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 .
Information Disclosure Statement
The information disclosure statements (IDS) were submitted on 05/16/2024, 11/19/2024, and 12/02/2025. The submission is in compliance with the provisions of 37 CFR 1.97. Accordingly, the information disclosure statement is being considered by the examiner.
Drawings
The drawings are 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: 909 in Figure 9. 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 Rejections - 35 USC § 101
35 U.S.C. 101 reads as follows:
Whoever invents or discovers any new and useful process, machine, manufacture, or composition of matter, or any new and useful improvement thereof, may obtain a patent therefor, subject to the conditions and requirements of this title.
Claims 1-20 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 101. The claimed invention is directed to the abstract concept of performing abstract steps without significantly more. The claim(s) recite(s) the following abstract concepts in BOLD of
1. A system for mapping impedance of an energy-conversion device, the system comprising:
a processor; and
a memory device coupled with the processor, wherein the memory device comprises data stored thereon that, when processed by the processor, enables the processor to:
receive raw time-domain data associated with the energy-conversion device;
performing an electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) measurement to generate raw frequency-domain data;
transform the raw time-domain and frequency-domain data using a distribution of relaxation times and distribution of phasances (DRT-DOP) model; and
generate, based on the DRT-DOP model, an electrochemical impedance spectrum of the energy-conversion device.
14. A computing device for mapping impedance of an energy-conversion device, the computing device comprising a processor to perform:
receiving raw time-domain data associated with an energy-conversion device;
performing an electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) measurement to generate raw frequency-domain data;
transforming the raw time-domain and frequency-domain data using a distribution of relaxation times and distribution of phasances (DRT-DOP) model; and
generating, based on the DRT-DOP model, an electrochemical impedance spectrum of the energy-conversion device.
20. A method of mapping impedance of an energy-conversion device, the method comprising:
receiving raw time-domain data associated with the energy-conversion device;
performing an electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) measurement to generate raw frequency-domain data;
transforming the raw time-domain and frequency-domain data using a distribution of relaxation times and distribution of phasances (DRT-DOP) model; and
generating, based on the DRT-DOP model, an electrochemical impedance spectrum of the energy-conversion device.
Under step 1 of the eligibility analysis, we determine whether the claims are to a statutory category by considering whether the claimed subject matter falls within the four statutory categories of patentable subject matter identified by 35 U.S.C. 101: process, machine, manufacture, or composition of matter. The above claims are considered to be in a statutory category.
Under Step 2A, Prong One, we consider whether the claim recites a judicial exception (abstract idea). In the above claim, the highlighted portion constitutes an abstract idea because, under a broadest reasonable interpretation, it recites limitation the fall into/recite abstract idea exceptions. Specifically, under the 2019 Revised Patent Subject Matter Eligibility Guidance, it falls into the grouping of subject matter that, when recited as such in a claim limitation, covers performing mathematics.
Next, under Step 2A, Prong Two, we consider whether the claim that recites a judicial exception is integrated into a practical application. In this step, we evaluate whether the claim recites additional elements that integrate the exception into a practical application of that exception.
This judicial exception is not integrated into a practical application because there is no improvement to another technology or technical field; improvements to the functioning of the computer itself; a particular machine; effecting a transformation or reduction of a particular article to a different state or thing. Examiner notes that since the claimed methods and system are not tied to a particular machine or apparatus, they do not represent an improvement to another technology or technical field. Similarly there are no other meaningful limitations linking the use to a particular technological environment. Finally, there is nothing in the claims that indicates an improvement to the functioning of the computer itself or transform a particular article to a new state.
Finally, under Step 2B, we consider whether the additional elements are sufficient to amount to significantly more than the abstract idea. Claims 1, 14, and 20 do not include additional elements that are sufficient to amount to significantly more than the judicial exception because a step of performing an electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) measurement to generate raw frequency-domain data is considered necessary data gathering. As recited in MPEP section 2106.05(g), necessary data gathering (i.e. performing a measurement to generate data) is considered extra solution activity in light of Mayo, 566 U.S. at 79, 101 USPQ2d at 1968; OIP Techs., Inc. v. Amazon.com, Inc., 788 F.3d 1359, 1363, 115 USPQ2d 1090, 1092-93 (Fed. Cir. 2015). Computing device, processor and memory device of Claims 1 and 14 are interpreted under broadest reasonable interpretation to be a generic computer elements. Generic computer elements are not considered significantly more than the abstract idea and do not integrate the abstract idea into a practical application. As recited in the MPEP, 2106.05(b), merely adding a generic computer, generic computer components, or a programmed computer to perform generic computer functions does not automatically overcome an eligibility rejection. Alice Corp. Pty. Ltd. v. CLS Bank Int'l, 134 S. Ct. 2347, 2359-60, 110 USPQ2d 1976, 1984 (2014). See also OIP Techs. v. Amazon.com, 788 F.3d 1359, 1364, 115 USPQ2d 1090, 1093-94.
Claims 3-4, 8, 13, and 16-17 further limit the abstract ideas without integrating the abstract concept into a practical application or including additional limitations that can be considered significantly more than the abstract idea.
The additional element of Claims 2 and 15 to receive raw time-domain data from applying a signal to an energy-conversion device is considered necessary data gathering. As recited in MPEP section 2106.05(g), necessary data gathering (i.e. performing a measurement to generate data) is considered extra solution activity in light of Mayo, 566 U.S. at 79, 101 USPQ2d at 1968; OIP Techs., Inc. v. Amazon.com, Inc., 788 F.3d 1359, 1363, 115 USPQ2d 1090, 1092-93 (Fed. Cir. 2015).
The additional element of Claims 5 and 18 to have the processor output the electrochemical impedance spectrum at different timescales is considered necessary data gathering. As recited in MPEP section 2106.05(g), necessary data gathering (i.e. outputting data) is considered extra solution activity in light of Mayo, 566 U.S. at 79, 101 USPQ2d at 1968; OIP Techs., Inc. v. Amazon.com, Inc., 788 F.3d 1359, 1363, 115 USPQ2d 1090, 1092-93 (Fed. Cir. 2015).
The additional element of Claims 6 and 19 of measuring the raw time-domain data in a series of steps is considered necessary data gathering. As recited in MPEP section 2106.05(g), necessary data gathering (i.e. outputting data) is considered extra solution activity in light of Mayo, 566 U.S. at 79, 101 USPQ2d at 1968; OIP Techs., Inc. v. Amazon.com, Inc., 788 F.3d 1359, 1363, 115 USPQ2d 1090, 1092-93 (Fed. Cir. 2015).
The additional element of Claim 7 of the processor performing anti-alias filtering of the time domain data is well understood, routine, and conventional in the art as evidenced by Nag (US20210333310) in [0033] and Swarztrauber (US20070194949) in [0127].
Claims 9-10 detail the additional element of a potentiostat performing the measurement to receive time-domain data. Utilizing a potentiostat to perform measurements on energy-conversion devices is well understood, routine, and conventional in the art as evidenced by Murbach (US20180043778) in [0092] and Uchida (US20180056809) in [0060].
The additional element of Claim 11 of receiving time-domain data by detecting a response is considered necessary data gathering. As recited in MPEP section 2106.05(g), necessary data gathering (i.e. outputting data) is considered extra solution activity in light of Mayo, 566 U.S. at 79, 101 USPQ2d at 1968; OIP Techs., Inc. v. Amazon.com, Inc., 788 F.3d 1359, 1363, 115 USPQ2d 1090, 1092-93 (Fed. Cir. 2015).
The additional element of Claim 12 of the energy conversion device being a battery, a fuel cell, an electrolyzer, a supercapacitor, and a photoelectrochemical device is well understood, routine, and conventional in the art as evidenced by Feng (US20230236257) in [0017] and Gilbert (US20200300796) in [0030].
Examiner’s Note
Claims 1-20 are not rejected under a prior art rejection (35 U.S.C. 102 or 35 U.S.C. 103).
In regards to Claims 1, 14, and 20, Feng (US20230236257) teaches “a processor (processor – Figure 4); and
a memory device coupled with the processor, wherein the memory device comprises data stored thereon that, when processed by the processor (processor coupled to memory – Figure 4), enables the processor to:
receive raw time-domain data associated with the energy-conversion device (“In a discharge state of a battery, battery discharge information of the battery is collected periodically according to a preset collection interval, where the battery discharge information includes collection time, and current information and voltage information” – [0017]);
performing an electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) measurement to generate raw frequency-domain data (“In another specific example, fast Fourier transform is performed according to the collection interval and the battery discharge information, to obtain frequency-based first battery signals corresponding to the battery discharge information. If the voltage signal in the frequency-based first battery signal is less than the preset voltage threshold, it indicates that the frequency-based first battery signal may be in the same order of magnitude as a noise signal, and interfered by the noise. In this case, the effective impedance information of the battery cannot be obtained through the current and voltage signals, so the frequency-based first battery signal cannot be determined as the second battery signal. Therefore, the frequency-based first battery signal interfered by the noise can be removed. to improve the accuracy of the electrochemical impedance spectrum constructed in the following Step S 40” – [0027]; “S 40 : An electrochemical impedance of a corresponding frequency is determined according to the second battery signal, and an electrochemical impedance spectrum is constructed according to all the electrochemical impedance” – [0028]).”
Gilbert (US20200300796) teaches “a processor (processor – [0042]); and
a memory device coupled with the processor, wherein the memory device comprises data stored thereon that, when processed by the processor (processor with memory – [0042]), enables the processor to:
receive raw time-domain data associated with the energy-conversion device (“ One exemplary advantage of the presently disclosed method of Electrochemical Impedance Spectroscopy (EIS) analysis approach is that the time required to capture the impedance behavior is dramatically shortened since the low frequency response can be predicted from only the high frequency (typically above 1 Hz) behavior. Instead of requiring hours to perform, the presently disclosed method can shorten this time to less than 1 minute and in some cases to just a few seconds. Some examples herewith are based on measurement tests from 20,000 Hz to 1 and 0.1 Hz to see how long it takes with the EIS test instruments. The time can also depend on how many data points are collected over the range of frequencies (usually in an even log interval). For example, 20000 to 1 Hz takes 16 secs (5 pts/Dec), 25 secs (8 pts/Dec) and 32 secs (10 pts/Dec). 20000 to 0.1 Hz takes between 190 and 240 secs depending on points/Dec)” – [0085]);
performing an electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) measurement to generate raw frequency-domain data (“ One such system relates in pertinent part to a system for determining frequency-dependent electrode impedance response of an electrode, comprising a sensor for obtaining Electrochemical Impedance Spectroscopy (EIS) data for expected upper frequency data ranges associated with an electrode, with such data including both phase angle and impedance data” – [0042]).”
Murbach (US20180043778) teaches in [0092] the time domain current perturbation applied to a battery by a potentiostat.
Luo (CN115144777A) teaches in [n0003] that “Currently, the main methods for processing AC impedance data include two categories: electrical equivalent circuits (EECs) and distribution of relaxation times (DRT). However, both techniques can only convey very limited information about physicochemical processes after processing AC impedance spectroscopy. At the same time, in the current processing stage, a large number of parameters still need to be set by operators based on experience, which will introduce a lot of errors into the analysis results, making it impossible to guarantee the reliability of the equivalent circuit. In addition, the research and development efficiency is relatively low”.
Feng, Gilbert, Murbach, and Luo are silent with regards to the language of “transform the raw time-domain and frequency-domain data using a distribution of relaxation times and distribution of phasances (DRT-DOP) model; and generate, based on the DRT-DOP model, an electrochemical impedance spectrum of the energy-conversion device.”
Conclusion
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/YOSSEF KORANG-BEHESHTI/Examiner, Art Unit 2857
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