Patents Assigned to DURACELL U.S. OPERATIONS, INC.
  • Patent number: 11031686
    Abstract: A positive terminal of a battery may act as an antenna ground plane for communicating battery status information. The positive terminal of the battery may include a first electrically conductive external surface with a first surface area. The negative terminal of the battery may include a second electrically conductive external surface with a second surface area less than the first surface area. An antenna impedance matching circuit may be electrically connected between a communication circuit, an antenna, and the positive terminal of the battery. Thus the positive terminal of the battery may act as a ground plane for the antenna.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 18, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 8, 2021
    Assignee: DURACELL U.S. OPERATIONS, INC.
    Inventors: Jordan Bourilkov, Joern Riemer, Robert Pavlinsky, Steven J. Specht, George Turco, Sergio Coronado
  • Publication number: 20210167383
    Abstract: The invention is directed towards an electrochemically active cathode material for a battery. The electrochemically active cathode material includes a non-stoichiometric beta-delithiated layered nickel oxide. The non-stoichiometric beta-delithiated layered nickel oxide has a chemical formula. The chemical formula is LixAyNi1+a?zMzO2.nH2O where x is from about 0.02 to about 0.20; y is from about 0.03 to about 0.20; a is from about 0.02 to about 0.2; z is from about 0 to about 0.2; and n is from about 0 to about 1. Within the chemical formula, A is an alkali metal. The alkali metal includes potassium, rubidium, cesium, and any combination thereof. Within the chemical formula, M comprises an alkaline earth metal, a transition metal, a non-transition metal, and any combination thereof.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 1, 2021
    Publication date: June 3, 2021
    Applicant: DURACELL U.S. OPERATIONS, INC.
    Inventors: Jennifer A. Nelson, Paul Albert Christian, Stephen A. Hackney
  • Publication number: 20210167618
    Abstract: A battery includes an anode having an alkali metal as the active material, a cathode having, for example, iron disulfide as the active material, and an increased electrolyte volume.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 9, 2021
    Publication date: June 3, 2021
    Applicant: DURACELL U.S. OPERATIONS, INC.
    Inventors: Michael Pozin, Fred J. Berkowitz, Steven J. Specht, Yelena Kouznetsova, Bhupendra K. Patel, Yang Zhao, Haitao Chang
  • Patent number: 11024892
    Abstract: A reusable battery indicator comprises a voltage sensor configured to convert sensed analog characteristics of a battery to digital information; a communication circuit communicatively connected to the voltage sensor; an antenna operatively coupled to the communication circuit; and a connection mechanism having at least a first connector and a second connector that are electrically connected to the voltage sensor, the first connector and the second connector being adapted to be removably connected to a first battery terminal and to a second battery terminal, respectively, thereby completing an electrical circuit between the voltage sensor and the first and second battery terminals when the connection mechanism is coupled to the first battery terminal and to the second battery terminal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 1, 2021
    Assignee: DURACELL U.S. OPERATIONS, INC.
    Inventors: Joern Riemer, Robert Pavlinsky, Jordan Bourilkov, Steven J. Specht, George Turco, Sergio Coronado
  • Patent number: 11024891
    Abstract: A reusable battery indicator includes a voltage sensor configured to convert sensed analog characteristics of a battery to digital information; a communication circuit communicatively connected to the voltage sensor; an antenna operatively coupled to the communication circuit; and a connection mechanism having at least a first connector and a second connector that are electrically connected to the voltage sensor, the first connector and the second connector being adapted to be removably connected to a first battery terminal and to a second battery terminal, respectively, thereby completing an electrical circuit between the voltage sensor and the first and second battery terminals when the connection mechanism is coupled to the first battery terminal and to the second battery terminal. One or more of the first connector and the second connector include part of a mechanical lock and key assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 1, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 1, 2021
    Assignee: DURACELL U.S. OPERATIONS, INC.
    Inventors: Joern Riemer, Robert Pavlinsky, Jordan Bourilkov, Steven J. Specht, George Turco, Sergio Coronado
  • Patent number: 11001430
    Abstract: A battery package is described herein that advantageously maintains separation between batteries received therein while also providing a resealable opening to sequentially retrieve batteries therefrom. Further, the battery package can include an outer covering.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 13, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 11, 2021
    Assignee: DURACELL U.S. OPERATIONS, INC.
    Inventors: Scott Stewart, Joseph Cerone, Bryan Shova, Kelly Lin, Jacqueline Denham
  • Patent number: 10971769
    Abstract: A reusable battery indicator includes a voltage sensor, a communication circuit communicatively connected to the voltage sensor, an antenna operatively coupled to the communication circuit, and a connection mechanism having a connector and a retainer. The connector and the retainer are electrically connected to the voltage sensor, and the connector is adapted to be removably connected to a first battery terminal, thereby providing an electrical connection between the voltage sensor and the first battery terminal. The retainer is adapted to removably secure the voltage sensor to a can of a battery, thereby providing an electrical connection between the voltage sensor and the can of the battery. An electrical circuit is completed between the voltage sensor and the first battery terminal and between the voltage sensor and the can. The connection mechanism includes part of an electrical lock and key assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 6, 2021
    Assignee: DURACELL U.S. OPERATIONS, INC.
    Inventors: Joern Riemer, Robert Pavlinsky, Jordan Bourilkov, Steven J. Specht, George Turco, Sergio Coronado
  • Patent number: 10964980
    Abstract: The invention is directed towards an indicator circuit. The indicator circuit includes a ground plane; an antenna; a decoupler component; and an integrated circuit. The antenna includes at least one antenna trace; a first antenna terminal; and a second antenna terminal. The decoupler component includes a first decoupler component terminal and a second decoupler component terminal. The integrated circuit is electrically coupled to the first antenna terminal and the second antenna terminal. The integrated circuit is electrically coupled to the first decoupler component terminal. The second decoupler component terminal is electrically connected to the ground plane.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 18, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 30, 2021
    Assignee: DURACELL U.S. OPERATIONS, INC.
    Inventors: Alistair Neil Chappelle, Jerome Alexander Martin Dilley, Calvin Christopher Giles, Konstantin Dimitrov Stefanov, Matthew Emmanual Milton Storkey, Jordan Todorov Bourilkov, Sergio Coronado Hortal, William Fitler Morris, Steven Jeffrey Specht
  • Patent number: 10916850
    Abstract: An antenna for a cylindrical body may include a flexible substrate coupled to a cylindrical body; a two symmetrical loop omni-directional antenna comprising at least one antenna trace with a first terminal and a second terminal coupled to the flexible substrate; and an integrated circuit electrically coupled to the first terminal and the second terminal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 1, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 9, 2021
    Assignee: DURACELL U.S. OPERATIONS, INC.
    Inventors: Jordan Todorov Bourilkov, Sergio Coronado Hortal, William Fitler Morris, Steven Jeffrey Specht, Calvin Giles, Konstantin Stefanov
  • Patent number: 10916956
    Abstract: A battery includes an anode having an alkali metal as the active material, a cathode having, for example, iron disulfide as the active material, and an increased electrolyte volume.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 9, 2021
    Assignee: DURACELL U.S. OPERATIONS, INC.
    Inventors: Michael Pozin, Fred J. Berkowitz, Steven J. Specht, Yelena Kouznetsova, Bhupendra K. Patel, Yang Zhao, Haitao Chang
  • Patent number: 10910647
    Abstract: The invention is directed towards an electrochemically active cathode material for a battery. The electrochemically active cathode material includes a non-stoichiometric beta-delithiated layered nickel oxide. The non-stoichiometric beta-delithiated layered nickel oxide has a chemical formula. The chemical formula is LixAyNi1+a-zMzO2•nH2O where x is from about 0.02 to about 0.20; y is from about 0.03 to about 0.20; a is from about 0.02 to about 0.2; z is from about 0 to about 0.2; and n is from about 0 to about 1. Within the chemical formula, A is an alkali metal. The alkali metal includes potassium, rubidium, cesium, and any combination thereof. Within the chemical formula, M comprises an alkaline earth metal, a transition metal, a non-transition metal, and any combination thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 8, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 2, 2021
    Assignee: DURACELL U.S. OPERATIONS, INC.
    Inventors: Jennifer A. Nelson, Paul Albert Christian, Stephen A. Hackney
  • Patent number: 10859705
    Abstract: Included are embodiments for remotely determining a battery characteristic. Some embodiments include searching for a first wireless signal that identifies the energy storage device and, in response to receiving the first wireless signal, determining a current charge level of the energy storage device. Some embodiments include receiving a second wireless signal from the energy storage device, determining from the second wireless signal, whether the current charge level of the energy storage device reaches a predetermined threshold, and in response to determining that the current charge level of the energy storage device reaches the predetermined threshold, facilitating replacement of the battery.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 13, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 8, 2020
    Assignee: DURACELL U.S. OPERATIONS, INC.
    Inventors: Nancy Taylor Dempsey, Karen Coltharp McGinnis, Elizabeth Jane Wenzel, Mathias Amann, Jordan Todorov Bourilkov, Sergio Coronado Hortal, Jonathan Livingston Joyce, Faiz Feisal Sherman, Steven Jeffrey Specht
  • Patent number: 10826062
    Abstract: A primary battery includes a cathode having a non-stoichiometric metal oxide including transition metals Ni, Mn, Co, or a combination of metal atoms, an alkali metal, and hydrogen; an anode; a separator between the cathode and the anode; and an alkaline electrolyte.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 3, 2020
    Assignee: DURACELL U.S. OPERATIONS, INC.
    Inventors: Paul Albert Christian, Yichun Wang, Nikolay Krastev Iltchev, Kirakodu S. Nanjundaswamy, Jennifer Anne Nelson, Fan Zhang
  • Patent number: 10826050
    Abstract: The present invention relates, in part, to methods of preparing a safety battery. Methods can include dispensing a safety ink formulation between the two poles of a battery. Upon exposure to moisture, the formulation provides an electrical connection between two poles, thus minimizing electrical discharge and/or reducing the formation of electrochemically generated ions at the pole(s).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 3, 2020
    Assignees: National Technology & Engineering Solutions of Sandia, LLC, Duracell U.S. Operations, Inc.
    Inventors: Bryan James Kaehr, Walter F. Paxton, Adam Cook, William Reinholtz, Michael Pozin
  • Patent number: D900637
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 3, 2020
    Assignee: DURACELL U.S. OPERATIONS, INC.
    Inventors: Kathleen Baker, Paul Lafortezza, Tim Augustine, Michael Lafortezza
  • Patent number: D907572
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 16, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 12, 2021
    Assignee: DURACELL U.S. OPERATIONS, INC.
    Inventors: Brien Merrill, Francisco Jose Restrepo
  • Patent number: D909197
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 2, 2021
    Assignee: DURACELL U.S. OPERATIONS, INC.
    Inventors: Kathleen Ann Baker, Tatiana Jouanneau, Scott Stewart, William Shackford, Natalie Denny, Michael Lafortezza, Paul Lafortezza, Cliff Fischer
  • Patent number: D909198
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 2, 2021
    Assignee: DURACELL U.S. OPERATIONS, INC.
    Inventors: Kathleen Ann Baker, Tatiana Jouanneau, Scott Stewart, William Shackford, Natalie Denny, Michael Lafortezza, Paul Lafortezza, Cliff Fischer
  • Patent number: D909199
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 2, 2021
    Assignee: DURACELL U.S. OPERATIONS, INC.
    Inventors: Kathleen Ann Baker, Tatiana Jouanneau, Scott Stewart, William Shackford, Natalie Denny, Michael Lafortezza, Paul Lafortezza, Cliff Fischer
  • Patent number: D921576
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 8, 2021
    Assignee: DURACELL U.S. OPERATIONS, INC.
    Inventors: Kathleen Ann Baker, Tatiana Jouanneau, Natalie Denny, Michael Lafortezza, Paul Lafortezza, Cliff Fischer