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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
`
`17/414,521
`
`06/16/2021
`
`Tatsuya Akira
`
`P210522US00
`
`6748
`
`WHDA, LLP
`8500 LEESBURG PIKE
`SUITE 7500
`TYSONS, VA 22182
`
`TALBOT,BRIAN K
`
`1715
`
`06/28/2022
`
`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):
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`patentmail @ whda.com
`
`PTOL-90A (Rev. 04/07)
`
`

`

`
`
`Disposition of Claims*
`1.and 3-14 is/are pending in the application.
`)
`Claim(s)
`5a) Of the above claim(s) ___ is/are withdrawn from consideration.
`Cj] Claim(s)
`is/are allowed.
`Claim(s) 1 and 3-14 is/are rejected.
`(1 Claim(s)__is/are objectedto.
`Cj) 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://www.uspto.gov/patents/init_events/pph/index.jsp or send an inquiry to PPHfeedback@uspto.gov.
`
`) ) ) )
`
`Application Papers
`10) The specification is objected to by the Examiner.
`11)0) The drawing(s) filedon__ is/are: a)(J 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)1) Acknowledgment is made of a claim for foreign priority under 35 U.S.C. § 119(a)-(d)or (f).
`Certified copies:
`c)Z None ofthe:
`b)() Some**
`a)C All
`1.2 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 receivedin 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)
`
`2) (J Information Disclosure Statement(s) (PTO/SB/08a and/or PTO/SB/08b)
`Paper No(s)/Mail Date
`U.S. Patent and Trademark Office
`
`3) (J Interview Summary (PTO-413)
`Paper No(s)/Mail Date
`(Qj Other:
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`4)
`
`PTOL-326 (Rev. 11-13)
`
`Office Action Summary
`
`Part of Paper No./Mail Date 20220621
`
`Application No.
`Applicant(s)
`17/414,521
`Akiraet al.
`
`Office Action Summary Art Unit|AIA (FITF) StatusExaminer
`BRIAN K TALBOT
`1715
`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
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`1) Responsive to communication(s) filed on 4/11/22.
`C} A declaration(s)/affidavit(s) under 37 CFR 1.130(b) was/werefiled on
`2a)¥) This action is FINAL.
`2b) (J 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: 17/414,521
`Art Unit: 1715
`
`Page 2
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`DETAILED ACTION
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`Notice of Pre-AIA or AIA Status
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`1.
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`The present application, filed on or after March 16, 2013, is being examined under
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`the first inventorto file provisions of the AIA.
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`2.
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`The amendmentfiled 4/11/22 has been considered and entered. Claim 2 has been
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`canceled. Claims 1 and 3-14 remain in the application.
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`3.
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`In light of the amendmentfiled 4/11/22, the 35 USC 112 and 103 rejections have
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`been withdrawn. However, the following rejections have been necessitated by the
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`amendments.
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`Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 103
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`4.
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`In the event the determination of the status of the application as subject to AIA 35
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`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 undereither status.
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`5.
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`Claims 1,3-5 and 11-13 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable
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`over Kimuraet al. (2015/0280208) in combination with Bolandiet al. (2012/0219841).
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`Kimuraet al. (2015/0280208) teaches a method and apparatus for manufacturing
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`negative electrode for lithium secondary battery comprising preparing a slurry electrode
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`

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`Application/Control Number: 17/414,521
`Art Unit: 1715
`
`Page 3
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`composition, applying the composition and hotpressing followed bya slitting step
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`(abstract and Fig. 1). Kimuraetal. (2015/0280208) teaches preparing the electrode
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`slurry, applying the slurry to a current collector, drying the slurry to remove solvent,
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`compression-molding the dried slurry at 200-400C [0069]-[0077],[0097].
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`Kimuraet al. (2015/0280208) fails to teach a firing process includinga first and
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`second roll whereby the electrode is fired while the electrode covers more than 50% of an
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`area of the peripheral of the first and secondrolls.
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`Bolandiet al. (2012/0219841) teaches a similar roll to roll process whereby a
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`electroactive material is applied inaroll to roll process in forming electrode layers
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`wherebyheating rollers are utilized to heat the coating on the substrate whereby the
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`rollers are covered by the coated substrate by at least 180 degrees and up to 300 degrees
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`or more of the circumference of the heated roller which would equate to more than 50%
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`coverage as claimed (Figs. 8,11 and [0098]-[0099]).
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`Therefore, it would have been obvious for one skilled in the art before the
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`effective filing date of the claimed invention to have modified Kimuraetal.
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`(2015/0280208) roll to roll process to utilize the heater rollers whereby the substrate
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`wraps around more than 50 % ofthe heater rollers surface as evidenced by Bolandietal.
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`(2012/0219841) tom produce a more even and uniform heating of the coated substrate.
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`Regarding claim 3, the compression-moldingrollers, 1.e. firing rollers is performed
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`under inert atmosphere in nitrogen to avoid oxidation thereof [0095].
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`Regarding claim 4, the application process for applying the mixture is done in a
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`roll-to-troll process [0010].
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`

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`Application/Control Number: 17/414,521
`Art Unit: 1715
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`Page 4
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`Regarding claim 5, the drying process is performedin a roll-to-roll process
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`[0076],[0010].
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`Regarding claim 11 and 12, a slitting process is performed after the compression-
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`molding process. While the Examiner acknowledges Kimuraet al. (2015/0280208) fails
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`to teach a laser for slitting, the Examiner takes the position that using a laser for slitting is
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`well known and any knownslitting process would result in the desired shape of the
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`electrode absent a showing to the contrary.
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`Regarding claim 13, the negative electrode material include carbon or graphite
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`[0054]-[005].
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`6.
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`Claim 6 is rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Kimuraetal.
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`(2015/0280208) in combination with Bolandiet al. (2012/0219841) further in
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`combination with JP-2005/276444.
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`Features detailed above concerning the teachings of Kimuraet al. (2015/0280208)
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`in combination with Bolandi et al. (2012/0219841) are incorporated here.
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`Kimuraet al. (2015/0280208) in combination with Bolandiet al. (2012/0219841)
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`fails to teach forming the coating on both sides of the current collector and drying after
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`application thereof.
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`JP-2005/276444 teaches a similar process whereby electrode is formedin a roll-to-
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`roll process and application of one side followed by a drying step is performed then this
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`is done for the other side by application and drying step (abstract and Fig. 3).
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`

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`Application/Control Number: 17/414,521
`Art Unit: 1715
`
`Page 5
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`Therefore, it would have been obviousfor one skilled in the art before the
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`effective filing date of the claimed invention to have modified Kimuraet al.
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`(2015/0280208) in combination with Bolandi et al. (2012/0219841) process to perform
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`the coating/drying steps on both sides of a current collector as evidenced by JP-
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`2005/276444 with the expectation of achieving similar success.
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`7.
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`Claim 7-10 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Kimuraet
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`al. (2015/0280208) in combination with Bolandi et al. (2012/0219841) in combination
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`with Kojimaet al. (2014/0231721).
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`Features detailed above concerning the teachings of Kimuraet al. (2015/0280208)
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`in combination with Bolandi et al. (2012/0219841) are incorporated here.
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`Kimuraet al. (2015/0280208) in combination with Bolandiet al. (2012/0219841)
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`fails to teach a rolling step between the drying andfiring steps.
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`Kojimaet al. (2014/0231721) teaches forming positive electrode by applying
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`slurry to collector, drying at 80C to removesolvent, roll pressing after drying and then
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`heating and curing in durance at 170C (abstract and [0088]).
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`Therefore, it would have been obviousfor one skilled in the art before the
`
`effective filing date of the claimed invention to have modified Kimuraetal.
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`(2015/0280208) in combination with Bolandi et al. (2012/0219841) process to include a
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`rolling/pressing step following the drying and before the firing as evidenced by Kojima et
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`al. (2014/0231721) with the expectation of achieving similar success.
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`

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`Application/Control Number: 17/414,521
`Art Unit: 1715
`
`Page 6
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`Regarding claims 9 and 10, the claims recite winding and collecting the dried
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`electrodes prior to performinga rolling step instead of doing it continuously.
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`While the Examiner acknowledgesthis fact, the Examiner takes the position that
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`one skilled in the art would have had a reasonable expectation of achieving similar
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`success regardless of whether or not the dried electrodes were immediately pressed or
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`wound/collected before pressing absent a showing of unexpectedresults to the contrary.
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`Response to Amendment
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`8.
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`Applicant’s arguments with respect to claims 1 and 3-14 have been considered but
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`are moot because the new ground of rejection does not rely on any reference applied in
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`the prior rejection of record for any teaching or matter specifically challenged in the
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`argument.
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`Applicant argued Kimuraet al. (2015/0280208) fails to teach a firing process
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`including a first and secondroll wherebythe electrode is fired while the electrode covers
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`more than 50% of an area of the peripheral of the first and secondrolls.
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`Bolandiet al. (2012/0219841) teachesthis as detailed above. The Examiner
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`acknowledgesthe fact that Bolandiet al. (2012/0219841) teaches this with respect to
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`drying the coating and notfiring, the Examinertakes the position that the benefits of
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`wrapping the substrate around more than 50% of the heated roller would be applicable to
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`a firing step as well as the drying step absent a showingto the contrary.
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`

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`Application/Control Number: 17/414,521
`Art Unit: 1715
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`Page 7
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`9.
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`Applicant's amendmentnecessitated the new ground(s) of rejection presented in
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`this Office action. Accordingly, THIS ACTION IS MADE FINAL. See MPEP
`
`§ 706.07(a). Applicant is reminded of the extension of time policy as set forth in 37
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`CFR 1.136(a).
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`A shortened statutory period for reply to this final action is set to expire THREE
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`MONTHSfrom the mailing date of this action. In the eventa first reply is filed within
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`TWO MONTHSofthe mailing date of this final action and the advisory action is not
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`mailed until after the end of the THREE-MONTHshortenedstatutory period, then the
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`shortened statutory period will expire on the date the advisory action is mailed, and any
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`extension fee pursuant to 37 CFR 1.136(a) will be calculated from the mailing date of the
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`advisory action. In no event, however, will the statutory period for reply expire later than
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`SIX MONTHSfrom the date of this final action.
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`10.
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`Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the
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`examiner should be directed to BRIAN K TALBOTwhosetelephone numberis
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`(571)272-1428. The examiner can normally be reached Mon-Thurs 6:30-5PM - Fri OFF.
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`Examinerinterviewsare 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.
`
`

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`Application/Control Number: 17/414,521
`Art Unit: 1715
`
`Page 8
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`If attempts to reach the examiner by telephone are unsuccessful, the examiner’s
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`supervisor, Timothy H Meekscan be reached on 571-272-1423. The fax phone number
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`for the organization where this application or proceeding is assigned 1s 571-273-8300.
`
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`OR CANADA)or 571-272-1000.
`
`/BRIAN K TALBOT/
`Primary Examiner, Art Unit 1715
`
`