Patents Examined by Aaron J Salter
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Patent number: 11784340Abstract: A system and method for controlling operation of a fuel cell are provided. The method includes estimating an effective catalyst amount within a fuel cell stack and monitoring a change in the estimated effective catalyst amount according to time. An irreversible degradation state of the fuel cell stack is determined based on the monitored change in the estimated effective catalyst amount.Type: GrantFiled: October 8, 2019Date of Patent: October 10, 2023Assignees: Hyundai Motor Company, Kia Motors CorporationInventors: Sung Mun Cho, Soon Woo Kwon
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Patent number: 11777152Abstract: Presented are feedback control systems for monitoring battery system hardware, methods for making/operating such systems, and vehicles with wireless battery management systems (WBMS) governed through distributed feedback control. A method of operating a WBMS includes a wireless-enabled manager device selecting a batch of cell module assemblies (CMA) within the WBMS to communicate with to thereby retrieve data for their respective battery modules. A manager access control list (ACL) is created with respective media access control (MAC) addresses and ID data for the selected CMAs. A wireless connection is established between the manager device and a respective cell monitoring unit (CMU) for each selected CMA based on the corresponding MAC addresses and ID data in the manager ACL. The manager device downloads, from the CMU of each selected CMA, device data for each battery modules associated with the selected CMA. The manager device then switches the operating mode for each CMU.Type: GrantFiled: August 31, 2020Date of Patent: October 3, 2023Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLCInventors: Thomas M. Hess, Katherine M. Kolar, Fiona E. Meyer-Teruel, Robert W. Chalfant, Jason A. Lupienski, Michael P. Barker
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Patent number: 11764410Abstract: A battery heating method and a battery heating system for a vehicle battery. The battery heating system includes a vehicle battery, an auxiliary energy storage device, a direct current to direct current converter and a processing circuitry. The processing circuitry is configured to cause the battery heating system to operate in a first mode wherein the direct current to direct current converter is configured to control a current to flow through the vehicle battery in a first direction and operate in a second mode wherein the direct current to direct current converter is configured to control a current to flow through the vehicle battery in a second direction.Type: GrantFiled: May 21, 2020Date of Patent: September 19, 2023Assignee: NINGBO GEELY AUTOMOBILE RESEARCH & DEVELOPMENT CO.Inventors: Sandeep David, Bengt Axelsson, Sri Vishnu Gorantla Narayana Murthy
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Patent number: 11764364Abstract: A cathode configured to use oxygen as a cathode active material includes: a porous film including a metal oxide, where a porosity of the porous film is about 50 volume percent to about 95 volume percent, based on a total volume of the porous film, and an amount of an organic component in the porous film is 0 to about 2 weight percent, based on a total weight of the porous film.Type: GrantFiled: January 20, 2021Date of Patent: September 19, 2023Assignee: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.Inventors: Taeyoung Kim, Hyunpyo Lee, Mokwon Kim, Jungock Park, Heungchan Lee
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Patent number: 11755088Abstract: A system and method for dynamically switching power supply in a dual battery system to minimize unbalanced wear levels in the primary and secondary batteries. If the operating temperature of the primary battery reaches a reliability temperature threshold but the operating temperature of the secondary battery is less than the reliability temperature threshold, the controller switches a primary battery indicator to designate the secondary battery as the primary battery. If the operating temperature of the primary battery reaches a pre-shutdown temperature but the operating temperature of the secondary battery is less than the pre-shutdown temperature, the controller switches a primary battery indicator to designate the secondary battery as the primary battery. If a difference between the wear levels of the batteries exceeds a wear level difference threshold, the controller switches a primary battery indicator to designate the secondary battery as the primary battery.Type: GrantFiled: May 4, 2020Date of Patent: September 12, 2023Assignee: Dell Products L.P.Inventors: Qinghong He, Yan Ning, John Robert Lerma, Louis Michael Davis
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Patent number: 11757134Abstract: Provided is a secondary lithium battery including: a positive electrode plate that is a sintered lithium complex oxide plate; a negative electrode containing carbon and styrene butadiene rubber (SBR); and an electrolytic solution containing lithium borofluoride (LiBF4) in a non-aqueous solvent composed of ?-butyrolactone (GBL), or composed of ethylene carbonate (EC) and ?-butyrolactone (GBL).Type: GrantFiled: March 4, 2020Date of Patent: September 12, 2023Assignee: NGK INSULATORS, LTD.Inventors: Yuki Fujita, Chiori Suzuki
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Patent number: 11757137Abstract: A battery pack includes: a plurality of battery cells; a battery management system to acquire state information and control charge-discharge operations; a wiring board through which the state information is transmitted to the battery management system, the wiring board including conductive lines for transmitting different electrical signals; and a connector including a connector terminal coupled to the conductive lines and a connector housing accommodating the connector terminal, the connector being coupled to a mating connector of the battery management system, wherein the connector terminal includes a bottom plate accommodating the conductive lines, and barrels protruding upward from the bottom plate and configured to be compressed onto the conductive lines while surrounding the conductive lines, and first and second embossments on the bottom plate and the barrels of the connector terminal, the first and second embossments protruding toward the conductive lines.Type: GrantFiled: November 7, 2018Date of Patent: September 12, 2023Assignee: SAMSUNG SDI CO., LTD.Inventors: Jaepil Ahn, Kisuk Son, Chuljung Yun, Kyungho Cho
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Patent number: 11742154Abstract: This electricity storage module includes: a plurality of electricity storage device; a device holder; a first external output terminal and a second external output terminal which are configured to be electrically connected to the plurality of electricity storage devices; and a terminal holder having one end portion and another end portion, the one end portion being configured to have the first external output terminal attached thereto, the other end portion being configured to have the second external output terminal attached thereto. The first external output terminal includes a coupling terminal part protruding to an outer side of a terminal holder in a direction in which the first external output terminal and the second external output terminal are arranged. The second external output terminal includes an external connection terminal part capable of being connected to an external terminal or the coupling terminal part on an inner side of the terminal holder.Type: GrantFiled: May 23, 2018Date of Patent: August 29, 2023Assignee: PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD.Inventors: Yuichi Tashiro, Toshiaki Shimizu, Yuji Sonoda, Masahiro Nakaji
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Patent number: 11742515Abstract: A solid electrolyte including: a compound represented by Formula 1, LixM12?yM2y(PO4?zXz)3??Formula 1 wherein, in Formula 1, M1 is a tetravalent element, M2 is a monovalent element, a divalent element, a trivalent element, a tetravalent element, a pentavalent element, a hexavalent element, or a combination thereof, X is a halogen atom, a pseudohalogen, or a combination thereof, 0<x<8, 0?y<1, and 0<z<4.Type: GrantFiled: September 24, 2020Date of Patent: August 29, 2023Assignee: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.Inventors: Sangbok Ma, Donghwa Seo, Hyunpyo Lee
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Patent number: 11738665Abstract: A cooling circuit operable with fuel of a fuel cell system includes a fuel tank storing fuel for the fuel cell system, a fuel compressor configured to increase a pressure of the fuel, a first heat exchanger configured to cool the pressurized fuel, a first conduit coupled to an outlet of the first heat exchanger, a first turbine coupled to the first conduit and configured to expand the pressurized and cooled fuel, and a second conduit coupled to an outlet of the first turbine and configured to direct the expanded fuel to the fuel cell system. Further disclosed is a vehicle including at least one cooling circuit or a cooling system having a cooling circuit.Type: GrantFiled: February 9, 2021Date of Patent: August 29, 2023Assignee: Airbus Operations GmbHInventor: Frank Klimpel
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Patent number: 11718198Abstract: An in-vehicle power supply system includes multiple power cells of identical mechanical size, multiple power pods each holding multiple power cells, and a mechanical transport system to move and exchange power cells with pumps at power cell exchange and charging stations. Each power cell and each power pod includes a control unit and a power converter with a magnetic core. The power cells held by a power pod are arranged parallel to each other and coupled to the power pod by magnetic field coupling. Power is transferred between the power pod and the power cells bidirectionally using magnetic field of different frequencies, and data and commands are communicated between them using magnetic field of another different frequency. Load balancing among power cells within a power pod and among power pods can be achieved. The structure of the power cell exchange and charging stations is also described.Type: GrantFiled: February 6, 2021Date of Patent: August 8, 2023Inventor: Yongxin Wang
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Patent number: 11710832Abstract: An electrode material (1) for a fuel cell (50), comprising a planar body (11) made of an electrically conductive foam having an open and continuous porosity for at least one operating medium of the fuel cell (50), wherein the planar body (11) has a top side (12) and a bottom side (13), and wherein the thickness (14) of the material across all points (12a, 12a?) on the surface of the top side (12), measured in each case between a point (12a, 12a?) on the surface of the top side (12) and the point (13a, 13a?) opposite this point (12a, 12a?) on the surface of the bottom side (13), varies by at least 10%.Type: GrantFiled: November 6, 2019Date of Patent: July 25, 2023Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbHInventors: Alexander Eifert, Claudio Baldizzone, Harald Bauer, Juergen Hackenberg
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Patent number: 11699557Abstract: An electricity-storage module includes an electrode stacked body and a sealing body. A negative terminal electrode is disposed at one end of the electrode stacked body in a stacking direction such that a second surface is an inner side of the electrode stacked body. The sealing body includes first resin portions 21 which are joined to edge portions, and a second resin portion that is joined to the first resin portions 21 so as to surround the first resin portions from an outer side.Type: GrantFiled: September 25, 2018Date of Patent: July 11, 2023Assignee: KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOYOTA JIDOSHOKKIInventors: Tomohiro Nakamura, Yuki Chujo, Masahiro Yamada, Takayuki Hirose
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Patent number: 11664512Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for a redox flow battery system. In one example, a method of operating a redox flow battery system includes switching the redox flow battery system to an idle mode and completely draining electrolytes from one or more electrode compartments of the redox flow battery system. The one or more electrode compartments may be purged with a gas and refilled with fresh electrolytes.Type: GrantFiled: May 5, 2021Date of Patent: May 30, 2023Assignee: ESS Tech, Inc.Inventors: Yang Song, Timothy J. McDonald, Kenneth Fisher
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Patent number: 11664541Abstract: A battery cell short circuit detection device includes: a control unit that controls operation of a direct current-direct current converter; a first acquisition unit that acquires a storage rate of the battery; a second acquisition unit that acquires a current flowing into the battery and a current flowing out of the battery when the direct current-direct current converter is operating; a third acquisition unit that acquires a terminal voltage value that is a voltage that appears at a terminal of the battery when the direct current-direct current converter is not operating; and a determination unit that determines presence or absence of the short circuit between the battery cells based on an average storage rate indicating an average value of the storage rate of the battery, an average inflow current value indicating an average value of the current flowing into the battery, and the terminal voltage value.Type: GrantFiled: March 16, 2021Date of Patent: May 30, 2023Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventors: Toshihiro Kawai, Shinichi Inoue, Yasushi Kusaka, Toru Ono
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Patent number: 11646414Abstract: A positive electrode active material for an alkaline storage battery having excellent over-discharge tolerance and high-temperature tolerance, and a method for producing the positive electrode active material. A positive electrode active material for an alkaline storage battery, containing a hydroxide particle containing at least nickel and solid-solubilized cobalt, and a covering layer containing cobalt, the covering layer covering the hydroxide particle, in which cobalt contained in the covering layer and cobalt contained in the hydroxide particle each have a diffraction peak between diffraction angles of 65° and 66°, the diffraction angles each represented by 2? in a diffraction pattern obtained by X-ray diffraction measurement.Type: GrantFiled: September 5, 2018Date of Patent: May 9, 2023Assignee: TANAKA CORPORATIONInventors: Taiki Yasuda, Mikio Hata
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Patent number: 11646457Abstract: A method for producing a lithium-sulfur battery with an improved lifetime. This method includes an activation step of forming a positive electrode active material-derived compound from a compound including elemental sulfur by charging and discharging the lithium-sulfur battery, where the battery includes the compound including elemental sulfur and an electrolyte liquid. Additionally, the positive electrode active material-derived compound has a solubility of 1% by weight or greater in the electrolyte liquid. The lithium-sulfur battery may be charged and discharged in a range of greater than 2.0 V and less than 2.4 V in the activation step. Further, the lithium-sulfur battery may be charged and discharged 3 times to 10 times in the activation step. This method avoids a complicated application process of and active material in preparing a lithium-sulfur battery.Type: GrantFiled: July 4, 2018Date of Patent: May 9, 2023Assignee: LG ENERGY SOLUTION, LTD.Inventors: Intae Park, Doo Kyung Yang
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Patent number: 11641034Abstract: A fuel cell system installed in a vehicle, the system comprising: a fuel cell, a secondary cell, a system temperature acquirer for acquiring a temperature of an inside of the fuel cell system, and a controller, wherein, when the system temperature is a predetermined first temperature or less, the controller charges the secondary cell until a state-of-charge value of the secondary cell reaches a predetermined first threshold value, and the controller carries out a first pattern purge on the fuel cell, and wherein, when the system temperature exceeds the predetermined first temperature, the controller charges the secondary cell until the state-of-charge value of the secondary cell reaches a predetermined second threshold value that is larger than the predetermined first threshold value, and the controller carries out a second pattern purge having a shorter purge time than the first pattern purge on the fuel cell.Type: GrantFiled: May 13, 2021Date of Patent: May 2, 2023Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventor: Junichi Matsuo
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Patent number: 11631846Abstract: A battery cell includes a positive electrode, a negative electrode, and a separation film provided between the positive electrode and the negative electrode. A variation ratio of thickness of a battery cell before a pressurizing jig is disconnected and after the pressurizing jig is disconnected is equal to or less than 0.009, and the variation ratio of thickness of a battery cell is defied by a value generated by dividing a variation value of thickness that is a difference between the thickness of a battery cell after the pressurizing jig is disconnected and the thickness of a battery cell before the pressurizing jig is disconnected by the thickness of a battery cell before the pressurizing jig is disconnected.Type: GrantFiled: February 21, 2019Date of Patent: April 18, 2023Assignee: LG ENERGY SOLUTIONS, LTD.Inventors: Ilhong Kim, Gisu Jeong, Seok Koo Kim
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Patent number: 11618967Abstract: A production method for a stainless steel sheet for fuel cell separators comprises: preparing a stainless steel sheet as a material; thereafter removing an oxide layer at a surface of the stainless steel sheet; and thereafter subjecting the stainless steel sheet to electrolytic etching treatment in an active region of the stainless steel sheet.Type: GrantFiled: September 27, 2018Date of Patent: April 4, 2023Assignee: JFE STEEL CORPORATIONInventors: Takayoshi Yano, Shin Ishikawa