DETAILED ACTION
Summary
This Office Action is in response to the Amendments to the Claims and Remarks filed January 14, 2025.
In view of the Amendments to the Claims filed January 14, 2025, the rejection of claim 18 under 35 U.S.C. 112(b) previously presented in the Office Action sent October 16, 2025 has been withdrawn.
In view of the Amendments to the Claims filed January 14, 2025, the rejections of claims 1-20 under 35 U.S.C. 103 previously presented in the Office Action sent October 16, 2025 has been substantially maintained and modified only in response to the Amendments to the Claims.
Claims 1-17, 19, and 20 are currently pending.
Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 112
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 1-17, 19, and 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 applications subject to pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 112, the applicant), regards as the invention.
Claim 1 recites the limitation "the first binder" on line 6. There is insufficient antecedent basis for this limitation in the claim.
Dependent claims are rejected for dependency.
Amending “the first binder” recited on line 6 to “a first binder” and amending “a first binder” recited on line 9 to “the first binder” would overcome the rejections or moving “wherein the coating layer comprises 15 wt% to 50 wt% of the first binder with respect to a total weight of the coating layer” recited on line 6-7 after “a first binder” recited on line 9 would overcome the rejections.
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) 1-5, 8-14, 16, and 17 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Kim et al. (U.S. Pub. No. 2013/0302661 A1).
With regard to claims 1, 4, 5, and 8, Kim et al. discloses a battery substrate for separating a positive electrode and a negative electrode from each other in a rechargeable battery, the battery substrate comprising:
a substrate comprising a first surface and a second surface opposing each other (substrate 23 depicted in Fig. 1 as comprising a first top surface and a second bottom surface opposing each other); and
a coating layer disposed on at least one selected from the first surface and the second surface of the substrate (such as depicted in Fig. 1-2, a coating layer 33 disposed on at least one selected from the first top surface and the second bottom surface of the substrate 23),
wherein the coating layer comprises 15/25 wt% to 50 wt% of the first binder with respect to a total weight of the coating layer (while Kim et al. does not appear to explicitly disclose, in a single embodiment, wherein the coating layer comprises 15/25 wt% to 50 wt% of the first binder with respect to a total weight of the coating layer, it would have been obvious to a person having ordinary skill in the art to have optimized the amount of the first binder in the coating layer of Kim et al. and arrive at the claimed range through routine experimentation, especially since it would have led to optimizing the adhesion of the coating layer and fixing of the inorganic compound to the porous substrate; see [0048]), wherein the coating layer comprises
inorganic particles (see claims 1 and 15-17 “inorganic compound”) and
a binder, the binder comprising a first binder (see claims 1-4 “first polymer binder”), and
a ratio of an average particle diameter (D50) of the inorganic particles to an average particle diameter (D50) of the first binder is 1.5:1 or more and less than 2.0:1 (see claim 17 teaching an average particle diameter (D50) of the inorganic particles can be selected from about 1 nm to about 800 nm and it would have been obvious to a person having ordinary skill in the art to have selected values within the disclosed range, such as 800 nm, because Kim et al. teaches the size as an appropriate diameter for the inorganic particles; see claim 4 teaching an average particle diameter (D50) of the first binder can be selected from about 50 nm to about 500 nm and it would have been obvious to a person having ordinary skill in the art to have selected values within the disclosed range, such as 500 nm, because Kim et al. teaches the size as an appropriate diameter for the first binder; the selection of a 800 nm average particle diameter of the inorganic particles and the selection of a 500 nm average particle diameter of the first binder provides for the claimed “1.5:1 or more and less than 2:1” as it includes a value within the claimed range, such as 1.6), and wherein,
in the coating layer, a weight ratio of the inorganic particles with respect to a total weight of the binder is 3:1 to 4:1 (see [0016] teaching 100 parts weight of inorganic particles to 1 to 30 parts weight of the binder which is cited to read on the claimed “3:1 to 4:1” because it includes values within the claimed range, such as 4:1).
With regard to claim 2, independent claim 1 is obvious over Kim et al. under 35 U.S.C. 103 as discussed above. Kim et al. discloses wherein
the inorganic particles and the first binder are mixed (see [0019]).
With regard to claim 3, independent claim 1 is obvious over Kim et al. under 35 U.S.C. 103 as discussed above. Kim et al. discloses wherein
the inorganic particles are present in pores between the first binders (see Abstract teaching coating layer containing the cited inorganic particles and cited first binder which is cited to read on the claimed “inorganic particles are present in pores between the first binder” because the cited inorganic particles are in the pores, or spaces, in the cited coating layer and between the cited first binder in coating layer).
With regard to claim 9, independent claim 1 is obvious over Kim et al. under 35 U.S.C. 103 as discussed above. Kim et al. discloses wherein
the coating layer is disposed on both surfaces of the substrate (33 depicted in Fig. 1 as on both surfaces of the cited substrate 23).
With regard to claim 10, independent claim 1 is obvious over Kim et al. under 35 U.S.C. 103 as discussed above. Kim et al. discloses wherein
the inorganic particles are at least one selected from alumina (A12O3), boehmite, BaSO4, MgO, Mg(OH)2, clay, silica (SiO2), and TiO2 (see claim 16).
With regard to claim 11, independent claim 1 is obvious over Kim et al. under 35 U.S.C. 103 as discussed above. Kim et al. discloses wherein
the first binder comprises acrylate or styrene (see [0012]).
With regard to claims 12 and 14, independent claim 1 is obvious over Kim et al. under 35 U.S.C. 103 as discussed above. Kim et al. discloses wherein the binder further comprises
a second binder (see claims 1-4 “second polymer binder”), and
the second binder has an average particle diameter (D50) that is smaller than or equal to the average particle diameter (D50) of the first binder (see claim 4 teaching an average particle diameter (D50) of the second binder can be selected from about 20 nm to about 400 nm and it would have been obvious to a person having ordinary skill in the art to have selected values within the disclosed range, such as 300 nm, because Kim et al. teaches the size as an appropriate diameter for the second binder; a selection of a 300 nm average particle diameter of the second binder provides for the claimed “is smaller than the average particle diameter (D50) of the first binder”, recall rejection of claim 1 above selecting a 500 nm average particle diameter first binder).
With regard to claim 13, dependent claim 12 is obvious over Kim et al. under 35 U.S.C. 103 as discussed above. Kim et al. discloses wherein
the second binder is present in at least one group of pores selected from the pores between the inorganic particles, the pores between the first binders, and the pores between the inorganic particles and the first binder (see Abstract teaching coating layer containing the cited inorganic particles and cited first and second binders which is cited to read on the claimed “the second binder is present in at least one group of pores selected from pores between the inorganic particles, pores between the first binder, and pores between the inorganic particles and the first binder” because the cited second binder is in the pores, or spaces, in the cited coating layer and at least one of between the cited inorganic particles in the coating layer, the cited first binder in the coating layer, and the cited inorganic particles and the cited first binder in the coating layer).
With regard to claim 16, dependent claim 12 is obvious over Kim et al. under 35 U.S.C. 103 as discussed above. Kim et al. discloses wherein
the second binder is at least one selected from CMC, PVA, PVP, and PAA (see [0014] teaching PAA as an appropriate selection for the cited second binder).
With regard to claim 17, Kim et al. discloses a lithium battery comprising:
a positive electrode (see [0018]);
a negative electrode (see [0018]); and
the separator according to claim 1 (recall rejection of claim 1 above)
disposed between the positive electrode and the negative electrode (see [0018]).
Claim(s) 6 and 15 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Kim et al. (U.S. Pub. No. 2013/0302661 A1), and in further view of Fang (CN 105789523 A).
With regard to claims 6 and 15, independent claim 1 and dependent claim 12 are obvious over Kim et al. under 35 U.S.C. 103 as discussed above.
Kim et al. does not disclose wherein the first binder has a glass transition temperature (Tg) of 50°C to 100°C and wherein the second binder has a glass transition temperature (Tg) of -40°C or lower.
However, Fang teaches a separator (see [0010]) and teaches the glass transition temperature of a first binder is a result effective variable directly affecting the structural stability of the polymer chain skeleton at high temperatures (see [0018]) and the glass transition temperature of a second binder as a result effective variable directly affecting brittle shedding (see [0014]).
Thus, at the time of the invention, it would have been obvious to a person having ordinary skill in the art to have optimized the glass transition temperature of the first binder and the second binder of Kim et al., as modified above, and arrive at the claimed ranges through routine experimentation (see MPEP 2144.05); especially since it would have led to optimizing the structural stability of the polymer chain skeleton at high temperatures and since it would have led to optimizing brittle shedding.
Claim(s) 7 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Kim et al. (U.S. Pub. No. 2013/0302661 A1), and in further view of Hyun et al. (U.S. Pub. No. 2015/0303427 A1).
With regard to claim 7, independent claim 1 is obvious over Kim et al. under 35 U.S.C. 103 as discussed above.
Kim et al. does not disclose wherein the coating layer has a thickness of 2 µm or smaller.
However, Hyun et al. discloses separator (see Title and Abstract) and teaches the thickness of a coating layer is a result effective variable directly affecting the mechanical properties of the layer and limitations in manufacturing middle or large sized battery cells with high capacity (see [0041]; also see [0046]).
Thus, at the time of the invention, it would have been obvious to a person having ordinary skill in the art to have optimized the thickness of the coating layer in the separator of Kim et al., as modified above, and arrive at the claimed range for thickness through routine experimentation (see MPEP 2144.05).
Claim(s) 19 and 20 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Kim et al. (U.S. Pub. No. 2013/0302661 A1), and in further view of Choi et al. (U.S. Pub. No. 2015/0333310 A1).
With regard to claim 19, Kim et al. discloses a method of manufacturing the separator according to claim 1 (recall rejection of claim 1 above), the method comprising the steps of:
preparing a slurry comprising the inorganic particles, the first binder, and the second binder (see [0019]); and
applying the slurry onto the at least one surface of the substrate (see [0019]), and then
drying (see [0019]).
Kim et al. does not disclose roll-pressing the resultant.
However, Choi et al. discloses a separator (see Title) and teaches the step of roll-pressing provides for increased adhesion (see [0078]).
Thus, at the time of filing, it would have been obvious to a person having ordinary skill in the art to have modified the method of Kim et al., as modified above, to include the roll-pressing step, such as exemplified in Choi et al., because it would have provided for increased adhesion.
With regard to claim 20, claim 19 is obvious over Kim et al. in view Choi et al. under 35 U.S.C. 103 as discussed above.
Kim et al. teaches the slurry is applied onto both surfaces of the substrate (Fig. 1) but does not specifically teach the slurry is applied on the both surface of the substrate at the same time.
However, applying the slurry on the both surfaces of the substrate at the same time is one in a finite number of immediately recognizable options, finite options being applying the slurry before, at the same time, or after.
Thus, at the time of filing, it would have been obvious to a person having ordinary skill in the art to have tried applying the slurry at the same time because it is one in a finite number of options within the technical grasp of a person having ordinary skill in the art (see MPEP 2143 E).
Response to Arguments
Applicant's arguments filed January 14, 2026 have been fully considered but they are not persuasive.
Applicant notes the newly amended claims are not found within the previously presented references of record. However, this argument is addressed in the rejections of the claims above.
Conclusion
THIS ACTION IS MADE FINAL. 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 nonprovisional extension fee (37 CFR 1.17(a)) 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 mailing date of this final action.
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/DUSTIN Q DAM/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 1721 April 22, 2026
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