Patents Examined by James Erwin
-
Patent number: 9406926Abstract: Disclosed is an anode for a lithium secondary battery. The anode includes a current collector in the form of a wire and a porous anode active material layer coated to surround the surface of the current collector. The three-dimensional porous structure of the active material layer increases the surface area of the anode. Accordingly, the mobility of lithium ions through the anode is improved, achieving superior battery performance. In addition, the porous structure allows the anode to relieve internal stress and pressure, such as swelling, occurring during charge and discharge of a battery, ensuring high stability of the battery while preventing deformation of the battery. These advantages make the anode suitable for use in a cable-type secondary battery. Further disclosed is a lithium secondary battery including the anode.Type: GrantFiled: June 6, 2014Date of Patent: August 2, 2016Assignee: LG CHEM, LTD.Inventors: Yo-Han Kwon, Je-Young Kim, Ki-Tae Kim, Heon-Cheol Shin, Hyung-Man Cho, Hye-Ran Jung
-
Patent number: 9406932Abstract: In at least one embodiment, a lithium-ion battery is provided comprising a positive electrode, a negative electrode, an electrolyte, and a separator situated between the electrodes. At least one of the electrodes may include a proton absorbing material. The proton absorbing material may be an atomic intermetallic material including a proton absorbed state. The proton absorbing material may react with protons in the electrolyte to reduce moisture formation and cathode degradation in the battery. The proton absorbing material may absorb at least 0.5 wt. % hydrogen and may be present in the anode and/or cathode in an amount from 0.01 to 5 wt. %.Type: GrantFiled: January 15, 2014Date of Patent: August 2, 2016Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: Feng Li, Chi Paik, Jun Yang
-
Patent number: 9406934Abstract: An alkaline, rechargeable electrochemical cell includes a pasted electrode structure in which a composition comprising a paste matrix component includes cobalt in an amount greater than 6 weight percent ranging up to 14 weight percent. The matrix may also include a rare earth such as yttrium. The composition further includes particles of nickel hydroxide dispersed in the matrix, and these particles include cobalt levels ranging from greater than 8 atomic percent up to 15 atomic percent. Cells incorporating these materials have good charging efficiency at elevated temperatures.Type: GrantFiled: February 7, 2012Date of Patent: August 2, 2016Assignee: BASF CorporationInventors: John M. Koch, Cristian Fierro
-
Patent number: 9406921Abstract: A prismatic secondary battery is provided with a negative/positive electrode collector (18), which are disposed on either one of a wound negative/positive electrode substrate exposed portion (15), and a negative/positive electrode collector receiving member (19) which is disposed on another surface. At least one of the negative/positive electrode collector has a recess portion (30) formed in part on a surface on the side not facing the negative/positive electrode substrate exposed portions so as to be thinner than the thickness of the other portion. Resistance welding is carried out in this recessed part, thereby a large welding nugget is formed between the negative/positive electrode exposed portion and the negative/positive electrode collector.Type: GrantFiled: October 28, 2011Date of Patent: August 2, 2016Assignee: Sanyo Electric Co., Ltd.Inventors: Takayuki Hattori, Takenori Kimura, Yasuhiro Yamauchi, Toshiyuki Nohma
-
Patent number: 9401514Abstract: The present invention provides a fuel cell separator and a method for surface treatment of the same, in which ionized nanoparticles are attached to the surface of a separator to form fine projections such that the surface of the separator exhibits superhydrophobicity. For this purpose, the present invention provides a method for surface treatment of a fuel cell separator which provides nanoparticles for forming fine projections on the surface of the separator to a discharge electrode and ionizes the nanoparticles by an arc discharge generated in the discharge electrode. The ionized nanoparticles are then attached to the surface of the separator by an electric field generated by applying a high voltage between the separator and the discharge electrode, thereby forming fine projections for imparting superhydrophobicity.Type: GrantFiled: May 12, 2011Date of Patent: July 26, 2016Assignees: Hyundai Motor Company, Kia Motors CorporationInventors: Haeng Jin Ko, Sae Hoon Kim, Yoo Chang Yang, Yun Seok Kim
-
Patent number: 9397325Abstract: A safety vent including: a vent 3 that allows gas generated inside a laminate type battery 2 to release to the outside, a gas permeated membrane 4 through which the gas permeates, and a housing case 5 that internally houses the vent 3 and the gas permeated membrane 4, and that is attached to a gas spout out port 24 formed in a laminated exterior casing 21 of the laminate type battery 2.Type: GrantFiled: March 26, 2013Date of Patent: July 19, 2016Assignee: OPTNICS PRECISION CO., LTDInventors: Seichin Kinuta, Atsushi Nishino, Yoshiyuki Ichinosawa, Masashi Kobayashi
-
Patent number: 9385397Abstract: The present invention provides a battery or supercapacitor current collector which is prelithiated. The prelithiated current collector comprises: (a) an electrically conductive substrate having two opposed primary surfaces, and (b) a mixture layer of carbon (and/or other stabilizing element, such as B, Al, Ga, In, C, Si, Ge, Sn, Pb, As, Sb, Bi, Te, or a combination thereof) and lithium or lithium alloy coated on at least one of the primary surfaces, wherein lithium element is present in an amount of 1% to 99% by weight of the mixture layer. This current collector serves as an effective and safe lithium source for a wide variety of electrochemical energy storage cells, including the rechargeable lithium cell (e.g. lithium-metal, lithium-ion, lithium-sulfur, lithium-air, lithium-graphene, lithium-carbon, and lithium-carbon nanotube cell) and the lithium ion based supercapacitor cell (e.g, symmetric ultracapacitor, asymmetric ultracapacitor, hybrid supercapacitor-battery, or lithium-ion capacitor).Type: GrantFiled: August 19, 2011Date of Patent: July 5, 2016Assignee: Nanotek Instruments, Inc.Inventors: Aruna Zhamu, Yanbo Wang, Bor Z. Jang
-
Patent number: 9379407Abstract: In a fuel cell stack constituting a fuel cell module, electrolyte/electrode assemblies and separators are alternately laminated. An electrolyte/electrode assembly is arranged on one end of the fuel cell stack in the lamination direction, while a separator is arranged on the other end of the fuel cell stack in the lamination direction. A terminal separator is arranged adjacent to the electrolyte/electrode assembly, while a load relaxation member is arranged adjacent to the separator. The terminal separator controls the supply of a fuel gas to a fuel gas channel, and the load relaxation member is configured of a laminate of a plurality of flat metal plates.Type: GrantFiled: April 20, 2010Date of Patent: June 28, 2016Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.Inventors: Ayaka Nango, Tetsuya Ogawa, Yukihiko Kiyohiro
-
Patent number: 9362568Abstract: Aspects of the present disclosure are directed to electrodes and implementations such as batteries. As may be implemented in accordance with one or more embodiments, an apparatus includes a nanocarbon substrate having at least one of graphene and carbon nanotubes, and a hybrid electrode including a cobalt oxide/carbon nanotube (CoO/CNT) catalyst and a Ni—Fe-layered double hydride (LDH) catalyst. The catalysts and substrate facilitate transfer of charge carriers. Various aspects are directed to a battery type device having an anode and a single or split cathode with the respective catalysts on the cathode to facilitate oxygen reduction and oxygen evolution reactions for discharging and charging the battery type device.Type: GrantFiled: July 21, 2014Date of Patent: June 7, 2016Assignee: The Board of Trustees of the Leland Stanford Junior UniversityInventor: Hongjie Dai
-
Patent number: 9356313Abstract: At least one zone made of lithium-containing glass-ceramic material, in a solid electrolyte for a lithium battery, is formed from a lithium-containing ceramic material, advantageously in the form of a layer such as a thin film. It is obtained by melting of at least a part of the lithium-containing ceramic material, followed by a recrystallization heat treatment. Melting is obtained by a laser beam irradiation operation, which enables fabrication of the solid electrolyte to be performed directly on a multilayer stack comprising certain active components of the lithium battery.Type: GrantFiled: June 15, 2012Date of Patent: May 31, 2016Assignee: COMMISSARIAT À L'ENERGIE ATOMIQUE ET AUX ENERGIES ALTERNATIVESInventors: Sami Oukassi, Samir Guerroudj, Michaël Roffat
-
Patent number: 9343782Abstract: The present disclosure discloses a battery safety apparatus. The battery safety apparatus according to the present disclosure measures a voltage of a battery in the event of vehicle collision, and when the voltage is higher than a reference voltage value, that it, when the battery is charged over a reference charge amount, discharges the battery and at the same time cools the battery using a cooling device.Type: GrantFiled: June 3, 2014Date of Patent: May 17, 2016Assignee: LG CHEM, LTD.Inventor: Dong-Keun Kwon
-
Patent number: 9343781Abstract: An Adaptive Current-collector Electrochemical (ACE) system utilizes an array of contact pads and associated current control transistors to control localized current generation in discrete regions of a battery. Each contact pad is formed on a battery electrode (anode or cathode) and coupled to an associated discrete battery region, and is connected by an associated transistor to a current collection plate. Sensors are used to monitor operating parameters (e.g., localized current flow and operating temperature) of each discrete battery region, and a control circuit uses the sensor data to control the operating state of the transistors, whereby localized current flow through each transistor is increased, decreased or turned off according to measured local operating parameters. The control circuit utilizes local control circuits that process local sensor data using “stand-alone” control logic, or a central controller that processes all sensor data and coordinates transistor operations.Type: GrantFiled: October 29, 2013Date of Patent: May 17, 2016Assignee: Palo Alto Research Center IncorporatedInventors: Eric J. Shrader, Robert Sean McHenry
-
Patent number: 9337493Abstract: This invention provides metal-foam electrodes for batteries and fuel cells. In some variations, an electrode includes a first metal layer disposed on a second metal layer, wherein the first metal layer comprises an electrically conductive, open-cell metal foam with an average cell diameter of about 25 ?m or less. The structure also includes smaller pores between the cells. The electrode forms a one piece monolithic structure and allows thicker electrodes than are possible with current electrode-fabrication techniques. These electrodes are formed from an all-fluidic plating solution. The disclosed structures increase energy density in batteries and power density in fuel cells.Type: GrantFiled: June 15, 2014Date of Patent: May 10, 2016Assignee: HRL Laboratories, LLCInventors: Adam F. Gross, John Wang, Andrew P. Nowak
-
Patent number: 9324997Abstract: Technologies are generally described for a battery, a method for implementing a battery and a rechargeable battery system. In some examples, the rechargeable battery system includes a battery. The battery may include a first electrode including a tantalum component, a vanadium component and a boron component. The battery may further include a second electrode and an electrical insulator between the first and the second electrode. The battery system may include a housing, where the housing includes the first electrode, and where the housing is effective to communicate light and oxygen to the first electrode. A sensor may be disposed so as to be effective to detect a reaction of tantalum and oxygen in the housing and generate a reaction signal in response. A processor may be in electrical communication with the sensor and effective to receive the reaction signal and generate an indication based on the reaction signal.Type: GrantFiled: November 19, 2015Date of Patent: April 26, 2016Assignee: Empire Technology Development LLCInventor: Arockiadoss Thevasahayam
-
Patent number: 9310444Abstract: A battery testing system according to an exemplary aspect of the present disclosure includes, among other things, a penetrating device and an impedance meter electrically connected to the penetrating device.Type: GrantFiled: January 15, 2014Date of Patent: April 12, 2016Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: Xiao Guang Yang, Renata Michaela Arsenault, Theodore James Miller
-
Patent number: 9312563Abstract: Provided is a method for manufacturing a secondary battery that can ensure a favorable charging state. A method for manufacturing a secondary battery according to an embodiment of the invention is a method for manufacturing a secondary battery where a wound body having a positive electrode sheet, a separator and a negative electrode sheet wound in a layered state in a housing, which includes a first step of accommodating the wound body into the housing; and a second step of hot-pressing the wound body through the housing from outside of the housing, the wound body being accommodated in the housing. The method preferably includes a third step of performing initial charging, confining a part substantially the same as a part where the wound body is hot-pressed through the housing in the second step.Type: GrantFiled: June 6, 2013Date of Patent: April 12, 2016Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventor: Hiroaki Ikeda
-
Patent number: 9306229Abstract: A fuel cell system includes a fuel cell, a fuel gas supply channel, a fuel off-gas discharge channel, an oxidant gas supply channel, an oxidant off-gas discharge channel, a first shut valve, a second shut valve, a shut valve controller, a temperature detector, a scavenging device, and an elapsed-time detector. The elapsed-time detector is configured to detect an elapsed time elapsed from a timing at which the fuel cell is shut down. The scavenging device scavenges the oxidant gas flow channel and the fuel gas flow channel in sequence if the elapsed time detected by the elapsed-time detector is within a first predetermined period of time. The scavenging device scavenges the fuel gas flow channel and the oxidant gas flow channel in sequence if the elapsed time detected by the elapsed-time detector is outside the first predetermined period of time.Type: GrantFiled: August 2, 2012Date of Patent: April 5, 2016Assignee: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.Inventors: Koichiro Miyata, Chihiro Wake
-
Patent number: 9300002Abstract: A three-dimensional electrode architecture for a supercapacitor and/or battery characterized by high power density and high energy density includes at least one negative electrode and at least one positive disposed in an interpenetrating manner. Also disclosed are corresponding or associated three-dimensional supercapacitors or batteries as well as methods for making the same.Type: GrantFiled: March 1, 2013Date of Patent: March 29, 2016Assignee: Illinois Institute of TechnologyInventor: Leon Shaw
-
Patent number: 9287556Abstract: For use as electrode material for a lithium battery, porous templates are impregnated with a carbon feedstock that can be graphitized. This frequently results in only a low thickness of the deposited, graphite-like layer, such that generally several such infiltration and carbonation processes must be carried out consecutively.Type: GrantFiled: October 19, 2011Date of Patent: March 15, 2016Assignee: Heraeus Quarzglas GmbH & Co. KGInventors: Christian Neumann, Joerg Becker
-
Patent number: 9276283Abstract: A self-propelled microbial fuel cell apparatus includes a microbial fuel cell with a cathode electrode and an anode electrode wherein the anode electrode is enclosed within an enclosure that has an opening in it. The microbial fuel cell is positioned within a self-propelled delivery vehicle so that the electrodes of the fuel cell are exposed to interface with a microbial environment.Type: GrantFiled: September 23, 2014Date of Patent: March 1, 2016Assignee: The United States of America, as Represented by the Secretary of the NavyInventors: Wayne P. Liu, Adriane Q. Wotawa-Bergen, David B. Chadwick, Ken E. Richter, Yolanda M. Arias-Thode