Patents Examined by Barbara Gilliam
  • Battery pack temperature control structure for electric vehicles
    Patent number: 9564664
    Abstract: A battery pack temperature control structure is provided for an electric vehicle, and basically includes a battery module, a heavy-current disconnecting switch and a temperature control unit. The battery module is mounted in an inner space of the battery pack case. The heavy-current disconnecting switch disconnects, by a manual operation, a battery high-power circuit in the battery module. The temperature control unit is mounted in the inner space of the battery pack case for producing a temperature-controlled air to be blown to the battery module. The heavy-current disconnecting switch is disposed in an upper space position within the inner space of the battery pack case. The temperature control unit is disposed in a space position that is lower than the heavy-current disconnecting switch and that overlaps with the heavy-current disconnecting switch in the vehicle vertical direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 7, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2017
    Assignee: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Tatsunori Tanigaki, Kentaro Hatta, Norihisa Tsujimura, Makoto Iwasa
  • Pouch type battery and method of using the same
    Patent number: 9564615
    Abstract: A pouch type battery and a method of using the pouch type battery that includes an electrode assembly that includes a first electrode plate, a second electrode plate, and a separator interposed between the first and second electrode plates, and a pouch case that includes the electrode assembly and an electrolyte, wherein the pouch case includes an additional electrolyte inlet that protrudes from the pouch case.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2017
    Assignee: Samsung SDI Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Chang-Bum Ahn
  • Long-life membrane electrode assemblies and its use in fuel cells
    Patent number: 9559367
    Abstract: The present invention relates to membrane electrode assemblies comprising two electrochemically active electrodes separated by a polymer electrolyte membrane, there being a polyimide layer on each of the two surfaces of the polymer electrolyte membrane that are in contact with the electrodes. The present membrane electrode assemblies may be used in particular for producing fuel cells which have a particularly high long-term stability.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2003
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2017
    Assignee: BASF Fuel Cell GmbH
    Inventors: Jürgen Pawlik, Jochen Baurmeister, Christoph Padberg
  • Electrode assemblage and rechargeable battery using the same
    Patent number: 9553302
    Abstract: An electrode assemblage includes a first electrode assembly with first electrodes. Each first electrode has a porous first electrode current collector with a plurality of pores, and first electrode active material layers attached to the porous first electrode current collector. The electrode assemblage further includes a second electrode having a second electrode current collector and second electrode active material layers attached to the second electrode current collector, and also includes a separator disposed between the first electrode assembly and the second electrode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2017
    Assignee: Samsung SDI Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Man-Seok Han, Sung-Soo Kim, Nam-Soon Choi, Sae-Weon Roh, Jin-Kyu Hong
  • Moisture-resistant and anti-corrosive energy storage devices and associated methods
    Patent number: 9551064
    Abstract: The disclosure extends to protectively coated energy storage devices, such as rechargeable batteries, and associated methods of forming the same. An energy storage device, such as a rechargeable battery, may comprise a cell including at least one electrical terminal and a circuit board electrically coupled to the at least one electrical terminal. The rechargeable battery may also include a protective coating on at least a portion of at least one of a surface of the cell and/or at least one surface of the circuit board. The protective coating may reside between the circuit board and the cell. The protective coating may comprise a moisture resistant coating that will withstand exposure to corrosive agents, including electrolytes, corrosive gases and dust.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2017
    Assignee: HZO, Inc.
    Inventors: Layton Baker, Jianhua Su, Rick Peterson, Max Sorenson
  • Specific phosphonated copolymers and inorganic particles grafted by said copolymers
    Patent number: 9548508
    Abstract: The invention relates to copolymers comprising a chain of siloxane repeat units of at least two different types, a first type of siloxane repeat unit comprising at least one —OH group on the silicon atom of the siloxane repeat unit and a second type of repeat unit comprising at least one pendant chain on the silicon atom of said repeat unit, this pendant chain consisting of a polymer chain comprising a chain of repeat units carrying at least one group of formula —PO3R1R2 wherein R1 and R2 independently represent a hydrogen atom, an alkyl group or a cation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 10, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 17, 2017
    Assignees: Commissariat a l'energie atomique et aux energies alternatives, CENTRE NATIONAL DE LA RECHERCHE SCIENTIFIQUE
    Inventors: Pierrick Buvat, Thomas Boucheteau, Ghislain David, François Ganachaud, Sergei Victorovich Kostjuk
  • Layered composite current collector with plurality of openings, methods of manufacture thereof, and articles including the same
    Patent number: 9548497
    Abstract: A current collector including: a polymer film including a first major surface, an opposite second major surface, and a plurality of openings extending through a thickness of the polymer film; a first layer on the first major surface of the polymer film; a second layer on the second major surface of the polymer film; and a third layer on an inner surface of an opening of the plurality of openings, wherein the third layer contacts the first layer and the second layer, and wherein the first layer, the second layer, and the third layer each independently has an electrical conductivity of greater than 10 Siemens per meter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 17, 2017
    Assignee: EaglePicher Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Boris Ravdel, Frank Puglia
  • Method of fabricating electrodes including high-capacity, binder-free anodes for lithium-ion batteries
    Patent number: 9543054
    Abstract: An electrode (110) is provided that may be used in an electrochemical device (100) such as an energy storage/discharge device, e.g., a lithium-ion battery, or an electrochromic device, e.g., a smart window. Hydrothermal techniques and vacuum filtration methods were applied to fabricate the electrode (110). The electrode (110) includes an active portion (140) that is made up of electrochemically active nanoparticles, with one embodiment utilizing 3d-transition metal oxides to provide the electrochemical capacity of the electrode (110). The active material (140) may include other electrochemical materials, such as silicon, tin, lithium manganese oxide, and lithium iron phosphate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 8, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2017
    Assignee: Alliance for Sustainable Energy, LLC
    Inventors: Chunmei Ban, Zhuangchun Wu, Anne C. Dillon
  • Crosslinking polymer-supported porous film for battery separator and method for producing battery using the same
    Patent number: 9533475
    Abstract: The method for producing a battery, includes the steps of: laminating electrodes on the crosslinking polymer-supported porous film to prepare a laminate of crosslinking polymer-supported porous film/electrodes; placing the laminate in a battery container; and pouring an electrolyte solution containing a cation polymerization catalyst in the battery container to induce cation polymerization and crosslinking of the crosslinking polymer, thereby at least partially gelling the electrolyte solution to adhere the porous film and the electrodes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2017
    Assignee: NITTO DENKO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Yoshihiro Uetani, Keisuke Kii, Satoshi Nishikawa
  • Rechargeable battery
    Patent number: 9537134
    Abstract: A rechargeable battery includes an electrode assembly for performing charging and discharging operations, a case accommodating the electrode assembly, a cap plate coupled to an opening of the case, an electrode terminal installed on the cap plate, and a lead tab connecting the electrode assembly to the electrode terminal, the lead tab including a terminal connection part connected to the electrode terminal, and a current-collecting connection part connected to the electrode assembly, the current-collecting connection part including a welding portion connected to the electrode assembly, and an absorption portion separated from the welding portion in a first direction parallel to the cap plate and provided on an outer side of the welding portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2017
    Assignee: Samsung SDI Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hong-Hyeon Lee, Sang-Won Byun, Jeong-Wan Haam
  • Battery with low temperature molten salt (LTMS) cathode
    Patent number: 9537192
    Abstract: A battery is provided with an associated method for transporting metal-ions in the battery using a low temperature molten salt (LTMS). The battery comprises an anode, a cathode formed from a LTMS having a liquid phase at a temperature of less than 150° C., a current collector submerged in the LTMS, and a metal-ion permeable separator interposed between the LTMS and the anode. The method transports metal-ions from the separator to the current collector in response to the LTMS acting simultaneously as a cathode and an electrolyte. More explicitly, metal-ions are transported from the separator to the current collector by creating a liquid flow of LTMS interacting with the current collector and separator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 1, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2017
    Assignee: Sharp Laboratories of America, Inc.
    Inventors: Yuhao Lu, Sean Andrew Vail, Gregory M. Stecker, Jong-Jan Lee
  • Terminal of rechargeable battery and method of manufacturing the same
    Patent number: 9537135
    Abstract: A rechargeable battery including a case; a cap plate on the case; a terminal post protruding from the cap plate; a terminal plate coupled to the terminal post, wherein the terminal plate includes a body having an opening; and a conductor within the opening and coupled to the body, wherein the conductor substantially surrounds a circumference of the terminal post.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 6, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2017
    Assignees: Samsung SDI Co., Ltd., Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Sangwon Byun, Youngkee Shin, Jinhwan Chang, Myungjin Jeong, Sangshin Choi, Jeongwon Oh, Sooseok Choi
  • Fuel cell
    Patent number: 9531030
    Abstract: Relays and the like are arranged so that any restriction is not imposed on a portion where a fastening member between end plates or the like is disposed. To realize this, a relay assembly is provided in a stack case. In this case, when the relay assembly is integrated with a service plug, cables between relays and the service plug can preferably be omitted. Moreover, the relay assembly includes a resin plate to which the relays and the service plug are attached, and these relays are electrically connected to the service plug via buses on the resin plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2016
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Akira Aoto, Tsutomu Kohara, Junichi Matsubara
  • Fuel cell system
    Patent number: 9523440
    Abstract: An outlet shutoff valve where pressing surfaces, which press against each other, of a valve member and a valve seat are tilted relative to the vertical direction and where a drive shaft can be driven in a direction tilted relative to the vertical direction. In the outlet shutoff valve, the pressing surfaces are set high on the upstream side of gas flowing in a flow-path-forming pressure chamber, where the gas flows, and low on the downstream side.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 20, 2016
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Masahiro Takeshita
  • Secondary battery assembly including multiple lids
    Patent number: 9525157
    Abstract: A secondary battery for electronic appliance to be installed in an electronic appliance includes a battery cell in which a positive electrode, a negative electrode and an electrolyte are accommodated in a pack. A positive electrode terminal and a negative electrode terminal are lead out from one side face of the pack. The secondary battery may further include a metallic battery can accommodating the battery cell therein and a pair of lids made of a synthetic resin, each plugging an opening of the battery can.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 20, 2016
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Yoichi Miyajama, Toshio Takeshita, Hiroaki Sato, Atsushi Takahashi
  • Negative electrode for secondary lithium battery, and secondary lithium battery
    Patent number: 9525175
    Abstract: Disclosed is a negative electrode for a secondary lithium battery and a secondary lithium battery including the same, wherein the negative electrode includes a current collector and a negative active material layer formed on the current collector, and the negative active material layer includes an additive including a core including a metal oxide and a metal coating layer formed on the core, and a negative active material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 20, 2016
    Assignee: SAMSUNG SDI CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Bok-Hyun Ka, Kyeu-Yoon Sheem, Da-Woon Han
  • Fuel cell system and control method thereof
    Patent number: 9520606
    Abstract: A fuel cell system includes an ECU that sets the fuel cell stack to a state of idling stop by lowering both a revolution speed of an air pump and a discharge current value of the fuel cell stack to less than during idling power generation within a range larger than 0, in response to a predetermined idling stop initiation condition having been satisfied during idling power generation. The ECU decreases the discharge current value further as the lowest cell voltage value CV_low of the fuel cell stack decreases so that the lowest cell voltage value CV_low does not fall below a cancellation threshold B, with an event of the lowest cell voltage CV_low of the fuel cell stack having fallen below the cancellation threshold B as a cancellation condition of idling stop.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 13, 2016
    Assignee: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Chihiro Wake, Yuji Matsumoto
  • SOFC hot box components
    Patent number: 9520602
    Abstract: Various hot box fuel cell system components are provided, such as heat exchangers, steam generator and other components.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 11, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 13, 2016
    Assignee: BLOOM ENERGY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Swaminathan Venkataraman, Vlad Kalika, David Weingaertner
  • Lithium secondary battery cathode
    Patent number: 9515347
    Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide a lithium secondary battery cathode which can more improve characteristics of the battery. The cathode of the present invention includes an electroconductive cathode current collector, a plurality of plate-like particle formed of a cathode active material, and a binder containing microparticles formed of the cathode active material and being smaller than the plate-like particles. The plate-like particles are formed so as to have an aspect ratio of 4 to 50. The plate-like particles are arranged such that the particles cover the surface of the cathode current collector surface at a percent area of 85 to 98%. The binder is disposed so as to intervene between two adjacent plate-like particles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 1, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2016
    Assignee: NGK Insulators, Ltd.
    Inventors: Shigeki Okada, Tsutomu Nanataki, Nobuyuki Kobayashi, Jun Yoshikawa, Akira Urakawa
  • Separator for battery
    Patent number: 9515307
    Abstract: Disclosed is a separator for a battery. The separator includes a porous film, a first roller, and a second roller. The first and second rollers are associated with both ends of a porous film. The first roller is wound with a portion of the porous film and is configured to rotate to unroll the film. The second roller is configured to rotate in an opposite direction to a rotary direction of the first roller to roll up the film.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 3, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2016
    Inventor: Chun Shig Sohn