Prosecution Insights
Last updated: October 21, 2026
Application No. 18/638,776

STATIONARY BATTERY ELECTRIC VEHICLE CHARGERS WITH ENHANCED POWER MODULES

Non-Final OA §103
Filed
Apr 18, 2024
Examiner
ORTIZ, ELIM
Art Unit
2836
Tech Center
2800 — Semiconductors & Electrical Systems
Assignee
BorgWarner Inc.
OA Round
1 (Non-Final)
79%
Grant Probability
Favorable
1-2
OA Rounds
3m
Est. Remaining
99%
With Interview

Examiner Intelligence

Grants 79% — above average
79%
Career Allowance Rate
479 granted / 603 resolved
+11.4% vs TC avg
Strong +23% interview lift
Without
With
+22.8%
Interview Lift
resolved cases with interview
Typical timeline
2y 9m
Avg Prosecution
15 currently pending
Career history
629
Total Applications
across all art units

Statute-Specific Performance

§101
1.3%
-38.7% vs TC avg
§103
62.6%
+22.6% vs TC avg
§102
16.4%
-23.6% vs TC avg
§112
13.1%
-26.9% vs TC avg
Black line = Tech Center average estimate • Based on career data from 603 resolved cases

Office Action

§103
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. Claims 1, 4, 7, 8, 11, 14, 15 and 18 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Park (US 2013/0193922) in view of Bech (US 2023/0061714). Regarding claim 15, Park a stationary battery charger, configured to detachably couple with and charge a battery electric vehicle (BEV) battery, comprising: (see Fig. 2) an input for receiving alternating current (AC) voltage from an electrical grid; (see AC output to 210 input; Fig. 2) one or more electrical cables configured to detachably couple with BEVs (see Fig. 2) one or more enhanced power modules, electrically coupled to the input, that convert AC voltage to direct current (DC) voltage, each comprising: (see 210; Fig. 2) a switched mode power supply (SMPS) coupled to a low voltage output for powering auxiliary circuits within the stationary battery charger; (see 260, para 0033 and 0035; Fig. 2) a power factor correction (PFC) module that rectifies AC voltage received from the grid into DC voltage supplied to the SMPS and the one or more electrical cables; (see 220, para 0036; Fig. 2) a control system, electrically connected to the SMPS that controls the SMPS, the IMD, and the PFC module (see 250). However Park does not disclose; an isolation monitoring device (IMD) electrically coupled to the one or more electrical cables. Yet, Bech in the same field teaches an isolation monitoring device (IMD) electrically coupled to the one or more electrical cables (see 26, Fig. 2). Therefore, it would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to have modified Park with the teachings of Bech having an isolation monitoring device (IMD) electrically coupled to the one or more electrical cables in order to provide continuous, real-time tracking of insulation resistance between live unearthed conductors and protective earth or chassis ground. Regarding claim 8 the combination teaches a stationary battery charger, configured to detachably couple with and charge a battery electric vehicle (BEV) battery, comprising: an input for receiving alternating current (AC) voltage from an electrical grid; one or more electrical cables configured to detachably couple with BEVs; one or more enhanced power modules, electrically coupled to the input, that convert AC voltage to direct current (DC) voltage, each comprising: a switched mode power supply (SMPS) coupled to a low voltage output for powering auxiliary circuits within the stationary battery charger; a power factor correction (PFC) module that rectifies AC voltage received from the grid into DC voltage supplied to the SMPS and the one or more electrical cables; and a control system, electrically connected to the SMPS that controls the SMPS and the PFC module (Please see rejection or claim 15). Regarding claim 1, the combination teaches a stationary battery charger, configured to detachably couple with and charge a battery electric vehicle (BEV) battery, comprising: an input for receiving alternating current (AC) voltage from an electrical grid; one or more electrical cables configured to detachably couple with BEVs; and one or more enhanced power modules, electrically coupled to the input, that convert AC voltage to direct current (DC) voltage, each comprising a low voltage output for powering auxiliary circuits within the stationary battery charger and a high voltage output for applying DC voltage to the BEV battery (Please see rejection or claim 15). Regarding claims 4 11 and 18 the combination teaches a wherein the auxiliary circuits include a contactor interface, a cooling system interface, or an isolation monitoring device (IMD) interface (see 26, Fig. 1; Bech). Regarding claims 7 and 14 the combination teaches further comprising a control bus and a control system, included on the one or more enhanced power modules, capable of transmitting commands to a power factor correction (PFC), a DC-DC converter, an AC-DC power conversion topology, or a switched mode power supply (SMPS) (see communication line Fig. 2; Park). Claim(s) 2, 5, 9, 12, 16 and 19 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Park and Bech as applied to claims 1, 8 and 15 above, and further in view of Guo (CN 106921206). Regarding claims 2, 9 and 16 the combination teaches a stationary battery charger of claims 1, 8 and 15. Yet does not disclose further comprising one or more auxiliary circuits included with the one or more enhanced power modules. However, Guo in the same field teaches comprising one or more auxiliary circuits included with the one or more enhanced power modules. Therefore, it would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to have modified Park and Bech with the teachings of Guo having one or more auxiliary circuits included with the one or more enhanced power modules in order to provide additional electrical paths and devices without increasing footprint. Regarding claims 5 12 and 19 the combination teaches a stationary battery charger of claims 1, 8 and 15. Yes, does not disclose further comprising a controller area network (CAN) bus electrically coupled to the one or more enhanced power modules. However, Guo in the same field teaches comprising a controller area network (CAN) bus electrically coupled to the one or more enhanced power modules. Therefore, it would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to have modified Park and Bech with the teachings of Guo having comprising a controller area network (CAN) bus electrically coupled to the one or more enhanced power modules in order to provide electrical communication amongst all electrical devices in a uniform manner. Claims 3, 6, 10, 13, 17 and 20 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Park and Bech as applied to claims 1, 8 and 15 above, and further in view of Zhao (US 2022/0123580). Regarding claims 3 10 and 17 the combination teaches a stationary battery charger of claims 1, 8 and 15. Yet, the combination does not disclose comprising an intra-module data bus coupling a control system on the one or more enhanced power modules with the one or more auxiliary circuits. However, Zhao in the same field teaches comprising an intra-module data bus coupling a control system on the one or more enhanced power modules with the one or more auxiliary circuits. Therefore, it would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to have modified Park and Bech with the teachings of Zhao having an intra-module data bus coupling a control system on the one or more enhanced power modules with the one or more auxiliary circuits in order to provide redundant communication. Regarding claims 6 13 and 20 the combination teaches a stationary battery charger of claims 1, 8 and 15. Yet, the combination does not disclose comprising a DC-DC converter electrically coupled to the one or more enhanced power modules. However, Zhao in the same field teaches comprising a DC-DC converter electrically coupled to the one or more enhanced power modules (see Fig. 2). Therefore, it would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to have modified Park and Bech with the teachings of Zhao having a DC-DC converter electrically coupled to the one or more enhanced power modules in order to provide redundant communication paths that ensure proper functioning. Conclusion Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to ELIM ORTIZ whose telephone number is (571)270-7114. The examiner can normally be reached 9:30am-6:30pm. 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) 272-7492. 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. /ELIM ORTIZ/ Primary Examiner, Art Unit 2836
Read full office action

Prosecution Timeline

Apr 18, 2024
Application Filed
Sep 30, 2026
Non-Final Rejection mailed — §103 (current)

Precedent Cases

Applications granted by this same examiner with similar technology

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HIGH VOLTAGE CABLE ROUTING FOR ELECTRIFIED VEHICLE
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Patent 12744406
SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR DELIVERING ELECTRIC POWER
1y 10m to grant Granted Sep 22, 2026
Study what changed to get past this examiner. Based on 5 most recent grants.

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Prosecution Projections

1-2
Expected OA Rounds
79%
Grant Probability
99%
With Interview (+22.8%)
2y 9m (~3m remaining)
Median Time to Grant
Low
PTA Risk
Based on 603 resolved cases by this examiner. Grant probability derived from career allowance rate.

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