In End-to-end Contact, E.g., Stacked Button-type Cell, Etc. Patents (Class 429/157)
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Patent number: 7056618Abstract: A plurality of projections for projection welding are formed respectively on the opposite sides of a connector. The electrode plate of the sealing member of one of two adjacent cells is bonded and connected by projection welding to a side of the connector by way of the projections, while the cell case of the other cell is bonded and connected by projection welding to the other side of the connector by way of the projections. In this way, a plurality of cells are connected in series.Type: GrantFiled: December 13, 2001Date of Patent: June 6, 2006Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.Inventors: Fujio Hirano, Akio Kujirai
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Patent number: 7037620Abstract: An electrical battery for multi-cellular interconnection in series, parallel or series and parallel has a protrusion and a recess, such as a tongue and a groove, extending on outer surfaces of the sidewalls of the battery case such that when a protrusion of one battery is slid into a recess of another, the two batteries are electrically connected by the portions of the protrusion and the recess that are made of electrically conductive materials connected to the voltage producing elements inside the case. The battery further includes hollow plug-in posts and plug-in pins at the top and the bottom of the case that are connected to the voltage producing elements of the battery so that when the plug-in pins of one battery are inserted into the plug-in posts of another, the two batteries are in electrical interconnection. The battery also includes an electrolyte recirculation, gas purging, and automatic watering systems.Type: GrantFiled: October 25, 2002Date of Patent: May 2, 2006Assignee: Apollo Energy Systems, IncorporatedInventor: Robert R Aronsson
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Patent number: 7014948Abstract: The present invention provides a electrochemical element, wherein a multi-component composite film comprising a) polymer support layer film and b) a porous gellable polymer layer which is formed on either or both sides of the support layer film of a), wherein the support layer film of a) and the gellable polymer layer of b) are unified with each other without an interface between them.Type: GrantFiled: March 5, 2002Date of Patent: March 21, 2006Assignee: LG Chem, Ltd.Inventors: Seung-Jin Lee, Hyang-Mok Lee, Soon-Ho Ahn, Jin-Yeon Cho, Hyun-Hang Yong, Hyung-Keun Lee, Sang-Young Lee, Heon-Sik Song, Byeong-In Ahn, Soon-Yong Park, You-Jin Kyung
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Patent number: 6887620Abstract: The bipolar electrochemical battery of the invention comprises: a stack of at least two electrochemical cells electrically arranged in series with the positive face of each cell contacting the negative face of an adjacent cell, wherein each of the cells comprises (a) a negative electrode; (b) a positive electrode; (c) a separator between the electrodes, wherein the separator includes an electrolyte; (d) a first electrically conductive lamination comprising a first inner metal layer and a first polymeric outer layer, said first polymeric outer layer having at least one perforation therein to expose the first inner metal layer, said first electrically conductive lamination being in electrical contact with the outer face of the negative electrode; and (e) a second electrically conductive lamination comprising a second inner metal layer and a second polymeric outer layer, said second polymeric outer layer having at least one perforation therein to expose the second inner metal layer, said second electrically cType: GrantFiled: January 6, 2003Date of Patent: May 3, 2005Assignee: Electro Energy, Inc.Inventors: Martin G. Klein, Paula Ralston, Robert Plivelich
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Patent number: 6881514Abstract: An electrochemical element with improved energy density is provided. The electrochemical element has electrochemical cells which are multiply stacked. The electrochemical cell is stacked with the full cell or bicell as a basic unit and a separator film is interposed between the adjoining portion of the cells. The electrochemical element is easy to manufacture, has a structure which uses the space available efficiently, and can maximize the content of the active electrode material so that a highly integrated battery can be implemented.Type: GrantFiled: February 8, 2001Date of Patent: April 19, 2005Assignee: LG Chemical Co., Ltd.Inventors: Soon-Ho Ahn, Hyang-Mok Lee, Seung-Jin Lee, Tae-Hyung Kim, Hyung-Keun Lee
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Patent number: 6849357Abstract: The present invention relates to a battery using a case of which the section of the lower part containing an electric element is square or hexagonal and the section of the upper part containing a sealing plate is circular or elliptic. By virtue of the shape of the lower part the space efficiency of the battery pack is enhanced and by virtue of the shape of the upper part the productivity of the battery is improved. Further, preferably, the corners of the lower part of the case are rounded or chamferred, whereby the temperature rise in the battery pack is suppressed.Type: GrantFiled: November 28, 2000Date of Patent: February 1, 2005Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.Inventors: Hideki Kasahara, Masumi Katsumoto, Masaharu Miyahisa, Yoshihiro Boki
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Publication number: 20040265687Abstract: An improved electrical interconnect member for rechargeable battery packs is provided. The interconnect member includes a metal tab and a plastic housing. The metal tab preferably includes side bends projecting below the tab in a non-perpendicular geometric orientation with the top of the tab. The tab includes at least one lance for preventing post-assembly, lateral movement between the tab and housing. The housing is preferably Y-shaped, with the outer surfaces of the Y having concave curvatures. The concave curvatures allow the housing to seat between adjoining, cylindrical cells. The housing includes a rail with a cross section that corresponds to the area between the side bends and the top of the tab. The housing also includes a post for coupling to the lances.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 27, 2003Publication date: December 30, 2004Inventors: Seng Chan, Charles W. Friedli, Due Q. Huynh, William B. Kiger, Kevin Maggert
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Publication number: 20040258985Abstract: A battery (6) includes a first end (61) and an opposite second end (63). A first mechanical connecting member (611) and a second mechanical connecting member (631) are provided on the first and second ends respectively. The first mechanical connecting member is engagable with the second mechanical connecting member of another similar battery. The second mechanical connecting member is engagable with the first mechanical connecting member of another similar battery. Thus the battery provides stabilized electrical connection with another similar battery. Preferably, the first mechanical connecting member includes two protrusion, and the second mechanical connecting member includes two receptacle engagingly receiving the protrusions of another similar battery. Each protrusion may for example be cylindrical, conical, annular, or parallelepiped-shaped. The battery may for example be cylindrical, parallelepiped-shaped, or coin-shaped. A battery assembly (600) using two or more such batteries is also provided.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 21, 2004Publication date: December 23, 2004Inventor: Kun-June Tsai
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Publication number: 20040247994Abstract: An assembled battery device in the present invention comprises a plurality of single cells which is placed with a predetermined space between each other, and an element for detecting swelling which is set in the predetermined space between the single cells and operates in accordance with transform by swelling. According to this, when a single cell swells and then transforms, resulting from being overcharged, the element for detecting swelling is activated in accordance with such transform by swelling and detects the state of overcharging.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 7, 2004Publication date: December 9, 2004Inventors: Hideki Masuda, Hiroshi Tasai, Koichi Nishiyama
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Publication number: 20040241540Abstract: When producing an electrode for use in a three-dimensional battery, an active material is combined with at least one of a separator, a dividing wall, and a current collector for simultaneous formation. Both the dividing wall and the current collector are planar or are so formed as to have projected portions in needle, plate, wave, particle, or the like form. Both the dividing wall and the current collector may be provided with a cooling structure. As an additional current collector, an ion permeable current collector, which has voids therein, permits passage of ions, and exhibits electrical conductive properties, is provided.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 16, 2004Publication date: December 2, 2004Inventors: Kazuo Tsutsumi, Kazuya Nishimura, Susumu Mitsuda, Takahito Tanigawa
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Patent number: 6811921Abstract: A battery pack comprises: a battery unit (12) including a plurality of batteries (1) arranged flatly and electrically connected with one another by either series or parallel connection, or a combination thereof; a pair of heat transfer plates (8a, 8b) made of a material exhibiting excellent thermal conductivity and arranged in parallel to a surface where the battery unit (12) is arranged, of which one makes surface contact with a top-surface side of each of the batteries (1) of the battery unit (12), and the other makes surface contact with a back-surface side of each of the batteries (1) of the battery unit (12); and a housing (2) made of a material exhibiting excellent thermal conductivity, the housing accommodating the battery unit (12) and the pair of heat transfer plates (8a, 8b) and making surface contact with the pair of heat transfer plates (8a, 8b).Type: GrantFiled: October 19, 2001Date of Patent: November 2, 2004Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.Inventors: Yoshitaka Dansui, Hideki Kasahara
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Patent number: 6780538Abstract: 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.Type: GrantFiled: June 6, 2003Date of Patent: August 24, 2004Assignees: Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd., Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Shinji Hamada, Hiroshi Inoue, Akihiro Taniguchi, Nobuyasu Morishita, Noriyuki Fujioka, Munehisa Ikoma, Yoshiaki Ogata
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Publication number: 20040157119Abstract: A battery bundle includes a first battery having a first outer surface with a first graphic, a second battery substantially identical to the first battery in all respects except that the second battery has a second outer surface with a second graphic distinct from the first graphic and a packaging binding the first battery and the second battery.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 30, 2003Publication date: August 12, 2004Applicant: FCK, LLCInventors: Jay Z. Muchin, David J. Merten
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Publication number: 20040072068Abstract: A battery unit cell with improved conductive sealing by shielding the positive tablet electrode with a conductive polymeric sheet such as a thermo-plastic rubber sheet dispersed with acetylene black. This improved sealing alleviates the adverse loss of moisture from the battery unit cell and enhances the shelf- or storage-life of batteries with cells with such improved sealing means or methods.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 11, 2002Publication date: April 15, 2004Inventors: Tse Wan Lu, Chung Yuen Law, Yik Pang Chak
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Patent number: 6709783Abstract: In a battery pack 1 wherein prismatic battery modules 2 are arranged parallel with each other, cooling passages 7 are formed by interposing spacers 6 made of metallic material between mutually facing long side faces 2a, 2a of the battery modules 2, 2.Type: GrantFiled: January 4, 2001Date of Patent: March 23, 2004Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.Inventors: Yoshiaki Ogata, Shinji Hamada
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Patent number: 6673485Abstract: A battery module is fabricated as follows. A plurality of elements for electromotive force is accommodated in a one-piece cylindrical case and is arranged in series in an axial direction of the case. The elements for electromotive force are electrically connected through an electric connector passing through a resin partition wall which separates the elements for electromotive force from one another. The both ends of the case are sealed with sealing plates.Type: GrantFiled: September 7, 2001Date of Patent: January 6, 2004Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.Inventors: Kenji Kimura, Akira Iwamura
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Patent number: 6641952Abstract: A battery arrangement that minimize battery-to-battery and battery-to-device contact resistance by rupturing or removing an insulating contaminant layer on portions of battery terminals that contact each other or that contact contacts in a battery compartment. Generally, standard dry cell and miniature batteries are arranged such that the surface area of the terminals that contact other terminals or device contacts is reduced. A given compression force applied to the serially-aligned batteries in the battery compartment results in a contact pressure sufficient to rupture the insulating contaminant layer at the terminal region that contacts the adjacent terminal or device contact. A relative lateral motion can be imparted between adjacent batteries and/or a battery and device contact to facilitate the removal of the insulating contaminant layer.Type: GrantFiled: April 20, 2001Date of Patent: November 4, 2003Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.Inventor: Larry E Maple
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Patent number: 6641951Abstract: A battery system for battery powered vehicles which utilize valve-regulated, lead-acid cells, each cell being of the type that includes multiple positive and negative plates with separators therebetween assembled in a separate casing having exterior terminals outside the casing whereby the cells may be electrically interconnected. The flexible walls of the cells bulge outwardly when initially filled with electrolyte and uncompressed. The system includes a battery housing having at least one restraint extending horizontally between and attached to the side walls of the housing for preventing the bowing thereof, the restraint dividing the housing into at least two sections.Type: GrantFiled: November 28, 2000Date of Patent: November 4, 2003Assignee: Douglas Battery Manufacturing CompanyInventors: David G. Vutetakis, Christopher R. Cestone, Stanley K. Wilkie
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Patent number: 6635383Abstract: A conical coiled spring battery contact for use in a battery compartment that ruptures an insulating contaminant layer on a terminal of a battery installed in the battery compartment. The coiled spring contact is constructed and arranged such that only a battery terminal contact point contacts an abutting a terminal of a battery installed in the battery compartment. The contact point is defined by a minimal surface area of an upper end turn of the coiled spring contact. Such a conical coiled spring contact minimizes the contact resistance between the conical coiled spring contact and the battery terminal due to the presence of such an insulating contaminant layer. This in turn increases the amount of battery power and current available for the implementing device. The battery compartment can include a housing configured to receive one or more batteries and a conical coiled spring contact of the invention.Type: GrantFiled: April 20, 2001Date of Patent: October 21, 2003Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.Inventor: Larry E Maple
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Patent number: 6599660Abstract: A battery module of the present invention comprises an annular connecting member 10 having an aperture 14 at a position corresponding to a cap 8 provided on a sealing plate 7 and between the sealing member 7 of one cell B and a bottom of a can 6 of the other cell A. The annular connecting member 10 comprises an annular base portion 11 having its outer diameter smaller than an inner diameter of the opening portion of the can 6, a convex portion 12 with bottom protruding upward or downward alternately from the annular base portion 11, and a projection 13 projecting from the bottom of the convex portion 12. Thereby, the connecting portion between the cell A and the cell B has a collecting path of a length between both projections 13, namely, a length between the sealing plate 7 of the cell B and the bottom of the can 6 of the cell A, whereby the voltage drop across the connecting portion decreases, resulting in a battery module having high operation voltage.Type: GrantFiled: March 7, 2001Date of Patent: July 29, 2003Assignee: Sanyo Electric Co., Ltd.Inventors: Takashi Oda, Hideki Okajima, Yukichi Uesugi, Hitoshi Tanaka, Yoshinobu Okumura
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Publication number: 20030134187Abstract: A battery pack 13 (FIG. 2) comprises an elongated cylindrical, metal casing 35, a plurality of cells 41, 43 in casing 35 and three coaxial pack terminals 46, 54, 61. For enhanced convenience, pack terminals 46, 541, 61 are electrically connectable in a cordless device 11 regardless of the angular orientation of the pack 13 about casing axis 33. To reduce cost and increase durability, pack 13 has no welded connections and will permit high current discharge rates. Cells 41, 43 are electrically connected but are mechanically disconnected. A spring 73 engages cell 41 and biases cells 41, 43 tightly together in compression to form good, low resistance electrical contact between cells 41, 43, casing base cap 45 and top 53. To provide a pack with two output voltages, the third pack terminal 61 has a polarity (relative to first pack terminal 46) the same as second pack terminal 54 and is electrically connected to the cell can terminal 43b of forward cell 43, thereby electrically by-passing cell 43.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 31, 1999Publication date: July 17, 2003Inventors: DALE K. WHEELER, ROBERT G. MOORES, RICHARD T. WALTER
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Patent number: 6582848Abstract: End caps for a battery pack. The end caps have opposing flanges for securing therebetween batteries. At the lateral edges of the flanges, a space is provided for at least a portion of a battery being secured in the pack to protrude outwardly, so that the battery pack is secured without extra width for the end caps. The end caps are compressively engaged to make electrical connection with the terminals of the uppermost and the lowermost batteries. A strapping tape is utilized for wrapping the battery pack around a longitudinal exist to tightly compress batteries between the end caps. The tape is covered by and further compressed with a tightly compressing shrink wrap material.Type: GrantFiled: October 16, 2001Date of Patent: June 24, 2003Inventor: Roland K. Peterson
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Patent number: 6548207Abstract: Thin-profile battery circuits and constructions, and in particular button-type battery circuits and constructions and methods of forming the same are described. In one implementation, a substrate is provided having an outer surface with a pair of spaced electrical contact pads thereon. At least two thin-profile batteries are conductively bonded together in a stack having a lowermost battery and an uppermost battery. The batteries include respective positive and negative terminals. The lowermost battery has one of its positive or negative terminals adhesively bonded to one of the pair of electrical contact pads while the uppermost battery has one of its positive or negative terminals electrically connected to the other of the pair of electrical contact pads. The batteries can be provided into parallel or series electrical connections.Type: GrantFiled: March 7, 2000Date of Patent: April 15, 2003Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.Inventor: Mark E. Tuttle
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Publication number: 20030054240Abstract: An electrical battery for multi-cellular interconnection in series, parallel or series and parallel has a protrusion and a recess, such as a tongue and a groove, extending on outer surfaces of the sidewalls of the battery case such that when a protrusion of one battery is slid into a recess of another, the two batteries are electrically connected by the portions of the protrusion and the recess that are made of electrically conductive materials connected to the voltage producing elements inside the case. The battery further includes hollow plug-in posts and plug-in pins at the top and the bottom of the case that are connected to the voltage producing elements of the battery so that when the plug-in pins of one battery are inserted into the plug-in posts of another, the two batteries are in electrical interconnection. The battery also includes an electrolyte recirculation, gas purging, and automatic watering systems.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 25, 2002Publication date: March 20, 2003Applicant: APOLLO ENERGY SYSTEMS, INCORPORATEDInventor: Robert R. Aronsson
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Publication number: 20030049527Abstract: A battery is fabricated on the basis of at least one of the following four concepts, i.e., lead terminals passing through a package not lower than the uppermost surface of an electrolyte cell, lead terminals projecting from a package in directions opposite to each other, a film package with a crushed portion expandable for accumulating gas and sheets of gas barrier sealant for keeping the boundaries between component parts of a package sealed; the seal is hardly broken so that the battery is durable and highly reliable.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 4, 2002Publication date: March 13, 2003Applicant: NEC CORPORATIONInventors: Hiroshi Yageta, Makihiro Otohata, Nobuaki Yoshioka
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Patent number: 6517966Abstract: A plurality of prismatic cell cases having short lateral walls and long lateral walls are coupled together such that each of the short lateral walls of these cell cases is common to two adjacent cell cases as partitions, thereby constituting an integral battery case of a battery module. Each of the cell cases respectively accommodating therein elements for electromotive force, and electrode connecting terminals of positive and negative polarities are arranged at lengthwise opposite ends of the battery module. A large number of projections are formed dispersedly on both side faces of the battery module for forming coolant passages between two battery modules when butted with corresponding plurality of projections formed on both sides of an adjacent battery module. The height of the projections positioned opposite the partitions in the integral battery case is set lower than the height of the other projections.Type: GrantFiled: October 6, 2000Date of Patent: February 11, 2003Assignees: Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd., Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Shuhei Marukawa, Ko Watanabe, Toyohiko Eto
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Publication number: 20030017383Abstract: A battery pack includes a plurality of cells (2) stacked on top of one another in tiers; a heat collecting plate (4, 7) made of a wave-like metal sheet and interposed between tiers of the cells so as to make contact with outer peripheral surfaces of upper and lower tiers of the cells alternately; a heat pipe (10) having its heating portion (10a) fitted into a fitting groove (8, 9) formed in the heat collecting plate; a pack case (1) for accommodating the cells, the heat collecting plate, and the heat pipe; and a heat dissipating member (3) attached to the pack case so as to close an opening of the pack case and having on its inner-surface side a concavely-formed receiving groove (11) into which a heat dissipating portion (10b) of the heat pipe is fitted.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 10, 2002Publication date: January 23, 2003Inventors: Hironori Ura, Hiroki Takeshima, Ryoichi Hamasaki, Osamu Aoya, Takehiro Chinen
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Patent number: 6503658Abstract: The bipolar electrochemical battery of the invention comprises: a stack of at least two electrochemical cells electrically arranged in series with the positive face of each cell contacting the negative face of an adjacent cell, wherein each of the cells comprises (a) a negative electrode; (b) a positive electrode; (c) a separator between the electrodes, wherein the separator includes an electrolyte; (d) a first electrically conductive lamination comprising a first inner metal layer and a first polymeric outer layer, said first polymeric outer layer having at least one perforation therein to expose the first inner metal layer, said first electrically conductive lamination being in electrical contact with the outer face of the negative electrode; and (e) a second electrically conductive lamination comprising a second inner metal layer and a second polymeric outer layer, said second polymeric outer layer having at least one perforation therein to expose the second inner metal layer, said second electricallType: GrantFiled: July 11, 2001Date of Patent: January 7, 2003Assignee: Electro Energy, Inc.Inventors: Martin G. Klein, Paula Ralston, Robert Plivelich
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Publication number: 20020182491Abstract: A lever-type connector has first and second housings (10, 20) that can be mated with one another. A lever (30) is mounted rotatably on the first housing (10). A cam groove (35) is formed on the lever (30) and engages a follower pin (22) on the second housing (20) to connect the housings (10, 20). The cam groove (35) has steep surface area (45) whose distance from a center of rotation of the lever (30) decreases at a higher rate than the other areas of the cam groove (35) and is formed at a position of the cam groove (35) slightly before a terminus end (35B). Thus, an operation resistance peaks when follower pins (22) reach the steep surface areas (45). This peak operation resistance is larger than a sum of a resistance required to engage a lock (41) with a projection (26) and a connection resistance acting between housings (10, 20).Type: ApplicationFiled: May 29, 2002Publication date: December 5, 2002Applicant: Sumitomo Wiring Systems, Ltd.Inventor: Takao Maegawa
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Patent number: 6479180Abstract: In a vehicle fuel cell supporting apparatus and method supporting a fuel cell formed by a plurality of unit cells, each of which is provided with an anode, a cathode, and an electrolyte film, and is laminated together with a separator intervening therebetween in a forward and rearward direction of the vehicle, relative movement, in a forward direction of the vehicle, of the cell element located at the front most position of the fuel cell with respect to the vehicle is blocked.Type: GrantFiled: July 12, 2000Date of Patent: November 12, 2002Assignee: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.Inventor: Tetsuo Uozumi
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Patent number: 6479187Abstract: A power source is provided with a holder-case for retaining a plurality of power modules which are disposed in a parallel fashion and have sensor leads projecting from their end regions, and end-plates provided with pass bars for connecting the power modules in series. The power module sensor leads are mutually connected outside the end-plates. The sensor leads are flexible lead wires and have the length to allow them to be connected outside the end-plates. The end regions of the sensor leads are connected via connecting implements outside the end-plates.Type: GrantFiled: May 30, 2000Date of Patent: November 12, 2002Assignee: Sanyo Electric Co., Ltd.Inventors: Yoshiharu Takasaki, Tatsuhito Horiuchi
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Patent number: 6472089Abstract: An electrochemical cell is provided that has a negative terminal cover with a hole therein or a raised portion with notches therein to provide adequate air ingress during the coating of a non-conductive material on the raised portion of the negative terminal. The addition of the hole or notches in the negative terminal cover prevents a vacuum from forming and thereby prevents migration of the non-conductive material toward the center of the negative terminal cover. The process of making an electrochemical cell with a negative terminal cover that has a hole therein or has a raised portion with notches therein is also provided.Type: GrantFiled: June 13, 2000Date of Patent: October 29, 2002Assignee: Eveready Battery Company, Inc.Inventors: James C. Stricker, Thomas J. Kmetich
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Patent number: 6451477Abstract: Button-type battery electrode connection members, button-type battery constructions, and methods of establishing electrical connections with and between button-type batteries are described. In one implementation, an electrode connection member comprises an inner conductive surface, and outer peripheral conductive surface, and an intermediate conductive surface joined with and extending between the inner and outer surfaces. The connection member defines an internal volume which is sized to receive at least one thin-profile battery. In one aspect, the intermediate conductive surface tapers between the inner and outer surfaces. The taper enables more than one button-type battery to be mounted within the internal volume without the need for edge insulation material over one of the batteries to prevent grounding.Type: GrantFiled: November 8, 2000Date of Patent: September 17, 2002Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.Inventor: Rickie C. Lake
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Patent number: 6406812Abstract: This direct current power supply for electric vehicles includes a modular set of electrical storage batteries (16) which are electrically interconnected. The batteries are disposed in battery boxes (18, 20) which can be stacked to constitute a stack of modules (12, 14).Type: GrantFiled: April 24, 2000Date of Patent: June 18, 2002Assignee: Oldham France S.A.Inventors: Claude Maurice Pierre Dreulle, Pierre Georges Gerard Lenain
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Patent number: 6361895Abstract: Disclosed is a fuel cell stack, comprising a fuel cell laminate body prepared by laminating a plurality of unit cells each having a solid polymer membrane sandwiched between electrodes and a fastening means for fastening the fuel cell laminate body in the direction of lamination of the unit cells, wherein the fastening means includes support members equipped with flanges and arranged at the upper and lower edges of the fuel cell laminate body, thin plates joined to the support members at the upper and lower end portions of the fuel cell laminate body, and fastening bolts for fastening the support members in the vertical direction of the fuel cell laminate body.Type: GrantFiled: April 14, 2000Date of Patent: March 26, 2002Assignee: Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Ltd.Inventors: Hideki Itou, Toshirou Kobayashi, Takuya Moriga, Tomoyuki Kajiwara
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Publication number: 20020031702Abstract: A battery module is fabricated as follows. A plurality of elements for electromotive force is accommodated in a one-piece cylindrical case and is arranged in series in an axial direction of the case. The elements for electromotive force are electrically connected through an electric connector passing through a resin partition wall which separates the elements for electromotive force from one another. The both ends of the case are sealed with sealing plates.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 7, 2001Publication date: March 14, 2002Applicant: Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.Inventors: Kenji Kimura, Akira Iwamura
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Publication number: 20020025473Abstract: End caps for a battery pack. The end caps have opposing flanges for securing therebetween batteries. At the lateral edges of the flanges, a space is provided for at least a portion of a battery being secured in the pack to protrude outwardly, so that the battery pack is secured without extra width for the end caps. The end caps are compressively engaged to make electrical connection with the terminals of the uppermost and the lowermost batteries. A strapping tape is utilized for wrapping the battery pack around a longitudinal exist to tightly compress batteries between the end caps. The tape is covered by and further compressed with a tightly compressing shrink wrap material.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 16, 2001Publication date: February 28, 2002Inventor: Roland K. Peterson
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Patent number: 6303248Abstract: A solderless battery pack. The pack has a generally thin wall cell body portion with two tubular segments each adapted to hold a plurality of batteries. An upper end cap and a lower end cap are provided for fitting tightly over the upper and lower ends of the cell body portion, respectively. The end caps are compressingly engaged to make electrical connection with the terminals of the uppermost and the lowermost batteries by use of opposing all-thread fasteners, or more preferably, by use of shrink wrap tubing. More preferably, instead of all-thread fasteners, a filament type strapping tape is utilized for wrapping the battery pack around a longitudinal exist to tightly compress batteries in each column of batteries. Then, the tape is covered by and further compressed with a tightly compressing shrink wrap material.Type: GrantFiled: June 14, 1999Date of Patent: October 16, 2001Inventor: Roland K. Peterson
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Publication number: 20010026889Abstract: In the method for manufacturing the battery module according to this invention, after a pair of welding upper/lower electrodes 21, 22 or 23, 24 are arranged in contact on the cases 16, 16 of adjacent unit cells 10a, 10b of a plurality of unit cells aligned in a line, a welding current is passed between the pair of welding upper electrodes 21, 23 from a welding power source while both ends of the unit cells 10a, 10b, 10c are pressurized by pressurizing members 31, 32 under a prescribed pressure. Thus, Joule heat is generated at the contact portion between the bottom of the outer case 16 of the unit cell 10a and the positive polarity terminal 18 of the unit cell 10b so that the contact portion melts. Accordingly, the bottom of the outer case 16 of the unit cell 10a and the positive polarity terminal 18 of the unit cell 10b are welded to each other at the contact portion.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 16, 2001Publication date: October 4, 2001Inventors: Hideki Okajima, Takashi Oda, Yukichi Uesugi, Hitoshi Tanaka, Yoshinobu Okumura
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Patent number: 6268078Abstract: Thin-profile battery circuits and constructions, and in particular button-type battery circuits and constructions and methods of forming the same are described. In one implementation, a substrate is provided having an outer surface with a pair of spaced electrical contact pads thereon. At least two thin-profile batteries are conductively bonded together in a stack having a lowermost battery and an uppermost battery. The batteries include respective positive and negative terminals. The lowermost battery has one of its positive or negative terminals adhesively bonded to one of the pair of electrical contact pads while the uppermost battery has one of its positive or negative terminals electrically connected to the other of the pair of electrical contact pads. The batteries can be provided into parallel or series electrical connections.Type: GrantFiled: December 10, 1999Date of Patent: July 31, 2001Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.Inventor: Mark E. Tuttle
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Publication number: 20010007728Abstract: In a battery pack 1 wherein prismatic battery modules 2 are arranged parallel with each other, cooling passages 7 are formed by interposing spacers 6 made of metallic material between mutually facing long side faces 2a, 2a of the battery modules 2, 2.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 4, 2001Publication date: July 12, 2001Applicant: MATSUSHITA ELECTRIC INDUSTRIAL CO., LTD.Inventors: Yoshiaki Ogata, Shinji Hamada
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Patent number: 6248471Abstract: Thin-profile battery electrode connection members, button-type battery electrode connection members, and methods of establishing electrical connections with and between both thin-profile batteries and button-type batteries are described. In one implementation, an electrode connection member comprises an inner conductive surface, and outer peripheral conductive surface, and an intermediate conductive surface joined with and extending between the inner and outer surfaces. The connection member defines an internal volume which is sized to receive at least one thin-profile battery. In one aspect, the intermediate conductive surface tapers between the inner and outer surfaces. The taper enables more than one thin-profile battery to be mounted within the internal volume without the need for edge insulation material over one of the batteries to prevent grounding.Type: GrantFiled: March 23, 1999Date of Patent: June 19, 2001Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.Inventor: Rickie C. Lake
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Patent number: 6238818Abstract: The invention relates to a housing which receives dry cells in an in-line or end to end orientation. The invention includes features which prevent the incorrect orientation by preventing dry cell terminals making contact with the necessary components. In this way, it prevents premature dissipation of dry cells or their impairment. The mechanism by which these features do this is to recess one terminal namely that terminal which would be contacted by the positive terminal of a dry cell. In this way, the negative terminal of a dry cell can never make electrical connection. Another feature of the invention is the provision of an aperture having a profile of a silhouette of a dry cell, which has advantages in low light situations, saves material, and allows for relatively easy extraction of dry cells from the cartridge.Type: GrantFiled: June 23, 1999Date of Patent: May 29, 2001Assignee: Eveready Battery Company, Inc.Inventor: David R. Dalton
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Patent number: 6224997Abstract: Described herein is a flexible battery pack for powering downhole electronic equipment. The pack includes a plurality of electrochemical cells connected and tied together in a stacked working relationship by a pair of semi cylindraceous encapsulating shells which form a primary containment for the electrochemical cells. The shells are secured at each end to a cylindrical insulating plug which secures the shells together. The shells preferably comprise a glass fiber reinforced plastic material. The primary containment is then sealed in a stainless steel tube which is provided to hold the interior components in place during operation. The encapsulating members are provided with an internal grooved recess which receives and holds any electrical conductors which may be required for operation of the battery pack.Type: GrantFiled: April 8, 1999Date of Patent: May 1, 2001Inventor: Nick Papadopoulos
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Patent number: 6210828Abstract: Thin-profile battery electrode connection members, button-type battery electrode connection members, thin-profile battery constructions, button-type battery constructions, and methods of establishing electrical connections with and between both thin-profile batteries and button-type batteries are described. In one implementation, an electrode connection member comprises an inner conductive surface, and outer peripheral conductive surface, and an intermediate conductive surface joined with and extending between the inner and outer surfaces. The connection member defines an internal volume which is sized to receive at least one thin-profile battery. In one aspect, the intermediate conductive surface tapers between the inner and outer surfaces. The taper enables more than one thin-profile battery to be mounted within the internal volume without the need for edge insulation material over one of the batteries to prevent grounding.Type: GrantFiled: June 30, 1999Date of Patent: April 3, 2001Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.Inventor: Rickie C. Lake
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Patent number: 6207317Abstract: Thin-profile battery electrode connection members, button-type battery electrode connection members, thin-profile battery constructions, button-type battery constructions, and methods of establishing electrical connections with and between both thin-profile batteries and button-type batteries are described. In one implementation, an electrode connection member comprises an inner conductive surface, and outer peripheral conductive surface, and an intermediate conductive surface joined with and extending between the inner and outer surfaces. The connection member defines an internal volume which is sized to receive at least one thin-profile battery. In one aspect, the intermediate conductive surface tapers between the inner and outer surfaces. The taper enables more than one thin-profile battery to be mounted within the internal volume without the need for edge insulation material over one of the batteries to prevent grounding.Type: GrantFiled: March 23, 1999Date of Patent: March 27, 2001Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.Inventor: Rickie C. Lake
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Patent number: 6187470Abstract: A solderless battery pack. The pack has a generally thin wall cell body portion with two tubular segments each adapted to hold a plurality of batteries. An upper end cap and a lower end cap are provided for fitting tightly over the upper and lower ends of the cell body portion, respectively. The end caps are compressingly engaged to make electrical connection with the terminals of the uppermost and the lowermost batteries by use of opposing all-thread fasteners. The all thread fasteners each extend through the upper and lower end caps and and along side of the cell body portion in a spaced apart relationship. The all thread fasteners are removably affixed by nuts below and above the end caps. In this manner, batteries are provided a complete electrical circuit without current draining soldered or welded contacts.Type: GrantFiled: June 10, 1998Date of Patent: February 13, 2001Inventor: Roland K. Peterson
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Patent number: 6130003Abstract: A battery assembly which has a number of battery modules (16). For manufacturing, a battery module (16) is built in a battery case (10) having a fixed bulkhead (14) and a middle bulkhead (20) such that the module (16) penetrates the bulkheads (14) (20) via a battery holding opening (18) and a battery passing opening (22). The battery module (16) consists of batteries (12), with the connection parts of the batteries (12) held and supported by the battery holding openings (18) of the fixed bulkhead (14). A cooling/warming medium which flows upward is blocked or the cross sectional area of the cooling/warming medium flow is adjusted by a turning projection (38) so that the batteries (12) are effectively cooled or warmed irrespective of their vertical positions. A separately formed middle bulkhead (20) can facilitate manufacturing and assembling of the assembly. Batteries (12) can be more effectively cooled or warmed by using a smaller number of parts at a smaller number of assembling steps.Type: GrantFiled: November 16, 1998Date of Patent: October 10, 2000Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Toyohiko Etoh, Koh Watanabe
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Patent number: 6114060Abstract: Thin-profile battery circuits and constructions, and in particular button-type battery circuits and constructions and methods of forming the same are described. In one implementation, a substrate is provided having an outer surface with a pair of spaced electrical contact pads thereon. At least two thin-profile batteries are conductively bonded together in a stack having a lowermost battery and an uppermost battery. The batteries include respective positive and negative terminals. The lowermost battery has one of its positive or negative terminals adhesively bonded to one of the pair of electrical contact pads while the uppermost battery has one of its positive or negative terminals electrically connected to the other of the pair of electrical contact pads. The batteries can be provided into parallel or series electrical connections.Type: GrantFiled: February 22, 1999Date of Patent: September 5, 2000Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.Inventor: Mark E. Tuttle
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Patent number: 6080509Abstract: Thin-profile battery circuits and constructions, and in particular button-type battery circuits and constructions and methods of forming the same are described. In one implementation, a substrate is provided having an outer surface with a pair of spaced electrical contact pads thereon. At least two thin-profile batteries are conductively bonded together in a stack having a lowermost battery and an uppermost battery. The batteries include respective positive and negative terminals. The lowermost battery has one of its positive or negative terminals adhesively bonded to one of the pair of electrical contact pads while the uppermost battery has one of its positive or negative terminals electrically connected to the other of the pair of electrical contact pads. The batteries can be provided into parallel or series electrical connections. An electrical insulator is disposed about a portion of only one of the batteries.Type: GrantFiled: February 22, 1999Date of Patent: June 27, 2000Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.Inventor: Mark E. Tuttle