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 .
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 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.
DETAILED ACTION
Claims status
Claims 1-12 are pending as the applicant filed Preliminary Amendment on 02/29/2024.
Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 112
2. The following is a quotation of 35 U.S.C. 112(b):
(b) CONCLUSION.—The specification shall conclude with one or more claims particularly pointing out and distinctly claiming the subject matter which the inventor or a joint inventor regards as the invention.
The following is a quotation of 35 U.S.C. 112 (pre-AIA ), second paragraph:
The specification shall conclude with one or more claims particularly pointing out and distinctly claiming the subject matter which the applicant regards as his invention.
Claims 1-12 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 112(b) or 35 U.S.C. 112 (pre-AIA ), second paragraph, as being indefinite for failing to particularly point out and distinctly claim the subject matter which the inventor or a joint inventor (or for applications subject to pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 112, the applicant), regards as the invention.
Regarding claims 1-12, the terms “new battery” “new resistance” “old battery“ are vague and a relative term that renders the claim indefinite. The terms “new battery” “new resistance” “old battery“ are not defined by the claim, the specification does not provide a standard for ascertaining the requisite degree, and one of ordinary skill in the art would not be reasonably appraised of the scope of the invention. An artisan doing measuring and testing would not know at what point “new battery” “new resistance” “old battery“ within the scope of the claim had been accomplished because nothing within the disclosure establishes when a sufficient “new battery” “new resistance” “old battery“ occur.
Note: In view of the PTO compact prosecution, the Examiner notes that due to the indefiniteness issues described above all consideration of the merits of the claims in view of prior art is as best understood.
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 1-12 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 101 because the claimed invention is directed to a judicial exception (i.e., a law of nature, a natural phenomenon, or an abstract idea) without significantly more.
Claim 1, Step 1 the claim is a process (or machine) (Yes),
Step 2A Prong One, does the claim recite an abstract idea? current claim related to
a battery system comprising: a current value of a first compensation current flowing from the new battery pack to the target battery pack when the new battery pack and the target battery pack are connected in parallel, a new resistance value of the new battery pack, and a current value of a second compensation current corresponding to a first pack voltage difference value of the new battery pack and the target battery pack, a first reference resistance value, and a second reference resistance value appears is an abstract idea of mental process (MPEP 2106.04(a)) or data gathering equivalent to mathematical concept or mathematical manipulation function (MPEP 2106.04 (a) (2) (concept need not be expressed in mathematical symbols, because "[w]ords used in a claim operating on data to solve a problem can serve the same purpose as a formula), (OR Mathematical Concepts and Mental Processes) Step 2A Prong One: Yes.
Step 2A Prong Two, is the claim directed to an abstract idea? In other words, does claim recite additional elements that integrate the Judicial Exception into a practical application? the additional elements of a battery including a new battery pack having a known internal resistance value and a target battery pack having an internal resistance value needs to be estimated, and a master battery management system (BMS)- configured to estimate a target resistance value of the target battery pack based on at least one of are recited at a high level of generality and merely amount to a particular field of use (see MPEP 2106.05(h)) and/or insignificant post-solution activity (MPEP 2106.05(g)), this does not integrate the Judicial Exception into a practical application,
Step 2A Prong Two: NO.
Step 2B, Does the claim recite additional element that amount to significantly more than the Judicial exception? there are no more additional elements. Step 2B: No. claim 1 not eligible.
Claim 8, Step 1 the claim is a process (or machine) (Yes),
Step 2A Prong One, does the claim recite an abstract idea? current claim related to
a method for estimating a battery resistance, to estimate an internal resistance value of a target battery pack in a battery system including a new battery pack having a known internal resistance value-is-known and a plurality of old battery packs having internal resistance values to be estimated, the method comprising: receiving a current value of a first compensation current flowing between the new battery pack and the target battery pack connected in parallel, a first pack voltage value of the new battery pack, and a second pack voltage value of the target battery pack; and
estimating a target resistance value of the target battery pack based on at least one of: a current value of the first compensation current, a new resistance value of the new battery pack, and a current value of a second compensation current corresponding to a first pack voltage difference value between the new battery pack and the target battery pack, a first reference resistance value, and
a second reference resistance value appears is an abstract idea of mental process (MPEP 2106.04(a)) or data gathering equivalent to mathematical concept or mathematical manipulation function (MPEP 2106.04 (a) (2) (concept need not be expressed in mathematical symbols, because "[w]ords used in a claim operating on data to solve a problem can serve the same purpose as a formula), (OR Mathematical Concepts and Mental Processes) Step 2A Prong One: Yes.
Step 2A Prong Two, is the claim directed to an abstract idea? In other words, does claim recite additional elements that integrate the Judicial Exception into a practical application? the additional elements of selecting the target battery pack from among the plurality of old battery packs according to a predetermined criterion;
connecting the new battery pack and the target battery pack in parallel are recited at a high level of generality and merely amount to a particular field of use (see MPEP 2106.05(h)) and/or insignificant post-solution activity (MPEP 2106.05(g)), this does not integrate the Judicial Exception into a practical application,
Step 2A Prong Two: NO.
Step 2B, Does the claim recite additional element that amount to significantly more than the Judicial exception? there are no more additional elements. Step 2B: No. claim 8 not eligible.
Claim 2 related to the second compensation current is a compensation current flowing when a first reference battery pack and a second reference battery pack having a second pack voltage difference value equal to the first pack voltage difference value are connected in parallel, the first reference resistance value is a value of an internal resistance of the first reference battery pack, and the second reference resistance value is a value of an internal resistance of the second reference battery pack, its recites further data characterization and mathematical concepts that are part of the abstract idea, claim 2 not eligible.
Claim 3 related to a memory configured to store a look-up table having mapped and recorded therein: a current value of the second compensation current corresponding to each of a plurality of second pack voltage difference values including the second pack voltage difference value, and the first reference resistance value and a and the second reference resistance value are mapped and recorded, its recites further data characterization and mathematical concepts that are part of the abstract idea, claim 3 not eligible.
Claim 4 related to the master BMS selects a second pack voltage difference value having the same voltage value as that of the first pack voltage difference value from among the plurality of second pack voltage difference values, and estimates the target resistance value of the target battery pack by extracting-a the current value of the second compensation current mapped to the second pack voltage difference value, the first reference resistance value, and the second reference resistance value, its recites further data characterization and mathematical concepts that are part of the abstract idea, claim 4 not eligible.
Claim 5 related to the master BMSz estimates the target resistance value (Rold t)- based on the current value of the first compensation current (Im), the new resistance value (Rnew), the current value of the second compensation current (Id), the first reference resistance (Rref 1) value, and the second reference resistance (Rref 2)_put into Equation (1) below: Im(Roldt+ Rnew) =Id(Rref_1+ Rref 2) - Equation (1), its recites further data characterization and mathematical concepts that are part of the abstract idea, claim 5 not eligible.
Claim 6 related to each of the new battery pack and the target battery pack includes: a battery module including a plurality of battery cells, a voltage sensor configured to measure a pack voltage, which is a voltage across the battery module ,and a current sensor configured to measure a pack current flowing in the battery module; and a pack switch connecting the battery module to the battery system in parallel through an ON operation, and a slave BMS configured to transmit measurement results from the voltage sensor and the current sensor by communicating with the master BMS and receive a control signal for controlling a switching operation of the pack switch, its recites further data characterization and mathematical concepts that are part of the abstract idea, claim 6 not eligible.
Claim 7 related to the master BMS, receives a first pack voltage value of the new battery pack and a second pack voltage value of the target battery pack measured before the new battery pack and the target battery pack are connected in parallel, and the current value of the first compensation current measured after the new battery pack and the target battery pack are connected in parallel, and calculates the first pack voltage difference value, which is a difference value between the first pack voltage value and the second pack voltage value, its recites further data characterization and mathematical concepts that are part of the abstract idea, claim 7 not eligible.
Claim 9 related to the second compensation current is a compensation current flowing when a first reference battery pack and a second reference battery pack having a second pack voltage difference value equal to the first pack voltage difference value are connected in parallel, the first reference resistance value is a value of an internal resistance of the first reference battery pack, and the second reference resistance value is a value an internal resistance of the second reference battery pack, its recites further data characterization and mathematical concepts that are part of the abstract idea, claim 9 not eligible.
Claim 10 related to the estimating of the target resistance value of the target battery pack includes: calculating the first pack voltage difference value, which is a difference value between the first pack voltage value and the second pack voltage value; and extracting the current value of the second compensation current corresponding to the second pack voltage difference value, which is a same voltage value as the first pack voltage difference value, the first reference resistance value, and the second reference resistance value, from a look-up table, its recites further data characterization and mathematical concepts that are part of the abstract idea, claim 10 not eligible.
Claim 11 related to in the estimating of the target resistance value of the target battery pack, after the extracting from the lookup table, the target resistance value(Rold t) is estimated based on the current value of the first compensation current (Im), the new resistance value (Rnew), the current value of the second compensation current (Id), the first reference resistance (Rref 1) value, and the second reference resistance (Rref 2)_put into Equation (1) below: Im(Roldt + Rnew) =Id(Rref_1 + Rref 2) - Equation (1), its recites further data characterization and mathematical concepts that are part of the abstract idea, claim 11 not eligible.
Claim 12 related to the receiving of the current value of the first compensation current includes: Receiving the first pack voltage value of the new battery pack and the second pack voltage value of the target battery pack measured before the new battery pack and the target battery pack are connected in parallel, and the current value of the first compensation current measured after the new battery pack and the target battery pack are connected in parallel, its recites further data characterization and mathematical concepts that are part of the abstract idea, claim 12 not eligible.
Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 102
4. 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, 8, 2, 6, 7, 9 and 12 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102 (a) (1) as being anticipated by Chen, CN 210101381 U, DATE PUBLISHED: 2020-02-21, CPC Y02T 10/70
Regarding Claim 1:
Chen described a battery system comprising (abstract, power compensation power pack):
a battery including a new battery pack having a known internal resistance value (page 4, battery cell internal resistance) and a target battery pack having an internal resistance value needs to be estimated (page 4, need to compensate battery power pack), and a master battery management system (BMS)- configured to estimate a target resistance value of the target battery pack based on at least one of:
a current value of a first compensation current flowing from the new battery pack to the target battery pack when the new battery pack and the target battery pack are connected in parallel (page 4, need to compensate? several parallel
set of compensating power supply),
a new resistance value of the new battery pack, and
a current value of a second compensation current corresponding to a first pack voltage difference value of the new battery pack and the target battery pack,
a first reference resistance value, and
a second reference resistance value.
Regarding Claim 8:
Chen described a method for estimating a battery resistance, to estimate an internal resistance value of a target battery pack in a battery system including a new battery pack having a known internal resistance value-is-known (page 4, battery cell internal resistance) and a plurality of old battery packs having internal resistance values to be estimated, the method comprising (page 4, compensate battery power pack):
selecting the target battery pack from among the plurality of old battery packs according to a predetermined criterion (page 4, judge full charge?);
connecting the new battery pack and the target battery pack in parallel (page 4, parallel set);
receiving a current value of a first compensation current flowing between the new battery pack and the target battery pack connected in parallel, a first pack voltage value of the new battery pack, and a second pack voltage value of the target battery pack (page 4, compensating power pack); and
estimating a target resistance value of the target battery pack based on at least one of:
a current value of the first compensation current,
a new resistance value of the new battery pack (page 4, cell internal resistance consistency), and
a current value of a second compensation current corresponding to a first pack voltage difference value between the new battery pack and the target battery pack,
a first reference resistance value, and
a second reference resistance value.
Regarding Claim 2, Chen further described the second compensation current is a compensation current flowing when a first reference battery pack and a second reference battery pack having a second pack voltage difference value equal to the first pack voltage difference value are connected in parallel, the first reference resistance value is a value of an internal resistance of the first reference battery pack, and the second reference resistance value is a value of an internal resistance of the second reference battery pack (page 4, compensate in real-time resistance, voltage, current ).
Regarding Claim 6, Chen further described each of the new battery pack and the target battery pack includes: a battery module including a plurality of battery cells, a voltage sensor configured to measure a pack voltage, which is a voltage across the battery module ,and a current sensor configured to measure a pack current flowing in the battery module; and a pack switch connecting the battery module to the battery system in parallel through an ON operation, and a slave BMS configured to transmit measurement results from the voltage sensor and the current sensor by communicating with the master BMS and receive a control signal for controlling a switching operation of the pack switch (page 4, compensate in real-time resistance, voltage, current ).
Regarding Claim 7, Chen further described the master BMS, receives a first pack voltage value of the new battery pack and a second pack voltage value of the target battery pack measured before the new battery pack and the target battery pack are connected in parallel, and the current value of the first compensation current measured after the new battery pack and the target battery pack are connected in parallel, and calculates the first pack voltage difference value, which is a difference value between the first pack voltage value and the second pack voltage value (page 4, compensate in real-time resistance, voltage, current, current in parallel power supply )..
Regarding Claim 9, Chen further described the second compensation current is a compensation current flowing when a first reference battery pack and a second reference battery pack having a second pack voltage difference value equal to the first pack voltage difference value are connected in parallel, the first reference resistance value is a value of an internal resistance of the first reference battery pack, and the second reference resistance value is a value an internal resistance of the second reference battery pack (page 4, compensate in real-time resistance, voltage, current, current in parallel power supply ).
Regarding Claim 12, Chen further described Receiving the first pack voltage value of the new battery pack and the second pack voltage value of the target battery pack measured before the new battery pack and the target battery pack are connected in parallel, and the current value of the first compensation current measured after the new battery pack and the target battery pack are connected in parallel (page 4, compensate in real-time resistance, voltage, current in parallel power supply).
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) 3, 4 and 10 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Chen, CN 210101381 U, DATE PUBLISHED: 2020-02-21, CPC Y02T 10/70, In view of YAMADA, CN 109219755 A, DATE PUBLISHED: 2019-01-15, CPC H02J 7/00
Regarding claim 3, Chen further described a memory configured to store a having and recorded therein: a current value of the second compensation current corresponding to each of a plurality of second pack voltage difference values including the second pack voltage difference value, and
the first reference resistance value and a and the second reference resistance value are mapped and recorded (page 4, real-time compensating).
Chen does not described look-up table mapped.
Yamada describe look-up table mapped (page 12, look-up table database), for the benefit of deterioration device can be simplified (page 12) (both references are from the same filed of invention: battery determination).
It would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art at the time the invention was made to modify Chen to have the look-up table mapped for the benefit of deterioration device can be simplified.
Regarding claim 4, Chen further described the master BMSz selects a second pack voltage difference value having the same voltage value as that of the first pack voltage difference value from among the plurality of second pack voltage difference values, and estimates the target resistance value of the target battery pack by extracting-a the current value of the second compensation current mapped to the second pack voltage difference value, the first reference resistance value, and the second reference resistance value (page 4, compensate in real-time resistance, voltage, current, current in parallel power supply ).
Regarding claim 10, Chen further described the estimating of the target resistance value of the target battery pack includes: calculating the first pack voltage difference value, which is a difference value between the first pack voltage value and the second pack voltage value; and extracting the current value of the second compensation current corresponding to the second pack voltage difference value, which is a same voltage value as the first pack voltage difference value, the first reference resistance value, and the second reference resistance value (page 4, real-time compensating).
Chen does not described from look-up table.
Yamada describe from look-up table (page 12, look-up table database), for the benefit of deterioration device can be simplified (page 12) (both references are form the same filed of invention: battery determination).
It would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art at the time the invention was made to modify Chen to have from look-up table for the benefit of deterioration device can be simplified.
Contact information
6. Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to Tung Lau whose telephone number is (571)272-2274, email is Tungs.lau@uspto.gov. The examiner can normally be reached on Tuesday-Friday 7:00 AM-5:00 PM EST.
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If attempts to reach the examiner by telephone are unsuccessful, the examiner’s supervisor, TURNER SHELBY, can be reached on 571-272-6334. The fax phone number for the organization where this application or proceeding is assigned is 571-273-8300.
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/TUNG S LAU/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 2857
Technology Center 2800
June 29, 2026
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