Patents Examined by Basia Ridley
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Patent number: 11283071Abstract: A cathode active material with high durability and a lithium ion secondary battery. The cathode active material is a cathode active material represented by a general formula Li(1+a)NixCoyMnzWtO2 (?0.05?a?0.2, x=1?y?z?t, 0?y<1, 0?t<1, 0<t?0.03), wherein the cathode active material satisfies the following formula (1): ?1/t1?0.92??(1) where t1 is an element concentration average of insides and grain boundaries of primary particles of a W element, and ?1 is an element concentration standard deviation of the insides and grain boundaries of the primary particles of the W element.Type: GrantFiled: May 5, 2017Date of Patent: March 22, 2022Assignees: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA, Nichia CorporationInventors: Hajime Hasegawa, Keisuke Omori, Masato Hozumi, Masashi Kodama, Takumi Tanaka, Hideki Yoshida, Masato Sonoo, Yuuki Maeda
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Patent number: 11258127Abstract: The disclosure relates to a system comprising a holder and stored energy sources which can be placed in the holder, in particular rechargeable batteries, each having a casing which has side walls and in which are placed electrode plates oriented parallel to the side walls and nonwoven materials containing a bound electrolyte, the electrode plates being placed between adjacent nonwoven materials. The holder consists of at least two supports placed one above the other to hold stored energy sources in such a manner that the side walls of the casing which are oriented parallel to the electrode plates are oriented substantially horizontally. At least one pressure element is situated between the supports and rests on the side walls of the casing of the stored energy sources and transmits at least the weight force of the stored energy sources situated at the top of the holder to stored energy sources situated underneath the stored energy sources situated at the top.Type: GrantFiled: April 25, 2018Date of Patent: February 22, 2022Assignee: Hoppecke Batterien GmbH & Co. KGInventor: Heinrich Kesper
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Patent number: 11223071Abstract: This disclosure provides systems, methods, and apparatus related to Li-ion batteries. In one aspect an electrolyte structure for use in a battery comprises an electrolyte and an interconnected boron nitride structure disposed in the electrolyte.Type: GrantFiled: May 7, 2020Date of Patent: January 11, 2022Assignee: The Regents of the University of CaliforniaInventors: Onur Ergen, Alexander K. Zettl
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Patent number: 11223042Abstract: The invention provides a method for preparing lithium-containing particles suitable for use in an electrode of a battery, the method including forming a mixture comprising titanium dioxide precursor particles and an aqueous solution of a lithium compound; and heating the mixture at elevated temperature in a sealed pressure vessel in order to form lithium-inserted titanium dioxide particles, wherein at least one particle size characteristic selected from average primary particle size, particle size distribution, average intra-particle pore size, average inter-particle pore size, pore size distribution, and particle shape of the titanium dioxide particles is substantially unchanged by said heating step.Type: GrantFiled: March 31, 2014Date of Patent: January 11, 2022Assignee: TRONOX LLCInventor: Guoyi Fu
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Patent number: 11217784Abstract: Provided is a positive electrode structure for a secondary battery. This positive electrode structure includes: a positive electrode current collector composed of a tabular nickel foam and having a tabular coated portion and an uncoated portion extending from an outer peripheral portion of the coated portion; and a positive electrode active material containing nickel hydroxide and/or nickel oxyhydroxide incorporated into the coated portion of the positive electrode current collector. The positive electrode active material is not present in the uncoated portion of the positive electrode current collector, and the nickel foam constituting the uncoated portion is compressed so as to have a thickness of 0.10 times or more and less than 0.8 times a thickness of the nickel foam constituting the coated portion.Type: GrantFiled: March 3, 2021Date of Patent: January 4, 2022Assignee: NGK Insulators, Ltd.Inventors: Junki Matsuya, Kenshin Kitoh, Takeshi Yagi
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Patent number: 11211625Abstract: A fuel cell system includes a first fuel cell having a first anode and a first cathode, wherein the first anode is configured to output a first anode exhaust gas. The system further includes a first oxidizer configured to receive the first anode exhaust gas and air from a first air supply, to react the first anode exhaust gas and the air in a preferential oxidation reaction, and to output an oxidized gas. The system further includes a second fuel cell configured to act as an electrochemical hydrogen separator. The second fuel cell includes a second anode configured to receive the oxidized gas from the first oxidizer and to output a second anode exhaust gas, and a second cathode configured to output a hydrogen stream. The system further includes a condenser configured to receive the second anode exhaust gas and to separate water and CO2.Type: GrantFiled: April 20, 2017Date of Patent: December 28, 2021Assignee: FuelCell Energy, Inc.Inventor: Hossein Ghezel-Ayagh
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Patent number: 11158882Abstract: A lithium metal battery is disclosed. The lithium battery comprising a Li metal anode, a cathode and an electrolyte in between the Li metal anode and the cathode wherein the electrolyte includes immobilized anions at least at the interface between the Li metal anode and the electrolyte to maintain the anionic concentration at the interface above zero throughout the charge-discharge cycles thereby preventing surface potential instability at the interface of the Li metal anode and electrolyte.Type: GrantFiled: April 30, 2020Date of Patent: October 26, 2021Assignee: BLUE SOLUTIONS CANADA INC.Inventors: Patrick Leblanc, Frederic Cotton, Alain Vallee, Cedric Reboul-Salze
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Patent number: 11101523Abstract: The present application relates to a battery pack. The battery pack comprises: two or more battery modules, each of the battery modules comprising a plurality of battery cells which are stacked in sequence, wherein each of the battery cells is provided with an explosion-proof valve; the battery pack further comprising a thermal alarm device and a battery management system, wherein the thermal alarm device is arranged corresponding to the explosion-proof valve; the thermal alarm device and the battery management system are connected to form a circuit; and a break of the circuit can be caused when the explosion-proof valve is exploded. The present application provides the thermal alarm device, and when thermal runaway occurs in the battery module, a circuit break is formed between the thermal alarm device and the battery management system, thus the thermal runaway status of the battery pack can be accurately reflected.Type: GrantFiled: December 23, 2020Date of Patent: August 24, 2021Assignee: CONTEMPORARY AMPEREX TECHNOLOGY CO., LIMITEDInventors: Xianchun Zhu, Chao Zeng, Hua Cao
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Patent number: 11031658Abstract: A bus bar module includes a plurality of bus bars and a bus bar holder. The bus bar holder is constituted by coupling a plurality of holding portions in a chain manner via deformable coupling portions, respectively, the plurality of holding portions each holding the bus bar in a movable manner in predetermined ranges determined by restriction of movement of the bus bar by interferences with movement restricting members. Openings allowing two contact portions of the bus bar held by the holding portion to be exposed to an outside, the two contact portions being respectively connected to the electrodes of the two adjacent battery cells, are provided in either the holding portion or the coupling portion.Type: GrantFiled: March 13, 2019Date of Patent: June 8, 2021Assignee: YAZAKI CORPORATIONInventors: Katsunori Sato, Yoshiaki Ichikawa, Takao Shoji
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Patent number: 11018360Abstract: The fuel cell system includes a fuel cell, a hydrogen circulation pump, heating portion, and a controller. The hydrogen circulation pump is configured to circulate hydrogen to the fuel cell and includes a cylinder and a rotor accommodated in the cylinder. The heating portion is configured to heat the cylinder. The controller is configured to control an operation of the heating portion. The controller is configured to cause the heating portion to heat the cylinder in a case where a driving state of the hydrogen circulation pump is higher than or equal to a standard driving state.Type: GrantFiled: October 23, 2018Date of Patent: May 25, 2021Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki KaishaInventor: Tomoyuki Kozuka
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Patent number: 11011772Abstract: A fuel cell system includes a fuel cell stack including a plurality of fuel cells positioned between opposing end plates, an anode manifold configured to direct anode gas into or out of the fuel cell stack, a cathode manifold configured to direct cathode gas into or out of the fuel cell stack, and at least one truss attached to an external surface of at least one of the cathode manifold or the anode manifold. The at least one truss is configured to reinforce the fuel cell system.Type: GrantFiled: April 20, 2017Date of Patent: May 18, 2021Assignee: FuelCell Energy, Inc.Inventors: Michael L. Quatannens, Daniela Nedu, Doan Hoang, Robert S. Fournier
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Patent number: 10938017Abstract: A battery module includes plurality of prismatic battery cells. Each prismatic battery cell includes a casing housing electrochemically active components and a cover assembly. The cover assembly includes a cover, a terminal protruding through the cover, a current collector electrically coupled to the terminal, and an overcharge protection assembly between the terminal and current collector. The overcharge protection assembly includes a spiral disk and a vent disk physically and electrically coupled, wherein the vent disk is between the spiral disk and the terminal and includes a concave structure forming a cavity between the vent disk and the terminal. The vent disk is configured to deform into the cavity and break when a pressure within the casing exceeds a threshold value. The spiral disk is configured to apply a shearing force to the vent disk when the vent disk deforms to facilitate the breakage to interrupt electrical current flow.Type: GrantFiled: July 31, 2017Date of Patent: March 2, 2021Assignee: CPS TECHNOLOGY HOLDINGS LLCInventor: Xugang Zhang
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Patent number: 10930945Abstract: A fuel cell system and a control method thereof are provided. The control method includes acquiring a first pressure that corresponds to a pressure in an anode immediately before starting and determining a hydrogen supply target differential pressure value that corresponds to a pressure value boosted in the anode by hydrogen supplied to the anode when starting the system, based on an intensity of the acquired first pressure acquired. An opening degree of a hydrogen supply valve connected to the anode is then adjusted to supply sufficient hydrogen to boost the pressure in the anode that corresponds to the hydrogen supply target differential pressure value.Type: GrantFiled: November 27, 2017Date of Patent: February 23, 2021Assignees: Hyundai Motor Company, Kia Motors CorporationInventors: Hyun Jae Lee, Dae Jong Kim
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Patent number: 10855006Abstract: A first coupling body is disposed as part of a housing body, has a bottom part, and has a first and a second vertical wall parts. A second coupling body is formed so as to cover a space between the first vertical wall part and the second vertical wall part in the bottom part inside the housing chamber. The holding mechanism includes a first projection projecting from a first end of the second coupling body toward the first vertical wall part side, a second projection projecting from a second end of the second coupling body toward the second vertical wall part side, a first through-hole that is formed in the first vertical wall part, and a second through-hole that is formed in the second vertical wall part, the first end covering the first vertical wall part, the second end covering the second vertical wall part.Type: GrantFiled: November 27, 2017Date of Patent: December 1, 2020Assignee: YAZAKI CORPORATIONInventors: Shigeyuki Ogasawara, Hideto Masuki
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Patent number: 10854882Abstract: A method of forming an electrode includes attaching a tab to a collector to form a pre-tabbed current collector; disposing the pre-tabbed current collector onto a non-stick substrate to form a workpiece; and casting a slurry onto the workpiece to form a film. The slurry includes an active material component, one or more carbon additives, and at least one of a filamentary copper additive and a dendritic copper additive. The method includes drying the film at a first temperature to form a dried film; curing the dried film under pressure at a second higher temperature to form a cured film; removing the cured film from the non-stick substrate to form a precursor film; and carbonizing and annealing the precursor film at a third higher temperature. Carbonizing forms a three-dimensional electrically-conductive network and annealing forms a second contiguous network of copper connected to the active material component to form the electrode.Type: GrantFiled: October 19, 2018Date of Patent: December 1, 2020Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLCInventors: Ion C. Halalay, Raghunathan K
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Patent number: 10826047Abstract: The present disclosure provides a rechargeable battery, including an electrode assembly and a connecting member. The electrode assembly includes an electrode assembly body and an electrode tab extending from the electrode assembly body. The connecting member includes a guiding plate, a first connecting plate and a second connecting plate respectively connected to the guiding plate. The guiding plate extends along a width direction. The first connecting plate extends away from the guiding plate along the width direction. The electrode tab is bent with respect to a longitudinal direction and is connected to the first connecting plate. At least a part of the guiding plate protrudes toward the electrode assembly body with respect to the first connecting plate so as to form a protrusion, which abuts against the electrode assembly. The rechargeable battery of the present disclosure can improve the energy density.Type: GrantFiled: May 14, 2018Date of Patent: November 3, 2020Assignee: CONTEMPORARY AMPEREX TECHNOLOGY CO., LIMITEDInventors: Zhijun Guo, Jie Zhang, Peng Wang, Taosheng Zhu
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Patent number: 10826066Abstract: A lithium-ion secondary battery includes at least a positive electrode and a negative electrode. The negative electrode is porous. The negative electrode includes a carbon fiber aggregate and a polymer film. The carbon fiber aggregate is an aggregate of a plurality of carbon fibers bound together in a three-dimensional fashion. The polymer film covers a surface of each of the carbon fibers. The positive electrode includes a group of particles and an electrolyte solution. The group of particles is dispersed in the electrolyte solution. The group of particles contains a positive electrode active material and a conductive material. Pores that are present within the negative electrode are filled with the positive electrode. The polymer film is swollen with the electrolyte solution.Type: GrantFiled: March 13, 2019Date of Patent: November 3, 2020Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventor: Hideaki Oka
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Patent number: 10826062Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: March 18, 2019Date of Patent: November 3, 2020Assignee: DURACELL U.S. OPERATIONS, INC.Inventors: Paul Albert Christian, Yichun Wang, Nikolay Krastev Iltchev, Kirakodu S. Nanjundaswamy, Jennifer Anne Nelson, Fan Zhang
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Patent number: 10818965Abstract: Disclosed is a ceramic material having a formula of LiwAxM2Re3-yOz, wherein w is 5-7.5; wherein A is selected from B, Al, Ga, In, Zn, Cd, Y, Sc, Mg, Ca, Sr, Ba, and any combination thereof; wherein x is 0-2; wherein M is selected from Zr, Hf, Nb, Ta, Mo, W, Sn, Ge, Si, Sb, Se, Te, and any combination thereof; wherein Re is selected from lanthanide elements, actinide elements, and any combination thereof; wherein y is 0.01-0.75; wherein z is 10.875-13.125; and wherein the material has a garnet-type or garnet-like crystal structure. The ceramic garnet based material is ionically conducting and can be used as a solid state electrolyte for an electrochemical device such as a battery or supercapacitor.Type: GrantFiled: July 11, 2017Date of Patent: October 27, 2020Assignee: The Regents of the University of MichiganInventors: Jeffrey Sakamoto, Travis Thompson
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Patent number: 10811666Abstract: An insulating casing for battery terminals including a base and a top cover, wherein the base is engaged with a battery pack and includes a bottom plate. The bottom plate has a plurality of perforations adapted to be passed through by the terminals of the battery pack. The top cover is detachably engaged with the base, and a chamber communicating with the perforations is formed between the top cover and the base, and the terminals are received into the chamber whereby an insulating casing to protect the terminals of the battery pack is provided.Type: GrantFiled: April 24, 2018Date of Patent: October 20, 2020Assignee: MOBILETRON ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.Inventor: Ming-Hung Hsu