Having Polarity Safety Feature Patents (Class 429/1)
  • Patent number: 11500027
    Abstract: Disclosed is a method and apparatus for testing an internal short of a secondary battery by simulating the use environment situation where the secondary battery is actually used, and a secondary battery for an internal short test, which is used in the method. The method for testing an internal short of a secondary battery includes the steps of mounting a P-N junction diode in a secondary battery; charging the secondary battery; and evaluating a state of the secondary battery by considering that an internal short occurs in the secondary battery when the P-N junction diode is switched on.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 11, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2022
    Assignee: LG Energy Solution, Ltd.
    Inventors: Soo-Han Kim, Dong-Sik Yoon
  • Patent number: 11271273
    Abstract: The present application relates to an electrode member, an electrode assembly and a secondary battery. The electrode member comprises an electrode body and a conductive structure that has a first portion having an active material and a second portion extending from the first portion. The second portion comprises a main portion and a transition portion provided between the main portion and the first portion, and a width of the transition portion larger than a width of the main portion. The conductive structure is welded with the second portion and extends along a direction away from the first portion. At least a part of a welding region formed by the second portion and the conductive structure is positioned at the transition portion, thereby avoiding the overcurrent area being significantly reduced by the main portion and ensuring that every position electric current passes through have a sufficient overcurrent area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2022
    Assignee: CONTEMPORARY AMPEREX TECHNOLOGY CO., LIMITED
    Inventors: Qingrui Xue, Zige Zhang, Miao Jiang, Jing Li, Wei Li, Xianwei Yang
  • Patent number: 11239468
    Abstract: A secondary battery and an electrode plate are provided. The electrode plate includes a current collector, an active material layer, a conductive structure, and a first protective layer. The current collector includes an insulating layer and a conductive layer disposed on the insulating layer. The conductive layer includes a main body portion and a protrusion portion. A surface of the main body portion facing away from the insulating layer is covered by the active material layer, while a surface of the protrusion portion facing away from the insulating layer is uncovered by the active material layer. The conductive structure is welded to the protrusion portion and thus a welded zone is formed. The first protective layer has elasticity, and is disposed on a side of the protrusion portion facing away from the insulating layer and is located between the welded zone and the active material layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 4, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 1, 2022
    Inventors: Yaru Zhou, Qingrui Xue, Zige Zhang, Miao Jiang, Jing Li, Wei Li, Long Wang
  • Patent number: 11233244
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to the technical field of rechargeable battery and, particularly, relates to an electrode member, an electrode assembly and a rechargeable battery. The electrode member includes an electrode body and a conduction structure, the electrode body comprises an insulation substrate and an conduction layer placed on a surface of the insulation substrate, the conduction layer includes a first portion and a second portion extending from the first portion, the first portion is coated with an active material while the second portion is not coated with the active material, and the conduction structure is connected to the second portion. After the electrode assembly is formed by winding or stacking of the electrode members, adjacent current guide portions are electrically connected to one another by the conduction structure, without being limited by the insulation substrate, so that the conductivity of the electrode member is effectively improved.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 25, 2022
    Assignee: Contemporary Amperex Technology Co., Limited
    Inventors: Chengyou Xing, Xiang Li, Taosheng Zhu, Peng Wang, Yulian Zheng
  • Patent number: 11178767
    Abstract: A cylindrical cell includes a. a cylindrical housing enclosing an interior space and composed of a first and a second metal housing part, wherein the housing includes, at its axial ends, a first planar end face and a second planar end face connected to one another by an annular casing, b. a positive electrode and a negative electrode, at least one of which can intercalate and/or deintercalate lithium ions, wherein the positive electrode electrically connects to the first housing part directly or via a separate electrical conductor, and the negative electrode electrically connects to the second housing part directly or via a separate electrical conductor, c. a first contact lug configured as a sheet-metal part that is welded onto the first end face and which has a planar section extending in a plane parallel to the first end face, and d.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 6, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 16, 2021
    Assignee: VARTA Microbattery GmbH
    Inventors: Marc Oliver Nestle, Sunil Siddannavar
  • Patent number: 11145932
    Abstract: A battery cell module configured to be at least partially located within a housing of a battery pack. The battery cell module includes a frame. The frame includes a first frame half and a second frame half. The first frame half and the second frame half define a battery cell compartment for receiving a battery cell. The first frame half includes a first end wall and a wedge member affixed to the first end wall. The wedge member includes a first wedge portion and a second wedge portion. The first wedge portion and the second wedge portion define a post opening. The second frame half includes a second end wall and a post affixed to the second end wall at a first end of the post. The post is configured to be inserted into the post opening of the wedge member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 17, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 12, 2021
    Assignee: MILWAUKEE ELECTRIC TOOL CORPORATION
    Inventor: Theodore W. Didier
  • Patent number: 11101512
    Abstract: Provided are a pack main body of a substantially rectangular parallelepiped shape in which a battery cell is embedded, and a terminal portion provided on a front face of the pack main body. The pack main body includes bevelled portions at corner portions formed by a top face and a bottom face and opposite side faces. The terminal portion is provided, in a protruding manner, on the front face at a position biased with respect to centre lines in a width direction and a height direction. The corner portions on one side have a chamfered shape and the corner portions on the other side have a rounded shape.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 3, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 24, 2021
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Mieko Hara, Jiro Moriya, Tomomaru Ueda, Michihito Kobayashi, Toshiyuki Okada, Hideki Kamiya
  • Patent number: 11031650
    Abstract: A battery module includes: a battery cell stack in which a plurality of battery cells are stacked; and a bus bar to which electrode leads provided at the respective plurality of battery cells are coupled, wherein the bus bar presses the electrode leads so that the bus bar and the electrode leads are electrically connected.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 8, 2021
    Inventors: Kyung-Mo Kim, Jeong-O Mun, Jin-Yong Park, Jung-Hoon Lee, Ho-June Chi
  • Patent number: 10938058
    Abstract: For the battery capable of bidirectional output in the embodiments, the two ends of the battery are both provided with a battery anode and a battery cathode respectively, such that any end of the battery can provide an anode output terminal and a cathode output terminal simultaneously. Circuit wiring of the battery can be optimized during use, and the first end of the battery capable of bidirectional output is provided with a first battery anode which protrudes outwards, and the second end thereof is provided with a second battery cathode which protrudes outwards. The battery in has a structure which is similar to that of a common battery, thus the battery can be charged with a common charger, then short circuiting is prevented, and no charger needs to be specially designed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 2, 2021
    Inventor: Wenjie Li
  • Patent number: 10916742
    Abstract: A battery pack including: one or more battery cells; and a connector portion including a first terminal portion, wherein the connector portion is configured to be detachably engaged with a connection portion of an electrical device or a charging device including a second terminal portion and a drain hole, and wherein the first terminal portion is configured to be connected to the second terminal portion. The connector portion is configured to be detachably engaged with the connection portion by rotation, thereby closing the drain hole by a part of the connector portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 9, 2021
    Assignee: Murata Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hirotaka Sakai, Yasushi Mori, Motoki Katayama
  • Patent number: 10910612
    Abstract: A battery storage tray according to an aspect of the present invention includes a first pocket portion into which a first end portion of a columnar battery in a longitudinal direction is inserted. The first pocket portion has a cup shape including an opening, a side portion, and a bottom portion. The side portion of the first pocket portion includes a fitting portion, which fits to the columnar battery, and a groove, which defines a space between the groove and the columnar battery. The space defined by the groove is connected to the opening of the first pocket portion. An aspect of the present invention provides a battery storage tray capable of reliably holding the columnar battery and facilitating removal of the columnar battery.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 10, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 2, 2021
    Assignee: SANYO Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Shuji Sugimoto, Kyosuke Miyata, Ryoji Shigemoto
  • Patent number: 10886509
    Abstract: A battery operated device and method of removing a battery therefrom are described. The battery operated device includes a battery compartment, a battery in the battery compartment, and an electric component powered by the battery. The battery compartment is mounted on a deformable base and includes a top surface which is adapted to be ruptured by deforming the deformable base, thereby enabling removal of the battery from the battery compartment. The method of removing a battery from a battery compartment of a battery operated device includes rupturing a top surface of the battery compartment by deforming a deformable base of the battery compartment, and removing the battery from the battery compartment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 19, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 5, 2021
    Assignee: Stichting IMEC Nederland
    Inventors: Ruben de Francisco Martin, Marianne Anne Marie Vandecasteele, Victor Van Acht
  • Patent number: 10763482
    Abstract: A connection member configured to electrically connect respective storage elements to each other in a power storage device constituted by a plurality of storage elements. The connection member includes: a substrate; and a plurality of connecting portions connected to electrodes of the respective storage elements and configured to cut off electric connection with the storage elements by fusing at the time when a current of a predetermined value or more flows therein. The connecting portion is formed by performing punching on the substrate and includes at least two bent portions bent in a punching direction. One of the bent portions is bent along a first direction perpendicular to the punching direction, and the other one of the bent portions is bent along a second direction perpendicular to the punching direction and perpendicular to the first direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 1, 2020
    Assignees: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA, YAZAKI CORPORATION
    Inventors: Kenji Kimura, Katsunori Sato, Tomohiro Ikeda, Yoshiaki Ichikawa, Hirotaka Mukasa, Taishi Sakai
  • Patent number: 10756526
    Abstract: Provided is a coupling structure of a bus bar equipped in a power part. The coupling structure of the bus bar includes a female type bus bar and a male type bus bar respectively coupled to different elements of the power part, wherein the female type bus bar is fitting-coupled to the male type bus bar. In the coupling structure of the bus bar, since bus bars of high voltage elements are connected to each other by a connecting method instead of a conventional bolting coupling structure, the miniaturization effect and cooling effect of an inverter may increase, and moreover, a tool used to couple bus bars may be omitted, thereby enabling power parts to be easily disposed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 25, 2020
    Assignee: HYUNDAI MOBIS CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Mun Ho Choi
  • Patent number: 10644322
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to the technical field of rechargeable battery and, particularly, relates to an electrode member, an electrode assembly and a rechargeable battery. The electrode member includes an electrode body and a conduction structure, the electrode body comprises an insulation substrate and an conduction layer placed on a surface of the insulation substrate, the conduction layer includes a first portion and a second portion extending from the first portion, the first portion is coated with an active material while the second portion is not coated with the active material, and the conduction structure is connected to the second portion. After the electrode assembly is formed by winding or stacking of the electrode members, adjacent current guide portions are electrically connected to one another by the conduction structure, without being limited by the insulation substrate, so that the conductivity of the electrode member is effectively improved.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 5, 2020
    Assignee: Contemporary Amperex Technology Co., Limited
    Inventors: Chengyou Xing, Xiang Li, Taosheng Zhu, Peng Wang, Yulian Zheng
  • Patent number: 10593914
    Abstract: A battery cover structure for portable optical communication equipment, comprises a shell and fixing screws, wherein the shell comprises a main body and an upper cover; the battery cover structure comprises an actuating device and a locking device, among which, the actuating device moves to drive the locking device into a locking state or an unlocking state; the actuating device comprises a driving block, a driving stop and a driving shaft, wherein the driving block is limited and connected with the driving stop; the locking device comprises a sliding stop; both the driving stop and the sliding stop are connected with the driving shaft. The battery cover structure in this invention can extend into the optical communication equipment, and support can be directly generated without cooperation of other components, so that the optical communication equipment becomes portable and miniaturized.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 21, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2020
    Assignee: INNO INSTRUMENT (CHINA) .INC
    Inventor: Yangri Zhao
  • Patent number: 10573918
    Abstract: A rechargeable battery includes a body including an electrolyte, the body configured to be charged and discharged; a protrusion protruding from the body and having a polarity corresponding to a positive electrode or a negative electrode; a depression recessed toward an inside of the body and having an opposite polarity to the polarity of the protrusion; and a resiliently deformable support disposed in either one or both of the inside of the depression and the outside of the protrusion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 25, 2020
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Myunghoon Kim
  • Patent number: 10553987
    Abstract: A reliable contact is produced in a simple and inexpensive manner for an internal electric device surrounded by a housing. An electric connection device for a housing element of the housing has at least one external electric connection element on the housing element for connecting a supply line of the internal electric device to an external electric device outside the housing. At least one line section, electrically connected to the external electric connection element on one side, and at least one terminal element, connected to the line section on the other side, connect to the supply line of the internal electric device. The external electric connection element, the at line section, and the terminal element are fixed on the housing element, and the terminal element is an inner face of the housing element and accessible from an outer face in a vicinity of an assembly opening in the housing element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 4, 2020
    Assignee: Volkswagen Aktiengesllschaft
    Inventor: Henrik Fehner
  • Patent number: 10461306
    Abstract: A thin battery (100) has a central portion (110) and two end portions (120). One of the two end portions includes a positive voltage connection (121) exposed on both the top and bottom surfaces of the battery. The other one of the two end portions includes a negative voltage connection (122) exposed on both the top and bottom surfaces of the battery. Each of the end portions (120) includes a magnetic element having a north magnetic pole on one of the top or bottom surface of the battery and a south magnetic pole on the other one of the top or bottom surface of the battery. Multiple batteries may be connected to each other through magnetic attraction. The battery may be securely attached and electrically connected to a garment (1000) using positive and negative conductive surfaces/contacts (1010, 1020) on a fiber layer of the garment and a corresponding magnetic element (1050) beneath the conductive surfaces/contacts that attracts and secures the battery in place.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 2006
    Date of Patent: October 29, 2019
    Assignee: KONINKLIJKE PHILIPS N.V.
    Inventors: George Marmaropoulos, Giang Vu
  • Patent number: 10418669
    Abstract: A method of propagation test on a battery system has: a main irradiation step of irradiating a laser beam in prescribed conditions, on a light-receiving part of the outer member of a light-receiving cell, or on a light-receiving part which is arranged in contact with the outer member of the light-receiving cell, thereby to heat the light-receiving cell; a thermal runaway confirming step of confirming a thermal runaway of the light-receiving cell; an irradiation stopping step of stopping the laser-beam irradiation after the thermal runaway was confirmed in the thermal runaway confirming step; and a system integrity inspection step of inspecting an integrity of the cells other than the light-receiving cell after the irradiation stopping step. The prescribed conditions are conditions in which a melted scar is formed on the light-receiving part.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 3, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 17, 2019
    Assignee: Japan Electrical Safety & Environment Technology Laboratories
    Inventors: Keizoh Honda, Hideki Tsuruga, Masachika Kodama, Takeshi Senoo, Kenji Nishioka, Hideo Ichimaru
  • Patent number: 10403875
    Abstract: A vehicle traction battery assembly including a pair of battery cells and a busbar is provided. Each of the battery cells may include a terminal and one or more locating features. The busbar may span between the cells and define a pair of arms each having a member sized to at least partially interlock with the one or more locating features. The busbar may span between the cells such that the busbar covers at least a portion of upper surfaces defined by each of the cells. At least one of the terminal apertures may be spaced in between outer edges of the respective arms such that a first and second surface area provide space sufficient for weld spots.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 14, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 3, 2019
    Assignee: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Rajaram Subramanian, Francisco Fernandez, Stuart Schreiber, Tommy M. Gunther, Yunan Guo
  • Patent number: 10312489
    Abstract: A battery assembly according to an exemplary aspect of the present disclosure includes, among other things, an enclosure assembly defining an interior and a service panel integrally formed in the enclosure assembly. The service panel includes a ductile portion that is removable to access the interior.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 4, 2019
    Assignee: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventor: Patrick Daniel Maguire
  • Patent number: 10243182
    Abstract: A power battery module includes a battery accommodating assembly having a plurality of separators, the separator comprising: a separator body; a left cover; and a right cover, in which adjacent separators are detachably connected with each other; a battery group; a power connection member, a line snap-fit, a power connection line and a signal collection assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 21, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2019
    Assignee: BYD Company Limited
    Inventors: Yan Zhu, Qingbo Peng, Jia Lu, Xuefeng Zhang, Wei Liu, Yan Huang, Zhipei Lu, Jianhua Zhu
  • Patent number: 10243181
    Abstract: A power battery module includes a battery accommodating assembly having a plurality of separators, each separator comprising: a separator body having a front portion defining a front accommodating groove and a rear portion; a left cover; a right cover, a battery group, a power connection member, a power connection line and a line snap-fit; in which adjacent separators are detachably connected with each other, and the front accommodating groove of one of the adjacent separators and the rear portion of the separator body of the other of the adjacent separators define a battery chamber, and a snapping hole is formed in at least one of upper and lower walls of the front accommodating groove.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 21, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2019
    Assignee: BYD Company Limited
    Inventors: Jiyang Zhao, Qing Lai, Zhiwei Tong, Yan Zhu, Jianhua Zhu
  • Patent number: 10217972
    Abstract: Provided are a pack main body of a substantially rectangular parallelepiped shape in which a battery cell is embedded, and a terminal portion provided on a front face of the pack main body. The pack main body includes bevelled portions at corner portions formed by a top face and a bottom face and opposite side faces. The terminal portion is provided, in a protruding manner, on the front face at a position biased with respect to center lines in a width direction and a height direction. The corner portions on one side have a chamfered shape and the corner portions on the other side have a rounded shape.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 26, 2019
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Mieko Hara, Jiro Moriya, Tomomaru Ueda, Michihito Kobayashi, Toshiyuki Okada, Hideki Kamiya
  • Patent number: 10205255
    Abstract: A battery terminal unit includes a battery terminal that is assembled on a battery post and also includes a battery terminal stopper. The battery terminal stopper includes a first rotation preventing portion that abuts against a first abutment surface formed on a side surface of a battery housing in a state where the battery terminal is assembled on the battery post so as to be able to restrict rotation of the battery terminal about the battery post as the rotating center. The battery terminal stopper also includes a second rotation preventing portion that abuts against a second abutment surface formed on the battery housing along a direction intersecting with the first abutment surface in the assembled state so as to be able to restrict rotation of the battery terminal about the battery post as the rotating center.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 1, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 12, 2019
    Assignees: YAZAKI CORPORATION, TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Masao Iwata, Takahiro Shiohama, Takaaki Yanagihashi, Hiroki Kawakami
  • Patent number: 10106036
    Abstract: An electrical apparatus, including: a circuit breaker having a breaking capacity and a breaking current; a DC voltage source including two batteries connected in parallel, connected in series with the circuit breaker, the sum of short-circuit currents of the batteries being greater than the breaking capacity, each battery including: a first branch including storage batteries and a switch connected in series; a second branch connected in parallel with the first branch and including a free-wheeling diode; an ammeter measuring output current; and a control circuit configured to detect a short-circuit. The control circuits simultaneously keep a majority of switches open and close one switch to apply a current passing through the circuit breaker which is higher than the breaking current and lower than the breaking capacity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 23, 2018
    Assignees: COMMISSARIAT à L'ÉNERGIE ATOMIQUE ET AUX ÉNERGIES ALTERNATIVES, DCNS
    Inventors: Daniel Chatroux, Sebastien Carcouet, Jacques Ecrabey, Etienne Durand, Nicolas Pierre, Cyrille Garans, Bernard Keruel
  • Patent number: 9941494
    Abstract: A battery pack including a battery cell, a plurality of electrode tabs coupled to and extending from terminals of the battery cell, a protect circuit module (PCM) to control charging and discharging of the battery cell, a flexible printed circuit board (FPCB) including a plurality of connection pads coupled to the electrode tabs and electrically coupling the battery cell to the PCM, and a case accommodating the battery cell, the electrode tabs, the PCM, and the FPCB, wherein the case includes a first case accommodating the battery cell and a second case covering the first case, and wherein the first case includes ribs extending toward the second case and has cut-out grooves at regions corresponding to the connection pads.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 3, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2018
    Assignee: Samsung SDI Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Mooryong Baek
  • Patent number: 9882403
    Abstract: A battery module including a connection terminal, a first battery, a second battery and a current limiting circuit is provided. The connection terminal serves as a power input terminal of the battery module during the charging of the battery module, and serves as a power output terminal of the battery module during the discharging of the battery module. The first battery is coupled to the connection terminal, and serves as a primary power source of a mobile device. The second battery serves as an auxiliary power source of the mobile device. The current limiting circuit is coupled between the second battery and the connection terminal, and restricts the magnitudes of the currents flowing into and out of the second battery according to a charging current threshold and a discharging current threshold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 23, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2018
    Assignee: HTC CORPORATION
    Inventors: Ming-Chu Lu, Tzu-Hsun Tung, Chih-Chung Teng, Shu-Feng Lin, Yung-Ling Chou
  • Patent number: 9853258
    Abstract: A general-purpose battery compartment, comprising a compartment body that can receive either lithium batteries or AA batteries therein and separate the AA batteries received therein to prevent contact therebetween; wherein spring leafs used to connect with the lithium batteries or the AA batteries are provided within the compartment body, and contact points of anode and cathode of the lithium batteries are respectively connected to the two spring leafs that are connected to output terminals of anode and cathode of the battery compartment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 6, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2017
    Assignee: Yueqing Chuangyi Photography Equipment Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Qingyuan Chen
  • Patent number: 9831477
    Abstract: A battery accommodating module is used for accommodating a battery. The battery accommodating module includes a battery case and a latch member. The battery case has an accommodating space and a side of the battery case has two pivot holes and at least one first restraining portion. The latch member has two pivot portions and at least one second restraining portion, wherein the pivot portions are pivotally connected to the pivot holes, such that the latch member can rotate with respect to the battery case between a lock position and an unlock position. When the latch member is located at the unlock position, the first restraining portion keeps the second restraining portion at a first side of the first restraining portion. When the latch member is located at the lock position, the first restraining portion keeps the second restraining portion at a second side of the first restraining portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2017
    Assignee: Wistron Corporation
    Inventors: Zhi-Tao Yu, Chong-Xing Zhu, Chia-Hsin Liu
  • Patent number: 9806300
    Abstract: A replacement battery system design incorporating a pivoting battery holster and other features enabling one-handed battery removal for devices requiring a power source.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 31, 2017
    Assignee: Ultralife Corporation
    Inventors: Jeffrey C. Ladd, John Domm, Michael Manna
  • Patent number: 9796289
    Abstract: An electric vehicle comprises an electric motor for driving a wheel; a main battery for activating the electric motor; a case to which a sub-battery for activating the electric motor is detachably mounted; a connection terminal to which a terminal of the sub-battery is connected; a mounting detecting sensor for detecting that the connection terminal is connected to the terminal of the sub-battery; and a controller which detects the SOCs of the batteries and is configured such that electric power is supplied preferentially from the mounted sub-battery to the electric motor, when the SOC of the sub-battery is equal to or greater than a predetermined value, and electric power is supplied from the main battery to the electric motor, when the SOC of the sub-battery is less than the predetermined value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2017
    Assignee: Kawasaki Jukogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Takahito Murase, Takeshi Ikeda
  • Patent number: 9716254
    Abstract: Provided are a pack main body of a substantially rectangular parallelepiped shape in which a battery cell is embedded, and a terminal portion provided on a front face of the pack main body. The pack main body includes bevelled portions at corner portions formed by a top face and a bottom face and opposite side faces. The terminal portion is provided, in a protruding manner, on the front face at a position biased with respect to center lines in a width direction and a height direction. The corner portions on one side have a chamfered shape and the corner portions on the other side have a rounded shape.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 16, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 25, 2017
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Mieko Hara, Jiro Moriya, Tomomaru Ueda, Michihito Kobayashi, Toshiyuki Okada, Hideki Kamiya
  • Patent number: 9711765
    Abstract: A replacement battery system design incorporating a pivoting battery holster and other features enabling one-handed battery removal for devices requiring a battery.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 16, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 18, 2017
    Assignee: Ultralife Corporation
    Inventors: Jeffrey C. Ladd, John Domm, Michael Manna
  • Patent number: 9711767
    Abstract: A lawn-care apparatus includes a battery-compartment having an access opening and a roof section. The roof section is configured to provide cover to the battery-compartment. A battery may be inserted into the battery-compartment through the access opening without displacing the roof section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 1, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 18, 2017
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Dennis Juenger, Matthew Ling, Gavin Ben Armstrong, Mathew Price
  • Patent number: 9703964
    Abstract: A communication channel between a first processor of a receiver and a second processor of a battery assembly is provided. The battery assembly requests a public key from the receiver. The receiver combines the public key with a private key stored in memory to form a first combined public key, applies a first hash function to the first combined public key, stores the resulting first hash value in memory and transmits the public key to the battery assembly. The battery assembly combines the public key with a corresponding private key to form a second combined public key, applies a corresponding hash function to the second combined public key and transmits the resulting second hash value to the receiver. The receiver compares the first hash value to the second hash value and enables operations of the receiver when the first hash value equals the second hash value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 11, 2017
    Assignee: Radio Systems Corporation
    Inventors: William Peter Moore, Steven Roger Floyd
  • Patent number: 9647470
    Abstract: A rechargeable battery system is disclosed. In an embodiment, the rechargeable battery system includes a rechargeable battery having a first electrical connector, an alignment plate mounted to the rechargeable battery, wherein the first electrical connector is aligned to the alignment plate, a battery management system having a second electrical connector configured to mate with the first electrical connector, wherein the second electrical connector comprises a housing, at least one alignment pin secured to the housing, and an electrical contact, wherein the alignment pin is disposed in the housing in a determined position relative to the electrical contact, and an interface plate having a first interface portion and a second interface portion wherein the first interface portion is configured to mate with the alignment plate and wherein the second interface portion is configured to mate with the alignment pin to align the first electrical connector with the second electrical connector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 9, 2017
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Bharath Shripathy, Henry Jovanovic
  • Patent number: 9623576
    Abstract: Handle is provided for battery operated razors. In some implementations, the handle includes a simple, efficient mechanism for both securing a battery cover to the handle of a razor and at the same time providing a high reliability electrical contact between the battery and electronics of the razor. The mechanism includes a closing system, including a first conductive component slidably attached within the battery cover and biased toward a predetermined axial position, and a second conductive component secured to the interior wall of the grip portion. The first conductive component is configured to interact with the second conductive component and move axially within the battery cover during engagement of the battery cover with the grip portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 1, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2017
    Assignee: The Gillette Company
    Inventors: Stefan Rehbein, Guohua Shen, Wei Gu, Fred Dieter Schnak, Gerrit Roenneberg
  • Patent number: 9614203
    Abstract: A contact diameter, which is formed by a cell holding portion and receiving-partitioning portions, is configured to be smaller than the diameter of a columnar outer peripheral surface of a battery cell. The cell holding portion comes into contact with the columnar outer peripheral surface of the battery cell so as to hold the columnar outer peripheral surface. The contact diameter formed by the cell holding portion and the receiving-partitioning portions increases when the battery cell is held, and the battery cell is pressed when the battery cell is held. A cell holder is provided with the receiving-partitioning portions that guide the battery cells to be inserted and housed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 1, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 4, 2017
    Assignee: MAKITA CORPORATION
    Inventor: Akira Naito
  • Patent number: 9608251
    Abstract: A battery module includes a plurality of rechargeable batteries, each rechargeable battery including a first electrode end and a second electrode end protruding outside a case of the rechargeable battery, a first top insulation member at a bottom of the first electrode end, and an identifier on the first top insulation member, a bus bar electrically connecting ends of neighboring rechargeable batteries, a bottom housing including a space, the rechargeable batteries being arranged in the space of the bottom housing, and a top cover attached to the bottom housing, the top cover including a recognizer the fits with the identifier.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2017
    Assignees: Samsung SDI Co., Ltd., Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventor: Min-Hyung Guen
  • Patent number: 9525163
    Abstract: A secondary battery includes an electrode assembly including a first electrode plate, a second electrode plate, and a separator between the first electrode plate and the second electrode plate, a case accommodating the electrode assembly, a cap plate sealing the case, and a first terminal unit and a second terminal unit coupled to the cap plate. The first terminal unit includes a first terminal plate that is electrically connected to the first electrode plate, and the second terminal unit includes a second terminal plate that is electrically connected to the second electrode plate, the second electrode plate having a different shape from the first terminal plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 20, 2016
    Assignee: Samsung SDI Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hyun-Soo Lee, Jang-Hyun Song, Myung-Jae Jang
  • Patent number: 9502702
    Abstract: A bicycle battery holder is configured to be mounted to a bicycle. The bicycle battery holder includes a first support portion and a second support portion. The first support portion is configured to support a battery at a first supporting position. The second support portion is configured to support the battery at a second supporting position, along with the first support portion. At least one of the first supporting position and the second supporting position is adjustably mounted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 19, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2016
    Assignee: Shimano Inc.
    Inventors: Taihei Nishihara, Wataru Suzuki, Hiroyuki Miyoshi, Satoshi Shahana, Yuya Ishimaru
  • Patent number: 9419260
    Abstract: A battery charger includes a battery attachment section configured to have a rechargeable battery releasably attached thereto. The battery attachment section includes a flat attachment surface having a width corresponding to a width of a bottom surface of a case of the battery to be charged and a length greater than a length of the bottom surface of the case of the battery to be charged; a plurality of locking hooks provided on the attachment surface; a charger terminal configured to contact a terminal of the battery to be charged, the charger terminal including a plurality of plate-shaped contact pieces configured to be inserted into engaging grooves of the battery to be charged; and an attachment projection adjacent to the attachment surface and configured to secure the battery to the charger.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2016
    Assignee: SONY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Toshio Takeshita, Kei Tashiro, Takashi Kondou, Yoshihito Tamesue
  • Patent number: 9407035
    Abstract: In an electronic device unit, each of the contact terminals includes a first member coupled to a press-fitting and fixing portion through intermediation of an elastically deformable portion, and a second member being coupled to the first member through intermediation of a folding portion and including a pressure bending portion formed at a terminal end of the second member. An end surface covering resin formed on the circuit board presses a pressure bending portion so that a conductive contact portion formed at the folding portion of the first member is pressed against the board-side terminal substantially in a right-angle direction. Thus, sliding contact between the conductive contact portion and the board-side terminal is diminished.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2016
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
    Inventors: Fumiaki Arimai, Shozo Kanzaki, Hiroyoshi Nishizaki
  • Patent number: 9373828
    Abstract: A power supply device structure wherein connection terminals of a battery case are held in a floating state inside the battery case, without using screws or soldering. A battery pack for mounted to and detached from a vehicle includes the battery case for accommodating battery cells for supplying electric power to an electric motor. Battery case side terminals are accommodated in an insulator block. A plurality of ribs, project from a wall part of the battery case and are disposed along an outer surface of the insulator block. The insulator block is provided at its outer circumference with two flanges and an intermediate part located therebetween. The outer circumferential surface of the intermediate part is loosely fitted in an opening of the battery case, with a gap therebetween.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 5, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 21, 2016
    Assignee: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Shinji Kawatani, Masaru Nakayama, Isao Shokaku
  • Patent number: 9257729
    Abstract: A controller identifies a condition of a hazardous internal short by comparing patterns of series element voltages to the last known balance condition of the series elements. If the loaded or resting voltage of one or more contiguous series elements uniformly drop from the previously known condition by an amount consistent with an over-current condition, an over-current internal short circuit fault is registered. The desired response is to prevent the affected series elements from heating to a hazardous temperature by summoning the maximum heat rejection capability of the system until the short ceases and the affected elements cool, the cooling function is no longer able to operate due to low voltage, or the affected series string has drained all of its energy through the short. Also includes are responses that allow the battery pack to continue to power the cooling system even though it may enter an over-discharged state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 25, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 9, 2016
    Assignee: Tesla Motors, Inc.
    Inventors: Weston A. Hermann, Scott I. Kohn
  • Patent number: 9153802
    Abstract: A battery cover adapted for correct assembly on a battery is disclosed. The battery cover has an outer surface including a longitudinal centerline and a transverse centerline perpendicular to the longitudinal centerline. A first bushing is provided having an aperture with a first dimension that mates with a corresponding first dimension of a positive cast-on-strap post. A second bushing is also provided having a second dimension that mates with a corresponding second dimension of a negative cast-on-strap post. The first bushing and second bushing are carried by the battery cover and positioned on opposite sides of the longitudinal and transverse centerlines. A secondary battery is also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 6, 2015
    Assignee: Johnson Controls Technology Company
    Inventors: Glenn W. Andersen, Edward L. Hams, Edward C. Frelka
  • Patent number: 9123944
    Abstract: An end-to-end cell connection system for a battery assembly uses a conductive interconnector with an inner portion welded to an end of one cell, a standoff portion contiguous with the ring portion, tabs extending from the standoff portion, with the tabs welded to an end of another cell. By placing an insulator between the interconnector and the one cell, an electrical short is prevented in the event that a longitudinally coupled cell group is jostled. At the cell connections, there is a recess. To hold the cell group in place, the housing has a tab extending into the recess. The tab is at the center so that any dimensional variations are accommodated on each side of the tab. The interconnector also may include a receptacle for a thermistor to obtain a measure of battery assembly temperature. Diverter ribs may be provided in the housing to distribute flow to all cells.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 1, 2015
    Assignee: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventor: Patrick Daniel Maguire
  • Publication number: 20150132610
    Abstract: A battery backup unit (BBU) system and apparatus is provided for securing and communicating with a BBU for use with optical network terminals (ONTs) and/or residential gateways. In various aspects, the BBU system includes a battery enclosure that is configured to eliminate the unintentional reversal of the polarity for a battery enclosed therein. The BBU system also provides an integrated communication circuit for receiving a variety of connectors.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 22, 2015
    Publication date: May 14, 2015
    Inventor: Christopher T. Wacker