Patents Examined by Adam A Arciero
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Patent number: 11757117Abstract: A system includes a fuel cell engine, a plurality of switching devices, and a controller. The fuel cell engine includes a plurality of fuel cell modules connected in series as a fuel cell string, and then a plurality of these strings connected in parallel. The switching device(s) are electrically coupled to bypass when required each module(s) and or disconnect each string(s). The decision whether a module(s) and/or string(s) are bypassed, disconnected, or left to operate is based on a sensory feedback that is input into the finite state machine and fault management process that are embedded within the fuel cell controller. The bypassing scheme at the module level is handled in a manner such that the remaining modules within a series string can provide continuous, uninterrupted flow of current to the end application.Type: GrantFiled: August 30, 2022Date of Patent: September 12, 2023Assignee: HYDROGENICS CORPORATIONInventors: Nader Zaag, Paolo Forte, Dennis Böhm, John Yui Ki Poon
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Patent number: 11752898Abstract: A battery system includes a plurality of battery modules each formed from a plurality of battery cells. A shared cooling structure is thermally coupled to each of the battery modules. The shared cooling structure is configured to conduct heat relative to the battery modules. A thermal interface is disposed between the battery cells of each battery module and the shared cooling structure. Each thermal interface is configured to transition from a first thermal conductivity state to a second thermal conductivity state when heat generated by the respective battery cells exceeds a threshold level. The second thermal conductivity state is lower than the first thermal conductivity state such that after one of the thermal interfaces has transitioned from the first thermal conductivity state to the second thermal conductivity state, heat transfer from the respective battery cells to the shared cooling structure is reduced.Type: GrantFiled: September 13, 2021Date of Patent: September 12, 2023Assignee: Textron Innovations Inc.Inventors: Yue Fan, Michael Raymond Hull, Zachary Edwin Dailey
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Patent number: 11745623Abstract: A vehicle includes: a battery; a battery thermostat; at least one sensor; and a controller configured to determine a preheating temperature of the battery based on an outside temperature of the vehicle and a first state of charge of the battery, and control the battery thermostat based on the preheating temperature, the first state of charge being identified through the at least one sensor.Type: GrantFiled: December 20, 2021Date of Patent: September 5, 2023Assignees: Hyundai Motor Company, Kia CorporationInventors: Sang Jin Park, Haewon Park, Yonghoon Kim, Seyoung Lee, Won Chul Shin
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Patent number: 11745612Abstract: Operations associated with charging a vehicle may generate thermal energy. A passive thermal management solution may dissipate the thermal energy without requiring additional active components and without adding significant thermal loads to an existing thermal management system. In some examples, a passive heat exchanger may include a cold plate coupled to power electronics. In addition, the passive heat exchanger may include a condenser that is fluidly coupled to the cold plate and is positioned in an airflow path.Type: GrantFiled: August 18, 2021Date of Patent: September 5, 2023Assignee: Zoox, Inc.Inventors: Jaime Andres Ocampo Villegas, Vamsi Krishna Pathipati, Bryan Emrys Booth
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Patent number: 11735778Abstract: In some examples, a high-energy-density battery pack device includes a circuit board and at least two casing structures mounted on the circuit board. In some examples, the high-energy-density battery pack device also includes at least two cells electrically connected in series or in parallel through the circuit board. In some examples, each cell of the at least two cells is positioned in a casing structure of the at least two casing structures. In some examples, the respective casing structure surrounds the respective cell with an opening on one end of the cell.Type: GrantFiled: September 18, 2017Date of Patent: August 22, 2023Assignees: Honeywell Limited, AeroELT, LLCInventors: Stuart Inkpen, Joshua Swamidas, Bill Conway, Dana Linfield, Ruth Abraham, Carl Weisser, Vic Weglarz
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Patent number: 11728466Abstract: A secondary battery comprises an electrode assembly comprising radical units in which first and second electrodes are alternately laminated with a separator therebetween and a separation film surrounding the radical units to be repeatedly laminated, wherein the electrode assembly comprises a protection unit laminated on an outermost separation film disposed on the uppermost end or lowermost end of the separation film, the protection unit has a structure comprising a second protection electrode, a separator, and a first protection electrode which are successively laminated from the outermost separation film disposed on the uppermost end or lowermost end of the electrode assembly, the second protection electrode has a cross-sectional coating structure comprising a second collector and a second electrode active material portion coated with a second electrode active material on an inner surface of the second collector, and the inner surface is a surface facing a center of the electrode assembly.Type: GrantFiled: October 27, 2021Date of Patent: August 15, 2023Inventors: Su Hyun Yun, Kyoung Won Kang, Ki Woong Kim, Jung Shik Oh
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Patent number: 11721817Abstract: The invention relates to a fuel cell (1) for a fuel cell stack (11), comprising a polymer membrane (2) which serves as an electrolyte and has respectively on both sides a catalyst layer (3, 4) for forming an anode (3) on the one side and a cathode (4) on the other side, a gas diffusion layer (5) and a bipolar plate (6) being applied to each of the two analyst layers (3, 4). According to the invention, a short-circuit element (7) is applied, preferably printed, to at least one bipolar plate (6), namely on the side facing away from the gas diffusion layer (5). The invention also relates to a fuel cell stack (11) and to a method for operating a fuel cell stack (11).Type: GrantFiled: November 5, 2020Date of Patent: August 8, 2023Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbHInventors: Helerson Kemmer, Kai Weeber
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Patent number: 11715853Abstract: An apparatus mounts a battery cell stack to a frame that includes a base cover and a pair of side covers respectively extending from both ends of the base cover. The apparatus includes a support member to support the battery cell stack, and two films, wherein one side of each of the two films is respectively attachable to one of the pair of side covers of the frame, and another side of each of the two films is respectively attachable to one of two side surfaces of the battery cell stack, wherein, when the support member and the frame move toward each other, the two films are movable into the frame, and the battery cell stack is movable along the two films to be mounted to the frame.Type: GrantFiled: June 8, 2022Date of Patent: August 1, 2023Inventors: Kyung-Mo Kim, Jeong-O Mun, Ho-June Chi
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Battery pack and a method for charging and cooling the battery pack using an external cooling device
Patent number: 11710868Abstract: Aspects of the disclosure provide a battery pack and a method for charging the battery pack externally. The battery pack can include a charging port configured to charge the battery pack, a cooling circuit configured to cool the battery pack in a vehicle, and a cooling interface configured to connect the cooling circuit with an external cooling device that is external to the vehicle. The charging port and the cooling interface can be integrated into a charging port assembly, the cooling interface has an inlet port and an outlet port that have high pressure quick disconnect leakless fittings, and the battery pack is configured to be charged externally via the charging port. The battery pack can include a plurality of isolating devices configured to determine whether the cooling circuit is connected to the external cooling device.Type: GrantFiled: June 3, 2020Date of Patent: July 25, 2023Assignee: TOYOTA MOTOR ENGINEERING & MANUFACTURING NORTH AMERICA, INC.Inventor: Caleb M. Rogers -
Patent number: 11705562Abstract: A fuel cell system comprising: the fuel cell, the secondary cell and a controller, wherein, when a power generation pretreatment of the fuel cell is carried out, and when there is a request from the fuel cell to run the vehicle by output power of the secondary cell, the controller calculates discharge permission energy of the secondary cell, calculates a running permission delay request time from the discharge permission energy, which is a time necessary from the request to run the vehicle to the permission to run the vehicle, and measures a running permission delay time, which is a time that elapsed from the request to run the vehicle, and wherein, when the running permission delay request time value is smaller than the running permission delay time value, the controller permits the vehicle to run.Type: GrantFiled: May 13, 2021Date of Patent: July 18, 2023Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventor: Junichi Matsuo
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Patent number: 11705567Abstract: A fuel cell system has a first boost converter of a fuel cell, a second boost converter of a secondary battery, and a control unit. Output sides of the first boost converter and the second boost converter are connected so as to be the same potential. The control unit is configured to, when detecting failure of the second boost converter, cause input and output sides of the second boost converter to conduct, estimate an open circuit voltage of the secondary battery based on a state of charge, and execute electric power consumption by an accessory that operates by electric power supplied from the fuel cell when determining that the first boost converter is not able to boost the output voltage of the fuel cell to the open circuit voltage, and stops the electric power consumption by the accessory when determining that the first boost converter is able to boost.Type: GrantFiled: March 11, 2021Date of Patent: July 18, 2023Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventors: Ryosuke Oya, Kotomi Fujinaga, Shinobu Otsuka
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Patent number: 11699786Abstract: Systems and methods for water soluble weak acidic resins as carbon precursors for silicon-dominant anodes may include an electrode coating layer on a current collector, where the electrode coating layer is formed from silicon and pyrolyzed water-soluble acidic polyamide imide as a primary resin carbon precursor. The electrode coating layer may include a pyrolyzed water-based acidic polymer solution additive. The polymer solution additive may include one or more of: polyacrylic acid (PAA) solution, poly (maleic acid, methyl methacrylate/methacrylic acid, butadiene/maleic acid) solutions, and water soluble polyacrylic acid. The electrode coating layer may include conductive additives. The current collector may include a metal foil, where the metal current collector includes one or more of a copper, tungsten, stainless steel, and nickel foil in electrical contact with the electrode coating layer. The electrode coating layer may be more than 70% silicon.Type: GrantFiled: April 27, 2021Date of Patent: July 11, 2023Assignee: Enevate CorporationInventors: Younes Ansari, Liwen Ji, Benjamin Park
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Patent number: 11697356Abstract: A fuel cell system installed in a vehicle, the system comprising: a fuel cell, a secondary cell, a temperature acquirer for acquiring a temperature of the fuel cell, a state-of-charge value acquirer for acquiring a state-of-charge-value of the secondary cell, an outside temperature acquirer for acquiring an outside temperature, an outside pressure acquirer for acquiring an outside pressure, and a controller for controlling power of the secondary cell, wherein, when the temperature of the fuel cell exceeds a predetermined temperature, when the state-of-charge value of the secondary cell is a predetermined threshold value or more, when the outside temperature is a predetermined temperature or more, and when the outside pressure is a predetermined pressure or less, the controller increases the power of the secondary cell larger than power required of the secondary cell for normal running of the vehicle.Type: GrantFiled: May 13, 2021Date of Patent: July 11, 2023Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventor: Junichi Matsuo
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Patent number: 11688881Abstract: The present invention relates to a nonaqueous electrolytic solution for use in a nonaqueous electrolytic solution secondary battery that comprises a negative electrode and a positive electrode capable of storing and releasing metal ions, and a nonaqueous electrolytic solution, wherein the nonaqueous electrolytic solution contains the specific compounds (A) and (B).Type: GrantFiled: December 27, 2019Date of Patent: June 27, 2023Assignees: Mitsubishi Chemical Corporation, MU Ionic Solutions CorporationInventors: Hiroaki Yoshida, Yasuyuki Shigematsu, Minoru Kotato
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Patent number: 11685694Abstract: Disclosed is a rapid, reproducible solution-based method to synthesize solid sodium ion-conductive materials. The method includes: (a) forming an aqueous mixture of (i) at least one sodium salt, and (ii) at least one metal oxide; (b) adding at least one phosphorous precursor as a neutralizing agent into the mixture; (c) concentrating the mixture to form a paste; (d) calcining or removing liquid from the paste to form a solid; and (e) sintering the solid at a high temperature to form a dense, non-porous, sodium ion-conductive material. Solid sodium ion-conductive materials have electrochemical applications, including use as solid electrolytes for batteries.Type: GrantFiled: November 16, 2019Date of Patent: June 27, 2023Assignees: International Business Machines Corporation, Repsol, S.A.Inventors: Younes Ansari, Young-hye Na, Khanh Nguyen, Francisco José Alía Moreno-Ortiz
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Patent number: 11688911Abstract: Provided are a battery module and a battery pack, i.e., a battery module in which a coupling part is provided so that a creepage distance having a predetermined length is formed in a module case surrounding a battery cell having a side-arranged structure and a battery pack.Type: GrantFiled: October 5, 2018Date of Patent: June 27, 2023Assignee: LG Energy Solution, Ltd.Inventor: Jong Yoon Keum
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Patent number: 11673677Abstract: An unmanned aerial vehicle battery transport box having a box body shell and an upper cover. The unmanned aerial vehicle battery transport box further having a heat dissipating device and a heating device. When the temperature in the box body is lower than the lower limit of the set temperature range, the heating device heats the box body. When the temperature in the box body is higher than the upper limit of the set temperature range, the heat dissipating device dissipates heat of the box body. The temperature in the box body is adjusted by the heating device and the heat dissipating device.Type: GrantFiled: October 8, 2020Date of Patent: June 13, 2023Assignee: SHANGHAI AUTOFLIGHT CO., LTD.Inventor: Yu Tian
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Patent number: 11677087Abstract: A rational fuel-cell power following strategy is made according to values such as vehicle fuel-cell power, battery power, and SOC (state of charge) of a lithium-ion battery; in the same time window, effects of different fuel-cell power growth rates on SOC of the lithium-ion battery are tested according to vehicle requirements; and at the same fuel-cell growth rate, effects of different time windows on SOC of the lithium-ion battery are tested according to vehicle requirements; a proper time window and a proper fuel-cell power change rate are found, so that the SOC value of the lithium-ion battery fluctuates within a certain range. The present invention can achieve a good operation mode of power distribution between the fuel cell and the lithium-ion battery, ensuring rational utilization of resources, thereby extending the application range of the lithium-ion battery to the maximum extent.Type: GrantFiled: October 13, 2020Date of Patent: June 13, 2023Assignee: HIGER BUS COMPANY LIMITEDInventors: Haimei Fan, Wei Zhang, Jinfeng Xiong, Yushuai Shi
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Patent number: 11670783Abstract: A fuel cell vehicle includes a battery disposed in a first space, a radiator disposed in a second space formed adjacent to the first space in a second direction intersecting a first direction, which is a direction in which the vehicle travels, and at least one fuel cell unit disposed in a third space formed adjacent to the first space in the second direction while being spaced apart from the second space in the second direction, with the first space interposed therebetween.Type: GrantFiled: October 19, 2020Date of Patent: June 6, 2023Assignees: HYUNDAI MOTOR COMPANY, KIA MOTORS CORPORATIONInventors: Ju Hyeop Lee, Chang Yeol Ryu, Seung Jun Yeon
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Patent number: 11670765Abstract: Provided are a positive electrode active material that can provide a nonaqueous electrolyte secondary battery having high energy density and excellent output characteristics, a nickel-manganese composite hydroxide as a precursor thereof, and methods for producing these. A nickel-manganese composite hydroxide is represented by General Formula (1): NixMnyMz(OH)2+? and contains a secondary particle formed of a plurality of flocculated primary particles. The nickel-manganese composite hydroxide has a half width of a diffraction peak of a (001) plane of at least 0.35° and up to 0.50° and has a degree of sparsity/density represented by [(a void area within the secondary particle/a cross section of the secondary particle)×100](%) within a range of greater than 10% and up to 25%.Type: GrantFiled: July 28, 2017Date of Patent: June 6, 2023Assignee: SUMITOMO METAL MINING CO., LTD.Inventors: Haruki Kaneda, Yuki Koshika, Takaaki Ando