Patents by Inventor Motoaki Okuda

Motoaki Okuda 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: 11594789
    Abstract: A secondary battery is provided with first and second electrode assembly bodies and first and second negative electrode tab groups. The first and second negative electrode tab groups respectively have collected foil portions each constituted by a plurality of collected tab portions and extension portions. The extension portions of the respective tab groups have portions-to-be-welded and step portions. In the step portions, the plurality of tabs are laminated in a state that the end portions thereof are shifted in a step-like manner. The secondary battery is provided with an overlapped portion where the step portions of the first negative electrode tab group and the second negative electrode tab group are overlapped with each other in the lamination direction of the negative electrode tabs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2023
    Assignee: KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOYOTA JIDOSHOKKI
    Inventors: Mikiya Kurita, Motoaki Okuda, Atsushi Minagata, Yohei Hamaguchi, Masato Ogasawara
  • Patent number: 11476543
    Abstract: An alkaline storage battery includes a plurality of foil electrodes that each have a metal foil and an active material layer. The active material layers are arranged in such a manner that adjacent two of the active material layers face each other. Separators which are each interposed between the adjacent two of the active material layers. The separators are each a nonwoven fabric including fibers as protruding portions. The active material layers have a large number of active material particles which adhere to each other, and spaces formed between the active material particles, as fitting portions. The fibers are engaged with the spaces while the fibers enter the spaces.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2022
    Assignee: KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOYOTA JIDOSHOKKI
    Inventors: Satoshi Kono, Motoaki Okuda, Atsushi Minagata
  • Patent number: 10998592
    Abstract: A power storage device includes an electrode assembly, a case that houses the electrode assembly, and an insulating sheet, which insulates the electrode assembly and the case from each other. The electrode assembly has a layered structure in which positive electrodes and negative electrodes are stacked. The electrode assembly has a first end face, which is orthogonal to the stacking direction, two primary faces, which are located on both sides in the stacking direction, and a tab, which extends on the first end face in the direction orthogonal to the stacking direction. The insulating sheet has a folded box shape, and further has two primary face covering portions, which respectively cover the primary faces of the electrode assembly, and non-primary-face covering portions, which cover the first end face of the electrode assembly and faces other than the primary faces thereof and are continuous with the primary face covering portions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 4, 2021
    Assignee: KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOYOTA JIDOSHOKKI
    Inventors: Atsushi Minagata, Motoaki Okuda, Masami Tomioka
  • Patent number: 10943745
    Abstract: The electric storage device includes an electrode assembly having a positive electrode and a negative electrode, a case for housing the electrode assembly, a pressure relief valve, and positive and negative electrode conductive members that are electrically connected to the respective corresponding electrodes. The case has a wall in which the pressure relief valve is disposed. At least one of the positive and negative electrode conductive members includes an interposing portion located between the inner surface of the wall and an end face of the electrode assembly facing the inner surface, and a shielding portion located closer to the end face of the electrode assembly than the interposing portion. The shielding portion covers the pressure release valve from a side of the wall where the electrode assembly is located.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 9, 2021
    Assignee: KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOYOTA JIDOSHOKKI
    Inventors: Yusuke Yamashita, Takayuki Hirose, Shinji Suzuki, Yasuaki Takenaka, Masato Ogasawara, Atsushi Minagata, Hirokuni Akiyama, Motoaki Okuda
  • Publication number: 20210020888
    Abstract: An alkaline storage battery includes a plurality of foil electrodes that each have a metal foil and an active material layer. The active material layers are arranged in such a manner that adjacent two of the active material layers face each other. Separators which are each interposed between the adjacent two of the active material layers. The separators are each a nonwoven fabric including fibers as protruding portions. The active material layers have a large number of active material particles which adhere to each other, and spaces formed between the active material particles, as fitting portions. The fibers are engaged with the spaces while the fibers enter the spaces.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 19, 2019
    Publication date: January 21, 2021
    Applicant: KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOYOTA JIDOSHOKKI
    Inventors: Satoshi KONO, Motoaki OKUDA, Atsushi MINAGATA
  • Patent number: 10811721
    Abstract: The electricity storage device includes an electrode assembly, a case, and a holding tape. The electrode assembly further includes a bottom surface, which is supported by an inner bottom surface of the case, two end faces in a lamination direction, which are joined to the bottom face, two side surfaces, which are joined to the bottom surface and intersect with the end surfaces, and two corner sections, which are formed from the bottom surface and the side surfaces. Each corner section includes a chamfered section, and a border section between the chamfered section and the bottom surface. The holding tape covers the border section from the bottom surface in a direction parallel to the bottom surface and orthogonal to the stacking direction, further inward of the electrode assembly than the side surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 15, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 20, 2020
    Assignee: KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOYOTA JIDOSHOKKI
    Inventors: Atsushi Minagata, Motoaki Okuda
  • Patent number: 10741819
    Abstract: A tab bundle has a first bent portion, which is at a first end in the stacking direction L of an electrode assembly in a laminated state and is bent toward a second end in the stacking direction L of the electrode assembly, and an extended portion, which protrudes from the first bent portion in the stacking direction L. The tab bundle is electrically connected to a conductive member by means of a conduction part, which is located in the extended portion. The conductive member includes: a fixed piece, which is fixed to the inner surface of a lid member and located between the extended portion and the lid member, and a connecting piece, which intersects the fixed piece and protrudes toward the electrode assembly. The tab bundle is electrically connected to the connecting piece by means of the conduction part, which is located in the extended portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 11, 2020
    Assignee: KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOYOTA JIDOSHOKKI
    Inventors: Takayuki Hirose, Motoaki Okuda, Hiroyasu Nishihara, Kojiro Tamaru
  • Patent number: 10734631
    Abstract: The purpose of the present invention is to provide an electricity storage device, the positive electrode and negative electrode of which can be protected when housing an electrode assembly body into a case main body. A secondary battery of the present invention has a lid terminal member formed by integrating: a lid; a positive electrode terminal and a negative electrode terminal; a positive electrode conductive member and a negative electrode conductive member; and an insulating member. The lid terminal member is integrated with an electrode assembly body through a positive electrode tab group and a negative electrode tab group. The electrode assembly body includes an electrode housing separator and a negative electrode each having a bottom-side contact portion contacting the inner bottom surface of a case main body. The electrode housing separator also has a lid-side contact portion contacting the lid terminal member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 15, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 4, 2020
    Assignee: KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOYOTA JIDOSHOKKI
    Inventors: Atsushi Minagata, Motoaki Okuda
  • Publication number: 20200144583
    Abstract: A secondary battery is provided with first and second electrode assembly bodies and first and second negative electrode tab groups. The first and second negative electrode tab groups respectively have collected foil portions each constituted by a plurality of collected tab portions and extension portions. The extension portions of the respective tab groups have portions-to-be-welded and step portions. In the step portions, the plurality of tabs are laminated in a state that the end portions thereof are shifted in a step-like manner. The secondary battery is provided with an overlapped portion where the step portions of the first negative electrode tab group and the second negative electrode tab group are overlapped with each other in the lamination direction of the negative electrode tabs.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 26, 2018
    Publication date: May 7, 2020
    Applicant: KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOYOTA JIDOSHOKKI
    Inventors: Mikiya KURITA, Motoaki OKUDA, Atsushi MINAGATA, Yohei HAMAGUCHI, Masato OGASAWARA
  • Patent number: 10511009
    Abstract: An electrical energy storage device includes: a casing; a terminal; and an current interruption device. The terminal includes a column part inserted in the opening provided on the terminal wall of the casing and a base part disposed within the casing. An insulating member is disposed between the terminal and the terminal wall, the insulating member surrounds an entire periphery of the column part. The insulating member includes a sealing part sealing between the inside and the outside of the casing at a sealing position, and a non-sealing part. In an entire space provided between the terminal and the terminal wall on an inner side of the casing than the sealing position, the non-sealing part is disposed from an end face in the space on a casing outer side to an end face in the space on a casing inner side.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 17, 2019
    Assignee: KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOYOTA JIDOSHOKKI
    Inventors: Motoaki Okuda, Takayuki Hirose, Hiroyasu Nishihara
  • Patent number: 10439195
    Abstract: A power storage device includes a case accommodating an electrode assembly and having a lid, a current interrupting device, and an insulating member. The electrode assembly has a tab-side end face opposed to an inner face of the lid. The current interrupting device has a device end face opposed to the tab-side end face. The insulating member has an insulating end face opposed to the tab-side end face. A distance from the inner face to the device end face in a state where the current interrupting device is positioned closest to the inner face is defined as a first dimension. A distance from the inner face to the insulating end face in a state where the insulating member is positioned closest to the inner face is defined as a second dimension. The first dimension is smaller than the second dimension.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 8, 2019
    Assignee: KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOYOTA JIDOSHOKKI
    Inventors: Takayuki Hirose, Motoaki Okuda, Hiroyasu Nishihara, Kojiro Tamaru
  • Patent number: 10340501
    Abstract: A current interruption device includes a first conductive member, a second conductive member, a first deformable member, a second deformable member, and a first seal member. The second conductive member is disposed at a position opposed to the first conductive member. A center portion of the first deformable member is fixed to the second conductive member. The second deformable member is disposed on a side opposite to the first deformable member relative to the second conductive member. The first seal member is disposed between the first conductive member and the second conductive member. A second seal member is disposed between the first conductive member and the casing. A gas permeability between the casing and the first conductive member is equal to or less than a gas permeability between the first conductive member and the second conductive member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 2, 2019
    Assignees: KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOYOTA JIDOSHOKKI, Eagle Industry Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Atsushi Minagata, Motoaki Okuda, Toshiaki Iwa, Yoshihiro Ogawa, Makoto Mitsuyasu, Norimitsu Akiyoshi
  • Patent number: 10333121
    Abstract: A secondary battery is provided with an electrode assembly, a case for accommodating the electrode assembly, and a pressure-release valve for releasing the pressure in the case to the outside of the case. The pressure-release valve has a groove including an intersection point. An opening width at a portion of the groove near the intersection point is wider than an opening width at a portion of the groove on the opposite side of the intersection point.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 25, 2019
    Assignee: KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOYOTA JIDOSHOKKI
    Inventors: Akihisa Matsudo, Motoaki Okuda, Masami Tomioka
  • Patent number: 10320208
    Abstract: An electricity storage device includes a casing, a terminal, and a current interruption device. The terminal includes a column part and a base part. A first sealing member having an insulating property including a first sealing part sealing between the terminal and a terminal wall is provided between the terminal and the terminal wall, and surrounding an entire periphery of the column part. A first insulating member having an insulating property is disposed within a first space provided between the terminal and the terminal wall on a casing inner side relative to the first sealing part, and surrounds the entire periphery of the column part. At least one of the first sealing member and the first insulating member is disposed in the first space from an end face of the first space on a casing outer side to an end face on the casing inner side thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 6, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 11, 2019
    Assignee: KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOYOTA JIDOSHOKKI
    Inventors: Kojiro Tamaru, Motoaki Okuda, Hiroyasu Nishihara, Takayuki Hirose
  • Publication number: 20190115163
    Abstract: The electric storage device includes an electrode assembly having a positive electrode and a negative electrode, a case for housing the electrode assembly, a pressure relief valve, and positive and negative electrode conductive members that are electrically connected to the respective corresponding electrodes. The case has a wall in which the pressure relief valve is disposed. At least one of the positive and negative electrode conductive members includes an interposing portion located between the inner surface of the wall and an end face of the electrode assembly facing the inner surface, and a shielding portion located closer to the end face of the electrode assembly than the interposing portion. The shielding portion covers the pressure release valve from a side of the wall where the electrode assembly is located.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 31, 2017
    Publication date: April 18, 2019
    Applicant: KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOYOTA JIDOSHOKKI
    Inventors: Yusuke YAMASHITA, Takayuki HIROSE, Shinji SUZUKI, Yasuaki TAKENAKA, Masato OGASAWARA, Atsushi MINAGATA, Hirokuni AKIYAMA, Motoaki OKUDA
  • Publication number: 20190027711
    Abstract: A power storage device includes an electrode assembly, a case that houses the electrode assembly, and an insulating sheet, which insulates the electrode assembly and the case from each other. The electrode assembly has a layered structure in which positive electrodes and negative electrodes are stacked. The electrode assembly has a first end face, which is orthogonal to the stacking direction, two primary faces, which are located on both sides in the stacking direction, and a tab, which extends on the first end face in the direction orthogonal to the stacking direction. The insulating sheet has a folded box shape, and further has two primary face covering portions, which respectively cover the primary faces of the electrode assembly, and non-primary-face covering portions, which cover the first end face of the electrode assembly and faces other than the primary faces thereof and are continuous with the primary face covering portions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 12, 2018
    Publication date: January 24, 2019
    Applicant: KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOYOTA JIDOSHOKKI
    Inventors: Atsushi MINAGATA, Motoaki OKUDA, Masami TOMIOKA
  • Patent number: 10158101
    Abstract: A power storage device includes an electrode assembly, a case that houses the electrode assembly, and an insulating sheet, which insulates the electrode assembly and the case from each other. The electrode assembly has a first end face, which is orthogonal to the stacking direction, two primary faces, which are located on both sides in the stacking direction, and a tab, which extends on the first end face in the direction orthogonal to the stacking direction. The insulating sheet has a folded box shape, and further has two primary face covering portions, which respectively cover the primary faces of the electrode assembly, and non-primary-face covering portions, which cover the first end face of the electrode assembly and faces other than the primary faces thereof and are continuous with the primary face covering portions. The non-primary face covering portions overlap at least partially with each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 18, 2018
    Assignee: KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOYOTA JIDOSHOKKI
    Inventors: Atsushi Minagata, Motoaki Okuda, Masami Tomioka
  • Patent number: 10147919
    Abstract: A power storage apparatus includes an electrode assembly and a case for accommodating the electrode assembly. The power storage apparatus has a covering member that is arranged between the case and the electrode assembly to cover at least part of the electrode assembly. The covering member has an extending portion that extends in the protruding direction of the electrode terminals from one of the edges of the electrode assembly that is opposed to the electrode terminals. The coefficient of friction between the covering member and the electrode assembly is greater than the coefficient of friction between the case and the covering member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 4, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2018
    Assignee: KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOYOTA JIDOSHOKKI
    Inventors: Takayuki Hirose, Motoaki Okuda, Shinji Suzuki
  • Patent number: 10115956
    Abstract: An electricity storage device includes an electrode assembly, a case, a first terminal, and a second terminal. The electrode assembly includes one or more first electrodes and one or more second electrodes, which are stacked alternately with one or more separators in between. The case accommodates the electrode assembly. The first terminal and the second terminal are located on a wall portion of the case. First tabs and second tabs are provided on ends of the first and second electrodes, respectively. A circuit breaker is arranged between the second terminal and the electrode assembly. A part of the first terminal and the first tabs are arranged along the width direction of the electrode assembly, and the circuit breaker and the second tabs are arranged along the width direction of the electrode assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 30, 2018
    Assignee: KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOYOTA JIDOSHOKKI
    Inventors: Shimpei Mune, Yusuke Yamashita, Motoaki Okuda, Tomoaki Tachibana
  • Patent number: 10096815
    Abstract: A rechargeable battery is provided with a pressure release valve and a current interruption mechanism. The current interruption mechanism includes a deformation plate. When the internal pressure of the case reaches an interruption activation pressure, the deformation plate receives the internal pressure and is deformed to break a conducting portion. In the current interruption mechanism, a pressure that is set for maintaining the sealing at the contact portion between the deformation plate and a negative electrode conductor is defined as a sealing portion withstanding pressure, and the pressure that is set for maintaining the shape of the case is defined as a case withstanding pressure. The pressure for activating the pressure release valve is defined as a valve activation pressure. In this case, the sealing portion withstanding pressure and the valve activation pressure are set higher than the interruption activation pressure and lower than the case withstanding pressure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 9, 2018
    Assignee: KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOYOTA JIDOSHOKKI
    Inventors: Takayuki Hirose, Shinji Suzuki, Motoaki Okuda