DETAILED ACTION
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 .
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 1-20 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.
In claim 1, it is unclear how “an isolation breakdown” is interrelated and associated with
“an electrical location of a fault in the plurality of HV battery packs”? Furthermore, it is unclear where “a battery pack positive voltage” and “a battery pack positive voltage” are from, Are they from the battery cells” It appears that the scope of the claim is incomplete.
In claim 2, it is unclear how “a physical location of the fault” is interrelated and associated with “an electrical location of fault” as recited in claim 1?
In claim 10, it is unclear how “battery pack positive voltage and a battery pack negative voltage” are interrelated and associated with “a low resistance connection exists between a portion of a series connection of a plurality of battery cells of the plurality of HV battery packs and a chassis ground of the electric vehicle? Furthermore, it is unclear how “an isolation breakdown” is interrelated and associated with “an electrical location of a fault”? Furthermore, it is unclear where “a battery pack positive voltage” and “a battery pack positive voltage” are from, Are they from the battery cells” It appears that the scope of the claim is incomplete.
In claims 11-12, it is unclear how “a physical location of the fault” is interrelated and associated with “an electrical location of fault” as recited in claim 10?
In claim 14, it is unclear how “ an exact physical location of the isolation breakdown” is interrelated and associated with “an electrical location of a fault in the plurality of HV battery packs” as recited in claim 10?
In claim 17, it is unclear how “battery pack positive voltage and a battery pack negative voltage” are interrelated and associated with “a low resistance connection exists between a portion of a series connection of a plurality of battery cells of the plurality of HV battery packs and a chassis ground of the electric vehicle? Furthermore, it is unclear how “an isolation breakdown” is interrelated and associated with “an electrical location of a fault”? Furthermore, it is unclear where “a battery pack positive voltage” and “a battery pack positive voltage” are from, Are they from the battery cells” It appears that the scope of the claim is incomplete.
In claims 18-19, it is unclear how “a physical location of the fault” is interrelated and associated with “an electrical location of fault” as recited in claim 10?
The dependent claims not specifically addressed share the same indefiniteness as they depend from rejected base claims.
Conclusion
Searches were performed and there is no prior art to meet the limitations of the instant claims 1-20. However, these claims are not allowed due to their deficiencies as mentioned in the current office action.
The prior art made of record and not relied upon is considered pertinent to applicant's disclosure.
Hermann (Pat# 8,178,227) discloses Method For Detecting Battery Thermal Events Via Battery Pack Isolation Resistance Monitoring.
Chen et al (Pat# 12,181,505) disclose Systems And Methods For Isolation Resistance Monitoring In A Battery Bank.
Patel et al (Pat# 10,391,864) disclose System To Balance High Voltage Battery For Vehicle.
Bober (pat# 9,063,179) discloses System And Method For Determining An Isolation Resistance Of A Battery Pack Disposed On A Vehicle Chassis.
Sufrin-Disler et al (Pat# 9,007,066) disclose Measuring Isolated High Voltage And Detecting Isolation Breakdown With Measures For Self-detection Of Circuit Faults
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to VINH P NGUYEN whose telephone number is (571)272-1964. The examiner can normally be reached M-F 6:00am-4:00pm.
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/VINH P NGUYEN/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 2858
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