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 .
Priority
Receipt is acknowledged of certified copies of papers required by 37 CFR 1.55.
Information Disclosure Statement
The information disclosure statement (IDS) submitted on 01-12-2024 and 02-27-2024 are in compliance with the provisions of 37 CFR 1.97. Accordingly, the information disclosure statement is being considered by the examiner.
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(s) 1 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(1) as being anticipated by DE 102011081149 (A1) hereinafter Bacher.
Regarding Claim 1, Bacher teaches an electrical energy storage device [1] comprising a plurality of battery cells [5] accommodated in a housing [2], wherein the housing comprises grooves (first duct) [8] that run parallel to the bottom of the housing, and heat sinks (heat transfer members) [6] arranged in spaces between the plurality of battery cells, and wherein the heat sinks (heat transfer members) [6] protrudes into the grooves (first duct) (paragraphs 66-68, see annotated figure 1 below).
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Claim(s) 1 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(1) as being anticipated by DE 102014004764 (A1) hereinafter Essinger.
Regarding Claim 1, Essinger teaches a battery pack (electrical energy storage device) comprising a plurality of battery cells [11] accommodated in a housing (paragraph 2), wherein the housing comprises slots (first duct) [7] that run parallel to the bottom of the housing, and heat exchanger (heat transfer members) [1] arranged in spaces between the plurality of battery cells, and wherein the heat exchanger (heat transfer members) [1] protrudes into the slots (first duct) (paragraphs 36-42, see annotated figures 1-2 below).
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Claim(s) 2-18 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(1) as being anticipated by DE 102011081149 (A1) hereinafter Bacher [or DE 102014004764 (A1) hereinafter Essinger].
Regarding Claim 2-3 and 18, Bacher teaches that the spaces surrounding the plurality of battery cells and the heat sinks are filled with a solid material (i.e., metal material) (paragraphs 78-82).
Regarding Claims 3-4, Bacher teaches that the heat sinks (heat transfer members) are plates or pipes with any cross-sectional shape (paragraphs 69-82).
Regarding Claims 5-7, Bacher teaches that the heat sinks (heat transfer members) are pipes with varied dimensions or plates with varied dimensions (i.e., varying surface areas) (paragraphs 69-82).
Regarding Claims 8-9, Bacher teaches a plurality of grooves (ducts) [8] formed in the housing and a bottom heater formed in the groove (paragraphs 80, 89).
Regarding Claims 10-11, Bacher teaches that housing is a box-shaped housing having insulating capability, and the grooves are disposed above the plurality of battery cells (paragraph 89 [i.e., cooling module disposed above the battery cells]).
Regarding Claim 12, Bacher teaches that the heat sinks protruding into the groove are in contact with a surface of the groove opposite of the containing space in a direction of extension of the heat sink (see figures of Bacher and alternatively figures of Essinger).
Regarding Claims 13-14, Bacher teaches a cooling module [4] (i.e., such cooling module is equipped with a cooling medium and further includes an intake fan to facilitate moving the cooling medium through the ducts or channels) (paragraphs 66-67).
Regarding Claims 15-17, Bacher teaches that the heat sinks (heat transfer members) are made of metal material, and the plurality of battery cells are arranged to form a square lattice in a plan view, and the heat sinks are each disposed at a central location of a unit lattice of the square lattice (paragraph 81 of Bacher and alternatively figures of Essinger).
Conclusion
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to OSEI K AMPONSAH whose telephone number is (571)270-3446. The examiner can normally be reached Monday - Friday, 8:00 am - 5:00 pm EST.
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If attempts to reach the examiner by telephone are unsuccessful, the examiner’s supervisor, NICHOLAS A SMITH can be reached at (571)272-8760. The fax phone number for the organization where this application or proceeding is assigned is 571-273-8300.
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/OSEI K AMPONSAH/ Primary Examiner, Art Unit 1752
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