Patents Examined by Tracy Dove
  • Alkaline battery
    Patent number: 8771883
    Abstract: An alkaline battery of this invention includes: a negative electrode including a negative electrode mixture that contains a zinc alloy as an active material, the zinc alloy containing at least aluminum; an alkaline electrolyte; and a positive electrode. The alkaline electrolyte includes an aqueous KOH solution and LiOH and an aluminum compound that are dissolved in the aqueous KOH solution. The alkaline battery has excellent high-rate discharge characteristics.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 8, 2014
    Assignee: Panasonic Corporation
    Inventors: Harunari Shimamura, Koshi Takamura, Nobuharu Koshiba
  • Battery module
    Patent number: 8765287
    Abstract: A battery module includes a plurality of battery cells, and at least one barrier adjoining at least one of the battery cells. The barrier includes a plurality of linear members extending in a crosswise direction across the barrier, and a set of the linear members defining a sloping open area in the form of a passage that widens toward one lateral edge of the barrier.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 1, 2014
    Assignees: Samsung SDI Co., Ltd., Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventor: Myung-Chul Kim
  • Battery pack
    Patent number: 8741471
    Abstract: A battery pack including a core pack including a plurality of unit cells, the plurality of unit cells including a first unit cell including a first electrode tab extending in a first direction, and a second unit cell including a second electrode tab coupled to the first electrode tab at a first coupling region at which the second electrode tab overlaps the first electrode tab; and a lead member coupled to the first electrode tab at a second coupling region at which the lead member overlaps the first electrode tab, the second coupling region being different from the first coupling region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 3, 2014
    Assignee: Samsung SDI Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Sang-Hun Park, Dea-Yon Moon
  • Positive electrode material for lithium ion battery with nonaqueous electrolyte, and battery using the same
    Patent number: 8728666
    Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide a positive electrode material for non-aqueous electrolyte lithium-ion battery which capable of discharging high output power and inhibiting cracking of secondary particle in the cyclic endurance at a high temperature. The above object can be attained by a positive electrode material for non-aqueous electrolyte lithium-ion battery of the present invention, characterized in that said material comprises secondary particles composed of primary particles of lithium nickel composite oxide containing the primary particles having different aspect ratios, and that at least a part of said primary particles having different aspect ratios are arranged so as to make the longitudinal direction (the long side direction) thereof oriented toward the center of the secondary particle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 2006
    Date of Patent: May 20, 2014
    Assignees: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd., Sumitomo Metal Mining Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Takanori Itou, Hideaki Horie, Takamitsu Saito, Satoshi Matsumoto
  • Lithium-sulfur battery with polysulfide confining layer
    Patent number: 8715847
    Abstract: The present invention provides a lithium-sulfur battery with a polysulfide confining layer, which can prevent loss of polysulfide formed on the surface of a positive electrode during charge and discharge reactions, thus improving the durability of the battery. For this purpose, the present invention provides a lithium-sulfur battery including a hydrophilic polysulfide confining layer interposed between a positive electrode and a separator to prevent a polysulfide-based material from being lost from the surface of the positive electrode during discharge.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 6, 2014
    Assignee: Hyundai Motor Company
    Inventors: Sam Ick Son, Hee Yeon Ryu
  • Battery structures and related methods
    Patent number: 8709647
    Abstract: An electrochemical device includes a first electrode in electrical communication with a first current collector, a second electrode in electrical communication with a second current collector and a crosslinked solid polymer in contact with the first and second electrodes. At least one of the first and second electrodes includes a network of electrically connected particles comprising an electroactive material, and the particles of one electrode exert a repelling force on the other electrode when the first and second electrodes are combined with an uncrosslinked precursor to the solid polymer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 18, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 29, 2014
    Assignee: A123 Systems LLC
    Inventors: Antoni S. Gozdz, Richard K. Holman, Andrew L. Loxley, Ronnie Wilkins
  • Battery cell casing with seal
    Patent number: 8697278
    Abstract: A battery cell casing comprises a first casing element (1) with a first contact surface (7) and a second casing element (2) with a second contact surface (8). In an assembled position the first and second contact surfaces (7, 8) contact each other and the first and second casing elements (1, 2) encase active materials (9, 10) of a battery cell in an interior space. At least one seal layer is arranged between the first and second contact surfaces (7, 8) to seal the interior space, wherein one of first and second contact surface (7; 8) comprises a void volume layer and the other of first and second contact surface (7; 8) comprises a formable material layer, which fills voids on a surface of the void volume layer hermetically in the assembled position and forms the seal layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 6, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 15, 2014
    Assignee: Swissbatt AG
    Inventors: Philipp Wyser, Paul Wyser, Walter Döll, Jean-Noël Fehr, Urban Schnell
  • Li-ion battery with selective moderating material
    Patent number: 8673491
    Abstract: An electrochemical cell in one embodiment includes a negative electrode including a form of lithium, a positive electrode spaced apart from the negative electrode, a separator positioned between the negative electrode and the positive electrode, and a moderator layer positioned between the negative electrode and the separator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 8, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 18, 2014
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: John F. Christensen, Boris Kozinsky, Jasim Ahmed, Nalin Chaturvedi
  • Fuel cell stacking and sealing
    Patent number: 8658327
    Abstract: Various aspects of solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC) technology are described. One specific application includes a seal for connecting an outer surface of a fuel cell to a cell manifold that supports the fuel cell and delivers a fuel mixture to an inside portion of the fuel cell. The seal also separates the fuel mixture from the outer surface at the seal. And the seal is electrically conductive to allow flow of electric current between the outer surface and the cell manifold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 20, 2003
    Date of Patent: February 25, 2014
    Assignee: Acumentrics Corporation
    Inventors: Gary A. Mook, Kevin H. Negrotti, Hugh L. Smith, Norman F. Bessette, Kenneth Shown, Timothy Near, Raymond England
  • Fuel cell and fuel cell stack
    Patent number: 8637204
    Abstract: In a solid polymer electrolyte membrane [film] type fuel cell of the invention, where a pair of electrodes are provided on opposite sides of a solid polymer electrolyte membrane [film], and the outside thereof is clamped by a pair of separators, and nonconductive picture frame-shaped members 61 are arranged at the outer edge portions of the separators, for allowing increase and decrease of a space between separators, while sealing a gap between the separators.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 28, 2014
    Assignee: Honda Giken Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Toshihiko Suenaga, Narutoshi Sugita, Takayuki Ogawa, Keisuke Andou, Masajiro Inoue
  • Asymetrical pore structure separator for an electrochemical cell
    Patent number: 8597819
    Abstract: A separator for an electrochemical cell, comprising (A) a flexible perforate support, and (B) a porous ceramic material which fills the perforations in the support and is suitable for receiving an ion-conducting electrolyte, wherein the porous ceramic material comprises a first porous layer which is characterized by an average pore size and also at least one second porous layer for contacting with an electrode, the second porous layer having an average pore size which is smaller than the average pore size of the first porous layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 8, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 3, 2013
    Assignee: Evonik Degussa GmbH
    Inventors: Volker Hennige, Christian Hying, Gerhard Hoerpel, Petr Novak, Jens Vetter
  • Battery pack
    Patent number: 8580421
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a battery pack and the battery pack includes: a plurality of secondary batteries; a core pack including a protection circuit module; and a battery case composed of first and second sub-cases for accommodating the core pack, in which fastening portions combining the first sub-case with the second sub-case are formed, and adhesive members and grooves receiving the adhesive members are formed at the fastening portions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 12, 2013
    Assignee: Samsung SDI Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Jin-Tae Hong
  • Li-ion battery with anode current collector coating
    Patent number: 8563173
    Abstract: An electrochemical cell in one embodiment includes a negative electrode including a form of lithium, a positive electrode spaced apart from the negative electrode, an electrolyte, a separator positioned between the negative electrode and the positive electrode, and a current collector in the negative electrode, the current collector including a substrate material and a coating material on the surface of the substrate material, wherein the coating material does not include a form of lithium.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 8, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 22, 2013
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Boris Kozinsky, John F. Christensen, Nalin Chaturvedi, Jasim Ahmed
  • Prismatic cell, method of manufacturing thereof, and assembled battery using the same
    Patent number: 8557434
    Abstract: The present invention aims to provide a method for insulatively covering the side surfaces and bottom of a prismatic outer can in a simple manner. This can be realized by adopting the following configuration: a prismatic cell including a prismatic outer can having an opening at the top thereof; a sealing body for sealing the opening; and positive and negative electrode external terminals that are protruded from and insulated from the sealing body, wherein the prismatic outer can is covered on the side surfaces and entire bottom with a piece of folded insulation sheet. Preferably, the bottom of the prismatic outer can is covered with only one piece of the insulating sheet, and all edges of the insulating sheet is positioned above the bottom of the outer can.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 4, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 15, 2013
    Assignee: SANYO Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yasutomo Taniguchi, Yasuhiro Yamauchi, Toshiyuki Nohma
  • Anode material and battery using the same
    Patent number: 8507134
    Abstract: Provided are an anode material capable of improving a capacity and cycle characteristics, and a battery using the anode material. A disk-shaped cathode contained in a package can and a disk-shaped anode contained in a package cup are laminated with a separator in between. The anode comprises a composite material formed through applying a compressive force and a shearing force to at least a part of a surface of a base material including at least one kind selected from Group 14 elements except for carbon so as to combine a carbonaceous material with the base material, thereby the capacity and the cycle characteristics can be improved.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 18, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 13, 2013
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Takatomo Nishino, Hiroaki Tanizaki, Hiroshi Inoue
  • Lithium-metal-oxide composite electrodes
    Patent number: 8501352
    Abstract: A composite material having: particles of a first lithium-metal oxide compound, particles of a conductive second lithium-metal oxide compound, a conductive matrix, and a polymeric binder.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 3, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 6, 2013
    Assignee: The United States of America, as represented by the Secretary of the Navy
    Inventors: Arnold Stux, Karen Lyons
  • Rechargeable battery and method of injecting electrolyte thereinto
    Patent number: 8501334
    Abstract: Provided is a pouch-type rechargeable battery. A rechargeable battery according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention includes: an electrode assembly including a positive electrode, a negative electrode, and a separator interposed between the positive electrode and the negative electrode; a case receiving the electrode assembly; an electrolyte solution injection member positioned at one side of the case and forming an injection hole; and a sealing member covering and sealing the injection hole.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 19, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 6, 2013
    Assignee: Samsung SDI Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Seung-Beob Yi
  • Protected lithium electrodes having a polymer electrolyte interlayer and battery cells thereof
    Patent number: 8501339
    Abstract: Active metal and active metal intercalation electrode structures and battery cells having ionically conductive protective architecture including an active metal (e.g., lithium) conductive impervious layer separated from the electrode (anode) by a porous separator impregnated with a non-aqueous electrolyte (anolyte). This protective architecture prevents the active metal from deleterious reaction with the environment on the other (cathode) side of the impervious layer, which may include aqueous or non-aqueous liquid electrolytes (catholytes) and/or a variety electrochemically active materials, including liquid, solid and gaseous oxidizers. Safety additives and designs that facilitate manufacture are also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 6, 2013
    Assignee: PolyPlus Battery Company
    Inventors: Steven J. Visco, Bruce D. Katz, Yevgeniy S. Nimon, Lutgard C. De Jonghe
  • Energy storage unit for a motor vehicle
    Patent number: 8475953
    Abstract: An energy store for a motor vehicle for storage and emission of electrical energy as required, having a multiplicity of cells which are positioned one above the other and/or alongside one another like an array, wherein each cell is surrounded by a first material, wherein a second material is positioned between the cells which are surrounded by the first material and form a cell array, and wherein heat exchanging ribs are positioned at edges of the cell array.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 2, 2013
    Assignee: Dr. Ing. h.c. F. Porsche Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Guan Chew, Miroslaw Oslislok, Hartmut Chodura, Stefan Bender
  • Solid polymer electrolyte material, liquid composition, solid polymer fuel cell and fluoropolymer
    Patent number: 8470943
    Abstract: A solid polymer electrolyte material made of a copolymer comprising a repeating unit based on a fluoromonomer A which gives a polymer having an alicyclic structure in its main chain by radical polymerization, and a repeating unit based on a fluoromonomer B of the following formula (1): CF2?CF(Rf)jSO2X??(1) wherein j is 0 or 1, X is a fluorine atom, a chlorine atom or OM {wherein M is a hydrogen atom, an alkali metal atom or a group of NR1R2R3R4 (wherein each of R1, R2, R3 and R4 which may be the same or different, is a hydrogen atom or a monovalent organic group)}, and Rf is a C1-20 polyfluoroalkylene group having a straight chain or branched structure which may contain ether oxygen atoms.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 1, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 25, 2013
    Assignee: Asahi Glass Company, Limited
    Inventors: Atsushi Watakabe, Takeshi Eriguchi, Toshihiro Tanuma, Yasuhiro Kunisa