www.uspto.gov
`
`UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
`United States Patent and Trademark Office
`Address: COMMISSIONER FOR PATENTS
`P.O. Box 1450
`Alexandria, Virginia 2231371450
`
`15/749,561
`
`02/01/2018
`
`HitOShi Maeda
`
`P180060U500
`
`9816
`
`38834
`
`759°
`
`04mm
`
`WESTERMAN, HATTORI, DANIELS & ADRIAN, LLP
`
`8500 Leesburg Pike
`SUITE 7500
`
`Tysons VA 22182
`
`CONLEY' 01 K
`
`1725
`
`PAPERNUMBER
`
`NOTIFICATION DATE
`
`DELIVERY MODE
`
`04/17/2019
`
`ELECTRONIC
`
`Please find below and/or attached an Office communication concerning this application or proceeding.
`
`The time period for reply, if any, is set in the attached communication.
`
`Notice of the Office communication was sent electronically on above—indicated "Notification Date" to the
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`following e—mail address(es):
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`patentmail@ whda.eom
`
`PTOL-90A (Rev. 04/07)
`
`

`

`0/7709 A0170” Summary
`
`Application No.
`15/749,561
`Examiner
`HELEN OI KCONLEY
`
`Applicant(s)
`Maeda et al.
`Art Unit
`1725
`
`AIA (FITF) Status
`Yes
`
`- The MAILING DA TE of this communication appears on the cover sheet wit/7 the correspondence address -
`Period for Reply
`
`A SHORTENED STATUTORY PERIOD FOR REPLY IS SET TO EXPIRE g MONTHS FROM THE MAILING
`DATE OF THIS COMMUNICATION.
`Extensions of time may be available under the provisions of 37 CFR 1.136(a). In no event, however, may a reply be timely filed after SIX (6) MONTHS from the mailing
`date of this communication.
`|f NO period for reply is specified above, the maximum statutory period will apply and will expire SIX (6) MONTHS from the mailing date of this communication.
`-
`- Failure to reply within the set or extended period for reply will, by statute, cause the application to become ABANDONED (35 U.S.C. § 133).
`Any reply received by the Office later than three months after the mailing date of this communication, even if timely filed, may reduce any earned patent term
`adjustment. See 37 CFR 1.704(b).
`
`Status
`
`1). Responsive to communication(s) filed on 2/1/18.
`[:1 A declaration(s)/affidavit(s) under 37 CFR 1.130(b) was/were filed on
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`2a)D This action is FINAL.
`
`2b)
`
`This action is non-final.
`
`3)[:] An election was made by the applicant in response to a restriction requirement set forth during the interview on
`; the restriction requirement and election have been incorporated into this action.
`
`4)[:] Since this application is in condition for allowance except for formal matters, prosecution as to the merits is
`closed in accordance with the practice under Expat/7e Quay/e, 1935 CD. 11, 453 O.G. 213.
`
`Disposition of Claims*
`
`5)
`
`Claim(s) fl is/are pending in the application.
`
`5a) Of the above claim(s)
`
`is/are withdrawn from consideration.
`
`E] Claim(s)
`
`is/are allowed.
`
`Claim(s) fl is/are rejected.
`
`[:1 Claim(s) _ is/are objected to.
`
`) ) ) )
`
`6 7
`
`8
`
`
`
`are subject to restriction and/or election requirement
`[j Claim(s)
`9
`* If any claims have been determined aflowabie. you may be eligible to benefit from the Patent Prosecution Highway program at a
`
`participating intellectual property office for the corresponding application. For more information, please see
`
`http://www.uspto.gov/patents/init events/pph/index.jsp or send an inquiry to PPeredback@uspto.gov.
`
`Application Papers
`10)[:] The specification is objected to by the Examiner.
`
`11). The drawing(s) filed on 2/1/18 is/are: a). accepted or b)[:] objected to by the Examiner.
`
`Applicant may not request that any objection to the drawing(s) be held in abeyance. See 37 CFR 1.85(a).
`Replacement drawing sheet(s) including the correction is required if the drawing(s) is objected to. See 37 CFR 1.121 (d).
`
`Priority under 35 U.S.C. § 119
`12). Acknowledgment is made of a claim for foreign priority under 35 U.S.C. § 119(a)-(d) or (f).
`Certified copies:
`
`a). All
`
`b)D Some**
`
`C)D None of the:
`
`1.. Certified copies of the priority documents have been received.
`
`2.[:] Certified copies of the priority documents have been received in Application No.
`
`3:] Copies of the certified copies of the priority documents have been received in this National Stage
`application from the International Bureau (PCT Rule 17.2(a)).
`
`** See the attached detailed Office action for a list of the certified copies not received.
`
`Attachment(s)
`
`1)
`
`Notice of References Cited (PTO-892)
`
`Information Disclosure Statement(s) (PTO/SB/08a and/or PTO/SB/08b)
`2)
`Paper No(s)/Mail Date_
`U.S. Patent and Trademark Office
`
`3) C] Interview Summary (PTO-413)
`Paper No(s)/Mail Date
`4) CI Other-
`
`PTOL-326 (Rev. 11-13)
`
`Office Action Summary
`
`Part of Paper No./Mai| Date 20190412
`
`

`

`Application/Control Number: 15/749,561
`Art Unit: 1725
`
`Page 2
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`Notice of Pre-AIA or AIA Status
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`1.
`
`The present application, filed on or after March 16, 2013, is being examined
`
`under the first inventor to file provisions of the AIA.
`
`Priority
`
`2.
`
`Acknowledgment is made of applicant’s claim for foreign priority under 35 U.S.C.
`
`119 (a)-(d).
`
`Information Disclosure Statement
`
`3.
`
`The information disclosure statement (IDS) submitted on 2/1/18 is considered by
`
`the examiner.
`
`Drawings
`
`4.
`
`The drawings submitted on 2/1/18 has been considered and accepted.
`
`Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 102
`
`5.
`
`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 othenNise available to the public before the effective filing date of the claimed
`invention.
`
`6.
`
`Claim(s) 1 and 2 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(1) as being anticipated
`
`by Cho et al. (US Patent 8,637,182).
`
`Regarding claim 1, the Che et at. reference cliecleees a battery comprising a
`
`stacked electrede body including a plurality of single plate cells and having a pesitlve
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`eieetrede ieedvetacked part and a negative eleetrede leadetaeked part, the single plate
`
`celie eeelt being termed by attacking a peeiiive eiecirede and 23 negative eleettede with e
`
`

`

`Application/Control Number: 15/749,561
`Art Unit: 1725
`
`Page 3
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`seearatnr intereeeed therehetween (etectrede separator 12%), the neeitive eiectrede
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`ieacietacked part being termed by etacking pesitive eiectrede ieade et the neeitive
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`eiectrcdes en tee of each ether in stacking crder et the eingte eiate ceiis (t 27er t28),
`
`the negative eiectrede teed—stacked part being tcn‘ned by attacking negative eiectrceie
`
`ieade ct the negative etectredee en tee et each ether in etacktng order et the eingte
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`piate ceiie (the ether ct t2? er i253}, a neeitive eiectrede terrninai to which the peeitive
`
`eiectrede ieaduetached hart ie cennected (135a cr tithe); and a negative eiectrede
`
`terrntnai to which the negative eiectrede iead—etacked part is eenneeted (the ether et
`
`tittta er tBGh), wherein, aineng the peeitive eiectrede ieade that cenetitnte the neeitive
`
`eiectrede ieaci— stacked part, a first end~eide neeitive eiectrcde iead iccated at a first end
`
`in a eingte biate ceii~ stacking direction et the stacked eiectrede bed}; (either the right er
`
`iett side of Fig" 2} is directiy eenneetec tn the peeitive eiectrcde tenninai, wherein,
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`ameng the negative eieetrede teeth; that cenetitnte the negative eiectrede iead— Stacked
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`part, a Secend end—Side negative eiectrede teed iecated at a eecend end in the eingie
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`piate ceiiwetaciting directien is directiy connected tn the negative eiectrede terminai {the
`
`ether et the right cr iett side et Fig" 2)"
`
`Regarding ciairns 2, the Che et at. reference diecieeee the tetai number (in + n)
`
`et the number (rn) ct cennecticn intertacee between each pesitive eiectrede teed and
`
`the besitive eiectrede terminai and the number (n) of cennectien intertacee between
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`each negative eiectrede Head and the negative eiectrecie tenninai is the earne ter each
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`eingie piate ceit incinded tn the stacked etectrede hedy.
`
`7.
`
`Claim(s) 1-3, 5, 6 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(1) as being anticipated
`
`by Kim et al. (US Publication 2013/0143109).
`
`

`

`Application/Control Number: 15/749,561
`Art Unit: 1725
`
`Page 4
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`Regarding claim t, the Kim et at. reference diecieeee a battery cernerising a
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`stacked eiectrcde body inciuding a bitii'aiity ct singie piete eeiie and having a pesitive
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`eieetrede ieadetacked part and a negative eiectrede ieadwstaciied part the singie ciate
`
`ceiie each being termed by stacking a peeitive eiectrede and a negative eiectrnde with a
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`eebaretcr iritergceed therehetween (eieetrede assembiy), the beeitive etectrcde teed-
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`stacked part being termed by stacking bceitive eiectrcde ieecis ct the pesitive eieetredee
`
`en tee et' each ether in stacking erder ct the eingie piate ceiie, the negative eiectrede
`
`teed—stacked eart heing termed by etaching negative eiectrcee ieaee cf the negative
`
`etectrcdee en tee {if each ether in etaeking cider et the eingie pia‘te ceiie (Fig. 7), a
`
`pesitive eieetrede terminei tc which the beeitive eiectrcde ieadestacited part is
`
`cennected; and a negative eiectrede terminai to which the negative eieetrede iead~
`
`etacheci part is connected (140 and 150}, wherein, amcng the eeeitive eiectrcde ieade
`
`that eenetitute the neeitive eieetrede ieadv etacked part; a ‘tiret endeide pceitive
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`eiectrede teed ieeated at a first end in a eingie biate ceii~ stacking directien at the
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`stacked eiectrede body (either the right er ieit side of Fig“ 5) ie directiy cennected te the
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`positive eieetrede terrninai, wherein, anteng the negative eiectrede ieade that ecnetitnte
`
`the negative eiectrede ieae— stacked part, a eeccnd eridveiee i‘iegative eiectrede Head
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`ieceted et a second end in the eingie piate ceii~steehing direction ie directiy connected tc
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`the negative eiectrede tei'ininai (the ether of the right er iett side ct Fig. 5}
`
`Regarding ciairne 2, the Kim et at. reterenee ciiecieeee the tetai iitii'i’iber t
`
`“i + n) ct
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`the number {in} ct cennecticn intertacee between each eeeitive eieetrede iead and the
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`beeitive eiectrcde terntinai and the number in} ct ccnnectien interfaces between each
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`negative eiectrede teed and the negative eiectrede terminai is the Same tcr each eingie
`
`

`

`Application/Control Number: 15/749,561
`Art Unit: 1725
`
`Page 5
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`piate ceit incititjed in the etacked eiectrcde hedy (Fig. Q—t flats, atse apbiicabie tc the
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`ether at the etectrcdee}.
`
`Regarding ciaim 3, Kim et at. reterence dieeiese the stacked eieetrede bedy
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`inciudes a first bieck and a second bteck that are adjacent te each other in the singie
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`biate ceii stacking directicn and the tetai number {iii—Hi} ct the number (hi) et the
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`ccnnecticn interfaces between each pesitive etectrede Seed and the pesitive eiectrcde
`
`terrninat and the number (rt) et cennectien intertaees between each negative etectrede
`
`iead and the negative eieetrede terminai is the same fer each eingie piate ceit inciuded
`
`in each biech (Fig. Q—1Gta}~(d)).
`
`Regarding claim 5, the Kim et al. reference discloses the pesitive eiectrccie
`
`terminai and the negative eiectrede terminai are each diseased at a Subgtahtiaiiv equai
`
`distance tram each block and each have two lead ccnnectien surfaces substantiaiiv
`
`pereendicuiar to the singie piate ceii~staci<ing direction, and for each hieck, the positive
`
`eiectrede leads er the negative eiectrode iaacis ciosest te the terminai are cennected to a
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`nearer one efthe teed connection surfaces, and the other negative or pegitive eiectrede ieads
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`farthest away from the iead surfaces are ccnnected to a farther Oi'it'.‘ efthe iead cenneetion
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`surfaces,
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`Regarding ciaim t5, the him at at. reference discieses the pesitive or negative
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`eiectrcde iade connected te the further iead cennecticn surface are bent (Fig, 12}
`
`8.
`
`Claim(s) 1-3, 7 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(1) as being anticipated by
`
`Byun et al. (US Publication 2011/0171516).
`
`Regarding claim 1, the Byun et ai. reference discieses a battery ccrnbrieing a
`
`stacked etectrede body inctuding a bitiraiity ct singte ptate eette and having a pesitive
`
`

`

`Application/Control Number: 15/749,561
`Art Unit: 1725
`
`Page 6
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`eieetrede iead-etacked part and a negative etectrede tead—etaehed part, the eingie eiate
`
`ceiia each being termed by attacking a peeitive eiectrede and a negative eiectrcde with a
`
`separator interposed therehetween (etectrede aeeemhiy), the peeitive eieetrode teed"
`
`etaeheci part being termed toy stacking peeitive eieetrode ieade ct the peeitive eteetredee
`
`en tee et‘ each ether in Stacking order et the eingie gtate ceiie; the negative etectrede
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`teed—stacked part being termed by stacking negative eiectrede ieade at the negative
`
`eieetroeee en tee ct each ether in stacking order at the eingte piate oeiie, a neeitive
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`eieetrede tei‘ininat te which the peeitive eieetrode teed—stacked part is eenneeted; and a
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`negative etectrede tenninai te which the negative eieetrede ieadetacked part ie
`
`eenneeted, wherein, an'icng the peeitive etectrede teade that ccnatitute the peeitive
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`eiectrede iead~ stacked part, a first end—side positive eiectrode teed iocated at a first end
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`in a eingte piate ce¥i~ stacking directien ef the stacked eieetrede body (either the right er
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`ieit aide cf Fig. 2} ie ditectiy connected tn the peeitive etectrcde terminai, wherein,
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`among the negative eiectrcde ieede that cenetittite the negative eiectrede iead~ stacked
`
`part a second end~eide negative eiectrede iead ieeated at a second end in the singte
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`eiate ceit—etecking directien ie directty connected to the negative eteetrecie tern‘iinai
`
`(Fig.2)
`
`Regarding ciairne 2, the Byun et at“ reterence diecieeee the tetei number {in
`
`n)
`
`et the number (in) ct cennection intertaoee between each peeitive eiectrede ieaci and
`
`the peeitive eteetrecie tenninai and the number (n) et eenneetien intertacee between
`
`each negative eieettede tead and the negative etectrede terntinai ie the same ter each
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`eingie ptete ceii ineiuded in the stacked eiectrede bcdy (Fig. 2 and Fig. 4}.
`
`

`

`Application/Control Number: 15/749,561
`Art Unit: 1725
`
`Page 7
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`Regarding eiairn 3, Byun et at. reierence disciese the eteciteci eieetrecie hedy
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`ineiudes a first hieci»: end a second btecit that are adjacent te each other in the eingie
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`piete ceii stacking direction and the tetai number {trim} of the number (in) et the
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`connection intertecee between each nesitive eiectrede Seed and the peeitive eiectrede
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`terrninat and the number (n) at cennectien interieeee between each negative eieetrede
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`iead end the negative eiectrede terminei is the earne for each singie piate eeit ineiuded
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`in eech bieck (Fig, 2),
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`Regarding Ciaim 7, the Byun et at. reference digcieses wherein at least we of the
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`positive eiectrecie terrninai and the negative eiectrede terminai inciudes a base part
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`snbstantiaiiy nerpendicniar tn the Single piete ceii~5taci<ing direction a firet lead connection part
`
`that is formed substantieiiy perpendicuiar to the base part and te which the ieads ef the first
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`hicck are connected; and e secehd iead cenneetien part that it formed Stabgtehtiaiiy
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`perpendicnier tea the base part and te which the ieads at the second biocir are cennected, and
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`the iead connection parts extend in apposite directions {56.) and 40).
`
`Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 103
`
`9.
`
`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
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`correction of the statutory basis for the rejection will not be considered a new ground of
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`rejection if the prior art relied upon, and the rationale supporting the rejection, would be
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`the same under either status.
`
`10.
`
`The following is a quotation of 35 U.S.C. 103 which forms the basis for all
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`obviousness rejections set forth in this Office action:
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`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
`
`

`

`Application/Control Number: 15/749,561
`Art Unit: 1725
`
`Page 8
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`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.
`
`11.
`
`Claim 4 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Byun et
`
`al. (US Publication 2011/0171516) or Kim et al. (US Publication 2013/0143109) in view
`
`of Aoshima et al. (US Publication 2003/0031923).
`
`Regarding claim 4, the Byun et al. er the Kim et at. reference is sitent in
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`dieeioeing the number of the eingfe efete ceiis En eaeh bicek tc be 26.”: er more and the
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`peeitive efectrerje fear} and the negative efeetrerje feeds each have e thiekheee et‘ 29
`
`thlCt‘Gi’iS er fees. However, the Aoshima et at reference dieciesee that cementien
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`thickness of the feeds are about 3—29 microns The Aoshima et at. reference diocese
`
`From the viewpoint of the volume energy density and the weight energy density, the
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`thinner the thickness of the positive electrode current collector, the better. Therefore, it
`
`would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art to make the electrode leads
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`to have a conventional thickness of 3-20 microns disclosed by the Aoshima et al.
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`reference for the lead thicknesses of the Byun et al. or the Kim eta 1. reference to
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`improve volume energy density and the weight energy density.
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`Furthermere, the Byun et at. or the Kim et at. reference Ee sitent in diecfeeing the
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`plate cells in each block is 20 or more, however, it would be obvious to one of ordinary
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`skill in the art before the effective filing date of the invention to incorporate more cells
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`including 20 or more since the increase in cells would increase power density. A patent
`
`for a combination, which only unites old elements with no change in their respective
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`functions, obviously withdraws what is already known into the field of its monopoly and
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`diminishes the resources available to skillful men. Where the combination of old
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`

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`Application/Control Number: 15/749,561
`Art Unit: 1725
`
`Page 9
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`elements performed a useful function, but it added nothing to the nature and quality of
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`the subject matter already patented, the patent failed under §103. When a patent
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`simply arranges old elements with each performing the same function it had been
`
`known to perform and yields no more than one would expect from such an
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`arrangement, the combination is obvious. KSR v. Teleflex
`
`Conclusion
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`12.
`
`Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the
`
`examiner should be directed to HELEN OI K CONLEY whose telephone number is
`
`(571)272-5162. The examiner can normally be reached on 8:30 am - 5:00 pm.
`
`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, Basia Ridley can be reached on 571-272—1453. The fax phone number for
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`the organization where this application or proceeding is assigned is 571-273-8300.
`
`Information regarding the status of an application may be obtained from the
`
`Patent Application Information Retrieval (PAIR) system. Status information for
`
`published applications may be obtained from either Private PAIR or Public PAIR.
`
`Status information for unpublished applications is available through Private PAIR only.
`
`For more information about the PAIR system, see http://pair-direct.uspto.gov. Should
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`you have questions on access to the Private PAIR system, contact the Electronic
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`Business Center (EBC) at 866-217-9197 (toll-free). If you would like assistance from a
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`

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`Application/Control Number: 15/749,561
`Art Unit: 1725
`
`Page 10
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`USPTO Customer Service Representative or access to the automated information
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`system, call 800-786-9199 (IN USA OR CANADA) or 571 -272-1 000.
`
`/He|en Oi K CONLEY/
`
`Primary Examiner, Art Unit 1725
`
`