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 § 102
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 (i.e., changing from AIA to pre-AIA ) 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.
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)(2) the claimed invention was described in a patent issued under section 151, or in an application for patent published or deemed published under section 122(b), in which the patent or application, as the case may be, names another inventor and was effectively filed before the effective filing date of the claimed invention.
Claim(s) 7-12 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(2) as being anticipated by Jihui et al. (CN 000211980819).
Regarding claim 7, Jihui et al.’s figure 2 shows A method for operating an electrical circuit device, wherein the electrical circuit device comprises: a secondary electrical storage unit (200); a first electrical line for establishing electrical contact at a first polarity of the secondary electrical storage unit (-); a second electrical line for establishing electrical contact at a second polarity of the secondary electrical storage unit (+); a first semiconductor component having a first switch and having a first diode connected in parallel with the first switch (101, 102); a second semiconductor component having a second switch and having a second diode connected in parallel with the second switch (103, 104), wherein:(i) both the first semiconductor component and the second semiconductor component are integrated into the first electrical line or into the second electrical line, or (ii) the first semiconductor component is integrated into the first electrical line or into the second electrical line and the second semiconductor component is integrated into the respective other electrical line, the method comprising the steps of: when the first switch is open and the second switch is open in a case of a charging current of the secondary electrical storage unit, blocking the charging current with either the first diode or the second diode and, in a case of a discharge current of the secondary electrical storage unit, blocking the discharge current with the other of the two diodes (when both switches 101 and 103 are opened); opening the first switch and closing the second switch in order, in the case of a charging current (charging when switch 103 off (open) and switch 103 is on (closed) or in the case of a discharge current (switch 103 is on (closed), switch 101 is off (open)), to generate Joule heat by way of current flow in a forward direction of the first diode, and/or closing the first switch and opening the second switch in order to generate Joule heat in the case of current flow of the respective other current in the forward direction of the second diode (heat flows in first and second diodes) as called for in claim 7.
Regarding claim 8, further comprising the step of: (i) opening the first switch and closing the second switch in order, in the case of the charging current or in the case of the discharge current, to generate Joule heat by way of current flow in the forward direction of the first diode; and (ii) closing the first switch and opening the second switch in order to generate Joule heat in the case of current flow of the respective other current in the forward direction of the second diode, wherein steps (i) and (ii) are repeated in a predeterminable period of time so as to generate Joule heat constantly in the predeterminable period of time both in the case of a charging current of the secondary electrical storage unit and in the case of a discharge current of the secondary electrical storage unit (steps are repeated until heat is at predetermined temperature, see the translated specification pages 3-5).
Regarding claim 9, Jihui et al.’s figure 2 shows An electrical circuit device, comprising: a secondary electrical storage unit(200); a first electrical line for establishing electrical contact at a first polarity of the secondary electrical storage unit (-); a second electrical line for establishing electrical contact at a second polarity of the secondary electrical storage unit (+); a first semiconductor component having a first switch and having a first diode connected in parallel with the first switch (103, 104); a second semiconductor component having a second switch and having a second diode connected in parallel with the second switch (101, 102); wherein:(i) both the first semiconductor component and the second semiconductor component are integrated into the first electrical line or into the second electrical line, or (ii) the first semiconductor component is integrated into the first electrical line or into the second electrical line and the second semiconductor component is integrated into the respective other electrical line, wherein, when the first switch is open and the second switch is open in the case of a charging current of the secondary electrical storage unit, either the first diode or the second diode blocks the charging current and in the case of a discharge current of the secondary electrical storage unit the other of first or second diodes blocks the discharge current; and a heat transfer medium between the first diode and the electrical energy storage unit and/or between the second diode and the electrical energy storage unit in order to transfer Joule heat from the first diode and/or second diode to the electrical energy storage unit in a manner which minimizes heat losses as called for in claim 9.
Regarding claim 10, wherein the heat transfer medium comprises a thermally conductive paste and/or a thermally conductive plate (diodes).
Regarding claim 11, wherein the first semiconductor component and the second semiconductor component are both embodied in each case as a MOSFET, an IGBT, or a SiC transistor (switches 101 and 103).
Regarding claim 12, A vehicle onboard power supply system comprising an electrical circuit device according to claim 9.
(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) 7-12 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(2) as being anticipated by Denning (WO 2005/094512).
Regarding claim 7, Denning’s figure 3 shows A method for operating an electrical circuit device, wherein the electrical circuit device comprises: a secondary electrical storage unit (350); a first electrical line for establishing electrical contact at a first polarity of the secondary electrical storage unit (+); a second electrical line for establishing electrical contact at a second polarity of the secondary electrical storage unit (-); a first semiconductor component having a first switch and having a first diode connected in parallel with the first switch (S1, D1); a second semiconductor component having a second switch and having a second diode connected in parallel with the second switch (S2, D2), wherein:(i) both the first semiconductor component and the second semiconductor component are integrated into the first electrical line or into the second electrical line, or (ii) the first semiconductor component is integrated into the first electrical line or into the second electrical line and the second semiconductor component is integrated into the respective other electrical line, the method comprising the steps of: when the first switch is open and the second switch is open in a case of a charging current of the secondary electrical storage unit, blocking the charging current with either the first diode or the second diode and, in a case of a discharge current of the secondary electrical storage unit, blocking the discharge current with the other of the two diodes (when both switches are opened); opening the first switch and closing the second switch in order, in the case of a charging current (charging when switch S1 closed and switch S2 is off or in the case of a discharge current (switch S2 is on (closed), switch S1 is off (open)), to generate Joule heat by way of current flow in a forward direction of the first diode, and/or closing the first switch and opening the second switch in order to generate Joule heat in the case of current flow of the respective other current in the forward direction of the second diode (heat flows in first and second diodes) as called for in claim 7.
Regarding claim 8, further comprising the step of: (i) opening the first switch and closing the second switch in order, in the case of the charging current or in the case of the discharge current, to generate Joule heat by way of current flow in the forward direction of the first diode; and (ii) closing the first switch and opening the second switch in order to generate Joule heat in the case of current flow of the respective other current in the forward direction of the second diode, wherein steps (i) and (ii) are repeated in a predeterminable period of time so as to generate Joule heat constantly in the predeterminable period of time both in the case of a charging current of the secondary electrical storage unit and in the case of a discharge current of the secondary electrical storage unit (steps are repeated until heat is at predetermined temperature).
Regarding claim 9, Denning’s figure 3 shows An electrical circuit device, comprising: a secondary electrical storage unit(350); a first electrical line for establishing electrical contact at a first polarity of the secondary electrical storage unit (+); a second electrical line for establishing electrical contact at a second polarity of the secondary electrical storage unit (-); a first semiconductor component having a first switch and having a first diode connected in parallel with the first switch (S1, D1); a second semiconductor component having a second switch and having a second diode connected in parallel with the second switch (S2, D2); wherein:(i) both the first semiconductor component and the second semiconductor component are integrated into the first electrical line or into the second electrical line, or (ii) the first semiconductor component is integrated into the first electrical line or into the second electrical line and the second semiconductor component is integrated into the respective other electrical line, wherein, when the first switch is open and the second switch is open in the case of a charging current of the secondary electrical storage unit, either the first diode or the second diode blocks the charging current and in the case of a discharge current of the secondary electrical storage unit the other of first or second diodes blocks the discharge current; and a heat transfer medium between the first diode and the electrical energy storage unit and/or between the second diode and the electrical energy storage unit in order to transfer Joule heat from the first diode and/or second diode to the electrical energy storage unit in a manner which minimizes heat losses as called for in claim 9.
Regarding claim 10, wherein the heat transfer medium comprises a thermally conductive paste and/or a thermally conductive plate (diodes).
Regarding claim 11, wherein the first semiconductor component and the second semiconductor component are both embodied in each case as a MOSFET, an IGBT, or a SiC transistor (switches S1 and S2).
Regarding claim 12, A vehicle onboard power supply system comprising an electrical circuit device according to claim 9.
Conclusion
The prior art made of record and not relied upon is considered pertinent to applicant's disclosure. In this regard, applicant’s cited prior art has been carefully considered.
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to TUAN THIEU LAM whose telephone number is (571)272-1744. The examiner can normally be reached Monday-Friday, 8:30 am to 5:00 pm.
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, Regis Betsch can be reached at 571-270-7101. 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.
/TUAN T LAM/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 2836 7/7/2026
Prosecution Insights