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 .
Remarks
This Office Action is in response to the application filed on 07/10/24. Examiner acknowledged that claims 1-20 are pending.
The information disclosure statement (IDS) submitted on 05/06/25 is in compliance with the provisions of 37 CFR 1.97. Accordingly, the information disclosure statement is being considered by the examiner.
Receipt is acknowledged of certified copies of papers required by 37 CFR 1.55.
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) 1-3 and 11-13 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(1) as being anticipated by Hwang (US 2023/0071238).
Regarding Claim 1, Hwang teaches a battery pack (Fig. 1, Fig. 2) comprising: a battery module (Fig. 1: 1_N, Fig. 2: 20_N); a module battery management system (BMS) (Fig. 2: 40, 30) configured to monitor the battery module; a main BMS (Fig. 2; 40) configured to exchange radio signals with the module BMS through wireless communication (Fig. 2: SA_N); and a signal reflection unit (Fig. 10: 50 containing a plurality of 55) configured to reflect the radio signals exchanged between the module BMS and the main BMS toward the module BMS or the main BMS.
Regarding Claim 2, Hwang teaches the battery pack as claimed in claim 1, wherein the module BMS comprises a module BMS antenna unit (Fig. 2: SA_N) configured to exchange radio signals with the main BMS (Fig. 2: 40).
Regarding Claim 3, Hwang teaches the battery pack as claimed in claim 2, wherein the main BMS comprises a main BMS antenna unit (Fig. 2: MA) configured to exchange radio signals with the module BMS.
Regarding Claim 11, Hwang teaches a method of operating a battery pack comprising a battery module (Fig. 1: 1_N, Fig. 2: 20_N), a module battery management system (BMS) (Fig. 2: 40, 30), a main BMS (Fig. 2; 40), and a signal reflection unit (Fig. 10: 50 containing a plurality of 55), the method comprising: monitoring, by the module BMS, the battery module; exchanging, by the main BMS, radio signals with the module BMS through wireless communication ([0061] “master module 40 includes a wireless communication circuit (not shown), a master control unit (not shown) and a master antenna MA, and is configured to make wireless communication with each slave module 30 through the master antenna MA”); and reflecting, by the signal reflection unit, the radio signals exchanged between the module BMS and the main BMS toward the module BMS or the main BMS ([0094] “master module 40 or each slave module 30 detects the signal strength through a RSSI (Received Signal Strength Indication), and finds an optimal opening angle of the reflection plate 55 when the signal is transmitted to and received”).
Regarding Claim 12, Hwang teaches the method as claimed in claim 11, wherein the module BMS comprises a module BMS antenna unit (Fig. 2: SA_N), and the exchanging comprises the module BMS antenna unit exchanging radio signals with the main BMS (Fig. 2: 40).
Regarding Claim 13, Hwang teaches the method as claimed in claim 12, wherein the main BMS comprises a main BMS antenna unit (Fig. 2: MA), and the exchanging further comprises the main BMS antenna unit exchanging radio signals with the module BMS (Fig. 2: 20_N).
Allowable Subject Matter
Claims 4-10 and 14-20 are objected to as being dependent upon a rejected base claim, but would be allowable if rewritten in independent form including all of the limitations of the base claim and any intervening claims.
Conclusion
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to HENRY T LUONG whose telephone number is (571)270-7008. The examiner can normally be reached Monday-Thursday: 8:00-6:00.
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, Alexander Taningco can be reached at (571) 272-8048. 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.
/Henry Luong/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 2844
Prosecution Insights