DETAILED ACTION
This action is in response to the application filed on 2023.
Claims 1- are pending.
Acknowledgment is made of a claim for foreign priority. of the certified copies of the priority documents have been received.
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 .
Information Disclosure Statement
The references listed on the Information Disclosure Statement submitted on has/have been considered by the examiner (see attached PTO-1449).
Specification
----------------------------------------------- Spec. Objections
The disclosure is objected to because of the following informalities: **
Appropriate correction is required.
Claims ** objected to because of the following informalities: **. Appropriate correction is required.
The title of the invention is not descriptive. A new title is required that is clearly indicative of the invention to which the claims are directed.
The following title is suggested: **
The use of the trademark ** has been noted in this application. It should be capitalized wherever it appears and be accompanied by the generic terminology.
Although the use of trademarks is permissible in patent applications, the proprietary nature of the marks should be respected and every effort made to prevent their use in any manner which might adversely affect their validity as trademarks.
Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 101
35 U.S.C. 101 reads as follows:
Whoever invents or discovers any new and useful process, machine, manufacture, or composition of matter, or any new and useful improvement thereof, may obtain a patent therefor, subject to the conditions and requirements of this title.
Claims are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 101 because the claimed invention is directed to non-statutory subject matter. The claim(s) does/do not fall within at least one of the four categories of patent eligible subject matter because the claims are not clearly limited to the non-transitory medium. The specification also does not clearly define the claimed " " as being limited to a non-transitory medium.
Note the following description in the specification of the present invention.
Claims 21-38, 40, 42-50, 52-54, 56-60, 62 and 63 are directed to a judicial exception (i.e., a law of nature, a natural phenomenon, or an abstract idea) since the steps in the claim 21 for “generating a syntax element…encoding…N leading bins…bypass encoding any remaining bins…and signaling bits…” and the similar steps, functions and/or details claimed in the other independent claims and dependent claims are considered to be an abstract idea (as in the 101 related court cases of Digitech - “Organizing and manipulating information through mathematical correlations” and Electric Power Group - “Collecting information, analyzing it, and displaying certain results of the collection and analysis” and RcogniCorp – “Encoding and decoding image data” in the January 2018: Eligibility Quick Reference Sheet) that is considered to be concept relating to organizing or analyzing information in a way that can be performed mentally or is analogous to human mental work and the claim does not include any additional elements that can be considered to be sufficient to amount to significantly more than the judicial exception because the above stated functions of the claimed “processor” and the “memory” are related to conventional functions normally performed by the these elements.
It is suggested that the claims be amended to incorporate additional elements related to the encoding/decoding process that bring forth tangible and practical aspect of the invention thus giving meaning to the claimed invention.
Bitstream Claim interpretation
Claim 3 is directed to a computer readable medium that stores generated bitstream.
The bitstream is being treated as a product that is the result of the process (method). The steps are not required elements of claim 3, so they only limit the invention in terms of how they define the contents of the information in the bitstream. MPEP §2113
The contents of the bitstream, defined by how the bitstream was generated, only describes the content of the information in the bitstream and as result are descriptive language. See MPEP §2111.05. The bitstream has no functional relationship with the claimed non-transitory computer-readable recording medium.
Claim Interpretation - 35 USC § 101
35 U.S.C. 101 reads as follows:
Whoever invents or discovers any new and useful process, machine, manufacture, or composition of matter, or any new and useful improvement thereof, may obtain a patent therefor, subject to the conditions and requirements of this title.
By reciting intra-predicting of samples of depth data of video images for a first block of depth data using equal and one-quarter sized blocks of the first blocks and deriving/receiving residual data that is used to encode/reconstruct the first block of depth data, and in combination with the other elements/details of the claim, the claim 1 and other similar independent claims each define a process/device/system which gives meaning for obtaining tangible and practical result of performing an intra prediction of depth samples of image in order to efficiently encode/decode image that is described in the specification.
Given so, the each of the claims as mentioned above are considered to claim a processes which are outside of the realm of the abstract idea.
Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 112
---------------------------------------------------1st paragraph rejection
The following is a quotation of the first paragraph of 35 U.S.C. 112(a):
IN GENERAL.—The specification shall contain a written description of the invention, and of the manner and process of making and using it, in such full, clear, concise, and exact terms as to enable any person skilled in the art to which it pertains, or with which it is most nearly connected, to make and use the same, and shall set forth the best mode contemplated by the inventor or joint inventor of carrying out the invention.
The following is a quotation of the first paragraph of pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 112:
The specification shall contain a written description of the invention, and of the manner and process of making and using it, in such full, clear, concise, and exact terms as to enable any person skilled in the art to which it pertains, or with which it is most nearly connected, to make and use the same, and shall set forth the best mode contemplated by the inventor of carrying out his invention.
Claim ** rejected under 35 U.S.C. 112(a) or 35 U.S.C. 112 (pre-AIA ), first paragraph, as failing to comply with the written description requirement. The claim(s) contains subject matter which was not described in the specification in such a way as to reasonably convey to one skilled in the relevant art that the inventor or a joint inventor, or for pre-AIA the inventor(s), at the time the application was filed, had possession of the claimed invention. **
---------------------------------------------------2nd paragraph rejection
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 1-20 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 pre-AIA the applicant regards as the invention.
The term “customized” in claim 1, 3, 4,
--------------------------------------- Lack of antecedent basis
Claim ** recites the limitation "**" in **
There is insufficient antecedent basis for this limitation in the claim.
Means plus Function - 35 USC § 112
The following is a quotation of 35 U.S.C. 112(f):
(f) Element in Claim for a Combination. – An element in a claim for a combination may be expressed as a means or step for performing a specified function without the recital of structure, material, or acts in support thereof, and such claim shall be construed to cover the corresponding structure, material, or acts described in the specification and equivalents thereof.
The following is a quotation of pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 112, sixth paragraph:
An element in a claim for a combination may be expressed as a means or step for performing a specified function without the recital of structure, material, or acts in support thereof, and such claim shall be construed to cover the corresponding structure, material, or acts described in the specification and equivalents thereof.
Use of the word “means” (or “step for”) in a claim with functional language creates a rebuttable presumption that the claim element is to be treated in accordance with 35 U.S.C. 112(f) (pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 112, sixth paragraph). The presumption that 35 U.S.C. 112(f) (pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 112, sixth paragraph) is invoked is rebutted when the function is recited with sufficient structure, material, or acts within the claim itself to entirely perform the recited function.
Absence of the word “means” (or “step for”) in a claim creates a rebuttable presumption that the claim element is not to be treated in accordance with 35 U.S.C. 112(f) (pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 112, sixth paragraph). The presumption that 35 U.S.C. 112(f) (pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 112, sixth paragraph) is not invoked is rebutted when the claim element recites function but fails to recite sufficiently definite structure, material or acts to perform that function.
Claim elements in this application that use the word “means” (or “step for”) are presumed to invoke 35 U.S.C. 112(f) except as otherwise indicated in an Office action. Similarly, claim elements that do not use the word “means” (or “step for”) are presumed not to invoke 35 U.S.C. 112(f) except as otherwise indicated in an Office action.
Claim limitations “collection unit”, “analysis unit”, “generation unit” are not considered to invoke 112(f) since these elements are described in the specification as a software unit having a specific algorithm executed by a processor with a memory.
Claim limitation “light source unit” and “laser sources” are not considered to invoke 112(f) since these elements are well-understood structural terminology to one of ordinary skilled in the art, i.e. conveying structure.
Claim limitation “” has/have been interpreted under 35 U.S.C. 112(f) or pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 112, sixth paragraph, because it uses/they use a generic placeholder “**” coupled with functional language “” without reciting sufficient structure to achieve the function. Furthermore, the generic placeholder is not preceded by a structural modifier.
Since the claim limitation(s) “a splitting detection unit” invokes 35 U.S.C. 112(f) or pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 112, sixth paragraph, claim(s) has/have been interpreted to cover the corresponding structure described in the specification that achieves the claimed function, and equivalents thereof.
A review of the specification shows that the following appears to be the at least one corresponding structure described in the specification for each of the 35 U.S.C. 112(f) or pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 112, sixth paragraph limitation:
“ “ :
If applicant wishes to provide further explanation or dispute the examiner’s interpretation of the corresponding structure, applicant must identify the corresponding structure with reference to the specification by page and line number, and to the drawing, if any, by reference characters in response to this Office action.
If applicant does not intend to have the claim limitation(s) treated under 35 U.S.C. 112(f) or pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 112 , sixth paragraph, applicant may amend the claim(s) so that it/they will clearly not invoke 35 U.S.C. 112(f) or pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 112, sixth paragraph, or present a sufficient showing that the claim recites/recite sufficient structure, material, or acts for performing the claimed function to preclude application of 35 U.S.C. 112(f) or pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 112, sixth paragraph.
For more information, see MPEP § 2173 et seq. and Supplementary Examination Guidelines for Determining Compliance With 35 U.S.C. 112 and for Treatment of Related Issues in Patent Applications, 76 FR 7162, 7167 (Feb. 9, 2011).
Claim Mapping Notation
In this office action, following notations are being used to refer to the paragraph numbers or column number and lines of portions of the cited reference.
In this office action, following notations are being used to refer to the paragraph numbers or column number and lines of portions of the cited reference.
[0005] (Paragraph number [0005])
C5 (Column 5)
Pa5 (Page 5)
S5 (Section 5)
Furthermore, unless necessary to distinguish from other references in this action, “et al.” will be omitted when referring to the reference.
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 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.
(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 1-7, 9-13 and 17-20 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a1) and (a2) as being anticipated by Kawahara et al. (US 20070247106 A1).
1. A control method for a battery system, comprising:
in a case of abnormal communication in at least one of N battery branches of the battery system, determining a number M of closed battery branches in the battery system, M being an integer less than or equal to N,
“[0047] FIG. 6 is an illustration for the SOC and allowable discharging current of Embodiment 3 of the present invention. Firstly, under normal condition, an allowable range 1 of SOC of the storage batteries is assumed as 40% to 60% from a lower limit LL1 to an upper limit UL1. Here, a fault (an abnormality) occurs in one storage battery, and the faulty storage battery is separated, and as specified at Step 403 shown in FIG. 4, a restriction 601 for the charging and discharging current according to the number of storage batteries is carried out. Further, as specified at Step 504 shown in FIG. 5, a change 602 to a high SOC of raising the allowable range 1 of SOC of the storage batteries to an allowable range 2 of SOC, that is, to 60% to 80% from a lower limit LL2 to an upper limit UL2 is carried out. On the other hand, as described at Step 404 shown in FIG. 4, a restriction 603 for the discharging current is carried out. By this change of control, the sound storage battery is led to a high SOC. The sound storage battery is kept within the range of high SOC, thus the allowable discharging current of each storage battery can be made larger than that under the normal control.”
Since the faulty storage battery is separated the number of the remaining ones constitute as the number of the closed batteries.
wherein the battery system comprises the N battery branches connected in parallel, N being a positive integer greater than 1; and
“[0035] As a state detection process performed by the state detecting and abnormality processing means 106, in addition to the calculations of SOC, SOH, and allowable current, detection of the abnormal state of the storage batteries 101 and 102 may be cited. The abnormal state includes overcharge and overdischarge. Further, when the storage batteries 101 and 102 are structured so as to connect a plurality of storage batteries in series or parallel, temperature faults such as SOC imbalance between the storage batteries, temperature imbalance, and the temperature of the storage batteries 101 and 102 higher than a predetermined value as a whole may be cited. In detection of abnormal states of the storage batteries 101 and 102, a method for providing a threshold value for detecting each abnormal state and when either of the storage batteries 101 and 102 exceeds the threshold value, deciding the storage battery to be faulty is general.”
determining a state of charge (SOC) of the battery system based on the number M of closed battery branches.
“[0035] As a state detection process performed by the state detecting and abnormality processing means 106, in addition to the calculations of SOC, SOH, and allowable current, detection of the abnormal state of the storage batteries 101 and 102 may be cited.”
“[0047] FIG. 6 is an illustration for the SOC and allowable discharging current of Embodiment 3 of the present invention. Firstly, under normal condition, an allowable range 1 of SOC of the storage batteries is assumed as 40% to 60% from a lower limit LL1 to an upper limit UL1. Here, a fault (an abnormality) occurs in one storage battery, and the faulty storage battery is separated, and as specified at Step 403 shown in FIG. 4, a restriction 601 for the charging and discharging current according to the number of storage batteries is carried out. Further, as specified at Step 504 shown in FIG. 5, a change 602 to a high SOC of raising the allowable range 1 of SOC of the storage batteries to an allowable range 2 of SOC, that is, to 60% to 80% from a lower limit LL2 to an upper limit UL2 is carried out. On the other hand, as described at Step 404 shown in FIG. 4, a restriction 603 for the discharging current is carried out. By this change of control, the sound storage battery is led to a high SOC. The sound storage battery is kept within the range of high SOC, thus the allowable discharging current of each storage battery can be made larger than that under the normal control.”
Since the faulty storage battery is separated the number of the remaining ones constitute as the number of the closed batteries.
2. The control method according to claim 1, wherein the determining a state of charge (SOC) of the battery system based on the number M of closed battery branches comprises: determining a first SOC value of the battery system based on the number M of closed battery branches, wherein the first SOC value is an SOC value of the battery system before abnormal communication occurs in at least one battery branch; and updating the SOC of the battery system based on the first SOC value.
“[0047] FIG. 6 is an illustration for the SOC and allowable discharging current of Embodiment 3 of the present invention. Firstly, under normal condition, an allowable range 1 of SOC of the storage batteries is assumed as 40% to 60% from a lower limit LL1 to an upper limit UL1. Here, a fault (an abnormality) occurs in one storage battery, and the faulty storage battery is separated, and as specified at Step 403 shown in FIG. 4, a restriction 601 for the charging and discharging current according to the number of storage batteries is carried out. Further, as specified at Step 504 shown in FIG. 5, a change 602 to a high SOC of raising the allowable range 1 of SOC of the storage batteries to an allowable range 2 of SOC, that is, to 60% to 80% from a lower limit LL2 to an upper limit UL2 is carried out. On the other hand, as described at Step 404 shown in FIG. 4, a restriction 603 for the discharging current is carried out. By this change of control, the sound storage battery is led to a high SOC. The sound storage battery is kept within the range of high SOC, thus the allowable discharging current of each storage battery can be made larger than that under the normal control.”
Since the faulty storage battery is separated the number of the remaining ones constitute as the number of the closed batteries.
3. The control method according to claim 2, wherein the determining a first SOC value of the battery system based on the number M of closed battery branches comprises: determining the first SOC value based on the number M of closed battery branches and communication states of the M closed battery branches in the N battery branches.
“[0035] As a state detection process performed by the state detecting and abnormality processing means 106, in addition to the calculations of SOC, SOH, and allowable current, detection of the abnormal state of the storage batteries 101 and 102 may be cited. The abnormal state includes overcharge and overdischarge. Further, when the storage batteries 101 and 102 are structured so as to connect a plurality of storage batteries in series or parallel, temperature faults such as SOC imbalance between the storage batteries, temperature imbalance, and the temperature of the storage batteries 101 and 102 higher than a predetermined value as a whole may be cited. In detection of abnormal states of the storage batteries 101 and 102, a method for providing a threshold value for detecting each abnormal state and when either of the storage batteries 101 and 102 exceeds the threshold value, deciding the storage battery to be faulty is general.”
“[0047] FIG. 6 is an illustration for the SOC and allowable discharging current of Embodiment 3 of the present invention. Firstly, under normal condition, an allowable range 1 of SOC of the storage batteries is assumed as 40% to 60% from a lower limit LL1 to an upper limit UL1. Here, a fault (an abnormality) occurs in one storage battery, and the faulty storage battery is separated, and as specified at Step 403 shown in FIG. 4, a restriction 601 for the charging and discharging current according to the number of storage batteries is carried out. Further, as specified at Step 504 shown in FIG. 5, a change 602 to a high SOC of raising the allowable range 1 of SOC of the storage batteries to an allowable range 2 of SOC, that is, to 60% to 80% from a lower limit LL2 to an upper limit UL2 is carried out. On the other hand, as described at Step 404 shown in FIG. 4, a restriction 603 for the discharging current is carried out. By this change of control, the sound storage battery is led to a high SOC. The sound storage battery is kept within the range of high SOC, thus the allowable discharging current of each storage battery can be made larger than that under the normal control.”
Since the faulty storage battery is separated the number of the remaining ones constitute as the number of the closed batteries.
4. The control method according to claim 3, wherein M is greater than 0, and the determining the first SOC value based on the number M of closed battery branches and communication states of the M closed battery branches in the N battery branches comprises: obtaining SOC values of K battery branches in the M battery branches, wherein communication of the K battery branches is normal, and K is a positive integer less than or equal to M; and determining the first SOC value based on the SOC values of the K battery branches and the number M of closed battery branches.
“[0035] As a state detection process performed by the state detecting and abnormality processing means 106, in addition to the calculations of SOC, SOH, and allowable current, detection of the abnormal state of the storage batteries 101 and 102 may be cited. The abnormal state includes overcharge and overdischarge. Further, when the storage batteries 101 and 102 are structured so as to connect a plurality of storage batteries in series or parallel, temperature faults such as SOC imbalance between the storage batteries, temperature imbalance, and the temperature of the storage batteries 101 and 102 higher than a predetermined value as a whole may be cited. In detection of abnormal states of the storage batteries 101 and 102, a method for providing a threshold value for detecting each abnormal state and when either of the storage batteries 101 and 102 exceeds the threshold value, deciding the storage battery to be faulty is general.”
“[0047] FIG. 6 is an illustration for the SOC and allowable discharging current of Embodiment 3 of the present invention. Firstly, under normal condition, an allowable range 1 of SOC of the storage batteries is assumed as 40% to 60% from a lower limit LL1 to an upper limit UL1. Here, a fault (an abnormality) occurs in one storage battery, and the faulty storage battery is separated, and as specified at Step 403 shown in FIG. 4, a restriction 601 for the charging and discharging current according to the number of storage batteries is carried out. Further, as specified at Step 504 shown in FIG. 5, a change 602 to a high SOC of raising the allowable range 1 of SOC of the storage batteries to an allowable range 2 of SOC, that is, to 60% to 80% from a lower limit LL2 to an upper limit UL2 is carried out. On the other hand, as described at Step 404 shown in FIG. 4, a restriction 603 for the discharging current is carried out. By this change of control, the sound storage battery is led to a high SOC. The sound storage battery is kept within the range of high SOC, thus the allowable discharging current of each storage battery can be made larger than that under the normal control.”
5. The control method according to claim 4, wherein the determining the first SOC value based on the SOC values of the K battery branches and the number M of closed battery branches comprises: determining a second SOC value based on the SOC values of the K battery branches; and determining the first SOC value based on the second SOC value, the number M of closed battery branches, and a total number N of battery branches comprised in the battery system.
“[0035] As a state detection process performed by the state detecting and abnormality processing means 106, in addition to the calculations of SOC, SOH, and allowable current, detection of the abnormal state of the storage batteries 101 and 102 may be cited. The abnormal state includes overcharge and overdischarge. Further, when the storage batteries 101 and 102 are structured so as to connect a plurality of storage batteries in series or parallel, temperature faults such as SOC imbalance between the storage batteries, temperature imbalance, and the temperature of the storage batteries 101 and 102 higher than a predetermined value as a whole may be cited. In detection of abnormal states of the storage batteries 101 and 102, a method for providing a threshold value for detecting each abnormal state and when either of the storage batteries 101 and 102 exceeds the threshold value, deciding the storage battery to be faulty is general.”
“[0047] FIG. 6 is an illustration for the SOC and allowable discharging current of Embodiment 3 of the present invention. Firstly, under normal condition, an allowable range 1 of SOC of the storage batteries is assumed as 40% to 60% from a lower limit LL1 to an upper limit UL1. Here, a fault (an abnormality) occurs in one storage battery, and the faulty storage battery is separated, and as specified at Step 403 shown in FIG. 4, a restriction 601 for the charging and discharging current according to the number of storage batteries is carried out. Further, as specified at Step 504 shown in FIG. 5, a change 602 to a high SOC of raising the allowable range 1 of SOC of the storage batteries to an allowable range 2 of SOC, that is, to 60% to 80% from a lower limit LL2 to an upper limit UL2 is carried out. On the other hand, as described at Step 404 shown in FIG. 4, a restriction 603 for the discharging current is carried out. By this change of control, the sound storage battery is led to a high SOC. The sound storage battery is kept within the range of high SOC, thus the allowable discharging current of each storage battery can be made larger than that under the normal control.”
6. The control method according to claim 5, wherein the determining the first SOC value based on the second SOC value, the number M of closed battery branches, and a total number N of battery branches comprised in the battery system comprises: determining the first SOC value according to the following formula:
B = A* (M/N);
wherein B is the first SOC value and A is the second SOC value.
“[0035] As a state detection process performed by the state detecting and abnormality processing means 106, in addition to the calculations of SOC, SOH, and allowable current, detection of the abnormal state of the storage batteries 101 and 102 may be cited. The abnormal state includes overcharge and overdischarge. Further, when the storage batteries 101 and 102 are structured so as to connect a plurality of storage batteries in series or parallel, temperature faults such as SOC imbalance between the storage batteries, temperature imbalance, and the temperature of the storage batteries 101 and 102 higher than a predetermined value as a whole may be cited. In detection of abnormal states of the storage batteries 101 and 102, a method for providing a threshold value for detecting each abnormal state and when either of the storage batteries 101 and 102 exceeds the threshold value, deciding the storage battery to be faulty is general.”
“[0047] FIG. 6 is an illustration for the SOC and allowable discharging current of Embodiment 3 of the present invention. Firstly, under normal condition, an allowable range 1 of SOC of the storage batteries is assumed as 40% to 60% from a lower limit LL1 to an upper limit UL1. Here, a fault (an abnormality) occurs in one storage battery, and the faulty storage battery is separated, and as specified at Step 403 shown in FIG. 4, a restriction 601 for the charging and discharging current according to the number of storage batteries is carried out. Further, as specified at Step 504 shown in FIG. 5, a change 602 to a high SOC of raising the allowable range 1 of SOC of the storage batteries to an allowable range 2 of SOC, that is, to 60% to 80% from a lower limit LL2 to an upper limit UL2 is carried out. On the other hand, as described at Step 404 shown in FIG. 4, a restriction 603 for the discharging current is carried out. By this change of control, the sound storage battery is led to a high SOC. The sound storage battery is kept within the range of high SOC, thus the allowable discharging current of each storage battery can be made larger than that under the normal control.”
7. The control method according to claim 5, wherein K is equal to 1, and the determining a second SOC value based on the SOC values of the K battery branches comprises: determining the SOC value of the K battery branch as the second SOC value.
“[0035] As a state detection process performed by the state detecting and abnormality processing means 106, in addition to the calculations of SOC, SOH, and allowable current, detection of the abnormal state of the storage batteries 101 and 102 may be cited. The abnormal state includes overcharge and overdischarge. Further, when the storage batteries 101 and 102 are structured so as to connect a plurality of storage batteries in series or parallel, temperature faults such as SOC imbalance between the storage batteries, temperature imbalance, and the temperature of the storage batteries 101 and 102 higher than a predetermined value as a whole may be cited. In detection of abnormal states of the storage batteries 101 and 102, a method for providing a threshold value for detecting each abnormal state and when either of the storage batteries 101 and 102 exceeds the threshold value, deciding the storage battery to be faulty is general.”
“[0047] FIG. 6 is an illustration for the SOC and allowable discharging current of Embodiment 3 of the present invention. Firstly, under normal condition, an allowable range 1 of SOC of the storage batteries is assumed as 40% to 60% from a lower limit LL1 to an upper limit UL1. Here, a fault (an abnormality) occurs in one storage battery, and the faulty storage battery is separated, and as specified at Step 403 shown in FIG. 4, a restriction 601 for the charging and discharging current according to the number of storage batteries is carried out. Further, as specified at Step 504 shown in FIG. 5, a change 602 to a high SOC of raising the allowable range 1 of SOC of the storage batteries to an allowable range 2 of SOC, that is, to 60% to 80% from a lower limit LL2 to an upper limit UL2 is carried out. On the other hand, as described at Step 404 shown in FIG. 4, a restriction 603 for the discharging current is carried out. By this change of control, the sound storage battery is led to a high SOC. The sound storage battery is kept within the range of high SOC, thus the allowable discharging current of each storage battery can be made larger than that under the normal control.”
9. The control method according to claim 3, wherein the determining the first SOC value based on the number M of closed battery branches and communication states of the M closed battery branches in the N battery branches comprises: when M is greater than 0 and abnormal communication occurs in all of the M battery branches, determining an SOC value of the battery system before the abnormal communication occurs in the M battery branches as the first SOC value.
“[0035] As a state detection process performed by the state detecting and abnormality processing means 106, in addition to the calculations of SOC, SOH, and allowable current, detection of the abnormal state of the storage batteries 101 and 102 may be cited. The abnormal state includes overcharge and overdischarge. Further, when the storage batteries 101 and 102 are structured so as to connect a plurality of storage batteries in series or parallel, temperature faults such as SOC imbalance between the storage batteries, temperature imbalance, and the temperature of the storage batteries 101 and 102 higher than a predetermined value as a whole may be cited. In detection of abnormal states of the storage batteries 101 and 102, a method for providing a threshold value for detecting each abnormal state and when either of the storage batteries 101 and 102 exceeds the threshold value, deciding the storage battery to be faulty is general.”
“[0047] FIG. 6 is an illustration for the SOC and allowable discharging current of Embodiment 3 of the present invention. Firstly, under normal condition, an allowable range 1 of SOC of the storage batteries is assumed as 40% to 60% from a lower limit LL1 to an upper limit UL1. Here, a fault (an abnormality) occurs in one storage battery, and the faulty storage battery is separated, and as specified at Step 403 shown in FIG. 4, a restriction 601 for the charging and discharging current according to the number of storage batteries is carried out. Further, as specified at Step 504 shown in FIG. 5, a change 602 to a high SOC of raising the allowable range 1 of SOC of the storage batteries to an allowable range 2 of SOC, that is, to 60% to 80% from a lower limit LL2 to an upper limit UL2 is carried out. On the other hand, as described at Step 404 shown in FIG. 4, a restriction 603 for the discharging current is carried out. By this change of control, the sound storage battery is led to a high SOC. The sound storage battery is kept within the range of high SOC, thus the allowable discharging current of each storage battery can be made larger than that under the normal control.”
Monitoring of the batteries occur continuously both before and after the abnormal condition.
10. The control method according to claim 2, wherein the determining a first SOC value of the battery system based on the number M of closed battery branches comprises: when M is equal to 0, determining an SOC value of the battery system determined at a previous moment as the first SOC value.
“[0035] As a state detection process performed by the state detecting and abnormality processing means 106, in addition to the calculations of SOC, SOH, and allowable current, detection of the abnormal state of the storage batteries 101 and 102 may be cited. The abnormal state includes overcharge and overdischarge. Further, when the storage batteries 101 and 102 are structured so as to connect a plurality of storage batteries in series or parallel, temperature faults such as SOC imbalance between the storage batteries, temperature imbalance, and the temperature of the storage batteries 101 and 102 higher than a predetermined value as a whole may be cited. In detection of abnormal states of the storage batteries 101 and 102, a method for providing a threshold value for detecting each abnormal state and when either of the storage batteries 101 and 102 exceeds the threshold value, deciding the storage battery to be faulty is general.”
“[0047] FIG. 6 is an illustration for the SOC and allowable discharging current of Embodiment 3 of the present invention. Firstly, under normal condition, an allowable range 1 of SOC of the storage batteries is assumed as 40% to 60% from a lower limit LL1 to an upper limit UL1. Here, a fault (an abnormality) occurs in one storage battery, and the faulty storage battery is separated, and as specified at Step 403 shown in FIG. 4, a restriction 601 for the charging and discharging current according to the number of storage batteries is carried out. Further, as specified at Step 504 shown in FIG. 5, a change 602 to a high SOC of raising the allowable range 1 of SOC of the storage batteries to an allowable range 2 of SOC, that is, to 60% to 80% from a lower limit LL2 to an upper limit UL2 is carried out. On the other hand, as described at Step 404 shown in FIG. 4, a restriction 603 for the discharging current is carried out. By this change of control, the sound storage battery is led to a high SOC. The sound storage battery is kept within the range of high SOC, thus the allowable discharging current of each storage battery can be made larger than that under the normal control.”
Monitoring of the batteries occur continuously both before and after the abnormal condition.
11. The control method according to claim 2, wherein the updating the SOC of the battery system based on the first SOC value comprises: updating the SOC of the battery system based on the first SOC value and single ampere-hour integration performed on a main circuit current of the battery system.
“[0028] where OCV indicates electromotive force of the storage batteries 101 and 102, and CCV indicates an inter-terminal voltage of the storage batteries 101 and 102 obtained by the voltage measuring means 105, and I indicates a current measured at time of no-load or during charging and discharging. Further, R indicates an internal resistance of the storage batteries 101 and 102 which is obtained beforehand and is given to the state detecting and abnormality processing means 106 or is obtained in real time and Vp indicates a polarization voltage. OCV is obtained by Formula (1) and then from the relationship between OCV of the storage batteries 101 and 102 which is extracted beforehand and SOC, SOC can be obtained. Further, as another method for obtaining SOC, a means for integrating a current measured as indicated by Formula (3) may be cited. SOC=SOC(t-1)+100.times..intg.I/Qmax (3)”
12. The control method according to claim 1, wherein the determining a number M of closed battery branches in the battery system comprises: determining the number M of closed battery branches based on a detected insulation resistance value.
“[0035] As a state detection process performed by the state detecting and abnormality processing means 106, in addition to the calculations of SOC, SOH, and allowable current, detection of the abnormal state of the storage batteries 101 and 102 may be cited. The abnormal state includes overcharge and overdischarge. Further, when the storage batteries 101 and 102 are structured so as to connect a plurality of storage batteries in series or parallel, temperature faults such as SOC imbalance between the storage batteries, temperature imbalance, and the temperature of the storage batteries 101 and 102 higher than a predetermined value as a whole may be cited. In detection of abnormal states of the storage batteries 101 and 102, a method for providing a threshold value for detecting each abnormal state and when either of the storage batteries 101 and 102 exceeds the threshold value, deciding the storage battery to be faulty is general.”
“[0047] FIG. 6 is an illustration for the SOC and allowable discharging current of Embodiment 3 of the present invention. Firstly, under normal condition, an allowable range 1 of SOC of the storage batteries is assumed as 40% to 60% from a lower limit LL1 to an upper limit UL1. Here, a fault (an abnormality) occurs in one storage battery, and the faulty storage battery is separated, and as specified at Step 403 shown in FIG. 4, a restriction 601 for the charging and discharging current according to the number of storage batteries is carried out. Further, as specified at Step 504 shown in FIG. 5, a change 602 to a high SOC of raising the allowable range 1 of SOC of the storage batteries to an allowable range 2 of SOC, that is, to 60% to 80% from a lower limit LL2 to an upper limit UL2 is carried out. On the other hand, as described at Step 404 shown in FIG. 4, a restriction 603 for the discharging current is carried out. By this change of control, the sound storage battery is led to a high SOC. The sound storage battery is kept within the range of high SOC, thus the allowable discharging current of each storage battery can be made larger than that under the normal control.”
13. The control method according to claim 12, wherein the determining the number M of closed battery branches based on a detected insulation resistance value comprises: determining the number M of closed battery branches based on a resistance value range in which the detected insulation resistance value is located.
“[0028] where OCV indicates electromotive force of the storage batteries 101 and 102, and CCV indicates an inter-terminal voltage of the storage batteries 101 and 102 obtained by the voltage measuring means 105, and I indicates a current measured at time of no-load or during charging and discharging. Further, R indicates an internal resistance of the storage batteries 101 and 102 which is obtained beforehand and is given to the state detecting and abnormality processing means 106 or is obtained in real time and Vp indicates a polarization voltage. OCV is obtained by Formula (1) and then from the relationship between OCV of the storage batteries 101 and 102 which is extracted beforehand and SOC, SOC can be obtained. Further, as another method for obtaining SOC, a means for integrating a current measured as indicated by Formula (3) may be cited. SOC=SOC(t-1)+100.times..intg.I/Qmax (3)”
17. The control method according to claim 12, further comprising: when any one of the battery branches in the battery system has a fault that causes disconnection of a battery branch, controlling a switch in an insulation detection module in any one of the battery branches to change the insulation resistance value.
“[0047] FIG. 6 is an illustration for the SOC and allowable discharging current of Embodiment 3 of the present invention. Firstly, under normal condition, an allowable range 1 of SOC of the storage batteries is assumed as 40% to 60% from a lower limit LL1 to an upper limit UL1. Here, a fault (an abnormality) occurs in one storage battery, and the faulty storage battery is separated, and as specified at Step 403 shown in FIG. 4, a restriction 601 for the charging and discharging current according to the number of storage batteries is carried out. Further, as specified at Step 504 shown in FIG. 5, a change 602 to a high SOC of raising the allowable range 1 of SOC of the storage batteries to an allowable range 2 of SOC, that is, to 60% to 80% from a lower limit LL2 to an upper limit UL2 is carried out. On the other hand, as described at Step 404 shown in FIG. 4, a restriction 603 for the discharging current is carried out. By this change of control, the sound storage battery is led to a high SOC. The sound storage battery is kept within the range of high SOC, thus the allowable discharging current of each storage battery can be made larger than that under the normal control.”
Regarding claims 18-20, they recite elements that are at least included in claims 1, 1 and 1 above but in different claim forms. Therefore, the same rationale for the rejection of claims 1, 1 and 1 applies.
Allowable Subject Matter
Claims 8 and 14-16 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:
Regarding the claim 8, applicants uniquely claimed distinct features, which are not found in the prior art, either singularly or in an obvious combination of all the limitation of the claim, the distinct features being… wherein K is greater than 1, and the determining a second SOC value based on the SOC values of the K battery branches comprises: determining the second SOC value according to the following formula: See eq. in claim 8.
The following is a statement of reasons for the indication of allowable subject matter:
Regarding the claim 14, applicants uniquely claimed distinct features, which are not found in the prior art, either singularly or in an obvious combination of all the limitation of the claim, the distinct features being… determining the number M of closed battery branches based on a resistance value range in which the detected insulation resistance value is located comprises: when the detected insulation resistance value belongs to a first resistance value range, determining the number M of closed battery branches as M1; or when the detected insulation resistance value belongs to a second resistance value range, determining the number M of closed battery branches as M2; wherein M1 is a positive integer less than or equal to M, M2 is a positive integer less than or equal to M, and M1 is greater than M2 if a minimum value of the first resistance value range is greater than a maximum value of the second resistance value range.
The following is a statement of reasons for the indication of allowable subject matter:
Regarding the claims 15 and 16, applicants uniquely claimed distinct features, which are not found in the prior art, either singularly or in an obvious combination of all the limitation of the claim, the distinct features being… the determining the number M of closed battery branches based on a resistance value range in which the detected insulation resistance value is located comprises: determining the number M of closed battery branches based on the resistance value range in which the detected insulation resistance value is located and a duration for which the detected insulation resistance value remains in the resistance value range.
Conclusion
The prior art made of record and not relied upon is considered pertinent to applicant's disclosure. KANG et al. (US 20230179001 A1) and Zhang (US 10833514 B1) disclose relevant art related to the subject matter of the present invention.
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/JAE N NOH/
Primary Examiner
Art Unit 2481
Prosecution Insights