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`UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
`United States Patent and TrademarkOffice
`Address; COMMISSIONER FOR PATENTS
`P.O. Box 1450
`Alexandria, Virginia 22313-1450
`
`16/762,720
`
`05/08/2020
`
`Yuki SUEHIRO
`
`083710-2981
`
`1091
`
`McDermott Will and Emery LLP
`The McDermott Building
`500 North Capitol Street, N.W.
`Washington, DC 20001
`
`SRIPATHI, ANKITH REDDY
`
`1728
`
`PAPER NUMBER
`
`NOTIFICATION DATE
`
`DELIVERY MODE
`
`02/02/2022
`
`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
`following e-mail address(es):
`
`mweipdocket@mwe.com
`
`PTOL-90A (Rev. 04/07)
`
`

`

`
`
`Disposition of Claims*
`1-16 is/are pending in the application.
`)
`Claim(s)
`5a) Of the above claim(s) 8-9 is/are withdrawn from consideration.
`() Claim(s)__ is/are allowed.
`Claim(s) 1-7 and 10-16 is/are rejected.
`S)
`) © Claim(s)___is/are objected to.
`C] Claim(s
`are subjectto restriction and/or election requirement
`)
`S)
`* If any claims have been determined allowable, you maybeeligible to benefit from the Patent Prosecution Highway program at a
`participating intellectual property office for the corresponding application. For more information, please see
`http:/Awww.uspto.gov/patents/init_events/pph/index.jsp or send an inquiry to PPHfeedback@uspto.gov.
`
`) )
`
`Application Papers
`10)2) The specification is objected to by the Examiner.
`11) The drawing(s) filed on 08 May 2020is/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:
`c)() None ofthe:
`b)( Some**
`a) All
`1.4) Certified copies of the priority documents have been received.
`2.1.) Certified copies of the priority documents have been received in Application No.
`3.1.) 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) (J Interview Summary (PTO-413)
`Paper No(s)/Mail Date
`(Qj Other:
`
`4)
`
`PTOL-326 (Rev. 11-13)
`
`Office Action Summary
`
`Part of Paper No./Mail Date 20220118
`
`Application No.
`Applicant(s)
`16/762,720
`SUEHIRO, Yuki
`
`Office Action Summary Art Unit|AIA (FITF) StatusExaminer
`ANKITH R SRIPATHI
`1728
`Yes
`
`
`
`-- The MAILING DATEofthis communication appears on the cover sheet with the correspondence address --
`Period for Reply
`
`A SHORTENED STATUTORY PERIOD FOR REPLYIS SET TO EXPIRE 3 MONTHS FROM THE MAILING
`DATE OF THIS COMMUNICATION.
`Extensions of time may be available underthe provisions of 37 CFR 1.136(a). In no event, however, may a reply betimely filed after SIX (6) MONTHSfrom the mailing
`date of this communication.
`If NO period for reply is specified above, the maximum statutory period will apply and will expire SIX (6) MONTHSfrom 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, evenif timely filed, may reduce any earned patent term
`adjustment. See 37 CFR 1.704(b).
`
`Status
`
`1) Responsive to communication(s)filed on 08 May 2020.
`C) A declaration(s)/affidavit(s) under 37 CFR 1.130(b) was/werefiled on
`
`2a)L) This action is FINAL. 2b)¥)This action is non-final.
`3)02 An election was madeby the applicant in responseto a restriction requirement set forth during the interview
`on
`; the restriction requirement and election have been incorporated into this action.
`4\0) 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 Exparte Quayle, 1935 C.D. 11, 453 O.G. 213.
`
`

`

`Application/Control Number: 16/762,720
`Art Unit: 1728
`
`Page 2
`
`DETAILED ACTION
`
`Notice of Pre-AlA or AIA Status
`
`1.
`
`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 § 103
`
`1.
`
`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-AlA 35 U.S.C. 102 and 103) is incorrect, any correction of the statutory
`
`basis 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 eitherstatus.
`
`2.
`
`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 ordinaryskill in the art to which the
`claimed invention pertains. Patentability shall not be negated by the manner in which the invention
`was made.
`
`3.
`
`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 ofthe 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.
`
`4.
`
`Claim 1-7 & 10-16 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Iwasaki
`
`(US6325611) in view of Masumoto (US20130316209) (provided in Applicant’s IDS filed on May 26,
`
`2020).
`
`

`

`Application/Control Number: 16/762,720
`Art Unit: 1728
`
`Page 3
`
`Regarding Claim 1, lwasaki discloses a cylindrical secondary battery (col. 19, line 21) comprising:
`
`A closed end cylindrical battery casing having an opening (Fig. 1, cover plate-21 placed over
`
`opening ofcell can-5, col. 27, line 48);
`
`An electrode group disposed in the battery casing, the electrode group including a positive
`
`electrode (Fig. 1, positive electrode-1), a negative electrode (Fig. 1, negative electrode-2), anda
`
`separator interposed between the positive electrode and negative electrode (Fig. 1, separator-3, col. 3,
`
`line-29);
`
`A nonaqueous electrolyte disposed in the battery casing (col. 15, line 55-60);
`
`A sealing member filing the opening of the battery casing (Fig. 1, sealing plate-7, col. 23, line 4-
`
`7); and
`
`A negative electrode current collection lead connecting the negative electrode and the battery
`
`casing to each other (Fig. 1, lead member-15 connected from negative electrode to battery casing, col.
`
`23, line 44-46),
`
`Wherein the positive electrode includes a positive electrode current collector and positive
`
`electrode mixture layers disposed on respective principal surfaced of the positive electrode current
`
`collector (positive collector-1a, positive active material-1b, col. 8, line 8-19),
`
`Wherein the negative electrode includes a negative electrode current collector and negative
`
`electrode mixture layers disposed on respective principal surfaces of the negative electrode current
`
`collector (negative collector-2a, negative active material-2b, col. 8, line 19-31),
`
`Wherein the electrode group is formed as a result of the positive electrode and the negative
`
`electrode being wound into a spiral with the separator interposed (col. 8, line 32-38) therebetween and
`
`includesa first columnar region in which the number of times the positive electrode mixture layers are
`
`stacked in the radial direction of the electrode group is highest and a second columnar region other than
`
`the first columnar region (see annotatedFig. 4),
`
`

`

`Application/Control Number: 16/762,720
`Art Unit: 1728
`
`Page 4
`
`Wherein thefirst columnar region includes a 1A arc column region that includes an outer
`
`periphery-side end surface of the positive electrode mixture layers and a 1B arc column region that does
`
`not include the end surface (see annotated Fig. 4),
`
`Wherein the 1A arc column region and the 1B arc column region are arranged to face each other
`
`such that the central angles thereof are vertically opposite to each other (see annotated Fig. 4),
`
`Wherein the negative electrode current collector includes a first exposed part on which the
`
`negative electrode mixture layers are not disposed, the first exposed part being located on the
`
`outermost periphery of the negative electrode (Fig. 4, negative collector-2a, negative active material-
`
`2b),
`
`Wherein the negative electrode current collection lead includes an overlap part that overlaps
`
`the first exposed part and a lead-out part protruded from the first exposed part (Fig. 4, negative
`
`electrode lead-15),
`
`Wherein the overlap part of the negative electrode current collection lead is not located on the
`
`boundary between the 1A arc column region and the second columnar region of the electrode group
`
`(see annotated Fig. 4),
`
`

`

`Application/Control Number: 16/762,720
`Art Unit: 1728
`
`Fig.
`
`4
`
`4A Are Cofumn,
`First Columnar Region
`
`Page 5
`
`Nonlabels zones make
`up Second Columnar
`Region
`
`1B Are Column,
`First Cohumnar Region
`
`
`
`AnnotatedFig. 4
`
`Iwasaki does not directly discloses that the number of times the positive electrode mixture
`
`layers are stacked in the radial direction of the electrode group is 6 or more and 20or less.
`
`Iwasaki discloses a vertical cross sectional view of the battery cell which showsa stack of 5
`
`positive electrodesin the radial direction in a winding electrode group (Fig. 1, col. 22, lines 48-65).
`
`Iwasaki further discloses a positive electrode that is covered on both sides by active material electrode
`
`mixtures(col. 3, line 25), which would provide 10 total positive electrode mixture active material layers
`
`stacked in the radial direction of the electrode group.
`
`Therefore it would be obvious to one ofordinary skill in the art to have a wound battery
`
`structure where the number of times the positive electrode mixture layers are stacked in the radial
`
`direction of the electrode group is 6 or more and 20 or less.
`
`

`

`Application/Control Number: 16/762,720
`Art Unit: 1728
`
`Page 6
`
`Iwasakiis silent to the cylindrical secondary battery having an outside diameter of 6.5mm or
`
`less.
`
`Masumotodiscloses a battery that has a preferred outside diameter of 6 mm or less ([0085]).
`
`Masumoto teaches that when the battery is smaller, the easier the battery is manufactured into a
`
`cylindrical shape ([004]). Masumoto further teachesthat this battery structure has improved sealing
`
`properties and provides reliable low-resistive coupling between the current collector lead and the
`
`electrode terminal which increases voltage and capacity of the battery ([0018])
`
`Therefore it would be obvious to one of ordinaryskill in the art to modify the battery outside
`
`diameter of Iwasaki with the teachings of Masumoto to have a battery outside diameter thatis less 6.5
`
`mm. This modified structure would have the expected result of easier manufacturing of the battery, as
`
`well as improved sealing properties, and increased voltage and capacity for the battery.
`
`Regarding Claim 2, lwasaki in view of Masumotodiscloses the limitations as set forth above.
`
`Iwasaki further discloses wherein the overlap part is located in a region other than the 1A arc column
`
`region (see annotated Fig. 4 above).
`
`Regarding Claim 3, lwasaki in view of Masumotodiscloses the limitations as set forth above.
`
`Iwasaki further discloses wherein the overlap part is not located on the boundary between the 1B arc
`
`column region and the second columnar region of the electrode group (see annotated Fig. 4 above).
`
`Regarding Claim 4, lwasaki in view of Masumotodiscloses the limitations as set forth above.
`
`Iwasaki further discloses wherein the overlap part is located in a region other than the 1B arc column
`
`region (see annotated Fig. 4 above).
`
`Regarding Claim 5, lwasaki in view of Masumotodiscloses the limitations as set forth above.
`
`Iwasaki discloses a negative electrode with a first exposed part formed at the end of the negative
`
`electrode in the winding direction (Fig. 4, negative electrode current collctor-2a, negative electrode
`
`active material-2b, exposed part with no active material on end of negative electrode).
`
`

`

`Application/Control Number: 16/762,720
`Art Unit: 1728
`
`Page 7
`
`Iwasaki does not directly disclose the exposed portion end being located on the outermost
`
`periphery of the negative electrode, so as to extend from an end of the negative electrode so as to
`
`extend from an end of the negative electrode current collector in a winding axis direction to the other
`
`end of the negative electrode current collector.
`
`Masumotodiscloses a negative electrode with an exposed end on the outermost periphery of
`
`the negative electrode, so as to extend from an end of the negative electrode current collector ina
`
`winding axis direction to the other end of the negative electrode current collector (Fig. 2, negative
`
`electrode-2, negative electrode core material-20 acts as negative electrode current collector, negative
`
`electrode current collector has portion as end that doesn’t have active material on outer periphery,
`
`[0028]). Masumoto teachesthatthis structure that this structure allows for reliable low-resistive
`
`coupling between the current collector lead and the electrode terminal, thereby increasing voltage and
`
`capacity ([0013]).
`
`Therefore it would be obvious to one of ordinaryskill in the art to modify the negative
`
`electrode structure of lwasaki with the teachings of Masumoto to have a negative electrode wherein the
`
`first exposed part is formed at an end of the negative electrode in a winding direction, the end being
`
`located on the outermost periphery of the negative electrode, so as to extend from an end of the
`
`negative electrode current collector in a winding axis direction to the other end of the negative
`
`electrode current collector. This modified electrode structure would yield the expected results of
`
`allowing for reliable low-resistive coupling.
`
`Regarding Claim 6, lwasaki in view of Masumotodisclosesthe limitations as set forth above.
`
`Iwasakiis silent to the length of the overlap part in a winding direction being 10% or more ad 30 % or
`
`less of the length of the outermost periphery of the electrode group in the winding direction.
`
`Masumoto discloses an overlap part in a winding direction being 10% or more and 30 % or less
`
`of the length of the outermost periphery of the electrode group in the winding direction (Fig. Fig. 2,
`
`

`

`Application/Control Number: 16/762,720
`Art Unit: 1728
`
`Page 8
`
`negative electrode-2, negative electrode core material-20, negative electrode-22, overlap part defined
`
`as area in the winding direction of the electrode that the electrode tab is connected to the current
`
`collector, [0028], [0035]). Masumoto teachesthat this range balances the welding reliability and battery
`
`Capacity.
`
`Therefore it would be obvious to one of ordinaryskill in the art to modify the overlap part of
`
`Iwasaki with the teachings of Masumoto to have an overlap part in a winding direction being 10% or
`
`more and 30 % or less of the length of the outermost periphery of the electrode group in the winding
`
`direction. This modified structure’s range would yield the expected results of balancing welding
`
`reliability with battery capacity.
`
`Regarding Claim 7, lwasaki in view of Masumotodiscloses the limitations as set forth above.
`
`Iwasaki discloses an electrode group wherein the outermost periphery of the electrode group is covered
`
`with the first exposed part (Fig. 4, exposed portion created by area of negative current collector-2a, not
`
`covered with negative active material-2b, located on outermost periphery of electrode).
`
`Regarding Claim 10, lwasaki in view of Masumoto disclosesthe limitations as set forth above.
`
`Iwasaki further discloses a positive electrode current collection lead connecting the positive electrode
`
`and the sealing member to each other (Fig. 1, 13-positive lead, sealing plate 7, col. 23, line 63). lwasaki
`
`further discloses a positive electrode current collector with a second exposed part on which the positive
`
`electrode mixture layers are not disposed (Fig. 4, 1a- positive current collector, 1b- positive active
`
`material, col. 14, line 38-42).
`
`Iwasakiis silent to the positive electrode collection lead being joined to the second exposed part
`
`and the second exposed part being arranged to extend in a winding direction of the positive electrode
`
`current collector along an end of the positive electrode current collector, the end facing the opening of
`
`the battery.
`
`

`

`Application/Control Number: 16/762,720
`Art Unit: 1728
`
`Page 9
`
`Masumotodiscloses a positive electrode current collection lead joined to a second exposed
`
`part, and wherein the second exposedpart is arranged to extend in a winding direction of the positive
`
`electrode current collector along an end of the positive electrode current collector, the end facing the
`
`opening of the battery casing (Fig. 2, positive lead-24, positive electrode-4, [0027], exposed end facing
`
`upward as Fig. 1 showsorientation of positive lead-24 is upward in relation to the battery). Masumoto
`
`teaches that this structure has high sealing properties, great battery capacity, and reliable low resistive
`
`coupling between the current collector lead and an electrode terminal ([0013]).
`
`Therefore it would be obvious for one of ordinary skill in the art to modify the positive electrode
`
`lead of lwasaki with the teachings of Masumoto to have a positive current collector where the positive
`
`electrode current collection lead is joined to the second exposed part, and wherein the second exposed
`
`part is arranged to extend ina winding direction of the positive electrode current collector along an end
`
`of the positive electrode current collector, the end facing the opening of the battery casing. This
`
`modified structure would yield the expected results of high sealing properties, great battery capacity,
`
`and reliable low resistive coupling between the current collector lead and an electrode terminal.
`
`Regarding Claim 11, lwasaki in view of Masumotodisclosesthe limitations as set forth above.
`
`Iwasaki further discloses wherein the thickness of the negative electrode current collection lead is 0.3%
`
`to 3% of the outside diameter of the cylindrical secondary battery (col. 21, line 38-40).
`
`Regarding Claim 12, lwasaki discloses the limitations as set forth above. Iwasaki discloses an
`
`insulating tape disposed on the outermost periphery of the electrode group (Fig. 4, insulating tape-16),
`
`wherein the insulating tape cover the overlap part of the negative electrode current collection lead (Fig.
`
`4, negative electrode lead-15). lwasaki further discloses the length of the insulating tape in a winding
`
`direction is 50 % or more of the length of the outermost periphery of the electrode group in the winding
`
`direction (Fig. 4, insulating tape-16, counting the grid marks of the current collector, the insulating tape
`
`

`

`Application/Control Number: 16/762,720
`Art Unit: 1728
`
`Page 10
`
`covers more than 50% of the length of the outermost periphery of the electrode group, the outermost
`
`periphery being the exposed portion of the electrode group)
`
`Iwasakiis silent to the insulating tape fixing the winding end of the electrode group in position.
`
`Masumoto discloses an insulating tape that fixes the winding end of the electrode group in
`
`position (fixing tape-54 acts as insulating tape, [0028]). Masumoto teachesthat this structure has high
`
`sealing properties, great battery capacity, and reliable low resistive coupling between the current
`
`collector lead and an electrode terminal ([0013]).
`
`Therefore it would be obvious to one of ordinaryskill in the art to modify the insulating tape of
`
`Iwasaki with the teachings of Masumoto to havean insulating tape fixing the winding end of the
`
`electrode group in position. This modified structure would yield the expected results of high sealing
`
`properties, great battery capacity, and reliable low resistive coupling between the current collector lead
`
`and an electrode terminal.
`
`Regarding Claim 13, lwasaki discloses the limitations as set forth above. Iwasaki further discloses
`
`that the material constituting the battery casing includesstainless steel (col. 19, line 1-7).
`
`Regarding Claim 14, lwasaki discloses the limitations as set forth above. Iwasaki further discloses
`
`wherein the wound electrode group has a diameter 0.4-0.7 mm smaller than the diameter of the
`
`cylindrical battery cell (col. 19, line 23-29). Since the diameter of lwasaki modified with the teachings of
`
`Masumotohas a diameter of 6.5mm or less, than the electrode group diameter would met the
`
`limitation of being 1 mm or more and 6mm or less.
`
`Regarding Claim 15, lwasaki discloses the limitations as set forth above. Iwasaki discloses a
`
`rangefor the thickness of the positive electrode mixture layers disposed on the surfaces of the positive
`
`electrode current collector to be 50-150 um(col. 7, line 30-36) which overlaps with the instant claim
`
`range of 20 um or more and 100 um or less.
`
`

`

`Application/Control Number: 16/762,720
`Art Unit: 1728
`
`Page 11
`
`Regarding Claim 16, lwasaki discloses a range for the thickness of the negative electrode mixture
`
`layers disposed on the surfaces of the negative electrode current collector to be 50-150 um (col. 7, line
`
`30-36) which overlaps with the instant claim range of 20 um or more and 120 um or less.
`
`Conclusion
`
`5.
`
`Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner
`
`should be directed to ANKITH R SRIPATHI whose telephone number is (571)272-2370. The examiner can
`
`normally be reached Monday- Friday: 7:30 am - 5:00pm.
`
`Examiner interviewsare 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,
`
`Matthew Martin can be reached on 571-270-7871. The fax phone number for the organization where
`
`this application or proceedingis assigned is 571-273-8300.
`
`Information regarding the status of published or unpublished applications may be obtained from
`
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`
`/ANKITH R SRIPATHI/
`Examiner, Art Unit 1728
`
`

`

`Application/Control Number: 16/762,720
`Art Unit: 1728
`
`/MATTHEW T MARTIN/
`Supervisory Patent Examiner, Art Unit 1728
`
`Page 12
`
`