With Measuring, Testing, Or Indicating Means Patents (Class 429/90)
  • Patent number: 11201366
    Abstract: A pouch battery contains a pouch, an electrode material and a safety protection device. The electrode material is located in the pouch. The safety protection device is configured to generate an action based on a change in gas pressure within the pouch. In this way, even if the pouch battery is abnormal, its internal circuit can be cut off in time to avoid providing power to external devices while being under abnormal conditions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 14, 2021
    Assignee: TTI (MACAO COMMERCIAL OFFSHORE) LIMITED
    Inventors: Hei Man Raymond Lee, Ming Jun Zhuang
  • Patent number: 11171369
    Abstract: Modular sealed battery packs configured to provide enhanced performance and safety features, along with associated apparatus, systems, and methods for monitoring and controlling operation and use of such battery packs and associated coupled devices and systems are disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 23, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 9, 2021
    Assignee: SeeScan, Inc.
    Inventors: Mark S. Olsson, Alexander L. Warren, David A. Cox, Joseph B. Phaneuf, Paul G. Stuart
  • Patent number: 11131716
    Abstract: Estimating a charge state for a flat-voltage profile battery can be accomplished using impedance measurements. For example, an impedance measurement can be used to form a fuel gauge for a lithium-air (Li-Air) battery. As the impedance of a Li-Air battery increases during discharge, it corresponds to a state of charge (i.e., a charge state). The impedance can be used to create charge state data to use with a fuel gauge.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 28, 2021
    Assignee: INTEL CORPORATION
    Inventor: Naoki Matsumura
  • Patent number: 11127973
    Abstract: A method for manufacturing an all-solid battery is provided to press a laminate of a cell becoming a battery unit at a high pressure, and resin-sealing the peripheral thereof. The method includes disposing a laminate, which includes a plurality of cells composed of an anode, a solid electrolyte, and a cathode, and a current collecting plate having the plurality of cells stacked thereon in series and disposed on both end portions thereof in the stacking direction, into a mold in an opened state. The mold is then closed and the laminate is pressed. A battery unit is formed by press-fitting resin from a resin injection port to solidify the resin in the pressed state of the laminate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 16, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 21, 2021
    Assignees: Hyundai Motor Company, Kia Motors Corporation
    Inventor: Hashimoto Takenori
  • Patent number: 11038162
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to an electrode material that includes a solid core particle having an outer surface and including at least one of a Group II element, a Group III element, a Group IV element, a Group V element, and/or a Group VI element, and a layer including a polymer, where the solid core particle has a characteristic length between greater than zero nanometers and 1000 nm, the layer substantially covers all of the outer surface, the layer has a thickness between greater than zero nanometers 100 nm, and the layer is capable of elastically stretching as a result of expansion and contraction by the solid core.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 15, 2021
    Assignee: Alliance for Sustainable Energy, LLC
    Inventors: Chunmei Ban, Seoung-Bum Son, Markus Daniel Groner
  • Patent number: 10992008
    Abstract: A battery including a pack housing and a plurality of battery modules accommodated in the pack housing, the pack housing has first and second sides, the first and second sides having openings, and the openings of the first side correspond to respective openings of the second side, the pack housing has a plurality of guide grooves, and each battery module is accommodated into or removed from an inner space of the pack housing through a respective opening by sliding along the guide grooves.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 2, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 27, 2021
    Assignee: LG CHEM, LTD.
    Inventors: Sung-Won Seo, Dal-Mo Kang, Jeong-O Mun, Yoon-Koo Lee, Ho-June Chi
  • Patent number: 10985429
    Abstract: A connection module includes: an insulating protector that holds a plurality of bus bars to connect between electrode terminals; and a flexible printed circuit that is held by the insulating protector, and includes a detection line that is connected to the each of the bus bars and detects a state of the power storage element. The insulating protector includes a protector horizontal part including a holding part which holds each of the bus bars and is formed at one end; and a vertical part that is extended in a vertical direction from the protector horizontal part in at least a part of another end, opposite to the one end, of the protector horizontal part. The flexible printed circuit includes: a substrate horizontal part that is held by the protector horizontal part; and a bent part that is bent perpendicularly to the substrate horizontal part and held by the vertical part.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 20, 2021
    Assignees: AUTONETWORKS TECHNOLOGIES, LTD., SUMITOMO WIRING SYSTEMS, LTD., SUMITOMO ELECTRIC INDUSTRIES, LTD., TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Shinichi Takase, Yasuhiko Kotera, Yusuke Suzuki
  • Patent number: 10965130
    Abstract: A battery management system comprising: at least one battery comprising two or more sets of cells, each set of cells comprising one or more cells; a multiplexing switch apparatus connected to each set of cells; and at least one controller configured to use the multiplexing switch apparatus to selectively discharge the sets of cells based on at least one criterion. A battery pack comprising: at least one battery comprising two or more sets of cells, each set of cells comprising one or more cells; and an integrated switching control system comprising at least one switch connected to each set of cells, wherein the integrated switching control system is configured to control the at least one switch to discharge the sets of cells sequentially or selectively based on at least one criterion. A battery management method or a battery pack control method.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 18, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 30, 2021
    Assignee: Sion Power Corporation
    Inventors: Yuriy V. Mikhaylik, Glenn Alan Hamblin, Chariclea Scordilis-Kelley, John Joseph Christopher Kopera
  • Patent number: 10950839
    Abstract: A battery pack includes a plurality of unit cells, a plurality of busbars, a support member and a busbar holder. The unit cells have electrode tabs. The busbars have connection portions joined to the electrode tabs. The support member supports the electrode tabs. The busbar holder retains the busbars. The busbar holder has pressing parts that press the connection portions of the busbars toward the electrode tabs supported by the support member, and deforming parts that urge the pressing parts with a repulsive force in a direction in which the pressing parts are caused to move toward the electrode tabs. The deforming parts have leg parts that extend so as to project in a direction away from the busbars.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 20, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 16, 2021
    Assignee: Envision AESC Japan Ltd.
    Inventors: Naoki Morisato, Yuta Motohashi
  • Patent number: 10938449
    Abstract: A battery system. The battery system comprises an electric battery and a radio frequency identity (RFID) chip. The electric battery comprises an internal metal plate and an exterior package skin. The RFID chip is retained by the exterior package skin of the electric battery and comprises a non-transitory memory, a processor, a radio transceiver coupled to the processor, an antenna, a first impedance matching component coupling the radio transceiver to the antenna, and a second impedance matching component coupling the internal metal plate of the electric battery to the radio transceiver, wherein the radio transceiver is configured to transmit radio frequency signals through the second impedance matching component to the internal metal plate and the internal metal plate is configured to radiate the radio frequency signals as radio waves.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 2, 2021
    Assignee: Sprint Communications Company L.P.
    Inventors: Clinton H. Loman, Lyle W. Paczkowski
  • Patent number: 10938012
    Abstract: A battery module comprising a first battery group having at least one secondary battery; a second battery group having at least one secondary battery that does not belong to the first battery group; a first bus bar to which an electrode lead of the secondary battery belonging to the first battery group is contacted and coupled; a second bus bar spaced apart from the first bus bar so that an electrode lead of the secondary battery belonging to the second battery group is contacted and coupled thereto; a sub bus bar interposed between the first bus bar and the second bus bar to electrically connect the first bus bar and the second bus bar; and an elastic member having a portion coupled and fixed to the sub bus bar to give a restoring force for separating the sub bus bar from the first bus bar and the second bus bar.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 21, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 2, 2021
    Assignee: LG Chem, Ltd.
    Inventors: Jae-Uk Ryu, Ji-Su Yoon, Dal-Mo Kang, Jeong-O Mun
  • Patent number: 10938003
    Abstract: Systems and methods to power electric vehicles are disclosed. A battery pack to power an electric vehicle is provided. The battery pack residing in the electric vehicle. The battery pack can include a plurality of battery modules. Each of the plurality of battery modules can include a plurality of battery blocks. A first battery block can include a plurality of cylindrical battery cells. Each of the plurality of cylindrical battery cells can have a pair of battery cell terminals and can have a voltage of up to 5 volts across the pair of battery cell terminals. The plurality of cylindrical battery cells can be electrically connected in parallel within the first battery block. Each cylindrical battery cell of the plurality of cylindrical battery cells can be spatially separated from each of at least one adjacent cylindrical battery cell within the first battery block by less than 2 millimeter (mm).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 2, 2021
    Assignees: CHONGQING JINKANG NEW ENERGY VEHICLE CO., LTD., SF Motors Inc.
    Inventors: Nathalie Capati, Duanyang Wang, Jacob Heth, Binbin Chi
  • Patent number: 10910647
    Abstract: The invention is directed towards an electrochemically active cathode material for a battery. The electrochemically active cathode material includes a non-stoichiometric beta-delithiated layered nickel oxide. The non-stoichiometric beta-delithiated layered nickel oxide has a chemical formula. The chemical formula is LixAyNi1+a-zMzO2•nH2O where x is from about 0.02 to about 0.20; y is from about 0.03 to about 0.20; a is from about 0.02 to about 0.2; z is from about 0 to about 0.2; and n is from about 0 to about 1. Within the chemical formula, A is an alkali metal. The alkali metal includes potassium, rubidium, cesium, and any combination thereof. Within the chemical formula, M comprises an alkaline earth metal, a transition metal, a non-transition metal, and any combination thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 8, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 2, 2021
    Assignee: DURACELL U.S. OPERATIONS, INC.
    Inventors: Jennifer A. Nelson, Paul Albert Christian, Stephen A. Hackney
  • Patent number: 10910035
    Abstract: Provided are a dynamic semiconductor memory device and a memory system including the same.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 2, 2021
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Chui Hwan Choo, Kwang Hyun Kim
  • Patent number: 10879571
    Abstract: A wire connection bus bar includes a bus bar member that includes a flat plate-shaped bus bar main body electrically connected to an electrode terminal, an arm body that is a part extending from the bus bar main body in a direction crossing a reference plane of the bus bar main body and has an electrical connection portion to which a first terminal portion is physically and electrically connected, and at least one protruding body protruding from the bus bar main body in the direction crossing the reference plane, and the protruding body is formed such that a protruding amount from the reference plane in an orthogonal direction with respect to the reference plane is equal to or larger than a maximum protruding amount from the reference plane of a connection body, formed of the arm body and a connecting terminal, in the orthogonal direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 18, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 29, 2020
    Assignee: YAZAKI CORPORATION
    Inventors: Kazuaki Saito, Kazuhiro Naito
  • Patent number: 10862323
    Abstract: An intelligent rechargeable battery pack having a battery management system for monitoring and controlling the charging and discharging of the battery pack is described. The battery management system includes primary and secondary protection circuits for monitoring the charging and discharging of the battery. Individual battery cells forming the battery pack are connected by a main bus to a connector for connection to a battery charger or a device to be powered, and the main bus may be interrupted by a switch controlled by the battery management system to prevent damage to the battery during charging or discharging of the battery.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 6, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 8, 2020
    Assignee: Zoll Circulation, Inc.
    Inventors: Orlando Banos, David Deam, Richard Smith
  • Patent number: 10850838
    Abstract: The present disclosure is related to unmanned aerial vehicles or drones that have a capability of quickly swapping batteries. This may be accomplished even as the drone continues to fly. A drone consistent with the present disclosure may drop one battery and pickup another using an attachment mechanism. Attachment mechanisms of the present disclosure may include electro-magnets, mechanical actuators, pins, or hooks. Systems consistent with the present disclosure may also include locations where replacement batteries may be provided to aircraft via actuation devices coupled to a physical location.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 1, 2020
    Assignee: SONY INTERACTIVE ENTERTAINMENT INC.
    Inventors: Dennis Dale Castleman, Ruxin Chen, Frank Zhao, Glenn Black
  • Patent number: 10845419
    Abstract: An assembled battery is formed from multiple standard cells each having a standard capacitance and a single twofold cell having a capacitance twofold larger than the standard capacitance. When detecting the SOC of a reference standard cell, a system control circuit acquires from a memory a potential difference-SOC characteristic curve indicating the relationship between the potential difference between the reference standard cell and the twofold cell and the SOC of the reference standard cell. Moreover, the system control circuit detects the potential difference between the reference standard cell and the twofold cell, and then compares the detected potential difference with the potential difference-SOC characteristic curve to detect the SOC value of the reference standard cell.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 7, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 24, 2020
    Assignee: MURATA MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Kosuke Sano
  • Patent number: 10840555
    Abstract: There is provided a nonaqueous electrolyte battery including a first electrode having a strip shape, a second electrode having a strip shape, a first electrode lead, a second electrode lead, a separator having a strip shape that is disposed between the first electrode and the second electrode, and a nonaqueous electrolyte. A laminated electrode body, which is obtained by laminating the first electrode and the second electrode through the separator in such a manner that the second electrode lead is disposed at the other end portion of the second electrode not opposite to one end portion of the first electrode to which the first electrode lead is connected, is wound in a longitudinal direction with one end to which the first electrode lead is connected made as an initial end, and a wound electrode body is obtained.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 11, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 17, 2020
    Assignee: MURATA MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Masayuki Iwama, Kenichi Kawase, Tomoo Takada
  • Patent number: 10828694
    Abstract: A casting device in which refrigerant is pressure-fed to a cooling passage formed in a die, leakage of refrigerant in the die can be reliably detected in a short time without a significant modification applied to the conventional device. A casting device includes a pressure-feed device that pressure-feeds refrigerant to a cooling passage formed in a die, and a release agent coating applicator that applies a release agent to the die, and further includes a unit that mixes a fluorescent agent into the refrigerant (fluorescent agent tank), a unit that irradiates the die surface of the die with black light while the refrigerant containing the fluorescent agent mixed therein is pressure-fed to the die, and an imaging device that captures an image of the die surface. The imaging device is integrally assembled with the release agent coating applicator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 18, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 10, 2020
    Assignees: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA, MEC INTERNATIONAL CO., LTD., MEIWA E-TEC CO., LTD., NIKON CORPORATION
    Inventors: Daisuke Serino, Fumio Kawahara, Yuzo Matsuda, Tetsushi Yamaguchi, Hiroshi Kawahara, Sakayuki Ishikawa, Takuto Takahashi, Naoshi Sakaguchi, Hiroyuki Kayaba, Takahiro Michimoto
  • Patent number: 10811669
    Abstract: Provided is a battery capable of surely interrupting current at the time of temperature rise so that excessive heat generation does not occur at the occurrence of an abnormality. The battery 1 includes a battery element 10 including a positive electrode and a negative electrode, an inner package 13 which forms a first chamber 13a for enclosing the battery element 10, an outer package 14 which encloses the inner package 13 such that the outer package 14 forms a second chamber 14a which surrounds the first chamber 13a, and a pair of terminals 11, 12 electrically connected to the positive electrode and the negative electrode and led out to the outside of the outer package 14. One terminal 11 of the pair of terminals 11, 12 has a first terminal 11a and a second terminal 11b arranged so as to be electrically connected in the second chamber 13a.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 9, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 20, 2020
    Assignee: NEC CORPORATION
    Inventors: Kazuhiko Inoue, Kenichi Shimura
  • Patent number: 10809310
    Abstract: Systems and methods of determining physical conditions of a battery, such as state of charge (SOC), state of health (SOH), quality of construction, defect, or failure state include driving two or more acoustic signals of two or more amplitudes, each acoustic signal having two or more frequencies, into the battery and detecting vibrations generated in the battery based on the two or more acoustic signals. Nonlinear response characteristics of the battery for the two or more acoustic signals are determined from the detected vibrations. The physical conditions of the battery are determined based at least in part on the nonlinear response characteristics, using nonlinear acoustic resonance spectroscopy (NARS) or nonlinear resonant ultrasound spectroscopy (NRUS).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 6, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 20, 2020
    Assignees: THE REGENTS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, FEASIBLE, INC.
    Inventors: Andrew Gaheem Hsieh, Barry James Van Tassell, Robert Charles Mohr, Anne Wilkinson, Jonathan Ajo-Franklin, Shaurjo Biswas
  • Patent number: 10749161
    Abstract: A flexible connector a battery system and a method for assembling in a battery assembly. The apparatus can include a plurality of pads that are secured to a central spine. The flexible connector may be a single piece connector. The flexible connector can include monitors that are mounted to the flexible connector to gather data regarding battery cells.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 18, 2020
    Assignee: Artisan Vehicle Systems Inc.
    Inventors: Brian R. Huff, Michael E. Kasaba, Kyle Hickey
  • Patent number: 10741883
    Abstract: An apparatus is provided for detecting one of multiple possible abnormal conditions associated with a flexible, pouch-type energy storage device of an electronic device. The apparatus includes a stiffener, a pressure sensor and a control component. The stiffener overlies a main surface of the storage device. The pressure sensor is disposed between the stiffener and an inner surface of the electronic device to monitor for pressure between the stiffener and the inner surface indicative of an abnormal condition associated with the storage device. The control component is coupled to the pressure sensor and detects the abnormal condition based, at least in part, on the monitored pressure exceeding a specified threshold, and performs and action based thereon. The abnormal condition may include excessive external force being applied to the energy storage device, or excessive internal swelling of the energy storage device during charging, or during use.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 28, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 11, 2020
    Assignee: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Mark Maresh, Richard John Fishbune, Eric B. Swenson, Marc H. Coq
  • Patent number: 10732226
    Abstract: Methods are provided for generating an estimated number of workflow cycles able to be executed with a remaining battery capacity of a battery in a device. A workflow cycle comprising a predefined series of tasks of a work application executed during a defined timeframe is defined. Beginning battery capacity is determined at start of work application execution. End battery capacity at completion of work application execution is determined. Battery usage estimate associated with work application is calculated from difference between beginning battery capacity and end battery capacity. The estimated number of workflow cycles able to be executed is based on the remaining battery capacity and the battery usage estimate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 26, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 4, 2020
    Assignee: HAND HELD PRODUCTS, INC.
    Inventors: Robert Arlan Kohtz, Rickey George Austin
  • Patent number: 10734628
    Abstract: A bus bar terminal includes an electrode connection portion that connects electrode terminals of power storage elements to each other, and a wire connection portion that is to be connected to an electrical wire. Restriction portions are provided between the electrode connection portion and the wire connection portion, and restrict the movement of a liquid adhered to the electrode connection portion toward the wire connection portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 4, 2020
    Assignees: AutoNetworks Technologies, Ltd., Sumitomo Wiring Systems, Ltd., Sumitomo Electric Industries, Ltd.
    Inventors: Hideo Takahashi, Shinichi Takase, Hiroki Shimodo
  • Patent number: 10707543
    Abstract: A secondary battery has a conductive member, a current interrupt device, and a pressure-sensitive member. The conductive member has an opening on an outer side of the secondary battery. The current interrupt device has a reverse plate connected with the conductive member and is provided inside the secondary battery. The pressure-sensitive member seals the opening, and a state of the pressure-sensitive member changes in accordance with an increase in pressure of a space surrounded by the reverse plate and the conductive member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 16, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 7, 2020
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Hiroyuki Nakayama
  • Patent number: 10707523
    Abstract: According to one embodiment, there is provided a solid electrolyte including an oxide represented by General Formula Li1+2xM12?x(Ca1?yM2y)x(PO4)3. In the General Formula above, M1 is at least one selected from the group consisting of Zr and Hf. M2 is at least one selected from the group consisting of Sr and Ba. x satisfies 0<x<2. y satisfies 0<y?1.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 7, 2020
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventors: Yasuhiro Harada, Tomoe Kusama, Norio Takami, Kazuomi Yoshima
  • Patent number: 10693190
    Abstract: Provided are a material for an electrode including an active material, a sulfide-based inorganic solid electrolyte having conductivity for ions of metal elements belonging to Group I or II of the periodic table, and an auxiliary conductive agent having at least one metal atom belonging to Group XII, XIII, or XIV of the periodic table, in which a specific surface area of the auxiliary conductive agent is 1 to 500 m2/g, and a ratio between a major axis length and a minor axis length of a particle constituting the auxiliary conductive agent is 1.5 or more, an electrode sheet for an all-solid state secondary battery and an all-solid state secondary battery in which the material for an electrode is used, and methods for manufacturing an electrode sheet for an all-solid state secondary battery and an all-solid state secondary battery.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 23, 2020
    Assignee: FUJIFILM Corporation
    Inventors: Hiroaki Mochizuki, Hiroshi Kaga
  • Patent number: 10684189
    Abstract: The present invention relates to an airtight packaging container, which is easy to carry out a leakage test, includes a cosmetic container (30) for holding a cosmetic (c) containing a high content of moisture and volatile matter (e.g., alcohol, etc.), such as foundation or cosmetic cream; and an airtight lid (60) which is provided on the cosmetic container (30) in order to prevent the moisture and volatile matter of the cosmetic (c) from evaporating and being volatilized, the airtight lid (60) comprising a sealing plate (62) for covering the cosmetic container (30) and a sealing protrusion wheel (64) formed on the underside of the sealing plate and inserted into an opening part of the cosmetic container (30) while being tightly pressed against the opening part, wherein a leakage test member (70) is formed in the sealing plate (62) of the airtight lid (60).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 6, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 16, 2020
    Inventor: Sungil Kang
  • Patent number: 10677828
    Abstract: A method for measuring the impedance of a DUT having a capacitance of less than 1 pF includes applying a voltage or current signal to the DUT, the voltage or current signal including an AC component having a non-zero frequency of less than 1 kHz; monitoring a current or voltage signal, respectively, through the DUT in response to the voltage or current signal; digitizing the voltage signal and the current signal synchronously; and calculating the impedance from the digitized voltage and current signals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 9, 2020
    Assignee: Keithley Instruments, LLC
    Inventor: Gregory Sobolewski
  • Patent number: 10665906
    Abstract: A probe supporting structure, configured to support probe for testing battery cell, includes a base and at least two supporting members. The supporting members are detachably disposed on the base with an adjustable distance between the supporting members. The supporting members are arranged in parallel manner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 21, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 26, 2020
    Assignee: CHROMA ATE INC.
    Inventors: Hsu-Chang Hsu, Kuo-Yen Hsu, Kuan-Chen Chen, Chuan-Tse Lin
  • Patent number: 10666080
    Abstract: An objective of the present invention is to realize a voltage detection function in a cell type power supply device having a wireless communication function. A cell type power supply device 1 is attached to a cell box 12 of an external load device 11 alone or in series with another external cell 13. A housing 18 has a shape and dimensions based on a cell standard, and front and rear terminals of the external cell held in a cell holder 2 in the housing 18 are to be in contact with an inner positive terminal 5 and an inner negative terminal 6. An outer positive terminal 3 connected to the inner positive terminal is provided on a front end surface of the housing, and an outer negative terminal 4 connected to the inner negative terminal is provided on a rear end surface of the housing. An output transistor 32 is interposed at least one of between the inner negative terminal and the outer negative terminal and between the inner positive terminal and the outer positive terminal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 9, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 26, 2020
    Assignee: NOVARS INC.
    Inventors: Kazuhiro Koyama, Akihiro Okabe, Tetsuya Nobe
  • Patent number: 10629881
    Abstract: Disclosed is a compact secondary battery module, which includes a cartridge assembly having a plurality of cartridges stacked while accommodating cells, respectively, so that a plurality of lead overlapping portions where leads of adjacent cells overlap with each other are located at a cartridge sidewall with a predetermined pattern; and a sensing housing having a plurality of bus bars located and welded corresponding to the lead overlapping portions, respectively, the sensing housing being capable of being arranged at a side of the cartridge assembly, wherein a first lead of a cell of each lead overlapping portion is configured to have a shorter width than a second lead having a polarity opposite to the first lead as much as a predetermined width, and in a state where the sensing housing is coupled to the cartridge assembly, a corresponding bus bar comes into contact with the second lead substantially on the same line as the first lead, and the second lead and the bus bar are welded to each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 24, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2020
    Assignee: LG CHEM, LTD.
    Inventors: Bum-Hyun Lee, Seang-Hee Chae
  • Patent number: 10629873
    Abstract: A bus bar module includes a plurality of bus bars, conductive portions for the respective bus bars, and a flexible flat conductor that includes insulating holding members each holding each of the conductive portions and each of the bus bars. The flexible flat conductor includes conductor connection areas for the respective bus bars in which the bus bar and an electric connecting portion are electrically connected to each other, and a connection area that connects the adjacent conductor connection areas in an arranging direction of the bus bars. Each of the conductor connection areas is formed in a mountain fold shape so as to expand and contract in the arranging direction, and is formed so as to reduce a difference in rigidity between the conductor connection areas.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 9, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2020
    Assignee: YAZAKI CORPORATION
    Inventors: Katsunori Sato, Yutaro Okazaki, Ryota Kataoka
  • Patent number: 10629965
    Abstract: Disclosed is a battery module, which includes a battery cell assembly having a plurality of battery cells which are stacked one another, an interconnection board mounted to at least one side of the battery cell assembly to electrically connect the plurality of battery cells, a temperature sensor mounting groove provided at the interconnection board so that a temperature sensor for measuring a temperature of the battery cell assembly passes therethrough, and an assembling error preventer provided at a bottom of the temperature sensor mounting groove to prevent the temperature sensor from interfacing with a facing battery cell which faces the temperature sensor when the temperature sensor passes through the temperature sensor mounting groove.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2020
    Assignee: LG CHEM, LTD.
    Inventors: Young-Ho Lee, Jun-Kyu Park, Jun-Yeob Seong
  • Patent number: 10629968
    Abstract: Provided is a battery pack including: a cell module assembly including a plurality of cell modules arranged at a predetermined interval; a pack structure surrounding and supporting the cell module assembly; a coolant pipe contacting the plurality of cell modules; and an absorbing body provided in the pack structure and configured to absorb a coolant when the coolant leaks in the coolant pipe.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 4, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2020
    Assignee: LG Chem, Ltd.
    Inventor: Kyoung-Choon Min
  • Patent number: 10608229
    Abstract: According to one embodiment, a battery module includes a plurality of sub-modules. The plurality of sub-modules are integrated. Each of the plurality of sub-modules includes a cell group configured using a plurality of cells connected in series. The plurality of cells configuring the cell group are arranged linearly such that intra-cell current directions are parallel and the intra-cell current direction of each of the cells is opposite to the intra-cell current direction of the cell adjacent to each cell in the cell group. Each of the plurality of sub-modules includes an input terminal to input a current to the cell group and an output terminal to output the current from the cell group.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 6, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2020
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventors: Hiroyuki Kobayashi, Tomomi Kageyama, Takeshi Yasuda, Kaoru Koiwa, Seiji Ito, Tomonori Ezoe
  • Patent number: 10608250
    Abstract: According to one embodiment, an active material is provided. The active material includes particles. The particles have a crystal structure belonging to a monoclinic niobium-titanium composite oxide. A ratio of a crystallite size Dc corresponding to a (020) plane with respect to an average primary particle size Dp of the particles is not less than 35%.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 20, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2020
    Assignee: KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOSHIBA
    Inventors: Kazuki Ise, Yasuhiro Harada, Norio Takami
  • Patent number: 10601017
    Abstract: A conductor module includes a wiring member, a plurality of bus bars, a plurality of locking pieces, and a reinforcing member. A plurality of wirings and through-holes are formed in the wiring member. The bus bar is electrically connected to one of two electrode terminals. The two through-holes are formed in a first opposing region opposing one end face between both end faces of the bus bar opposing each other in a width direction with an electrical connection portion where the bus bar and the wiring are electrically connected interposed therebetween. The locking piece is formed integrally with the bus bar, is arranged in the through-hole, has a distal end positioned radially outward of the through-hole, and fixes the bus bar to the wiring member. The reinforcing member reinforces the wiring member, and is formed to surround the through-hole.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 25, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 24, 2020
    Assignee: YAZAKI CORPORATION
    Inventors: Takao Ota, Kazuya Harakawa
  • Patent number: 10573938
    Abstract: A battery module includes a plurality of battery cells and a cover assembly coupled to the battery cells. The battery cells are arranged in a stacked configuration. The cover assembly includes a housing, bus bars, and a temperature monitoring assembly. The bus bars engage corresponding positive and negative cell terminals of the battery cells to electrically connect adjacent battery cells. The temperature monitoring assembly is mounted to and extends along a mounting surface of the cover assembly that faces the battery cells. The temperature monitoring assembly includes an electrical cable, a temperature sensing device mounted to and electrically connected to the electrical cable, and a thermally conductive interface member covering the temperature sensing device. The thermally conductive interface member engages at least one of the battery cells, and the temperature monitoring assembly monitors a temperature of that at least one battery cell.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 18, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 25, 2020
    Assignees: TE Connectivity Corporation, TE Connectivity Germany GMBH
    Inventors: David James Rhein, Andre Dressel
  • Patent number: 10566619
    Abstract: According to one embodiment, an active material is provided. The active material includes particles. The particles have a crystal structure belonging to a monoclinic niobium-titanium composite oxide. A ratio of a crystallite size Dc corresponding to a (020) plane with respect to an average primary particle size Dp of the particles is not less than 35%.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 20, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 18, 2020
    Assignee: KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOSHIBA
    Inventors: Kazuki Ise, Yasuhiro Harada, Norio Takami
  • Patent number: 10559787
    Abstract: A battery includes a positive electrode, a negative electrode, and an electrolyte. The electrolyte includes an electrolyte solution containing a solvent, an electrolyte salt, and a compound having a predetermined structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 11, 2020
    Assignee: MURATA MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Ryohei Tsuda, Toru Odani, Tadahiko Kubota
  • Patent number: 10535856
    Abstract: A bus bar module includes a plurality of bus bars that connects a plurality of unit cells of a battery assembly constituted by the unit cells, a plurality of electric wires that are welded to surfaces of the bus bars, and an electric wire router that is made of insulating resin and includes bus bar reception portions provided side by side in an array direction of the unit cells, wherein each of the bus bar reception portions includes an opening portion that is formed to be opposed to a back surface of a corresponding one of the bus bars in accordance with a connection portion with a conductor of a corresponding one of the electric wires, and an electric wire tip holding portion that holds the vicinity of a welding portion of the conductor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 14, 2020
    Assignee: YAZAKI CORPORATION
    Inventors: Takuto Gotoh, Naoyuki Ikeda, Nobuaki Yoshioka, Yoshiaki Ichikawa
  • Patent number: 10522880
    Abstract: A method of detecting metallic lithium present on an electrode of a lithium ion secondary battery includes depositing a lithium-reactive solution including an oxidized fluorescent dye onto the electrode to form a coated electrode. Concurrent to depositing, the method includes reducing the oxidized fluorescent dye to form a reduced dye and a plurality of lithium ions. The method further includes, after reducing, drying the coated electrode to again form the oxidized fluorescent dye. After drying, the method includes exposing the oxidized fluorescent dye to ultraviolet radiation having a wavelength of from 100 nm to 500 nm to thereby illuminate and detect the metallic lithium. A lithium ion secondary battery system is also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 1, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 31, 2019
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Daniel R. Thompson, John M. Moote, Michael P. Balogh, Mark A. Hughes, Jr.
  • Patent number: 10502793
    Abstract: Systems and methods of determining physical conditions of a battery, such as state of charge (SOC), state of health (SOH), quality of construction, defect, or failure state include driving two or more acoustic signals of two or more amplitudes, each acoustic signal having two or more frequencies, into the battery and detecting vibrations generated in the battery based on the two or more acoustic signals. Nonlinear response characteristics of the battery for the two or more acoustic signals are determined from the detected vibrations. The physical conditions of the battery are determined based at least in part on the nonlinear response characteristics, using nonlinear acoustic resonance spectroscopy (NARS) or nonlinear resonant ultrasound spectroscopy (NRUS).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 10, 2019
    Assignees: THE REGENTS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, FEASIBLE, INC.
    Inventors: Andrew Gaheem Hsieh, Barry James Van Tassell, Robert Charles Mohr, Anne Wilkinson, Jonathan Ajo-Franklin, Shaurjo Biswas
  • Patent number: 10505223
    Abstract: According to one embodiment, a composite electrolyte is provided. The composite electrolyte includes inorganic compound particles having lithium ion conductivity at 25° C. of 1×10?10 S/cm or more and including a solvent, an organic electrolyte, and a binder. An average particle diameter of the inorganic compound particles is 0.1 ?m or more and less than 5 ?m, and a ratio of a weight of the solvent to a total weight of the inorganic compound particles and the solvent is 0.1% by weight or more and less than 8% by weight.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 10, 2019
    Assignee: KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOSHIBA
    Inventors: Kazuomi Yoshima, Yasuhiro Harada, Norio Takami
  • Patent number: 10491033
    Abstract: The embodiments of the present disclosure provide a method for hot-plugging, a control device for hot-plugging, and a method and device for voltage balance. In one aspect, in an embodiment of the present disclosure, when there is a battery unit to be replaced in a plurality of parallel battery units, a branch in which the battery unit to be replaced locates may be cut off. Therefore, the technical solution provided by the embodiments of the present disclosure may solve a contradictory problem between the replacement of the battery unit and the normal operation of the power supply system in the related art and a problem caused thereby that the safety and stability of the power supply system are low.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 26, 2019
    Assignee: Contemporary Amperex Technology Co., Limited
    Inventors: Zhili Wei, Zhipeng Hu
  • Patent number: 10418602
    Abstract: A battery pack includes a cell group, a spacer, a plurality of bus bars, and a bus bar holder. The cell group includes stacked unit cells, each including a cell body having a power generation element and an electrode tab having distal end portions bent along the stacking direction. The spacer is disposed between adjacent electrode tabs. The bus bars electrically connect the electrode tabs to each other. The bus bar holder that holds the bus bars. The bus bar holder includes a restricting member disposed between adjacent electrode tabs, and extends along the stacking direction to restrict the electrode tabs by sandwiching the electrode tabs with the spacer. Portions of the electrode tabs are welded to a surface of the bus bars facing the unit cells when the stacking direction positions of the portions of the electrode tabs are restricted by the restricting member and the spacer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 17, 2019
    Assignee: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yasuhiro Yanagihara, Masayuki Nakai, Manato Itabashi, Yui Suzuki, Masahiro Nakamoto
  • Patent number: 10396341
    Abstract: A high energy density rechargeable (HEDR) battery employs a combined current limiter/current interrupter to prevent thermal runaway in the event of internal discharge or other disruption of the separator. The combined current limiter/current interrupter is interior to the battery.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 27, 2019
    Assignee: American Lithium Energy Corporation
    Inventors: Jiang Fan, Dengguo Wu