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 Objections
Claim 6 is objected to because of the following informalities: Line 4 includes “µm” twice after 300. Appropriate correction is required.
Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 102
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) 1-3, 5, 7, 8, 10 and 13-17 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(1) as being anticipated by Shinoda (U.S. Patent Publication 2020/0194741).
Regarding claim 1, Shinoda discloses a battery comprising: a container 1, an electrode group 11 held in the container, and two leads 13a and 13b, wherein the electrode group comprises a positive electrode, a negative electrode, and a separator that are wound together, where the positive electrode comprises a belt-like positive electrode current collector and a positive electrode active material layer on a part of the current collector so that an edge of the current collector is exposed, wherein the negative electrode comprises a belt-like negative electrode current collector and a negative electrode active material layer on a part of the current collector so that an edge of the current collector is exposed, wherein the positive electrode current collector and negative electrode current collector are exposed from different ends, and wherein the two leads 13a and 13b (contact sheet metal members) are attached to the exposed current collectors on each side (Paragraphs 0017, 0025-0027, 0029, Figs. 1 and 6). Shinoda also discloses that the positive electrode active material can be lithium manganese composite oxide and that the negative electrode active material can be lithium titanate (Paragraphs 0060, 0063).
As to claim 2, Shinoda teaches that the positive electrode and negative electrode current collectors can be made of aluminum (Paragraph 0026).
Regarding claims 3 and 5, Shinoda states that the positive electrode and the negative electrode can comprise a binder and an electro-conductive agent (Paragraphs 0060, 0063).
As to claims 7, 8, 10 and 13-17, Shinoda discloses that the battery also comprises an electrolyte, which can include a lithium salt, such as LiPF6 or LiBF4, in an organic solvent, such as propylene carbonate, ethylene carbonate, dimethyl carbonate, acetonitrile or γ-butylrolactone, at a concentration of 0.5 mol/L to 2.5 mol/L (Paragraphs 0069-0071).
Shinoda teaches every limitation of claims 1-3, 5, 7, 8, 10 and 13-17 of the present invention and thus anticipates the claims.
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.
The factual inquiries for establishing a background for determining obviousness under 35 U.S.C. 103 are summarized as follows:
1. Determining the scope and contents of the prior art.
2. Ascertaining the differences between the prior art and the claims at issue.
3. Resolving the level of ordinary skill in the pertinent art.
4. Considering objective evidence present in the application indicating obviousness or nonobviousness.
Claim(s) 4, 6 and 11 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Shinoda (U.S. Patent Publication 2020/0194741) in view of Onoda (U.S. Patent Publication 2018/0062147).
The teachings of Shinoda have been discussed in paragraph 4 above.
Shinoda fails to disclose that the positive electrode material and the negative electrode material each have a thickness of 20 to 300 µm, and that the electrolyte comprises vinylene carbonate as an additive.
Onoda discloses a lithium ion secondary battery comprising: a wound electrode body 20 in a battery case 30, wherein the electrode body comprises a positive electrode, negative electrode and separator, wherein the positive electrode comprises a positive electrode active material layer on a current collector with an edge of the current collector exposed, wherein the negative electrode comprises a negative electrode active material layer on a current collector with an edge of the current collector exposed, and wherein the exposed edges of the current collectors are connected to electrode terminals 42a and 44a (Paragraphs 0035, 0039, 0040, 0044 and Figs. 1 and 3). Regarding claims 4 and 6, Onoda teaches that the positive electrode active material layer and the negative electrode active material layer can each have a thickness of 50-100 µm (Paragraphs 0052, 0058). As to claim 11, Onoda teaches that the battery comprises an electrolyte and that the electrolyte can comprise an additive, such as vinylene carbonate (Paragraph 0065).
It would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art, before the effective filing date of the present invention that the electrolyte of Shinoda could comprise a vinylene carbonate additive because Onoda teaches that these additives can add desired properties to the electrolyte, such as film forming ability.
Claim(s) 9 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Shinoda (U.S. Patent Publication 2020/0194741).
The teachings of Shinoda have been discussed in paragraph 4 above.
Shinoda fails to specifically teach that the volume ratio of propylene carbonate to γ-butylroactone is 10:90 to 90:10.
Shinoda teaches that any mixture of organic solvents, such as propylene carbonate and γ-butylroactone, can be used in the electrolyte (Paragraph 0071).
It would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art, before the effective filing date of the present invention that the ratio of organic solvents in the electrolyte of Shinoda can be 10:90 to 90:10 because Shinoda teaches that any mixture of organic solvents can be used in the electrolyte as long as the concentration of the salt mixed in is 0.5 to 2.5 mol/L.
Claim(s) 12 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Shinoda (U.S. Patent Publication 2020/0194741) in view of Shibano (WO Publication 2021-065844, U.S. Patent Publication 2022/0393237 will be used as an English translation).
The teachings of Shinoda have been discussed in paragraph 4 above.
Shinoda fails to disclose that the electrolyte comprises tetraethylammonium tetrafluoroborate as a co-conductive salt in a concentration of 0.1M to 2M.
Shibano discloses an electrolyte for a lithium ion secondary battery comprising: lithium salts and/or quaternary ammonium salts, such as tetraethylammonium tetrafluoroborate in an organic solvent, such as propylene carbonate, dimethyl carbonate, etc., in a concentration of 0.1 to 3 mol/L (Paragraphs 0053-0054).
It would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art, before the effective filing date of the present invention that the electrolyte of Shinoda could contain a tetraethylammonium tetrafluoroborate salt in addition to the salts listed in an amount of 0.1 to 2 M because Shibano teaches that quaternary ammonium salts are common salts used in electrolytes for lithium ion secondary batteries and are often mixed with lithium salts, as used in Shinoda.
Conclusion
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to BRITTANY L RAYMOND whose telephone number is (571)272-6545. The examiner can normally be reached Monday-Friday 9 am-6 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, Niki Bakhtiari can be reached at 571-272-3433. 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.
BRITTANY L. RAYMOND
Primary Examiner
Art Unit 1722
/BRITTANY L RAYMOND/ Primary Examiner, Art Unit 1722
