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)(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) 1-10 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(1) as being anticipated by CN ‘773 CN 112428773 A, as cited on the IDS.
Re claim 1, CN ‘773 teach a fluid management apparatus, comprising: a flow passage plate assembly (annotated fig); and valve mechanisms (87, 86, 81),
flow passages are formed in wherein the flow passage plate (fig 13),
and each of the flow passages is provided with a plurality of mounting ports (noting interfaces between different plates of the assemblies are mounting ports naturally, and connections with the valves) on the flow passage plate assembly, wherein, in a thickness direction of the flow passage plate assembly, the valve mechanisms are located on a same side of the flow passage plate assembly (annotated fig),
each valve mechanism comprises a valve unit and a valve, the valve body is provided with an accommodating cavity and passages body (page 10, noting valves naturally have a body and some sort of unit to control flow, to include a cavity with one or more passages controlled by a unit), and at least a part of the valve unit is located in the accommodating cavity and is fixedly connected with the valve body, wherein the passages are provided with openings on a same wall of the valve body (page 10 noting a butterfly valve will have two openings naturally on opposing sides of a same wall), at least a part of each opening of the valve body is arranged
in communication with one of the plurality of mounting ports (figs),
and the valve body is fixedly connected with the flow passage plate assembly (figs),
the fluid management apparatus comprises a heat exchange portion (70) and a liquid reservoir portion (30),
in the thickness direction of the flow passage plate assembly, the heat exchange portion, the liquid reservoir portion, and the valve mechanisms are located on a same side of the flow passage plate assembly (figs),
the heat exchange portion comprises a plurality of stacked plates for heat dissipating a fluid slowing inside the heat exchange portion, and a stacking direction of the plates is parallel to the thickness direction of the flow passage plate assembly (same and parallel, figs).
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Re claim 2, CN ‘773 teach wherein the flow passage plate assembly comprises a main body (20) portion and a cover plate (44), the main body portion comprises a recessed portion (noting flow passages are provided by recess portions, figs),
the recessed portion is provided with a recessed cavity, the recessed cavity is provided with an opening facing the cover plate on the main body portion, and a wall forming the flow passages comprises a wall of the recess portion and a wall of the cover plate (noting cavity and passages naturally have wall portions to define channels and the other portions of the plates are cover plate walls),
each flow passage is provided with a connecting port (noting multiple circular portions considered ports and connected to mounting ports and connecting adjacent valves and noting interfaces between different plates of the assemblies of the different passages, and connections with the valves are considered connecting ports) on the flow passage plate assembly, and an axial direction of the connecting port is parallel to the thickness direction of the flow passage plate assembly in the thickness direction of the flow passage plate assembly (figs).
Noting that according to the Merriam-Webster dictionary, the plain meaning of ‘port’ is an opening.
Re claim 3, CN ‘773 teach wherein the flow passage plate assembly comprises a mounting table (45), the mounting table is fixedly connected with the main body portion, the mounting table and the cover plate are located on two opposite sides of the main body portion in the thickness direction of the flow passage plate assembly, the mounting table comprises a first mounting table and a second mounting table (opposing flat sides), the plurality of mounting ports is located on the first mounting table, and a connecting port (see the rejections of claims 1-2 re: connecting ports) is located on the second mounting table.
Re claim 4, CN ‘773 teach wherein the connecting port and the plurality of mounting ports are located on a same side of the main body portion,
an axial direction of the liquid reservoir portion is perpendicular to the thickness direction of the flow passage plate assembly (figs).
Re claim 5, CN ‘773 teach wherein the valve mechanisms comprise a switch valve and a throttle valve, and the switch valve is arranged farther away from a body of the liquid reservoir portion than a sealing head of the liquid reservoir portion in the axial direction of the liquid reservoir portion or a direction parallel to the liquid reservoir portion, the throttle valve is located between the heat exchange portion and the liquid reservoir portion in a direction perpendicular to the axial direction of the liquid reservoir portion (figs, noting valves performing switching and throttling in the same, also noting 81).
Re claim 6, CN ‘773 teach wherein the switch valve comprises a first switch valve, a second switch valve and a third switch valve, the throttle valve comprises a first throttle valve and a second throttle valve (figs), and the first mounting table comprises a plurality of sub-portions that are independent with each other (noting many independent portions, which is an incredibly broad limitation, figs, also noting 81, 84, 85), wherein the plurality of sub-portions are fixedly connected with the first switch valve, the second switch valve, the third switch valve, the first throttle valve, the second throttle valve, the liquid reservoir portion and the heat exchange portion (s), respectively, or one sub-portion is used in common for at least two of the first switch valve, the second switch valve, the third switch valve, the first throttle valve, the second throttle valve, the liquid reservoir portion and the heat exchange portion share (figs noting all portions are connected in the final assembly).
For clarity, the recitation “…is used in common for at least two of the first switch valve, the second switch valve, the third switch valve, the first throttle valve, the second throttle valve, the liquid reservoir portion and the heat exchange portion share…” has been considered a recitation of intended use. It has been held that the recitation with respect to the matter in which a claimed apparatus is intended to be employed does not differentiate the claimed apparatus from a prior art apparatus satisfying the claimed structural limitations. See MPEP 2114. In the instant case, the prior art meets all of the structural limitations, and is therefore capable of performing the claimed recitations set forth above.
Re claim 7, CN ‘773 teach wherein the first mounting table comprises a first sub-portion, the first sub-portion is provided with accommodating cavities (15, 17) for accommodating the first switch valve, the second switch valve and the third switch valve, respectively, an axial direction of each accommodating cavity of the first sub-portion is parallel or substantially parallel to the axial direction of the liquid reservoir portion, and a valve unit of the first switch valve, a valve unit of the second valve unit and a valve unit of the third valve unit are arranged farther away from the liquid reservoir portion than the first sub-portion in the axial direction of the liquid reservoir portion (figs, noting valves performing switching and throttling in the same, para 66, also noting portions of the mounting table are naturally father away in a height direction that valves of the same height).
Re claim 8, CN ‘773 teach wherein the fluid management apparatus comprises a first connecting port, a second connecting port, a third connecting port, a fourth connecting port, a fifth connecting port, a sixth connecting port, a seventh connecting port and an eighth connecting port (noting five plate with multiple ports, ands valves with ports, see the rejection of claim 1 ), and the first connecting port, the second connecting port, the third connecting port, the fourth connecting port, the fifth connecting port, the sixth connecting port, the seventh connecting port and the eighth connecting port are distributed along a periphery of the flow passage plate assembly (figs), the first switch valve is configured to communicate or block a passage between the first connecting port and the second connecting port, the second switch valve is configured to communicate or block a passage between the first connecting port and the fourth connecting port, the third switch valve is configured to communicate or block a passage between the fourth connecting port and the eighth connecting port, the third connecting port and the fourth connecting port are configured to be in communication with an inlet passage of the liquid reservoir portion, an outlet passage of the liquid reservoir portion is configured to be in communication with the fifth connecting port through the first throttle valve, the outlet passage of the liquid reservoir portion is configured to be in communication with a refrigerant flow passage (noting internal passage in each valve) of the heat exchange portion through the second throttle valve, the refrigerant flow passage of the heat exchange portion is in communication with the eighth connecting port, the outlet passage of the liquid reservoir portion is in communication with the sixth connecting port, and the seventh connecting port is in communication with the eighth connecting port (figs, see the rejection of claims 4, 1).
Re claim 9, CN ‘773 teach wherein the flow passage plate assembly comprises a first flow passage portion and a second flow passage portion, the outlet passage of the liquid reservoir portion is in communication with the sixth connecting port through a cavity of the first flow passage portion, the seventh connecting port is in communication with the eighth connecting port through a cavity of the second flow passage portion (noting the term portion is broad, and the “first flow passage portion” is considered to be the flow passages on the top of the plate, the ports connecting the valves etc, and the “second flow passage portion” is considered to be the portion of the flow passages on the bottom of the plate which are mostly horizontal), and a fluid in the first flow passage portion is heat-exchangeable with a fluid in the second flow passage portion (figs).
Re claim 10, CN ‘773 teach wherein the heat exchange portion comprises the refrigerant flow passage and a coolant flow passage (noting multiple passages internal to each valve, figs), the coolant flow passage is provided with two connecting ports on the heat exchange portion (noting multiple aperture connecting multiple pats lengthwise of the valve, figs), the fluid management apparatus further comprises a coolant controlling valve (84 or 85), wherein two connecting ports of the coolant controlling valve are respectively in communication with two connecting ports of the coolant flow passage, and the coolant controlling valve is fixedly connected with the main body portion through a mounting plate (45), the mounting plate is provided with holes for a refrigerant and a coolant to flow through, respectively.
Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 103
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 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) 10 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over CN ‘773 in view of Iwabuchi US 2005/0284529 Al.
Alternatively Re claim 10, Iwabuchi teach wherein the heat exchange portion comprises the refrigerant flow passage and a coolant flow passage (noting multiple passages internal to each valve, one of which is considered fig 18a), the coolant flow passage is provided with two connecting ports on the heat exchange portion (noting multiple aperture connecting multiple pats lengthwise of the valve, fig 18a), the fluid management apparatus further comprises a coolant controlling valve (101), wherein two connecting ports of the coolant controlling valve are respectively in communication with two connecting ports of the coolant flow passage, and the coolant controlling valve is fixedly connected with the main body portion through a mounting plate, the mounting plate is provided with holes (annotated fig) for a refrigerant and a coolant to flow through, respectively to provide holes in a mounting plate.
It would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art at the time the invention was made to include passages and holes as taught by Iwabuchi in the invention in order to advantageously allow for a controllable valve plate assembly pressure controls.
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Claim(s) 11 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over CN ‘773 in view of Sato WO 2020174705 A1.
Re claim 11, Sato teach a thermal management system, comprising: a compressor (7); a first heat exchanger; a second heat exchanger (50, 60); a third heat exchanger (110); a throttling component 10).
Sato fail to explicitly teach valve details.
CN ‘773 teach and the fluid management apparatus according to claim 1 (see the rejection of claim 1), wherein the fluid management apparatus comprises a first connecting port, a second connecting port, a third connecting port, a fourth connecting port, a fifth connecting port, a sixth connecting port, a seventh connecting port and an eighth connecting port (noting 5 valves with an inlet and outlet which make at least ten ports in fig 7), an outlet of the compressor is in communication with the first connecting port, an inlet of the compressor is in communication with the eighth connecting port, the second connecting port and the third connecting port are in communication with a refrigerant flow passage of the first heat exchanger, respectively, wherein a refrigerant flow passage of the second heat exchanger is in communication with the fourth connecting port and the fifth connecting port, respectively, and the sixth connecting port is in communication with the seventh connecting port through the throttling component and the third heat exchanger (in the instant combination the fluid management apparatus according to claim 1 modifies 20 of the primary reference) to provide integrated plates with multiple valves.
It would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art at the time the invention was made to include valve details as taught by CN ‘773 in the Sato invention in order to advantageously allow for advanced process refrigerant flow controls and gas flow rates.
Response to Arguments
Applicant’s arguments, see reply, filed 4/28/2026, with respect to the 112 rejections have been fully considered and are persuasive. The 112 rejections have been withdrawn.
Applicant's arguments filed 4/28/2026 have been fully considered but they are not persuasive.
Applicant’s arguments with respect to claim(s) 1 have been considered but are moot because the new ground of rejection does not rely on any reference applied in the prior rejection of record for any teaching or matter specifically challenged in the argument.
Conclusion
Applicant's amendment necessitated the new ground(s) of rejection presented in this Office action. Accordingly, THIS ACTION IS MADE FINAL. See MPEP § 706.07(a). Applicant is reminded of the extension of time policy as set forth in 37 CFR 1.136(a).
A shortened statutory period for reply to this final action is set to expire THREE MONTHS from the mailing date of this action. In the event a first reply is filed within TWO MONTHS of the mailing date of this final action and the advisory action is not mailed until after the end of the THREE-MONTH shortened statutory period, then the shortened statutory period will expire on the date the advisory action is mailed, and any nonprovisional extension fee (37 CFR 1.17(a)) pursuant to 37 CFR 1.136(a) will be calculated from the mailing date of the advisory action. In no event, however, will the statutory period for reply expire later than SIX MONTHS from the mailing date of this final action.
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/GORDON A JONES/Examiner, Art Unit 3763
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