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 .
DETAILED ACTION
This action is in response to the applicant’s filing on March 09, 2026. Claims 1-10 are pending.
Response to Amendment and Arguments
In respond to applicant's arguments based on the filed amendment with respect to 35 U.S.C. 102 rejections of said previous office action have been fully considered; however, upon further consideration, a new ground(s) of rejection is made.
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) 1-10 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Yoon et al. US2023/0057912 (“Yoon”) in view of Kuppan et al. US2024/0033677 (“Kuppan”).
Regarding claim(s) 1, 10. Yoon discloses an abnormality determination device comprising (para. 42, the first extraction unit 220 may be configured to determine that the cell 10 is operating abnormally and stop operation of the cell.):
a battery pack mounted on a mobile object, and including a sulfide-based all-solid-state battery and a housing in which the sulfide-based all-solid-state battery is housed (para. 13, the present invention provides a system of estimating a state of health of an all-solid-state battery that may include the all-solid-state battery including a plurality of cells and a hydrogen sulfide sensor configured to measure an amount or an increase rate of generated hydrogen sulfide in each cell);
a hydrogen sulfide sensor that outputs a signal indicating a concentration of hydrogen sulfide in the battery pack (para. 33, the hydrogen sulfide sensor 50 is a thin film-type gas sensor. A known gas sensor may be used as the hydrogen sulfide sensor 50, and the sensing unit 52 may be a thin film containing zirconium (Zr), tin (Sn) or the like. When the hydrogen sulfide sensor 50 is disposed between the sealing portion 32 of the casing 30,); and
a determination unit that determines whether the battery pack has an abnormality, by using an output value of the hydrogen sulfide sensor, wherein the determination unit determines that the battery pack has an abnormality, when the output value is larger than a threshold value (para. 43, para, 64-68), and determines whether the battery pack has an abnormality, by using, as the threshold value, a value that varies depending on a state of the mobile object (para. 64, fter estimation of the state of health through collection of the current-voltage data during charging of the all-solid-state battery and the collection of full-charge capacity data, whether hydrogen sulfide is generated in the all-solid-state battery is detected by the first extraction unit 220 (S202). The generation of hydrogen sulfide may be detected by the hydrogen sulfide sensor 50 provided in each cell 10, and data on the amount of hydrogen sulfide that is generated, measured by the hydrogen sulfide sensor 50, is collected (S204).).
Yoon does not explicitly disclose the sulfide-based all-solid-state battery includes a cell and the hydrogen sulfide sensor is located outside the cell.
Kuppan teaches another vehicle with a hydrogen sulfide sensor located outside for the battery cell ([0059] The apparatus 300 can include at least one fan 435 (e.g., blades, rotating blades, blower, etc.). The fan 435 can be fluidly coupled with the inlet 420. For example, the fan 435 can be disposed in the inlet 420. The fan 435 can be attached to the inlet 420. The fan 435 can flow the hydrogen sulfide gas 320 to the sorbent 305 disposed in the cartridge 415. The fan 435 can be fluidly coupled with the outlet 425. For example, the fan 435 can be disposed in the outlet 425. The fan 435 can draw air through the body of the cartridge 415. The fan 435 can draw air containing hydrogen sulfide gas 320 to the sorbent 305 disposed in the cartridge 415. An air stream containing hydrogen sulfide gas 320 can be forced into the cartridge 415 by the fan 435. The hydrogen sulfide gas 320 can contact the sorbent 305. For example, the hydrogen sulfide gas 320 can contact powder or pellets that contain the sorbent 305. The fan 435 can be activated by a H.sub.2S sensor. For example, if the H.sub.2S sensor detects a concentration of hydrogen sulfide gas 320 above a threshold value, the fan 435 can be activated to force air to flow through the cartridge 415.).
Thus, it would have been obvious to one of ordinary skills in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to modify the system and method of Yoon by incorporating the applied teaching of Kuppan to prevent the hydrogen sulfide gas from entering the cabin of the electric vehicle and improve abnormality detection in the electric vehicle and one of ordinary skill before the effective filing date of the claimed invention would have recognized that the results of the combination would have been predictable.
Regarding claim(s) 2. Yoon discloses wherein a cooler that cools the battery pack is mounted on the mobile object, while the cooler is in operation, the determination unit determines that the battery pack has an abnormality, when the output value is larger than a first threshold value, while the cooler is not in operation, the determination unit determines that the battery pack has an abnormality, when the output value is larger than a second threshold value, and the second threshold value is larger than the first threshold value (para. 43, The first extraction unit 220 may be configured to extract the amount of hydrogen sulfide generated in real time measured by the hydrogen sulfide sensor 50 and to calculate the rate of increase in the amount of hydrogen sulfide based on the change in the amount of hydrogen sulfide that is generated over time. In addition, when the calculated amount of hydrogen sulfide that is generated exceeds a preset hydrogen sulfide threshold, the first extraction unit 220 may be configured to determine that the cell 10 is operating abnormally and stop operation of the cell.).
Regarding claim(s) 3. Yoon discloses wherein the mobile object comprises a vehicle (para. 3, use in a vehicle), while the vehicle is stopped, the determination unit determines that the battery pack has an abnormality, when the output value is larger than a first threshold value, while the vehicle travels, the determination unit determines that the battery pack has an abnormality, when the output value is larger than a second threshold value, and the second threshold value is larger than the first threshold value (para. 65-58, When the amount of hydrogen sulfide that has been generated is less than the hydrogen sulfide threshold, the state-of-health of the all-solid-state battery may be estimated by the state-of-health estimation unit 260 based on the collected data on the generated amount of hydrogen sulfide (S210). As described above, the state of health is estimated by comparing the SOH value as a function of the amount of hydrogen sulfide generated in a certain cell with the value shown in a table prepared in advance.)
Regarding claim(s) 4. Yoon discloses wherein when a vehicle stoppage time of the vehicle having elapsed from transition of the vehicle from a system-stopped state to a system-activated state is a predetermined time or less and the output value is larger than the first threshold value, the determination unit determines that the battery pack has an abnormality (para. 47, The state-of-health estimation unit 260 may be configured to estimate the state of health of the all-solid-state battery based on the data collected by the first extraction unit 220 and the second extraction unit 240.).
Regarding claim(s) 5. Yoon discloses wherein the abnormality determination device further comprises a notification unit that makes a notification, when the determination unit determines that the battery pack has an abnormality, of occurrence of the abnormality (para. 49, The state-of-health estimation unit 260 may be configured to estimate the state of health through the discharge capacity factor based on the full-charge capacity data extracted from the second extraction unit 240. The discharge capacity factor may be extracted from the result of integrating the current of the cell 10 from full-charge (SoC of 100) to full-discharge (SoC of 0). A look-up table in which state-of-health values of the battery corresponding to the discharge capacity factors are stored may be obtained through experimentation in advance, and this data is stored in the information-processing-and-storing unit 280.).
Regarding claim(s) 6. Yoon discloses wherein the mobile object comprises a vehicle, and the determination unit is activated each time a predetermined time has elapsed while the vehicle is in a system-stopped state, and determines that the battery pack has an abnormality when the output value is larger than the threshold value (para. 31, The hydrogen sulfide sensor 50 may include a sensing unit 52 and a signaling unit 54. The sensing unit 52 may be configured to detect the amount of hydrogen sulfide generated in the all-solid-state battery cell 10, and the signaling unit 54 may be configured to transmit information regarding the detected amount of hydrogen sulfide to the outside in real time.).
Regarding claim(s) 7. Yoon discloses wherein the abnormality determination device further comprises a communication unit capable of communicating with a terminal, and when the determination unit determines that the battery pack has an abnormality, the communication unit transmits, to the terminal, information that the battery pack has the abnormality (para. 31-36, the signaling unit 54 may be configured to transmit information regarding the detected amount of hydrogen sulfide to the outside in real time.).
Regarding claim(s) 8. Yoon discloses wherein the battery pack is capable of undergoing external charging by an external power supply external to the vehicle, and the determination unit determines whether the battery pack has an abnormality, while the external charging of the battery pack is performed (para. 45-46, The second extraction unit 240 may also be configured to extract factors for estimating the state of health of the all-solid-state battery, and in particular, to extract factors based on the electrochemical reaction. More specifically, the second extraction unit 240 may be configured to collect current-voltage data during charging of the battery and to collect full-charge capacity data of the all-solid-state battery.).
Regarding claim(s) 9. Yoon discloses wherein the abnormality determination device further comprises: a communication unit capable of communicating with a terminal; and a notification unit, and when the determination unit determines that the battery pack has an abnormality, the determination unit makes a notification that the battery pack has the abnormality, by using the notification unit, and transmits, to the terminal, information that the battery pack has the abnormality, by using the communication unit (para. 50, [0050] The state-of-health estimation unit 260 may be configured to estimate the state of health of the battery through the current-voltage data during charging, extracted from the second extraction unit 240. The second extraction unit 240 may be configured to extract the internal resistance of the cell 10 based on the current-voltage data during charging. Using Ohm's law, the internal resistance is calculated from a voltage change signal as a function of a certain current value. Estimation of the state of health of the battery is based on the fact that as aging of the cell 10 progresses, the internal resistance of the battery increases. In other words, the state-of-health estimation unit 260 contains a comparison reference for each cell specification.).
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 extension fee 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 date of this final action.
Inquiry
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to TRUC M DO whose telephone number is (571)270-5962. The examiner can normally be reached on 9AM-6PM.
If attempts to reach the examiner by telephone are unsuccessful, the examiner’s supervisor, Ramón Mercado, Ph.D. can be reached on (571) 270-5744. The fax phone number for the organization where this application or proceeding is assigned is 571-273-8300.
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/TRUC M DO/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 3658
