Patents Examined by Alex Usyatinsky
  • Patent number: 10096829
    Abstract: A nonaqueous electrolyte secondary battery attains both a high capacity and excellent low-temperature characteristics. A nonaqueous electrolyte secondary battery includes a positive electrode, a negative electrode, a separator, a nonaqueous electrolyte and a battery case accommodating the battery constituents, the positive electrode having a positive electrode mixture layer including a lithium transition metal oxide and a conductive auxiliary, the lithium transition metal oxide containing at least Ni. The percentage of Ni in the total moles of metal element(s) except lithium present in the oxide is not less than 88 mol %, the content of the conductive auxiliary being not less than 0.75 parts by mass and not more than 1.25 parts by mass, the ratio of the lithium transition metal oxide being not less than 25 parts by volume in the inside of the battery case.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 9, 2018
    Assignee: SANYO Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Atsushi Mizawa, Junichi Sugaya
  • Patent number: 10096802
    Abstract: A battery, comprising a cathode comprising a cathode material in contact with a cathode current collector. The battery also comprises an electrolyte. The battery also comprises an anode comprising an electroplated homogeneous solid metallic alloy comprising 100 ppm to 1000 ppm Bi and 100 ppm to 1000 ppm In, and a remainder Zn.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 9, 2018
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Paul S. Andry, Gregory M. Fritz, Michael S. Gordon, Eric P. Lewandowski, Yu Luo
  • Patent number: 10090558
    Abstract: A solid electrolyte glass at least including: at least one alkali metal element; a phosphorus (P) element; a sulfur (S) element; and one or more halogen elements selected from I, Cl, Br and F; wherein the solid electrolyte glass has two exothermic peaks that are separated from each other in a temperature range of 150° C. to 350° C. as determined by differential scanning calorimetry (in a dry nitrogen atmosphere at a temperature-elevating speed of 10° C./min from 20 to 600° C.).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 20, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2018
    Assignee: IDEMITSU KOSAN CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Takayoshi Kambara, Hiroyuki Higuchi, Hiroyuki Tamura, Masaru Nakagawa, Tadanori Junke
  • Patent number: 10090557
    Abstract: An electrochemical cell including a multi-layer solid-state electrolyte, a battery including the cell, and a method of forming the battery and cell are disclosed. The electrolyte includes a first layer that is compatible with the anode of the cell and a second layer that is compatible with the cathode of the cell. The cell exhibits improved performance compared to cells including a single-layer electrolyte.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2018
    Assignee: The Regents of the University of Colorado, a body corporate
    Inventors: James Trevey, Se-hee Lee, Jae-Ha Woo
  • Patent number: 10079398
    Abstract: A start-up transition process is disclosed for a fuel cell system operation state, which includes utilization of predefined first and second temperature limits for the fuel cells, specifying a low temperature operating state of cells below the first limit, at which presence of carbonaceous species at the cells is precluded, a transition temperature range of cells above the first and below the second limit at which fuel flow supply is initiated to the fuel system in a mixture with air, combined with anode tail gas recirculated at a recirculation rate over 70, and an intermediate temperature operating state of the cells above the second temperature limit, at which free oxygen at the anodes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 25, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 18, 2018
    Assignee: CONVION OY
    Inventors: Kim Åström, Tuomas Hakala, Matias Halinen
  • Patent number: 10069147
    Abstract: One example includes a battery case sealed to retain electrolyte, an electrode disposed in the battery case, the electrode comprising a current collector formed of a framework defining open areas disposed along three axes (“framework”), the framework electrically conductive, with active material disposed in the open areas; a conductor electrically coupled to the electrode and sealingly extending through the battery case to a terminal disposed on an exterior of the battery case, a further electrode disposed in the battery case, a separator disposed between the electrode and the further electrode and a further terminal disposed on the exterior of the battery case and in electrical communication with the further electrode, with the terminal and the further terminal electrically isolated from one another.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 13, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 4, 2018
    Assignee: Cardiac Pacemakers, Inc.
    Inventors: Francis Wang, Lisa B. Schmalhurst, Joseph E. Sunstrom, IV, Ignacio Chi, Steven P. Findell
  • Patent number: 10062934
    Abstract: A system includes a battery module having electrochemical cells and a housing configured to receive the electrochemical cells. The housing includes a first sidewall having a first surface and a second surface. The housing also includes cooling channels extending through the first sidewall of the housing from the first surface to the second surface, where the cooling channels are configured to permit fluid flow through the cooling channels for cooling the electrochemical cells. Each of the cooling channels includes a first cross-sectional area across the first surface of the first sidewall and a second cross-sectional area across the second surface of the first sidewall, where the first cross-sectional area is not equal to the second-cross sectional area. Each of the cooling channels also includes a tapered portion extending between the first-cross sectional area and the second cross-sectional area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 28, 2018
    Assignee: Johnson Controls Technology Company
    Inventors: Kem M. Obasih, Richard M. DeKeuster, Gary P. Houchin-Miller, Stephen D. Cash
  • Patent number: 10062890
    Abstract: As a laminated porous film realizing excellent handling properties in a low-humidity environment, a laminated porous film in which a layer containing a polymer is laminated on at least one side of a polyolefin porous film, satisfying the following (1) and (2) is provided. (1) When the laminated porous film has left still for 1 hour in an environment at a temperature of 23° C. and a humidity of 50%, a lifting amount of the side parallel with the direction perpendicular to the machine direction is 8 mm or more. (2) When the laminated porous film has left still for 1 hour in an environment at a temperature of 23° C. and a humidity of 5%, a lifting amount of the side parallel with the machine direction is 15 mm or less.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 28, 2018
    Assignee: SUMITOMO CHEMICAL COMPANY, LIMITED
    Inventors: Jian Wang, Hirohiko Hasegawa
  • Patent number: 10056581
    Abstract: A secondary battery is disclosed. In one aspect, the secondary battery includes a battery cell including an electrode, a cap cover placed over the battery cell and having an opening that exposes the electrode, and a connection member placed over the cap cover and electrically connected to the electrode. The battery also includes at least one guide accommodating the connection member, wherein the guide protrudes upwardly from the cap cover and extends in a length direction of the connection member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2018
    Assignee: Samsung SDI Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Doyeon Kwon, Daeyon Moon, Sanghyuk Eo
  • Patent number: 10056630
    Abstract: A drive circuit comprising a DC bus configured to supply power to a load, a first fuel cell coupled to the DC bus and configured to provide a first power output to the DC bus, and a second fuel cell coupled to the DC bus and configured to provide a second power output to the DC bus supplemental to the first fuel cell. The drive circuit further includes an energy storage device coupled to the DC bus and configured to receive energy from the DC bus when a combined output of the first and second fuel cells is greater than a power demand from a load, and provide energy to the DC bus when the combined output of the first and second fuel cells is less than the power demand from the load.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2018
    Assignee: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventors: Robert Dean King, Timothy Gerard Richter
  • Patent number: 10040875
    Abstract: A liquid composition comprising at least one aprotic organic solvent and at least one fluorinated ion exchange polymer which consists of recurring units derived from a chlorofluoroolefin of formula CF2?CCIY, wherein Y is F or CI, and from at least one fluorinated functional monomer selected among those of formula CF2?CF—O—(CF2CF(CF3)O)m—(CF2)nSO2X, wherein m is an integer equal to 0 or 1, n is an integer from 0 to 10 and X is chosen among halogens (CI, F, Br, I), —O?M+, wherein M+ is a cation selected among H+, NH4+, K+, Li+, Na+, or mixtures thereof is disclosed. The liquid composition is suitable for the preparation of ion exchange membranes, in particular composite membranes, for use in fuel cell applications.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 7, 2018
    Assignee: SOLVAY SPECIALTY POLYMERS ITALY S.P.A.
    Inventors: Luca Merlo, Claudio Oldani, Vincenzo Arcella
  • Patent number: 10033037
    Abstract: Provided is an all-solid lithium ion secondary battery including a sintered body including a solid electrolyte layer and a positive electrode layer and a negative electrode layer which are stacked alternately with the solid electrolyte layer interposed therebetween, wherein: the positive electrode layer, the negative electrode layer, and the solid electrolyte layer include a compound containing lithium and boron; and a content of lithium and boron contained in the compound to a total of a positive electrode active material included in the positive electrode layer, a negative electrode active material included in the negative electrode layer, and a solid electrolyte included in the solid electrolyte layer is respectively 4.38 mol % to 13.34 mol % in terms of Li2CO3 and 0.37 mol % to 1.11 mol % in terms of H3BO3.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 8, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 24, 2018
    Assignee: TDK CORPORATION
    Inventors: Hiroshi Sato, Atsushi Sano
  • Patent number: 10033051
    Abstract: Disclosed is a fuel cell stack which is able to prevent corrosion from occurring in a separator. The fuel cell stack formed by arranging a terminal on both ends of a cell stacked body in which a plurality of cells including a membrane electrode assembly and separators interposing the membrane electrode assembly therebetween is stacked, includes a rust preventive plate which is arranged between a metal separator and a positive electrode terminal on a high potential side of the cell stacked body, and includes a material more noble than that of the separator in the surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 24, 2018
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Daisuke Kanno, Makoto Yoshida, Tomoo Yoshizumi, Yu Morimoto
  • Patent number: 10003096
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a polymer electrolyte membrane, and a membrane-electrode assembly and a fuel cell containing the same, and the polymer electrolyte membrane comprises a polymer comprising repeating units represented by the following chemical formulas 1-3. Chemical formulas 1-3 are as defined in the specification. The polymer electrolyte membrane has excellent resistance to radical attack and has improved acid-base interaction, thereby maximizing the function of an ion conductive group, and thus can improve the operation performance of a fuel cell in a low humidification state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 19, 2018
    Assignee: KOLON INDUSTRIES, INC.
    Inventors: Na Young Kim, Moo Seok Lee, Dong Hoon Lee, Yong Cheol Shin
  • Patent number: 10003068
    Abstract: High capacity silicon based anode active materials are described for lithium ion batteries. These materials are shown to be effective in combination with high capacity lithium rich cathode active materials. Supplemental lithium is shown to improve the cycling performance and reduce irreversible capacity loss for at least certain silicon based active materials. In particular silicon based active materials can be formed in composites with electrically conductive coatings, such as pyrolytic carbon coatings or metal coatings, and composites can also be formed with other electrically conductive carbon components, such as carbon nanofibers and carbon nanoparticles. Additional alloys with silicon are explored.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 19, 2018
    Assignee: Zenlabs Energy, Inc.
    Inventors: Herman A. Lopez, Yogesh Kumar Anguchamy, Haixia Deng, Yongbong Han, Charan Masarapu, Subramanian Venkatachalam, Sujeet Kumar
  • Patent number: 9997755
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a separator for an electrochemical cell, preferably a lithium ion battery, comprising a porous layer which comprises at least one block copolymer having three or more polymer blocks and at least one aluminum oxide or hydroxide, a lithium ion battery comprising such a separator, and a method for producing such a separator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 21, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2018
    Inventors: Klaus Goetzen, Axel Niemoeller, Manfred Schaefer
  • Patent number: 9997794
    Abstract: A membrane electrode assembly is provided which includes an anode; a cathode; a membrane between the anode and the cathode; and a protective layer between the membrane and at least one electrode of the anode and the cathode, the protective layer having a layer of ionomer material containing a catalyst, the layer having a porosity of between 0 and 10%, an ionomer content of between 50 and 80% vol., a catalyst content of between 10 and 50% vol., and an electrical connectivity between catalyst particles of between 35 and 75%. A configuration using a precipitation layer to prevent migration of catalyst ions is also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 1, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2018
    Assignee: Audi AG
    Inventors: Sergei F. Burlatsky, Ned E. Cipollini, David A. Condit, Thomas H. Madden, Sathya Motupally, Lesia V. Protsailo, Timothy W. Patterson, Lei Chen, Mallika Gummalla
  • Patent number: 9991563
    Abstract: An energy storage device includes a positive electrode and a negative electrode. The negative electrode includes graphite and non-graphitizable carbon, and a D50 particle size of the graphite at which a cumulative volume in a particle size distribution of a particle size reaches 50% is 2 ?m or more. A ratio of a mass of the non-graphitizable carbon to a total amount of a mass of the graphite and a mass of the non-graphitizable carbon is 5% by mass or more and 45% by mass or less and a ratio of the D50 particle size of the graphite to a D50 particle size of the non-graphitizable carbon is 1.02 or less.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 26, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 5, 2018
    Assignee: GS Yuasa International Ltd.
    Inventors: Tomonori Kako, Taro Yamafuku, Akihiko Miyazaki
  • Patent number: 9985309
    Abstract: The present invention aims to provide a hydrocarbon-based polymer electrolyte which is excellent in processability and proton conductivity, especially proton conductivity at low water content, and a membrane thereof. The polymer electrolyte contains, in its main chain, a repeating unit represented by the following formula (1): wherein Ar represents a benzene or naphthalene ring, or a derivative thereof in which one or more of the ring-forming carbon atoms is replaced by a hetero atom; X represents a proton or a cation; a and b are each an integer of 0 to 4, and the sum of a's and b's is 1 or greater; m represents an integer of 1 or greater; and n represents an integer of 0 or greater.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 29, 2018
    Assignees: KANEKA CORPORATION, UNIVERSITY OF YAMANASHI
    Inventors: Takahiro Miyahara, Masahiro Watanabe, Kenji Miyatake
  • Patent number: 9972853
    Abstract: Disclosed herein is a fuel cell system. The fuel cell system includes: a turbocharger configured to receive and pressurize air discharged from an outlet of a fuel cell and supply the pressurized air to an inlet of the fuel cell; a plurality of valves configured to be provided at an inlet and an outlet of the turbocharger to control an amount of air supplied to the turbocharger in the air discharged from the outlet of the fuel cell and control a pressure of air supplied from the turbocharger to the inlet of the fuel cell; and a controller configured to calculate an air pressure required for the fuel cell and control an opening of the valves based on the calculated air pressure required for the fuel cell.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 10, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 15, 2018
    Assignee: Hyundai Motor Company
    Inventors: Min Su Kang, Chang Seok Ryu, Sung Do Kim, Dong Hun Lee