Patents Assigned to A123 Systems, LLC
  • Patent number: 11769882
    Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for an electrode for a lithium-ion battery cell. In one example, the electrode may include a current collector having two opposing sides, at least one of the two opposing sides being configured with a first coating layer disposed on the current collector at a first loading, where the first coating layer may include a first binder in a first weight ratio, and a second coating layer disposed on the first coating layer at a second loading, where the second coating layer may include a second binder in a second weight ratio, wherein the first weight ratio may be greater than the second weight ratio, and a ratio of the first loading to the second loading may be less than 1:2. In this way, direct current internal resistance of the lithium-ion battery cell may be decreased while maintaining or increasing adhesion within the electrode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 2021
    Date of Patent: September 26, 2023
    Assignee: A123 SYSTEMS, LLC
    Inventors: Tae Kyoung Kim, Jun Wang, Ronnie Wilkins, Jordan Rubio, Ankita Faulkner, Zaiyuan Le, Xiqing Wang, Ting Huang
  • Patent number: 11670938
    Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for a battery management system (BMS) having a protection circuit. In one example, a vehicle battery system may include the BMS, the BMS including a cutoff circuit coupled to a short-circuit protection circuit, and a battery pack, wherein the short-circuit protection circuit may include a diode array, cathodes of the diode array being coupled to a positive terminal post of the battery pack and anodes of the diode array being coupled to a negative terminal post of the battery pack. In some examples, the cutoff circuit may further be coupled to a reverse bias protection circuit including a switchable current path arranged between a control input of the cutoff circuit and an output of the cutoff circuit. In this way, the vehicle battery system may be protected from unexpected voltage conditions via the BMS redirecting and dissipating excess current away from the cutoff circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 8, 2021
    Date of Patent: June 6, 2023
    Assignee: A123 Systems, LLC
    Inventors: Yue Li, Steve Gierlach, Weiwei Lin, Brian Large, Jiaping Zhang, Ke Xu
  • Patent number: 11476679
    Abstract: A battery pack system and methods for operating the battery pack system are disclosed. In one example, the battery pack system may simultaneously output two different voltages from a stack of battery cells. One voltage may be applied to a first group of electric power consumers and the second voltage may be applied to a second group of electric power consumers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2022
    Assignee: A123 Systems, LLC
    Inventors: Bruce Blakemore, Hamid Falahati, Patrick Larochelle
  • Patent number: 11127944
    Abstract: A positive electroactive material is described, including: a lithium iron manganese phosphate compound having a composition of LiaFe1-x-yMnxDy(PO4)z, wherein 1.0<a?1.10, 0<x?0.5, 0?y?0.10, 1.0<z?1.10 and D is selected from the group consisting of Co, Ni, V, Nb and combinations thereof; and a lithium metal oxide, wherein the lithium iron manganese phosphate compound is optionally doped with Ti, Zr, Nb, Al, Ta, W, Mg or F. A battery containing the positive electroactive material is also described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 24, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 21, 2021
    Assignee: A123 Systems, LLC
    Inventors: Sang-Young Yoon, Rocco Iocco, Jeong Ju Cho
  • Patent number: 10522833
    Abstract: An LFP electrode material is provided which has improved impedance, power during cold cranking, rate capacity retention, charge transfer resistance over the current LFP based cathode materials. The electrode material comprises crystalline primary particles and secondary particles, where the primary particle is formed from a plate-shaped single-phase spheniscidite precursor and a lithium source. The LFP includes an LFP phase behavior where the LFP phase behavior includes an extended solid-solution range.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 31, 2019
    Assignee: A123 Systems, LLC
    Inventors: Larry Beck, Jennifer Wilson, Chuanjing Xu, Zhong-You Shi, Maha Hammoud
  • Patent number: 10305104
    Abstract: A lithium-ion battery having over-discharge protection includes an anode comprising at least an electrochemically active anode material, said anode having an anode irreversible capacity loss during a first charge of the lithium-ion battery; and a cathode comprising at least an electrochemically active cathode material characterized by the formula: xLi2MnO3.(1?x)LiMnaNibCocO2, where 0<x<1 and a+b+c=1, and x, a, b, and c are selected to provide a cathode irreversible capacity loss during a first charge of the lithium-ion battery that is greater than or equal to the anode irreversible capacity loss, and wherein the cathode possesses a voltage step less than about 2 V versus Li.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 4, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 28, 2019
    Assignee: A123 Systems, LLC
    Inventor: Young-Il Jang
  • Patent number: 10218027
    Abstract: A starter battery is provided comprising a plurality of pouch-type prismatic cells stacked to form an array and configured to output a voltage sufficient to start a vehicle engine. The starter battery further includes a housing configured to contain the array wherein the housing includes a tray and a lid attached with the tray such that the housing provides a compressive force sufficient to prevent cell delamination and to constrain expansion or swelling of the cells during operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 10, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 26, 2019
    Assignee: A123 Systems, LLC
    Inventors: Jerry Gohl, Timothy Hughes, Arfan Ahmad, Jason Davis, Robert Dickie, Kevin Martus, Michael Shenberger, David Allen
  • Patent number: 10141605
    Abstract: A rechargeable battery cell having a specific combination of anode, cathode and electrolyte formulation is provided. The electrolyte formulation includes an additive system and a salt system. The additive system includes a first additive containing a sulfonyl group, an anti-gassing agent, and a second additive. The salt system includes a lithium salt and a co-salt. The disclosed electrolyte formulation has reduced gassing and improved performance over a wide temperature range.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2018
    Assignee: A123 Systems, LLC
    Inventors: Leslie J. Pinnell, Christopher Campion, Antoni S. Gozdz, Jeong Ju Cho
  • Patent number: 10128536
    Abstract: Lithium ion (Li-ion) multi-cell batteries in which the requirements for individual monitoring and controlling charging of each cell, the requirements for monitoring and controlling charge balancing and the effects of repeated charging and discharging are ameliorated are presented. In one or more embodiments, the multi-cell battery includes configuration material that substantially provides a moisture barrier.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 13, 2018
    Assignee: A123 Systems, LLC
    Inventor: William H. Gardner
  • Patent number: 10084324
    Abstract: Systems and methods for balancing battery cells of a battery pack are disclosed. In one example, a charge imbalance is determined while battery cells operate in a high charge resolution voltage range. The charge imbalance determined during operation in the high charge resolution voltage range may be removed when the battery cells are operated in a low charge resolution voltage range. The system and method may be particularly useful for balancing battery cells that operate in the low charge resolution voltage range for a large portion of their operating time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 25, 2018
    Assignee: A123 Systems, LLC
    Inventors: Brian C. Moorhead, Brian D. Rutkowski
  • Patent number: 10079377
    Abstract: Systems and methods for communicating a state of a battery to a vehicle controller are disclosed. In one example, a battery pack outputs a signal indicative of an amount of capability the battery pack has to source or sink current at present operating conditions. The system and method may improve vehicle drivability and reduce battery pack degradation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 8, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 18, 2018
    Assignee: A123 Systems, LLC
    Inventors: Brian D. Rutkowski, Brian C. Moorhead
  • Patent number: 10079371
    Abstract: An electrochemical storage multi-cell may comprise: a housing, including a plurality of concentric annular cell chambers; a plurality of electrochemical storage cells, wherein each of the plurality of annular cells are positioned in one of the plurality of annular cell chambers, and the plurality of annular cells are electrically connected in series; and conductive electrolyte filling each of the annular cell chambers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 9, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 18, 2018
    Assignee: A123 Systems, LLC
    Inventors: James E. Dawson, Mujeeb Ijaz
  • Patent number: 10008701
    Abstract: A battery is provided comprising a plurality of cylindrical type cells. Three cylindrical cells may be arranged in a triangular configuration with an electrical isolation spacer positioned between the three cylindrical cells, and a casing may be wrapped around the cells to restrict relative movement of the cells forming a cell group. Multiple cells groups, separated by electrical isolation spacers, may be electrically coupled via bus bars and arranged to form a cell module, where multiple cell modules may be included in the battery, and where the cell modules may be electrically coupled via inter-module connectors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 26, 2018
    Assignee: A123 Systems, LLC
    Inventors: Timothy E. Hughes, Lingchang Wang, Arfan Ahmad
  • Patent number: 9979053
    Abstract: A rechargeable, hybrid battery system incorporates a high power battery component and a high energy density battery component. The voltage of the high energy density battery varies as a function of its state of charge, but remains greater than the voltage of the high power battery throughout the operating range of the battery system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 22, 2018
    Assignee: A123 Systems, LLC
    Inventors: Viet Vu, Michael R. Wixom
  • Patent number: 9954215
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates battery with an integrated power management system and scalable cutoff component, the battery system including a battery housing with first and second voltage output terminals, a plurality of rechargeable battery cells within the battery housing and having first and second voltage terminals; a power management system for generating an external control signal and an internal control signal based upon monitored operating parameters of the plurality of rechargeable battery cells, said external control signal for controlling an external power source and/or an external load, said power management system forming an integral part of the battery system; and a cutoff switch circuit within the battery housing and for making and breaking a conductive path between the first voltage terminal of the plurality of battery cells and the first voltage output terminal of the battery housing in response the internal control signal from the battery management system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2018
    Assignee: A123 Systems, LLC
    Inventor: Brian J. Pevear
  • Patent number: 9954228
    Abstract: An LFP electrode material is provided which has improved impedance, power during cold cranking, rate capacity retention, charge transfer resistance over the current LFP based cathode materials. The electrode material comprises crystalline primary particles and secondary particles, where the primary particle is formed from a plate-shaped single-phase spheniscidite precursor and a lithium source. The LFP includes an LFP phase behavior where the LFP phase behavior includes an extended solid-solution range.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2018
    Assignee: A123 Systems, LLC
    Inventors: Larry Beck, Jennifer Wilson, Chuanjing Xu, Zhong-You Shi, Maha Hammoud
  • Patent number: 9864014
    Abstract: Systems and methods for assessing voltage threshold detection circuitry of individual battery cells within a battery pack supplying power to a vehicle are disclosed. One example system comprises, a plurality of battery cells within a battery pack, a plurality of voltage threshold detecting circuits detecting voltage of the plurality of battery cells, a voltage of a first battery cell of the plurality of battery cells coupled to a first voltage threshold detecting circuit of the plurality of voltage threshold detecting circuits, and a network that selectively couples a second battery cell to the first voltage detecting circuit while the first battery cell is coupled to the first voltage detecting circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2018
    Assignee: A123 Systems, LLC
    Inventors: Paul W. Firehammer, John H. Floros
  • Patent number: 9685678
    Abstract: A material suitable for use in an electrode, preferably an anode, and processes of its formation are provided. The material includes an electrode base material and an organic artificial solid electrolyte interface material including a water soluble organic polymer coating the electrode base material. The polymer is polymerized with a crosslinker to form the organic artificial solid electrolyte interface material. The resulting artificial SEI coated electrode material demonstrates superior discharge rate capacity and cycle stability.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 4, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 20, 2017
    Assignee: A123 Systems, LLC
    Inventors: Viet Vu, Jinjun Shi, Pu Zhang
  • Patent number: 9660267
    Abstract: An LFP electrode material is provided which has improved impedance, power during cold cranking, rate capacity retention, charge transfer resistance over the current LFP based cathode materials. The electrode material comprises crystalline primary particles and secondary particles, where the primary particle is formed from a plate-shaped single-phase spheniscidite precursor and a lithium source. The LFP includes an LFP phase behavior where the LFP phase behavior includes an extended solid-solution range.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 23, 2017
    Assignee: A123 Systems, LLC
    Inventors: Larry Beck, Jennifer Wilson, Chuanjing Xu, Zhong-You Shi, Maha Hammoud
  • Patent number: 9641004
    Abstract: Systems and methods for balancing charge of battery cells of a battery pack are disclosed. In one example, battery cell balancing may be improved by balancing battery cells of a battery cell stack simultaneously. The system and method may be particularly useful battery packs that may be constructed with battery cell stacks that vary in a number of series battery cells.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 17, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 2, 2017
    Assignee: A123 Systems, LLC
    Inventors: John H. Floros, Paul W. Firehammer