Patents Examined by Edu E Enin-Okut
  • Patent number: 8765314
    Abstract: A fuel cell system includes a fuel cell; a fuel gas supplying unit supplying the fuel gas into the fuel cell on the anode side thereof; an oxidizing agent gas supplying unit supplying the oxidizing agent gas into the fuel cell on the cathode side thereof; a raw material gas supplying unit supplying the raw material gas into the fuel cell; and a controlling unit controlling the supply of the fuel gas, the oxidizing agent gas and the raw material gas. After switching the output of electric power or the fuel cell off, the fuel gas supplying unit suspends the supply of the fuel gas, the oxidizing agent gas supplying unit suspends the supply of the oxidizing agent gas and the raw material gas supplying unit supplies the raw material gas into the fuel cell to purge the fuel cell on the cathode side.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 24, 2004
    Date of Patent: July 1, 2014
    Assignee: Panasonic Corporation
    Inventors: Yasushi Sugawara, Junji Morita, Makoto Uchida, Takayuki Urata, Shinya Kosako, Takahiro Umeda, Soichi Shibata, Masataka Ozeki, Akinari Nakamura, Yoshikazu Tanaka, Yoichiro Tsuji
  • Patent number: 8765323
    Abstract: Provided is a method of manufacturing a membrane electrode assembly including catalyst layers in both sides of a polymer electrolyte membrane, substance diffusion of the catalyst layer being improved, in which forming at least one of the catalyst layers includes at least: forming a first layer including one of a catalyst and a catalyst precursor on a surface of a sheet by vapor-phase deposition; forming a through hole in the first layer; forming a second layer including one of a catalyst and a catalyst precursor on a surface of the first layer having the through hole by vapor-phase deposition; joining a polymer electrolyte membrane to a surface of the second layer; and peeling off the sheet from the first layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 1, 2014
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Kazuhiro Yamada, Kazuya Miyazaki
  • Patent number: 8758952
    Abstract: Disclosed is a fuel cell system including a fuel cell, a pipe forming a fuel supply passage through which a fuel gas supplied from a fuel supply source flows to the fuel cell, an on/off valve which regulates a gas state on the upstream side of the fuel supply passage to supply the gas to the downstream side, and control means for controlling the opening/closing operation of the on/off valve. The control means sets a required time from the opening time of the on/off valve to the closing time of the valve so that the vibration level of the pipe on the upstream side of the on/off valve is a predetermined reference level or less.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 24, 2014
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Koji Katano
  • Patent number: 8753775
    Abstract: The present invention provides a lithium secondary battery having high-capacity as well as good cycle characteristics. The lithium secondary battery includes a positive electrode comprising a positive active material, a negative electrode comprising a negative active material and an electrolyte. The negative active material includes graphite particles combined to Si particulate. The electrolyte includes a solvent, a polyether modified silicone oil where a linear polyether chain is linked to a polysiloxane chain, and a solute comprising a lithium salt.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 13, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 17, 2014
    Assignee: Samsung SDI Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Takitaro Yamaguchi, Ryuichi Shimizu
  • Patent number: 8734985
    Abstract: A jelly-roll type battery unit includes a first electrode plate having a first electrode current collector with a first electrode tab, and a first electrode active material layer on a surface of the first electrode current collector; a second electrode plate having a second electrode current collector with a second electrode tab, and a second electrode active material layer on a surface of the second electrode current collector; and a separator interposed between the first electrode plate and the second electrode plate. The electrode tab is incorporated into the electrode current collector in an area of either first or second electrode plate where the corresponding electrode active material layer is not coated. The electrode tab is cut widthwise with respect to the electrode current collector from a center area of the electrode current collector and folded, and an insulating tape is adhered to either surface of the electrode tab.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2005
    Date of Patent: May 27, 2014
    Assignee: Samsung SDI Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Chang-Seob Kim, Ju-Hyung Kim, Min-Ho Song, Jun-Won Kang
  • Patent number: 8722281
    Abstract: There are provided a fuel cell capable of suppressing damage to an end thereof, and a fuel cell module and a fuel cell device that include the fuel cell. In a fuel cell (1) wherein a fuel electrode layer (3) is formed on one of opposite main surfaces of a solid electrolyte layer (4) and an air electrode layer (5) is formed on the other of the main surfaces, and electric power is generated by utilizing a fuel gas and an oxygen-containing gas, an oxidation suppression layer (10) is located closer to the fuel electrode layer (3) than at least the solid electrolyte layer (4) on one end of the fuel cell (1), the oxidation suppression layer (10) being composed mainly of silicate containing at least one of elements belonging to Group 2 on the periodic table. This makes it possible to provide a fuel cell (1a) capable of suppressing damage to and oxidation of one end thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 13, 2014
    Assignee: Kyocera Corporation
    Inventor: Hiroki Muramatsu
  • Patent number: 8709106
    Abstract: A lithium secondary battery anode member of the present invention includes a solid electrolyte film formed on a lithium metal film and is capable of suppressing reduction of the solid electrolyte film over a long period of time. In the lithium secondary battery anode member, the lithium metal film and the solid electrolyte film are laminated on a substrate, the solid electrolyte film contains the composition xLi.yP.zS.wO wherein x, y, z, and w satisfy the relations, 0.2?x?0.45, 0.1?y?0.2, 0.35?z?0.6, and 0.03?w?0.13, respectively, (x+y+z+w=1), and the main peaks of an X-ray diffraction pattern of the solid electrolyte film measured by a film method using Cu K? radiation are at 2? of about 11° and 30° and each have a half width of 10° or less.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2006
    Date of Patent: April 29, 2014
    Assignee: Sumitomo Electric Industries, Ltd.
    Inventor: Nobuhiro Ota
  • Patent number: 8703347
    Abstract: A flat fuel cell assembly including a membrane electrode assembly, a cathode porous current collector, an anode porous current collector and a gas barrier material layer is provided. The membrane electrode assembly includes a proton conducting membrane, an anode catalyst layer and a cathode catalyst layer disposed respectively on two sides of the proton conducting membrane, and an anode gas diffusion layer and a cathode gas diffusion layer disposed respectively on the anode catalyst layer and the cathode catalyst layer. The cathode porous current collector is disposed on one side of the cathode gas diffusion layer. The anode porous current collector is disposed on one side of the anode gas diffusion layer. The gas barrier material layer having at least an opening exposing the surface of the cathode gas diffusion layer is disposed on the cathode gas diffusion layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 21, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 22, 2014
    Assignee: Industrial Technology Research Institute
    Inventors: Ku-Yen Kang, Chun-Ho Tai, Chiou-Chu Lai, Ying-Ying Hsu, Yin-Wen Tsai
  • Patent number: 8697277
    Abstract: A joint section where covering films 2a, 2b of film-covered battery 1 are heat-sealed together is formed with flat surface 6? having thickness t1 and groove 6 having thickness t2. Groove 6 serves to reduce the projection area of film-covered battery 1 by folding side 2c toward receiving section 2a1 with groove 6 serving as an edge, and groove 6 is made thinner than flat surface 6? by ?t=t1?t2. Therefore, the length of covering films 2a, 2b produced on outer side 6a is shortened as compared with the case of folding the portion that has thickness t1.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 15, 2014
    Assignee: NEC Corporation
    Inventors: Makihiro Otohata, Hiroshi Yageta
  • Patent number: 8691408
    Abstract: A secondary battery includes a case having positive and negative electrodes, a safety device attached to a surface of the case and having a resistance value which changes during swelling of the case, and a protective circuit module attached to a side of the case while being electrically connected to the safety device. The resistance value of the safety device changes as the case swells, and the protective circuit module reduces or interrupts charging/discharging currents in response thereto. The safety device can be used for all secondary batteries regardless of capacity, can quickly react against abruptly rising internal temperature and rapid swelling, and can stably prevent swelling which occurs above an allowable temperature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 25, 2005
    Date of Patent: April 8, 2014
    Assignee: Samsung SDI Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Eui-Sun Hong, Yoon-Tai Kwak
  • Patent number: 8685586
    Abstract: The separator of which the region facing the MEA is a flat includes the first electrode facing plate and the second electrode facing plate. The separator includes the reaction gas supply manifold to which the reaction gas is supplied. The first electrode facing plate includes a plurality of reaction gas supply holes formed at the end of the cell-reaction region. The intermediate plate includes a plurality of reaction gas supply path slits that forms the reaction gas supply paths, wherein each of the reaction gas supply paths has one end connected to the reaction gas supply manifold and other end connected to at least one of the plurality of reaction gas supply holes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 2005
    Date of Patent: April 1, 2014
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Fumihiko Inui, Seiji Sano, Takashi Kajiwara, Sho Usami, Makoto Ueno, Yuichi Yagami, Norihiko Nakamura, Hiromichi Sato, Yoshifumi Ota
  • Patent number: 8679683
    Abstract: An electrolytic solution capable of improving battery characteristics even at high temperature, and a battery using the electrolytic solution are provided. A separator is impregnated with an electrolytic solution. The electrolytic solution includes a cyclic imide salt such as 1,1,2,2,3,3-hexafluoropropane-1,3-disulfonimide lithium and a light metal salt such as difluoro[oxalato-O,O?] lithium borate or bis[oxalato-O,O?] lithium borate. Thereby, the decomposition reaction of the electrolytic solution can be prevented even at high temperature, and the battery characteristics can be improved.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 25, 2014
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Akira Yamaguchi, Atsumichi Kawashima, Masayuki Ihara, Hiroshi Horiuchi, Hiroyuki Yamaguchi, Tadahiko Kubota, Kumiko Takagi
  • Patent number: 8679675
    Abstract: A battery including a battery case, an electrode assembly disposed in the battery case, the electrode assembly including a winding of a first electrode plate, a second electrode plate and a separator, wherein the separator is interposed between the first and second electrode plates, a cap assembly covering the battery case, and a member configured to prevent a short circuit of the electrode assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 25, 2014
    Assignee: Samsung SDI Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Teak Hyen Kwon, Young Jun Kim, Min Ho Song, Byung Jo Jung
  • Patent number: 8663869
    Abstract: A solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC) stack includes a plurality of SOFCs, and a plurality of interconnects, each interconnect containing a conductive perovskite layer on an air side of the interconnect. The stack in internally manifolded for fuel and the conductive perovskite layer on each interconnect is not exposed in the fuel inlet riser. The SOFC electrolyte has a smaller roughness in regions adjacent to the fuel inlet and fuel outlet openings in the electrolyte than under the cathode or anode electrodes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2014
    Assignee: Bloom Energy Corporation
    Inventors: Martin Janousek, Tad Armstrong, Dien Nguyen, Ananda H. Kumar
  • Patent number: 8663825
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates generally to indicating an end of life condition of an electrochemical device, and more particularly to systems and methods for sensing and determining an end of life condition in a cell comprising a high capacity cathode material suitable for use in a non-aqueous electrochemical cell. The high capacity cathode material has an amorphous or semi-crystalline form of copper manganese oxide, and optionally fluorinated carbon. The present disclosure additionally relates to transmitting the determined end of life condition to a user or monitoring device of the cell.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2014
    Assignee: Eaglepicher Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Greg Miller, William Studyvin, Michael Parrot, John C. Pugsley, Ernest Ndzebet, Min Qi Yang, Viet Vu, Umamaheswari Janakiraman, Jeremy Chi-Han Chang, Ramanathan Thillaiyan, Dong Zhang, Mario Destephen
  • Patent number: 8642225
    Abstract: A high-pressure fluid supply apparatus that avoids gas leakage due to a reduction in the performance of a seal member provided inside piping is provided. A high-pressure fluid supply apparatus is provided, the apparatus including: piping that supplies a fluid from a high-pressure fluid supply source to a fluid utilizing device via a first valve device and a second valve device; a seal member that is arranged at a pipe part between the first and second valve devices in order to maintain sealing property of the pipe part, the seal member being made of an elastic material; and a control unit that controls closing and opening of the first and second valve devices to be able to adjust a pressure variation rate of the fluid in the pipe part, wherein the control unit adjusts the pressure variation rate in accordance with a temperature of the seal member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 19, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 4, 2014
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Tsukuo Ishitoya
  • Patent number: 8632898
    Abstract: A lithium battery for use in a vehicle includes a container, a plurality of positive terminals extending from a first end of the lithium battery, and a plurality of negative terminals extending from a second end of the lithium battery. The plurality of positive terminals are provided in a first configuration and the plurality of negative terminals are provided in a second configuration, the first configuration differing from the second configuration. A battery system for use in a vehicle may include a plurality of electrically connected lithium cells or batteries.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 2004
    Date of Patent: January 21, 2014
    Assignee: Johnson Controls Technology Company
    Inventors: Thomas J. Dougherty, James S. Symanski, Joerg A. Kuempers, Uwe Koehler, Ronald C. Miles, Scott A. Hansen, Nels R. Smith, Majid Taghikhani, Edward N. Mrotek, Michael G. Andrew
  • Patent number: 8623573
    Abstract: In at least one embodiment, the present invention provides an electrically conductive fluid distribution plate and a method of making, and system for using, the electrically conductive fluid distribution plate. In at least one embodiment, the plate comprises a plate body defining a set of fluid flow channels configured to distribute flow of a fluid across at least one side of the plate, and a polymeric porous conductive layer proximate the plate body, with the porous conductive layer having a porosity sufficient to result in a water contact angle of the surface of less than 40°.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 12, 2005
    Date of Patent: January 7, 2014
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Mahmoud H. Abd Elhamid, Feng Zhong, Richard H. Blunk, Youssef M. Mikhail, Gayatri Vyas, Daniel J. Lisi, Michael K. Budinski, Gerald W. Fly, Timothy J. Fuller, Brian K. Brady, Keith E. Newman
  • Patent number: 8623536
    Abstract: A battery module, including at least one unit battery having an electrode group and a battery casing, and at least one partitioning wall coupled to the at least one unit battery, wherein the at least one partitioning wall has a smaller size as compared to the at least one unit battery. The battery module may further include a plurality of alternating unit batteries and partitioning walls having at least one fixing member coupled to each unit battery.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 2006
    Date of Patent: January 7, 2014
    Assignee: Samsung SDI Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yoon-Cheol Jeon, Tae-Yong Kim
  • Patent number: 8617755
    Abstract: The invention relates to a fuel cell comprising a separator, plate that is positioned between electrolyte-electrode units, said plate consisting of two embossed panels with contact surfaces that rest against one another. A fluidic chamber for a coolant is configured between the two pans and a fluidic chamber for a gas is configured between each panel and the respective adjacent electrolyte-electrode unit. The fluidic chamber for the coolant comprises two sub-chambers, each facing a respective panel, and said coolant traverses the fluidic chamber exclusively in an alternate manner through the two sub-chambers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 16, 2004
    Date of Patent: December 31, 2013
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Günter Baschek, Arno Mattejat