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 .
Priority
Receipt is acknowledged of certified copies of papers required by 37 CFR 1.55.
Drawings
The drawings are objected to as failing to comply with 37 CFR 1.84(p)(5) because they do not include the following reference sign(s) mentioned in the description: SNT in Figure 1 (see paragraph [0023], line 4 in the specification), 13 in Figure 1 (see, e.g., paragraph [0024], line 5), and 13 in Figure 2 (see, e.g., paragraph [0026], line 2). Corrected drawing sheets in compliance with 37 CFR 1.121(d) are required in reply to the Office action to avoid abandonment of the application. Any amended replacement drawing sheet should include all of the figures appearing on the immediate prior version of the sheet, even if only one figure is being amended. Each drawing sheet submitted after the filing date of an application must be labeled in the top margin as either “Replacement Sheet” or “New Sheet” pursuant to 37 CFR 1.121(d). If the changes are not accepted by the examiner, the applicant will be notified and informed of any required corrective action in the next Office action. The objection to the drawings will not be held in abeyance.
Claim Objections
Claim 1 is objected to because of the following informalities: Claim 1, line 11, “at least one node to an electrically similar subsystem” should be “at least one node connected to an electrically similar subsystem”. Appropriate correction is required.
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 1-12 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 “at least one node to an electrically similar
subsystem is provided in the base system”. It is unclear what an “electrically similar subsystem” is or how similar the subsystem has to be. Claims 2-12 inherit this deficiency.
Claim 3 recites the limitation “the interface for the high-voltage path of the subsystem in the base system is embodied as a parallel circuit”. Claim 1 recites the limitation “wherein the at least one node is embodied … as an interface for a high-voltage path of the subsystem”. It is unclear what is connected in parallel to what, and how a parallel circuit can be a node, which is by definition a point.
Allowable Subject Matter
Claims 1-12 would be allowable if rewritten or amended to overcome the rejection(s) under 35 U.S.C. 112(b) or 35 U.S.C. 112 (pre-AIA ), 2nd paragraph, set forth in this Office action.
The following is a statement of reasons for the indication of allowable subject matter:
Claims 1-12 contain allowable subject matter because none of the prior art of
record discloses or suggests a high-voltage battery system for storing electrical energy in a plurality of electrically interconnected elementary storage cells, which are connected via an analog line and/or a data line with monitoring and control by a battery management system, and has an electrical connection of the interconnected elementary storage cells to external high-voltage connections via high-voltage paths with circuit breakers in a high-voltage distribution box, in combination with the remaining claimed features.
The European patent application of Maskew et al. is the closest prior art. Maskew discloses a high-voltage battery system for storing electrical energy in a plurality of electrically interconnected elementary storage cells, which are connected via an analog line and/or a data line, and has an electrical connection of the interconnected elementary storage cells to external high-voltage connections via high-voltage paths with circuit breakers in a high-voltage distribution box, the high voltage battery system comprises; a base system, at least one node connected to an electrically similar subsystem provided in the base system, wherein the at least one node is embodied as an interface for a high-voltage path of the subsystem and wherein the subsystem itself comprises only interconnected modules. Maskey does not disclose monitoring and control by a battery management system, or the at least one node embodied as an interface for an analog line and/or a data line of the subsystem to the battery management system of the base system.
Conclusion
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to HAL KAPLAN whose telephone number is (571)272-8587. The examiner can normally be reached 8:30AM-5:30PM.
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If attempts to reach the examiner by telephone are unsuccessful, the examiner’s supervisor, Taelor Kim can be reached at 571-270-7166. The fax phone number for the organization where this application or proceeding is assigned is 571-273-8300.
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/HAL KAPLAN/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 2836
