Prosecution Insights
Last updated: April 19, 2026
Application No. 18/594,439

ELECTRIC POWER CONTROL SYSTEM

Non-Final OA §103
Filed
Mar 04, 2024
Examiner
CHOWDHURI, SWARNA N
Art Unit
2836
Tech Center
2800 — Semiconductors & Electrical Systems
Assignee
Semiconductor Energy Laboratory Co. Ltd.
OA Round
5 (Non-Final)
76%
Grant Probability
Favorable
5-6
OA Rounds
3y 1m
To Grant
98%
With Interview

Examiner Intelligence

Grants 76% — above average
76%
Career Allow Rate
258 granted / 340 resolved
+7.9% vs TC avg
Strong +22% interview lift
Without
With
+21.9%
Interview Lift
resolved cases with interview
Typical timeline
3y 1m
Avg Prosecution
31 currently pending
Career history
371
Total Applications
across all art units

Statute-Specific Performance

§101
0.5%
-39.5% vs TC avg
§103
59.6%
+19.6% vs TC avg
§102
24.7%
-15.3% vs TC avg
§112
12.1%
-27.9% vs TC avg
Black line = Tech Center average estimate • Based on career data from 340 resolved cases

Office Action

§103
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 . 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. Claim(s) 1 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over US 2006/0214500 (Hall) in view of US 2011/0139530 (Ananthakrishna). Regarding claim 1, Hall teaches a vehicle [0087] comprising: a wheel (Fig. 1 shows wheel 10) comprising a rim portion (Fig. 1 shows rim 12), a disk portion (Fig. 1 shows central portion 11), and a battery (Fig. 7 shows battery 81 in a metal band around the rim); and a vehicle body (a vehicle having a vehicle body) [0087], wherein the rim portion has an inside rim face and an outside rim face (Fig. 1 shows rim 12 having an inside rim face and an outside rim face), and wherein the battery has a belt-like shape wrapped around a cylindrical portion of the rim portion (Fig. 7 shows battery 81 fixedly positioned on the outside rim face 12A wherein battery is encased in a metal band that extends around the circumference of the rim) [0136]. However, Hall does not teach the battery between the inside rim face and the outside rim face. However, Ananthakrishna teaches the battery between the inside rim face and the outside rim face (Fig. 5 shows belt of portable power pack being embedded in the rim 502 thereby being between the inside rim face and the outside rim face) [0027]. It would have been obvious to one with ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to have the battery between the inside rim face and the outside rim face as taught by Ananthakrishna in order to protect the battery from outside environmental conditions. Claim(s) 2 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over US 2006/0214500 (Hall) in view of US 2011/0139530 (Ananthakrishna) further in view of US 2015/0349158 (Kanemoto). Regarding claim 2, Hall teaches a vehicle [0087] comprising: a wheel (Fig. 1 shows wheel 10) comprising a rim portion (Fig. 1 shows rim 12), a disk portion (Fig. 1 shows central portion 11), and a battery (Fig. 7 shows battery 81 in a metal band around the rim); and a vehicle body (a vehicle having a vehicle body) [0087], wherein the rim portion has an inside rim face and an outside rim face (Fig. 1 shows rim 12 having an inside rim face and an outside rim face), and wherein the battery has a belt-like shape wrapped around a cylindrical portion of the rim portion (Fig. 7 shows battery 81 fixedly positioned on the outside rim face 12A wherein battery is encased in a metal band that extends around the circumference of the rim) [0136]. However, Hall does not teach the battery between the inside rim face and the outside rim face. However, Ananthakrishna teaches the battery between the inside rim face and the outside rim face (Fig. 5 shows belt of portable power pack being embedded in the rim 502 thereby being between the inside rim face and the outside rim face) [0027]. It would have been obvious to one with ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to have the battery between the inside rim face and the outside rim face as taught by Ananthakrishna in order to protect the battery from outside environmental conditions. However, Hall and Ananthakrishna does not teach belt-like shaped battery wrapped more than one lap. However, Kanemoto teaches belt-like shaped battery wrapped more than one lap (Fig. 2 shows multiple layers of positive electrode plates 31 and negative electrode plates 32 thereby forming the structure where the battery is wrapped for more than one lap) [0053-0054]. It would have been obvious to one with ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to have belt-like shaped battery wrapped more than one lap as taught by Kanemoto in order to increase the amount of battery present in the wheel rim thereby increasing the power capacity. Claim(s) 1 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over JP 2010- 036823 (Tanaka) in view of US 2011/0139530 (Ananthakrishna). Regarding claim 1, Tanaka teaches a vehicle (Fig. 1 shows wheel 120 A-B that would be mounted on an automobile 100) comprising: a wheel comprising a rim portion (Fig. 2 shows a wheel 120B comprising a rim 123), a disk portion (Fig. 2 shows disk portion 124), and a battery (Fig. 2 shows battery 130); and a vehicle body (Fig. 1 shows vehicle body); wherein the rim portion has an inside rim face and an outside rim face (Fig. 2 shows a rim 123 having an inside rim face and an outside rim face); and wherein the battery has a belt-like shape wrapped around a cylindrical portion of the rim portion (Fig. 2 shows battery 130 having a ring like shape i.e. belt-like shape wrapped around a cylindrical portion of the rim portion 123). However, Tanaka does not teach the battery between the inside rim face and the outside rim face. However, Ananthakrishna teaches the battery between the inside rim face and the outside rim face (Fig. 5 shows belt of portable power pack being embedded in the rim 502 thereby being between the inside rim face and the outside rim face) [0027]. It would have been obvious to one with ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to have the battery between the inside rim face and the outside rim face as taught by Ananthakrishna in order to protect the battery from outside environmental conditions. Claim(s) 2 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over JP 2010- 036823 (Tanaka) in view of US 2011/0139530 (Ananthakrishna) further in view of US 2015/0349158 (Kanemoto). Regarding claim 2, Tanaka teaches a vehicle (Fig. 1 shows wheel 120 A-B that would be mounted on an automobile 100) comprising: a wheel comprising a rim portion (Fig. 2 shows a wheel 120B comprising a rim 123), a disk portion (Fig. 2 shows disk portion 124), and a battery (Fig. 2 shows battery 130); and a vehicle body (Fig. 1 shows vehicle body); wherein the rim portion has an inside rim face and an outside rim face (Fig. 2 shows a rim 123 having an inside rim face and an outside rim face); and wherein the battery has a belt-like shape wrapped around a cylindrical portion of the rim portion (Fig. 2 shows battery 130 having a ring-like shape 1.e. belt-like shape wrapped around a cylindrical portion of the rim portion 123). However, Tanaka does not teach the battery between the inside rim face and the outside rim face. However, Ananthakrishna teaches the battery between the inside rim face and the outside rim face (Fig. 5 shows belt of portable power pack being embedded in the rim 502 thereby being between the inside rim face and the outside rim face) [0027]. It would have been obvious to one with ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to have the battery between the inside rim face and the outside rim face as taught by Ananthakrishna in order to protect the battery from outside environmental conditions. However, Tanaka and Ananthakrishna does not teach battery wrapped for more than one lap. However, Kanemoto teaches battery wrapped for more than one lap (Fig. 2 shows multiple layers of positive electrode plates 31 and negative electrode plates 32 thereby forming the structure where the battery is wrapped for more than one lap) [0053-54]. It would have been obvious to one with ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to have battery wrapped for more than one lap as taught by Kanemoto in order to increase the amount of battery present in the wheel rim thereby increasing the power capacity of the wheel. Claim(s) 1 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over US 2016/0149167 (Jung) in view of US 2011/0139530 (Ananthakrishna). Regarding claim 1, Jung teaches a vehicle [0059] comprising: a wheel comprising a rim portion (vehicle comprising a wheel with a rim portion) [0059], a disk portion (wheel having a disk portion) [0059], and a battery (battery module 200); and a vehicle body (vehicle as mentioned having a vehicle body) [0059]; wherein the rim portion has an inside face and an outside rim face (vehicle rim has an inside rim face and an outside rim face); and wherein the battery has a belt-like shape wrapped around a cylindrical portion of the rim portion (battery 200 installed along the outer circumference of a wheel of a vehicle thereby forming a belt-like shape wrapped around a cylindrical portion of the rim portion) [0059]. However, Jung does not teach the battery between the inside rim face and the outside rim face. However, Ananthakrishna teaches the battery between the inside rim face and the outside rim face (Fig. 5 shows belt of portable power pack being embedded in the rim 502 thereby being between the inside rim face and the outside rim face) [0027]. It would have been obvious to one with ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to have the battery between the inside rim face and the outside rim face as taught by Ananthakrishna in order to protect the battery from outside environmental conditions. Claim(s) 2 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over US 2016/0149167 (Jung) in view of US 2011/0139530 (Ananthakrishna) further in view of US 2015/0349158 (Kanemoto). Regarding claim 2, Jung teaches a vehicle [0059] comprising: a wheel comprising a rim portion (vehicle comprising a wheel with a rim portion) [0059], a disk portion (wheel having a disk portion) [0059], and a battery (battery module 200); and a vehicle body (vehicle as mentioned having a vehicle body) [0059]; wherein the rim portion has an inside face and an outside rim face (vehicle rim has an inside rim face and an outside rim face); and wherein the battery has a belt-like shape wrapped around a cylindrical portion of the rim portion (battery 200 installed along the outer circumference of a wheel of a vehicle thereby forming a belt-like shape wrapped around a cylindrical portion of the rim portion) [0059]. However, Jung does not teach the battery between the inside rim face and the outside rim face. However, Ananthakrishna teaches the battery between the inside rim face and the outside rim face (Fig. 5 shows belt of portable power pack being embedded in the rim 502 thereby being between the inside rim face and the outside rim face) [0027]. It would have been obvious to one with ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to have the battery between the inside rim face and the outside rim face as taught by Ananthakrishna in order to protect the battery from outside environmental conditions. However, Jung and Ananthakrishna does not teach battery wrapped for more than one lap. However, Kanemoto teaches battery wrapped for more than one lap (Fig. 2 shows multiple layers of positive electrode plates 31 and negative electrode plates 32 thereby forming the structure where the battery is wrapped for more than one lap) [0053-54]. It would have been obvious to one with ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to have battery wrapped for more than one lap as taught by Kanemoto in order to increase the amount of battery present in the wheel rim thereby increasing the power capacity of the wheel. Claim(s) 3 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over US 2006/0214500 (Hall) in view of US 2011/0139530 (Ananthakrishna) and US 2015/0349158 (Kanemoto) further in view of US 2017/0008385 (Fujimoto). Regarding claim 3, Hall, Ananthakrishna and Kanemoto does not teach further comprising an electric power transmission mechanism including a circuit and an antenna, wherein the circuit is electrically connected to the battery through a cable, and wherein the antenna is electrically connected to the circuit. However, Fujimoto teaches an electric power transmission mechanism including a circuit and an antenna, wherein the circuit is electrically connected to the battery through a cable, and wherein the antenna is electrically connected to the circuit [0036-0037]. It would have been obvious to one with ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to have an electric power transmission mechanism including a circuit and an antenna, wherein the circuit is electrically connected to the battery through a cable, and wherein the antenna is electrically connected to the circuit as taught by Fujimoto in order to ensure receiving and transmitting power wirelessly thereby bypassing the usage of wiring and saving space in the system. Conclusion Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to SWARNA N CHOWDHURI whose telephone number is (571)431-0696. The examiner can normally be reached Mon-Fri 8am-5pm. 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, Rexford Barnie can be reached at 571-272-7496. 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. SWARNA N. CHOWDHURI Examiner Art Unit 2836 /S.N.C/Examiner, Art Unit 2836 /REXFORD N BARNIE/Supervisory Patent Examiner, Art Unit 2836
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Prosecution Timeline

Mar 04, 2024
Application Filed
Sep 19, 2024
Non-Final Rejection — §103
Jan 22, 2025
Response Filed
Apr 19, 2025
Final Rejection — §103
Jul 18, 2025
Request for Continued Examination
Jul 22, 2025
Non-Final Rejection — §103
Jul 22, 2025
Response after Non-Final Action
Oct 24, 2025
Response Filed
Nov 12, 2025
Final Rejection — §103
Feb 17, 2026
Request for Continued Examination
Feb 26, 2026
Response after Non-Final Action
Mar 06, 2026
Non-Final Rejection — §103 (current)

Precedent Cases

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Study what changed to get past this examiner. Based on 5 most recent grants.

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Prosecution Projections

5-6
Expected OA Rounds
76%
Grant Probability
98%
With Interview (+21.9%)
3y 1m
Median Time to Grant
High
PTA Risk
Based on 340 resolved cases by this examiner. Grant probability derived from career allow rate.

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