Patents Examined by Stephan Essex
  • Patent number: 10069149
    Abstract: An assembly includes (a) an anode-side sub-assembly including: a plate member having first and second opposing surfaces compatible with fuel and oxidant gases, respectively, the plate member having first and second opposing end segments, and third and fourth opposing end segments; an anode current collector abutting the first surface of the plate member; and first and second anode wet seal members releasably secured to the plate member so as to form first and second pockets on the first surface of the plate member and (b) a cathode-side subassembly comprising: first and second cathode wet seal members configured to form third and fourth pockets on the second surface of the plate member and to be releasably positioned adjacent said third and fourth opposing end segments; and a cathode current collector cooperating with the first and second cathode wet seal members.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 29, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 4, 2018
    Assignee: FUELCELL ENERGY, INC.
    Inventors: William Morris, Michael Primerano, Lawrence J. Novacco
  • Patent number: 10062914
    Abstract: An apparatus for preventing moisture condensation includes a fuel cell stack and an enclosure in which the fuel cell stack is disposed. A heater and a temperature sensor are provided in the enclosure. A controller is configured to control the heater to be turned on when an insulation resistance between the fuel cell stack and the enclosure is less than a preset resistance value. The controller controls the heater not to be turned on when a surface temperature of the enclosure measured by the temperature sensor exceeds a preset temperature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 28, 2018
    Assignee: HYUNDAI MOTOR COMPANY
    Inventors: Jung Han Yu, Jung Do Suh, Ju Han Kim, Duck Whan Kim, Se Joon Im, Young Woo Noh
  • Patent number: 10050263
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a modified lithium ion battery anode material having high energy density, and a manufacturing process thereof, the anode material comprising, from inside to outside, a core, a transition layer and a shell layer. The anode material of the present invention has the advantages of high energy density, low surface activity, good storage performance, and a simple manufacturing process, and is suitable for large scale application.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 14, 2018
    Assignee: Ningbo Institute of Materials Technology & Engineering, Chinese Academy of Sciences
    Inventors: Yujing Bi, Chenyun Wang, Jingjing Zhou, Huan Lin, Deyu Wang
  • Patent number: 10038211
    Abstract: A fuel cell stack manufacturing method includes: a step of disposing a fuel cell stack so as to be sandwiched between a first fastening member and a second fastening member; a step of temporarily fastening the fuel cell stack by inserting a jig into a hole-form first connecting portion formed on each end portion of the first fastening member and a second connecting portion formed on each end portion of the second fastening member while applying pressure to the fuel cell stack at a predetermined load; a step of performing aging processing on the temporarily fastened fuel cell stack in order to advance creep deformation of the fuel cell stack; and a step of inserting a pin into the first connecting portion and the second connecting portion while reapplying the pressure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 10, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 31, 2018
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Kazuhiro Watanabe
  • Patent number: 10008729
    Abstract: High performance flow batteries, based on alkaline zinc/ferro-ferricyanide rechargeable (“ZnFe”) and similar flow batteries, may include one or more of the following improvements. First, the battery design has a cell stack comprising a low resistance positive electrode in at least one positive half cell and a low resistance negative electrode in at least one negative half cell, where the positive electrode and negative electrode resistances are selected for uniform high current density across a region of the cell stack. Second, a flow of electrolyte, such as zinc species in the ZnFe battery, with a high level of mixing through at least one negative half cell in a Zn deposition region proximate a deposition surface where the electrolyte close to the deposition surface has sufficiently high zinc concentration for deposition rates on the deposition surface that sustain the uniform high current density.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 26, 2018
    Assignee: Applied Materials, Inc.
    Inventors: Joseph Grover Gordon, II, Alan J. Gotcher, Godfrey Sikha, Gregory J. Wilson
  • Patent number: 9997746
    Abstract: An apparatus comprises an electrochemical energy storage device, a non-conductive film at least partially covering the electrochemical energy storage device, and a nano-grain metallic film at least partially covering the non-conductive film. The electrochemical energy storage device may include a cathode electrode layer, an anode electrode layer, and a separator layer therebetween.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 3, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2018
    Assignee: Amazon Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: James Robert Lim, David Eric Peters, Ramez Nachman, Christopher Thomas Li, Stewart Robin Shearer
  • Patent number: 9997748
    Abstract: A power supply device (1) includes a battery cell assembly (2) being an assembly of battery cells (3) each having electrodes (4) and a battery connecting block (10) including a case body (11) including an adjacent first and second divided fixing portions (12, 13) connected to each other via a flexural deformation portion (14). The flexural deformation portion (14) includes a first rising linear portion (40) having one end fixed to the first divided fixing portion, a second rising linear portion (40) having one end fixed to the second divided fixing portion, first and second curve portions (41) bent at the other ends of the first and second rising linear portions (40) in a direction to come close to each other, and a linear portion (42) connecting the first and second curve portions to each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 11, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2018
    Assignee: YAZAKI CORPORATION
    Inventors: Shigeyuki Ogasawara, Shinichi Yanagihara, Michio Ota
  • Patent number: 9966589
    Abstract: A fastening apparatus for a battery terminal case includes a main body having open upper and side portions configured to hold a battery terminal therein, a side body coupled to the open side portion of the main body, and an upper cover, hingedly coupled to the side body, provided at the open upper portion of the main body. Hinge protrusions are formed on opposing sides of one of the side body and the upper cover. Hinge holes are formed on opposing sides of the other one of the side body and the upper cover. The hinge holes are configured to receive the hinge protrusions therein.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 28, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 8, 2018
    Assignees: HYUNDAI MOTOR COMPANY, YURA CORPORATION CO., LTD., KIA MOTORS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Sung Kwan Choo, Joon Ho Lee, Jung Nan Ryu, Geon Gu Kang, Gil Woo Jung, Kwang-Ho Song
  • Patent number: 9966594
    Abstract: A negative active material, a method of preparing the same, and a lithium battery including the negative active material are disclosed. The negative active material includes a silicon-based nanocore and a first amorphous carbonaceous coating layer that is formed of carbonized organic material and that is uniformly and continuously formed on a surface of the silicon-based nanocore, whereby irreversible capacity losses due to volumetric expansion/contraction caused when a lithium battery is charged and discharged are compensated and cycle lifetime characteristics are enhanced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 4, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 8, 2018
    Assignee: Samsung SDI Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Beom-Kwon Kim, Jae-Myung Kim, So-Ra Lee, Chang-Su Shin, Ui-Song Do
  • Patent number: 9960439
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for controlling hydrogen purging are provided. The apparatus includes a purging valve that is provided for an outlet disposed adjacent to an anode of a fuel cell stack and is configured to adjust an outflow of water from the fuel cell stack. In addition, a controller is configured to adjust an opening of the purging valve according to a charge capacity obtained by integrating a current of the fuel cell stack. The controller is configured to calculate the charge capacity by multiplying the current of the fuel cell stack by a scale factor when a load for an output current of the fuel cell stack is less than a first reference load which is preset.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2018
    Assignees: Hyundai Motor Company, Kia Motors Corporation
    Inventors: Heon Joong Lee, Sang Uk Kwon
  • Patent number: 9959983
    Abstract: Electrodes, energy storage devices using such electrodes, and associated methods are disclosed. In an example, an electrode for use in an energy storage device can comprise porous silicon having a plurality of channels and a surface, the plurality of channels opening to the surface; and a structural material deposited within the channels; wherein the structural material provides structural stability to the electrode during use.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2018
    Assignee: Intel Corporation
    Inventors: Donald S. Gardner, Charles W. Holzwarth
  • Patent number: 9947957
    Abstract: Disclosed is a secondary battery having a structure in which a jelly-roll having a cathode/separator/anode structure is mounted in a cylindrical battery case, wherein a plate-shaped insulating member is mounted on the top of the jelly-roll and the insulating member includes a perforated inlet enabling gas discharge and penetration of electrode terminals and a plurality of pores with a diameter of 100 ?m or less provided over the entire surface of the insulating member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2018
    Assignee: LG Chem, Ltd.
    Inventors: Do Gyun Kim, Dong-Myung Kim, Dong Sub Lee, Sang Bong Nam, Sang Sok Jung
  • Patent number: 9941057
    Abstract: A thermal transfer device for generating a thermal transfer between an energy store and a temperature-control panel for the temperature-control of the energy store. The thermal transfer device has a thermal insulation layer made of an unevenly distributed insulation material and a tolerance compensating layer made of a compressible material for compensating different material strengths of the thermal insulation layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 4, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2018
    Assignee: Behr GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Stefan Hirsch, Caroline Janzen, Matthias Stripf, Achim Wiebelt
  • Patent number: 9941546
    Abstract: A bipolar battery plate is utilized for production of a bipolar battery. The bipolar battery plate includes a frame, a substrate, first and second lead layers, and positive and negative active materials. The substrate includes insulative plastic with conductive particles homogeneously dispersed throughout the insulative plastic and exposed along surface of the substrate, the substrate positioned within the frame. The first lead layer is positioned on one side of the substrate, while the second lead layer is positioned on another side of the substrate. The first and second lead layer are electrically connected to each through the conductive particles. The positive active material is positioned on a surface of the first lead layer, and the negative active material positioned on a surface of the second lead layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2018
    Assignee: East Penn Manufacturing Co., Inc.
    Inventor: Thomas Faust
  • Patent number: 9935305
    Abstract: There is provided a secondary battery including a battery device that has a thickness of 3 to 20 mm, and a battery discharge capacity of 3 to 50 Ah, and an exterior material that packages the battery device. The battery device includes a positive electrode that has a positive electrode current collector and a positive electrode active material layer, a negative electrode that has a negative electrode current collector and a negative electrode active material layer, a separator that is interposed between the positive electrode and the negative electrode that are alternately laminated, a positive electrode tab that is electrically connected to a positive electrode current collector exposed portion and is led-out to the outside of the exterior material, and a negative electrode tab that is electrically connected to a negative electrode current collector exposed portion and is led-out to the outside of the exterior material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 10, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 3, 2018
    Assignee: MURATA MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Tetsuya Makino, Hiroshi Takabayashi, Tomoyuki Nakamura, Kunihiko Hayashi, Yosuke Konishi, Akira Sasaki, Akira Saito
  • Patent number: 9929415
    Abstract: A fuel cell system includes a fuel cell, a first combustor, a second combustor, a first heating gas return channel, a second heating gas return channel and a gas supplier. The fuel cell includes a solid electrolyte cell with an anode and a cathode. The first combustor supplies a heating gas to the cathode. The second combustor supplies a heating gas to the anode. The first heating gas return channel is arranged to mix at least some exhaust gas discharged from the cathode with the heating gas from the first combustor. The second heating gas return channel is arranged to mix at least some exhaust gas discharged from the cathode with the heating gas from the second combustor. The gas supplier is connected to the first heating gas return channel for supplying the exhaust gas from the cathode to mix with the heating gas of the first combustor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 13, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2018
    Assignee: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kazufumi Takeuchi, Tatsuya Yaguchi
  • Patent number: 9917302
    Abstract: An electrode active material for a lithium secondary battery, a method of preparing the electrode active material, an electrode for a lithium secondary battery which includes the same, a lithium secondary battery using the electrode. The electrode active material includes a core active material and a coating layer including magnesium aluminum oxide (MgAlO2) and formed on the core active material. 1s binding energy peaks of oxygen (O) in the electrode active material measured by x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) are shown at positions corresponding to 529.4±0.5 eV, about 530.7 eV, and 531.9±0.5 eV, and a peak intensity at the position corresponding to 529.4±0.5 eV is stronger than a peak intensity at the position corresponding to about 530.7 eV.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 14, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2018
    Assignee: Samsung SDI Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Chang-Ui Jeong, Sung-Hwan Moon, Jae-Hyuk Kim, Yury Matulevich, Hee-Young Chu, Myung-Hwan Jeong, Jong-Seo Choi
  • Patent number: 9917325
    Abstract: The disclosed embodiments provide a battery cell which includes a set of jelly rolls enclosed in a pouch. Each jelly roll includes layers which are wound together, including a cathode with an active coating, a separator, and an anode with an active coating. The battery cell also includes a first set of conductive tabs and a second set of conductive tabs. Each of the first set of conductive tabs is coupled to the cathode of one of the jelly rolls, and each of the second set of conductive tabs is coupled to the anode of one of the jelly rolls. At least one of the first set and one of the second set of conductive tabs extend through seals in the pouch to provide terminals for the battery cell.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2018
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Ramesh C. Bhardwaj, Taisup Hwang, Richard M. Mank
  • Patent number: 9893356
    Abstract: The cathode active material for a nonaqueous electrolyte secondary battery according to an aspect of the present disclosure mainly comprises a compound represented by a composition formula: LixNay(Li?Na?Mn1????)O2, where x, y, ?, and ? satisfy 0.75?x?1.0, 0<y?0.01, 0.75<x+y?1, 0.16???0.3, 0???0.01, and 0.2??+??0.3.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 1, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2018
    Assignee: PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Ryuichi Natsui, Kensuke Nakura
  • Patent number: 9887433
    Abstract: The present invention provides copolymers of polyethylene oxide methacrylate and alkenyl group-containing methacrylate, method for preparing the same and use thereof. The copolymers may be used for preparing solid phase electrolytes having high ionic conductivity and enhanced physical properties.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 6, 2018
    Assignee: SEOUL NATIONAL UNIVERSITY R&DB FOUNDATION
    Inventors: Jong-Chan Lee, Ji-Hoon Baik, Dong-Gyun Kim, Jimin Shim