For Charge Or Liquid Level Patents (Class 429/91)
  • Patent number: 11901520
    Abstract: The invention relates to a lithium-ion cell (1) for an energy storage unit of a motor vehicle, having at least one anode (3), at least one cathode (4), an electrolyte and a separator (7) arranged between the cathode (4) and anode (3) in the electrolyte, and having a reference electrode (8) for determining a voltage potential of the lithium-ion cell (1). The reference electrode (8) is produced from lithium titanate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 16, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2024
    Assignee: VARTA Microbattery GmbH
    Inventors: Jakob Ulke, Alexander Börger, Simon Calles, Torsten Knape
  • Patent number: 11821957
    Abstract: The invention relates to an electrochemical element and a battery comprising one or more electrochemical elements, with integrated sensors and/or actuators, in particular including an application for monitoring the operation of an electrochemical element or a Li-ion battery, and/or triggering actions in such an element or such a battery, intended to secure the element or the battery. The electrochemical element (1) comprises a closed shell (2) defining an internal volume and a beam (3) arranged therein having alternating positive and negative electrodes respectively connected to two positive and negative electrical output terminals housing separators, the beam (3) being impregnated with electrolyte and further connected by connection means (4) to one (5) of the electrical output terminals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 22, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 21, 2023
    Assignee: SAFT
    Inventors: Patrick Bernard, Philippe Borel, Laure Le-Guenne, Gerard Rigobert
  • Patent number: 11641046
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a battery module, including two or more battery cells, each including an electrode terminal; a connecting member, wherein the electrode terminals of adjacent battery cells are connected by the connecting member; and a clamping-sampling member, including a wire connection portion for fixing a wire harness and a clamping portion, wherein one end of the clamping portion is connected with the wire connection portion and the other end of the clamping portion clamps the connecting member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 26, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 2, 2023
    Assignee: Contemporary Amperex Technology Co., Limited
    Inventors: Xianchun Zhu, Hua Cao, Chong Wang, Mu Qian, Shixin Wu
  • Patent number: 11605865
    Abstract: The application provides a separator assembly, a battery module, a battery pack, an apparatus, and a manufacturing method. The separator assembly includes: an insulating plate, a circuit board arranged on the insulating plate, busbars arranged on the insulating plate on at least one side of the circuit board, and connection sheets connected between the busbars and the circuit board. The connection sheets include an upper connection sheet and a lower connection sheet. The insulating plate includes a first surface and a second surface opposite to each other. The upper connection sheet is arranged on the first surface, and the insulating plate and the lower connection sheet are arranged to be at least partially overlapped in the height direction of the separator assembly, and at least a portion of the lower connection sheet is arranged on the second surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 14, 2023
    Assignee: Contemporary Amperex Technology Co., Limited
    Inventors: Sheng Shen, Yangzhi Huang, Jihua Yao, Yanhuo Xiang, Haixing Gao
  • Patent number: 11557795
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a washer for a secondary battery including a film layer and an adhesive layer disposed on at least one surface of the film layer, wherein the adhesive layer includes an adhesive component and an indicator component, and the indicator component is fat-soluble, a secondary battery including the same, and a method for manufacturing the washer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 17, 2023
    Assignee: LG ENERGY SOLUTION, LTD.
    Inventors: Byoung Gu Lee, Do Gyun Kim, Je Jun Lee, Sang Suk Jung, Hang Soo Shin
  • Patent number: 11545705
    Abstract: A secondary battery configured to effectively estimate the life or degradation of the secondary battery as the secondary battery degrades includes a packaging material, an electrode assembly, a first electrode lead, a second electrode lead, a first measuring lead, and a second measuring lead. The electrode assembly includes a stack having a plurality of first electrode plates at respective first locations within the stack and a plurality of second electrode plates at respective second locations within the stack, the first and second locations alternating with one another and having a separator interposed between each of the first and second locations. The electrode assembly further includes a first measuring plate and a second measuring plate having the same polarity as the first electrode plates and located at at least one of the first locations within the stack.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 13, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2023
    Inventor: Song-Yi Han
  • Patent number: 11495839
    Abstract: An internal battery heating system includes an electrical conversion device electrically coupled to an electrochemical sub-cell or battery modules to form a heating circuit. The electrical conversion device alternately raises and lowers a voltage of the heating circuit to drive current between the heating circuit and the electrochemical sub-cell or battery modules. A controller commands the electrical conversion device to cyclically charge and discharge the electrochemical sub-cell or battery modules for internally heating the battery modules. Alternatively, a battery module may be electrically coupled to electrochemical sub-cells via pairs of switches to form a heating circuit. The pairs of switches are adapted for switching the heating circuit alternately between a parallel arrangement and a series arrangement to alternate charging and discharging of the battery module which results in internal heating of the battery module.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 17, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 8, 2022
    Assignee: Textron Innovations, Inc.
    Inventors: Charles Bernard Beuning, Vernon Weng-Yew Chang, Robby Dale Starr
  • Patent number: 11404905
    Abstract: This matrix-like power/communications system is a decentralized array of scalable self-configuring modular electrical components that are easily physically and electrically replaceable and combinable into any series, parallel or bypassed state with any power supply and bi-directional data communications input; resulting in an autonomous system survivable in the harshest environments including physical shock, vibration, vacuum, radiation, thermal, and electromagnetic interference; and provides a communication interface for external control or monitoring, simultaneously being capable of reconfiguring itself if an internal battery cell failure occurs by switching in a spare cell(s) to replace a dead cell within the system for maintaining uninterrupted power and communications during the upset event, while being capable of reconfiguring itself autonomously into an arrangement of series/parallel states for charge/discharge while enabling cell balancing and continual monitoring of all individual cell parameters, an
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2022
    Assignee: Space Information Laboratories, LLC
    Inventors: David Eugene Dowler, Edmund David Burke, Martin Stewart Waldman
  • Patent number: 11355824
    Abstract: An electrical device comprises a battery cell; a pressure sensor for measuring swelling forces of the battery cell, optionally with voltage, temperature and current sensors, and a battery management system including a controller. The controller executes a program to: (i) determine a reference swelling force corresponding to a reference electrical signal received from the pressure sensor at an earlier reference time, (ii) determine a second swelling force corresponding to a second electrical signal received from the pressure sensor at a later second time, and (iii) determine whether a risk of internal short circuit of the battery cell exists by comparing a reference level of the reference electrical signal and a signal representative of the second electrical signal. When the signal representative of the second electrical signal exceeds the reference level of the reference electrical signal by a threshold amount, a risk of internal short circuit of the cell exists.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 13, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2022
    Assignee: THE REGENTS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN
    Inventors: Anna G. Stefanopoulou, Jason B. Siegel, Sravan Pannala, Gregory B. Less, Ting Cai, Mingxuan Zhang
  • Patent number: 11114703
    Abstract: A battery pack according to various embodiments is provided. The battery pack includes: a battery including a plurality of battery cells; a first pack terminal and a second pack terminal, each connected to a charger; a cut-off switch arranged on a path through which charge and discharge currents of the battery flow; and a battery manager which monitors a state of the battery, turns off the cut-off switch when there is a risk of the battery being damaged, and determines whether the charger is a dedicated charger, wherein, when the charger is different from the dedicated charger, the battery manager turns off the cut-off switch when a pack voltage that is a voltage between the first pack terminal and the second pack terminal reaches a first reference voltage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 7, 2021
    Assignee: Samsung SDI Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Gilchoun Yeom
  • Patent number: 11056724
    Abstract: In a power storage system, each of a plurality of power storage modules includes at least one cell, and the plurality of power storage modules are connected in series. A management device manages the plurality of power storage modules. Each of the plurality of power storage modules contains a first insulation unit having a primary side and a secondary side that are insulated from each other. The first insulation unit outputs a signal containing information of at least one cell to a communication line. The signal is referenced to predetermined standard voltage between a voltage at one end and a voltage at the other end of the plurality of power storage modules. The management device contains a second insulation unit having a primary side and a secondary side that are insulated from each other, and a circuit unit insulated from the communication line by the second insulation unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 21, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 6, 2021
    Assignee: PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Yuta Kurosaki, Takahiro Kamikawa, Etsushi Aga
  • Patent number: 10978884
    Abstract: One or more of the present embodiments provide for a battery cell balancing system and strategy that delivers more efficient use of battery capacities as needed for different use cases. For example, a balancing circuit is provided to support targeted battery cell passive and active balancing according to a balancing strategy for the use cases. Further the balancing circuit allows for cell balancing to be performed while the battery cells are collectively being charged or discharged.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 10, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 13, 2021
    Assignee: Powin Energy Corporation
    Inventor: Stu Statman
  • Patent number: 10944279
    Abstract: A battery system with a large-format Li-ion battery powers attached equipment by discharging battery cells distributed among a plurality of battery packs. The discharging of the battery cells is controlled in an efficient manner while preserving the expected life of the Li-ion battery cells. Each battery pack internally supports a battery management system and may have identical components, thus supporting an architecture that easily scales to higher power/energy. Battery packs may be added or removed without intervention with a user, where one of battery packs serves as a master battery pack and the remaining battery packs serve as slave battery packs. When the master battery pack is removed, one of the slave battery packs becomes the master battery pack. Charging and discharging of the battery cells is coordinated by the master battery pack with the slave battery packs over a communication channel such as a controller area network (CAN) bus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 9, 2021
    Assignee: Inventus Power, Inc.
    Inventors: Youwu Chen, Jianfei Liu, William Tenorio, Jujie Xia
  • Patent number: 10901036
    Abstract: In an assembled battery monitoring system, a voltage monitoring apparatus monitors voltages of battery cells of an assembled battery. Discharging resistance elements and RC filters are correspondingly coupled between the battery cells and the voltage monitoring apparatus. Discharging switches are disposed inside of the voltage monitoring apparatus correspondingly to the battery cells. The discharging resistance elements are each disposed on a discharging path at a position that prohibits discharging of charges stored in a capacitor of the corresponding RC filter. A fault diagnosis device simultaneously turns on two discharging switches, which are apart from each other across at least two discharging switches, and determines that any of the discharging switches between the two discharging switches simultaneously turned on has a fault, when a terminal voltage of any of the battery cells that are located between the two discharging switches simultaneously turned on changes over a predetermined voltage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 26, 2021
    Assignee: DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Ryotaro Miura, Yukihiro Tomonaga
  • Patent number: 10784491
    Abstract: A battery terminal includes a main body in which a battery post is inserted and a fastener having a pair of fastening abutting portions. The main body has a notch portion provided in at least an end in a fastening direction, accommodating and positioning one of the pair of fastening abutting portions. An abutting-portion-side opposite surface on the fastening abutting portion side and a notch-portion-side opposite surface on the notch portion side have respective abutting surfaces. A relief surface is provided on at least one of the abutting-portion-side opposite surface and the notch-portion-side opposite surface such that a relief space is formed with a clearance from the other one of the opposite surfaces.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 7, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 22, 2020
    Assignee: YAZAKI CORPORATION
    Inventors: Toshiya Sasaki, Takashi Yoshida, Takayuki Kato, Hideto Yoshinaga
  • Patent number: 10742031
    Abstract: A modular power distribution assembly includes a first power module having a power input, a first aperture extending therethrough, and a first bus bar connector at the first aperture and a set of second power modules having a respective power switch, a second aperture extending therethrough, and a second bus bar connector at the aperture, wherein the first power module and the set of second power modules have an attachment interface adapted to physically secure the first power module to the set of second power modules.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 11, 2020
    Assignee: GE Aviation Systems Limited
    Inventors: Alexander James Rainbow, Christopher Andrew Leivers, Michael James Smith
  • Patent number: 10637021
    Abstract: A wiring module comprising: a bus bar that connects adjacent electrode terminals of a plurality of single batteries each having positive and negative electrode terminals; and a detection terminal that is overlaid on the bus bar and is for detecting a state of a single battery among the plurality of single batteries. The detection terminal is provided with a welded portion welded onto the bus bar, a locked portion that locks to a locking portion provided on the bus bar and holds the detection terminal in a state in which the welded portion is overlaid on the bus bar, and a reinforcing portion that prevents the welded portion from performing a bending deformation so as to keep the welded portion in a flat plate shape overlaid on the bus bar.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 5, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 28, 2020
    Assignees: AUTONETWORKS TECHNOLOGIES, LTD., SUMITOMO WIRING SYSTEMS, LTD., SUMITOMO ELECTRIC INDUSTRIES, LTD.
    Inventors: Osamu Nakayama, Naoki Fukushima, Katsushi Miyazaki, Seishi Kimura, Koichiro Mochizuki
  • Patent number: 10615466
    Abstract: An electrolyte level gauge includes a housing defining a condensation chamber having a plurality of condensing elements disposed therein. The condensation chamber is in fluid communication with an electrolyte through a first vent aperture and an ambient environment through a second vent aperture. The electrolyte level gauge further comprises a sight member having a hollow interior and an indicator having a first end slidingly disposed in the hollow interior of the sight member and a second end including a float. The float is configured to be buoyant on the electrolyte.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 7, 2020
    Assignee: DOYLE MANUFACTURING, INC.
    Inventor: Michael A. Doyle
  • Patent number: 10559824
    Abstract: Provided is a positive electrode active material particle for a secondary battery, including a core part containing lithium cobalt oxide; and a shell part that is located on the surface of the core part and contains lithium-deficient cobalt oxide which is deficient in lithium because a molar ratio of lithium to cobalt is 0.9 or less.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 11, 2020
    Assignee: LG Chem, Ltd.
    Inventors: Chi Ho Jo, Sungbin Park, Younguk Park, Bo Ram Lee, Hyuck Hur, Wang Mo Jung
  • Patent number: 10505162
    Abstract: A battery housing can include a first chamber configured to receive a first electrode material, the first chamber bounded at least in part by a first inflatable casing. The battery housing can include a second chamber configured to receive a second electrode material, the second chamber bounded at least in part by a second inflatable casing. An ionically conductive partition can be disposed between the first and second chambers. A first electrical contact can be coupled to or formed with the first inflatable casing. A second electrical contact can be coupled to or formed with the second inflatable casing. The first inflatable casing can be configured to inflate in response to an injection of the first electrode material into the first chamber. The second inflatable casing can be configured to inflate in response to an injection of the second electrode material into the second chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 5, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 10, 2019
    Assignee: Analog Devices, Inc.
    Inventors: Yingqi Jiang, Kuang Yang
  • Patent number: 10497910
    Abstract: Disclosed is a battery module which may have a simple structure, be advantageous in making a small and light design, have excellent assembly and be strong against impact or vibration, by removing or decreasing coupling components for coupling cartridges. The battery module includes a plurality of pouch-type secondary batteries arranged in a lateral direction to stand in a vertical direction, a plurality of cartridges configured to accommodate the pouch-type secondary batteries in an inner space thereof, the cartridges being stacked in a lateral direction, and a housing provided to at least one of front and rear ends of the cartridges and coupled and fixed to at least two cartridges.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 21, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 3, 2019
    Assignee: LG CHEM, LTD.
    Inventors: Jong-Young Lee, Jun-Yeob Seong, Gang-U Lee, Dal-Mo Kang
  • Patent number: 10403876
    Abstract: Disclosed are an electrode lead connecting structure capable of simplifying an assembly process of busbars by integrating sensing and electrode busbars, and of minimizing worker's mistakes during the assembly process by almost horizontally arranging busbars on a printed circuit board for each level, a battery module including the electrode lead connecting structure, and a battery pack including the battery module. An electrode lead connecting structure according to the present disclosure includes a printed circuit board, first and second electrode-integrated sensing busbars provided at a lowest level of one side edge of the printed circuit board and at a highest level of an opposite side edge of the printed circuit board, respectively, a first sensing busbar group located on the first L-shaped end strip busbar at the one side edge, and a second sensing busbar group located under the second L-shaped end strip busbar at the opposite side edge.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 3, 2019
    Assignee: LG CHEM, LTD.
    Inventors: Yong-Joon Choi, Ki-Youn Kim, Duck-Hee Moon, Jun-Yeob Seong, Sung-Chun Yu, Gang-U Lee, Jung-Hang Lee, Sang-Yoon Jeong
  • Patent number: 10361468
    Abstract: An electrolyte level gauge comprises a housing defining a condensation chamber having a plurality of condensing elements disposed therein. The condensation chamber is in fluid communication with an electrolyte through a first vent aperture and an ambient environment through a second vent aperture. The electrolyte level gauge further comprises a sight member having a hollow interior and an indicator having a first end slidingly disposed in the hollow interior of the sight member and a second end including a float. The float is configured to be buoyant on the electrolyte.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 10, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 23, 2019
    Assignee: DOYLE MANUFACTURING, INC.
    Inventor: Michael A. Doyle
  • Patent number: 10230081
    Abstract: A motor vehicle battery includes multiple battery modules arranged in a row adjacent each other, each said multiple battery modules comprising a plug connection, a voltage tap and a bus connection integrated in the plug connection, and a control circuit coupled with the bus connection, and multiple galvanic battery cells, each of said multiple galvanic battery cells being connected witch each other by the plug connection; and a connection device configured as a single plugin module and comprising a battery management system, wherein the connection device is plugged onto all plug connections of the multiple battery modules and connects the voltage taps of all battery modules with a high-voltage battery connection and connects the bus connections of all battery modules with the battery management system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2019
    Assignee: AUDI AG
    Inventors: Erdal Acikgoez, Jörg Schmidt, Roman Ranzinger
  • Patent number: 10062930
    Abstract: A battery cell assembly includes a thin sensor assembly having a plastic sheet, first, second, third, and fourth conductive pads, first and second resistive traces, a sensing circuit, a microprocessor, and an electrical connector. The plastic sheet has a first side and a second side. The plastic sheet further having first and second sheet portions, a first connecting portion, and first, second, and third tabs. The first connecting portion is coupled to and between the first and second sheet portions. The first and second resistive traces are disposed directly on and coupled to the first and second sheet portions, respectively. The first and second conductive pads are disposed directly on and coupled to the first and second tabs, respectively, on the first side.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 20, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 28, 2018
    Assignee: LG Chem, Ltd.
    Inventor: Greg Bober
  • Patent number: 10056587
    Abstract: An assembled battery includes a cell stack formed by stacking a plurality of unit cells in the same direction, positive electrode-side bus bars respectively connected to positive electrode tabs of the unit cells, and negative electrode-side bus bars respectively connected to negative electrode tabs of the unit cells. A positive electrode-side bus bar connected to a positive electrode tab of a first unit cell of adjacent unit cells in the cell stack, and a negative electrode-side bus bar connected to a negative electrode tab of a second unit cell, are connected to each other on one of the surfaces of the cell stack.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 11, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2018
    Assignee: Panasonic Intellectual Property Management Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Takashi Hasegawa
  • Patent number: 9880224
    Abstract: A battery system monitoring device includes a plurality of battery monitoring circuits, which is respectively provided in cell groups, and a balancing resistor. Each of the battery monitoring circuits includes a cell voltage measurement unit to measure a cell voltage of each single battery cell at predetermined timing, a discharge switch to switch a state of a discharge current which flows from each single battery cell through the balancing resistor, and a balancing control unit configured to control the discharge switch. A filter circuit is connected between the cell voltage measurement unit and each single battery cell. The cell voltage measurement unit determines whether a cell voltage is measured within a transient response period corresponding to a time constant of the filter circuit and corrects a measurement value of a cell voltage by using a correction value correcting a result of the determination.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 19, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2018
    Assignee: Hitachi Automotive Systems, Ltd.
    Inventors: Akihiko Kudo, Mutsumi Kikuchi, Tomonori Kanai
  • Patent number: 9853332
    Abstract: A battery pack, a device for sensing individual battery voltages in a battery pack and protecting the battery pack in the event of a circuit-breaking event, and a method for forming an encapsulant for the voltage-sensing circuit for use in a battery-powered automobile propulsion system. The battery pack includes numerous voltage sensing circuits with surface-mounted fuses and an encapsulant formed around each of the fuses. The encapsulant is robust enough to provide environmental isolation of the surface-mounted fuse such that the tendency of the fuse to form short-circuit connections to adjacent circuits is avoided under both normal battery pack operation and after a condition where the battery pack is compromised. The precursor to the encapsulant is made from a multiple layers of a traditional thin coating material or a single layer of a high-viscosity fluid to help maintain a minimum coating thickness around all exposed portions of the surface-mounted fuse, including the breech-prone corners.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2017
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Cammi L. Siu, Michael A. Celotto
  • Patent number: 9825324
    Abstract: An electrode assembly includes a unit cell A in which a first electrode 110, a second electrode 120, and a separator 130 disposed between the first and second electrodes 110 and 120 are stacked on each other or a structure in which the unit cells A are repeatedly stacked with the separator therebetween. A first electrode tab 111 protrudes from the first electrode 110, and a second electrode tab 121 protrudes from the second electrode 120, and the electrodes tabs 111 and 121 have widths that gradually decrease in directions in which the electrodes tabs 111 and 121 protrude outward from the electrodes 110 and 120, respectively.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 21, 2017
    Assignee: LG CHEM, LTD.
    Inventors: Seung Hun Jung, Dal Mo Kang
  • Patent number: 9583797
    Abstract: Provided are a method for welding a battery module and a welded structure, and more particularly, a method for welding a battery module and a welded structure, in which a plurality of battery cells provided with electrode tabs are assembled to form a module and a voltage measurement portion of a voltage measurement means is welded to the electrode tabs so as to secure stability against vibrations and external shocks, thereby increasing reliability of voltage measurement and the voltage measurement portion is welded to the electrode tabs using the same kind of materials so as to facilitate an operation and improve productivity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2017
    Assignee: SK Innovation Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Wook Hyun Kim
  • Patent number: 9440384
    Abstract: An acid status indicator for a battery, in particular for a lead-acid rechargeable battery, having a sight glass and a holder for holding the sight glass and for attaching the acid status indicator to a housing of the battery, wherein the sight glass and the holder are produced by two-component injection molding, with the holder being produced by insert molding of the sight glass.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2016
    Assignee: Johnson Controls Autobatterie GmbH & Co. KGAA
    Inventors: Gerolf Richter, Peter Streuer
  • Patent number: 9356327
    Abstract: A battery apparatus having an electrochemical cell that includes an electrically insulating hollow mandrel, a pair of active materials wound on the mandrel, and a sensing unit located within the mandrel and coupled to the pair of active materials through a pair of contacts. The active materials are connected and separated by an electrolyte. The sensing unit is configured to monitor conditions of the cell and to generate a signal indicative of a sensed condition for communication to a battery management unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2016
    Assignee: Johnson Controls Technology Company
    Inventors: Brian C. Sisk, Jason L. Roberts
  • Patent number: 9310443
    Abstract: A voltage detection apparatus includes a plurality of voltage detection units, each of which detects cell voltages of plural cells in each of blocks in a battery module. Each of blocks includes the plural cells connected in series. The plurality of voltage detection units are respectively supplied with power via power supply lines connected to the blocks. The plurality of voltage detection units are respectively provided with a plurality of current increase units for increasing dark currents so that the dark currents flowing through the power supply lines respectively become a same target value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2016
    Assignees: YAZAKI CORPORATION, HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Hidehiko Shimizu, Kimihiro Matsuura, Yusuke Tatara, Shintaro Uchida, Takayuki Yamamoto
  • Patent number: 9269991
    Abstract: A battery monitoring system includes: plural battery monitoring devices that are serially connected to each other; and a control circuit connected to one battery monitoring device and that transmits a first activation signal to the one battery monitoring device, wherein each particular one of the plural battery monitoring devices includes: a constant voltage generation circuit that generates and outputs a constant voltage; a first activation circuit that outputs a second activation signal if the first activation circuit receives the first activation signal; and a second activation circuit that outputs a third activation signal in response to recognizing the constant voltage generated by the constant voltage generation of another of the battery monitoring devices that is connected to the particular battery monitoring device, and wherein the constant voltage generation circuit generates the constant voltage if the constant voltage generation circuit receives the second activation signal or the third activation
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 8, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 23, 2016
    Assignee: LAPIS SEMICONDUCTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Koji Takeshita
  • Patent number: 9246198
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for determining the end-of-charging condition of a lithium-ion accumulator with a negative electrode formed with at least one alloy, according to which a surface pressure with a determined force from the external portion of the accumulator (A) against an element (2, 2?, 3) is detected, the surface pressure being generated by the thickness increase due to ion insertion at the negative electrode and thereby defining the end-of-charging condition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 26, 2016
    Assignee: COMMISSARIAT A L'ENERGIE ATOMIQUE ET AUX ENERGIES ALTERNATIVES
    Inventors: Yvan Reynier, Willy Porcher
  • Patent number: 9147914
    Abstract: A measuring device is used in conjunction with a programmable controller for monitoring electrolyte levels in the battery. According to one implementation, the measuring device is located in a battery and is configured to detect when the electrolyte level in the battery falls below a particular level. The controller is in electrical communication with the electrolyte detection device. The controller is configured to: (i) receive a signal from the electrolyte level detection device indicating when the electrolyte level in the battery has fallen below the particular level; (ii) introduce a wait-period after the signal is received; and (iii) enable an indicator to indicate that the electrolyte level in the battery should be refilled when the wait-period expires.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 29, 2015
    Assignee: Philadelphia Scientific LLC
    Inventors: Duncan Jones, John Worthington
  • Patent number: 9077055
    Abstract: A rechargeable battery system can include features to facilitate determination of the charge state of a battery or a battery power unit. A rechargeable battery system can include a battery case that can hold a plurality of batteries. The batteries held by the battery case can include a tab located on a portion of the battery, such as, the terminal. The tab can include indicia of the charge state of the battery, and can be detached when the battery is at least partially discharged. The tab can facilitate determination of the charge state of the battery by allowing identification of batteries with the tab attached and batteries from which the tab has been detached.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 7, 2015
    Assignee: Tricopian, LLC
    Inventor: Chi W. Yau
  • Publication number: 20150132624
    Abstract: A semiconductor device includes: a voltage measurement unit that measures an output voltage of a battery; a current measurement unit that measures a discharge current of the battery; and a controller that determines, in a first measurement mode, whether to employ a first discharge current as a power calculation current based on a difference between the first and a second discharge current, the second discharge current being the discharge current measured by the current measurement unit before the first discharge current is measured, in which: the controller estimates an internal resistance of the battery based on the power calculation current and the output voltage measured in the first measurement mode and the discharge current and the output voltage measured in a second measurement mode, and calculates, based on the internal resistance that is estimated, a maximum power amount that can be output by the battery in the second measurement mode.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 7, 2014
    Publication date: May 14, 2015
    Inventor: Hidekazu Nagato
  • Publication number: 20150111077
    Abstract: A method of manufacturing a reference electrode for a lithium ion battery comprises charging the battery to a threshold state-of-charge, wherein the battery includes a neutral metal can and a negative electrode, and plating a reference electrode on an interior surface of the neutral metal can by electrically connecting the neutral metal can to the negative electrode, a neutral metal can potential being greater than a negative electrode potential.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 18, 2013
    Publication date: April 23, 2015
    Applicant: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Chi Paik, Feng Li
  • Publication number: 20150037618
    Abstract: Provided is a protecting case for protecting an electronic device. The protecting case includes a protecting case body portion and a sliding case portion having an auxiliary battery cell embedded therein, the sliding case portion being electrically connected with the electronic device, supplying power to the electronic device, and being inserted into/drawn out from the protecting case body portion by sliding movement.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 5, 2013
    Publication date: February 5, 2015
    Inventor: Justin Chiwon KIM
  • Patent number: 8940427
    Abstract: A rechargeable battery pack attachable to a power tool includes a display element, a remaining capacity detection device, a remaining capacity display control device, an abnormality detection device, and an abnormality display control device. The display element is provided such that a lighted state thereof can be confirmed from outside. The remaining capacity detection device detects a remaining capacity of a rechargeable battery. The remaining capacity display control device displays the remaining capacity detected by the remaining capacity detection device by controlling the lighted state of the display element. The abnormality detection device detects an abnormality of the rechargeable battery.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 20, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 27, 2015
    Assignee: Makita Corporation
    Inventors: Masafumi Noda, Hitoshi Suzuki, Hisakazu Okabayashi
  • Patent number: 8928326
    Abstract: A measuring device is used in conjunction with a programmable controller for monitoring electrolyte levels in the battery. According to one implementation, the measuring device is located in a battery and is configured to detect when the electrolyte level in the battery falls below a particular level. The controller is in electrical communication with the electrolyte detection device. The controller is configured to: (i) receive a signal from the electrolyte level detection device indicating when the electrolyte level in the battery has fallen below the particular level; (ii) introduce a wait-period after the signal is received; and (iii) enable an indicator to indicate that the electrolyte level in the battery should be refilled when the wait-period expires.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 24, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 6, 2015
    Assignee: Philadelphia Scientific LLC
    Inventors: Duncan Jones, John Worthington
  • Patent number: 8920982
    Abstract: A gas detection system is configured to detect a preset gas in a predetermined space. The gas detection system includes a gas concentration detector constructed to detect a gas concentration of the preset gas, a recording assembly, a notification module, and a decision module. When the gas concentration detected by the gas concentration detector is higher than a preset first reference value, the decision module controls the notification module to give notice. When the detected gas concentration is higher than a preset second reference value but is lower than the preset first reference value, on the other hand, the decision module controls the notification module to give no notice but record a specific piece of information into the recording assembly. This arrangement of the gas detection system enables the user to readily detect deterioration of a device utilizing a fuel, for example, fuel cells.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 2, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 30, 2014
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Shigeto Kajiwara, Katsuki Ishigaki
  • Patent number: 8872519
    Abstract: One exemplary embodiment includes a method including providing a battery, producing a first magnetic field so that a second magnetic field is induced in the battery, sensing a magnetic field resulting from the interaction of the first magnetic field and the second magnetic field, utilizing the sensed net magnetic field to determine the state of charge of the battery.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 21, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 28, 2014
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Gregory P. Meisner, Jan F. Herbst, Mark W. Verbrugge
  • Patent number: 8859123
    Abstract: An electrochemical battery system in one embodiment includes a first electrode, a second electrode spaced apart from the first electrode, a separator positioned between the first electrode and the second electrode, an active material within the second electrode, a pressure sensor in fluid connection with the second electrode, a memory in which command instructions are stored, and a processor configured to execute the command instructions to obtain a pressure signal from the pressure sensor associated with the pressure within the second electrode, and to identify a state of charge of the electrochemical battery system based upon the pressure signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 8, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 14, 2014
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: John F. Christensen, Boris Kozinsky, Jasim Ahmed, Nalin Chaturvedi
  • Publication number: 20140266000
    Abstract: A plurality of battery pack accessories are presented. The accessories include a battery power gauge adapted to be applied to a battery pack and provides a visual indication of the state of the charge in the battery pack, a light adapted to the battery pack such that the battery pack can be used as a flashlight when needed, a connector (e.g., a Universal Serial bus (USB) connector) that can be used for charging the battery pack or to allow the battery pack to charge a device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 13, 2014
    Publication date: September 18, 2014
    Inventor: Michael J. Meoli
  • Publication number: 20140272502
    Abstract: A battery includes an integrated or single case structure with internal through wall connections of all cells to provide the battery with an output voltage that is the full voltage required for a golf cart, e.g., about 36 to 72 volts. The integrated case may be made from plastic or similar material and includes lift features that permit replacement of the battery using a mechanical lift system. The battery may further include one or more filler tubes, each containing a float that can be seen though a cap on the tube when liquid is at a desired level and cannot be seen though the cap when liquid is at a low level.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 14, 2014
    Publication date: September 18, 2014
    Inventor: Gene D. Bingaman
  • Publication number: 20140242420
    Abstract: A battery module system includes at least one cell and a battery module processor. The battery module processor may be configured to receive at least one cell signal associated with the at least one cell, wherein the at least one cell signal includes at least one of a temperature signal, a voltage signal, or a current signal. The battery module processor may be also configured to determine a status of the at least one cell based on the at least one cell signal. The battery module system may be configured to removably connect to a master/module interface, and to deliver power from the at least one cell to the master/module interface. The battery module system may be also configured to communicate, from the battery module processor, the status of the at least one cell to the master/module interface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 4, 2013
    Publication date: August 28, 2014
    Applicant: The Boeing Company
    Inventors: Lowell W. Schaffner, Mehdy Barekatein, Sheverria Antony Aikens, Frederic Lacaux
  • Patent number: 8808904
    Abstract: A secondary battery with a protective circuit module including a rechargeable bare cell having a first electrode and a second electrode and a protective circuit module having a protective circuit for the rechargeable bare cell. A conductive bonding layer is located on the protective circuit module and a secondary protective element assembly is attached to the protective circuit module by the conductive bonding layer. A first lead plate electrically connects the secondary protective element assembly to the first electrode, and a second lead plate electrically connects the protective circuit module to the second electrode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 20, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 19, 2014
    Assignee: Samsung SDI Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Youngcheol Jang, Nohyun Kwak, Sangjoo Lee
  • Publication number: 20140203783
    Abstract: A system includes utilizes optical sensors arranged within or on portions of an electrochemical energy device (e.g., a rechargeable Li-ion battery, supercapacitor or fuel cell) to measure operating parameters (e.g., mechanical strain and/or temperature) of the electrochemical energy device during charge/recharge cycling. The measured parameter data is transmitted by way of light signals along optical fibers to a controller, which converts the light signals to electrical data signal using a light source/analyzer. A processor then extracts temperature and strain data features from the data signals, and utilizes a model-based process to detect intercalation stage changes (i.e., characteristic crystalline structure changes caused by certain concentrations of guest species, such as Li-ions, within the electrode material of the electrochemical energy device) indicated by the data features. The detected intercalation stage changes are used to generate highly accurate operating state information (e.g.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 1, 2014
    Publication date: July 24, 2014
    Applicant: Palo Alto Research Center Incorporated
    Inventors: Peter Kiesel, Lars Wilko Sommer, Ajay Raghavan, Bhaskar Saha, Tobias Staudt, Alexander Lochbaum