Patents Examined by Stephan Essex
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Lithium secondary battery and cathode of the lithium secondary battery with conductive bonding layer
Patent number: 9425454Abstract: To provide a lithium secondary battery which has high capacity while maintaining excellent cycle characteristic. The lithium secondary battery cathode of the present invention includes a cathode collector formed of a conductive substance, and a cathode active material layer formed of a sintered lithium composite oxide sheet. The cathode active material layer is bonded to the cathode collector by the mediation of a conductive bonding layer. A characteristic feature of the present invention resides in that the cathode active material layer has a thickness of 30 ?m or more, a mean pore size of 0.1 to 5 ?m, and a voidage of 3% or more and less than 15%.Type: GrantFiled: June 22, 2011Date of Patent: August 23, 2016Assignee: NGK Insulators, Ltd.Inventors: Ryuta Sugiura, Nobuyuki Kobayashi, Tsutomu Nanataki, Masaya Ugaji, Kaoru Nagata -
Patent number: 9419262Abstract: A battery module includes a plurality of battery cells, an end plate at a side of the plurality of battery cells, a bottom plate at a bottom of the plurality of battery cells, and a reinforcing member at a first surface of the bottom plate.Type: GrantFiled: August 9, 2011Date of Patent: August 16, 2016Assignees: Samsung SDI Co., Ltd., Robert Bosch GmbHInventor: Myung-Chul Kim
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Patent number: 9413084Abstract: Disclosed herein is a battery pack constructed in a structure in which a plurality of secondary battery cells are electrically connected to one another via a connection member while the secondary battery cells are mounted in a receiving part of a pack case having no partition, wherein the connection member is located between the battery cells arranged in the longitudinal direction or in both the longitudinal direction and the lateral direction, the connection member is connected, in a mechanical coupling manner, to a lower electrode terminal of the front battery cell in the longitudinal direction and/or to an upper electrode terminal of the rear battery cell in the longitudinal direction, and the connection member is elastically pressed while the connection member is located between the battery cells.Type: GrantFiled: March 15, 2013Date of Patent: August 9, 2016Assignee: LG CHEM, LTD.Inventors: Gi-Hwan Kwon, Yongho Cho, Seunghyun Bang, HakJun Lee, Hosang Kwon
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Patent number: 9406949Abstract: A fuel cell system is provided with a fuel cell, a first combustor, a first heating gas return channel and a gas supplier. The fuel cell includes a solid electrolyte cell with an anode and a cathode. The fuel cell generates power by reacting a hydrogen-containing gas and an oxygen-containing gas. The first combustor selectively supplies a heating gas to the cathode of the fuel cell. The first heating gas return channel mixes at least some exhaust gas discharged from the cathode with the heating gas of the first combustor such that a mixed heating gas of the exhaust gas and the heating gas is supplied to the cathode. The gas supplier 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: GrantFiled: July 2, 2010Date of Patent: August 2, 2016Assignee: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.Inventors: Kazufumi Takeuchi, Tatsuya Yaguchi
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Patent number: 9406912Abstract: A sealed battery is provided in which a case is partially provided with a safety valve that is provided with a thin portion, which is formed thinner than the peripheral portion of the safety valve. A portion of the safety valve surrounding the thin portion is provided with a slit for preventing heat conduction from the other portions of the case to the thin portion, said slit being formed so as to surround the thin portion.Type: GrantFiled: April 23, 2010Date of Patent: August 2, 2016Assignees: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha, Fuji Springs Co., Inc.Inventors: Tomohiro Matsuura, Katsumi Ito, Akira Fujii, Toshihiro Odagaki
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Patent number: 9391332Abstract: A fluid flow plate for fuel cells may include a first surface and a second surface. The first surface has a first fluid inlet for receiving a first fluid, a plurality of first flow channels extending substantially along a first direction for transporting the first fluid, and a first fluid outlet for releasing the first fluid. The second surface having a second fluid inlet for receiving a second fluid, a plurality of second flow channels extending substantially along the first direction for transporting the second fluid, and a second fluid outlet for releasing the second fluid. The first fluid inlet and the second fluid outlet each is located near a first side of the fluid flow plate, and the first fluid outlet and second fluid inlet each is located near a second side of the fluid flow plate. The second side of the fluid flow plate is opposite to its first side. Each of the first and second flow channels has substantially the same length.Type: GrantFiled: April 29, 2011Date of Patent: July 12, 2016Assignee: Industrial Technology Research InstituteInventors: Shiqah-Ping Jung, Huan-Ruei Shiu, Chi-Chang Chen, WenChen Chang, Fanghei Tsau
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Patent number: 9379398Abstract: Disclosed herein are catalyst degradation detection assemblies and methods of catalyst degradation detection that can be performed in-situ. One embodiment of an in-situ fuel cell catalyst degradation detection assembly comprises a humidified hydrogen supply configured to supply humidified hydrogen to an anode of a fuel cell, a humidified nitrogen supply configured to supply humidified nitrogen to a cathode of the fuel cell, a collection cell containing a liquid, the collection cell configured to receive either cathode exhaust from the fuel cell through a cathode exhaust line or anode exhaust from the fuel cell through an anode exhaust line and means for detecting a gas.Type: GrantFiled: December 20, 2011Date of Patent: June 28, 2016Assignee: Nissan North America, Inc.Inventors: Ellazar V. Niangar, Taehee Han, Nilesh Dale, Kevork Adjemian
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Patent number: 9356304Abstract: A control strategy for controlling how much current can be provided by a fuel cell stack to a system load during a power up-transient. When a power up-transient command is given, the control strategy limits the amount of power or current that the stack can provide to the load based on how fast an anode exhaust gas recirculation pump can meet the exhaust gas recirculation demand so that the ratio between the recirculated anode exhaust gas and the fresh hydrogen remains substantially constant. Thus, during the power up-transient, the relative humidity provided by the combination of the fresh hydrogen and the anode exhaust gas maintains the membranes in the stack at the desired humidity level. Any difference between the commanded stack power and the limited stack power during the power up-transient can be provided by a system battery.Type: GrantFiled: January 11, 2008Date of Patent: May 31, 2016Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLCInventor: Jim Kamara
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Patent number: 9356274Abstract: An electrode assembly includes a positive electrode including a positive electrode current collector and a positive electrode active material layer on the positive electrode current collector, a negative electrode including a negative electrode current collector and a negative electrode active material layer on the negative electrode current collector, and a separator between the positive and negative electrodes, the separator including a heat-resistive unit and a lubrication unit, the heat-resistive unit having a heat-resistive material, and the lubrication unit being at an inner front end of the spirally winding separator and having a friction coefficient that is lower than that of the heat-resistive unit.Type: GrantFiled: March 14, 2011Date of Patent: May 31, 2016Assignee: SAMSUNG SDI CO., LTD.Inventors: Yun-Kyung Jo, Chan-Jung Kim, Suk-Jung Son, Mi-Young Jang
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Patent number: 9337476Abstract: The present invention provides a process for producing a lithium sulfide-carbon composite, the process comprising placing a mixture of lithium sulfide and a carbon material having a specific surface area of 60 m2/g or more in an electrically-conductive mold in a non-oxidizing atmosphere, and applying a pulsed direct current to the mold while pressurizing the mixture in a non-oxidizing atmosphere, thereby subjecting the lithium sulfide and the carbon material to heating reaction; and a lithium sulfide-carbon composite obtained by this process, the composite having a carbon content of 15 to 70 weight %, and a tap density of 0.4 g/cm3 or more when the carbon content is 30 weight % or more, or a tap density of 0.5 g/cm3 or more when the carbon content is less than 30 weight %.Type: GrantFiled: August 24, 2009Date of Patent: May 10, 2016Assignee: NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF ADVANCED INDUSTRIAL SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGYInventors: Tomonari Takeuchi, Hikari Sakaebe, Tetsuo Sakai, Kuniaki Tatsumi, Hiroshi Senoh, Hiroyuki Kageyama, Mitsuharu Tabuchi
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Patent number: 9337512Abstract: Disclosed is a non-aqueous electrolyte for a lithium secondary battery and a lithium secondary battery comprising the same. The non-aqueous electrolyte including a lithium salt and an organic solvent may further include, as an additive, (a) halogenated alkyl silane and (b) any one of (b-1) succinic anhydride, (b-2) (meth)acrylic acid ester of pentaerythritol or dipentaerythritol, and (b-3) mixtures thereof. The non-aqueous electrolyte for a lithium secondary battery may improve the high-temperature storage performance and the cycling performance.Type: GrantFiled: January 25, 2013Date of Patent: May 10, 2016Assignee: LG CHEM, LTD.Inventors: Yu-Ha An, Sung-Hoon Yu, Bo-Ra Shin
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Patent number: 9331358Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: January 26, 2010Date of Patent: May 3, 2016Assignee: Apple Inc.Inventors: Ramesh C. Bhardwaj, Taisup Hwang, Richard M. Mank
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Patent number: 9306225Abstract: A bipolar separator assembly for use with a fuel cell comprising: a plate member having opposing first and second surfaces compatible with fuel gas and oxidant gas, respectively, the plate member having first and second opposing end segments and third and fourth opposing end segments which are transverse to the first and second opposing end segments; first and second pocket members situated adjacent the first and second end segments and extending outward of the first surface, the first and second pocket members being adapted to enclose opposing ends of an anode current collector, and third and fourth pocket members situated adjacent the third and fourth end segments and extending outward of the second surface, the third and fourth pocket members being adapted to enclose opposing ends of a cathode current collector, wherein at least a portion of each of the first, second, third and fourth pocket members is formed separately from the plate member and is releasably positioned relative to the plate member.Type: GrantFiled: June 1, 2011Date of Patent: April 5, 2016Assignee: FUELCELL ENERGY, INC.Inventors: William Morris, Michael Primerano, Lawrence J. Novacco
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Patent number: 9263756Abstract: An electrochemical water gas shift system for removing low level carbon monoxide from hydrogen stream. The system including an electrolyzer having a porous anode for absorbing carbon monoxide from a hydrogen stream as a feed stream for a polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cell for generating an electrical energy, a small portion of electricity generated by the fuel cell is applied to the electrolyzer to convert carbon monoxide adsorbed in the porous anode to carbon dioxide and hydrogen via an electrochemical gas shift reaction without oxygen or air input. In an embodiment, the system includes a first electrolyzer operating as a CO adsorber and a second electrolyzer connected in parallel with the first electrolyzer operating as a CO remover. Two electrolyzers can be operated alternatively as CO adsorber and CO remover.Type: GrantFiled: April 4, 2007Date of Patent: February 16, 2016Assignee: University of Central Florida Research Foundation, Inc.Inventors: Cunping Huang, Ruichun Jiang, Mohamed Elbaccouch, Nazim Muradov, James M. Fenton
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Patent number: 9263741Abstract: There is provided a negative electrode for a nonaqueous electrolyte secondary battery in which when a battery is formed, the energy density is high, and moreover, the decrease in charge and discharge capacity is small even if charge and discharge are repeated. By using silicon oxide particles having a particle diameter in a particular range as a starting raw material, and heating these particles in the range of 850° C. to 1050° C., Si microcrystals are deposited on the surfaces of the particles. Then, by performing doping of Li, a structure comprising a plurality of protrusions having height and cross-sectional area in a particular range is formed on the surfaces. The average value of the height of the above protrusions is 2% to 19% of the average particle diameter of the above lithium-containing silicon oxide particles.Type: GrantFiled: December 17, 2009Date of Patent: February 16, 2016Assignee: NEC Energy Devices, Ltd.Inventors: Jiro Iriyama, Ryuichi Kasahara, Tetsuya Kajita, Tatsuji Numata
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Patent number: 9246163Abstract: Provided is a metal oxygen battery 1 including a positive electrode 2 having oxygen as an active material, a negative electrode 3 having metallic lithium as an active material, and an electrolyte layer 4 interposed between the positive electrode 2 and negative electrode 3. The positive electrode 2 contains oxygen storage material including mixed crystal of hexagonal composite metal oxide expressed by the general formula AxByOz (in which, A is one type of metal selected from a group of Y, Sc, La, Sr, Ba, Zr, Au, Ag, Pt, Pd, B is one type of metal selected from a group of Mn, Ti, Ru, Zr, Ni, Cr, and x=1, 1?y?2, 1?z?7, provided that a case where both A and B are Zr is excluded) and one or more non-hexagonal composite metal oxide expressed by the general formula AxByOz.Type: GrantFiled: August 30, 2013Date of Patent: January 26, 2016Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.Inventors: Kiyoshi Tanaami, Bunichi Saito, Takuya Taniuchi, Akihisa Tanaka
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Patent number: 9236601Abstract: To provide a lithium secondary battery which has high capacity while maintaining excellent charge-discharge characteristic, and to provide a cathode of the lithium secondary battery and a plate-like particle for cathode active material to be contained in the cathode. The plate-like particle of cathode active material for a lithium secondary battery of the present invention has a layered rock salt structure, a thickness of 5 ?m or more and less than 30 ?m, 2 or less of [003]/[104] which is a ratio of intensity of X-ray diffraction by the (003) plane to intensity of X-ray diffraction by the (104) plane, a mean pore size of 0.1 to 5 ?m, and a voidage of 3% or more and less than 15%.Type: GrantFiled: June 21, 2011Date of Patent: January 12, 2016Assignee: NGK Insulators, Ltd.Inventors: Ryuta Sugiura, Nobuyuki Kobayashi, Tsutomu Nanataki
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Patent number: 9147905Abstract: A lithium mixed metal oxide, shown by the following formula (A): Lix(Mn1?y?z?dNiyFezMd)O2??(A) wherein M is one or more elements selected from the group consisting of Al, Mg, Ti, Ca, Cu, Zn, Co, Cr, Mo, Si, Sn, Nb and V; x is 0.9 or more and 1.3 or less; y is 0.3 or more and 0.7 or less; z is more than 0 and 0.1 or less, and d is more than 0 and 0.1 or less. A positive electrode active material, including the lithium mixed metal oxide. A positive electrode, including the positive electrode active material. A nonaqueous electrolyte secondary battery, including the positive electrode.Type: GrantFiled: March 18, 2010Date of Patent: September 29, 2015Assignee: SUMITOMO CHEMICAL COMPANY, LIMITEDInventors: Kenji Takamori, Cedric Pitteloud
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Patent number: 9112193Abstract: Disclosed is a sealing assembly for metal components, wherein the sealing assembly has an electrical insulating effect, and wherein the sealing assembly comprises a ceramic layer and a base brazing material disposed thereon, to which germanium is added. The addition of germanium advantageously ranges from 0.1 to 5.0 mol %, and preferably between 0.5 and 2.5 mol %. A particular embodiment provides for the use of a brazing material which additionally comprises silicon in the range of >0 to 2.5 mol %, and preferably between 0.1 and 0.9 mol %. Furthermore, a brazing material having a further addition of 10 to 40% by volume of Al2TiO5, and preferably between 20 and 30% by volume of Al2TiO5, has proven to be particularly suited for the sealing assembly.Type: GrantFiled: February 18, 2009Date of Patent: August 18, 2015Assignee: FORSCHUNGSZENTRUM JUELICH GMBHInventors: Hans-Rainer Zerfass, Dirk Federmann
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Patent number: 9105929Abstract: A battery having high output voltage, high energy density and excellent charge and discharge cycle characteristics is achieved through the use of one of the following negative electrode base members as a negative electrode base member for lithium ion secondary batteries: a negative electrode base member where a metal film is formed on a support having an organic film; such a negative electrode base member where the surface layer of the organic film is covered with a metal oxide film; a negative electrode base member where a metal film is formed on a support having a composite film formed from a composite film-forming material containing an organic component and an inorganic component; and a negative electrode base member where a silica coating is formed, on a support having a photoresist pattern, from a silica film-forming coating liquid and a metal film is formed on the support after removing the photoresist pattern.Type: GrantFiled: May 17, 2013Date of Patent: August 11, 2015Assignees: Tokyo Ohka Kogyo Co., Ltd., Kanto Gakuin School CorporationInventors: Koichi Misumi, Koji Saito, Mitsuhiro Watanabe, Hideo Honma