Patents by Inventor Eiji Okutani

Eiji Okutani has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 10680230
    Abstract: A battery includes: an electrode body; an electrode current collector; a sealing body; an external terminal; an electrical conductor connected to the external terminal; a deforming plate sealing an opening of the electrical conductor, electrically connected to the electrical conductor and to the current collector, and deformed when an internal pressure reaches a predetermined pressure; and a first insulator between the deforming plate and the current collector. The current collector includes a base, and a lead connecting to the electrode body. First to fourth fasteners fasten the base and the first insulator. Between the first and second fasteners, the base is electrically connected to the deforming plate. The second fastener is closer to the lead than the first fastener. The second fastener is closer to a connection between the deforming plate and the electrode current collector than a position of the first insulator supported toward the sealing body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 9, 2020
    Assignees: SANYO Electric Co., Ltd., TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Shinichirou Yoshida, Hiroyuki Inoue, Eiji Okutani, Takashi Tokunaga, Toshihiro Takada, Takenori Tsuchiya
  • Patent number: 10355251
    Abstract: A rolled electrode assembly having a positive electrode plate and a negative electrode plate is housed in a prismatic outer body having as mouth together with non-aqueous electrolyte, and the mouth of the prismatic outer body is sealed by a sealing plate made of metal. The rolled electrode assembly is housed in the prismatic outer body, with the outer surface of the rolled electrode assembly covered by an insulating sheet except for the outer surface facing the sealing plate. The arithmetic mean roughness (Sa) of at least one surface of the insulating sheet disposed between the rolled electrode assembly and the prismatic outer body is 0.3 ?m or more.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 16, 2019
    Assignee: SANYO Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Takuya Yamawaki, Eiji Okutani
  • Patent number: 10256457
    Abstract: A conductive member including an opening portion is connected to a positive terminal and is integrally secured to a sealing plate together with an outer insulating member and a second insulating member. The conductive member opening portion is sealed by a deformable plate. A base portion of a positive electrode current collector is connected to the deformable plate. A first insulating member that is disposed between the deformable plate and the base portion of the positive electrode current collector includes a pair of first catch portions that are disposed so as to be aligned in a longitudinal direction of the sealing plate and a pair of second catch portions that are disposed so as to be aligned in a transverse direction of the sealing plate. The first catch portions and the second catch portions are connected to the second insulating member disposed between the sealing plate and the conductive member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2019
    Assignee: SANYO Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Takuya Yamawaki, Eiji Okutani, Masakazu Yamada
  • Patent number: 10256508
    Abstract: The invention aims to allow carbon dioxide, which is generated upon decomposition of lithium carbonate contained in a positive electrode mixture layer, to easily flow toward the outside of a flat wound electrode body, and further aims to rapidly raise the pressure inside a battery and to reliably operate a pressure-sensitive current interrupt mechanism before the temperature inside the battery rises to such an extent as causing an abnormal state, e.g., smoking, firing, or a burst. A nonaqueous electrolyte secondary battery (10) according to one embodiment of the present invention includes a pressure-sensitive current interrupt mechanism.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2019
    Assignee: SANYO ELECTRIC CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Eiji Okutani
  • Patent number: 10181596
    Abstract: A positive electrode sheet is electrically connected to a positive terminal with a positive electrode current collector, a deformable plate, and a conductive member interposed therebetween. When the pressure inside a battery is higher than or equal to a predetermined value, the deformable plate is deformed toward a sealing plate and an annular groove formed on a base portion of the positive electrode current collector is broken due to deformation of the deformable plate so that a conductive path between the positive electrode sheet and the positive terminal is disconnected. A first insulating member disposed between the deformable plate and the base portion of the positive electrode current collector includes a first rotation preventing protrusion on a surface thereof on a wound electrode body side and outside an outer circumferential edge of the base portion of the positive electrode current collector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 15, 2019
    Assignee: SANYO Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Takuya Yamawaki, Eiji Okutani, Masakazu Yamada
  • Patent number: 10153478
    Abstract: A battery includes a battery case, an electrode assembly, positive and negative electrode collectors, a sealing body, an external terminal, a conducting member, a deforming plate, and a first insulating member. The positive or negative electrode collector has a base portion facing the first insulating member, and a lead portion connected to the electrode assembly. A fixing portion fixing the base portion and the first insulating member to each other is provided in the first insulating member. The fixing portion is located nearer to the connection portion between the deforming plate and the positive or negative electrode collector than the sealing body side support position of the first insulating member. The outer peripheral edge of the electrode assembly side surface of the first insulating member is provided with a rib protruding to the electrode assembly side and extending along the outer peripheral edge of the base portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 11, 2018
    Assignee: SANYO Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Shinichirou Yoshida, Eiji Okutani, Takuya Yamawaki
  • Publication number: 20180277823
    Abstract: A battery includes: an electrode body; an electrode current collector; a sealing body; an external terminal; an electrical conductor connected to the external terminal; a deforming plate sealing an opening of the electrical conductor, electrically connected to the electrical conductor and to the current collector, and deformed when an internal pressure reaches a predetermined pressure; and a first insulator between the deforming plate and the current collector. The current collector includes a base, and a lead connecting to the electrode body. First to fourth fasteners fasten the base and the first insulator. Between the first and second fasteners, the base is electrically connected to the deforming plate. The second fastener is closer to the lead than the first fastener. The second fastener is closer to a connection between the deforming plate and the electrode current collector than a position of the first insulator supported toward the sealing body.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 20, 2018
    Publication date: September 27, 2018
    Applicants: SANYO Electric Co., Ltd., TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Shinichirou Yoshida, Hiroyuki Inoue, Eiji Okutani, Takashi Tokunaga, Toshihiro Takada, Takenori Tsuchiya
  • Patent number: 10079370
    Abstract: The thickness of a terminal connection portion of a positive electrode current collector is greater than that of a terminal connection portion of a negative electrode current collector. The terminal connection portion of the positive electrode current collector has a through-hole, and a positive electrode terminal is inserted into the through-hole and is upset on the terminal connection portion. The terminal connection portion of the negative electrode current collector has a through-hole, and a negative electrode terminal is inserted into the through-hole and is upset on the terminal connection portion. A recessed portion is formed in a lower surface of the positive electrode terminal connection portion around the through-hole, and a lower end portion of the positive electrode terminal is disposed in the recessed portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 18, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 18, 2018
    Assignee: SANYO Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Ryoichi Wakimoto, Eiji Okutani, Shinichiro Yoshida
  • Patent number: 10062873
    Abstract: An insertion portion of a negative electrode terminal is inserted into through-holes provided in an outer insulating member, a sealing plate, an inner insulating member, and a terminal connection portion of a negative electrode collector, and the insertion portion is crimped. A countersunk hole is provided around the through-hole of the terminal connection portion. The insertion portion of the negative electrode terminal is radially expanded in the countersunk hole. A distal end of a thin portion provided at a distal end of the crimped part of the insertion portion and the edge of the countersunk hole are welded by application of a high energy beam, and a groove is provided on the outer peripheral side of the countersunk hole.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 21, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 28, 2018
    Assignee: SANYO Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Shinichirou Yoshida, Eiji Okutani
  • Patent number: 9935339
    Abstract: [Problem] To provide a rectangular nonaqueous electrolyte secondary battery for which the generation of a magnetic field due to current during use is suppressed and the danger of internal shorts between the positive electrode tab and negative electrode tab is reduced. [Solution] The positive electrode tab and negative electrode tab are both disposed at the beginning side of a winding for wound electrodes. An outer housing and sealing plate are welded in a state with the positive electrode tab sandwiched at a mating part of the outer housing and sealing plate. The negative electrode tab is electrically connected to a negative electrode terminal provided on the sealing plate. The positive electrode tab and negative electrode tab are divided by a space of 2-12 mm in the direction of battery width.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 3, 2018
    Assignee: SANYO ELECTRIC CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Satoshi Yoshida, Eiji Okutani, Hideyuki Inomata, Ryuji Ohshita
  • Publication number: 20180076440
    Abstract: A battery includes a battery case, an electrode assembly, positive and negative electrode collectors, a sealing body, an external terminal, a conducting member, a deforming plate, and a first insulating member. The positive or negative electrode collector has a base portion facing the first insulating member, and a lead portion connected to the electrode assembly. A fixing portion fixing the base portion and the first insulating member to each other is provided in the first insulating member. The fixing portion is located nearer to the connection portion between the deforming plate and the positive or negative electrode collector than the sealing body side support position of the first insulating member. The outer peripheral edge of the electrode assembly side surface of the first insulating member is provided with a rib protruding to the electrode assembly side and extending along the outer peripheral edge of the base portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 31, 2017
    Publication date: March 15, 2018
    Applicant: SANYO Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Shinichirou Yoshida, Eiji Okutani, Takuya Yamawaki
  • Patent number: 9755217
    Abstract: A prismatic secondary battery includes a prismatic hollow outer body having a mouth and a bottom; a flat electrode assembly, a positive electrode collector, a negative electrode collector, and an electrolyte, all of which are stored in the prismatic outer body; a sealing plate sealing up the mouth of the prismatic outer body; and a positive electrode terminal attached to the sealing plate in an electrically insulated manner. The sealing plate includes a gas release valve and an electrolyte pour hole and further includes, on the front face, a concaved flat face having an identification code. With the prismatic secondary battery of the invention, a jig for assembly or the like is unlikely to come into contact with the identification code during an assembly process of the prismatic secondary battery, hence the identification code is unlikely to be abraded, and the traceability is unlikely to be lost.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 13, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2017
    Assignee: SANYO Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Takayuki Hattori, Yoshinori Yokoyama, Eiji Okutani, Yasuhiro Yamauchi
  • Patent number: 9741985
    Abstract: A sealing plate for a prismatic secondary battery includes a pair of mouths for attaching a negative and positive electrode terminals, one mouth being formed near one end in a longitudinal direction of the sealing plate, and the other mouth being formed near the other end, coining areas used for positioning of an insulating member and formed around the pair of mouths on a front face of the sealing plate, a gas release valve and an electrolyte pour hole formed between the pair of mouths, and grooves formed between the respective coining areas and the long side edge of the sealing plate. The groove has a smaller depth near the gas release valve than the depth near the coining area. Even when the sealing plate is produced through forging, the front face has good flatness and the coining areas are unlikely to have a sink mark or a shear drop.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 5, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2017
    Assignee: SANYO Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Eiji Okutani, Yoshinori Yokoyama, Takayuki Hattori, Yasuhiro Yamauchi
  • Publication number: 20170222209
    Abstract: A prismatic secondary battery includes a prismatic hollow outer body having a mouth and a bottom; a flat electrode assembly, a positive electrode collector, a negative electrode collector, and an electrolyte, all of which are stored in the prismatic outer body; a sealing plate sealing up the mouth of the prismatic outer body; and a positive electrode terminal attached to the sealing plate in an electrically insulated manner. The sealing plate includes a gas release valve and an electrolyte pour hole and further includes, on the front face, a concaved flat face having an identification code. With the prismatic secondary battery of the invention, a jig for assembly or the like is unlikely to come into contact with the identification code during an assembly process of the prismatic secondary battery, hence the identification code is unlikely to be abraded, and the traceability is unlikely to be lost.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 13, 2017
    Publication date: August 3, 2017
    Applicant: SANYO Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Takayuki Hattori, Yoshinori Yokoyama, Eiji Okutani, Yasuhiro Yamauchi
  • Patent number: 9660227
    Abstract: A prismatic secondary battery includes a prismatic hollow outer body having a mouth and a bottom; a flat electrode assembly, a positive electrode collector, a negative electrode collector, and an electrolyte, all of which are stored in the prismatic outer body; a sealing plate sealing up the mouth of the prismatic outer body; and a positive electrode terminal attached to the sealing plate in an electrically insulated manner. The sealing plate includes a gas release valve and an electrolyte pour hole and further includes, on the front face, a concaved flat face having an identification code. With the prismatic secondary battery of the invention, a jig for assembly or the like is unlikely to come into contact with the identification code during an assembly process of the prismatic secondary battery, hence the identification code is unlikely to be abraded, and the traceability is unlikely to be lost.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 6, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 23, 2017
    Assignee: SANYO Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Takayuki Hattori, Yoshinori Yokoyama, Eiji Okutani, Yasuhiro Yamauchi
  • Patent number: 9627659
    Abstract: An insulation sheet is disposed between a rectangular housing and an electrode body. A first side wall of the insulation sheet is disposed between a large-area side surface of the rectangular housing and the electrode body. The first side wall includes a first folded portion that is folded along an edge of the first side wall near a sealing plate. The first folded portion extends from an edge of the first side wall near the sealing plate toward a bottom surface of the rectangular housing and is disposed between the large-area side surface and the electrode body in such a way that the first folded portion overlaps the first side wall.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 19, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2017
    Assignee: SANYO Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Masakazu Yamada, Eiji Okutani, Yasuhiro Yamauchi
  • Publication number: 20170025666
    Abstract: A positive electrode sheet is electrically connected to a positive terminal with a positive electrode current collector, a deformable plate, and a conductive member interposed therebetween. When the pressure inside a battery is higher than or equal to a predetermined value, the deformable plate is deformed toward a sealing plate and an annular groove formed on a base portion of the positive electrode current collector is broken due to deformation of the deformable plate so that a conductive path between the positive electrode sheet and the positive terminal is disconnected. A first insulating member disposed between the deformable plate and the base portion of the positive electrode current collector includes a first rotation preventing protrusion on a surface thereof on a wound electrode body side and outside an outer circumferential edge of the base portion of the positive electrode current collector.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 20, 2016
    Publication date: January 26, 2017
    Applicant: Sanyo Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Takuya Yamawaki, Eiji Okutani, Masakazu Yamada
  • Publication number: 20170025667
    Abstract: A conductive member including an opening portion is connected to a positive terminal and is integrally secured to a sealing plate together with an outer insulating member and a second insulating member. The conductive member opening portion is sealed by a deformable plate. A base portion of a positive electrode current collector is connected to the deformable plate. A first insulating member that is disposed between the deformable plate and the base portion of the positive electrode current collector includes a pair of first catch portions that are disposed so as to be aligned in a longitudinal direction of the sealing plate and a pair of second catch portions that are disposed so as to be aligned in a transverse direction of the sealing plate. The first catch portions and the second catch portions are connected to the second insulating member disposed between the sealing plate and the conductive member.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 20, 2016
    Publication date: January 26, 2017
    Applicant: Sanyo Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Takuya Yamawaki, Eiji Okutani, Masakazu Yamada
  • Publication number: 20170005301
    Abstract: A rolled electrode assembly having a positive electrode plate and a negative electrode plate is housed in a prismatic outer body having as mouth together with non-aqueous electrolyte, and the mouth of the prismatic outer body is sealed by a sealing plate made of metal. The rolled electrode assembly is housed in the prismatic outer body, with the outer surface of the rolled electrode assembly covered by an insulating sheet except for the outer surface facing the sealing plate. The arithmetic mean roughness (Sa) of at least one surface of the insulating sheet disposed between the rolled electrode assembly and the prismatic outer body is 0.3 ?m or more.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 29, 2016
    Publication date: January 5, 2017
    Applicant: SANYO Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Takuya Yamawaki, Eiji Okutani
  • Publication number: 20160380300
    Abstract: A wound electrode body includes a negative electrode core body exposed portion on one of the end portions of the wound electrode body in a winding axis direction, which is layered by being wound. A core body connection of a negative electrode collector is disposed on one of the outer surfaces of the layered negative electrode core body exposed portion, and a negative electrode collector receiving component is disposed on the other one of the outer surfaces. Furthermore, tapes are each disposed between the core body connection and the negative electrode core body exposed portion and between the negative electrode collector receiving component and the negative electrode core body exposed portion. Each tape includes a base material layer, and an adhesion layer containing a coloring agent.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 28, 2016
    Publication date: December 29, 2016
    Applicant: SANYO Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Eiji Okutani, Shinichirou Yoshida, Takuya Yamawaki