Abstract: A method of manufacturing a hydrogen-absorption alloy electrode which comprises particles of a hydrogen-absorption alloy that comprises a rare earth element, Ni, Co and Al. The method comprises subjecting the hydrogen-absorption alloy particles to an alkaline treatment in a 10 to 50 weight % NaOH solution at 60 to 140° C. for 0.5 to 5 hours such that on the surface of the particles (amount of Al on surface/amount of Al in alloy)<(amount of Co on surface/amount of Co in alloy).

Abstract: A current collector sheet for an electrode of an electrochemical device has a conductive area and an insulating area on the surface thereof. Examples of the current collector sheet includes: a current collector sheet including an insulating sheet, wherein the conductive area has a conductive layer formed on the surface of the insulating sheet, and the insulating area has an exposed portion of the insulating sheet; a current collector sheet including a conductive sheet, wherein the insulating area has an insulating layer formed on the surface of the conductive sheet, and the conductive area has an exposed portion of the conductive sheet; and a current collector sheet including a conductive sheet portion and an insulating sheet portion positioned flush with each other, wherein the conductive area has a surface of the conductive sheet portion, and the insulating area has a surface of the insulating sheet portion.

Abstract: An electrochemical device having an electrode plate assembly. The electrode plate assembly includes (a) at least one first electrode, (b) at least one second electrode, and (c) a separator interposed between the first electrode and the second electrode. The first electrode includes a first current collector sheet and at least one first electrode mixture layer carried thereon. The second electrode includes a second current collector sheet and at least one second electrode mixture layer carried thereon. At least one of the first current collector sheet and the second current collector sheet has a conductive area and an insulating area.

Abstract: Provided is a power supply unit for supplying power to an electric apparatus, comprising an indicator unit, an introduction-detecting unit for detecting introduction of the electric apparatus into a vehicle for transportation of the electric apparatus, a voltage-detecting unit for detecting the voltage of the power source, a memory unit for storing a first voltage and a second voltage lower than the first voltage, a judgment unit for determining whether the voltage of the power source detected by the voltage-detecting unit is higher than the first voltage and a forced discharge unit. The forced discharge unit is configured to cause the indicator unit to notify if the electric apparatus is in a state prohibiting introduction into the vehicle and forcibly discharge the power source.

Abstract: An electrochemical device having an electrode plate assembly that includes: (a) at least one first electrode; (b) at least one second electrode; and (c) a separator interposed between the first electrode and the second electrode, the electrode plate assembly including a PTC device. The use of the electrochemical device according to this invention makes it possible to efficiently manufacture secondary batteries with a simple structure, a high reliability and a high electrical capacity.

Abstract: Provided is a power supply unit that notifies the third person that the electric apparatus is in the state prohibiting introduction into vehicle and also make the electric apparatus in the state safely introducible into vehicle at the same time.

Abstract: Electrode plate assemblies forming independent elements for electromotive force each contained in a partition member are series-connected and accommodated in a battery case. Each element is constructed as a nickel-metal hydride rechargeable battery cell and has an electromotive force of predetermined voltage, and so the battery connected in series has an output voltage and can be applied to general-purpose uses.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a hydrogen-absorption alloy electrode which comprises particles of a hydrogen-absorption alloy that comprises a rare earth element, Ni, Co and Al. The method comprises subjecting the hydrogen-absorption alloy particles to an alkaline treatment in a 10 to 50 weight % NaOH solution at 60 to 140 ° C. for 0.5 to 5 hours such that on the surface of the particles (amount of Al on surface/amount of Al in alloy)<(amount of Co on surface/amount of Co in alloy).

Abstract: A nickel oxyhydroxide having a ?-type structure is used to greatly improve low-temperature discharge performance and pulse discharge performance under high-load of an alkaline primary battery including a positive electrode containing nickel oxyhydroxide. In the nickel oxyhydroxide having ?-type structure, a half-width of a peak of the (001) plane is 0.2 to 0.49° in a powder X-ray diffraction, an average particle size (D50) based on the secondary particle volume is 5 to 10 ?m, and an average valence of nickel is 2.9 to 3.0.

Abstract: A group of electrodes are accommodated in a prismatic cell case of a rechargeable battery. Intervening separators are provided between positive and negative electrode plates arranged alternately in parallel to long lateral walls of the cell case. The positive electrode plates each include a lead portion having a surface on which at least one lead plate is attached. Lateral edges of the positive electrode plates protrude beyond the negative electrode plates on one side, and lateral edges of the negative electrode plates protrude beyond the group of positive electrode plates on the opposite side. The protruding portions form the lead portions. Upper open ends of the cell cases are closed by an integral lid member.

Abstract: An electrochemical device having an electrode plate assembly that includes: (a) at least one first electrode; (b) at least one second electrode; and (c) a separator interposed between the first electrode and the second electrode, the electrode plate assembly including a PTC device. The use of the electrochemical device according to this invention makes it possible to efficiently manufacture secondary batteries with a simple structure, a high reliability and a high electrical capacity.

Abstract: An electrochemical device having an electrode plate assembly. The electrode plate assembly includes (a) at least one first electrode, (b) at least one second electrode, and (c) a separator interposed between the first electrode and the second electrode. The first electrode includes a first current collector sheet and at least one first electrode mixture layer carried thereon. The second electrode includes a second current collector sheet and at least one second electrode mixture layer carried thereon. At least one of the first current collector sheet and the second current collector sheet has a conductive area and an insulating area.

Abstract: The invention provides a current collector sheet for carrying an electrode material mixture for use in an electrode for an electrochemical device characterized in that the current collector sheet has a conductive area and an insulating area on the surface thereof.

Abstract: A positive electrode plate for alkaline storage battery that does not swell very much even after repeated charge-discharge cycles and can be manufactured easily, a method for manufacturing the same, and an alkaline storage battery using the same are provided. A conductive support (nickel foam) and an active material (nickel hydroxide particles) that is supported by the support are provided. An intermediate part of a positive electrode plate has a larger porosity than surface parts thereof.

Abstract: A battery assembly includes a plurality of battery modules electrically connected together, each battery module acting as a secondary battery and including an electrode group, an electrolyte, a container for housing the electrode group and the electrolyte, and a safety valve operating in accordance with the internal pressure of the container. The working pressure of each safety valve is set so that the safety valve of at least one battery module is opened when the at least one battery module has its maximum internal pressure or less during the charge equalization. It is possible to provide a battery assembly that can improve the reliability of the container strength by keeping the working pressure of each safety valve lower than the pressure that the container resists even under elevated temperature conditions.

Abstract: In each of the cells that constitute an battery module, a plurality of positive electrode plates and negative electrode plates are layered parallel to the long lateral walls of prismatic cell cases with intervening separators therebetween, wherein lateral edge portions of the positive electrode plates protrude beyond the negative electrode plates on one side, and lateral edge portions of the negative electrode plates protrude beyond the group of positive electrode plates on the opposite side, the protruding portions forming lead portions.

Abstract: A group of electrodes are accommodated in a prismatic cell case of a rechargeable battery. Intervening separators are provided between positive and negative electrode plates arranged alternately in parallel to long lateral walls of the cell case. The positive electrode plates each include a lead portion having a surface on which at least one lead plate is attached. Lateral edges of the positive electrode plates protrude beyond the negative electrode plates on one side, and lateral edges of the negative electrode plates protrude beyond the group of positive electrode plates on the opposite side. The protruding portions form the lead portions. Upper open ends of the cell cases are closed by an integral lid member.

Abstract: Electrode plate assemblies (41a, 41b, 41c) forming independent elements for electromotive force each contained in a partition member (46) are series-connected and accommodated in a battery case (45). Each element is constructed as a nickel-metal hydride rechargeable battery cell and has an electromotive force of 1.2V, and so the battery connected in series has an output voltage of 3.6V and can be applied to general purpose uses.

Abstract: A battery module is provided which includes multiple rechargeable batteries coupled together. The battery module includes multiple prismatic cell cases having short lateral walls and long lateral walls arranged side by side. Adjacent short lateral walls are integral with each other. The battery module includes holes extending through the short lateral walls of the cell cases at upper edge portions. The battery module also includes a pair of frame fittings that have base ends and protruding portions in each of the cell cases for connecting two adjacent cell cases. The protruding portions of the pair of frame fittings extend into the through holes in the upper edge portions of the short lateral walls of the cell cases from both sides and are welded together. Positive and negative electrode collector plates in the cell cases are respectively attached to the base ends of the frame fittings.

Abstract: An alkaline storage battery having excellent self-discharge characteristics even after a number of charge-discharge cycles is provided. The alkaline storage battery is provided with a case and an electrode group enclosed in the case, and a separator that is included in the electrode group retains at least 15 mg/cm2 of an electrolyte at least in a period after assembling the battery, from the time the separator is impregnated with the electrolyte to the time the battery is activated.