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.
Claim 9 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 9 has recites “wherein the high voltage vehicle interface is a high voltage vehicle interface.” Which is meaning less limitation, it doesn’t further limit claim.
Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 102
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.
Claim(s) 1, 5, 8, 9 and 11-14 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(1) as being unpatentable by ohm Et al. (US 2023/0182584 A1).
Re Claim 1: Ohm teaches a vehicle fuel cell assembly for a vehicle, the vehicle fuel cell assembly (see 100 para 0002, 0053-0055) comprising a fuel cell stack (see 110, 112 para 0056-0057) a high voltage junction box (see 120 para 0054) that comprises connection interfaces for electrical connection to a high voltage vehicle interface (see 122, (130-1 to 130-4, connected to Ct1-CT4) figs. 5,6A-6C para 0091-0094, 0082-0083, 0152 HV harness/cable side leaving the junction box towards the rest of the vehicle), the fuel cell stack (see 150 BP/BN figs.2, 5 para 0062-0067, 0150-0152 electric connection of distributor to terminal block), and a plurality of high voltage consumers of the vehicle (see 0153; 130-1, 130-4, CT1-CT4 fig. 6Cpara 0072, 0090-0093-0096), wherein the high voltage junction box is arranged adjacent the fuel cell stack (see 120, 110fig.2 para 0003, 0079-0081; 120 disposed on the fuel cell 110 and para 0003 mention Upper end of the cell stack ).
Re Claim 5: Ohm teaches invention set forth above, Ohm further teaches wherein the connection interface for electrical connection to the high voltage vehicle interface is a DC connection interface (see figs5 6A-6C para 0062, 0066, 002, 0094-0096).
Re Claim 8: Ohm teaches invention set forth above, Ohm further teaches comprising at least one fuse associated with at [east one connection interface, said fuse being positioned inside the high voltage junction box (see para 0054, 0073-0077, 0091-0096).
Re Claim 9: Ohm teaches invention set forth above, Ohm further teaches wherein the high voltage vehicle interface is a high voltage vehicle interface (see 122, (130-1 to 130-4, connected to Ct1-CT4) figs. 5,6A-6C para 0091-0094, 0082-0083, 0152 HV harness/cable side leaving the junction box towards the rest of the vehicle).
Re Claim 11: Ohm teaches invention set forth above, Ohm further teaches wherein the high voltage junction box comprises a connection interface for electrical connection to auxiliary consumers (see para 0072-0073, 0091-0096; loads/peripheral high voltage parts).
Re Claim 12: Ohm teaches invention set forth above, Ohm further teaches wherein the high voltage vehicle interface is located outside the high voltage junction box (see para 0082-0086, 0091-0096).
Re Claim 13: Ohm teaches invention set forth above, Ohm further teaches wherein the high voltage junction box is arranged immediately adjacent the fuel cell stack (see 100, 110, 120 fig.2 para 0054, 0079-0081).
Re Claim 14: Ohm teaches invention set forth above, Ohm further teaches a vehicle comprising the vehicle fuel cell assembly of claim 1 (see 100, 110, 120 para 0054-0056).
Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 103
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.
Claim(s) 2-4, 6 and 10 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over ohm Et al. (US 2023/0182584 A1) in view Kim et al (US 2022/0209268 A1).
Re Claim 2: Ohm teaches invention set forth above, Ohm doesn’t expressly teach wherein the high voltage junction box comprises a converter for conversion of a voltage of the fuel cell stack.
In an analogous art Kim teaches wherein the high voltage junction box comprises a converter for conversion of a voltage of the fuel cell stack (see para 0019-0022, 0027-0028, 0048-0053, 0056-0060, 0066-0069) system having fuel cell stack + HV converter + HV junction unit where the junction unit interfaces both the stack output and conv. Terminals and distributes converter output power.
Therefore, it would have been obvious for one of the ordinary skilled in the art at the time of invention to use the integrated stack terminal + converter terminal high voltage junction unit architecture of Kim in the invention of Ohm to reduce external cabling/connection complexity and improve packaging/assembly/maintainability of the fuel cell HV distribution, thereby achieving a compact serviceable and predictable high current implantation.
Re Claim 3: Combination of Ohm and Kim teaches invention set forth above, Kim further teaches wherein the converter is adapted for conversion of a voltage of the fuel cell stack to a voltage of the connection interface for electrical connection to the high voltage vehicle interface (see para 0048-0053, 0056-0059, 0067-0068).
Re Claim 4: Combination of Ohm and Kim teaches invention set forth above, Kim further teaches wherein the high voltage junction box comprises one single converter for conversion of a voltage of the fuel cell stack to a voltage of the connection interface for connection to the high voltage vehicle interface (see 200, para 0051-055, 0063-0068).
Re Claim 6: Ohm teaches invention set forth above, Ohm doesn’t expressly teach wherein the current transfer capability of the connection interface for electrical connection to the high voltage vehicle interface is at least 250 amperes.
In an analogous art Kim teaches wherein he current transfer capability of the connection interface for electrical connection to the high voltage vehicle interface is at least 250 amperes (see para 0009-0011).
Therefore, it would have been obvious for one of the ordinary skilled in the art at the time of invention to use the high current interface sizing/requirements of Kim in the invention of Ohm to specify and ensure HV vehicle interface connection supports desired high voltage thereby improving power delivery capacity and safety for high voltage vehicle loads.
Re Claim 10: Ohm teaches invention set forth above, Ohm doesn’t expressly teach wherein the high voltage consumers of the vehicle comprises comprise a fan, a coolant pump or a compressor.
In an analogous art Park teaches wherein the high voltage consumers of the vehicle comprises comprise a fan, a coolant pump or a compressor (see para 0026, 0052-0053, 0057).
Therefore, it would have been obvious for one of the ordinary skilled in the art at the time of invention to use the specific HV consumer set of Kim in the invention of Ohm to expressly define representative high voltage consumers powered by the vehicles HV power distributor thereby achieving predictable vehicle power distribution of common fuel cell vehicle auxiliary loads.
Claim(s) 7 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over ohm Et al. (US 2023/0182584 A1) in view Heieis et al. (US 2021/0039511 A1).
Re Claim 7: Ohm teaches invention set forth above, Ohm doesn’t expressly teach wherein the connection interface for electrical connection to the high voltage vehicle interface is adapted for cables having a conductor area of at least 100 mm2.
In an analogous art Heieis teaches wherein the connection interface for electrical connection to the high voltage vehicle interface is adapted for cables having a conductor area of at least 100 mm2 (see para 0001-0004, 0016, 0026-0027).
Therefore, it would have been obvious for one of the ordinary skilled in the art at the time of invention to use the high current conductor cross section sizing of Heieis in the invention of Ohm to select an appropriately large HV cable size at the power distributor cable interface; thereby reducing resistive heating and improving safety and reliability.
Claim(s) 15 is rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over ohm Et al. (US 2023/0182584 A1) in view Avadutala et al. (US 2024/0294064 A1).
Re Claim 15: Ohm teaches invention set forth above, Ohm doesn’t expressly teach being a heavy-duty vehicle comprising a driver compartment, or cab, wherein the vehicle fuel cell assembly is positioned below the driver compartment.
In an analogous art Avadutala teaches being a heavy-duty vehicle comprising a driver compartment, or cab, wherein the vehicle fuel cell assembly is positioned below the driver compartment (see para 0024-0028).
Therefore, it would have been obvious for one of the ordinary skilled in the art at the time of invention to use the heavy-duty cab overpacking/under cab placement of the fuel cell stack assembly of Avadutala in the invention of Ohm to achieve predictable heavy duty vehicle packaging and serviceability thereby improving integration with known commercial-vehicle layouts.
Conclusion
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to Aqeel H Bukhari whose telephone number is (571)272-4382. The examiner can normally be reached M-F (9am to 5pm).
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, Rexford Barnie can be reached at 571-2727492. 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.
/AQEEL H BUKHARI/Examiner, Art Unit 2836
/DANIEL CAVALLARI/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 2836