Patents Examined by Alix Echelmeyer
  • Patent number: 10033042
    Abstract: A positive electrode for a secondary battery wherein the electrode includes a collector and a positive electrode active material layer which is stacked upon the collector, and which includes a positive electrode active material, a conductive agent, and a binder; the binder includes a first polymer and a second polymer; the first polymer is a fluorine-containing polymer; the second polymer includes a polymerized moiety having a nitrile group, a polymerized moiety having a hydrophilic group, a polymerized (meth)acrylic acid ester moiety, and a straight-chain polymerized alkylene moiety having a carbon number of at least 4; the proportion of the first polymer and the second polymer in the binder, expressed as a mass ratio, is in the range of 95:5 to 5:95.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 1, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 24, 2018
    Assignee: ZEON CORPORATION
    Inventors: Mayumi Fukumine, Kei Kobayashi, Arinobu Katada
  • Patent number: 9236594
    Abstract: In multilayer wholly solid lithium ion secondary batteries, a laminate having a collector layer of material with high conductivity superimposed on an active material layer has been disposed so as to attain a lowering of battery impedance. Consequently, in the fabrication of each of positive electrode layer and negative electrode layer, stacking of three layers consisting of an active material layer, a collector layer and an active material layer has been needed, thereby posing the problem of complex processing and high production cost. In the invention, a positive electrode layer and a negative electrode layer are fabricated from paste consisting of active material mixed with conductive substance in a given mixing ratio, and no collector layer is disposed. This realizes process simplification and manufacturing cost reduction without deterioration of battery performance and has also been effective in enhancing of battery performance, such as improvement to cycle characteristics.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 16, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 12, 2016
    Assignee: NAMICS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Shoichi Iwaya, Hitoshi Masumura, Noriyuki Sakai, Takayuki Fujita, Hiroshi Sasagawa, Hiroshi Sato
  • Patent number: 9017871
    Abstract: A negative-electrode terminal for a cell in which separation between a first metal layer and a second metal layer hardly takes place is provided by suppressing excess formation of an intermetallic compound on a bond interface between the first metal layer and the second metal layer. This negative-electrode terminal for a cell includes a clad portion formed by bonding a first metal layer made of Al or an Al alloy and a second metal layer containing Ni and Cu and consisting of one or a plurality of layers to each other. The first metal layer includes a connected region connected with a cell terminal connecting plate and a stacked region adjacent to the connected region on the side of the same surface, while the second metal layer is bonded to the first metal layer in the stacked region and configured to be connectable to cell negative electrodes of cells.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 1, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 28, 2015
    Assignees: Neomax Materials Co., Ltd., Hitachi Metals, Ltd.
    Inventors: Yoshimitsu Oda, Masaaki Ishio
  • Patent number: 8956746
    Abstract: An apparatus, system, and method are disclosed for battery venting containment that include a battery enclosure configured to contain emissions from one or more battery cells within the enclosure upon a rupture of a case of the one or more battery cells. The battery enclosure includes a first side of the battery enclosure configured to expand upon rupture of the case of the one or more battery cells within the enclosure and a second side of the battery enclosure configured to be rigid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 2005
    Date of Patent: February 17, 2015
    Assignee: Lenovo (Singapore) Pte. Ltd.
    Inventors: Derek Kristopher Cook, James Mayes Dunbar
  • Patent number: 8951682
    Abstract: Implementations and techniques for rechargeable zinc air batteries are generally disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 10, 2015
    Assignee: Empire Technology Development LLC
    Inventor: Thomas A. Yager
  • Patent number: 8940430
    Abstract: A nickel zinc battery cell includes a metallic zinc-based current collection substrate as a part of the negative electrode. The metallic zinc-based current collector may be made of or be coated with a zinc metal or zinc alloy material and may be a foil, perforated, or expanded material. Battery cells incorporating the zinc-based current collector exhibit good cycle lifetime and initial charge performance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 8, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 27, 2015
    Assignee: PowerGenix Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Jeffrey Phillips, Samaresh Mohanta, Zhen Gang Fan, Ru Jun Ma, Feng Feng, Lou Uzel, Chi Yau, Jason Zhao, Zeiad M. Muntasser
  • Patent number: 8940455
    Abstract: A fuel cell is provided that includes an anode, a cathode, a solid electrolyte layer, a barrier layer, and a buffer layer. The solid electrolyte layer includes zirconium and is provided between the anode and the cathode. The barrier layer includes cerium and is provided between the solid electrolyte layer and the cathode, with the barrier layer having pores. The buffer layer includes zirconium and cerium and is provided between the barrier layer and the solid electrolyte layer. The barrier layer has a first barrier layer provided near to the buffer layer with a first pore ratio and a second barrier layer provided between the first barrier layer and the cathode with a second pore ratio. The first pore ratio of the first barrier layer is larger than the second pore ratio of the second barrier layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 27, 2015
    Assignee: NGK Insulators, Ltd.
    Inventors: Ayano Kobayashi, Shinji Fujisaki, Makoto Ohmori
  • Patent number: 8932754
    Abstract: An electrode capable of preventing variations in electrical performance to stabilize performance and improve yields is provided. An electrode structure includes: an electrode including an current collector and an active material layer arranged on the current collector; and an electrode lead arranged on the active material layer, wherein a hole is arranged so as to penetrate the electrode and the electrode lead, and the electrode and the electrode lead are folded back around the hole in a direction away from the hole so that the electrode is placed inside, and the thickness of the active material layer in a region where the electrode lead is not arranged is uniform, and the thickness of the active material layer in a region where the electrode lead is arranged is nonuniform.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 13, 2015
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Hironori Shibata, Akira Sasaki, Kazuhiko Soji
  • Patent number: 8932738
    Abstract: A fuel cell assembly structure mainly comprises a housing in which there is an accommodating space; a plurality of unit cell stacks that are stacked in the same direction in the accommodating space of the housing and made by stacking in sequence a cathode layer, a power generation electrode, an anode layer and a connection disk; a connection disk connecting is series each unit cell stack, a sealing disk and a cover in sequence to cover the opening of the accommodating space of the housing. On the outer side of the cover there is a connection base, at least one surface of which has a plurality of conduits and the other end connects to a plurality of cell stack bypass manifolds that further connect to a plurality of side bypass manifolds.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 13, 2015
    Assignee: Institute of Nuclear Energy Research
    Inventors: Dung-Di Yu, Yung-Neng Cheng, Ruey-Yi Lee, Chien-Hsiung Lee
  • Patent number: 8916303
    Abstract: A fuel cell system includes: a fuel cell including a cell laminate; an estimating unit for estimating a residual water content distribution in the reactant gas flow channel in a cell plane of each of the single cells and a moisture content distribution in the electrolyte membrane in consideration of water transfer through the electrolyte membrane between the anode electrode and the cathode electrode; and an operation control unit for limiting an electric current drawn from the fuel cell when a residual water content in the reactant gas flow channel estimated by the estimating unit is equal to or above a predetermined threshold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 23, 2014
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Masahiro Okuyoshi, Masaaki Matsusue, Masashi Toida
  • Patent number: 8911895
    Abstract: An all solid state rechargeable oxide-ion (ROB) battery (30) has a thermal energy storage (TES) unit (20) between two oxide-ion cells (22, 24) with metal-metal oxide electrodes (34, 36, 40, 42) on opposite sides of an anion conducting solid electrolyte (32,38) where none of the electrodes is contact with air.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 21, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 16, 2014
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Kevin Huang, Chun Lu, James L. Shull, Shih-Yu W. Liu, Gong Zhang, Kevin P. Litzinger
  • Patent number: 8895190
    Abstract: Disclosed is a method for preparing a lithium-metal composite oxide, the method comprising the steps of: (a) mixing an aqueous solution of one or more transition metal-containing precursor compounds with an alkalifying agent and a lithium precursor compound to precipitate hydroxides of the transition metals; (b) mixing the mixture of step (a) with water under supercritical or subcritical conditions to synthesize a lithium-metal composite oxide, and drying the lithium-metal composite oxide; and (c) subjecting the dried lithium-metal composite oxide either to calcination or to granulation and then calcination. Also disclosed are an electrode comprising the lithium-metal composite oxide, and an electrochemical device comprising the electrode. In the disclosed invention, a lithium-metal composite oxide synthesized based on the prior supercritical hydrothermal synthesis method is subjected either to calcination or to granulation and then calcination.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 16, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 25, 2014
    Assignees: LG Chem, Ltd., Hanwha Chemical Corporation
    Inventors: Sung-Kyun Chang, Eui-Yong Bang, Min-Chul Jang, Sang-Hoon Choy, Ki-Young Lee, Wan-Jae Myeong, Kyu-Ho Song, Joo-Hyeong Lee, Young-Sik Hahn, Myung-Ho Cho, Yong-Tae Lee
  • Patent number: 8895166
    Abstract: A fuel cell system includes a fuel cell which generates electric power using supplied reactive gases; a load control device for controlling a load applied to the fuel cell; a voltage measuring device for measuring a voltage generated by the fuel cell; a fuel cell driving control device for controlling at least a supply of the reactive gases to the fuel cell; and a voltage variation rate obtaining device for obtaining a rate of variation in the voltage generated by the fuel cell when the load is varied. The fuel cell driving control device is controlled based on the rate of variation in the generated voltage obtained by the voltage variation rate obtaining device. The voltage variation rate being obtained when the generated voltage increases. The load being varied by applying momentarily a load to the fuel cell when the voltage variation rate is obtained.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 25, 2014
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hiromichi Yoshida, Ryo Jinba
  • Patent number: 8882859
    Abstract: A method of manufacturing a metal separator for a fuel cell includes molding two plates such that each plate has a least one concave portion and at least one convex portion, applying a sealant to a sealing portion of at least one of the plates, arranging the plates such that the concave portions of each plate are opposite the convex portions of the other plate, and spot welding the plates together. The sealing portion may be near an edge of the separator, between a hydrogen manifold, an oxygen manifold, and a coolant manifold. A sealant leakage prevention groove may further be provided at the sealing portion. The sealing portion may be made by being inserted between a projection on a first mold and a recess on a second mold, and a spot welding gun may be inserted through a guide hole in one of the molds.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 10, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 11, 2014
    Assignee: Hyundai Motor Company
    Inventor: Dong Gwan Bae
  • Patent number: 8828579
    Abstract: The invention provides a battery, which can improve battery characteristics such as high temperature storage characteristics. The battery comprises a battery device, wherein a cathode and an anode are wound with a separator in between. The anode contains an anode material capable of inserting and extracting Li as an anode active material. An electrolytic solution is impregnated in the separator. The electrolytic solution contains a solvent, and an electrolyte salt such as Li[B(CF3)4] dissolved in the solvent, which is expressed by a chemical formula of Li[B(RF1)(RF2)(RF3)RF4]RF 1, RF 2, RF 3, and RF 4 represent a perfluoro alkyl group whose number of fluorine or carbon is from 1 to 12, respectively. Consequently, high temperature storage characteristics are improved.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2004
    Date of Patent: September 9, 2014
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Tadahiko Kubota, Momoe Adachi, Shigeru Fujita
  • Patent number: 8822102
    Abstract: A manifold device for a tube type solid oxide fuel cell including a manifold body including at least one of a first opening for fluid inflow and a second opening for fluid outflow; at least one of a first manifold unit in the manifold body, the first manifold unit distributing fluid flowing in the first opening portion into channels, and a second manifold unit in the manifold body, the second manifold unit integrating fluid flowing in channels out to the second opening; and a plurality of tube type ports, each tube type port having a tube type body contacting and protruding from an outer surface of the manifold body, being connected to and in fluid communication with the channels, and including a heat interception unit in a portion of the tube type body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 2, 2014
    Assignee: Samsung SDI Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Jun-Won Suh
  • Patent number: 8815441
    Abstract: A secondary battery includes an electrode assembly for generating electricity, a can for accommodating the electrode assembly, and a cap assembly. The can has an open top and the cap assembly seals the open top. The electrode assembly has a plurality of electrode tabs through which electricity is supplied. The cap assembly includes an insulating case that has a plurality of tab drawing grooves. Each of the tab drawing grooves is capable of being occupied by one of the electrode tabs. A number of the tab drawing grooves is greater than a number of the electrode tabs. One of the electrode tabs can be drawn through one of the tab drawing grooves. Other tab drawing grooves are left as spare grooves, and therefore it is not necessary to change the shape of the insulating case even though the structure of the secondary battery is changed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 26, 2014
    Assignee: Samsung SDI Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Dong-Woo Kim
  • Patent number: 8790833
    Abstract: Provided is a floating-type microbial fuel cell capable of effectively generating energy from organic contaminants of contaminated waters. The floating-type microbial fuel cell includes a cathode, an anode electrically connected to the cathode, and a floating unit connected to the cathode and/or the anode and floatable in a substrate solution, wherein the cathode is positioned at a region in the substrate solution having a dissolved oxygen concentration higher than that of a region at which the anode is positioned, and the anode is positioned at a region in the substrate solution having an amount of electrons generated by microorganisms larger than that of a region at which the cathode is positioned.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 29, 2014
    Assignee: Gwangju Institute of Science and Technology
    Inventors: In Seop Chang, Junyeong An
  • Patent number: 8785055
    Abstract: Novel electric battery systems are disclosed utilizing selected ionic liquids as electrolytes and selected metals and metal oxides as electrodes. The ionic liquids utilize a substituted imidazolium cation, which does not have the corrosive safety and environmental concerns associated with corrosive acid and alkali electrolytes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 7, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 22, 2014
    Assignee: The United States of America as Represented by the Secretary of the Navy
    Inventor: Thomas E. Sutto
  • Patent number: 8771877
    Abstract: Disclosed is a positive electrode material for nonaqueous electrolyte secondary batteries, which comprises a porous body composed of a material containing a polyanion. Also disclosed is a method for producing such a positive electrode material for nonaqueous electrolyte secondary batteries. When a carbon coating is formed on the surface of a material containing a polyanion of lithium iron phosphate or the like by a conventional method, the capacity during low rate discharge is improved but the capacity is not sufficient. In the present invention, the positive electrode material for nonaqueous electrolyte secondary batteries, which comprises a porous body composed of a material containing a polyanion, has a structure wherein the inner walls of the pores of the porous body are provided with a layered carbon, for improving the discharge capacity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 8, 2014
    Assignee: GS Yuasa International Ltd.
    Inventors: Yoshinobu Yasunaga, Akihiro Fujii, Tokuo Inamasu