Patents Examined by Jane Rhee
  • Patent number: 10141613
    Abstract: A battery module system includes at least one cell and a battery module processor. The battery module processor may be configured to receive at least one cell signal associated with the at least one cell, wherein the at least one cell signal includes at least one of a temperature signal, a voltage signal, or a current signal. The battery module processor may be also configured to determine a status of the at least one cell based on the at least one cell signal. The battery module system may be configured to removably connect to a master/module interface, and to deliver power from the at least one cell to the master/module interface. The battery module system may be also configured to communicate, from the battery module processor, the status of the at least one cell to the master/module interface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2018
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventors: Lowell W. Schaffner, Mehdy Barekatein, Sheverria Antony Aikens, Frederic Lacaux
  • Patent number: 10118504
    Abstract: A battery pack for an electric vehicle is disclosed. The battery pack includes an upper tray, a first busbar attached to the upper tray, a lower tray, and a second busbar attached to the lower tray. The battery pack also includes a plurality of battery cells arranged in the upper and lower trays, and a threaded fastener mechanically connecting the lower tray to the upper tray.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2018
    Assignee: Thunder Power New Energy Vehicle Development Company Limited
    Inventors: Francesco Mastrandrea, Peter Tutzer
  • Patent number: 10096875
    Abstract: Flow directing element in a metal air cell is configured to cause evenly distributed flow of aqueous electrolyte solution electrolyte in it over the anode. Flow distributing element in a metal air cell is configured to lengthen the path of electrolyte flow from an inlet to the anode, thereby to increase ohmic resistance to shunt currents in the cell. A battery with these cells consumes the metal in the metal anodes evenly and with minimized shunt currents.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 9, 2018
    Assignee: PHINERGY LTD.
    Inventors: Yisrael Miller, Avraham Yadgar, Dekel Tzidon
  • Patent number: 10081268
    Abstract: A battery management device for a battery that is incorporated in a vehicle includes a cooling fan configured to cool the battery and a controller configured to control the cooling fan. The controller is configured to calculate an amount of high-rate degradation damage which is an amount of degradation damage to the battery caused by high-rate charge or discharge, and is configured to restrict cooling of the battery by the cooling fan when the amount of high-rate degradation damage has reached or exceeded a predefined cooling restriction starting threshold, more strictly than when the amount of high-rate degradation damage is less than the cooling restriction starting threshold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 1, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 25, 2018
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Hiroyuki Obata
  • Patent number: 10084186
    Abstract: To increase capacity per weight of a power storage device, a particle includes a first region, a second region in contact with at least part of a surface of the first region and located on the outside of the first region, and a third region in contact with at least part of a surface of the second region and located on the outside of the second region. The first and the second regions contain lithium and oxygen. At least one of the first region and the second region contains manganese. At least one of the first and the second regions contains an element M. The first region contains a first crystal having a layered rock-salt structure. The second region contains a second crystal having a layered rock-salt structure. An orientation of the first crystal is different from an orientation of the second crystal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 25, 2018
    Assignee: Semiconductor Energy Laboratory Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Takahiro Kawakami, Teruaki Ochiai, Shuhei Yoshitomi, Takuya Hirohashi, Mako Motoyoshi, Yohei Momma, Junya Goto
  • Patent number: 10079397
    Abstract: To provide a technique that allows prompt detection of leakage of fuel gas in a fuel cell system. A controller included in a fuel cell system performs a hydrogen leakage detecting process of detecting the occurrence of hydrogen leakage in the low-pressure zone based on the detected pressure in a low-pressure zone of an anode gas piping at a time of start-up of the fuel cell system. A controller uses at least one of a first condition and a second condition for determination as a determination condition in hydrogen leakage detecting process, and determines that there is no leakage of the reactive gas while the fuel cell stops generating power if the determination condition is satisfied.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 18, 2018
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Hiroyuki Imanishi, Masashi Toida
  • Patent number: 10069155
    Abstract: A process control system includes a storage chamber, a fuel cell in fluid communication with the storage chamber via a feed line, a suction dampening drum in fluid communication with the fuel cell via a product line, a compressor in fluid communication with the suction dampening drum and the storage chamber, a recycle line disposed between the feed line and the product line, and a pressure controller disposed in the recycle line. When the fuel cell is in an electrolysis mode, the pressure controller may be operated to maintain a minimum pressure level inside the drum.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 24, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 4, 2018
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventor: Joshua M. Mermelstein
  • Patent number: 10062912
    Abstract: The invention pertains to a bipolar plate in which each of the distribution channels is located facing a dividing rib of the opposite conductive sheet; and in which said distribution channels include portions of various depths that are arranged so as to form a longitudinal alternation between: an enhanced distribution zone, in which: the distribution channels have a combined cross section of a high distribution value, and the cooling channels have a combined cross section of a low cooling value; and an enhanced cooling zone, in which: the distribution channels have a combined cross section of a value that is lower than the high distribution value, and the cooling channels have a combined cross section of a value that is higher than the low cooling value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 28, 2018
    Assignee: Commissariat A L'Energie Atomique et aux Energies Alternatives
    Inventor: Jean-Philippe Poirot-Crouvezier
  • Patent number: 10056579
    Abstract: A secondary battery may include a main body including a first surface and a second surface opposite to the first surface, and a cover connected to a side of the main body and including a skirt part eccentric to one of the first and second surfaces, wherein an external terminal is formed in the first surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 13, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2018
    Assignee: SAMSUNG SDI CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Bohyun Byun
  • Patent number: 10050303
    Abstract: Rechargeable batteries (e.g., Li-ion) including hybrid liquid and solid electrolytes are disclosed. One embodiment of a battery may include an anode; a cathode; an ionically-conductive separator between the anode and cathode; and an electrolyte suspension including a plurality of solid electrolyte particles dispersed in a liquid electrolyte solution. The solid electrolyte particles may have an average size of up to 1 ?m or 100 nm and the particles may comprise 5 to 95% by volume of the electrolyte suspension. In another embodiment, a plurality of solid electrolyte particles may be dispersed and embedded within a bulk of at least one of the anode, cathode or separator. In some embodiments, there may be a plurality of solid electrolyte particles in both suspension and embedded in the battery component(s). Replacing some of the liquid electrolyte with solid electrolyte may reduce the flammability of the electrolyte.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 14, 2018
    Assignee: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Venkataramani Anandan, Andrew Robert Drews
  • Patent number: 10044044
    Abstract: The present invention is related to fuel cells and fuel cell cathodes, especially for fuel cells using hydrogen peroxide, oxygen or air as oxidant. A supported electrocatalyst (204) or unsupported metal black catalyst (206) of cathodes according to an embodiment of the present invention is bonded to a current collector (200) by an intrinsically electron conducting adhesive (202). The surface of the electrocatalyst layer is coated by an ion-conducting ionomer layer (210). According to an embodiment of the invention these fuel cells use cathodes that employ ruthenium alloys RuMeIMeII such as ruthenium-palladium-iridium alloys or quaternary ruthenium-rhenium alloys RuMeIMeIIRe such as ruthenium-palladium-iridium-rhenium alloys as electrocatalyst (206) for hydrogen peroxide fuel cells. Other embodiments are described and shown.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 3, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 7, 2018
    Inventor: Friedrich Wilhelm Wieland
  • Patent number: 10038229
    Abstract: A battery including a heat absorbing layer that has a large endotherm per unit volume. The battery comprises at least one heat absorbing layer, the at least one heat absorbing layer comprising an inorganic hydrate and at least one organic heat absorbing material selected from the group consisting of a sugar alcohol and a hydrocarbon.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 31, 2018
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Yuki Matsushita, Mitsuru Tateishi
  • Patent number: 10038192
    Abstract: One embodiment provides a solid-state battery that has a positive-electrode layer, a negative-electrode layer, and a lithium-ion-conducting solid electrolyte layer disposed between the positive-electrode layer and the negative-electrode layer. The positive-electrode layer and/or the solid electrolyte layer contains a sulfide solid electrolyte, the negative-electrode layer and/or the solid electrolyte layer contains a solid electrolyte comprising a hydride of a complex, and at least part of the sulfide solid electrolyte is in contact with at least part of the solid electrolyte comprising a hydride of a complex.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 31, 2018
    Assignees: MITSUBISHI GAS CHEMICAL COMPANY, INC., TOHOKU TECHNO ARCH CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Genki Nogami, Mitsugu Taniguchi, Atsushi Unemoto, Motoaki Matsuo, Shinichi Orimo
  • Patent number: 10038177
    Abstract: To provide a method for forming a storage battery electrode including an active material layer with high density in which the proportion of conductive additive is low and the proportion of the active material is high. To provide a storage battery having a higher capacity per unit volume of an electrode with the use of a storage battery electrode formed by the formation method. A method for forming a storage battery electrode includes the steps of forming a mixture including an active material, graphene oxide, and a binder; providing a mixture over a current collector; and immersing the mixture provided over the current collector in a polar solvent containing a reducer, so that the graphene oxide is reduced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 31, 2018
    Assignee: Semiconductor Energy Laboratory Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Mikio Yukawa
  • Patent number: 10033030
    Abstract: Variations of the invention provide an improved aluminum battery consisting of an aluminum anode, a non-aqueous electrolyte, and a cathode comprising a metal oxide, a metal fluoride, a metal sulfide, or sulfur. The cathode can be fully reduced upon battery discharge via a multiple-electron reduction reaction. In some embodiments, the cathode materials are contained within the pore volume of a porous conductive carbon scaffold. Batteries provided by the invention have high active material specific energy densities and good cycling stabilities at a variety of operating temperatures.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 18, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 24, 2018
    Assignee: HRL Laboratories, LLC
    Inventors: John J. Vajo, Adam F. Gross, Ping Liu, Jocelyn Hicks-Garner, Elena Sherman, Sky Van Atta
  • Patent number: 10033072
    Abstract: A battery module for receiving battery cells provides cooling through a cooling fluid. Chilled fluid travels first to the hottest part of the battery module and then continues to gradually less hot areas. As the chilled cooling fluid absorbs heat and travels to cooler parts of the battery module, the heat transfer between the fluid and the battery cells decreases because the temperature differential between the cells and cooling fluid decreases, providing a more even temperature distribution across the battery module. The cooling fluid may be contained in a conduit associated with one or more cooling plates. A plurality of slots provide a precise mechanical support for each battery cell, increasing the heat conduction from the cell to the battery module, protecting the battery module from vibration and decreasing contamination in case of thermal runaway or other damage to the cells.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 7, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 24, 2018
    Assignee: ELECTROVAYA INC.
    Inventors: Rakesh Bhola, Rajshekar Das Gupta
  • Patent number: 10026937
    Abstract: Disclosed are: a frame for secondary batteries, which ensures a channel around cooling plates stably to improve cooling efficiency for secondary batteries; and a battery module, a battery pack and a vehicle comprising the same. A frame for secondary batteries according to the present disclosure comprises: an upper cooling plate and a lower cooling plate having a plate shape and arranged to be spaced apart by a predetermined distance from each other facing each other; a main frame having four sides and configured to encompass the outer peripheral portions of the upper cooling plate and the lower cooling plate, to mount the outer peripheral portions of pouch-type secondary batteries thereto, and to enable two or more main frames to be stacked; and a support member arranged between the upper cooling plate and the lower cooling to support both cooling plates.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 17, 2018
    Assignee: LG CHEM, LTD.
    Inventors: Ki-Youn Kim, Jun-Yeob Seong, Young-Sop Eom, Sung-Chun Yu, Dal-Mo Kang
  • Patent number: 10026992
    Abstract: The present invention relates to an additive for a non-aqueous electrolyte solution which may improve overcharge safety, a non-aqueous electrolyte solution for a lithium secondary battery including the same, and a lithium secondary battery including the non-aqueous electrolyte solution.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 2, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 17, 2018
    Assignee: LG Chem, Ltd.
    Inventors: Sung Hoon Yu, Hyun Yeong Lee, Yoo Sun Kang, Kyung Mi Lee
  • Patent number: 10020534
    Abstract: Present embodiments include a lithium ion battery module having a lineup of prismatic lithium ion battery cells positioned within a cell receptacle area of a housing of the lithium ion battery module. The prismatic battery cells of the lineup are spaced apart from one another in a spaced arrangement by fixed protrusions extending from internal surfaces of the housing forming the cell receptacle area, and the fixed protrusions extend inwardly to form a plurality of discontinuous slots across a width of the cell receptacle area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 4, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 10, 2018
    Assignee: Johnson Controls Technology Company
    Inventors: Richard M. DeKeuster, Robert J. Mack, Jennifer L. Czarnecki
  • Patent number: 10020516
    Abstract: A printed energy storage device includes a first electrode including zinc, a second electrode including manganese dioxide, and a separator between the first electrode and the second electrode, the first electrode, second, electrode, and separator printed onto a substrate. The device may include a first current collector and/or a second current collector printed onto the substrate. The energy storage device may include a printed intermediate layer between the separator and the first electrode. The first electrode, and the second electrode may include 1-ethyl-3-methylimidazolium tetrafluoroborate (C2mimBF4). The first electrode and the second electrode may include an electrolyte having zinc tetrafluoroborate (ZnBF4) and 1-ethyl-3-methylimidazolium tetrafluoroborate (C2mimBF4). The first electrode, the second electrode, the first current collector, and/or the second current collector can include carbon nanotubes. The separator may include solid microspheres.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 10, 2018
    Assignee: PRINTED ENERGY PTY LTD
    Inventors: Vera N. Lockett, John G. Gustafson, Alexandra E. Hartman, Mark D. Lowenthal, William J. Ray