electrode coated portion in the negative terminal electrode [see e.g. C Fig. 6 and see e.g. metal plate 20 has a contact portion C that is in contact with the metal plate 15 of the negative terminal electrode in Par. 60].
A negative electrode side conductive film that covers the negative electrode side conductive member [see e.g. 20a Fig. 6].
And a negative electrode side holding portion that holds a peripheral edge portion of the negative electrode side conductive film so as to form the buffer region along with the negative electrode uncoated portion of the negative terminal electrode, the negative electrode side conductive member, and the negative electrode side conductive film [see e.g. K Fig. 6 and see e.g. bonding regions in Par. 58].
Namely, Nakamura discloses the metal plate (20) is in contact with the opposing side of metal plate (15) coated with the negative electrode. The metal plate (20) also entirely covers the metal plate (15) coated in the negative electrode, causing the surface of metal plate (20) to act as a conductive film. Furthermore, the metal plate (20) has an edge which is held.
Nakamura does not disclose these equivalent 3 structures on the positive electrode.
Hamaoka discloses when the electrolytic solution is an alkaline aqueous solution, there is a case where a so-called alkaline creep phenomenon causes the electrolytic solution to propagate on an electrode plate of each electrode in Par. 3. Namely, Hamaoka discloses that the alkaline creep phenomenon is not exclusive to the negative electrode.
Both Nakamura and Hamaoka are analogous in the field of preventing alkaline creep phenomenon [see e.g. “when the electrolytic solution contains an alkaline solution, a so-called alkaline creep phenomenon causes the electrolytic solution that is housed in the internal space to propagate on the surface of the metal plate of the negative terminal electrode” in Par. 4 of Nakamura].
Nakamura teaches that the addition of surplus space VA is beneficial for preventing alkali creep phenomenon [see discussion in claim 1 above]. Surpluses space VA is created by metal plate (20) being placed on the negative electrode. Metal plate (20) on the negative electrode includes a side conductive member, conductive film, and side holding portion. Therefore, it would have been prima facia obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective failing date to prevent the alkaline creep phenomenon on the positive electrode by adding metal plate (20) and include all structural limitations from the negative electrode.
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Figure 3: Annotated Figure 6 from US 2021/0296706 A1 for Claim 2
Regarding claim 3, Nakamura in view of Hamaoka disclose the power storage module according to claim 2, further comprising:
A negative electrode side support portion disposed between the negative electrode uncoated portion of the negative terminal electrode and the negative electrode side conductive film, and supporting the negative electrode side conductive film [see e.g. 21A in Fig. 6 of Nakamura and see e.g. first sealing portion 21A is bonded to the first surface 15a of the metal plate 15 of the negative terminal electrode in Par. 53].
Namely, Nakamura discloses that the first sealing portion connects the metal plate (15) uncoated portion, to the raised edge of metal plate (20). Included on metal plate (20) is the negative electrode side conductive film. Therefore, the first sealing portion is placed between the negative electrode uncoated portion and negative conductive film of the buffer member and seals the metal plate (20) to the electrode stack supporting it.
Nakamura does not disclose the equivalent side support on the positive electrode.
As discussed previously in regards to claim 2 Nakamura and Hamaoka are analogous art. Therefore, it would have been prima facia obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective failing date to prevent the alkaline creep phenomenon on the positive electrode by adding metal plate (20) and include all structural limitations from the negative electrode.
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Figure 4: Annotated Figure 6 from US 2021/0296706 A1 for Claim 3
Pertinent Prior Art
The following constitutes a list of prior art which are not relied upon herein, but are considered pertinent to the claimed invention and/or written description thereof. The prior art are purposely made of record hereinafter to facilitate compact/expedient prosecution, and consideration thereof is respectfully suggested.
Nakamura et al. US 2020/0350525 A1 discloses similar drawings as Nakamura et al. US 2021/0296706 A1.
Nakamura et al. US 2021/0020876 A1 discloses similar drawings as Nakamura et al. US 2021/0296706 A1.
Nakamura et al. US 2022/0059912 A1 discloses similar drawings as Nakamura et al. US 2021/0296706 A1.
Chujo et al. US 2020/0373607 A1 discloses similar drawings as Nakamura et al. US 2021/0296706 A1.
Chujo et al. US 2020/0411809 A1 discloses similar drawings and shows two regions in a similar place as VA disclosed by Nakamura et al. US 2021/0296706 A1.
Hamaoka et al. US 2021/0234187 A1 discloses similar drawings and shows two regions in a similar place as VA disclosed by Nakamura et al. US 2021/0296706 A1.
Double Patenting
Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha, the applicant in the instant application, has multiple co-pending applications in which they are the applicant / assignee that use similar claim language and figures as the instant application. While these co-pending applications are similar, none rise to the level of double patenting. The following is a list of co-pending applications with similar language and figures.
Komura et al. US 2024/0120619 A1 claims a power storage module with a plurality of bipolar electrodes, a first sealing part that seals a first outer region in a state where pressure of the first outer region is below atmospheric pressure. The first outer region set forth is only on the outermost electrode compared to the instant applications where the region lower than atmospheric pressure is between all electrodes.
It should be noted that if the instant application had only one electrode the claims from Komura et al. would have overlapping subject matter. However, the instant application requires a plurality of electrodes (greater than 1).
Nakayama et al. US 2024/0120627 A1 differs from the instant application because claim 1 requires an inner voltage detection terminal.
Okamoto et al. US 2024/0055665 A1 differs from the instant application because there is no buffer region outside the electrode laminate. However, there is an electrode plate outside the electrode laminate.
Okamoto et al. US 2024/0021933 A1 differs from the instant application because there is no buffer region outside the electrode laminate.
Kinugawa et al. US 2023/0307791 A1 differs from the instant application because there is no buffer region outside the electrode laminate. However, there is an electrode plate outside the electrode laminate.
Akiyama et al. US 2023/0170582 A1 differs from the instant application because there is no buffer region outside the electrode laminate.
Akiyama et al. US 2022/0393265 A1 differs from the instant application because there is no buffer region outside the electrode laminate. However, there is intermediate member placed at each end of the electrode laminate.
Conclusion
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to JACOB R STANLEY whose telephone number is (571)270-5447. The examiner can normally be reached 7:30 AM - 5 PM.
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If attempts to reach the examiner by telephone are unsuccessful, the examiner’s supervisor, Aaron Austin can be reached at (571) 272-8935. The fax phone number for the organization where this application or proceeding is assigned is 571-273-8300.
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/J.R.S./Examiner, Art Unit 1782
/AARON AUSTIN/Supervisory Patent Examiner, Art Unit 1782
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