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 .
Priority
Acknowledgment is made of applicant’s claim for foreign priority under 35 U.S.C. 119 (a)-(d).
Receipt is acknowledged of certified copies of papers required by 37 CFR 1.55.
Information Disclosure Statement
The information disclosure statements (IDS) submitted on 02/24/2024 is in compliance with the provisions of 37 CFR 1.97. Accordingly, the information disclosure statements are being considered by the examiner.
Claim Objections
Claim 1 is objected to because of the following informalities: Claim 1 recites “A device for detecting liquid leakage of battery having a metal housing” on Line 4. This is grammatically deficient and appropriate correction is required.
Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 112
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 1-6 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.
Claim 1 introduces “a top insulating layer (300)” then recites the limitation “the top insulation layer (300)” in Line 15. There is insufficient antecedent basis for this limitation in the claim.
Claim 1 is rejected under 35 U.S.C. 112(b) and Claims 2-6 are ultimately dependent on Claims 1 an thus are also rejected under 35 U.S.C. 112(b).
Allowable Subject Matter
Claims 1-6 are rejected under 35 USC 112(b) be would be allowable if the rejection was obviated.
The following is a statement of reasons for the indication of allowable subject matter:
The present invention is related to, inter alia a device for detecting liquid leakage of battery wherein the device is arranged on the metal housing of the battery and comprises: a bottom insulating layer (100), an intermediate metal layer (200), and a top insulating layer (300) that are sequentially arranged from bottom to top and a periphery of the top insulating layer (300) is provided with an extending portion (310) extending outward transversely, a metal member (400) is arranged on the extending portion (310), the metal member (400) is not in contact with the intermediate metal layer (200), a bottom of the metal member (400) is exposed on a bottom surface of the top insulation layer (300) and is in contact with the metal housing, and a second collecting end (410) of the metal member (400) extends to the outer surface of the top insulating layer (300).
Schwartz et al. (US 20160123833 A1), is considered to be the closest relevant prior art to independent claim 1. Schwartz et al. discloses a device for detecting liquid leakage of a battery having a metal housing, wherein the device is arranged on the metal housing of a battery which uses the housing and an insulated metal sheet as the two sensing electrodes (Schwartz, Figure 6 (502, 512, 514). However, Schwartz et al. does not disclose, teach, or fairly suggest, nor render obvious a periphery of the top insulating layer (300) is provided with an extending portion (310) extending outward transversely, a metal member (400) is arranged on the extending portion (310), the metal member (400) is not in contact with the intermediate metal layer (200), a bottom of the metal member (400) is exposed on a bottom surface of the top insulation layer (300) and is in contact with the metal housing, and a second collecting end (410) of the metal member (400) extends to the outer surface of the top insulating layer (300).
Deng et al. (CN 111337201 A), is also considered to be relevant prior art to independent claim 1. Deng et al. discloses a layered device for detecting liquid leakage of a battery having a metal housing comprising: a bottom insulating layer (221), an intermediate metal layer (223), and a top insulating layer (222) that are sequentially arranged from bottom to top wherein the intermediate metal layer has a first collecting end (window 23), and the first collecting end extends to an outer surface of the top insulating layer (Deng, Abstract, Figures 3-5). However, Deng et al. does not disclose, teach, or fairly suggest, nor render obvious a periphery of the top insulating layer (300) is provided with an extending portion (310) extending outward transversely, a metal member (400) is arranged on the extending portion (310), the metal member (400) is not in contact with the intermediate metal layer (200), a bottom of the metal member (400) is exposed on a bottom surface of the top insulation layer (300) and is in contact with the metal housing, and a second collecting end (410) of the metal member (400) extends to the outer surface of the top insulating layer (300).
Lu et al. (CN 216048408 U), is also considered to be relevant prior art to independent claim 1. Lu et al. discloses a device for detecting liquid leakage, wherein the device is arranged on the metal housing and uses the housing as an electrode with a separate metal housing contact member equivalent to metal member (400) and integrates the housing contact into an insulating peripheral extension and brings both connections to the accessible outer surface (Lu, Abstract, Figure 3). However, Lu et al. does not disclose, teach, or fairly suggest, nor render obvious a peripheral exposure of the sensing sheets perimeter rather than retain only face openings, placement of the first terminal on the metal member at an outer surface of the upper insulating layer, or why the housing would be carried by the particular insulating extension, rather than remain separately attached to the housing.
Conclusion
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/K.M.O./Examiner, Art Unit 1725
/JONATHAN CREPEAU/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 1725
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