Patents Examined by Ben Lewis
  • Patent number: 9577281
    Abstract: Two active cell structures are prepared each comprising anode/electrolyte/cathode layers, each anode and cathode layer having embedded spaced-apart physical structures therein. Two interconnect sublayers are prepared, each comprising a layer of non-conductive material with holes formed therein and a conductor layer formed on one surface. The sublayers are placed together with the conductor layers in contact and with the holes offset to form an interconnect layer, which is then stacked between the two active cell structures. The multi-layer stack is laminated together and the anode layer of one active cell structure and the cathode layer of the other active cell structure fill the adjacent holes in the interconnect layer. The physical structures are pulled out to reveal embedded gas passages, and the multi-layer stack is sintered to form two active cells connected in series by the interconnect layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 6, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2017
    Inventors: Alan Devoe, Lambert Devoe
  • Patent number: 9575025
    Abstract: There is provided an electrolyte solution including a solvent formed from a sulfone, and a magnesium salt dissolved in the solvent.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 7, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2017
    Assignee: SONY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Yuri Nakayama, Hideki Kawasaki, Hiroyuki Morioka
  • Patent number: 9570722
    Abstract: Provided is a power storage device that enables a reduction in workload and work risk and thus allows a battery unit to be simply and safely removed from and attached to the power storage device. A power storage device (1) includes a plurality of battery unit receiving portions (70) for receiving battery units (100), a plurality of connectors (20) each floatable in the plane intersecting a direction (X) of insertion of the battery unit (100) into the battery unit receiving portion (70), an attaching object (80) to which the plurality of connectors (20) are attached, and connecting members (93) that connect between the plurality of connectors (20).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2017
    Assignee: Japan Aviation Electronics Industry, Limited
    Inventors: Takeshi Ebisawa, Katsuhiko Nakazawa
  • Patent number: 9570736
    Abstract: In some embodiments, the present disclosure pertains to methods of forming electrodes on a surface. In some embodiments, the formed electrodes have a three-dimensional current collector layer. In some embodiments, the present disclosure pertains to the formed electrodes. In some embodiments, the present disclosure pertains to energy storage devices that contain the formed electrodes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2017
    Assignee: WILLIAM MARSH RICE UNIVERSITY
    Inventors: Charudatta Galande, Neelam Singh, Suman Khatiwada, Pulickel M. Ajayan
  • Patent number: 9570762
    Abstract: An exemplary fuel cell component comprises a porous plate. A vapor permeable layer is provided on at least one portion of the porous plate. The vapor permeable layer is configured to permit vapor to pass through the layer while resisting liquid passage through the layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 17, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2017
    Assignee: Audi AG
    Inventor: Siddique Ali Khateeb Razack
  • Patent number: 9570752
    Abstract: A negative electrode material includes an active material, which is present in an amount ranging from about 60 wt % to about 95 wt % of a total wt % of the negative electrode material. The negative electrode material further includes a polyimide binder, which is present in an amount ranging from about 1 wt % to about 20 wt % of the total wt % of the negative electrode material. The polyimide binder contains a repeating unit, where a backbone structure of each repeating unit has no ether group present and no more than one carbonyl group present. The negative electrode material also includes a conductive filler, which is present in an amount ranging from about 3 wt % to about 20 wt % of the total wt % of the negative electrode material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 16, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2017
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Xiaosong Huang, Mei Cai
  • Patent number: 9564650
    Abstract: The present invention relates to methods and systems related to fuel cells, and in particular, to direct carbon fuel cells. The methods and systems relate to cleaning and removal of components utilized and produced during operation of the fuel cell, regeneration of components utilized during operation of the fuel cell, and generating power using the fuel cell.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 2, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2017
    Assignees: THE CHARLES STARK DRAPER LABORATORY, INC., BROWN UNIVERSITY
    Inventors: Daniel I. Harjes, D. Andrew Dineen, Jr., Liang Guo, Joseph M. Calo, Valerie J. Bloomfield
  • Patent number: 9564670
    Abstract: A battery module including a plurality of battery cells aligned in a first direction; a heat exchange member supporting a bottom surface of each battery cell of the plurality of battery cells, the heat exchange member exchanging heat with the plurality of battery cells, wherein the heat exchange member includes a first refrigerant flow path and a second refrigerant flow path, the first refrigerant flow path is adjacent to the bottom surface of each battery cell, and the second refrigerant flow path is spaced apart from the first refrigerant flow path and below the first refrigerant flow path.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 9, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2017
    Assignee: SAMSUNG SDI CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Ju-Yong Park, Seung-Woo Yang, Jae-Lim Ryu
  • Patent number: 9559350
    Abstract: The present invention provides a method for producing a nonaqueous electrolyte secondary battery in which the drop in capacity retention rate is controlled by forming a coating in a more favorable state on the surface of the negative electrode active material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 24, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2017
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Toshihiko Mitsuhashi, Yoshiyuki Ozaki, Hideki Sano, Hajime Konishi
  • Patent number: 9559395
    Abstract: In accordance with one embodiment, an electrochemical cell includes a negative electrode including a form of lithium, a positive electrode spaced apart from the negative electrode and including an electron conducting matrix and a lithium insertion material which exhibits a volume change when lithium is inserted, a separator positioned between the negative electrode and the positive electrode; and an electrolyte including a salt, wherein Li2O2 or Li2O is formed as a discharge product.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2017
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: John F. Christensen, Paul Albertus, Boris Kozinsky
  • Patent number: 9553290
    Abstract: A gas discharge structure for a battery cover has a battery cover that covers part or all of a battery, a first hose that is connected with the battery cover at a position of a through-hole provided on the battery cover. and an electric wire that is electrically connected to the battery, is inserted into the first hose, and is drawn out to an outside of a vehicle compartment through an electric-wire lead-out hole provided on a vehicle body panel. A space formed between the electric wire and the first hose communicates with a space inside the battery cover. An end portion of the first hose is located at a position corresponding to the electric-wire lead-out hole, so that an opening of the space formed between the electric wire and the first hose faces the outside of the vehicle compartment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2017
    Assignee: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Rumi Nagano, Toyoki Iguchi
  • Patent number: 9548486
    Abstract: A battery is provided. The battery includes a positive electrode including a positive electrode active material layer provided on a positive electrode current collector; a negative electrode; and a separator at least including a porous film, wherein the porous film has a porosity ? [%] and an air permeability t [sec/100 cc] which satisfy formulae of: t=a×Ln(?)?4.02a+100 and ?1.87×1010×S?4.96?a??40 wherein S is the area density of the positive electrode active material layer [mg/cm2] and Ln is natural logarithm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 25, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 17, 2017
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Tomohiro Abe, Motomi Suzuki
  • Patent number: 9548496
    Abstract: A method for fabricating a paper lithium ion cell including depositing a first lithium-metal oxide composition onto a first electrically conducting microfiber paper substrate to define a cathode, depositing a second, different lithium-metal oxide composition onto a second electrically conducting coated microfiber paper substrate to define an anode, separating the cathode and the anode with a barrier material, infusing the cathode and the anode with electrolytes, and encapsulating the anode, the cathode, and the barrier material in a housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 17, 2017
    Assignee: Indiana University Research and Technology Corporation
    Inventors: Nojan Aliahmad, Sudhir Shrestha, Khodadad Varahramyan, Mangilal Agarwal
  • Patent number: 9543605
    Abstract: A hydrogen generating device includes a first housing, a porous structure, a first flow-guiding structure and a heating unit. The first housing accommodates a solid reactant. The porous structure is disposed in the first housing. The first flow-guiding structure has first and second end portions opposite to each other. The first end portion is connected to the porous structure. The second end portion protrudes outside the first housing and is connected to the heating unit. A liquid reactant passing through the second end portion is gasified into a gaseous reactant through the heating unit. The gaseous reactant passing through the first end portion reaches to the porous structure and then is diffused from the porous structure into the first housing, so that the gaseous reactant and the solid reactant react and generate a hydrogen gas. A power generating equipment including the hydrogen generating device is also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2017
    Assignee: Coretronic Corporation
    Inventors: Ying-Chieh Chen, Chung-Ping Wang, Yu-Hsiang Lin
  • Patent number: 9543606
    Abstract: The present invention pertains to a fuel cell with a storage unit (4) for storing hydrogen (Hx), with a proton conductive layer, which covers a surface of the storage unit (4), and with a cathode (7) on a side of the proton conductive layer, which side is located opposite, wherein the storage unit (4) is directly coupled with an anode and/or the storage unit (4) is incorporated in a substrate (1) of a semiconductor. The storage unit (4) is preferably connected to the substrate (1) at least via a stress compensation layer (3).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2017
    Assignee: Micronas GmbH
    Inventors: Mirko Lehmann, Claas Mueller, Holger Reinecke, Mirko Frank, Gilbert Erdler
  • Patent number: 9541516
    Abstract: There is provided an electrolyte solution including a solvent formed from a sulfone, and a magnesium salt dissolved in the solvent.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2017
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Yuri Nakayama, Hideki Kawasaki, Hiroyuki Morioka
  • Patent number: 9543624
    Abstract: An electricity storage module includes a stack, holder members, and heat-transfer plate members. The stack is formed by stacking power storage elements having lead terminals protruding outward from end portions. The holder members are made of insulating resin and are attached to the end portions of the power storage elements, the holder members holding the power storage elements. The heat-transfer plate member are disposed between power storage elements adjacent in a stacking direction, the heat-transfer plate members made of heat conductive material. An engaging portion is provided on one of the holder members and the heat-transfer plate members, and an engaged portion arranged to be engaged by the engaging portion is provided on the other of the holder members and the heat-transfer plate members. The holder members and the heat-transfer plate members are integrated by mutual engagement of the engaging portions and the engaged portions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 2, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2017
    Assignees: AUTONETWORKS TECHNOLOGIES, LTD., SUMITOMO WIRING SYSTEMS, LTD., SUMITOMO ELECTRIC INDUSTRIES, LTD.
    Inventors: Masakuni Kasugai, Hiroki Shimoda, Kazuyuki Nakagaki, Masato Tsutsuki, Makoto Higashikozono, Hisashi Sawada
  • Patent number: 9539665
    Abstract: A feed-through, for example a battery feed-through for a lithium-ion battery or a lithium ion accumulator, has at least one base body which has at least one opening through which at least one conductor, for example a pin-shaped conductor, embedded in a glass material is guided. The base body contains a low melting material, for example a light metal, such as aluminum, magnesium, AlSiC, an aluminum alloy, a magnesium alloy, titanium, titanium alloy or steel, in particular special steel, stainless steel or tool steel. The glass material consists of the following in mole percent: 35-50% P2O5, for example 39-48%; 0-14% Al2O3, for example 2-12%; 2-10% B2O3, for example 4-8%; 0-30% Na2O, for example 0-20%; 0-20% M2O, for example 12-20%, wherein M is K, Cs or Rb; 0-10% PbO, for example 0-9%; 0-45% Li2O, for example 0-40% or 17-40%; 0-20% BaO, for example 5-20%; 0-10% Bi2O3, for example 1-5% or 2-5%.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 14, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2017
    Assignee: Schott AG
    Inventors: Frank Kroll, Helmut Hartl, Andreas Roters, Hauke Esemann, Dieter Goedeke, Ulf Dahlmann, Sabine Pichler-Wilhelm, Martin Landendinger, Linda Johanna Backnaes
  • Patent number: 9537162
    Abstract: A device and a method for controlling a cold start of a fuel cell system are provided and are capable of increasing a fuel cell load to reduce a cold start time using a kinetic energy storage method for a rotor of a motor for driving a fuel cell system. The method improves cold start performance by performing self-heating of a fuel cell stack based on an increase in an output current amount of a fuel cell and by restricting a motor torque simultaneously with generating the motor torque while applying a current to a motor when a vehicle stops to consume an output current of the fuel cell.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2017
    Assignee: Hyundai Motor Company
    Inventors: Soon Woo Kwon, Joon Yong Lee
  • Patent number: 9537190
    Abstract: A battery cell separator includes a body having front and rear sides for being stacked against respective battery cells. The body has a cross-section between the front and rear sides. The cross-section may have a saw-wave pattern, a square-wave pattern, or a sine-wave pattern.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 10, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2017
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Patrick Daniel Maguire, Saravanan Paramasivam, James George Gebbie