Office Action 1: Non-Final Rejection (2023-03-31)
Rejection types: 103 - Obviousness, 112 - Written Description/Enablement

CLAIMS:
CLAIMS

1\. An assembly able to deliver an output current Is, comprising:
N electrical energy storage or production cells (Bi) of rank i, where N > 2, each cell comprising an elementary cell or an elementary assembly of elementary cells (CEOj) placed in series and/or in parallel, each electrical energy storage or production cell being able to supply a maximum current Imax,i at all times t;
a management circuit for managing said electrical energy storage or production cells (Bi), wherein, with said electrical energy storage or production cells being classed according to their rank i in decreasing priority of use, said management circuit comprises means, in discharge mode, for addressing at least the electrical energy storage or production cell of rank 1 or the electrical energy storage or production cells according to their rank i and according to the following criteria:
the electrical energy storage or production cell (B1) of rank 1 is addressed on its own as long as it is able to supply the output current Is, where Is < Imax1;
the electrical energy storage or production cell (B1) of rank 1 is addressed with additionally a number k of electrical energy storage or production cells (Bi) that are addressed successively according to their rank i, so as to supply the current Is at all times in discharge mode, the number k being such that 2 < k : N and meeting the following conditions: SVG {EMBED HERE} 0.24 2.45
said management circuit for managing said electrical energy storage or production cells (Bi) comprising:
blocks (Mi) of rank i, each electrical energy storage or production cell (Bi) being coupled to a block (Mi), each cell (Bi) coupled to a block (Mi) being capable of delivering an output current (li);
the set of said blocks (Mi) generating an output current (Is) equal to the sum of the output currents (Ii), said blocks (Mi) selecting: the first electrical energy storage or production cell until it is totally depleted, without exceeding the current value Imax,1, and then the second electrical energy storage or production cell until it is totally depleted, without exceeding the current value Imax,2, etc., and then the Nth electrical energy storage or production cell.

2\. The assembly according to Claim 1, wherein each block (Mi) comprises a switch, the management circuit for managing said electrical energy storage or production cells controlling each of said electrical energy storage or production cells (Bi) through hysteresis in all-or-nothing mode.

3\. The assembly according to Claim 1, wherein each block (Mi) comprises a regulator (Rgi) with a reference output voltage Uthi.

4\. The assembly according to Claim 3, operating with an output voltage Vs, each block (Mi) comprising a regulator that operates with a voltage threshold, and the voltage thresholds of the regulators (Rgi) being such that:
Uth2 > Uth3 > ....> UthN and the cell of rank 1 (B1) is activated on its own if Vs > Uth2 so as to supply Imax,1;
the second cell (B2) is activated in addition to the first cell (B1) so as to supply an additional current, when Vs < Uth2;
the Nth cell (BN) is activated in addition to the cells of lower rank B1+B2+....BN-1 so as to supply an additional current when Vs < UthN.

5\. The assembly according to Claim 1, operating with an output voltage Vs, wherein each block (Mi) comprises a switched-mode converter having a setpoint voltage and able to supply:
a current at output when the output voltage Vs is lower than said setpoint voltage, in order to keep the output voltage Vs at the setpoint voltage, and
a zero current when the output voltage Vs is greater than this setpoint.

6\. The assembly according to Claim 1, comprising electrical energy storage or production cells having different electrical capacity values.

7\. The assembly according to Claim 3, wherein the electrical energy storage or production cells have electrical capacity values that decrease according to the rank i.
8\. The assembly according to Claim 1, wherein the management circuit comprises means, in recharge mode, corresponding to a negative output current -Is, for placing all of the cells in parallel.

9\. The assembly according to Claim 1, wherein the management circuit comprises means, in recharge mode, corresponding to a negative output current -Is, for addressing the cells of high rank as a priority, from rank N to rank 1.

10\. The assembly according to Claim 1, wherein the elementary electrical energy storage or production cells are batteries.

11\. The assembly according to Claim 1, wherein the elementary electrical energy storage or production cells are microbatteries.

12\. The assembly according to Claim 1, wherein the elementary electrical energy storage or production cells are hydrogen fuel cells.

13\. The assembly according to Claim 11, wherein the microbatteries and the management circuit are contained in a 3D stack.

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 .
Status of Claims
This Office Action is in response to the application filed on 8/17/2021.  Claims 1-13 are presently pending and are presented for examination.
Information Disclosure Statement
The information disclosure statement (IDS) submitted on 4/12/2021 is in compliance with the provisions of 37 CFR 1.97.  Accordingly, the information disclosure statement is being considered by the examiner.
Specification
The disclosure is objected to because of the following informalities:
[0071] The cell B1 is addressed as a priority and, if it is able to supply a sufficient current lmax,1> Is, it is the only one that is addressed.
It is unclear what is meant by “addressing” a cell.
[0074] The Applicant performed simulations with assemblies comprising a variable number of lithium-ion micro batteries such as the one shown above.
The specification does not sufficiently identify the lithium-ion micro batteries that are “shown above”
Appropriate correction is required.
Drawings
The drawings filed 04/12/2021 are objected to because the images and labels are unclear and illegible.
Specifically the printing or drawing method used by the Applicant combined with the small font size causes the images and drawing labels to appear “blurry” and illegible.
For example, the images in Figs. 8-10 appear “blurry” and the corresponding labels and lettering (Figs. 5,8-10 and 13-16 for example) also appearing “blurry”.
The Examiner recommends correcting all drawings in such a way that the figures and labels are clear and legible, and the quality of the figures are equivalent to the quality produced by a laser printer.
Corrected drawing sheets in compliance with 37 CFR 1.121(d) are required in reply to the Office action to avoid abandonment of the application. Any amended replacement drawing sheet should include all of the figures appearing on the immediate prior version of the sheet, even if only one figure is being amended. The figure or figure number of an amended drawing should not be labeled as “amended.” If a drawing figure is to be canceled, the appropriate figure must be removed from the replacement sheet, and where necessary, the remaining figures must be renumbered and appropriate changes made to the brief description of the several views of the drawings for consistency. Additional replacement sheets may be necessary to show the renumbering of the remaining figures. Each drawing sheet submitted after the filing date of an application must be labeled in the top margin as either “Replacement Sheet” or “New Sheet” pursuant to 37 CFR 1.121(d). If the changes are not accepted by the examiner, the applicant will be notified and informed of any required corrective action in the next Office action. The objection to the drawings will not be held in abeyance.
Examiners note on claim interpretation
In regards to claim language “all times t” and “at all times”, based on the specification (For ex. Fig. 8-11 and [0052]-[0055] and claim 1, i.e. “the first electrical energy storage or production cell until it is totally depleted”) supports that the current ends when the battery capacity is depleted. Therefore Examiner will interpret “at all times” as “continuously during the time period T”.
Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 112
The following is a quotation of 35 U.S.C. 112 (b), second paragraph:
The specification shall conclude with one or more claims particularly pointing out and distinctly claiming the subject matter which the applicant regards as his invention.
Claims 1-13 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 112(b) or 35 U.S.C. 112 (pre-AIA ), second paragraph, as being indefinite for failing to particularly point out and distinctly claim the subject matter which the inventor or a joint inventor, or for pre-AIA  the applicant regards as the invention.
As to claim 1, which recites “said management circuit comprises means, in discharge mode, for addressing at least the electrical energy storage or production cell of rank 1 or the electrical energy storage or production cells according to their rank i and according to the following criteria” which is unclear..
It is unclear what it means to “address” an electrical energy storage or production cell.
As to claim 1, which recites “the electrical energy storage or production cell (B1) of rank 1 is addressed on its own” which is unclear.
It is unclear what it means to “address” an electrical energy storage or production cell.
It is also unclear what is meant or how an electrical energy storage or production cell is “addressed on its own”
As to claim 1, which recites “the electrical energy storage or production cell (B1) of rank 1 is addressed with additionally a number k of electrical energy storage or production cells (Bi) that are addressed successively according to their rank i, so as to supply the current Is at all times in discharge mode” which is unclear.
It is unclear what it means to “address” an electrical energy storage or production cell.
Additionally, claim language “at all times” includes that the current is supplied indefinitely.
However, the specification (For example Fig. 8-11 and [0052]-[0055] ) explains that the current ends when the battery capacity is depleted.
It is unclear what  is meant by the current is supplied “at all times”. Examiner will interpret “at all times” as “continuously during the time period T”
As to claim 2 , which recites “the management circuit for managing said electrical energy storage or production cells controlling each of said electrical energy storage or production cells (Bi) through hysteresis in all-or-nothing mode” which is unclear.
It is unclear what is meant by an “all-or-nothing mode”
As to claim 4 , which recites “the cell of rank 1 (B1) is activated on its own” which is unclear.
It is unclear what is meant by (B1) being activated “on its own”
As to claim 8 , which recites “wherein the management circuit comprises means, in recharge mode, corresponding to a negative output current -Is, for placing all of the cells in parallel” which is unclear.
Specifically, it is unclear how is the means corresponding to a negative output current is for placing all of the cells in parallel.
As to claim 9 , which recites “wherein the management circuit comprises means, in recharge mode, corresponding to a negative output current -Is, for addressing the cells of high rank as a priority” which is unclear.
It is unclear what it means to “address” an electrical energy storage or production cell.
Examiner will interpret to “address” an electrical energy storage or production cell as to “discharge/charge” an electrical energy storage or production cell.
Claims 2-13 is/are included in this rejection due to their dependence on claim 1.
Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 103
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 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.
Claims 1-3 and 6-10 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Jhunjhunwala (US 20170229880) in view of Okui (US 20160226268).
As to claim 1,  Jhunjhunwala discloses an assembly (Fig. 7) able to deliver an output current Is ([0047] IL refers to the current demanded by the load), comprising:
N electrical energy storage or production cells (Bi) of rank i ([0026] Fig. 3A-3B,5,7 Battery Banks 1021-102N, The battery banks 1021-N are configured to be used/discharged in a sequence based on pre-defined priorities for the usage of the battery banks, where a bank is drained as per set limit before a subsequent bank is used), where N>2, each cell comprising an elementary cell or an elementary assembly of elementary cells (CEii) placed in series and/or in parallel (Fig. 5 and 7 and [0021] … multiple banks of individual batteries. Banks are placed in parallel), each electrical energy storage or production cell being able to supply a maximum current lmaxi at all times t ([0026] Fig. 3A-3B Battery Banks 1021-102N, The battery banks 1021-N are configured to be used/discharged in a sequence … where a bank is drained as per set limit before a subsequent bank is used. As such each battery supplies it’s Imaxi).
a management circuit for managing said electrical energy storage or production cells (Bi) (Fig. 7 battery bank selector 704 is a logic unit as shown in FIG. 5 (element 400 and Control 504) with the additional functionality to select multiple battery banks based on pre-configured power harnessing modes, and individual parameter specific thresholds. The logic control and splitting of battery  (i.e Fig. 5) can be pre-configured based on anticipated usage patterns/priorities. [0038] [0046] [0042]), wherein, with said electrical energy storage or production cells being classed according to their rank i in decreasing priority of use ([0026] Fig. 3A-3B,5 Battery Banks 1021-102N, are configured to be used/discharged in a sequence based on pre-defined priorities for the usage of the battery banks, where a bank is drained as per set limit before a subsequent bank is used. As such each battery supplies it’s Imaxi), said management circuit comprises means, in discharge mode (Fig. 7 battery bank selector 704 and Control 504 of Fig. 5), for addressing at least the electrical energy storage or production cell of rank 1 or the electrical energy storage or production cells according to their rank i (([0026] Fig. 3A-3B,5 Battery Banks 1021-102N, are configured to be used/discharged in a sequence based on pre-defined priorities for the usage of the battery banks. [0042] the logic control and splitting of battery  (i.e Fig. 5) can be pre-configured based on anticipated usage patterns. ) and according to the following criteria:
the electrical energy storage or production cell (B1) of rank 1 is addressed on its own as long as it is able to supply the output current Is, where Is < lmax1 [0046]-[0049] Fig. 8 At step 804, if the current requirement of the load (IL) is less than the lower threshold (It1), then battery bank B1 is selected for use at step 806 ), the electrical energy storage or production cell (B1) of rank 1 is addressed with additionally a number k of electrical energy storage or production cells (Bi) that are addressed successively according to their rank i, so as to supply the current Is at all times in discharge mode ([0046]-[0049]  FIG. 7-8 In scenarios where performance of a single battery bank is not adequate, the battery bank selector 704 can be used to combine output from more than one battery banks to supply power to the load 706. This may be especially required when load is varying), the number k being such that 2 < k < N and meeting the following conditions:
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[0048] -[0049]  Fig. 8 at step 812, if current required by load (IL) is greater than the upper current threshold (It2) then at step 814, B1, B2, and B3 are selected. It1 can be the maximum current that can be drawn from B1 alone, and It2 can be the maximum current that can be drawn from B1 and B2 combined.
Jhunjhunwala further discloses said management circuit for managing said electrical energy storage or production cells (Bi) (Fig. 7 Battery Banks 1021-102N), comprising: block (Mi) ([0046] the battery bank selector 704 is a logic unit as shown in FIG. 5 with the additional functionality to select multiple battery banks. i.e. logic control unit 504 and a switching mechanism shown in 502), each electrical energy storage or production cell (Bi) being coupled to the block (Mi), each cell (Bi) coupled to a block (Mi) being capable of delivering an output current (Ii) (Fig. 5 Each battery bank coupled to power conditioning element. [0026] FIG. 3A and FIG. 3B and Fig. 8);
Jhunjhunwala further discloses the block (Mi) generating an output current (Is) equal to the sum of the output currents (Ii), said block (Mi) selecting: the first electrical energy storage or production cell until it is totally depleted without exceeding the current value lmax,1, and then the second electrical energy storage or production cell until it is totally depleted, without exceeding the current value lmax,2, etc., and then the Nth electrical energy storage or production cell  (Fig. 3A and [0026] FIG. 3A and FIG. 3B illustrate an example of the sequential usage of battery banks using a three battery bank system where a bank is drained as per set limit before a subsequent bank is used. In FIG. 3A, the discharge starts with battery bank 102-1 and proceeds to 102-2. The battery bank 102-3 is in process of discharge subsequent to full discharge of battery banks 102-1 and 102-2. As such each battery supplies it’s Imaxi.),
Jhunjhunwala does not specifically state that the block (Mi) ([0046] the battery bank selector 704 is a logic unit as shown in FIG. 5) is multiple blocks (Mi) of rank i and that set of said blocks (Mi) generating an output current (Is) equal to the sum of the output currents (Ii).
Okui teaches a management circuit for managing said electrical energy storage or production cells (Bi) comprising multiple blocks (Mi) of rank i (Fig. 2 battery banks 210 with corresponding converters 220. A priority order between the battery banks is determined and at least some of the battery banks to be discharged based on the priority order. The distribution controller 230 controls the DC/DC converters 220 so that some of the battery banks 210 perform the discharging according to the target charging/discharging amount. ([0046] [0050]) As such, since the converters facilitate the discharging of their corresponding battery bank,  the converters 22 have the same priority rank order (rank i) as the prioritized battery banks they are connected to).
Okui further teaches the management circuit set of said blocks (Mi) generates the output current (Is) equal to the sum of the output currents (Ii) ([0050] battery banks 210 are connected to a common node. The battery banks 210 may be connected to one another in parallel via the DC/DC converters 220.
It would have been obvious to a person of ordinary skill in the art to modify the management circuit of Jhunjhunwala to comprise multiple blocks (Mi) of rank i and that set of said blocks (Mi) generating an output current (Is) equal to the sum of the output currents (Ii) in order to provide a voltage level that is suitable for the load while allowing some of the battery banks to perform the discharging while pausing others ([0050] of Okui).
As to claim 2, Jhunjhunwala in view of Okui the assembly according to Claim 1, wherein each block (Mi) comprises a switch, the management circuit for managing said electrical energy storage or production cells controlling each of said electrical energy storage or production cells (Bi) through hysteresis in all-or-nothing mode  ([0048] -[0049]  of Fig. 8 Jhunjhunwala at step 812, if current required by load (IL) is greater than the upper current threshold (It2) then at step 814, B1, B2, and B3 are selected (i.e. all-or nothing mode).
As to claim 3, Jhunjhunwala in view of Okui the assembly according to Claim 1, wherein each block (Mi) comprises a regulator (Rgi) (Fig. 2 of Okui DC/DC converters 220) with a reference output voltage Uthi ( output voltage of DC/DC converters 220).
As to claim 6,  Jhunjhunwala  in view of Okui teaches the assembly according to Claim 1, comprising electrical energy storage or production cells having different electrical capacity values (Abstract …each of which may have different characteristics).
As to claim 7,  Jhunjhunwala  in view of Okui teaches the assembly according to Claim 3.
Jhunjhunwala does not disclose/teach wherein the electrical energy storage or production cells have electrical capacity values that decrease according to the rank i.
Okui teaches wherein the electrical energy storage or production cells have electrical capacity values that decrease according to the rank i. ([0086] In the case of the discharging mode, the distribution controller may determine the priority order between the battery banks so that the battery bank having higher SOC and higher SOH may have higher priority (operation S66). The battery bank having a higher SOC may be more likely to be discharged than the battery bank having a lower SOC. The battery bank having a higher SOH may be more likely to be discharged than the battery bank having a lower SOH.
It would have been obvious to a person of ordinary skill in the art to modify the assembly of Jhunjhunwala to include wherein the electrical energy storage or production cells have electrical capacity values that decrease according to the rank I, as taught by Okui in order to preserve the state of health for each battery by maintaining the SOC of each battery at a level that reduces deterioration.
As to claim 8,  Jhunjhunwala  in view of Okui teaches the assembly according to Claim 1, wherein the management circuit comprises means, in recharge mode, corresponding to a negative output current -Is, for placing all of the cells in parallel (Fig. 5 of Jhunjhunwala all battery modules are in parallel).
As to claim 9,  Jhunjhunwala  in view of Okui teaches the assembly according to Claim 1, wherein the management circuit comprises means, in recharge mode, corresponding to a negative output current -Is, for addressing the cells of high rank as a priority, from rank N to rank 1 ([0026] and Fig. 3A of Jhunjhunwala battery banks are configured to be used/discharged in a sequence based on pre-defined priorities for the usage of the battery banks, where a bank is drained as per set limit before a subsequent bank is used. First battery bank 102 that is discharged first is charged first) .
As to claim 10,  Jhunjhunwala  in view of in view of Okui teaches the assembly according to Claim 1, wherein the elementary electrical energy storage or production cells are batteries (Fig. 1 of Jhunjhunwala battery banks 102).
Claims 4-5 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Jhunjhunwala (US 20170229880) in view of Okui (US 20160226268) in view of Martin (US 20080157743).
As to claim 4, Jhunjhunwala in view of Okui the assembly according to Claim 3, operating with an output voltage Vs, each block (Mi) comprising a regulator that operates with a voltage threshold (output voltage of DC/DC converters 220, Fig. 1-2 of Okui), and the voltage thresholds of the regulators (Rgi) being such that: Uth2 > Uth3 > ....> UthN ([0050] of Okui the DC/DC converters 220 so that some of the battery banks 210 perform the discharging according to the target charging/discharging amount and the other battery banks 210 may be paused. As such the voltage threshold of the DC/DC converters 220 differing during discharging) and the cell of rank 1 (B1) is activated on its own if Vs > Uth2 so as to supply Imax,1 ([0048] and Fig. 8 of Jhunjhunwala where if the current requirement of the load (IL) is less than the lower threshold (It1), then battery bank B1 is selected. [0049] It1can be the maximum current that can be drawn from B1 alone. As such the voltage at the output of the DC/DC converter when only battery bank B1 is activated will be the output voltage of the DC/DC converter);
Jhunjhunwala in view of Okui does not teach the second cell (B2) is activated in addition to the first cell (B1) so as to supply an additional current, when Vs < Uth2; the Nth cell (BN) is activated in addition to the cells of lower rank B1+B2+....BN-1 so as to supply an additional current when Vs < UthN.
Martin teaches the second cell (B2) is activated in addition to the first cell (B1) so as to supply an additional current, when Vs < Uth2; the Nth cell (BN) is activated in addition to the cells of lower rank B1+B2+....BN-1 so as to supply an additional current when Vs < UthN ([0120] In response to a more drastic voltage droop as a result of increased power consumption (i.e. Vs < UthN) , the controller circuit 1206 enables transient controller 1210 to generate respective control signals to activate dynamic power supply circuit 1245 at a same time the voltage regulator circuit 1255 is enabled to supply power to the load. Accordingly, when load 1218 suddenly requires a substantial increase in power, the controller circuit 1206 deploys transient controller 1210 to prevent drooping of voltage 1220 by supplementing an amount of power (e.g., current) conveyed to load 1218).
It would have been obvious to a person of ordinary skill in the art to modify the assembly of Jhunjhunwala in view of Okui to include the second cell (B2) is activated in addition to the first cell (B1) so as to supply an additional current, when Vs < Uth2; the Nth cell (BN) is activated in addition to the cells of lower rank B1+B2+....BN-1 so as to supply an additional current when Vs < UthN, as taught by Martin in order to keep the output voltage  at a substantially constant value in the event of a load transient ([0123] of Martin)
As to claim 5, Jhunjhunwala in view of Okui the assembly according to Claim 1.
Jhunjhunwala in view of Okui does not disclose/teach operating with an output voltage Vs, wherein each block (Mi) comprises a switched-mode converter having a setpoint voltage and able to supply: a current at output when the output voltage Vs is lower than said setpoint voltage, in order to keep the output voltage Vs at the setpoint voltage.
Martin teaches operating with an output voltage Vs, wherein each block (Mi) comprises a switched-mode converter having a setpoint voltage (output of the regulator) and able to supply: a current at output when the output voltage Vs is lower than said setpoint voltage, in order to keep the output voltage Vs at the setpoint voltage ([0120] In response to a more drastic voltage droop as a result of increased power consumption (i.e. Vs < UthN) , the controller circuit 1206 enables transient controller 1210 to generate respective control signals to activate dynamic power supply circuit 1245 at a same time the voltage regulator circuit 1255 is enabled to supply power to the load. Accordingly, when load 1218 suddenly requires a substantial increase in power, the controller circuit 1206 deploys transient controller 1210 to prevent drooping of voltage 1220 by supplementing an amount of power (e.g., current) conveyed to load 1218).
It would have been obvious to a person of ordinary skill in the art to modify the assembly of Jhunjhunwala in view of Okui to include operating with an output voltage Vs, wherein each block (Mi) comprises a switched-mode converter having a setpoint voltage (output of the regulator) and able to supply: a current at output when the output voltage Vs is lower than said setpoint voltage, in order to keep the output voltage Vs at the setpoint voltage, as taught by Martin to keep the output voltage  at a substantially constant value in the event of a load transient ([0123] of Martin).
Jhunjhunwala in view of Okui in view of Martin does not specifically teach and a zero current when the output voltage Vs is greater than this setpoint.
However it would be obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art to provide zero current when the load/battery has charged to a higher voltage than the setpoint voltage (i.e. the output voltage Vs is greater than this setpoint) indicating a fully charged battery, thereby preventing overcharging.
Claims 11 and 13 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Jhunjhunwala (US 20170229880) in view of Okui (US 20160226268) in view of Rothschild (US 20190027943).
As to claim 11,  Jhunjhunwala  in view of Okui teaches the assembly according to Claim 1.
Jhunjhunwala in view of Okui teaches each battery bank is a multiple banks of individual batteries ([0021]), Jhunjhunwala in view of Okui does not specifically teach the elementary electrical energy storage or production cells (each battery bank) are micro batteries.
Rothschild teaches elementary electrical energy storage or production cells are micro batteries ([0017] The rectifier 102 may be connected to the battery unit 104. The battery unit 104 may comprise a plurality of micro-batteries (B1, B2, B3 . . . Bn).
It would have been obvious to a person of ordinary skill in the art to modify the elementary electrical energy storage or production cells of Jhunjhunwala  in view of Okui to be micro batteries, in order to reduce the physical size of Jhunjhunwala battery pack.
As to claim 13,  Jhunjhunwala  in view of Okui teaches the assembly according to Claim 11.
Jhunjhunwala in view of Okui in view of Rothschild does not specifically teach wherein the micro batteries and the management circuit are contained in a 3D stack.
However it would be obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art to contain the micro batteries and the management circuit taught by Jhunjhunwala in view of Okui in view of Rothschild in a 3D stack in order to reduce the space of the assembly.
Claim 13 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Jhunjhunwala (US 20170229880) in view of Okui (US 20160226268) in view of Despesse (US 20140287278)
As to claim 13,  Jhunjhunwala  in view of Okui teaches the assembly according to Claim 1.
Jhunjhunwala in view of Okui does not specifically teach wherein the elementary electrical energy storage or production cells are hydrogen fuel cells.
Despesse teaches elementary electrical energy storage or production cells are hydrogen fuel cells ([0239] hydrogen fuel cell).
It would have been obvious to a person of ordinary skill in the art to modify the assembly of Jhunjhunwala  in view of Okui to elementary electrical energy storage or production cells to be hydrogen fuel cell, as taught by Despesse in order to apply Jhunjhunwala  method to applications using hydrogen fuel cells in order to optimizes at least one of cost, weight or size of the overall system (Abstract of Jhunjhunwala) .
Conclusion and Related Art
The prior art made of record and not relied upon is considered pertinent to applicant's disclosure.
Sharma et al (US 20220294036)  is cited for discharging power from battery packs to a grid or charging power to battery packs based on the power rate of each battery pack.
Tikhonski (US 20220037910) is cited for monitoring an output voltage delivered to the distribution bus, wherein the output voltage results from a delivery of current to the distribution bus by a first power source; and delivering current from a second power source to the distribution bus via a DC-DC converter when the monitored output voltage decreases to a level equivalent to a voltage regulation setpoint of the DC-DC converter. However Tikhonski’s effective filing date for this feature is after the filing date of the instant application.


NEXT 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 .
Status of Claims
This Office Action is in response to the application filed on 6/28/2023.  Claims 1-13 are presently pending and are presented for examination.
Response to arguments
Applicant amended claims 1,4,8 and 9 which changes the scope of the claims and as such a new grounds of rejection is issued. However, it is noted that the previously applied references are still used in the current grounds of rejection.
Specifically, in the previous OA, the Examiner issued a 112, second rejection on the claim feature of “addressing” a cell or the feature of the cell being “addressed” because the claimed feature was unclear.  The Examiner further interpreted the claimed feature of “addressing” a cell or a cell that is “addressed” as “charging/discharging” the cell.
In response, the Applicant amended claim language “addressing” or “addressed” to “discharging” or “discharged” which changes the scope of the claim.
In regards to the Drawing Objections Applicant asserts (pg. 7):
The drawings stand objected to because the images and labels are unclear and illegible. Office Action, at 3. Applicant submits herewith replacement drawing sheets that contain amendments to Figures 1-16. Withdrawal of the Objection to the Drawings is respectfully requested.
In response:
Examiner maintains the drawing objections for the reasons set forth below
In regards to the 112 second rejection Applicant asserts (pg. 7):
Applicant respectfully submits that one of ordinary skill in the art ( e.g., the electrical field) would immediately understand, without any ambiguity, the meaning of the term hysteresis in all-or-nothing mode. One of ordinary skill in the electrical field art would have a general knowledge regarding the charging and discharging cycles of electrical energy storage or production cells. As such, one of ordinary skill in the art would immediately understand the meaning of the term hysteresis in all-or-nothing mode characterizing the management of electrical energy storage or production cells.
In response:
Examiner respectfully disagree and maintains the 112 second rejection as specified below.
Specifically claim 2 recites “the management circuit for managing said electrical energy storage or production cells controlling each of said electrical energy storage or production cells (Bi) through hysteresis in all-or-nothing mode” which is unclear.
It is unclear what is meant by an “all-or-nothing mode”.
In regards to the 103 rejection of Claim(s) 1 Applicant asserts (pg. 9-10):
Jhunjhunwala fails to teach or suggest a said management circuit for managing said electrical energy storage or production cells (Bi) ... each electrical energy storage or production cell (Bi) being coupled to the block (Mi), each cell (Bi) coupled to a block (Mi) being capable of delivering an output current (li) ... the block (Mi) generating an output current (Is) equal to the sum of the output currents (li), said block (Mi) selecting: the first electrical energy storage or production cell until it is totally depleted without exceeding the current value lmax,l, and then the second electrical energy storage or production cell until it is totally depleted, without exceeding the current value lmax,2, etc., and then the Nth electrical energy storage or production cell, as asserted by the Office Action.
In response:
Examiner respectfully disagree. The Examiner did not state that Jhunjhunwala fails to teach the claim language asserted by the Applicant above. As seen below in the rejection of claim 1, the Examiner stated that Jhunjhunwala does not specifically disclose “that the block (Mi) ([0046] the battery bank selector 704 is a logic unit as shown in FIG. 5) is multiple blocks (Mi) of rank i and that set of said blocks (Mi) generating an output current (Is) equal to the sum of the output currents (Ii).”
The Examiner further shows that Okui teaches the claim language that is not disclosed in Jhunjhunwala as described below.
And further asserts:
The Office Action concedes that Jhunjhunwala does not disclose that the block (Mi) ... is multiple blocks (Mi) of rank i and that set of said blocks (Mi) generating an output current (Is) equal to the sum of the output currents (li). Office Action, at 10. Instead, the Office Action relies on Okui as allegedly disclosing these features of claim 1. Applicant disagrees and asserts that Okui does not cure the deficiencies of Jhunjhunwala.
In response:
Examiner respectfully disagree and points to the rejection of claim 1 where the Examiner uses the combined teachings of Jhunjhunwala and Okui to teach the limitations of claim 1 as specified below.
Specifically, Jhunjhunwala does not specifically state that the “block (Mi)” of Jhunjhunwala is multiple blocks (Mi) of rank i and that set of said blocks (Mi) generating an output current (Is) equal to the sum of the output currents (Ii).
Okui teaches a management circuit for managing said electrical energy storage or production cells (Bi) comprising multiple blocks (Mi) of rank i (Fig. 2 and [0046] [0050]where battery banks 210 with corresponding converters 220…...  As such, since the converters facilitate the discharging of their corresponding battery bank,  the converters 22 have the same priority rank order (rank i) as the prioritized battery banks they are connected to).
Okui further teaches the management circuit set of said blocks (Mi) generates the output current (Is) equal to the sum of the output currents (Ii) ([0050] battery banks 210 are connected to a common node. The battery banks 210 may be connected to one another in parallel via the DC/DC converters 220).
In regards to the 103 rejection of Claim(s) 1 Applicant further asserts (pg.10):
However, assuming that the skilled person skilled had tried to combine these references to solve the above problem, he would not have arrived at the invention of claim 1 from Jhunjhunwala and Okui, alone or in combination, as Okui does not cure the deficiencies of Jhunjhunwala.
In response:
Examiner respectfully disagree and stated in the rejection of claim 1 that it would have been obvious to combine the teachings of Jhunjhunwala and Okui “in order to provide a voltage level that is suitable for the load while allowing some of the battery banks to perform the discharging while pausing others ([0050] of Okui).”
In regards to the 103 rejection of Claim(s) 1 Applicant further asserts (pg. 10):
Further, the problem addressed in Okui, as specified in paragraph [007] of Okui, relates to providing a battery system having a reduced degradation speed. Thus, one of ordinary skill in the art would not have turned to Okui to try to solve the problem of the invention in view of the problem addressed by Okui and the system of Okui which is quite different.
In response:
Applicant’s remarks are unpersuasive. The Examiner is not required to limit the prior art nor the motivation to combine prior art to the problem faced by the inventor of the application.  Any motivation to combine references, whether articulated in the references themselves or supported by evidence of the knowledge of a skilled artisan, is sufficient to combine those references to arrive at the claimed process.  The motivation or problem supported by the record need not be the same motivation or problem articulated in the application for making the claimed combination.
In regards to applicants remaining remarks:
Applicant remarks have been considered but are moot base on new grounds of rejection.
Specification
Applicant filed an amendment to overcome objections to the specification. The Examiner acknowledges the filed amendment and is approved
Drawings
The drawings filed 06/28/2023 are objected to because the images and labels are unclear and illegible.
In the most recent OA, the Examiner issued a drawing objection because the images and drawing labels appear “blurry” and illegible.
As an example, the Examiner stated that Figs. 8-10 appear “blurry” and the corresponding labels and lettering (Figs. 5,8-10 and 13-16 for example) also appearing “blurry”.
In response, the Applicant filed a drawing amendment including eight replacement sheets. However, the newly filed drawing figures and lettering appear “blurry” and illegible.
For example, Figs. 8-11 shows graphs and images that are not high-contrast images and lettering that is not sharp nor reflects the quality equivalent to a laser printer (Ex. The graphs, the data within, and their corresponding axis).
The Examiner recommends correcting all drawing figures to show dark, high-contrast images of quality equivalent to the quality produced by a laser printer. The lettering in the drawings should be in such a way that secure solid, sharp, high contrast lettering.
The Examiner would like to point out that the above examples are a non-exhaustive list of examples. The Applicant is encouraged to file a drawing amendment ensuring that all drawing figures and lettering meet the standard described above.
Corrected drawing sheets in compliance with 37 CFR 1.121(d) are required in reply to the Office action to avoid abandonment of the application. Any amended replacement drawing sheet should include all of the figures appearing on the immediate prior version of the sheet, even if only one figure is being amended. The figure or figure number of an amended drawing should not be labeled as “amended.” If a drawing figure is to be canceled, the appropriate figure must be removed from the replacement sheet, and where necessary, the remaining figures must be renumbered and appropriate changes made to the brief description of the several views of the drawings for consistency. Additional replacement sheets may be necessary to show the renumbering of the remaining figures. Each drawing sheet submitted after the filing date of an application must be labeled in the top margin as either “Replacement Sheet” or “New Sheet” pursuant to 37 CFR 1.121(d). If the changes are not accepted by the examiner, the applicant will be notified and informed of any required corrective action in the next Office action. The objection to the drawings will not be held in abeyance.
Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 112
The following is a quotation of 35 U.S.C. 112 (b), second paragraph:
The specification shall conclude with one or more claims particularly pointing out and distinctly claiming the subject matter which the applicant regards as his invention.
Claims 1-13 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 112(b) or 35 U.S.C. 112 (pre-AIA ), second paragraph, as being indefinite for failing to particularly point out and distinctly claim the subject matter which the inventor or a joint inventor, or for pre-AIA  the applicant regards as the invention.
Claim 1 recites “the electrical energy storage or production cell (B1) of rank 1 is discharged on its own” which is unclear.
Claim term “on its own” is unclear. Specifically, It is unclear what is meant by  electrical energy storage or production cell being discharged “on its own”
As to claim 2 , which recites “the management circuit for managing said electrical energy storage or production cells controlling each of said electrical energy storage or production cells (Bi) through hysteresis in all-or-nothing mode” which is unclear.
It is unclear what is meant by an “all-or-nothing mode”
Claims 2-13 is/are included in this rejection due to their dependence on claim 1.
Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 103
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 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.
Claims 1-3 and 6-10 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Jhunjhunwala (US 20170229880) in view of Okui (US 20160226268).
As to claim 1,  Jhunjhunwala discloses an assembly (Fig. 7) able to deliver an output current Is ([0047] IL refers to the current demanded by the load), comprising:
N electrical energy storage or production cells (Bi) of rank i ([0026] Fig. 3A-3B,5,7 Battery Banks 1021-102N, The battery banks 1021-N are configured to be used/discharged in a sequence based on pre-defined priorities for the usage of the battery banks, where a bank is drained as per set limit before a subsequent bank is used), where N>2, each cell comprising an elementary cell or an elementary assembly of elementary cells (CEii) placed in series and/or in parallel (Fig. 5 and 7 and [0021] … multiple banks of individual batteries. Banks are placed in parallel), each electrical energy storage or production cell being able to supply a maximum current lmaxi continuously during a time period T ([0026] Fig. 3A-3B Battery Banks 1021-102N, The battery banks 1021-N are configured to be used/discharged in a sequence … where a bank is drained as per set limit before a subsequent bank is used. As such each battery supplies it’s Imaxi).
a management circuit (Fig. 7 battery bank selector 704) for managing said electrical energy storage or production cells (Bi) (Fig. 7 battery bank selector 704 is a logic unit as shown in FIG. 5 (element 400 and Control 504) with the additional functionality to select multiple battery banks based on pre-configured power harnessing modes, and individual parameter specific thresholds. The logic control and splitting of battery  (i.e Fig. 5) can be pre-configured based on anticipated usage patterns/priorities. [0038] [0046] [0042]), wherein, with said electrical energy storage or production cells being classed according to their rank i in decreasing priority of use ([0026] Fig. 3A-3B,5 Battery Banks 1021-102N, are configured to be used/discharged in a sequence based on pre-defined priorities for the usage of the battery banks, where a bank is drained as per set limit before a subsequent bank is used), said management circuit comprises means, in discharge mode (Fig. 7 battery bank selector 704 and Control 504 of Fig. 5), for discharging at least the electrical energy storage or production cell of rank 1 or the electrical energy storage or production cells according to their rank i ([0026] Fig. 3A-3B,5 Battery Banks 1021-102N, are configured to be used/discharged in a sequence based on pre-defined priorities for the usage of the battery banks. [0042] the logic control and splitting of battery  (i.e Fig. 5) can be pre-configured based on anticipated usage patterns) and according to the following criteria:
the electrical energy storage or production cell (B1) of rank 1 is discharged on its own as long as it is able to supply the output current Is, where Is < lmax1 [0046]-[0049] Fig. 8 At step 804, if the current requirement of the load (IL) is less than the lower threshold (It1), then battery bank B1 is selected for use at step 806 ), the electrical energy storage or production cell (B1) of rank 1 is discharged with additionally a number k of electrical energy storage or production cells (Bi) that are discharged successively according to their rank i, so as to supply the current Is continuously during said time period T in discharge mode ([0046]-[0049]  FIG. 7-8 In scenarios where performance of a single battery bank is not adequate, the battery bank selector 704 can be used to combine output from more than one battery banks to supply power to the load 706. This may be especially required when load is varying), the number k being such that 2 < k < N and meeting the following conditions:
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[0048]-[0049]  Fig. 8 at step 812, if current required by load (IL) is greater than the upper current threshold (It2) then at step 814, B1, B2, and B3 are selected. It1 can be the maximum current that can be drawn from B1 alone, and It2 can be the maximum current that can be drawn from B1 and B2 combined.
Jhunjhunwala further discloses said management circuit for managing said electrical energy storage or production cells (Bi) (Fig. 7 Battery Banks 1021-102N), comprising: block (Mi) ([0046] the battery bank selector 704 is a logic unit as shown in FIG. 5 with the additional functionality to select multiple battery banks. i.e. logic control unit 504 and a switching mechanism shown in 502), each electrical energy storage or production cell (Bi) being coupled to the block (Mi), each cell (Bi) coupled to a block (Mi) being capable of delivering an output current (Ii) (Fig. 5 Each battery bank coupled to power conditioning element. [0026] FIG. 3A, 3B and Fig. 8);
Jhunjhunwala further discloses the block (Mi) generating an output current (Is) equal to the sum of the output currents (Ii), said block (Mi) selecting: the first electrical energy storage or production cell until it is totally depleted without exceeding the current value lmax,1, and then the second electrical energy storage or production cell until it is totally depleted, without exceeding the current value lmax,2, etc., and then the Nth electrical energy storage or production cell  (Fig. 3A,3B and [0026] illustrates an example of the sequential usage of battery banks using a three battery bank system where a bank is drained as per set limit before a subsequent bank is used. In FIG. 3A, the discharge starts with battery bank 102-1 and proceeds to 102-2. The battery bank 102-3 is in process of discharge subsequent to full discharge of battery banks 102-1 and 102-2. As such each battery supplies it’s Imaxi.),
Jhunjhunwala does not specifically state that the block (Mi) ([0046] the battery bank selector 704 is a logic unit as shown in FIG. 5) is multiple blocks (Mi) of rank i and that set of said blocks (Mi) generating an output current (Is) equal to the sum of the output currents (Ii).
Okui teaches a management circuit for managing said electrical energy storage or production cells (Bi) comprising multiple blocks (Mi) of rank i (Fig. 2 battery banks 210 with corresponding converters 220. A priority order between the battery banks is determined and at least some of the battery banks to be discharged based on the priority order. The distribution controller 230 controls the DC/DC converters 220 so that some of the battery banks 210 perform the discharging according to the target charging/discharging amount. ([0046] [0050]) As such, since the converters facilitate the discharging of their corresponding battery bank,  the converters 22 have the same priority rank order (rank i) as the prioritized battery banks they are connected to).
Okui further teaches the management circuit set of said blocks (Mi) generates the output current (Is) equal to the sum of the output currents (Ii) ([0050] battery banks 210 are connected to a common node. The battery banks 210 may be connected to one another in parallel via the DC/DC converters 220).
It would have been obvious to a person of ordinary skill in the art to modify the management circuit of Jhunjhunwala to comprise multiple blocks (Mi) of rank i and that set of said blocks (Mi) generating an output current (Is) equal to the sum of the output currents (Ii) in order to provide a voltage level that is suitable for the load while allowing some of the battery banks to perform the discharging while pausing others ([0050] of Okui).
As to claim 2, Jhunjhunwala in view of Okui the assembly according to Claim 1, wherein each block (Mi) comprises a switch, the management circuit for managing said electrical energy storage or production cells controlling each of said electrical energy storage or production cells (Bi) through hysteresis in all-or-nothing mode ([0048] -[0049]  of Fig. 8 Jhunjhunwala at step 812, if current required by load (IL) is greater than the upper current threshold (It2) then at step 814, B1, B2, and B3 are selected (i.e. all-or nothing mode).
As to claim 3, Jhunjhunwala in view of Okui the assembly according to Claim 1, wherein each block (Mi) comprises a regulator (Rgi) (Fig. 2 of Okui DC/DC converters 220) with a reference output voltage Uthi ( output voltage of DC/DC converters 220).
As to claim 6,  Jhunjhunwala  in view of Okui teaches the assembly according to Claim 1, comprising electrical energy storage or production cells having different electrical capacity values (Abstract …each of which may have different characteristics).
As to claim 7,  Jhunjhunwala  in view of Okui teaches the assembly according to Claim 3.
Jhunjhunwala does not disclose/teach wherein the electrical energy storage or production cells have electrical capacity values that decrease according to the rank i.
Okui teaches wherein the electrical energy storage or production cells have electrical capacity values that decrease according to the rank i. ([0086] In the case of the discharging mode, the distribution controller may determine the priority order between the battery banks so that the battery bank having higher SOC and higher SOH may have higher priority (operation S66). The battery bank having a higher SOC may be more likely to be discharged than the battery bank having a lower SOC. The battery bank having a higher SOH may be more likely to be discharged than the battery bank having a lower SOH.
It would have been obvious to a person of ordinary skill in the art to modify the assembly of Jhunjhunwala to include wherein the electrical energy storage or production cells have electrical capacity values that decrease according to the rank I, as taught by Okui in order to preserve the state of health for each battery by maintaining the SOC of each battery at a level that reduces deterioration.
As to claim 8,  Jhunjhunwala  in view of Okui teaches the assembly according to Claim 1, wherein the management circuit comprises means, for placing all of the cells in parallel in recharge mode, corresponding to a negative output current -Is (Fig. 5 of Jhunjhunwala all battery modules are in parallel and are charged and discharged in said configuration [0026]).
As to claim 9,  Jhunjhunwala  in view of Okui teaches the assembly according to Claim 1, wherein the management circuit comprises means, in recharge mode, corresponding to a negative output current -Is, for discharging the cells of high rank as a priority, from rank N to rank 1 ([0026] and Fig. 3A of Jhunjhunwala battery banks are configured to be used/discharged in a sequence based on pre-defined priorities for the usage of the battery banks, where a bank is drained as per set limit before a subsequent bank is used. First battery bank 102 that is discharged first is charged first) .
As to claim 10,  Jhunjhunwala  in view of in view of Okui teaches the assembly according to Claim 1, wherein the elementary electrical energy storage or production cells are batteries (Fig. 1 of Jhunjhunwala battery banks 102).
Claims 4-5 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Jhunjhunwala (US 20170229880) in view of Okui (US 20160226268) in view of Martin (US 20080157743).
As to claim 4, Jhunjhunwala in view of Okui the assembly according to Claim 3, operating with an output voltage Vs, each block (Mi) comprising a regulator that operates with a voltage threshold (output voltage of DC/DC converters 220, Fig. 1-2 of Okui), and the voltage thresholds of the regulators (Rgi) being such that: Uth2 > Uth3 > ....> UthN ([0050] of Okui The distribution controller 230 may control the DC/DC converters 220  so that some of the battery banks 210 perform the discharging according to the target charging/discharging amount and the other battery banks 210 may be paused. As such, the output of the converters 220 are different as some battery banks are paused while others are discharge. Therefore the converters outputs (i.e. the voltage threshold) differ during discharging) and the cell of rank 1 (B1) is being activated by the management circuit if Vs > Uth2 so as to supply Imax,1 (Fig. 8 [0048] of Jhunjhunwala where if the current requirement of the load (IL) is less than the lower threshold (It1), then battery bank B1 is selected by the battery bank selector (i.e. activated by management circuit). It1 can be the maximum current that can be drawn from B1 alone. As such the voltage at the output of the DC/DC converter when only battery bank B1 is activated will be the output voltage of the DC/DC converter (i.e. Vs = Uth2) [0049] );
Jhunjhunwala in view of Okui does not teach the second cell (B2) is activated in addition to the first cell (B1) so as to supply an additional current, when Vs < Uth2; the Nth cell (BN) is activated in addition to the cells of lower rank B1+B2+....BN-1 so as to supply an additional current when Vs < UthN.
Martin teaches the second cell (B2) is activated in addition to the first cell (B1) so as to supply an additional current, when Vs < Uth2; the Nth cell (BN) is activated in addition to the cells of lower rank B1+B2+....BN-1 so as to supply an additional current when Vs < UthN ([0120] In response to a more drastic voltage droop as a result of increased power consumption (i.e. Vs < UthN) , the controller circuit 1206 enables transient controller 1210 to generate respective control signals to activate dynamic power supply circuit 1245 at a same time the voltage regulator circuit 1255 is enabled to supply power to the load. Accordingly, when load 1218 suddenly requires a substantial increase in power, the controller circuit 1206 deploys transient controller 1210 to prevent drooping of voltage 1220 by supplementing an amount of power (e.g., current) conveyed to load 1218).
It would have been obvious to a person of ordinary skill in the art to modify the assembly of Jhunjhunwala in view of Okui to include the second cell (B2) is activated in addition to the first cell (B1) so as to supply an additional current, when Vs < Uth2; the Nth cell (BN) is activated in addition to the cells of lower rank B1+B2+....BN-1 so as to supply an additional current when Vs < UthN, as taught by Martin in order to keep the output voltage  at a substantially constant value in the event of a load transient ([0123] of Martin)
As to claim 5, Jhunjhunwala in view of Okui the assembly according to Claim 1.
Jhunjhunwala in view of Okui does not disclose/teach operating with an output voltage Vs, wherein each block (Mi) comprises a switched-mode converter having a setpoint voltage and able to supply: a current at output when the output voltage Vs is lower than said setpoint voltage, in order to keep the output voltage Vs at the setpoint voltage.
Martin teaches operating with an output voltage Vs, wherein each block (Mi) comprises a switched-mode converter having a setpoint voltage (output of the regulator) and able to supply: a current at output when the output voltage Vs is lower than said setpoint voltage, in order to keep the output voltage Vs at the setpoint voltage ([0120] In response to a more drastic voltage droop as a result of increased power consumption (i.e. Vs < UthN) , the controller circuit 1206 enables transient controller 1210 to generate respective control signals to activate dynamic power supply circuit 1245 at a same time the voltage regulator circuit 1255 is enabled to supply power to the load. Accordingly, when load 1218 suddenly requires a substantial increase in power, the controller circuit 1206 deploys transient controller 1210 to prevent drooping of voltage 1220 by supplementing an amount of power (e.g., current) conveyed to load 1218).
It would have been obvious to a person of ordinary skill in the art to modify the assembly of Jhunjhunwala in view of Okui to include operating with an output voltage Vs, wherein each block (Mi) comprises a switched-mode converter having a setpoint voltage (output of the regulator) and able to supply: a current at output when the output voltage Vs is lower than said setpoint voltage, in order to keep the output voltage Vs at the setpoint voltage, as taught by Martin to keep the output voltage  at a substantially constant value in the event of a load transient ([0123] of Martin).
Jhunjhunwala in view of Okui in view of Martin does not specifically teach and a zero current when the output voltage Vs is greater than this setpoint.
However it would be obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art to provide zero current when the load/battery has charged to a higher voltage than the setpoint voltage (i.e. the output voltage Vs is greater than this setpoint) indicating a fully charged battery, thereby preventing overcharging.
Claims 11 and 13 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Jhunjhunwala (US 20170229880) in view of Okui (US 20160226268) in view of Rothschild (US 20190027943).
As to claim 11,  Jhunjhunwala  in view of Okui teaches the assembly according to Claim 1.
Jhunjhunwala in view of Okui teaches each battery bank is a multiple banks of individual batteries ([0021]), Jhunjhunwala in view of Okui does not specifically teach the elementary electrical energy storage or production cells (each battery bank) are micro batteries.
Rothschild teaches elementary electrical energy storage or production cells are micro batteries ([0017] The rectifier 102 may be connected to the battery unit 104. The battery unit 104 may comprise a plurality of micro-batteries (B1, B2, B3 . . . Bn).
It would have been obvious to a person of ordinary skill in the art to modify the elementary electrical energy storage or production cells of Jhunjhunwala  in view of Okui to be micro batteries, in order to reduce the physical size of Jhunjhunwala battery pack.
As to claim 13,  Jhunjhunwala  in view of Okui teaches the assembly according to Claim 11.
Jhunjhunwala in view of Okui in view of Rothschild does not specifically teach wherein the micro batteries and the management circuit are contained in a 3D stack.
However it would be obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art to contain the micro batteries and the management circuit taught by Jhunjhunwala in view of Okui in view of Rothschild in a 3D stack in order to reduce the space of the assembly.
Claim 13 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Jhunjhunwala (US 20170229880) in view of Okui (US 20160226268) in view of Despesse (US 20140287278)
As to claim 13,  Jhunjhunwala  in view of Okui teaches the assembly according to Claim 1.
Jhunjhunwala in view of Okui does not specifically teach wherein the elementary electrical energy storage or production cells are hydrogen fuel cells.
Despesse teaches elementary electrical energy storage or production cells are hydrogen fuel cells ([0239] hydrogen fuel cell).
It would have been obvious to a person of ordinary skill in the art to modify the assembly of Jhunjhunwala  in view of Okui to elementary electrical energy storage or production cells to be hydrogen fuel cell, as taught by Despesse in order to apply Jhunjhunwala  method to applications using hydrogen fuel cells in order to optimizes at least one of cost, weight or size of the overall system (Abstract of Jhunjhunwala) .
Conclusion
Applicant's amendment necessitated the new ground(s) of rejection presented in 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 CFR 1.136(a).
A shortened statutory period for reply to this final action is set to expire THREE MONTHS from the mailing date of this action.  In the event a first reply is filed within TWO MONTHS of the mailing date of this final action and the advisory action is not mailed until after the end of the THREE-MONTH shortened statutory period, then the shortened statutory period will expire on the date the advisory action is mailed, and any extension fee pursuant to 37 CFR 1.136(a) will be calculated from the mailing date of the advisory action.  In no event, however, will the statutory period for reply expire later than SIX MONTHS from the date of this final action.

CITED REFERENCE SUMMARIES: Ref US20220294036A1: Claims:
An electrical energy storage system, comprising: a plurality of battery packs connected in parallel; one or more battery power management unit (BPMU), each BPMU connected with one or more battery packs and configured to monitor and control the one or more battery packs; one or more power converters, each power converter coupled with at least one battery pack and configured to convert direct current (DC) from the at least one battery pack to alternating current (AC) or vice versa; and a controller using multi-source inputs smart technology (MIST) and comprising one or more processor and at least one tangible, non-transitory machine readable medium encoded with one or more programs configured to perform steps of: reading data including state of health (SOH) and state of charge (SOC) from each battery pack; connecting a respective battery pack with a respective power converter; receiving a power command from an upper level energy management system (EMS); calculating a respective power rate of each battery pack based on the SOH and the SOC of each battery pack and the power command from the EMS; and discharging power from or charging power to the plurality of battery packs based on the power rate of each battery pack.
a plurality of battery packs connected in parallel;
one or more battery power management unit (BPMU), each BPMU connected with one or more battery packs and configured to monitor and control the one or more battery packs;
one or more power converters, each power converter coupled with at least one battery pack and configured to convert direct current (DC) from the at least one battery pack to alternating current (AC) or vice versa; and
a controller using multi-source inputs smart technology (MIST) and comprising one or more processor and at least one tangible, non-transitory machine readable medium encoded with one or more programs configured to perform steps of: reading data including state of health (SOH) and state of charge (SOC) from each battery pack; connecting a respective battery pack with a respective power converter; receiving a power command from an upper level energy management system (EMS); calculating a respective power rate of each battery pack based on the SOH and the SOC of each battery pack and the power command from the EMS; and discharging power from or charging power to the plurality of battery packs based on the power rate of each battery pack.
reading data including state of health (SOH) and state of charge (SOC) from each battery pack;
connecting a respective battery pack with a respective power converter;
receiving a power command from an upper level energy management system (EMS);
calculating a respective power rate of each battery pack based on the SOH and the SOC of each battery pack and the power command from the EMS; and
discharging power from or charging power to the plurality of battery packs based on the power rate of each battery pack.
The system of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of battery packs are heterogeneous battery packs selected from new batteries, second-use electric vehicle (EV) batteries, or combinations thereof.
The system of claim 1 , wherein each battery pack comprises an inverter and an internal battery management unit (BMU).
The system of claim 3 , wherein the controller is configured to read the data from and monitor the inverter and the BMU of each battery pack.
The system of claim 1 , further comprising a plurality automatic circuit breakers, each circuit breaker configured to connect or disconnect a respective battery pack and a respective power converter.
The system of claim 1 , wherein the controller is configured to discharge power from the plurality of battery packs to a grid, or charge power from the grid to the plurality of battery packs.
The system of claim 1 , wherein the controller is configured to calculate a respective power rate (P i ) of each battery pack according to equations (1) and (2):
a i = 100 â¢ % * { SOH i â¡ ( 1 - SOC i ) â i â¢ SOH i â¡ ( 1 - SOC i ) , Charge SOH i * SOC i â i â¢ SOH i * SOC i , Discharge â¢ â¢ and , ( 1 ) P i = min â¡ ( P iMax , P T * a i ) , ( 2 ) wherein SOH i and SOC i are the SOH and the SOC of each battery pack, respectively, P T is the power command from the EMS, P iMax is the maximum capacity of each battery pack, and a i is a multiplier representing a dispatch share of each battery pack.
wherein SOH i and SOC i are the SOH and the SOC of each battery pack, respectively, P T is the power command from the EMS, P iMax is the maximum capacity of each battery pack, and a i is a multiplier representing a dispatch share of each battery pack.
The system of claim 1 , wherein the controller is configured to send signals with instruction to each converter and/or each battery pack for discharging or charging based on the respective power rate of each battery pack.
The system of claim 1 , wherein the controller is configured to send feedback to the EMS if the power command is over a maximum limit of the system.
A controller for an electrical energy storage system, using multi-source inputs smart technology (MIST) and comprising one or more processor and at least one tangible, non-transitory machine readable medium encoded with one or more programs configured to perform steps of: reading data including state of health (SOH) and state of charge (SOC) from each of a plurality of battery packs connected in parallel, through one or more battery power management unit (BPMU) for monitoring and controlling the plurality of battery packs; connecting a respective battery pack with a respective power converter, which is coupled with at least one battery pack and configured to convert direct current (DC) from a respective battery pack to alternating current (AC) or vice versa; receiving a power command from an upper level energy management system (EMS); calculating a respective power rate of each battery pack based on the SOH and the SOC of each battery pack and the power command from the EMS; and discharging power from or charging power to the plurality of battery packs based on the power rate of each battery pack.
reading data including state of health (SOH) and state of charge (SOC) from each of a plurality of battery packs connected in parallel, through one or more battery power management unit (BPMU) for monitoring and controlling the plurality of battery packs;
connecting a respective battery pack with a respective power converter, which is coupled with at least one battery pack and configured to convert direct current (DC) from a respective battery pack to alternating current (AC) or vice versa;
The controller of claim 10 , wherein the plurality of battery packs are heterogeneous battery packs selected from new batteries, second-use electric vehicle (EV) batteries, or combinations thereof.
The controller of claim 10 , wherein the controller is configured to calculate a respective power rate (P i ) of each battery pack according to equations (1) and (2):
The controller of claim 10 , wherein the controller is configured to discharge power from the plurality of battery packs to a grid or load, or charge power from the grid to the plurality of battery packs.
The controller of claim 10 , wherein the controller is configured to send signals with instruction to each converter and/or each battery pack for discharging or charging based on the respective power rate of each battery pack.
The controller of claim 10 , wherein the controller is configured to send feedback to the EMS if the power command is over a maximum limit of the system.
A method for operating an electrical energy storage system through a controller therein, comprising: reading data including state of health (SOH) and state of charge (SOC) from each of a plurality of battery packs connected in parallel; connecting a respective battery pack with a respective power converter, which is coupled with at least one battery pack and configured to convert direct current (DC) from a respective battery pack to alternating current (AC) or vice versa; receiving a power command from an upper level energy management system (EMS); calculating a respective power rate of each battery pack based on the SOH and the SOC of each battery pack and the power command from the EMS; and discharging power from the plurality of battery packs to a grid or charging power from the grid to the plurality of battery packs based on the power rate of each battery pack.
reading data including state of health (SOH) and state of charge (SOC) from each of a plurality of battery packs connected in parallel;
discharging power from the plurality of battery packs to a grid or charging power from the grid to the plurality of battery packs based on the power rate of each battery pack.
The method of claim 16 , wherein the plurality of battery packs are heterogeneous battery packs selected from new batteries, second-use electric vehicle (EV) batteries, or combinations thereof.
The method of claim 16 , wherein the respective power rate of each battery pack is calculated according to equations (1) and (2):
a i = 100 â¢ % * { SOH i â¡ ( 1 - SOC i ) â i â¢ SOH i â¡ ( 1 - SOC i ) , Charge SOH i * SOC i â i â¢ SOH i * SOC i , Discharge â¢ â¢ and , ( 1 ) P i = min â¡ ( P iMax , P T * a i ) , ( 2 ) wherein SOH i and SOC i are the SOH and the SOC of each battery pack, respectively, P T is the power command from the EMS, P iMax is the maximum capacity of each battery pack, a i is a multiplier representing a dispatch share of each battery pack, and P i is the respective power rate of each battery pack.
wherein SOH i and SOC i are the SOH and the SOC of each battery pack, respectively, P T is the power command from the EMS, P iMax is the maximum capacity of each battery pack, a i is a multiplier representing a dispatch share of each battery pack, and P i is the respective power rate of each battery pack.
The method of claim 16 , further comprising sending instructions from the controller to each converter and/or each battery pack for discharging or charging based on the respective power rate of each battery pack.
The method of claim 16 , further comprising sending feedback from the controller to the EMS if the power command is over a maximum limit of the system.
Ref US20190027943A1: [content unavailable]
Ref US20140287278A1: Claims:
Battery comprising several cells disposed in several modules linked together in series, wherein a module comprises at least one brick comprising a lower terminal and an upper terminal, between which are arranged two cells and at least three switches, so as to be able to dispose the two cells in series or in parallel between the two terminals and in that the battery comprises a control circuit for the switches of the said at least one brick.
Battery according to claim 1 , wherein the at least one brick comprises a first branch extending between its lower and upper terminals and comprising in this order a cell and a switch (K 1 ), a second branch parallel to the first between its lower and upper terminals comprising in this order a switch (K 3 ) and a cell, and an intermediate branch comprising a switch (K 5 ) and linking respectively the intermediate terminals disposed between the cell and the switch of each of the two parallel branches.
wherein the at least one brick comprises a first branch extending between its lower and upper terminals and comprising in this order a cell and a switch (K 1 ), a second branch parallel to the first between its lower and upper terminals comprising in this order a switch (K 3 ) and a cell, and an intermediate branch comprising a switch (K 5 ) and linking respectively the intermediate terminals disposed between the cell and the switch of each of the two parallel branches.
Battery according to claim 2 , wherein the at least one brick comprises two additional switches (K 2 , K 4 ) disposed respectively on each parallel branch on the side of the cell.
Battery according to claim 1 , wherein it comprises a module comprising a lower terminal and an upper terminal, between which are disposed two bricks, linked by three branches and three switches (K 7 , K 8 , K 9 ) disposed respectively between the two lower terminals of the two bricks, between their two upper terminals, and between the upper terminal of the first lower brick and the lower terminal of the second upper brick, so as to be able to dispose the two bricks in series or in parallel.
Battery according to claim 4 , wherein it comprises a module comprising a lower terminal and an upper terminal, between which are disposed several sets of more than two bricks being able to be disposed in series or in parallel, these sets being able to be disposed in series and/or in parallel between the two terminals, lower and upper, of the module with the aid of several switches.
wherein it comprises a module comprising a lower terminal and an upper terminal, between which are disposed several sets of more than two bricks being able to be disposed in series or in parallel, these sets being able to be disposed in series and/or in parallel between the two terminals, lower and upper, of the module with the aid of several switches.
Battery according to claim 1 , wherein it comprises a module comprising a lower terminal and an upper terminal, between which are disposed four bricks so as to form a superbrick, this superbrick comprising a first set comprising a first brick linked to the lower terminal of the module, and linked to a second brick linked to the upper terminal of the module by way of three switches making it possible to dispose these two bricks in series or in parallel, and comprising a second set of two other bricks disposed between the two terminals, lower and upper, of the module in parallel with the first set of the two bricks.
Battery according to claim 6 , wherein it comprises at least one intermediate electrical link distinct from the upper and lower terminals between the two sets of two bricks.
Battery according to claim 1 , wherein each module comprises a lower terminal and an upper terminal between which are disposed several bricks in parallel, and/or several sets of two bricks joined together in parallel, and/or several superbricks in parallel.
Battery according to claim 1 , wherein it comprises at least one module which comprises several switches so as to be able to cancel the output voltage of the module and/or to form a device for inverting the output voltage of the module (function of H-bridge type).
Battery according to claim 9 , wherein all the modules comprise a device of H-bridge type for inverting their output voltage, to invert, cancel the output voltage or shunt one or more module(s).
wherein all the modules comprise a device of H-bridge type for inverting their output voltage, to invert, cancel the output voltage or shunt one or more module(s).
Battery according to claim 1 , it comprises a control circuit for at least one switch (K 1 to K 13 ) supplied electrically directly by at least one cell of a module of the battery.
Battery according to claim 1 , wherein it comprises at least one switch able to shunt one or more successive modules of the battery.
Battery according to claim 12 , wherein the control circuit drives at least one transistor used to form a cell switch, and/or at least one transistor used to form a module switch and/or at least one transistor to form a device for series/parallel inversion between two bricks of a module (K 7 , K 8 , K 9 ), and/or at least one transistor to form a device for inverting or cancelling the output voltage of the module (function of H-bridge type) (K 10 to K 13 ), and/or at least one transistor to shunt several adjacent modules.
Battery according to claim 1 , wherein it comprises an electronic card disposed between each module of the battery or a single electronic card on which are disposed all the modules of the battery or several electronic cards each associated with one or more module(s).
Battery according to claim 1 , wherein it comprises at least one sensor for measuring a magnitude characteristic of the state of the cells of a module and in that wherein the control circuit for the switches of the module controls them as a function of the magnitude characteristic of the state of its cells and as a function of the demand of a load powered by the battery.
Battery according to claim 15 , wherein it comprises a sensor for measuring the current at the level of a cell, and/or a sensor for measuring the voltage across the terminals of a cell and/or across the terminals of its cell switch, and/or a sensor for measuring the temperature of a cell and/or for impedance spectrometry measurement.
Battery according to claim 1 , wherein it comprises at least one processing circuit at the level of a module and/or a central computer, which drives (drive) the switches of a module by way of the control circuit.
Battery according to claim 17 , wherein it comprises a central computer and a communication bus linking the various modules to the central computer by way of a galvanic isolation.
Battery according to claim 1 , wherein the switches of the at least one brick are transistors.
Battery according to claim 1 , wherein it comprises several parts of several modules comprising cells of different electrochemical technology.
Method for managing a battery according to claim 1 , wherein it comprises a step of determining the position of the switches of a brick of the battery so as to dispose its two cells in series or in parallel.
Method for managing a battery according to claim 21 , wherein it comprises the following actuations of the switches of a brick of the battery: closing of the switches disposed on a first branch disposed between the lower and upper terminals of a brick of the battery, and opening of a switch disposed on an intermediate branch linking respectively the intermediate terminals disposed between the cell and a switch of two parallel branches, so as to dispose the two cells of the brick in parallel, or opening of the switches disposed on a first branch between the lower and upper terminals of a brick of the battery, and closing of a switch disposed on an intermediate branch linking respectively the intermediate terminals disposed between the cell and a switch of two parallel branches, so as to dispose the two cells of the brick in series.
closing of the switches disposed on a first branch disposed between the lower and upper terminals of a brick of the battery, and opening of a switch disposed on an intermediate branch linking respectively the intermediate terminals disposed between the cell and a switch of two parallel branches, so as to dispose the two cells of the brick in parallel, or
opening of the switches disposed on a first branch between the lower and upper terminals of a brick of the battery, and closing of a switch disposed on an intermediate branch linking respectively the intermediate terminals disposed between the cell and a switch of two parallel branches, so as to dispose the two cells of the brick in series.
Method for managing a battery according to claim 21 , wherein it comprises the placing in parallel of the two cells of a brick when the current demanded at output of the battery exceeds a certain threshold, and a placing in series of the two cells of the brick when the voltage demanded at output of the battery exceeds a certain threshold.
Method for managing a battery according to claim 21 , wherein it comprises the following actuations of the switches switches of a brick of the battery: closing of the switches disposed on a first branch between the lower and upper terminals of a brick of the battery and of a switch positioned on the intermediate branch and openings of additional switches disposed respectively on each parallel branch on the cell side, so as to obtain a zero voltage difference between the upper and lower terminals of the brick, closing of the switches disposed on a first b
[Truncated to input limit]