CTNF 18/958,049 CTNF 70087 DETAILED ACTION Notice of Pre-AIA or AIA Status 07-03-aia AIA 15-10-aia The present application, filed on or after March 16, 2013, is being examined under the first inventor to file provisions of the AIA. Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 102 07-07-aia AIA 07-07 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 – 07-08-aia AIA (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. 07-15-aia AIA Claim(s) 1,3-5 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102 (a)(1) as being anticipated by Peterzell (6,160,381) . Peterzell discloses a battery module 10 configured to supply electricity to a load 12 connected to an output terminal 15-18, the battery module 10 comprising: an electricity storage unit 14; a relay 30,32 that is provided between the electricity storage unit 14 and the output terminal and configured to perform switching between an electrically conductive state and a cut-off state between the electricity storage unit and the output terminal; and a control unit configured to control a state of the relay, wherein the control unit is configured to control the relay to be in the cut-off state under a condition that an output resistance of the battery module is equal to or more than a first threshold value (see Abstract). With regard to claim 3, the Abstract recites a range whereby resistance exceeding a first threshold results in the relay being in the off state (switch disabled) and resistance less than a second threshold less than the first threshold also results in the switch 30,32 being disabled. With regard to claim 4, sensed output resistance above the second threshold and below the first threshold recited in Peterzell would result in the switch being on or conductive. With regard to claim 5, load removal is detected by the device of Peterzell because a resistance above the first threshold would represent load absence . Allowable Subject Matter 12-151-08 AIA 07-43 12-51-08 Claim 2 is 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. 13-03-01 AIA The following is a statement of reasons for the indication of allowable subject matter: In claim 2, the recited constant current source connected in parallel with the switch or relay to regularly measure output resistance when the switch or relay is in the off state has not been taught or been fairly suggested by the prior art of record . Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to STEPHEN W JACKSON whose telephone number is (571)272-2051. The examiner can normally be reached M-F 6:30-3:00. 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, Monica Lewis can be reached at 571-272-1838 . 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. SWJackson May 28, 2026 /STEPHEN W JACKSON/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 2838 Application/Control Number: 18/958,049 Page 2 Art Unit: 2838 Application/Control Number: 18/958,049 Page 3 Art Unit: 2838 Application/Control Number: 18/958,049 Page 4 Art Unit: 2838
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