Patents Examined by Aaron Greso
  • Patent number: 11380923
    Abstract: A device includes a container having a top plate containing an array of oxygen limiting pinholes and a chamber to hold a chemical hydride fuel, a fuel cell proton exchange membrane electrode assembly supported within the container between the top plate and the chamber, a first gas diffusion layer supported between the fuel cell proton exchange membrane electrode assembly and the top plate, and a second gas diffusion layer supported between the fuel cell proton exchange membrane electrode assembly and the chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 17, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2022
    Assignee: INTELLIGENT ENERGY LIMITED
    Inventors: Steven J. Eickhoff, Jeffrey Michael Klein, Jason Wiebesick
  • Patent number: 10511024
    Abstract: An electrode for a nonaqueous electrolyte secondary battery includes an electrode mixture layer. The electrode mixture layer contains a hollow active material particle and a needle-shaped filler having a through-hole that extends through the needle-shaped filler in a longitudinal direction. The needle-shaped filler is arranged on surfaces of the hollow active material particle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 7, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 17, 2019
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Hiroya Umeyama, Tatsuya Hashimoto, Naoyuki Wada, Keiichi Takahashi, Koichi Toriyama
  • Patent number: 9847537
    Abstract: A system and method of controlling an air blower for a fuel cell vehicle are provided. The method includes determining an operation amount of an air blower to secure a sufficient air flow rate under present operating conditions and obtaining information regarding clogging of an air channel or information regarding a back pressure using the operation amount of the air blower. In addition, a maximum operating range of the air blower is changed based on whether a present state is an air channel-clogged state or a back pressure-increased state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 18, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 19, 2017
    Assignees: Hyundai Motor Company, Kia Motors Corporation
    Inventors: Sang Uk Kwon, Nam Woo Lee, Heon Joong Lee
  • Patent number: 9812693
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a lithium-ion battery module including a housing having a base, a battery cell in the housing, and a battery module terminal coupled to the battery cell via an electrical pathway, wherein the battery module terminal provides an electrical output when coupled to an electrical load, and wherein the electrical pathway is defined by a first portion, a second portion, and an interconnecting portion connecting the first and second portions. The first portion has a plurality of first conductive components coupled to one another within first connection planes using a first conductive material, and the first connection planes are substantially parallel to the base. The second portion has a plurality of second conductive components coupled to one another within second connection planes using a second conductive material, different from the first conductive material, and the second connection planes are crosswise to the first connection planes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2017
    Assignee: Johnson Controls Technology Company
    Inventors: Richard M. DeKeuster, Robert J. Mack, Edward J. Soleski, Jennifer L. Czarnecki
  • Patent number: 9799915
    Abstract: Circuits and methods for putting into service a lithium ion battery including a first charging step under a current of at most a few tens of microamperes per square centimeter for a plurality of hours.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2017
    Assignee: STMICROELECTRONICS (TOURS) SAS
    Inventors: Severin Larfaillou, Delphine Guy-Bouyssou
  • Patent number: 9799878
    Abstract: Disclosed are a cathode active material for high voltage and a lithium secondary battery including the same. More particularly, a cathode active material including spinel-type compound particles having a composition represented by Formula 1 below; Li1+aMxMn2?xO4?zAz??(1) where a, x and z are defined in a specification of the present invention, and metal oxides or metal hydroxides present on surfaces of the spinel-type compound particles, and a lithium secondary battery including the same.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2017
    Assignee: LG Chem, Ltd.
    Inventors: Minsuk Kang, Seong Hoon Kang, Ho Suk Shin, Byung Chun Park, Sang Min Park, Geungi Min
  • Patent number: 9799862
    Abstract: Provided is a battery pack. The battery pack includes: a case including a cavity; a core pack that inserts into the cavity and comprising a plurality of batteries; a first cover coupled to a side of the case; and a second cover coupled to the other side of the case. The case further includes a plurality of guide grooves formed in inner corners of the case and extending in a length direction of the case, and the core pack further includes a plurality of ridges that respectively slide into the guide grooves in the length direction of the case.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2017
    Assignee: Samsung SDI Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: No-Hyun Kwag, Sang-Hoon Lee
  • Patent number: 9786920
    Abstract: A current collector in the form of a conductive substrate subjected to a special chemical etch to provide the current collector having a multi-thickness structure, is described. The multiple-thickness current collector structure provides an electrochemical cell with increased charge capacity per volume while enabling a robust weld connection thereto. The current collector has a frame and comprises within an inner perimeter of the frame, first strand structures that intersect second strand structures to provide a plurality of openings or interstices bordered by the strands. At least one tab portion having a thicker distal portion spaced from a thinner proximal tab portion that extends from an outer perimeter of the frame.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 10, 2017
    Assignee: Greatbatch Ltd.
    Inventors: Kenneth B. Talamine, Lou Serpe, Gary L. Freitag
  • Patent number: 9786898
    Abstract: A secondary battery and a secondary battery array are disclosed. In one aspect, the secondary battery includes an electrode assembly and a battery case accommodating the electrode assembly. The battery also includes a plurality of lead terminals comprising a first pair of lead terminals having opposite polarities and outwardly extending from the electrode assembly to protrude from a first side of the battery case and a second pair of lead terminals having opposite polarities and outwardly extending from the electrode assembly to protrude from a second side of the battery case opposing the first side. The battery further includes a plurality of insulation members respectively extending along the first and second pairs of lead terminals to at least partially cover the lead terminals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 9, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 10, 2017
    Assignee: Samsung SDI Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Sangdo Heo
  • Patent number: 9780385
    Abstract: A process for producing an oxygen reducing catalyst including a step of heat-treating, in a non-oxidizing atmosphere, a catalyst precursor including a compound (i) supplying a carbon element and a nitrogen element by heating in a non-oxidizing atmosphere, and a compound (ii) containing at least one element of iron and cobalt. Also disclosed is an oxygen reducing catalyst, a fuel cell catalyst layer including the oxygen reducing catalyst, an electrode including the fuel cell catalyst layer, a membrane-electrode assembly including the electrode and a fuel cell including the membrane-electrode assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 10, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2017
    Assignee: SHOWA DENKO K.K.
    Inventors: Kazunori Ichioka, Takuya Imai, Chunfu Yu
  • Patent number: 9768429
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a pouch type secondary battery. The pouch type secondary battery includes an electrode assembly, and a pouch type case in which the electrode assembly is accommodated, the pouch type case comprising a sealing part disposed on an edge thereof. The sealing part includes an inner sealing part forming a closed curve to protect the electrode assembly against the outside, and an outer sealing part defining a gas flow path between the inner and outer sealing parts to surround a peripheral portion of the inner sealing part, the outer sealing part having a safety vent.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 25, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2017
    Assignee: LG Chem, Ltd.
    Inventors: Seung Hyun Chung, Sun Kyu Kim, Cha Hwan Hwang
  • Patent number: 9761846
    Abstract: A battery case comprises: a first casing member; a second casing member to form a closed space together with the first casing member; a foam material provided along an inner wall surface of the closed space; and a reinforcing member provided in the closed space so as to hold the foam material between the reinforcing member and the inner wall surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 26, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2017
    Assignee: FUTABA INDUSTRIAL CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Ryuzo Nishimura, Shinichiro Nakane, Yasumasa Seto
  • Patent number: 9755228
    Abstract: A lithium metal electrode is disclosed in this invention. The lithium metal electrode includes a lithium metal layer, a plurality of gate layers and a current collector layer having a plurality of holes. The gate layers are disposed corresponding to the holes. The lithium metal layer and the gate layers are disposed correspondingly. The lithium metal layer is insulated via the gate layers and/or the current collector layer before formation. While the gate layers are alloyed with the lithium ions from the media such as the electrolyte, the alloyed gate layers may provide the ionic access for the lithium metal layer so that the lithium metal layer may feedback the lithium ions back to the chemical system of the electricity supply system. Also, at the same time, the potentials of all the gate layers may be kept equally to the potential of the lithium metal layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 13, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2017
    Assignee: PROLOGIUM HOLDING INC.
    Inventor: Szu-Nan Yang
  • Patent number: 9755283
    Abstract: A heating and cooling device for a battery may include an electrically conductive base plate for thermal coupling to the battery. The base plate may include at least one fluid path for flowing through by a coolant. The device may include a carrier plate of an electrically non-conductive material, into which at least one electric heating element may be inserted. The carrier plate may be connected electrically with the electrically conductive base plate. An electrically conductive cover plate may be connected electrically with the electric heating element. The base plate, the carrier plate and the cover plate may be stacked on one another along a stacking direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2017
    Assignees: Mahle International GmbH, Behr France Rouffach SAS
    Inventors: Stefan Hirsch, Pascal Miss, Bernd Schaefer, Joachim Treier, Stephane Weingaertner
  • Patent number: 9755232
    Abstract: A nickel composite hydroxide represented by Ni1-x-y-zCoxMnyMz(OH)2+A (where 0?x?0.35, 0?y?0.35, 0?z?0.1, 0<x+y, 0<x+y+z?0.7, 0?A?0.5, with M being at least one of V, Mg, Al, Ti, Mo, Nb, Zr and W), a plate-shaped crystal core is generated by allowing a crystal core generating aqueous solution containing cobalt and/or manganese to have a pH value of 7.5 to 11.1 at a standard liquid temperature of 25° C., and slurry for the particle growth containing the plate-shaped crystal core is adjusted to a pH value of 10.5 to 12.5 at a standard liquid temperature of 25° C., while a mixed aqueous solution containing a metal compound containing at least nickel is being supplied thereto, so that the crystal core is grown as particles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2017
    Assignee: SUMITOMO METAL MINING CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Kazuomi Ryoshi, Kensaku Mori
  • Patent number: 9748543
    Abstract: Provided are a separator for a nonaqueous cell that has air permeability and is small in thickness while maintaining strength properties; and a nonaqueous cell having this separator. The separator includes a fiber sheet in which a polyvinyl alcohol fiber is incorporated in a proportion of 30% or more by mass (based on the fiber sheet). The fiber has a fiber breaking temperature in heated water of lower than 100° C. and higher than 85° C.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 25, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2017
    Assignee: KURARAY CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Tomohiro Hayakawa, Hiroyuki Kawai, Hideo Hayashi, Koichi Kambe
  • Patent number: 9741984
    Abstract: Disclosed herein is a battery module including a unit module stack configured to have a structure in which two or more unit modules, each of which includes two or more battery cells mounted at a cell cover in a state in which the battery cells are electrically connected to each other, and electrode terminal connection parts of which protrude outward from the cell cover in a state in which the electrode terminal connection parts are vertically bent, are stacked, a module case in which the unit modules of the unit module stack are arranged such that the unit modules are connected in series to each other, and electrode terminals of the unit modules are open, a bus bar assembly mounted at the electrode terminals of the unit modules in the module case, the bus bar assembly including one or more bus bars for connection in series between the unit modules, the bus bars being mounted in an exposed state such that welding is performed from outside, and an electrically insulative cover for covering the bus bar assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 15, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2017
    Assignee: LG CHEM, LTD.
    Inventors: Bum Hyun Lee, Jun Yeob Seong, Dal Mo Kang
  • Patent number: 9735408
    Abstract: A secondary battery includes a case, a cap plate, and a vent portion. The case accommodates an electrode assembly therein and has an open top. The cap plate seals the top of the case. The vent portion is at one area of the cap plate. A porous safety member is at a position adjacent to the vent portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 8, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2017
    Assignee: Samsung SDI Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hyun-Chul Kim, Hyun Soh
  • Patent number: 9728794
    Abstract: A fuel cell system is configured to: calculate a target stack supply flow rate; calculate a compressor supply flow rate based on a stack supply flow rate and the target stack supply flow rate; set a larger one of the compressor supply flow rate and a lower limit flow rate, determined depending on an operation state of the fuel cell system, as a target compressor supply flow rate; control a bypass valve based on the stack supply flow rate and the target stack supply flow rate; fix the bypass valve when the stack supply flow rate is in a predetermined bypass valve fixing range, and the stack supply flow rate becomes less than the target stack supply flow rate; and release the fixation of the bypass valve when the target compressor supply flow rate becomes more than the lower limit flow rate after the bypass valve is fixed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2017
    Assignee: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yoshitomo Asai, Hiroshi Takeda
  • Patent number: 9728791
    Abstract: A self-sealing flow frame is provided having a first frame component and a second frame component. Each frame component is provided with a tongue-and-groove configuration that when assembled forms a tessellation engagement, which creates the seal. When each frame component is assembled into a flow frame, with the inner surfaces facing towards each other, the tongue-and-groove arrangements create a seal profile that circumscribe constituent parts of a device within which the self-sealing flow frame is being employed. As the frame components are compressively secured and fastened together, a tessellation engagement of the seal profile forms the fluid seal. Fluids of the device are prevented from exfiltrating the device, and are contained within the self-sealing flow frame by the fluid seal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 10, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2017
    Assignee: Concurrent Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: Michel J. McCluskey, John Ellsworth Gover, Jr., Bryan P. Tipton, Kevin Anthony Weaver, Jennifer Lyne Kronick, David B. Berkey, Daniel R. Markiewicz