Patents Examined by Tony Chuo
  • Patent number: 9023542
    Abstract: A fuel cell system 100 includes: a reformer 1 configured to generate a hydrogen-containing gas by using a raw material; a fuel cell 6 configured to generate electric power by using the hydrogen-containing gas; an ammonia remover 5 configured to remove ammonia from the hydrogen-containing gas generated in the reformer before the hydrogen-containing gas is supplied to the fuel cell; a fluid passage configured to allow the ammonia remover to be in communication with the atmosphere; an on-off valve 8 provided on the fluid passage and configured to allow and block the communication between the ammonia remover and the atmosphere; and a controller 80 configured to open the on-off valve in at least one of a water draining process and a water loading process of the ammonia remover.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 5, 2015
    Assignee: Panasonic Intellectual Property Management Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hiroaki Kaneko, Koichi Kusumura, Akinori Yukimasa
  • Patent number: 9017896
    Abstract: An fuel cell system includes a fuel cell, a fuel cell box, a ventilation device, an air intake duct, and a gas outlet pipe. The fuel cell is disposed in the fuel cell box. The ventilation device is provided to supply air to the fuel cell box. The air intake duct connects the ventilation device to the fuel cell box to supply air from the ventilation device into the fuel cell box. The gas outlet pipe is connected to the air intake duct and connects an inside space of the fuel cell box to an outside space of the fuel cell box through the air intake duct. The gas outlet pipe has an opening cross-sectional area smaller than an opening cross-sectional area of the air intake duct.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 2, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 28, 2015
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Mitsunori Matsumoto, Kazunori Fukuma
  • Patent number: 9012054
    Abstract: A secondary battery including: spirally wound electrode body in which positive electrode and negative electrode are laminated via separator and spirally wound, wherein the positive electrode includes an inner circumference side positive electrode active material layer and an outer circumference side positive electrode active material layer while including a single side active material layer formation region, the ratio A/(A+B) of an area density A of the inner circumference side positive electrode active material layer and an area density B of the outer circumference side positive electrode active material layer, an inner diameter C of the coil opening portion, and the ratio D/E of a thickness D of the positive electrode and a thickness E of the positive electrode collector satisfy the relationship expressed in Formula 1, and a length F of the single side active material layer formation region satisfies the relationship expressed in Formula 2.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2015
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Takashi Tokunaga, Hironobu Fukahori
  • Patent number: 8945747
    Abstract: In a longitudinal battery cell for a vehicle battery module, the battery cell includes a first end and an opposite second end with respect to a longitudinal axis of the battery cell, and a lateral surface extending from the first end to the second end. The battery cell includes an attachment structure extending in an outward direction from the lateral surface at the second end for coupling the battery cell to the battery module.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 19, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 3, 2015
    Assignees: Volkswagen AG, Audi AG
    Inventors: Martin Eberhard, Rob Sweney
  • Patent number: 8877383
    Abstract: An electrochemical device, such as a magnesium-ion battery, comprises a first electrode including a first active material, a second electrode, and an electrolyte located between the first electrode and the second electrode. The electrolyte may include a magnesium compound, such as a magnesium salt. In representative examples, an improved active material includes a group 15 chalcogenide, in particular a bismuth chalcogenide, such as bismuth oxide or other chalcogenide. In various examples, the improved active material may be used in a positive or negative electrode of an example battery.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 21, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 4, 2014
    Assignee: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc.
    Inventor: Masaki Matsui
  • Patent number: 8841010
    Abstract: Disclosed herein is a secondary battery pack including a battery cell having an electrode assembly of a cathode/separator/anode structure mounted in a battery case together with an electrolyte in a sealed state, an insulative mounting member having openings through which electrode terminals of the battery cell are exposed outward, the insulative mounting member being constructed in a structure in which connection members and a protection circuit board are loaded on the top of the insulative mounting member, the insulative mounting member being mounted to the top of the battery cell, and an insulative cap coupled to an upper end of the battery cell for covering the insulative mounting member in a state in which the connection members and the protection circuit board are loaded on the insulative mounting member, wherein the insulative mounting member is provided at an upper part thereof with at least one coupling groove, the connection members and the protection circuit board are provided with through-holes com
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 23, 2014
    Assignee: LG Chem, Ltd.
    Inventors: Dongcheol Lee, Jeong Ho Lee, Heegyu Kim
  • Patent number: 8828597
    Abstract: A non-aqueous electrolyte battery comprising: a battery case containing aluminum; a positive electrode terminal attached to the battery case; and a negative electrode terminal attached to the battery case and insulated from the battery case, wherein the positive electrode terminal and the battery case are connected through a resistor having resistance of 1? to 1 M?. Otherwise, A non-aqueous electrolyte battery comprising: a battery case containing iron; a negative electrode terminal attached to the battery case; and a positive electrode terminal attached to the battery case and insulated from the battery case, wherein the negative electrode terminal and the battery case are connected through a resistor having resistance of 1? to 1 M?.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 9, 2014
    Assignee: GS Yuasa International Ltd.
    Inventors: Hiroaki Yoshida, Nobutaka Imamura
  • Patent number: 8828586
    Abstract: There are provided a rechargeable battery pack, which, upon connecting a plurality of rechargeable battery cells, forms a strong binding force between the cells and reduces the volume of the cells, and a connection tab used for the same. A rechargeable battery pack comprises: a first unit cell and a second unit cell connected in series/parallel to form a core pack and formed as a rechargeable battery; and a connection tab connected to the case of the first unit cell to protrude to the opposite side of the case, coupled to a cap plate protruding from the second unit cell toward the first unit cell, and connected to a protection circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 9, 2014
    Assignee: Samsung SDI Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Sang-Hun Park
  • Patent number: 8822086
    Abstract: The invention provides a solvent for an electrolyte solution, an electrolyte solution, and a gel-like electrolyte superior in oxidation resistance and flame resistance. A solvent for an electrolyte solution comprising at least one boric ester represented by the following formula (I), and a boric ester represented by the following formula (II): B(ORf)3 (I); B(OCH2CH2CN)3 (II) wherein, in formula (I), each Rf independently represents CH2(CF2)nCF3 or CH(CF3)2, n is an integer from 0 to 6, and at least a part of each of —ORf and —OCH2CH2CN included in the boric esters is transesterified.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 2, 2014
    Assignee: National University Corporation Shizuoka University
    Inventors: Tatsuo Fujinami, Yasutaka Tanaka, Yasutoshi Iriyama
  • Patent number: 8802301
    Abstract: An electrolyte for a lithium ion battery includes a vitreous eutectic mixture represented by the formula AxBy, where A is a salt chosen from a lithium fluoroalkylsulfonimide or a lithium fluoroarylsulfonimide, B is a solvent chosen from an alkylsulfonamide or an arylsulfonamide, and x and y are the mole fractions of A and B, respectively.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 11, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 12, 2014
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Ion C. Halalay, Damon R. Frisch, Olt E. Geiculescu, Darryl D Desmarteau, Stephen E Creager, Changqing Lu
  • Patent number: 8802332
    Abstract: A system for fabricating a fuel cell component in which a deposition mechanism deposits loading material particles onto the fuel cell component and an actuation mechanism actuates the deposition mechanism. A unit provides a tape fixing agent to the fuel cell component and loaded material particles so as to retain the particles on the fuel cell component. Other fuel components are retained to the fuel cell component also using a tape fixing agent.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 12, 2014
    Assignee: FuelCell Energy, Inc.
    Inventors: Salvador E. Correa, Thomas M. Lucas, Lawrence J. Novacco
  • Patent number: 8802278
    Abstract: A rechargeable battery having improved temperature detection performance of a resistor element. The rechargeable battery comprises a pouch in which an electrode assembly is embedded, a first terminal and a second terminal that are connected to the electrode assembly to be drawn out to one side of the pouch, a resistor element connected to the first terminal, and a pressing member that is coupled to the pouch and closely contacts one surface of the resistor element, having a positive temperature coefficient, to the pouch.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 12, 2014
    Assignee: Samsung SDI Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Sang-Hun Park
  • Patent number: 8795916
    Abstract: A fuel cell system includes a first heating mechanism and a second heating mechanism. The first heating mechanism directly heats a reformer using some of an exhaust gas discharged from a fuel cell stack. The second heating mechanism supplies the remaining exhaust gas to a heat exchanger and indirectly heats the reformer by the heat generated in the heat exchanger. The reformer performs preliminary reforming to produce a reformed gas. The reformed gas is supplied to an anode. At the anode, water produced in the power generation is present as a water vapor. The reformed gas is further reformed by steam reforming to produce a hydrogen gas.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 23, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 5, 2014
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Tomio Miyazaki
  • Patent number: 8790838
    Abstract: A fuel cell system capable of improving the voltage controllability of a converter provided in the system is provided. A controller judges whether or not a passing power of a DC/DC converter falls within a reduced response performance area for the number of active phases as of the present moment. When the controller determines that the passing power of the DC/DC converter falls within the reduced response performance area, the controller determines the number of phases which avoids the driving within the reduced response performance area, and outputs a command for switching to the determined number of phases (phase switching command) to the DC/DC converter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 5, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 29, 2014
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Takahiko Hasegawa, Kota Manabe
  • Patent number: 8758930
    Abstract: A secondary battery including an electrode assembly having a top and a bottom, a case containing the electrode assembly and comprising a bottom plate, wherein the bottom of the electrode assembly is proximate the bottom plate, a cap assembly coupled to the case, and a short induction plate between the electrode assembly and the case, the short induction plate adapted to fracture when the case is compressed to induce a short of the electrode assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 4, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 24, 2014
    Assignee: Samsung SDI Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Sooyeon Maeng
  • Patent number: 8754138
    Abstract: The present invention concerns polymers obtained by anionic initiation and bearing functions that can be activated by cationic initiations that are not reactive in the presence of anionic polymerization initiators. The presence of such cationic initiation functions allow an efficient cross-linking of the polymer after molding, particularly in the form of a thin film. It is thus possible to obtain polymers with well-defined properties in terms of molecular weight and cross-linking density. The polymers of the present invention are capable of dissolving ionic compounds inducing a conductivity for the preparation of solid electrolytes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 17, 2014
    Assignee: Hydro-Quebec
    Inventors: Christophe Michot, Alain Vallee, Paul-Etienne Harvey, Michel Gauthier, Michel Armand
  • Patent number: 8734539
    Abstract: The first aspect of the present invention provides a method of manufacturing an active material capable of improving the discharge capacity of a lithium-ion secondary battery. The method of manufacturing an active material in accordance with the first aspect of the present invention comprises the steps of heating a phosphate source, a vanadium source, and water so as to form an intermediate containing phosphorus and vanadium and having a specific surface area of at least 0.1 m2/g but less than 25 m2/g; and heating the intermediate, a water-soluble lithium salt, and water. The second aspect of the present invention provides a method of manufacturing an active material capable of improving the rate characteristic of a lithium-ion secondary battery.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 27, 2014
    Assignee: TDK Corporation
    Inventors: Kouji Tokita, Keitaro Otsuki, Atsushi Sano
  • Patent number: 8728678
    Abstract: A fuel cell system capable of improving the voltage controllability of a converter provided in the system is provided. A controller judges whether or not a passing power of a DC/DC converter falls within a reduced response performance area for the number of active phases as of the present moment. When the controller determines that the passing power of the DC/DC converter falls within the reduced response performance area, the controller determines the number of phases which avoids the driving within the reduced response performance area, and outputs a command for switching to the determined number of phases (phase switching command) to the DC/DC converter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 5, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 20, 2014
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Takahiko Hasegawa, Kota Manabe
  • Patent number: 8715872
    Abstract: A fuel cell system can be initiated in shorter time while minimizing the deterioration of a fuel cell. The fuel cell system includes a fuel cell stack having a fuel electrode, an oxidizer electrode and an electrolyte membrane disposed there between, the fuel cell producing electricity by an electrochemical reaction of a fuel gas and an oxidizer gas, which are supplied to the fuel electrode and the oxidizer electrode, respectively; a fuel gas supplying device for supplying the fuel gas to the fuel cell stack; an oxidizer gas supplying device for supplying the oxidizer gas to the fuel cell stack; a current controlling device for extracting a current from the fuel cell stack; and a voltage sensor disposed in at least two of the fuel cell stacks.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 26, 2006
    Date of Patent: May 6, 2014
    Assignee: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Ryoichi Shimoi, Takashi Iimori, Kenichi Goto, Tetsuya Kamihara
  • Patent number: 8703351
    Abstract: A fuel cell component includes a first fluid distribution layer, a second fluid distribution layer, a cap layer, a third fluid distribution layer, and a pair of fluid diffusion medium layers. The individual layers are polymeric, mechanically integrated, and formed from a radiation-sensitive material. The first fluid distribution layer, the second fluid distribution layer, the cap layer, the third fluid distribution layer, and the pair of fluid diffusion medium layers are coated with an electrically conductive material. A pair of the fuel cell components may be arranged in a stack with a membrane electrode assembly therebetween to form a fuel cell.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 22, 2014
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Jeffrey A. Rock, Steven G. Goebel, Gerald W. Fly, Alan J. Jacobsen, Joanna A. Kolodziejska, Hung D. Nguyen