Office Action 3: Non-Final Rejection (2024-03-25)
Rejection types: 103 - Obviousness, 112 - Written Description/Enablement

CLAIMS:
Listing of Claims:

This listing of claims will replace all prior versions, and listings, of claims in the application.

1\. (Currently Amended) An assembly for delivering an output current Is, comprising:
N electrical energy storage or production cells (B)B, of rank i, where N>2, each cell comprising an elementary cell or an elementary assembly of elementary cells #)CE1 arranged in series and/or in parallel, each electrical energy storage or production cell being able to supply a maximum current Imax,1 continuously during a time period T;a management circuit for managing said electrical energy storage or production cells (-B)SVG {EMBED HERE} 0.140.173 wherein said electrical energy storage or production cells are ordered according to their rank i according to a priority order, said management circuit comprises means, in discharge mode, 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 and according to the following criteria:
the electrical energy storage or production cell Bi of rank 1 is discharged as long as it is able to supply the output current Is, where Is11 of rank 1 is discharged with additionally a number k of electrical energy storage or production cells (B)SVG {EMBED HERE} 0.1370.147 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, the number k being such that 2 < k and meeting the following conditions:SVG {EMBED HERE} 0.2270.833Is andEZSVG {EMBED HERE} 0.2270.827SVG {EMBED HERE} 0.1470.093said management circuit for managing said electrical energy storage or production cells B,SVG {EMBED HERE} 0.1470.093comprising:
blocks M, of rank i, each electrical energy storage or production cell I, being coupled to a block M1, each cell B, coupled to a block M1 being capable of delivering an output current L, a block Mi being a voltage regulator;
wherein a production cell B1 provides a maximal current Imax at each time instant, the number k meeting the following conditions:SVG {EMBED HERE} 0.232.297

the set of said blocks M, generating an output current Is which is equal to the sum of the output currents L, said blocks )M successively activating an electrical energy storage or production cell B1, according to the priority order, until \[\[it\]\] the electrical energy storage or production cell B1is totally depleted\[\[,\]\] without exceeding the associated maximal current valueI Ima, and if so further activating the next electrical energy storage or production cell B1 according to the priority order, the successive activation being repeated until , , ., the Kthelectrical energy storage or production cell.

2\. (Currently Amended) The assembly according to Claim 1, wherein each block (M) 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 (B1) through hysteresis in on-off control.

3\. (Original) The assembly according to Claim 1, wherein each block (M1) comprises a regulator (Rgi) with a reference output voltage Uthi.

4\. (Previously Presented) The assembly according to Claim 3, operating with an output voltage Vs, each block (M1) 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 (B 1) is being activated by the management circuit 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 the Nth cell (BN) is activated in addition to the cells of lower rank Bi+B2+ . . . BN-1soasto supply an additional current when Vs< UthN.

5\. (Original) The assembly according to Claim 1, operating with an output voltage Vs, wherein each block (M1) 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\. (Original) The assembly according to Claim 1, comprising electrical energy storage or production cells having different electrical capacity values.

7\. (Original) 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\. (Previously Presented) 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.

9\. (Previously Presented) 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.

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

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

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

Office Action Dated: October 18, 2023

13\. (Original) 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 1/09/2024.  Claims 1-13 are presently pending and are presented for examination.
Response to arguments
Applicant amended claims 1 and 2 which changes the scope of the claims and as such a new ground of rejection is issued. However, it is noted that the previously applied references are still used in the current grounds of rejection.
In regards to the 112 second rejection Applicant asserts (pg. 7):
With regard to amended claim 2, the term hysteresis in all or nothing mode has been replaced by hysteresis in on-off control which is another translation of the corresponding French expression hysteresis en mode tout ou rien in the priority application. One of ordinary skill in the art would immediately understand the term hysteresis in on-off control to refer to hysteresis created between ON and OFF states on an on/off control to avoid frequent output state changes, the on/off control turning the output to ON or OFF states based on a set point.
In response:
Examiner respectfully disagree and maintains the 112 second rejection as specified below.
In regards to the 103 rejection of Claim(s) 1 Applicant asserts (pg. 11):
Jhunjhunwala is therefore not related to the management of single electrical energy storage or production cells. Jhunjhunwala does not exploit an ordering of the electrical energy storage or production cells related to their rank i according to a priority order, as claimed.
In response:
Examiner respectfully disagrees. As seen in the rejection of claim 1, Examiner uses the combined teachings of Jhunjhunwala and Okui to teach claim language:
“said block Mi successively activating an electrical energy storage or production cell Bi according to the priority order, until the electrical energy storage or production cell Bi is totally depleted without exceeding the associated maximal current value lmaxi, and if so further activating the next electrical energy storage or production cell Bi according to the priority order, the successive activation being repeated until the Kth 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).
In regards to the 103 rejection of Claim(s) 1 Applicant further asserts:
Further, Jhunjhunwala does not describe, the criteria to discharge, in discharge mode, at least the electrical energy storage or production cell of rank I or the electrical energy storage or production cells according to their rank I, according to which: the electrical energy storage or production cell BI of rank I is discharged as long as it is able to supply the output current Is, where Is< Imaxl; [and] the electrical energy storage or production cell Bl of rank I 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, the number k being such that 2 < k
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, The Examiner uses Jhunjhunwala to disclose “the electrical energy storage or production cell B1 of rank 1 is discharged as long as it is able to supply the output current Is (load current (IL)), where Is < lmax1 ([0046] - [0049]);
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 according to their rank i, so as to supply the current Is continuously during said time period T in discharge mode, the number k being such that 2 < k < N ([0046]-[0049]  FIG. 7-8).
The Examiner further states that Jhunjhunwala is not clear that the electrical energy storage or production cell B1 is discharged successively when discharged additionally with a number k of electrical energy storage or production cells Bi.
However since Jhunjhunwala teaches that the discharge output of the batteries are combined to when a single battery bank is not adequate and when the load varies ([0046]-[0049]), it would be obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art for the energy storage cells to be successively discharged in the event the load varies to a larger value, in order to avoid heating a battery unnecessarily by using it when it is not needed.
In regards to the 103 rejection of Claim(s) 1 Applicant further asserts (pg.11-12):
Also clearly missing from Jhunjhunwala are the features of claim 1 according to which the management circuit comprises: 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 L, a block Mi being a voltage regulator; wherein a production cell Bi provides a maximal current Imax at each time instant, the number k meeting the following conditions:…. the Kth electrical energy storage or production cell.
In response:
Examiner respectfully disagree and uses the combined teachings of Jhunjhunwala and Okui to teach claim language of claim 1 as specified below.
In regards to the 103 rejection of Claim(s) 1 Applicant further asserts (pg. 12):
Jhunjhunwala is clearly silent about the use of such block Mi forming voltage regulators.
In response:
Examiner respectfully disagree and points to the rejection of claim 1 where the Examiner uses the combined teachings of Jhunjhunwala in view of Okui and Tse to teach the claim language of claim 1 as follows:
Jhunjhunwala in view of Okui is not specifically clear regarding the block Mi being a voltage regulator.
However, the use of DC-DC converters as voltage regulators are well known as seen in Tse ([0044] and [0054] The DC/DC converter 564 converts voltage Vb to a programmable, pre-determined or time varying voltage Vout. Therefore, the BCC system 550 provides a near constant output voltage or a well-regulated, programmable time varying output voltage).
It would have been obvious to a person of ordinary skill in the art to modify the block Mi of Jhunjhunwala in view of Okui to be a voltage regulator, in order to supply the load with a consistent voltage that it needs in the case of varying battery voltages.
In regards to the 103 rejection of Claim(s) 1 Applicant further asserts (pg. 12):
Jhunjhunwala does not switch the selection of the single batteries but of the battery banks. Further, Jhunjhunwala does not switch the selection of battery banks considering the priority order related to the batteries (or even of the battery banks) and the total depletion of a current battery (or even a battery bank) without exceeding the associated maximal current value Imax,i, for selecting ( or activating) the next battery ( or battery rank).
In response:
Examiner respectfully disagree and points to the rejection of claims 1 where the Examiner uses the combined teachings of Jhunjhunwala in view of Okui and Tse to teach the claim language of claim 1 as specified below.
In regards to the 103 rejection of Claim(s) 1 Applicant further asserts (pg. 12):
Okui does not cure the deficiencies of Jhunjhunwala. Although Okui relates to an energy storage system using a battery system, Okui does not cure the deficiencies of Jhunjhunwala.
And further asserts:
However, Okui is silent about the above noted features of amended claim 1.
In response:
Examiner respectfully disagree and points to the rejection of claims 1 where the Examiner uses the combined teachings of Jhunjhunwala in view of Okui and Tse to teach the claim language of claim 1 as specified below.
In regards to the 103 rejection of Claim(s) 1 Applicant further asserts (pg. 12):
Assuming that the skilled person had tried to combine Jhunjhunwala and Okui references to solve the above problem, he would not have arrived to the features of amended claim 1, with both Jhunjhunwala and Okui failing to disclose or suggest the above noted features of amended claim 1, and addressing a different problem.
And further asserts:
For at least the reasons described above, the combination of Jhunjhunwala and Okui does not teach or suggest each and every feature of amended independent claim 1.
In response:
Examiner respectfully disagree and points to the rejection of claims 1 where the Examiner uses the combined teachings of Jhunjhunwala in view of Okui and Tse to teach the claim language of claim 1 for the reasons set forth below.
Additionally, a reference may be directed to an entirely different problem than the one addressed by the inventor and can still be proper for use in an obviousness rejection under 35 U.S.C. 103 (MPEP 2141.01).
In regards to applicants remaining remarks:
Applicant remarks have been considered but are moot base on new grounds of rejection.
Drawings
In the most recent OA, the Examiner issued a drawing objection because the images and drawing labels appear “blurry” and illegible.
In response, the Applicant filed a drawing amendment including eight replacement sheets. Examiner acknowledges and approves Applicants drawing amendment.
Claim Objection
Claim 1 is objected to due to the following informalities:
Claim 1 recites the following equation in a lettering that is unclear and blurry:
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The claimed equation lettering is not sharp nor reflects the quality equivalent to a laser printer.
The Examiner recommends correcting the lettering and claim language to show dark, high- contrast images of quality equivalent to the quality produced by a laser printer in such a way that secure solid, sharp, high contrast lettering.
Correction is required.
Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 112
The following is a quotation of the first paragraph of 35 U.S.C. 112(a):
(a) IN GENERAL.—The specification shall contain a written description of the invention, and of the manner and process of making and using it, in such full, clear, concise, and exact terms as to enable any person skilled in the art to which it pertains, or with which it is most nearly connected, to make and use the same, and shall set forth the best mode contemplated by the inventor or joint inventor of carrying out the invention.
The following is a quotation of the first paragraph of pre-AIA  35 U.S.C. 112:
The specification shall contain a written description of the invention, and of the manner and process of making and using it, in such full, clear, concise, and exact terms as to enable any person skilled in the art to which it pertains, or with which it is most nearly connected, to make and use the same, and shall set forth the best mode contemplated by the inventor of carrying out his invention.
Claim 2 is rejected under 35 U.S.C. 112(a) or 35 U.S.C. 112 (pre-AIA ), first paragraph, as failing to comply with the written description requirement. The claim(s) contains subject matter which was not described in the specification in such a way as to reasonably convey to one skilled in the relevant art that the inventor or a joint inventor, or for applications subject to pre-AIA  35 U.S.C. 112, the inventor(s), at the time the application was filed, had possession of the claimed invention.
Claim 2 recites “through hysteresis in on-off control” which is not supported in the specification and is therefore new matter.
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 “2 < k < N,:” which is unclear.
Specifically, the claim term ends with a comma followed by a colon.
It is unclear if the claim term should end with a comma, colon, or semi-colon (i.e., 2 < k < N, 2 < k < N: or 2 < k < N;)
Claim 1 recites “at each time instant” which lacks antecedent basis. It is unclear what time instant is meant by “each time instant”
The following claim language of claim 1 is unclear:
“said management circuit comprises means, in discharge mode, 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 and according to the following criteria:
the electrical energy storage or production cell B1 of rank 1 is discharged as long as it is able to supply the output current Is, where ls
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, the number k being such that 2 < k
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 the block Mi, each cell Bi coupled to a block Mi being capable of delivering an output current Ii, a block Mi being a voltage regulator;
wherein a production cell Bi provides a maximal current lmax at each time instant, the number k meeting the following conditions:
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the set of said blocks Mi generating an output current Is which is equal to the sum of the output currents Ii, said blocks Mi successively activating an electrical energy storage or production cell Bi according to the priority order, until the electrical energy storage or production cell Bi is totally depleted without exceeding the associated maximal current value lmaxi, and if so further activating the next electrical energy storage or production cell Bi according to the priority order, the successive activation being repeated until the Kth electrical energy storage or production cell.”
The claim language of claim 1 above is claiming:
at least two cells are discharging successively and simultaneously at its max current Imax (i.e., “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”) and
The cells are discharging successively and one at a time (at their respective max current Imax) until depleted. (i.e., “successively activating an electrical energy storage or production cell Bi according to the priority order, until the electrical energy storage or production cell Bi is totally depleted …, and if so further activating the next electrical energy storage or production cell Bi according to the priority order).
It is unclear how both of these limitations are occurring concurrently.
Also claim language “and if so” is also unclear.
Does claim language “if so” refer to if the electrical energy storage cell Bi is totally depleted without exceeding the associated maximal current value lmax? or if the electrical energy storage cell Bi is totally depleted while exceeding the maximal current value lmax?
Claim 2 recites “through hysteresis in on-off control” which is unclear. It is unclear what is meant by “on-off control”.
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) in view of Tse (US 20130038289).
As to claim 1, Jhunjhunwala discloses an assembly (Fig. 7) for delivering 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 CEij arranged 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).
Jhunjhunwala further discloses 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, said electrical energy storage or production cells are ordered according to their rank i according to a priority order ([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,5,7-8 where selector 704 selects a single or multiple Battery Banks 1021-102N, to discharge to a load) and according to the following criteria:
the electrical energy storage or production cell B1 of rank 1 is discharged as long as it is able to supply the output current Is (load current (IL)), 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. It1 can be the maximum current that can be drawn from B1 alone);
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 according to their rank i, so as to supply the current Is continuously during said time period T in discharge mode, the number k being such that 2 < k < N ([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 bank to supply power to the load 706. This may be especially required when load is varying).
Jhunjhunwala is not clear that the electrical energy storage or production cell B1 is discharged successively when discharged additionally with a number k of electrical energy storage or production cells Bi.
However, Jhunjhunwala teaches that the discharge output of the batteries are combined when a single battery bank is not adequate and when the load varies ([0046]-[0049]). Therefore, it would be obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art for the energy storage cells to be successively discharged in the event the load varies to a larger value, in order to avoid heating a battery unnecessarily by using it when it is not needed.
Jhunjhunwala further discloses said management circuit for managing said electrical energy storage or production cells Bi (Fig. 7 Battery Banks 1021-102N), comprising:
A 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);
wherein a production cell Bi provides a current at each time instant, the number k 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. As such load current IL (i.e. Is) is greater than the maximum current of battery B1 and B2 and less than or equal to the maximum current of B2,B2, and B3 combined.
Jhunjhunwala is not specifically clear that production cell Bi provides a maximal current lmax at each time instant.
However, it would have been obvious to a person of ordinary skill in the art that production cell Bi provides a maximal current lmax at each time instant, in order for the load to operate at its full operating state.
Jhunjhunwala further discloses the block Mi generating an output current Is which is equal to the sum of the output currents Ii ([0048]-[0049]  Fig. 8), said block Mi successively activating an electrical energy storage or production cell Bi according to the priority order, until the electrical energy storage or production cell Bi is totally depleted without exceeding the associated maximal current value lmaxi, and if so further activating the next electrical energy storage or production cell Bi according to the priority order, the successive activation being repeated until the Kth 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).
Jhunjhunwala in view of Okui is not specifically clear of the block Mi being a voltage regulator.
However, the use of DC-DC converters as voltage regulators are well known as seen in Tse ([0044] and [0054] The DC/DC converter 564 converts voltage Vb to a programmable, pre-determined or time varying voltage Vout. Therefore, the BCC system 550 provides a near constant output voltage or a well-regulated, programmable time varying output voltage).
It would have been obvious to a person of ordinary skill in the art to modify the block Mi of Jhunjhunwala in view of Okui to be a voltage regulator, in order to supply the load with a consistent voltage that it needs in the case of varying battery voltages.
As to claim 2, Jhunjhunwala in view of Okui in view of Tse teaches 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) ([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.
Jhunjhunwala in view of Okui in view of Tse does not specifically teach controlling each of said electrical energy storage or production cells (Bi) through hysteresis in on-off control.
However since Jhunjhunwala teaches that the discharge output of the batteries are combined when a single battery bank is not adequate and when the load varies ([0046]-[0049]), it would be obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art to dynamically combine or disconnect the battery to the load as the load varies up and down (i.e. controlling through hysteresis in on-off control), in order to avoid heating a battery unnecessarily by using it when it is not needed.
As to claim 3, Jhunjhunwala in view of Okui in view of Tse teaches 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 in view of Tse 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 in view of Tse 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 in view of Tse 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 in view of Tse 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 Okui in view of Tse 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 Tse (US 20130038289) in view of Martin (US 20080157743).
As to claim 4, Jhunjhunwala in view of Okui in view of Tse teaches 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 in view of Tse teaches the assembly according to Claim 1.
Jhunjhunwala in view of Okui in view of Tse  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 Tse (US 20130038289) in view of Rothschild (US 20190027943).
As to claim 11,  Jhunjhunwala in view of Okui in view of Tse teaches the assembly according to Claim 1.
Jhunjhunwala in view of Okui in view of Tse teaches each battery bank is multiple banks of individual batteries ([0021]), Jhunjhunwala in view of Okui in view of Tse 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 in view of Tse teaches the assembly according to Claim 11.
Jhunjhunwala in view of Okui in view of Tse 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 Tse (US 20130038289) in view of Despesse (US 20140287278)
As to claim 13, Jhunjhunwala in view of Okui in view of Tse teaches the assembly according to Claim 1.
Jhunjhunwala in view of Okui in view of Tse 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 REBUTTAL: REMARKS
Claims 1-13 are pending, with claim 1 being independent.
Claims 1-13 stand rejected. Claim 1 stands objected. Claim 1 is amended. Claims 2-5 are canceled. Claims 14-17 are new. No new subject matter has been added.
Claim Objections
Claim 1 stands objected to due to informalities. Claim 1 recites the following equation in a lettering that is unclear and blurry:
The Examiner recommends correcting the lettering and claim language to show dark, high- contrast images of quality equivalent to the quality produced by a laser printer in such a way that secure solid, sharp, high contrast lettering. Office Action, at 8. Applicant has amended claim 1 to improve the lettering quality of the equation. Reconsideration with withdrawal of the claim objections is respectfully requested.
Claim Rejections - 35 U.S.C. § 112
Claim 2 stands rejected under 35 U.S.C. § 112(a), first paragraph, as failing to comply
with the written description requirement. Office Action, at 9. Claim 2 is cancelled, rending the 35 U.S.C. § 112(a) rejection of claim 2 moot.
Claims 1-13 stand rejected under 35 U.S.C. § 112(b), second paragraph, as being indefinite for failing to particularly point out and distinctly claim the subject matter. Office Action, at 10. First, the Office Action asserts that "Claim 1 recites '2 < k< N,:' which is unclear. Specifically, the claim term ends with a comma followed by a colon. It is unclear if the claim term should end with a comma, colon, or semi-colon." Id. Applicant has amended claim 1 to clarify that the claim term "2 < k< N" ends with a comma. Second, the Office Action asserts that "Claim 1 recites 'at each time instant' which lacks antecedent basis. It is unclear what time
instant is meant by 'each time instant."' Id. Applicant has amended claim 1 to recite "at any time t" to clarify that the time t can be any time. Third, the Office Action asserts:
The claim language of claim 1 above is claiming: at least two cells are
discharging successively and simultaneously at its max current Imax (i.e., "the
electrical energy storage or production cell B 1 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") and The cells are discharging
successively and one at a time (at their respective max current Imax) until
depleted, (i.e., "successively activating an electrical energy storage or production
cell Bi according to the priority order, until the electrical energy storage or
production cell Bi is totally depleted and if so further activating the next electrical
energy storage or production cell Bi according to the priority order). It is unclear
how both of these limitations are occurring concurrently.
Id. at 11-12. Applicant has amended claim 1 to clarify how the different cells are activated ( "successively" refers to the "activation" itself, and cells B1 are either discharging simultaneously, or only one production cell is discharging at a given time t, depending on the current conditions). Fourth, the Office Action asserts the claim language "and if so" is unclear. Id. at 12. Applicant has amended the claims to remove the phrase "and if so." Reconsideration and withdrawal of the claim rejections under 35 U.S.C. § 112(b) is respectfully requested.
Claim Rejections - 35 U.S.C. § 103
Claims 1-3 and 6-10 stand rejected under 35 U.S.C. § 103 as being unpatentable over U.S. Publication No. 2017/0229880 (hereinafter "Jhunjhunwala") in view of U.S. Patent No. 2016/0226268 (hereinafter "Okui") and further in view of U.S. Patent No. 2013/0038289 (hereinafter "Tse"). Office Action, at 13. In order for a combination of reference to render a claim obvious, the references must together teach or suggest each and every feature of the claims. Here, features of the claims are missing from the cited references.
Amended claim 1 recites, in part, "the discharge of the electrical energy storage or
production cell B1 of rank 1 is activated: if the electrical energy storage or production cell Bi of rank 1 is able to supply an output current Is, where Imax,1 > Is, ,only the electrical energy storage or production cell Bi of rank 1 is discharged; otherwise, if Imax,i < Is, the electrical energy storage or production cell B1 of rank 1 is discharged with additionally a number k of electrical
Is." Amended claim 1 further recites, "said managementcircuit for managing said electrical energy storage or production cells B1 comprising: blocks M of rank i for controlling the electrical energy storage or production cells B1, each electrical energy storage or production cell B1 being coupled to a block M1, each cell B1 coupled to a block Mi being capable of delivering an output current L, the set of said blocks M1 generating said output current Is which is equal to the sum of the output currents L, said blocks Mi being configured to selectively address the associated electrical energy storage or production cells B1, wherein the assembly operates with an output voltage Vs, each block (M1) comprising 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." The cited combination of references does not teach or suggest at least these features of amended claim 1.
The amendments to claim 1 clarify that the priority order is an order of use and is a decreasing order as supported by the original application, as supported by the original application, and as recited in the original claims). Further, the feature
"the discharge of
the electrical energy storage or production cell Bi of rank 1 is
activated: if the electrical energy storage or production cell B
of rank 1 is able to
supply an output current Is, where Imax,1 > Is,
,only the electrical energy storage or production cell B
i
of rank 1 is discharged
;
otherwise if,
if Imax,1 < Is [...]" has been added to claim 1, as supported by the specification, for example in at least paragraphs [71] and [72]. In addition, the subject matter of now-cancelled claim 5 (management of the assembly as a function of the setpoint voltage of the output voltage Vs, a block Mi comprising a switched-mode converter) has been incorporated into claim 1.
The features of amended claim 1 solve the problem of optimizing the period of autonomy of the assembly and in particular keeping a cell available in its first regime, whereas other cells continue to supply current in their second regime (second discharge portion). They avoid a sharp
drop in the electrical energy storage or production cell assembly capacity (battery capacity) of supplying a nominal current from a certain discharge state. They prevent the current from becoming too small in a second discharge regime (or phase) for ensuring the nominal operation (in a first discharge regime), a fixed current being imposed with a decreasing voltage across a battery terminals while in the second discharge regime, a fixed voltage is maintained with a decreasing discharge current. This increases the usable energy of the assembly or else the period of autonomy of the system supplied by said assembly. They further enable supplying an application current for a prolonged period. They accordingly enable optimizing the relative capacities of the different cells and the autonomy of the cell assembly.
As mentioned previously, Jhunjhunwala relates to an energy storage system comprising a plurality of battery banks of individual batteries based on split configuration based on a probability of usage (pdf function) between two charging opportunities. A charging opportunity is defined as an access to a power source by the user, an optimization goal, and battery characteristics of a corresponding single battery system. The system of Jhunjhunwala selects battery banks to provide power to a load based on the current performance data of each battery bank, on the pdf function, and on the optimization goal (optimizing the weight, cost, size, or life of the system). The system changes the selection of the battery banks when
a next charging opportunity occurs
(i.e., access to a power source by the user, an optimization goal, and battery characteristics of a corresponding single battery system).
The system of Jhunjhunwala requires therefore a preliminary split of each single battery into several battery banks to optimize usage of the different battery banks. In Jhunjhunwala, the battery bank is changed depending on statistical probability of usage, the current performance of each battery bank and the optimization goal.
Although Jhunjhunwala relates to the same general field (battery management), Jhunjhunwala describes a battery management approach that is different from the battery management approach as claimed in amended claim 1. Indeed, in Jhunjhunwala, new battery banks can be selected only when a next charging opportunity occurs (that is, "when the user gets access to a source of power to charge battery for a considerable period of time"). Therefore, battery bank selection requires occurrence of a charging opportunity corresponding to an access to a power source by the user.
Jhunjhunwala discloses a first case where only one battery bank is selected at a time during discharging, the same bank being charged during the regenerative breaking. In this case, three battery banks B1, B2 and B3 are selected with B1 and B2 having the weight W, while B3 is lighter. In this case, the 3 battery banks are successively selecting (one at each time) at each charging opportunity so as to reduce weight as opposed to single battery.
Jhunjhunwala also discloses selection of battery banks where several battery banks are selected simultaneously, both during discharge and charge (due to regenerative breaking). In this second selection case, multiple battery banks are selected based on pre-configured power harnessing modes, and individual parameter specific thresholds. This selection of multiple battery banks is used to combine output from the selected multiple battery banks to supply power to meet the load requirements of the system.
It is not disputed that solutions for the management of battery usage exist in the prior art as indicated in the introductory part of the specification. Jhunjhunwala is an example of a prior art management of battery banks.
Is.:
Also notably missing from Jhunjhunwala is the exploitation of a priority order of use of the electrical energy storage or production cells and the features of claim 1 as amended according to which the management circuit for managing the electrical energy storage or production cells B1 comprises: "blocks M1 of rank i for controlling the electrical energy storage or production cells B1, each electrical energy storage or production cell B1 being coupled to a block M1, each cell B1 coupled to a block Mi being capable of delivering an output current L, the set of said blocks Mi generating said
output current Is which is equal to the sum of the output currents L, the blocks Mi being configured to selectively address the associated electrical energy storage or production cells B1, wherein the assembly operates with an output voltage Vs, each block (M1) comprising 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." Jhunjhunwala is clearly silent about the use of the blocks Mi as claimed to optimally manage usage of the electrical energy storage or production cells B1.
For at least these reasons, amended claim 1 is not anticipated by Jhunjhunwala. Okui does not remedy the deficiencies of Jhunjhunwala.
charged or discharged
with the same C-rate, lower than the maximum C-rate.
Okui requires previously determining charging/discharging limitation amounts for each battery banks using the associated SOC and a first and second critical value. Okui manages when to pause or activate some battery banks to meet the target charging/discharging amount using a selection of batteries bank related to an ordering of the battery banks based on the SOC and SOH of the battery banks, and requires pausing a previous battery bank when a new battery bank among the selected battery bank is used. However, Okui is silent about the above noted features of amended claim 1. Accordingly, amended claim 1 is not anticipated by Okui.
Assuming that the skilled person had tried to combine Jhunjhunwala and Okui references to solve the above problem, he would not have arrived to the features of amended claim 1, none Jhunjhunwala and Okui teach or suggest the above noted features of amended claim 1.
Tse does not cure the failure of Jhunjhunwala and Okui to disclose or make obvious the features of amended claim 1. Tse discloses a system comprising a BBC battery arrangement using battery-cell converter units. Each battery cell converter unis comprises a storage cell bank, DC/DC converters, electrical connexion devices, and surveillance and monitoring system. The battery units are stacked in series to increase the output voltage or connected in parallel to increase the output current. Despite Tse describing a battery arrangement, Tse fails to teach or suggest the management circuit of claim 1 as amended. The above noted features of claim 1 are also missing from Martin, Rothschild, and Despesse, which are only cited in connection with dependent claims.
For at least the foregoing reasons, amended independent claim 1 is patentable over Jhunjhunwala, Okui, and Tse, alone or in combination. And because dependent claims 6-10 depend, either directly or indirectly from amended independent claim 1, they too are patentable for at least the same reasons. Applicant therefore respectfully requests reconsideration and withdrawal of the § 103 rejection of claims 1 and 6-10.
Claims 4-5 stand rejected under 35 U.S.C. § 103 as being unpatentable over Jhunjhunwala in view of Okui in view of Tse and further in view of U.S. Patent No. 2008/0157743 (hereinafter "Martin"). Office Action, at 21. Claims 4-5 are cancelled, rendering the 35 U.S.C. § 103 rejection of claims 4-5 moot.
Claims 11 and 13 stand rejected under 35 U.S.C. § 103 as being unpatentable over Jhunjhunwala in view of Okui in view of Tse and further in view of U.S. Patent No. 2019/0027943 (hereinafter "Rothschild"). Office Action, at 24. Rothschild does not cure the failure of Jhunjhunwala, Okui, and Tse to disclose or make obvious the subject matter of amended independent claim 1 from which claims 11 and 13 depend. Accordingly, for at least the reasons described above in connection with independent claim 1, Applicant respectfully requests reconsideration and withdrawal of the rejection of claims 11 and 13
Claim 13 stands rejected under 35 U.S.C. § 103 as being unpatentable over Jhunjhunwala in view of Okui in view of Tse and further in view of U.S. Patent No. 2014/0287278 (hereinafter "Despesse"). Office Action, at 25. Despesse does not cure the failure of Jhunjhunwala, Okui, and Tse to disclose or make obvious the subject matter of amended independent claim 1 from which
claim 13 depends. Accordingly, for at least the reasons described above in connection with independent claim 1, Applicant respectfully requests reconsideration and withdrawal of the rejection of claim 13.
New Claims
Because new independent claims 15 and 16 recite features that are similar, albeit not identical, to the features recited in amended independent claim 1, Applicant submits that independent claims 15 and 16 are patentable for at least the same reasons as amended independent claim 1.
New independent claim 15 corresponds to amended claim 1, without the features of
previous claim 5, in which the features of now-cancelled claims 3 and 4 have been incorporated (activation of blocks Bi as a function of the comparison of the output voltage to the voltage threshold associated with the block Mi coupled to the cell Bi).
New independent claim 15 recites features similar to claim 1 but differs from claim 1 in that the management circuit for managing said electrical energy storage or production cells B1 comprises: "blocks Mi of rank i for controlling the electrical energy storage or production cells B1, each electrical energy storage or production cell B1 being coupled to a block M1, each cell B1 coupled to a block Mi being capable of delivering an output current L, the set of said blocks M generating said output current Is which is equal to the sum of the output currents L, the blocks Mi being configured to selectively address the associated electrical energy storage or production cells B1, wherein each block M1 comprises a regulator with a reference output voltage Uthi, wherein the assembly operates with an output voltage Vs, the regulator of each block M operating with a voltage threshold Uthi, and the voltage thresholds of the regulators of the blocks Mi being such that: Uth2 >Uth3 > ... > UthN, and wherein in discharge mode:the cell of rank 1, B1, is first activated by the management circuit if Vs > Uth2; and for each index i different from 1: a next cell B1+1 is activated in addition to the cells of lower rank B1+B2+ ... B1, when Vs < Uthi+1, so as to supply an additional current, wherein when the voltage Vs > Uthi-1, the cell of highest rank is disconnected, and only B1, ..., B1-1 are connected."
New independent claim 16 corresponds to the embodiment of original claim 2
(hysteresis) with features added to further define the hysteresis mode, as supported by the specification ("first example of an algorithm for controlling the cells in an energy storage device
comprising a control circuit, paragraph [88] to [103], wherein the output threshold is compared to a lower voltage threshold and a higher voltage threshold is used to disconnect the cell of higher rank if the higher voltage threshold is exceeded, and wherein the blocks Mi comprise a switch Ki.
New independent claim 16 recites features similar to claim 1 but differs from claim 1 in that the management circuit for managing said electrical energy storage or production cells B1 comprises: "blocks Mi of rank i for controlling the electrical energy storage or production cells B1, each electrical energy storage or production cell B1 being coupled to a block M1, each cell B1 coupled to a block Mi being capable of delivering an output current L, the set of said blocks M generating said output current Is which is equal to the sum of the output currents L, the blocks Mi being configured to selectively address the associated electrical energy storage or production cells B1, wherein each electrical energy storage or production cells B1 is coupled to a switch K1, wherein the assembly operates with an output voltage Vs, the output voltage Vs being comprised between a lower voltage Uiow and an upper voltage Uhigh, wherein a next cell (B1+1) is activated in discharge mode each time the output voltage Vs drops below Uiow; and wherein if the output voltage Vs is strictly higher than UHigh, the connected cell having the highest index is disconnected."
New dependent claim 14 recites the use of a maximum current estimator as supported by the specification, in at least paragraphs [121] and [122], and new dependent claim 17 recites the waiting period implemented at each incrementation/decrementation of the number of connected cells to stabilize the output voltage Vs, as supported by the specification, for example in at least paragraph [101]. Because new dependent claims 14 and 17 depend from one of independent claims 1 or 16, they too are patentable for at least the same reasons as claims 1 and 16, as well as for the additional features they recite.
CONCLUSION

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 8/19/2024.  Claims 1, and 6-17 are presently pending and are presented for examination.
Response to arguments
Applicant amended claims 1, cancelled claims 2-5 and added claims 14-17 which changes the scope of the claims and as such a new ground of rejection is issued.
In regards to the 103 rejection of Claim(s) 1 and similarly claim 16 Applicant asserts (pg. 9-10):
The cited combination of references does not teach or suggest at least these features of amended.
And further asserts (pg. 11):
Although Jhunjhunwala relates to the same general field (battery management), Jhunjhunwala describes a battery management approach that is different from the battery management approach as claimed in amended claim 1.
In response:
Examiner respectfully disagrees. As seen in the rejection of claim 1, Examiner does not rely on Jhunjhunwala but the combined teachings of Jhunjhunwala, Okui, and Martin to teach claim language of claims 1 and 16 as specified below.
In regards to the 103 rejection of Claim(s) 1 and similarly claim 16 Applicant further asserts (claim 12):
However, although Jhunjhunwala relates to management of battery usage, Jhunjhunwala fails to disclose or suggest the features of amended claim 1 according to which: the discharge of the electrical energy storage or production cell B1 of rank 1 is activated: if the electrical energy storage or production cell B1 of rank 1 is able to supply an output current Is, where lmax,1 >Is , only the electrical energy storage or production cell B1 of rank 1 is discharged;…”
In response:
Jhunjhunwala, Okui, and Martin to teach claim language of claims 1 and 16 as specified below
Specifically, The Examiner uses Jhunjhunwala to disclose the discharge of the electrical energy storage or production cell B1 of rank 1 is activated ([0046] - [0049] Fig. 8 At step 804):
if the electrical energy storage or production cell Bi of rank 1 is able to supply an output current Is, wherein Imax,1 > Is (load current, IL identified as Is), only the electrical energy storage or production cell Bi of rank 1 is discharged ([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. It1 can be the maximum current that can be drawn from B1 alone).
In regards to the 103 rejection of Claim(s) 1 and similarly claim 16 Applicant further asserts (pg.12-13):
Also notably missing from Jhunjhunwala is the exploitation of a priority order of use of the electrical energy storage or production cells and the features of claim 1 as amended according to which the management circuit for managing the electrical energy storage or production cells Bi comprises: blocks Mi of rank i for controlling the electrical energy storage or production cells Bi, 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 L, the set of said blocks Mi generating said output current Is which is equal to the sum of the output currents L, the blocks Mi being configured to selectively address the associated electrical energy storage or production cells Bi, wherein the assembly operates with an output voltage Vs, each block (Mi) comprising 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.
In response:
Examiner respectfully disagree in regards to Applicants remark “Also notably missing from Jhunjhunwala is the exploitation of a priority order of use of the electrical energy storage or production cells”, as seen below, the Examiner use Jhunjhunwala to teach claim language “wherein said electrical energy storage or production cells are ordered according to their rank in decreasing priority order 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)”.
Additionally, the Examiner uses the combined teachings of Jhunjhunwala, Okui, Martin to teach claim language of claim 1 as specified below.
Specifically, Jhunjhunwala further discloses a block Mi of rank i for controlling the electrical energy storage or production cells Bi ([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 the 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),
Block Mi generating said output current Is which is equal to the sum of the output currents Ii ([0048]-[0049]  Fig. 8), block Mi being configured to selectively address the associated 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]).
Jhunjhunwala further discloses wherein the assembly operates with an output voltage Vs (output voltage of across the load 506/706).
Okui teaches a management circuit for managing said electrical energy storage or production cells Bi comprising multiple blocks Mi of rank i, each electrical energy storage or production cell Bi being coupled to a block Mi,  wherein each cell Bi coupled to a block Mi being capable of delivering an output current Ii (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), and that set of said blocks Mi generating an 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. Based on scientific principle, the sum of currents in parallel add at a single node).
Martin teaches a block (M,  Fig.12 1245) comprising a switched-mode converter (Fig. 12 power supply circuit 1245. [0120] … the transient controller 1210 portion of controller circuit 1206 can … initiate successive, rapid opening and closing of element 1272) having a setpoint voltage ([0019]…threshold value) and able to supply: a current at output when the output voltage Vs (Fig. 12 voltage 1220) is lower than said setpoint voltage, in order to keep the output voltage Vs at the setpoint voltage ([0119]- [0120] In response to a more drastic drooping of voltage 1220 as a result of increased power consumption (i.e. Vs < setpoint voltage) , 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 load voltage power (e.g., current) conveyed to load 1218).
Jhunjhunwala in view of Okui in view of Martin does not specifically teach a zero current when the output voltage Vs (voltage across the load) is greater than this setpoint (i.e. greater than the output voltage of the converter).
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. greater than the output voltage of the converter) indicating a fully charged battery, thereby preventing overcharging.
And further asserts (pg.13):
“Jhunjhunwala is clearly silent about the use of the blocks Mi as claimed to optimally manage usage of the electrical energy storage or production cells Bi.”
In response:
Claims 1, 15 and 16 does not claim the blocks Mi “optimally manag[ing] usage of the electrical energy storage or production cells Bi.”
In regards to the 103 rejection of Claim(s) 1 and similarly claim 16 Applicant further asserts (pg. 13):
Okui relates to an energy storage system using a battery system, which does not disclose either the above features of amended claim 1.
And further asserts (pg. 13):
However, Okui is silent about the above noted features of amended claim 1. Accordingly, amended claim 1 is not anticipated by Okui.
Applicant further asserts (pg. 13):
Assuming that the skilled person had tried to combine Jhunjhunwala and Okui references to solve the above problem, he would not have arrived to the features of amended claim 1, none Jhunjhunwala and Okui teach or suggest the above noted features of amended claim 1.
In response:
Examiner respectfully disagree and points to the rejection of claim 1 where the Examiner does not use Okui alone but the combined teachings of Jhunjhunwala, Okui and Martin to teach the claim language of claims 1 and 16 as specified below.
In regards to applicants remaining remarks:
Applicant remarks have been considered but are moot base on new grounds of rejection.
Claim Objection
Claim 15 and 16 are objected to due to the following informalities:
Claim 15-16 recites “Is, ,only” wherein two (2) commas are placed. Examiner will interpret as “Is,only”
Correction is required.
Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 112
The following is a quotation of the first paragraph of 35 U.S.C. 112(a):
(a) IN GENERAL.—The specification shall contain a written description of the invention, and of the manner and process of making and using it, in such full, clear, concise, and exact terms as to enable any person skilled in the art to which it pertains, or with which it is most nearly connected, to make and use the same, and shall set forth the best mode contemplated by the inventor or joint inventor of carrying out the invention.
The following is a quotation of the first paragraph of pre-AIA  35 U.S.C. 112:
The specification shall contain a written description of the invention, and of the manner and process of making and using it, in such full, clear, concise, and exact terms as to enable any person skilled in the art to which it pertains, or with which it is most nearly connected, to make and use the same, and shall set forth the best mode contemplated by the inventor of carrying out his invention.
Claim 17 is rejected under 35 U.S.C. 112(a) or 35 U.S.C. 112 (pre-AIA ), first paragraph, as failing to comply with the written description requirement. The claim(s) contains subject matter which was not described in the specification in such a way as to reasonably convey to one skilled in the relevant art that the inventor or a joint inventor, or for applications subject to pre-AIA  35 U.S.C. 112, the inventor(s), at the time the application was filed, had possession of the claimed invention.
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 17 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 17 recites “wherein following the incrementing or decrementing of the number of connected cells” which lacks antecedent basis and is unclear. An incrementing or decrementing of the number of connected cells is not claimed in claim 16 from which it depends.
Examiner will interpret as “following an incrementing or decrementing of the number of connected cells”.
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, 6-10,14  and 16 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 1, Jhunjhunwala discloses an assembly (Fig. 7) for delivering 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 CEij arranged 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).
Jhunjhunwala further discloses 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 said electrical energy storage or production cells are ordered according to their rank in decreasing priority order 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),
wherein a production cell Bi is able to provide a maximum current Imax,i at any time t ([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 is 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. As such all cells are configured to supply its individual maximum current “Imax,i”), said management circuit comprises means, in discharge mode, for (Fig. 7 battery bank selector 704 and Control 504 of Fig. 5),  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,5,7-8 where selector 704 selects a single or multiple Battery Banks 1021-102N, to discharge to a load) and according to the following criteria:
the discharge of the electrical energy storage or production cell B1 of rank 1 is activated ([0046] - [0049] Fig. 8 At step 804):
if the electrical energy storage or production cell Bi of rank 1 is able to supply an output current Is, wherein Imax,1 > Is (load current, IL identified as Is), only the electrical energy storage or production cell Bi of rank 1 is discharged ([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. It1 can be the maximum current that can be drawn from B1 alone).
Jhunjhunwala further discloses said management circuit for managing said electrical energy storage or production cells Bi comprising:
A block Mi of rank i for controlling the electrical energy storage or production cells Bi ([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 the 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),
Block Mi generating said output current Is which is equal to the sum of the output currents Ii ([0048]-[0049]  Fig. 8), block Mi being configured to selectively address the associated 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]).
Jhunjhunwala further discloses wherein the assembly operates with an output voltage Vs (output voltage of across the load 506/706).
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, each electrical energy storage or production cell Bi being coupled to a block Mi, wherein each cell Bi coupled to a block Mi being capable of delivering an output current Ii and that set of said blocks Mi generating an the 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, each electrical energy storage or production cell Bi being coupled to a block Mi,  wherein each cell Bi coupled to a block Mi being capable of delivering an output current Ii (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), and that set of said blocks Mi generating an 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. Based on scientific principle, the sum of currents in parallel add at a single node).
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, each electrical energy storage or production cell Bi being coupled to a block Mi, wherein each cell Bi coupled to a block Mi being capable of delivering an output current Ii and that set of said blocks Mi generating an the 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).
Jhunjhunwala in view of Okui does not disclose/teach each block (M) comprising 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.
Martin teaches a block (M,  Fig.12 1245) comprising a switched-mode converter (Fig. 12 power supply circuit 1245. [0120] … the transient controller 1210 portion of controller circuit 1206 can … initiate successive, rapid opening and closing of element 1272) having a setpoint voltage ([0019]…threshold value) and able to supply: a current at output when the output voltage Vs (Fig. 12 voltage 1220) is lower than said setpoint voltage, in order to keep the output voltage Vs at the setpoint voltage ([0119]- [0120] In response to a more drastic drooping of voltage 1220 as a result of increased power consumption (i.e. Vs < setpoint voltage) , 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 load voltage power (e.g., current) conveyed to load 1218).
It would have been obvious to a person of ordinary skill in the art to modify each block (Mi) of Jhunjhunwala in view of Okui to comprise 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 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 a zero current when the output voltage Vs (voltage across the load) is greater than this setpoint (i.e. greater than the output voltage of the converter).
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. greater than the output voltage of the converter) indicating a fully charged battery, thereby preventing overcharging.
As to claim 6, Jhunjhunwala in view of Okui in view of Martin 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 in view of Martin teaches the assembly according to Claim 1.
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 in view of Martin 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 in view of Martin 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 Okui in view of Martin 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).
As to claim 14, Jhunjhunwala in view of Okui in view of Martin teaches the assembly according to claim 1.
Jhunjhunwala in view of Okui in view of Martin does not explicitly teach an estimator configured to estimate said maximal current Imax,i per instant time.
However, Jhunjhunwala teaches the battery banks are selected based on whether the load requirement (Il is less than or greater than the maximum current of the battery ([0048]-[0049]). Therefore, it would be obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art for Jhunjhunwala to include an estimator configured to estimate said maximal current Imax,i per instant time in order to determine how to select the batteries to meet the load requirement.
As to claim 16, Jhunjhunwala discloses an assembly (Fig. 7) for delivering 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 CEij arranged 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).
Jhunjhunwala further discloses 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 said electrical energy storage or production cells are ordered according to their rank in decreasing priority order 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),
wherein a production cell Bi is able to provide a maximum current Imax,i at any time t ([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 is 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. As such all cells are configured to supply its individual maximum current “Imax,i”), said management circuit comprises means, in discharge mode, for (Fig. 7 battery bank selector 704 and Control 504 of Fig. 5),  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,5,7-8 where selector 704 selects a single or multiple Battery Banks 1021-102N, to discharge to a load) and according to the following criteria:
the discharge of the electrical energy storage or production cell B1 of rank 1 is activated ([0046] - [0049] Fig. 8 At step 804):
if the electrical energy storage or production cell Bi of rank 1 is able to supply an output current Is, wherein Imax,1 > Is (load current, IL identified as Is), only the electrical energy storage or production cell Bi of rank 1 is discharged ([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. It1 can be the maximum current that can be drawn from B1 alone).
Jhunjhunwala further discloses said management circuit for managing said electrical energy storage or production cells Bi comprising:
A block Mi of rank i for controlling the electrical energy storage or production cells Bi ([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 the 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),
Block Mi generating said output current Is which is equal to the sum of the output currents Ii ([0048]-[0049]  Fig. 8), block Mi being configured to selectively address the associated 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]).
Jhunjhunwala further discloses wherein the assembly operates with an output voltage Vs (output voltage of across the load 506/706).
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, each electrical energy storage or production cell Bi being coupled to a block Mi, wherein each cell Bi coupled to a block Mi being capable of delivering an output current Ii and that set of said blocks Mi generating an the 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, each electrical energy storage or production cell Bi being coupled to a block Mi,  wherein each cell Bi coupled to a block Mi being capable of delivering an output current Ii (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), and that set of said blocks Mi generating an 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. Based on scientific principle, the sum of currents in parallel add at a single node).
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, each electrical energy storage or production cell Bi being coupled to a block Mi, wherein each cell Bi coupled to a block Mi being capable of delivering an output current Ii and that set of said blocks Mi generating an the 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).
Jhunjhunwala in view of Okui does not disclose/teach wherein each electrical energy storage or production cells B1 is coupled to a switch K1, the output voltage Vs being comprised between a lower voltage Ulow and an upper voltage Uhigh, wherein a next cell (B1+1) is activated in discharge mode each time the output voltage Vs drops below Ulow; and wherein if the output voltage Vs is strictly higher than Uhigh, the connected cell having the highest index is disconnected.
Martin teaches wherein a voltage source is coupled to a switch K1 (switches 1272 and 1282), the output voltage Vs (load 1218 and corresponding load voltage) being comprised between a lower voltage Ulow ([0019]…threshold value) and an upper voltage Uhigh (Vs) wherein a next cell (B1+1) is activated in discharge mode each time the output voltage Vs drops below Ulow  ([0119]- [0120] In response to a more drastic drooping of voltage 1220 as a result of increased power consumption (i.e. Vs < setpoint voltage) , 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 for delivering an output current to include wherein each electrical energy storage or production cells B1 is coupled to a switch K1, the output voltage Vs being comprised between a lower voltage Ulow and an upper voltage Uhigh, wherein a next cell (B1+1) is activated in discharge mode each time the output voltage Vs drops below Ulow in order 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 wherein if the output voltage Vs (voltage across the load)  is strictly higher than Uhigh, the connected cell having the highest index is disconnected (i.e. greater than the output voltage of the converter).
However it would be obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art to disconnect all connected cells (including the connected cell having the highest index) when the load/battery has charged to a higher voltage than Uhigh 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  Martin (US 20080157743) in view of Rothschild (US 20190027943).
As to claim 11,  Jhunjhunwala in view of Okui in view of Martin teaches the assembly according to Claim 1.
Jhunjhunwala in view of Okui in view of Martin teaches each battery bank is multiple banks of individual batteries ([0021]), Jhunjhunwala in view of Okui in view of Martin 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 in view of Martin teaches the assembly according to Claim 11.
Jhunjhunwala in view of Okui in view of Martin 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 12 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) in view of Despesse (US 20140287278)
As to claim 12, Jhunjhunwala in view of Okui in view of Martin teaches the assembly according to Claim 1.
Jhunjhunwala in view of Okui in view of Martin 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 c]ells ([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 include 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).
Claim 17 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) in view of Rush (US 20160043580).
As to claim 17, Jhunjhunwala in view of Okui in view of Martin teaches the assembly of claim 16.
Jhunjhunwala in view of Okui in view of Martin does not specifically teach wherein following the incrementing or decrementing (interpreted as “wherein following an incrementing or decrementing) of the number of connected cells, a waiting period is applied to stabilize the output voltage Vs.
Rush teaches wherein following the incrementing or decrementing of the number of connected cells, a waiting period is applied to stabilize the output voltage Vs ([0008] OCV values may be measured, by disconnecting one battery at a time from the load, waiting for the voltage to stabilize, and measuring the voltage with no load).
In the case were Jhunjhunwala load 506/706 is a battery, it would be obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art to modify the assembly of Jhunjhunwala in view of Okui to include wherein following the incrementing or decrementing  of the number of connected cells, a waiting period is applied to stabilize the output voltage Vs in order to measure the OCV value of the load ([0008]).
Allowable Subject Matter
Claim 15 would be allowable if rewritten to overcome the claim objection above.
The following is a statement of reasons for reasons for allowance:
Regarding independent claim(s) 15, although the prior art discloses an assembly for delivering an output current Is, comprising: N electrical energy storage or production cells Bi of rank i, where N2:2, each cell comprising an elementary cell or an elementary assembly of elementary cells CEij arranged in series and/or in parallel, each electrical energy storage or production cell being able to supply a maximum current lmax,i continuously during a time period T;  a management circuit for managing said electrical energy storage or production cells B1, wherein said electrical energy storage or production cells are ordered according to their rank i in decreasing priority order of use, wherein a production cell B1 is able to provide a maximum current Imax,i at any time t, said management circuit comprises means, in discharge mode, 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 and according to the following criteria: the discharge of the electrical energy storage or production cell Bi of rank 1 is activated: if the electrical energy storage or production cell Bi of rank 1 is able to supply an output current Is, where Imax,1>Is, ,only the electrical energy storage or production cell Bi of rank 1 is discharged; otherwise, if Imax,1
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said management circuit for managing said electrical energy storage or production cells B1 comprising:  blocks Mi of rank i for controlling the electrical energy storage or production cells B1, each electrical energy storage or production cell B1 being coupled to a block M1, each cell B1 coupled to a block Mi being capable of delivering an output current L,  the set of said blocks Mi generating said output current Is which is equal to the sum of the output currents L, the blocks Mi being configured to selectively address the associated electrical energy storage or production cells B1, wherein each block M1 comprises a regulator with a reference output voltage Uthi, wherein the assembly operates with an output voltage Vs, the regulator of each block M operating with a voltage threshold Uthi, and the voltage thresholds of the regulators of the blocks Mi being such that Uth2>Uth3 >...> UthN, the prior art of record does not disclose or teach the combination of:
“wherein in discharge mode: the cell of rank 1, B1, is first activated by the management circuit if Vs> Uth2; and for each index i different from 1: a next cell B1+1 is activated in addition to the cells of lower rank B1+B2+ . . . B1, when VsUthi-1, the cell of highest rank is disconnected, and only B1, ..., Bi-1 are connected”.
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.”
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 US20170229880: Claims:
1. An energy storage system comprising:
a plurality of battery banks of individual batteries based on split configuration derived by a splitter, wherein split battery configuration of the plurality of banks varies based on a probability distribution function (pdf) of expected usage pattern, optimization goal, and battery characteristics of a corresponding single battery system; and a logic unit, pre-configured with the pdf and connected to the plurality of battery banks, configured to:
obtain performance of each of the battery banks;
select at least one battery bank, from the plurality of battery banks, to provide power to a load based on current performance data of each said battery banks and at least one selection criterion; and
rotate use of battery banks from the plurality of battery banks until next charging opportunity;
wherein the split from a single battery bank is to optimize at least one among cost, weight or size of the system; and
wherein the selection of at least one battery bank is based on the pdf; and
wherein the selection of battery banks is to optimize at least one among weight, cost, size, and life of the system for the usage pattern without compromising on the range of the system.
2. The system of claim 1, wherein characteristic of each battery bank is different based on at least one among chemistry, variability in chemistry, energy density, size, weight, and cost.
3. The system of claim 1, wherein the required storage capacity is obtained by using plurality of battery banks aiding the performance, and reducing the total cost of the system by using the required battery bank or battery banks according to the selection criterion.
4. The system of claim 1, wherein said criteria is configured to select a battery bank out of the plurality of battery banks in a sequential order according to usage requirements based on pre-defined priorities for the plurality of battery banks or in an adaptive manner based on the matrices chosen for a given application.
5. The system of claim 1, wherein the logic unit is further configured to dynamically switch from a first energy harnessing mode to a second energy harnessing mode, wherein said harnessing modes are based on usage parameters.
6. The system of claim 1, wherein the selection criteria comprises at least one threshold dynamically defined based on the plurality of usage parameters.
7. The system of claim 4, wherein the selection criteria depends upon the said battery usage parameters comprising at least one among Depth of Discharge (DoD), rate of charging, rate of discharging, and operation temperature which vary based on the application usage of the system.
8. The system of claim 5, wherein the selection criteria depends upon the said battery usage parameters comprising at least one among Depth of Discharge (DoD), rate of charging, rate of discharging, and operation temperature which vary based on the application usage of the system.
9. The system of claim 6, wherein the selection criteria depends upon the said battery usage parameters comprising at least one among Depth of Discharge (DoD), rate of charging, rate of discharging, and operation temperature which vary based on the application usage of the system.
10. The system of claim 1, wherein performance data comprises at least one of a state of charge, generated current, generated voltage, state of health and lifetime of the battery bank(s).
11. The system of claim 1, said logic unit further configured to update its logic based on said pre-configured pdf with an updated pdf based on actual usage patterns observed.
12. The system of claim 1, wherein frequency of use of different battery banks and life of the batteries from said plurality of battery banks varies based on usage probability distribution function in use.
13. An energy management method for an energy storage system configured with a plurality of battery banks, the method comprising:
deriving a split battery configuration with a plurality of battery banks by a splitter, wherein the split battery configuration of the plurality of banks varies based on a probability distribution function (pdf) of expected usage pattern, optimization goal, and battery characteristics of a corresponding single battery system; obtaining, by the energy storage system, performance information of said plurality of battery banks; selecting, by the energy storage system, at least one battery bank to provide power to a load based on desired performance and at least one selection criterion; and rotating use of battery banks from the plurality of battery banks until next charging opportunity, wherein the split from a single battery bank is to optimize at least one among cost, weight or size of the system, and wherein the selection of at least one battery bank is based on the pdf, and wherein the selection of battery banks is to optimize at least one among weight, cost, size, and life of the system for the usage pattern without compromising on the range of the system.
14. The method of claim 13, wherein characteristic of each battery bank is different based on at least one among chemistry, variability in chemistry, energy density, size, weight, and cost.
15. The method of claim 13, wherein the required storage capacity is obtained by using plurality of battery banks aiding the performance, and reducing the total cost of the system by using the required battery bank or battery banks according to the selection criterion.
16. The method of claim 13, wherein said criteria is configured to select a battery bank out of the plurality of battery banks in a sequential order according to usage requirements based on pre-defined priorities for the plurality of battery banks or in an adaptive manner based on the matrices chosen for a given application.
17. The method of claim 13, wherein the logic unit is further configured to dynamically switch from a first energy harnessing mode to a second energy harnessing mode, wherein said harnessing modes are based on usage parameters.
18. The method of claim 13, wherein the selection criteria comprises at least one threshold dynamically defined based on the plurality of usage parameters.
19. The method of claim 14, wherein the selection criteria depends upon the said battery usage parameters comprising at least one among Depth of Discharge (DoD), rate of charging, rate of discharging, and operation temperature which vary based on the application usage of the system.
20. The method of claim 15, wherein the selection criteria depends upon the said battery usage parameters comprising at least one among Depth of Discharge (DoD), rate of charging, rate of discharging, and operation temperature which vary based on the application usage of the system.
21. The method of claim 16, wherein the selection criteria depends upon the said battery usage parameters comprising at least one among Depth of Discharge (DoD), rate of charging, rate of discharging, and operation temperature which vary based on the application usage of the system.
22. The method of claim 13, wherein performance data comprises at least one of a state of charge, generated current, generated voltage, state of health and lifetime of the battery bank(s).
23. The method of claim 13, said logic unit further configured to update its logic based on said pre-configured pdf with an updated pdf based on actual usage patterns observed.
24. The method of claim 13, wherein frequency of use of different battery banks and life of the batteries from said plurality of battery banks varies based on usage probability distribution function in use.
Ref US20160226268: Claims:
1. A battery system comprising:
a plurality of battery banks connected in parallel with each other; and a distribution controller coupled to the battery banks and configured to:
receive a command comprising a target charging/discharging amount;
determine a priority order between the battery banks based on a state of charge (SOC) and a state of health (SOH) of each of the battery banks;
select at least some of the battery banks to be charged or discharged according to the target charging/discharging amount based on the priority order; and
perform a charging or discharging on the at least some of the battery banks according to the target charging/discharging amount so that others of the battery banks are paused.
2. The battery system of claim 1, further comprising a plurality of direct current (DC)/DC converters that are connected respectively to the plurality of battery banks in series,
wherein the battery banks are connected in parallel with each other via the plurality of DC/DC converters, and the distribution controller is configured to control the plurality of DC/DC converters so that the at least some of the battery banks are charged or discharged while the others of the battery banks are paused.
3. The battery system of claim 2, wherein the battery banks comprise at least one first battery bank comprising battery cells of a first number, and at least one second battery bank comprising battery cells of a second number that is different from the first number, and
the plurality of DC/DC converters comprise at least one first DC/DC converter connected to the at least one first battery bank, and at least one second DC/DC converter connected to the at least one second battery bank.
4. The battery system of claim 1, wherein the battery banks comprise at least one first battery bank comprising battery cells of a first number, and at least one second battery bank comprising battery cells of a second number that is different from the first number,
the battery system further comprises at least one DC/DC converter connected to the at least one first battery bank, and at least one switch connected to the at least one second battery bank, and the distribution controller is configured to control the at least one DC/DC converter and the at least one switch so that the at least some battery banks are charged and discharged while the other battery banks are paused.
5. The battery system of claim 1, wherein the plurality of battery banks are connected to an electrical grid via a power converter.
6. The battery system of claim 1, wherein the distribution controller is configured to update the priority order between the plurality of battery banks at every update period.
7. The battery system of claim 6, wherein the distribution controller is configured to set the update period based on temperatures of the plurality of battery banks, and the update period is increased when the temperatures lower.
8. The battery system of claim 1, wherein the distribution controller is configured to update the priority order between the plurality of battery banks whenever a sign of the target charging/discharging amount is inversed.
9. The battery system of claim 1, wherein the distribution controller is configured to:
set a charging limitation amount of a first battery bank among the battery banks having an SOC that is greater than a first critical value as 0 from among the battery banks so that the first battery bank is paused when the distribution controller receives a charging command; and set a discharging limitation amount of a second battery bank among the battery banks having an SOC that is less than a second critical value as 0 from among the battery banks so that the second battery bank is paused when the distribution controller receives a discharging command.
10. The battery system of claim 1, wherein the distribution controller is configured to grant a higher priority to a first battery bank having lower SOC and higher SOH from among the battery banks when receiving the charging command, and the distribution controller is configured to grant the higher priority to a second battery bank having higher SOC and higher SOH from among the plurality of battery banks when receiving the discharging command.
11. The battery system of claim 10, wherein the first or second battery bank having higher SOH has a shorter paused time.
12. The battery system of claim 1, wherein the at least some of the battery banks have charging/discharging rates (C-rate) that are equal to each other.
13. The battery system of claim 1, wherein the distribution controller is configured to:
compare a total remaining capacity of the plurality of battery banks with a target remaining capacity; generate a corrected target charging/discharging amount by correcting the target charging/discharging amount based on a difference between the total remaining capacity and the target remaining capacity; and the at least some battery banks are charged or discharged according to the corrected target charging/discharging amount.
14. The battery system of claim 13, wherein,
in response to the total remaining capacity being greater than the target remaining capacity, the distribution controller is configured to determine the corrected target charging amount to be less than the target charging amount and to determine the corrected target discharging amount to be greater than the target discharging amount, and in response to the total remaining capacity being less than the target remaining capacity, the distribution controller is configured to determine the corrected target charging amount to be greater than the target charging amount and to determine the corrected target discharging amount to be less than the target discharging amount.
15. An energy storage system comprising:
a plurality of power converters; a plurality of battery units connected to an electrical grid respectively via the power converters; and a combined controller configured to control the plurality of power converters and the plurality of battery units, wherein each of the plurality of battery units comprises:
a plurality of battery banks connected in parallel with each other; and
a distribution controller configured to:
receive a command including a target charging/discharging amount;
determine a priority order between the plurality of battery banks based on a state of charge (SOC) and a state of health (SOH) of each of the plurality of battery banks;
select at least some battery banks among the battery banks to be charged or discharged according to the target charging/discharging amount based on the priority order; and
perform a charging or discharging on the at least some battery banks according to the target charging/discharging amount so that others of the battery banks are paused.
Ref US20130038289: Claims:
1. A battery-cell converter system, comprising:
one or more battery-cell converter units, wherein each battery-cell converter unit comprises:
an electrical energy storage cell bank comprising of a plurality of energy storage devices, wherein each energy storage device comprises a first terminal and a second terminal, and wherein the first terminal corresponds to a positive terminal or a negative terminal, and the second terminal has an opposite polarity from the first terminal;
one or more DC/DC converters, wherein each DC/DC converter includes one or more inputs and one or more outputs;
one or more electrical connection devices coupled to the plurality of energy storage devices and said one or more DC/DC converters; and
a monitor and control module coupled to the plurality of energy storage devices, said one or more DC/DC converters, and said one or more electrical connection devices to monitor and control said one or more battery-cell converter units, wherein each energy storage device is connected to at least one input of said one or more DC/DC converters in at least one configuration of said one or more electrical connection devices as configured by the monitor and control module; and
 wherein said one or more battery-cell converter units are configured to provide one or more regulated main power outputs from said one or more outputs of said one or more DC/DC converters of said one or more battery-cell converter units.
2. The system of claim 1, wherein said monitor and control module is configured to:
monitor status and/or characteristics of the plurality of energy storage devices, said one or more DC/DC converters, or a combination thereof during charging or discharging of the plurality of energy storage devices; and control said one or more electrical connection devices, said one or more DC/DC converters, or the combination thereof during charging or discharging of the plurality of energy storage devices.
3. The system of claim 1, wherein said one or more electrical connection devices are configured to cause one or more of the plurality of energy storage devices to be connected to or disconnected from said one or more DC/DC converters.
4. The system of claim 1, wherein the first terminal of each energy storage device is connected to one of one or more common nodes and the second terminal of each energy storage device is connected to at least one electrical connection device.
5. The system of claim 4, wherein said one or more DC/DC converters correspond to a first DC/DC converter and a second DC/DC converter, and one energy storage device is connected to the first DC/DC converter in first configuration of said one or more electrical connection devices and said one energy storage device is connected to the second DC/DC converter in second configuration of said one or more electrical connection devices.
6. The system of claim 1, wherein the monitor and control module is adapted to control said one or more electrical connection devices based upon a characteristic from a group consisting of:
current flow; state of charge; state of health; voltage; charge fuel gauging; temperature; and history of any of the above characteristics.
7. The system of claim 1, wherein two or more battery-cell converter units are connected in series, parallel or a combination thereof.
8. The system of claim 7, wherein sum of output voltages of said two or more battery-cell converter units connected in series is configured to provide a desired output voltage or sum of output currents of said two or more battery-cell converter units connected in parallel is configured to provide a desired output current.
9. The system of claim 8, wherein the monitor and control module sets the output voltages or the output currents for each battery-cell converter unit based upon a status of each energy storage device from a group consisting of:
state of health; state of charge; voltage; charge fuel gauging; temperature; and history of any of the above characteristics.
10. The system of claim 1, wherein the monitor and control module unit has a means to communicate with one or more other monitor and control module units.
11. The system of claim 1, further comprising a main system control unit coupled to the monitor and control module of each battery-cell converter unit, wherein the main system control unit determines output voltages, output currents, or current-voltage load-lines for said one or more battery-cell converters unit based upon a status of said one or more battery-cell converters.
12. The system of claim 1, wherein each DC/DC converter corresponds to a single-phase converter or a multi-phase converter.
13. The system of claim 1, wherein at least one DC/DC converter is a multi-phase converter and said at least one DC/DC converter is coupled to the plurality of energy storage devices by one of following means:
said at least one DC/DC converter is coupled to all of the plurality of energy storage devices at a common set of input terminals; circuits associated with different phases of said at least one DC/DC converter are coupled to corresponding subsets of the plurality of energy storage devices in parallel; and each of said circuits associated with one phase of said at least one DC/DC converter is coupled to one of the plurality of energy storage devices by configuring said one or more electrical connection devices.
14. The system of claim 1, wherein at least one DC/DC converter is a multi-phase converter, and the monitor and control module i
[Truncated to input limit]