Patents Examined by Basia Ridley
  • Patent number: 9825326
    Abstract: A rechargeable battery includes a wound electrode assembly having first and second electrodes at opposite surfaces of a separator; a first case accommodating a first side of the electrode assembly and being coupled to the first electrode; a second case accommodating a second side of the electrode assembly and coupled to the second electrode; and a gasket engaged by the electrode assembly and combined at the first and second openings to seal the first and second openings.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 21, 2017
    Assignee: Samsung SDI Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Ji-Woon Lee, Eun-Young Goh, Sang-In Park, Jin-Hyon Lee, Sung-Yong Kim, Jin-Seon Shin, Jong-Ki Lee
  • Patent number: 9806320
    Abstract: A traction battery assembly includes adjacent battery cells supported by a tray and a busbar electrically connecting the adjacent battery cells. The busbar includes a longitudinal midpoint and a pair of bowed sections joined at the midpoint. Each of the bowed sections has an actuate portion in contact with a terminal on one of the cells. The bowed sections provide increased contact with the cells when the cells have different elevations with respect to the tray. A busbar module is also disclosed. The busbar module comprises a housing and a busbar supported within the housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 7, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 31, 2017
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Patrick Daniel Maguire, John Paul Gibeau
  • Patent number: 9799925
    Abstract: A nonaqueous electrolyte secondary battery is provided with: a positive electrode; a negative electrode that contains lithium titanate; a separator that is interposed between the positive electrode and the negative electrode; and a nonaqueous electrolyte that contains an electrolyte salt and a nonaqueous solvent. The nonaqueous solvent contains propylene carbonate, a chain carbonate A represented by general formula R1OCOOR2 (wherein each of R1 and R2 represents an alkyl group having 2 or more carbon atoms), and a chain carbonate B represented by general formula R3OCOOR4 (wherein R3 represents a methyl group and R4 represents an alkyl group). The volume fraction of the propylene carbonate in the nonaqueous solvent is within the range of 25-33% by volume; the volume fraction of the chain carbonate A in the nonaqueous solvent is within the range of 65-74% by volume; and the volume fraction of the chain carbonate B in the nonaqueous solvent is within the range of 1-10% by volume.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2017
    Assignee: SANYO Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Masaki Hasegawa, Takayuki Shirane
  • Patent number: 9799896
    Abstract: The surface of a substrate made of stainless steel foil is coated with a Sn alloy layer, with a strike layer in between. The coating weight of the strike layer is 0.001 g/m2 to 1 g/m2.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 2, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2017
    Assignee: JFE STEEL CORPORATION
    Inventors: Takayoshi Yano, Shin Ishikawa
  • Patent number: 9793536
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus to form biocompatible energization elements are described. In some examples, the methods and apparatus to form the biocompatible energization elements involve forming pellets comprising active cathode chemistry. The active elements of the cathode and anode are sealed with a biocompatible material. In some examples, a field of use for the methods and apparatus may include any biocompatible device or product that requires energization elements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 28, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2017
    Assignee: Johnson & Johnson Vision Care, Inc.
    Inventors: Frederick A. Flitsch, Daniel B. Otts, Randall B. Pugh, James Daniel Riall, Adam Toner
  • Patent number: 9793556
    Abstract: A gasket for sealing two mating surfaces of a fuel cell is described. The gasket has a core layer comprising exfoliated vermiculite. The core layer is interposed between a first and second coating layer, the said coating layers each comprising glass, glass-ceramic and/or ceramic material. Methods for producing gaskets according to the invention are also described. A solid oxide cell or a solid oxide cell component comprising one or more of the gaskets; use of the gasket to improve sealing properties in a solid oxide cell; and a method of producing a solid oxide cell or of sealing a solid oxide cell comprising incorporating at least one of the gaskets into the solid oxide cell are also defined.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 21, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2017
    Assignee: Flexitallic Investments, Inc.
    Inventors: Markus Rautanen, Olli Himanen, Jari Kiviaho, John Hoyes
  • Patent number: 9793527
    Abstract: A secondary battery negative electrode including a current collector, a negative electrode active material layer, and a porous membrane, wherein the negative electrode active material layer contains a negative electrode active material and a particulate negative electrode polymer, the porous membrane contains non-conductive particles and a porous membrane polymer that is a non-particulate cross-linked polymer, and the non-conductive particles are particles of a polymer that contains 50% by weight or more of a structural unit formed by polymerization of a (meth)acrylate, the polymer having a softening starting point or decomposition point of 175° C. or higher.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 29, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2017
    Assignee: ZEON CORPORATION
    Inventor: Takuya Kaneda
  • Patent number: 9786927
    Abstract: To provide a conductive member and a cell stack, where a concave groove of a conductive base substrate can be covered with a cover layer, as well as an electrochemical module and an electrochemical device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 17, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 10, 2017
    Assignee: Kyocera Corporation
    Inventor: Masahiko Higashi
  • Patent number: 9780364
    Abstract: In order to provide an inexpensive product composed of a porous carbon provided with electrochemical active material, said product being suitable particularly for use as a cathode or anode material for a secondary battery, a process comprising the following process steps is proposed: (a) producing a template from inorganic material by gas phase deposition, said template comprising a framework of pores and nanoparticles joined to one another, (b) coating the template framework with an electrochemical active material or a precursor thereof, (c) infiltrating the pores of the template with a precursor substance for carbon, (d) carbonizing the precursor substance to form a carbon layer, (f) removing the template.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 9, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2017
    Assignee: Heraeus Quarzglas GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Christian Neumann, Jörg Becker
  • Patent number: 9780377
    Abstract: In the non-aqueous electrolyte secondary battery provided by the present invention, at or near the positive electrode constituting the non-aqueous electrolyte secondary battery, overcharge-reactive multimers including dimers to higher-order multimers formed by polymerization of an overcharge-reactive compound are present in a larger amount by mole than the overcharge-reactive compound remaining unpolymerized.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2017
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Masahiro Morita, Yutaka Oyama, Yukihiro Okada
  • Patent number: 9780396
    Abstract: A fuel cell is operated with high power such that which a humidified gas and a dry gas are selectively supplied as oxidant to a cathode of the fuel cell. This method includes (S1) supplying a humidified gas while a power is constantly maintained or until the power begins to decrease; (S2) after supplying the humidified gas, supplying a dry gas to obtain a greater power than an average power of the step (S1); and (S3) after obtaining a predetermined power in the step (S2), repeatedly supplying a humidified gas in case the power decreases and supplying a dry gas in case the power decreases again afterwards, thereby increasing the power such that the predetermined power is maintained. This method provides an optimal operating condition to a fuel cell, thereby ensuring a high power.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 17, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2017
    Assignee: LG CHEM, LTD.
    Inventors: Tae-Geun Noh, Won-Ho Lee
  • Patent number: 9780367
    Abstract: Disclosed herein is a non-carbon-based anode active material for lithium secondary batteries, including: a core containing silicon (Si); and silicon nanoparticles formed on the surface of the core. The non-carbon-based anode active material is advantageous in that the increase in the volume expansion during charging-discharging can be prevented by the application of silicon nanoparticles, and in that SiOx(x<1.0) can be easily prepared.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 7, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2017
    Assignee: LG Chem, Ltd.
    Inventors: Je-Young Kim, Hyun-Chul Kim, Yong-Ju Lee
  • Patent number: 9768434
    Abstract: A rechargeable battery includes an electrode assembly including a first electrode and a second electrode, a case, a cap assembly including a cap plate, a first terminal outside the cap plate and electrically connected to the first electrode, and a second terminal outside the cap plate and electrically connected to the second electrode, a first connection terminal passing through the cap assembly and including one end connected to the first terminal and an other end positioned inside the case, a first current collecting member including one side connected to the first electrode and an other side rotatably coupled to the first connection terminal and electrically connecting the first connection terminal and the first electrode, and a rotation restriction member between the cap plate and first current collecting member, the rotation restriction member stopping rotation of the first current collecting member according to a predetermined angle of the rotation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2017
    Assignee: SAMSUNG SDI CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Min-Hyung Guen
  • Patent number: 9755219
    Abstract: An electricity storage device includes an electrode assembly having primary electrodes and secondary electrodes, a case having a wall with an inlet, and an insulator. The electrode assembly has a facing surface facing the wall of the case. The primary electrodes have primary tabs protruding from one edge. The second electrodes have secondary tabs. The group of primary tabs and the group of secondary tabs each have a first side and a second side on the opposite sides. In each of the group of primary tabs and the group of secondary tabs, the first side faces the facing surface, and the second side is bent to face the wall of the case. The inlet is located at a position sandwiched regions of the wall onto which the primary tab group and the secondary tab group are projected when the wall is viewed from a direction perpendicular to the facing surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2017
    Assignee: KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOYOTA JIDOSHOKKI
    Inventors: Atsushi Minagata, Motoaki Okuda
  • Patent number: 9755203
    Abstract: A rechargeable battery including an electrode assembly; a case accommodating the electrode assembly; and a cap assembly coupled with an opening of the case with a gasket between the cap assembly and the case, wherein the cap assembly includes a vent plate that is electrically connected to a cap plate; a middle plate that is separated from the vent plate, that includes a through-hole that is penetrated by a vent protruding from the vent plate, and that is electrically connected to the second electrode; an insulator interposed between the vent plate and the middle plate; and a sub-plate electrically connecting the vent with the middle plate, wherein at least one of the vent plate or the middle plate includes a protrusion and a groove facing the insulator, the protrusion being coupled with a complementary groove in the insulator and the groove being coupled with a complementary protrusion in the insulator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 7, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2017
    Assignee: SAMSUNG SDI CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Dae-Kyu Kim, Takao Abe
  • Patent number: 9755284
    Abstract: A heat battery pack system includes a battery pack including a plurality of battery cells electrically interconnected to each other, a binding coupled to mechanically hold the battery cells physically together, and a heater system coupled to the battery pack to heat the battery cells. The heater system includes a heating element interweaved between the battery cells of the battery pack and a heating controller electrically coupled to the heating element to drive current through the heating element and provide heat to the battery cells of the battery pack. The weaving of the heating element between the battery cells provides fixed mechanical support to the heating element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2017
    Assignee: X Development LLC
    Inventor: Matthew A. Nubbe
  • Patent number: 9752245
    Abstract: A non-aqueous Magnesium electrolyte comprising: (a) at least one organic solvent; (b) at least one electrolytically active, soluble, inorganic Magnesium (Mg) salt complex represented by the formula: MgaZbXc wherein a, b, and c are selected to maintain neutral charge of the molecule, and Z and X are selected such that Z and X form a Lewis Acid, and 1?a?10, 1?b?5, and 2?c?30. Further Z is selected from a group consisting of aluminum, boron, phosphorus, titanium, iron, and antimony; X is selected from the group consisting of I, Br, Cl, F and mixtures thereof. Rechargeable, high energy density Magnesium cells containing an cathode, an Mg metal anode, and an electrolyte of the above-described type are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 19, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2017
    Assignee: PELLION TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
    Inventors: Robert Ellis Doe, Ruoban Han, Yossef Gofer, Doron Aurbach, Nir Pour, Evgeny Sterenberg
  • Patent number: 9755212
    Abstract: A vehicle including an array of pouch battery cells, a pair of carriers, and a plurality of busbars is provided. The array of pouch battery cells may each have terminal tabs of opposite polarity extending from opposing cell faces. The pair of carriers may extend along the cell faces and each may define a plurality of apertures sized to receive the terminal tabs. The plurality of busbars may be arranged with the carriers and terminal tabs such that an electrical connection across the cells includes parallel and series connections. The pouch battery cells may be arranged in clusters of adjacent cells connected in parallel, and the busbars may be arranged in spaced apart groups on each of the carriers and joined to adjacent terminal tabs to connect the clusters in series.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 11, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2017
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Temam Kedir, Steven Droste, Debbi Callicoat
  • Patent number: 9748619
    Abstract: An onboard battery for a vehicle includes battery modules including battery cells disposed in a predetermined state, and a cell cover in which the battery cells are disposed. A part of an internal space of the cell cover is formed as chambers into which cooling air is sent. The onboard battery also includes a housing case that houses the battery modules, an intake duct that sends the cooling air into the battery modules, and an exhaust duct that discharges the cooling air sent into the battery modules. A heater that heats the battery cells is disposed in one of the chambers. A heat sink located opposite to the battery cells and attached to the heater is disposed in the one of the chambers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2017
    Assignee: SUBARU CORPORATION
    Inventor: Minoru Iida
  • Patent number: 9748544
    Abstract: A separator for an alkali metal ion rechargeable battery includes a porous ceramic alkali ion conductive membrane which is inert to liquid alkali ion solution as well as anode and cathode materials. The porous ceramic separator is structurally self-supporting and maintains its structural integrity at high temperature. The ceramic separator may have a thickness of at least 200 ?m and a porosity in the range from 20% to 70%. The separator may be in the form of a clad composite separator structure in which one or more layers of porous and inert ceramic or polymer membrane materials are clad to the alkali ion conductive membrane. The porous and inert alkali ion conductive ceramic membrane may comprise a NaSICON-type, LiSICON-type, or beta alumina material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2017
    Assignee: CERAMATEC, INC.
    Inventor: Ashok V. Joshi