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) 1-20 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Takahashi et al. (EP 2432659) in view of Hu et al. (US 11897364).
Regarding to claims 1, 8, 14:
Takahashi et al. discloses a system, comprising:
a processor; and a memory communicably coupled to the processor and storing machine-readable instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to:
receive a diagnostic charging protocol and a set of testing points (FIGs. 11-12 show the charging protocol, wherein the first target voltage (step S306) and the second target voltage (step S311) read on the claimed testing points);
restore energy to a battery when the battery is determined not to be within the set
of testing points (FIGs. 11-12: The battery is charged (S304) when the battery voltage has not reached the first target voltage (S306). The battery charging is resumed (S310) and continues until the battery voltage reaches to the second target voltage (S311));
cease restoring energy and apply a test to the battery when the battery is determined
to be within the set of testing points (FIGs. 11-12: When the battery voltage reaches to the first target voltage (S306), the charging stops (S307), the battery is relaxed (S308), then the parameter calculating process (S309) is performed. When the battery voltage reaches to the second target voltage (S311), the charging stops (S312), the battery is relaxed (S313), then measuring OCV2 (S314), and the testing calculation is performed (S315-S317)).
Takahashi et al. however is silent about determine battery model parameters based on battery measurements at a subset of testing points.
Hu et al. discloses a method for evaluating a battery model, wherein the model is for determining the performance of the battery (Abstract), and wherein the method comprising obtaining OCV for determining parameters to evaluate the accuracy of the battery model (FIG. 6, steps 615, 625, 635, 645).
Therefore, it would have been obvious for one having ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to modify Takahashi’s method, from the obtained OCV, determining the battery parameters in order to evaluate the battery model as taught by Hu et al. (FIG. 6).
Regarding to claims 2, 9, 15: wherein the machine-readable instructions to test the battery uses
different discharge/charge levels (Takahashi et al.: FIGs. 11-12: The testing calculation is performed at two levels: The first target voltage and the second target voltage).
Regarding to claims 3, 10, 16: wherein the machine-readable instructions to test the battery uses hybrid pulse power characterization (Hu et al.: FIG. 7, step 705: HPPC data).
Regarding to claims 4-7, 11-13, 17-20: wherein the machine-readable instructions that, when executed by the processor, further includes causing the processor to: obtain an estimate of electrode degradation based on a set of battery model parameters, wherein the machine-readable instructions that, when executed by the processor, further includes causing the processor to: display the estimate of electrode degradation, wherein the machine-readable instructions that, when executed by the processor, further includes causing the processor to: obtain an estimate of a capability for fast charging based on a set of battery model parameters, and wherein the machine-readable instructions that, when executed by the processor, further includes causing the processor to: restrict fast charging based on if the capability for fast charging satisfies a criteria (Takahashi et al.: paragraph [0196]: FIG. 20 explains a shift in the correspondence between the charging characteristics of the positive and negative electrodes due to degradation. Paragraph [0250]: The degradation level estimating unit 70 estimates the level of degradation based on parameters, such as the rate of change of the parameters, wherein the higher level of degradation indicates that the battery is in an advance stage of degradation or aging. It is conventional to display such degradation information for alerting purpose. In addition, it is certain that the degradation must have a negative impact on the charge rate of the battery, particularly the fast- charging capability of the battery; as a result, that restricts the charging rate, such as how fast the charge should be limited).
Conclusion
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to LAM S NGUYEN whose telephone number is (571)272-2151.
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/LAM S NGUYEN/ Primary Examiner, Art Unit 2853
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