DETAILED ACTION
(1)
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 . This is the first office action on the merits. Claims 1-12 are pending before the Office for review.
(2)
Claim Objections
Claims 2-8, 10 and 11 are objected to because of the following informalities: the claims contain awkward language regarding the required ranges. Specifically, each of the identified claims sets a range for numerical values within the solid electrolyte material. The claims also contain language that the values is or are “satisfied”. This language is awkward and should be removed, as it is superfluous in the context of the requirements of the claimed invention. Appropriate correction is required.
(3)
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)(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.
Claims 1, 9 and 12 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(2) as being anticipated by Gu et al. (U.S. Publication No. 2023/0163290).
With respect to claims 1 and 9, Gu teaches a solid electrolyte material comprising Li, Nb, Ti, Al and F. Paragraph 59.
With respect to claim 12, Gu teaches a solid lithium-ion battery comprising a positive electrode, a negative electrode, and an electrolyte layer positioned between the two, wherein the positive electrode includes the solid electrolyte material. Paragraphs 52 and 59.
(4)
Allowable Subject Matter
Claims 2-8, 10 and 11 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.
The following is a statement of reasons for the indication of allowable subject matter: Gu teaches a solid electrolyte material comprising the required Li, Nb, Ti, Al and F, as explained above, but fails to teach or fairly suggest the specific composition requirements of dependent claims 2-8, 10 and 11, which limit the material to specific amounts of the listed elements. The solid electrolyte material taught by Gu, which can be represented as Li1.2Ni0.08Co0.08Al0.08Ti0.08Mn0.6Nb0.08O2+ðF0.08, is outside of the scope of the specific compositions required by claims 2-8, 10 and 11.
(5)
Conclusion
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to ELI S MEKHLIN whose telephone number is (571)270-7597. The examiner can normally be reached Monday-Friday 7:00 am to 5:00 pm EST.
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, Curtis Mayes can be reached at 571-272-1234. 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.
/ELI S MEKHLIN/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 1759
Prosecution Insights