Patents by Inventor Jin Woo Kwak

Jin Woo Kwak 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: 9810130
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a generator for an internal combustion engine. The generator for an internal combustion engine includes: a heat protector configured to cover an exhaust manifold in which exhaust gas flows to absorb heat energy emitted from the exhaust manifold; and a thermoelectric module configured to be disposed on the heat protector to generate electric energy from heat energy absorbed by the heat protector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2017
    Assignee: HYUNDAI MOTOR COMPANY
    Inventors: Jin Woo Kwak, In Woong Lyo, Kyong Hwa Song, Su Jung Noh, In Chang Chu, Gyung Bok Kim, Seung Woo Lee, Han Saem Lee
  • Publication number: 20170301846
    Abstract: A thermoelectric module mounted on an uneven surface (a curved surface or an irregular surface) to reduce thermal boundary resistance and significantly improve thermoelectric power generation efficiency is provided. The thermoelectric module includes one or more first thermoelectric elements, one or more second thermoelectric elements having opposite polarity to that of the first thermoelectric elements and alternating with the first thermoelectric element. An electrode unit in provided and includes upper and lower electrodes configured to electrically connect the first and second thermoelectric elements. A connection member is configured to connect the first and second thermoelectric elements to vary the relative positions of the first and second thermoelectric elements.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 1, 2016
    Publication date: October 19, 2017
    Inventors: Byung Wook Kim, Kyong Hwa Song, Jin Woo Kwak, Gyung Bok Kim, In Woong Lyo, Han Saem Lee
  • Publication number: 20170284267
    Abstract: An exhaust manifold for a vehicle configured for improving fuel efficiency of the vehicle by improving fluidity of exhaust gas may include a manifold body having a plurality of inlet portions which are outwardly extended and an outlet portion which is outwardly extended, wherein the manifold body may have a flat surface formed on at least a portion of a top surface thereof.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 30, 2016
    Publication date: October 5, 2017
    Applicant: Hyundai Motor Company
    Inventors: Jin Woo KWAK, In Woong LYO, Ji Ho KIM, Min Kyu PARK, Kyong Hwa SONG, Seung Woo LEE, Han Saem LEE, Hong Kil BAEK, Byung Wook KIM, Kwang Hee NAM, Sang Soo MIN
  • Publication number: 20170288115
    Abstract: A thermoelectric generating system may include a base substrate configured to be installed at a side of a vehicle exhaust line part; and at least one thermoelectric module configured to be installed on a top surface of the base substrate, in which a side of the exhaust line part is provided with an opening communicating with an internal space of the exhaust line part, the base substrate is installed to seal the opening of the exhaust line part, and the base substrate is made of a thermal conductive material and a surface of the base substrate is formed with an insulating layer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 14, 2016
    Publication date: October 5, 2017
    Applicant: Hyundai Motor Company
    Inventors: Jin Woo KWAK, In Woong LYO, Kyong Hwa SONG, Han Saem LEE, Hong Kil BAEK, In Chang CHU, Gyung Bok KIM, Byung Wook KIM, Seung Woo LEE
  • Patent number: 9745882
    Abstract: A thermoelectric power generation apparatus includes a heat transfer module configured to be attached to an exhaust manifold or an exhaust pipe; a thermoelectric module configured to be supplied with heat from the heat transfer module; and a cooling module configured to absorb heat from the thermoelectric module. Thus, it is possible to implement a thermoelectric power generation system in the vehicle without changing a shape of an exhaust system and a shape of the thermoelectric module.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 22, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2017
    Assignee: HYUNDAI MOTOR COMPANY
    Inventors: Jin Woo Kwak, In Woong Lyo, Kyong Hwa Song, Hong Kil Baek, In Chang Chu, Su Jung Noh, Seung Woo Lee, Han Saem Lee
  • Patent number: 9735334
    Abstract: An apparatus for manufacturing a thermoelectric module includes an alignment mechanism for aligning a plurality of thermoelectric elements with respect to a plurality of electrodes attached to a substrate, wherein the alignment mechanism includes a dispenser having a plurality of injection portions and the plurality of thermoelectric elements is inserted into the plurality of injection portions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 16, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2017
    Assignee: HYUNDAI MOTOR COMPANY
    Inventors: Jin Woo Kwak, Kyong Hwa Song, Byung Wook Kim, In Woong Lyo, Han Saem Lee
  • Patent number: 9728825
    Abstract: A device for indirectly cooling a battery module of an eco-friendly vehicle is provided that cools the battery module using an interfacial plate into which a heat pipe is inserted to maximize battery heat emission performance and simultaneously prevent degradation of battery performance. A thermally-conductive interfacial plate in which a heat pipe is embedded by over-molding is disposed between battery cells and a heat sink, which is a condensation unit, integrally connected to an upper end of the heat pipe is disposed in a cooling air flow path to improve contact strength between the interfacial plate and the battery cells. A planar heat emitter is disposed between the battery cells where the interfacial plate is not disposed to heat the battery to a proper-level temperature in a cold-start environment and a low-temperature environment, thereby improving battery performance and preventing degradation in vehicle power.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2017
    Assignee: Hyundai Motor Company
    Inventors: Jin Woo Kwak, Do Suck Han, Gun Goo Lee, Kyong Hwa Song, Hyuk Kang, Jeong Hun Seo
  • Patent number: 9728701
    Abstract: A thermoelectric generation apparatus includes a heat absorbing surface configured to absorb heat from an internal combustion engine, a heat generating surface bonded to the heat absorbing surface by a semiconductor and configured to discharge the heat to the outside, and a conductive converting part interposed between the heat absorbing surface and the internal combustion engine. The conductive converting part is configured to allow the heat to be conducted from the internal combustion engine to the heat absorbing surface when a temperature of the internal combustion engine is equal to or greater than a specific value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 28, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2017
    Assignee: HYUNDAI MOTOR COMPANY
    Inventors: Jin Woo Kwak, In Woong Lyo, Kyong Hwa Song, Han Saem Lee, Hong Kil Baek, In Chang Chu, Gyung Bok Kim, Su Jung Noh, Seung Woo Lee
  • Publication number: 20170213954
    Abstract: An apparatus for manufacturing a thermoelectric module includes an alignment mechanism for aligning a plurality of thermoelectric elements with respect to a plurality of electrodes attached to a substrate, wherein the alignment mechanism includes a dispenser having a plurality of injection portions and the plurality of thermoelectric elements is inserted into the plurality of injection portions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 16, 2016
    Publication date: July 27, 2017
    Inventors: Jin Woo KWAK, Kyong Hwa SONG, Byung Wook KIM, In Woong LYO, Han Saem LEE
  • Publication number: 20170213950
    Abstract: A thermoelectric element may include a body having a predetermined length, a first end portion provided at a first end of the body, and a second end portion provided at a second end of the body, wherein the first end portion or the second end portion may have at least a partial non-flat surface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 20, 2016
    Publication date: July 27, 2017
    Applicant: Hyundai Motor Company
    Inventors: Jin Woo KWAK, Kyong Hwa Song, Byung Wook Kim, In Woong Lyo, Han Saem Lee
  • Publication number: 20170172013
    Abstract: Disclosed is a housing for electronic/electrical that includes an inner panel and an outer panel, a strip of metal plate, and a strip of shape memory material. The inner panel and the outer panel are disposed parallel to each other at regular intervals to define an internal space. The strip of metal plate extends from an inner surface of the outer panel. The strip of shape memory material extends from an inner surface of the inner panel and is attached or detached to/from the metal plate on the outer panel while changing into an original straight shape or a bent shape according to a temperature variation. Here, when the temperature increase beyond a first transition temperature, the shape memory material straightens to form a heat transfer path. At a low temperature environment, the shape memory material bends and is separated from the metal plate to interrupt the heat transfer path.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 27, 2017
    Publication date: June 15, 2017
    Inventors: Jin Woo Kwak, Kyong Hwa Song, Byung Sam Choi, Han Saem Lee
  • Publication number: 20170155027
    Abstract: A thermoelectric generating system is provided. The system includes one or more thermoelectric modules that are mounted on a top surface of a heat source part and a cooling part that is disposed over the thermoelectric modules. A pressurizing device is configured to pressurize the thermoelectric modules and the cooling part toward the heat source part and a cover is installed to cover an upper portion of the pressurizing device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 13, 2016
    Publication date: June 1, 2017
    Inventors: Jin Woo Kwak, In Woong Lyo, Kyong Hwa Song, Han Saem Lee, Byung Wook Kim, Hong Kil Baek, Seung Woo Lee, Tae Won Lim, Kwang Hee Nam, Sang Soo Min
  • Publication number: 20170107884
    Abstract: A thermoelectric generating system for a vehicle, the thermoelectric generating system includes an engine for producing power, a thermoelectric module for producing electric energy from thermal energy of an exhaust gas generated by the engine, a purifying device for purifying the exhaust gas generated by the engine, and a controller for driving the thermoelectric module when a temperature of the purifying device arrives at a predetermined operational temperature.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 9, 2016
    Publication date: April 20, 2017
    Inventors: Han Saem LEE, In Woong LYO, Kyong Hwa SONG, Hong Kil BAEK, Jin Woo KWAK, Gyung Bok KIM, Byung Wook KIM, Seung Woo LEE
  • Publication number: 20170110644
    Abstract: A thermoelectric nanocomposite is provided. The thermoelectric nanocomposite includes: a matrix having n-type semiconductor characteristics and comprising Mg, Si, Al, and Bi components, and a nanoinclusion comprising Bi and Mg components. The thermoelectric nanocomposite has significantly increased thermoelectric energy conversion efficiency by simultaneously having an increased Seebeck coefficient and a decreased thermal conductivity, such that the thermoelectric nanocomposite is usefully used to implement a thermoelectric device having high efficiency.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 1, 2016
    Publication date: April 20, 2017
    Inventors: Byung Wook Kim, Kyong Hwa Song, Han Saem Lee, Jin Woo Kwak, In Woong Lyo, Su Jung Noh, Woo Young Lee, Gwan Sik Kim, Sung Mee Cho
  • Publication number: 20170098751
    Abstract: Provided is a thermoelectric generating system which may be easily installed in a heat source of a vehicle and which is easy to assemble and disassemble overall by eliminating the necessity to be assembled with a cooling module. The thermoelectric generating system includes a first substrate, a second substrate configured to be slidably engageable in contiguity with a heat source of a vehicle, and a thermoelectric module disposed between the first substrate and the second substrate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 2, 2016
    Publication date: April 6, 2017
    Applicant: HYUNDAI MOTOR COMPANY
    Inventors: Su Jung Noh, Jin Woo Kwak, In Woong Lyo, Han Saem Lee
  • Patent number: 9603288
    Abstract: A housing for electronic/electrical components includes an inner panel and an outer panel, a strip of metal plate, and a strip of shape memory material. The inner panel and the outer panel are disposed parallel to each other to define an internal space. The strip of metal plate extends from an inner surface of the outer panel. The strip of shape memory material extends from an inner surface of the inner panel and is attached to or detached from the metal plate on the outer panel while changing into an original straight shape or a bent shape according to a temperature variation. When the temperature increases beyond a first transition temperature, the shape memory material straightens to form a heat transfer path. When the temperature falls below a second transition temperature, the shape memory material bends and is separated from the metal plate to interrupt the heat transfer path.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 23, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2017
    Assignee: Hyundai Motor Company
    Inventors: Jin Woo Kwak, Kyong Hwa Song, Byung Sam Choi, Han Saem Lee
  • Publication number: 20170077377
    Abstract: A thermoelectric module mounted on a non-flat surface of a heating source component to reduce thermal resistance to enhance thermoelectric generation efficiency is provided. The thermoelectric module includes at least one electrode component having a first electrode plate and a second electrode plate connected to be pivoted with respect to each other. Additionally, least one semiconductor component includes a first semiconductor element electrically connected to the first electrode plate and a second semiconductor element electrically connected to the second electrode plate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 12, 2015
    Publication date: March 16, 2017
    Inventors: Byung Wook Kim, Kyong Hwa Song, Jin Woo Kwak, Gyungbok Kim, In Woong Lyo, Han Saem Lee
  • Publication number: 20160376971
    Abstract: A thermoelectric element of a vehicle exhaust system is provided, which achieves maximum generation efficiency without exceeding an endurance limit thereof. The thermoelectric element includes a thermoelectric module and a heat dissipation plate. Arrangement of the heat dissipation plate directly exposes one side to the exhaust system and the opposite side contacts the thermoelectric module. Furthermore, the thermoelectric element includes a cooling unit having interior cooling channels and disposed on the other side of the thermoelectric module.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 2, 2015
    Publication date: December 29, 2016
    Inventors: Seung Woo Lee, Kyong Hwa Song, Hong Kil Baek, Jin Woo Kwak, Su Jung Noh, Tae Won Lee, Han Saem Lee
  • Patent number: 9515360
    Abstract: A battery pack air cooling structure and method having a thermoelectric element are provided. The structure includes a housing having a cooling passageway through which a refrigerant passes and a plurality of cell module assemblies that are disposed inside the housing and each include a pair of unit cells stacked parallel to each other. A heat transfer plate is interposed between the pair of unit cells. A heat pipe has a first portion disposed in the heat transfer plate and protrudes second portion that protrudes out of the heat transfer plate. A heat-exchanging member formed at the second portion of the heat pipe and is configured to perform heat-exchange with air that passes through the cooling passageway; and a thermoelectric element is formed at an upstream side into which air of the cooling passageway is injected.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2016
    Assignee: Hyundai Motor Company
    Inventors: Jin Woo Kwak, Kyung Hwa Song, Jeong Hun Seo
  • Publication number: 20160351777
    Abstract: A thermoelectric generation device using engine waste heat includes: a thermoelectric element including a sheet-type graphite layer having thermal conductivity; first heat transfer bodies joined to the graphite layer at intervals and having thermal conductivity and electrical conductivity; second heat transfer bodies disposed between the first heat transfer bodies at intervals and having thermal conductivity and electrical conductivity; first pellets of a P-type thermoelectric material joined between the first and second heat transfer bodies alternately with second pellets of an N-type thermoelectric material. The second pellets are joined between the first and second heat transfer bodies alternately with the first pellets. In particular, at least one of the first pellet or the second pellet is joined in a line-contact to form an angle with an inclined portion of the adjacent heat transfer body and to form a surface-contact when the graphite layer is curved.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 6, 2015
    Publication date: December 1, 2016
    Applicant: HYUNDAI MOTOR COMPANY
    Inventors: Jin Woo KWAK, ln Woong LYO, Su Jung NOH, In Chang CHU, Seung Woo LEE, Han Saem LEE