Office Action 3: Notice of Allowance (2025-02-26)

CLAIMS:
AMENDMENTS TO THE CLAIMS

Applicant submits below a complete listing of the current claims, including marked-upclaim(s) with insertions indicated by underlining and deletions indicated by strikeouts and/or double bracketing. This listing of claims replaces all prior versions, and listings, of claims in the application:

Listing of the Claims

1\. (Currently amended) A charging station for electric vehicles, comprising: a charging unit and at least one air-cooled radiator, the charging unit and the at least one air-cooled radiator being arranged in a box of the charging station, wherein,
the box comprises a first box and a second box, a protection level of the first box is higher than a protection level of the second box;
the charging unit is arranged in the first box;
an independent heat dissipation air duct is provided in the second box so that the charging unit dissipates heat through the heat dissipation air duct; \[\[and \]\] the charging unit is configured to charge an electrical equipment;
the second box is provided in the center of the box, or at a position of a central axis of the box; and
the charging unit comprises at least one power conversion unit, the power conversion unit comprises a plurality of heating elements, and the plurality of heating elements are arranged on a plurality of sides of the air-cooled radiator.

2\. (Previously presented) The charging station for electric vehicles according to claim 1, wherein the first box adopts a sealed design.

3\. (Previously presented) The charging station for electric vehicles according to claim 1, wherein the charging unit further comprises: an alternating current (AC) power access unit and a power distribution unit, wherein,
an input end of the AC power access unit is configured to be an input end of the charging unit for receiving AC power supply;
an output end of the AC power access unit is connected to an AC side of the power conversion unit;
a plurality of direct current (DC) sides of the power conversion unit are respectively connected to a plurality of input ends of the power distribution unit; and
an output end of the power distribution unit is configured to be an output end of the charging unit.

4\. (Previously presented) The charging station for electric vehicles according to claim 3, wherein each of the plurality of heating elements on different sides of the air-cooled radiator is connected by a cable in a sealed wire groove.

5\. (Previously presented) The charging station for electric vehicles according to The charging station for electric vehicles according to
wherein the first box is provided with waterproof terminals at both the input end and the output end of the charging unit.

6\. (Previously presented) The charging station for electric vehicles according to claim 1, wherein the air-cooled radiator comprises at least one heat dissipation plate and a fan;
one side of the heat dissipation plate is arranged in the first box, and the other side of the heat dissipation plate is arranged in the second box; and
the fan is configured to agitate the airflow in the heat dissipation air duct.

7\. (Previously presented) The charging station for electric vehicles according to claim 6, wherein the heat dissipation plate comprises a substrate and a heat exchanger;
the substrate is configured to be a common boundary plate for the first box and the second box;
one side of the heat exchanger is arranged on the substrate in the second box;
the other side of the heat exchanger is provided with a heat dissipation fin.

8\. (Previously presented) The charging station for electric vehicles according to claim 7, wherein the power conversion unit in the charging unit is provided on the substrate; or the power conversion unit in the charging unit sinks inside the heat exchanger.

9\. (Previously presented) The charging station for electric vehicles according to claim 6, wherein the fan is arranged at bottom or top of the heat dissipation plate in the second box.

10\. (Previously presented) The charging station for electric vehicles according to claim 6, wherein two heat dissipation plates are provided, and the two heat dissipation plates are parallel; or a plurality of heat dissipation plates are provided, and each of the plurality of heat dissipation plates forms a polygonal prism structure; and
the heat dissipation air duct is arranged between each of the plurality of heat dissipation plates.

11\. (Previously presented) The charging station for electric vehicles according to claim 3, wherein the AC power access unit and the power distribution unit are arranged in any one of the following ways:
the power distribution unit and the AC power access unit are respectively arranged at top and bottom inside of the box;
the power distribution unit and the AC power access unit are both arranged at the top inside of the box; and
the power distribution unit and the AC power access unit are both arranged at the bottom inside of the box.

12\. (Previously presented) The charging station for electric vehicles according to claim 3, wherein the power conversion unit comprises: a rectifier module and n DC/DC converters, where n is an integer greater than 1;
an AC side of the rectifier module is configured to be an input end of the power conversion unit;
a DC side of the rectifier module is connected to input ends of the n DC/DC converters respectively; and
output ends of the n DC/DC converters are respectively configured to be output ends of the power conversion unit.

13\. (Previously presented) The charging station for electric vehicles according to claim 3, wherein the AC power access unit comprises a switch unit;
A, B, and C three-phase inputs of an AC power supply are connected to input ends of the switch unit in a one-to-one correspondence; and

output ends of the switch unit respectively are configured to be the output end of the AC power access unit.

14\. (Previously presented) The charging station for electric vehicles according to claim 13, wherein the switch unit comprises a drive circuit and an AC relay group;
input ends of the AC relay group are connected to the input ends of the switch unit;
output ends of the AC relay group are connected to the output ends of the switch unit; and
the AC relay group is controlled by the drive circuit.

15\. (Previously presented) The charging station for electric vehicles according to claim 14, wherein the AC relay group comprises switch subunits respectively arranged on each phase cable in the AC relay group.

16\. (Previously presented) The charging station for electric vehicles according to claim 14, wherein the switch unit further comprises a circuit breaker, and the circuit breaker is arranged between the input ends of the switch unit and the input ends of the AC relay group.

17\. (Previously presented) The charging station for electric vehicles according to claim 13, wherein the AC power access unit further comprises a lightning arrester, and the A, B, and C three- phase inputs of the AC power supply are grounded through the lightning arrester.

18\. (Previously presented) The charging station for electric vehicles according to claim 3, wherein the charging unit further comprises a centralized control unit, and the centralized control unit is configured to:

send a first control signal to the AC power access unit to enable the AC power access unit to switch on and off;
send a pulse width modulation (PWM) signal to the power conversion unit to enable the power conversion unit to implement electric energy conversion; and,
send a second control signal to the power distribution unit to enable the power distribution unit to implement distribution of output power.

19\. (Previously presented) The charging station for electric vehicles according to claim 3, wherein the charging unit further comprises a distributed control unit,
the distributed control unit comprises a system controller and multiple sub-controllers; and
each of the sub-controllers is respectively connected to the system controller in communication.

20\. (Previously presented) The charging station for electric vehicles according to claim 1, wherein the charging station further comprises at least one charging gun arranged outside of the box, and the charging unit charges the electrical equipment through the charging gun.

21\. (Previously presented) The charging station for electric vehicles according to claim 3, wherein the AC power access unit and the power distribution unit are arranged in any one of the following ways:
one of the power distribution unit and the AC power access unit is located at front end of the power conversion unit and at the top inside of the box, and the other one is located at the bottom inside of the box; and

one of the power distribution unit and the AC power access unit is located at the front end of the power conversion unit and arranged at the bottom inside of the box, and the other one is located at the top inside of the box.

22\. (Previously presented) The charging station for electric vehicles according to claim 3, wherein the power distribution unit and the AC power access unit are both located at the front end of the power conversion unit and are respectively located at the top and bottom inside of the box.

OFFICE ACTION:
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 .
Allowable Subject Matter
Allowable Subject Matter
Claims 1 – 22 are allowed.
The following is an examiner’s statement of reasons for allowance: Regarding claim 1, the prior art does not teach or suggest the combination of wherein, inter alia, a charging station for electric vehicles, comprising: a charging unit and at least one air-cooled radiator, the charging unit and the at least one air-cooled radiator being arranged in a box of the charging station, wherein, the box comprises a first box and a second box, a protection level of the first box is higher than a protection level of the second box; the charging unit is arranged in the first box; an independent heat dissipation air duct is provided in the second box so that the charging unit dissipates heat through the heat dissipation air duct; [[and ]] the charging unit is configured to charge an electrical equipment; the second box is provided in the center of the box, or at a position of a central axis of the box; and the charging unit comprises at least one power conversion unit, the power conversion unit comprises a plurality of heating elements, and the plurality of heating elements are arranged on a plurality of sides of the air-cooled radiator.
Regarding claims 2 – 22, the claims are dependent upon claim 1 and are therefore allowable.
Any comments considered necessary by applicant must be submitted no later than the payment of the issue fee and, to avoid processing delays, should preferably accompany the issue fee.  Such submissions should be clearly labeled “Comments on Statement of Reasons for Allowance.”
Response to Arguments
Applicant’s arguments, see Arguments/Remarks, filed 01/23/2025, with respect to claims 1 – 22 have been fully considered and are persuasive.  The rejection of claims 1 - 22 has been withdrawn.
Conclusion

APPLICANT REBUTTAL: REMARKS
In response to the Office Action dated October 31, 2024, Applicant respectfully requests reconsideration. Claims 1-22 were previously pending in this application. By this amendment, claim 1 has been amended. No new claims have been added. As a result, claims 1-22 are pending for examination with claim 1 being independent. No new matter has been added.
Rejections Under 35 U.S.C.
§
103 as purportedly beingunpatentable over Heyne (U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2019/0255961; hereinafter "Heyne") in view of Fontana (U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2018/0272882; hereinafter "Fontana").
103 as purportedly being
unpatentable over Heyne in view of Fontana as applied to claim 1 and in further view of Waffner (U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2020/0180457; hereinafter "Waffner").
The Office Action rejected claims 3-4, and 6-10 under 35 U.S.C. §103 as purportedly being unpatentable over Heyne in view of Fontana as applied to claim 1 and in further view of Tsukamoto (U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2019/03085 19; hereinafter "Tsukamoto").
103 as purportedly being
unpatentable over Heyne in view of Fontana, in view of Tsukamoto as applied to claim 3, and in further view of Christen (U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2017/0088005; hereinafter "Christen").
103 as purportedly being
unpatentable over Heyne in view of Fontana, in view of Tsukamoto, in view of Christen as applied to claim 11, and in further view of Gotz (U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2018/0162229; hereinafter "Gotz").
The Office Action rejected claims 13-16 under 35 U.S.C. §103 as purportedly being
unpatentable over Heyne in view of Fontana, in view of Tsukamoto as applied to claim 3, and in
further view of Gotz, and in further view of Asakura (U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2012/0181990; hereinafter "Asakura").
The Office Action rejected claim 17 under 35 U.S.C. § 103 as purportedly being
unpatentable over Heyne, Fontana, in view of Tsukamoto, and in further view of Gotz, and in further view of Asakura as applied to claim 13, and in further view of Sugano (U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2016/0121735; hereinafter "Sugano").
The Office Action rejected claims 18 under 35 U.S.C. §103 as purportedly being
unpatentable over Heyne in view of Fontana, in view of Tsukamoto as applied to claim 3, and in further view of Asakura.
The Office Action rejected claim 19 under 35 U.S.C. §103 as purportedly being
unpatentable over Heyne in view of Fontana, in view of Tsukamoto as applied to claim 3, and in further view of Stocker (U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2018/0272886; hereinafter "Stocker").
The Office Action rejected claim 21 and 22 under 35 U.S.C. § 103 as purportedly being unpatentable over Heyne in view of Fontana, in view of Tsukamoto as applied to claim 3, and in further view of Helnerus (U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2018/0297473; hereinafter "Helnerus").
Applicant respectfully disagrees.
Claim 1 has been amended and is now directed to a charging station for electric vehicles,
comprising: a charging unit and at least one air-cooled radiator, the charging unit and the at least one air-cooled radiator being arranged in a box of the charging station, wherein,
the box comprises a first box and a second box, a protection level of the first box is higher than a protection level of the second box;
the charging unit is arranged in the first box;
an independent heat dissipation air duct is provided in the second box so that the charging unit dissipates heat through the heat dissipation air duct;
the charging unit is configured to charge an electrical equipment;
the second box is provided in the center of the box, or at a position of a central axis of the
box;
and
the charging unit comprises at least one power conversion unit, the power conversion unit comprises a plurality of heating elements, and the plurality of heating elements are arranged on a plurality of sides of the air-cooled radiator. (emphasis added)
Support for the amendments may be found throughout the application as originally filed. Particular support may be found in paragraphs [0032], [0120] and FIGS. 7 and 14.
Heyne does not disclose at least the following features of the claim 1:
an independent heat dissipation air duct is provided in the second box so that the
charging unit dissipates heat through the heat dissipation air duct; the second box is provided
in the center of the box, or at a position of a central axis of the box.
In embodiments of the technology described in the application and covered by amended
claim 1, the independent heat dissipation air duct is provided in the second box, and the second box is provided in the center of the box, or at a position of a central axis of the box. That is, the independent heat dissipation air duct is arranged in the center of the box, or at a position of a central axis of the box.
Heyne describes a charging station 10. Blowers 12 may be arranged in the upper part of the charging station 10 to provide a circulation of air in a region of the charging station 10 in which the condenser 14 of the cooling system is arranged. A first heat exchanger 13 is arranged in the upper region of the charging station 10, and is a liquid-to-air heat exchanger for the power electronics. The region that includes the power electronics is separated, by a separating wall, from the region in which the condenser 14 of the cooling system is situated. The power electronics are thus cooled by way of liquid cooling, and not by the ejection of hot exhaust air out of the charging station 10. The power electronics may additionally be cooled by way of a cooling plate 15, which is able to be cooled by convection or by way of a heat sink. (See paragraph [0027])
However, Heyne does not teach or suggest that the independent heat dissipation air duct is
provided in the second box that is in the center of the box of the charging station or at a position of a central axis of the box.
Fontana (US 20180272882) describes the base component 62 of inductive charger station 12 including a central region 84 that houses the packaged electronics of power conversion circuitry of the inductive charger station 12, and a pair of convective heat sinks 86 positioned on opposing sides of the central region 84.
However, Fontana does not teach or suggest that an independent heat dissipation air duct is provided in a second box that is in the center of a box of the charging station or at a position of a central axis of the box.
Waffner (US 20200180457) describes a charging station 2 with a charging column 4 and a ground foundation 6. The charging column 4 and the ground foundation 6 are each formed as a hollow housing. The cable duct 12 is led through the housing of the ground foundation 6 in a waterproof way. The interior of the housing of the ground foundation 6 is sealed against the interior of the housing of the column 4. (See paragraph [0047])
However, Waffner does not teach or suggest that an independent heat dissipation air duct is provided in a second box that is in the center of a box of the charging station or at a position of a central axis of the box.
Tsukamoto (US 20190308519) describes a charging system 10 including a vehicle 1, a charging stand 2, a charging cable 3, and a server 9. The charging stand 2 includes a power line ACL, an AC/DC converter 210, a voltage sensor 220, power feed lines PLO and NLO, a cooling mechanism 230, and a control circuit 200. The cooling mechanism 230 includes a circulation path 231, a water pump 232, and a heat exchanger 233. (See paragraphs [0032] and [0037])
However, Tsukamoto does not teach or suggest that an independent heat dissipation air duct
is provided in a second box that is in the center of a box of the charging station or at a position of a central axis of the box.
Christen (US 20170088005) describes a vehicle charging station 32 including a housing 34 , a controller 36 , a charging cord 38 and a cooling system 40. The controller 36 and the cooling system 40 are housed inside the housing 34. The cooling system 40 includes a fan 52 and a chiller assembly 54. A coolant C2 is circulated through a heat exchanger 56 of the chiller assembly 54. The coolant C2 exchanges heat with an airflow F that is communicated across the heat exchanger 56 by the fan 52. (See paragraphs [0038] and [0044])
However, Christen fails to teach or suggest that an independent heat dissipation air duct is provided in a second box that is in the center of a box of the charging station or at a position of a central axis of the box.
Gotz (US 20180162229) describes a charging station 10 including a power transformer 14 and three rectifier modules 16. (See paragraphs [0055] and [0056])
Asakura (US 20120181990) describes a charging system 1 including one or plural power source devices 2, one or plural load devices 3 and a charging circuit 4. The charging circuit 4 includes plural converter circuits 43, 44 and 45, plural converter circuits 51 and 52, a breaker relay 46, a switching relay 53, and a control circuit 54. (See paragraphs [0028], [0032] and [0044]- [0046])
Sugano (US 20160121735) describes a rapid charging station including a first electric storage means 15 housed in an internationally-standardized marine container 200. The marine container 200 is provided with a lightning arrestor for protecting various devices from lightning strike. (See paragraph [0072])
Stocker (US 20180272886) describes an electrical supply medium exchange system 600. The supply medium exchange station 602 comprises a central controlling module 664 and three supply medium exchange substations 602.1 to 602.3. The substations 602.1 to 602.3 comprise a
supply medium exchange interface 641.1 to 614.3, a sub-controller 620.1 to 620.3, a meter 622.2 to 622.3 and a connector 616.1 to 616.3 to the electrical grid 618. (See paragraph [0133])
Helnerus (US 20180297473) describes a charging station 2 having a housing 2a. A mains connection 4 and a connection socket 30 are provided in the housing 2a.
All of the cited references fail to teach or suggest that an independent heat dissipation air
duct is provided in a second box that is in the center of a box of the charging station or at a position of a central axis of the box. These distinguishing technical features are not common knowledge.
No combination of Heyne and Fontana teaches or suggests all of the features recited in the ordered combination of claim 1.
Accordingly, claim 1 distinguishes over any combination of the cited references and is in allowable condition.
Claims 2 - 22 depend from claim 1 and are allowable for at least the same reasons.
Withdrawal of the rejections under 35 U.S.C. § 103 is respectfully requested.
All rejections and objections having been overcome, the application is in allowable condition.
General Comments on Dependent Claims
Since each of the dependent claims depends from a base claim that is believed to be in
condition for allowance, Applicant believes that it is unnecessary at this time to argue the further distinguishing features of the dependent claims. However, Applicant does not necessarily concur with the interpretation of the previously presented dependent claims as set forth in the Office Action, nor does Applicant concur that the basis for rejection of any of the previously presented dependent claims is proper. Therefore, Applicant reserves the right to specifically address the further patentability of the dependent claims in the future.
CONCLUSION