Patents Examined by Angela Martin
  • Patent number: 9923182
    Abstract: An embodiment of the present disclosure provides a structure that contributes to increasing the capacity density. A secondary cell according to an embodiment of the present disclosure includes a plurality of periodic unit structures that are arranged on a first surface. Each of those periodic unit structures includes a positive electrode layer and a negative electrode layer, each of which projects away from the first surface, and a solid electrolyte interposed between the positive electrode and negative electrode layers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 15, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 20, 2018
    Assignee: Panasonic Intellectual Property Management Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Miyuki Nakai, Satoshi Shibata, Emiko Igaki, Hirofumi Fujita
  • Patent number: 9899677
    Abstract: A positive active material for a rechargeable lithium battery including a lithium metal oxide represented by the following Chemical Formula 1, a method of preparing the same, and a rechargeable lithium battery including the same. LiaMeM?kO2??Chemical Formula 1 In Chemical Formula 1, Me is NixCoyMnz, M? is Mg, Al, Fe, P, or a combination thereof, 0.955?a<1.05, 0.001?k?0.1, 0.5<x?0.65, 0.1<y?0.25, 0.1<z?0.25, x+y+z+k=1, M? is doped at a Li site and at least one of Ni, Co, and Mn sites, M? is doped in an amount at 0.1 mol % or 10 mol % or between 0.1 mol % and 10 mol % based on the total amount of Ni, Co, and Mn, and a doping mole ratio of M? doped at the Li site with respect to a Me site is in the following range: about 0.001?ALi/AMe?about 0.5.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2018
    Assignee: Samsung SDI Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Ji-Hyun Kim, Do-Hyung Park, Seon-Young Kwon, Min-Han Kim, Yu-Mi Song, Kyoung-Hyun Kim
  • Patent number: 9899641
    Abstract: According to one embodiment, there is provided a battery. The battery includes a metallic outer can, a wound electrode group, a positive electrode-lead, a negative electrode-lead, a positive electrode insulating cover, and a negative electrode insulating cover.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 7, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2018
    Assignee: KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOSHIBA
    Inventors: Tatsuya Shinoda, Hideyuki Ishii, Kengo Kurata, Yoshiaki Asami, Tsutomu Matsui, Eiki Kashiwazaki, Kenichi Takahashi
  • Patent number: 9896555
    Abstract: Preferred embodiments of a freestanding, heat resistant microporous polymer film (10) constructed for use in an energy storage device (70, 100) implements one or more of the following approaches to exhibit excellent high temperature mechanical and dimensional stability: incorporation into a porous polyolefin film of sufficiently high loading levels of inorganic or ceramic filler material (16) to maintain porosity (18) and achieve low thermal shrinkage; use of crosslinkable polyethylene to contribute to crosslinking the polymer matrix (14) in a highly inorganic material-filled polyolefin film; and heat treating or annealing of biaxially oriented, highly inorganic material-filled polyolefin film above the melting point temperature of the polymer matrix to reduce residual stress while maintaining high porosity. The freestanding, heat resistant microporous polymer film embodiments exhibit extremely low resistance, as evidenced by MacMullin numbers of less than 4.5.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2018
    Assignee: Amtek Research International LLC
    Inventors: Richard W. Pekala, Srinivas Cherukupalli, Robert R. Waterhouse
  • Patent number: 9876238
    Abstract: An example fuel cell assembly includes a plate having channels configured to facilitate movement of a fuel cell fluid near an area of active flow of fuel cell. The channels include portions having a varying depth that extend laterally outside of the area of active flow.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 23, 2018
    Assignee: Audi AG
    Inventors: Jonathan Daniel O'Neill, Timothy W. Patterson, Christopher John Carnevale, Roopnarine Sukhram
  • Patent number: 9870873
    Abstract: Mixture of particles comprising a non-conducting or semi-conducting nucleus covered with a hybrid conductor coating and hybrid conductor chains located between the particles of the mixture to constitute a conductivity network, that is prepared by mechanical crushing. Due to a very good conductivity of the network, a low resistivity, a very good capacity under elevated current and/or a good density of energy, these mixtures of particles are advantageously incorporated in anodes and cathodes of electrochemical generators, resulting in highly performing electrochemical systems.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 16, 2018
    Assignee: HYDRO-QUEBEC
    Inventors: Karim Zaghib, Patrick Charest, Abdelbast Guerfi, Michel Perrier, Kimio Kinoshita
  • Patent number: 9871241
    Abstract: There is provided an electrode assembly having increased degrees of structural freedom in the thickness direction thereof. The electrode assembly includes negative and positive electrodes alternately stacked with separators interposed therebetween, wherein the electrode assembly is formed by stacking N electrode stacks where N is a natural number equal to or greater than 2, each of the electrode stacks comprises electrodes having the same area and stacked with separators interposed therebetween, and neighboring electrode stacks of the electrode stacks have different electrode areas, wherein a first electrode stack of the electrode stacks is formed by stacking unit cells respectively including an odd number of electrodes, and the other electrode stacks stacked on the first electrode are formed by stacking unit cells respectively including an even number of electrodes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 18, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 16, 2018
    Assignee: LG Chem, Ltd.
    Inventors: Sung-Jin Kwon, Ki-Woong Kim, Soon-Ho Ahn, Dong-Myung Kim, Young-Hoon Kim, Sung-Han Yoon, Seung-Min Ryu
  • Patent number: 9865861
    Abstract: Disclosed herein is a battery module including a plurality of unit modules, based on battery cells which can be charged and discharged, electrically connected to each other, wherein the unit modules are electrically connected to each other in series and/or in parallel or the unit modules are electrically connected to a bus bar in series and/or in parallel, the battery module has two or more electrical connection points, and the number of electrically connected members at each of the electrical connection points is less than the total number of the electrically connected members of the battery module.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 7, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2018
    Assignee: LG CHEM, LTD.
    Inventor: Jihyun Kim
  • Patent number: 9859557
    Abstract: Disclosed are: nickel complex hydroxide particles that have small and uniform particle diameters; and a method by which the nickel complex hydroxide particles can be produced. Specifically disclosed is a method for producing a nickel complex hydroxide by a crystallization reaction, which comprises: a nucleation step in which nucleation is carried out, while controlling an aqueous solution for nucleation containing an ammonium ion supplying material and a metal compound that contains nickel to have a pH of 12.0-13.4 at a liquid temperature of 25° C.; and a particle growth step in which nuclei are grown, while controlling an aqueous solution for particle growth containing the nuclei, which have been formed in the nucleation step, to have a pH of 10.5-12.0 at a liquid temperature of 25° C. In this connection, the pH in the particle growth step is controlled to be less than the pH in the nucleation step.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2018
    Assignee: SUMITOMO METAL MINING CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Kensaku Mori, Shin Imaizumi, Rei Kokado
  • Patent number: 9825276
    Abstract: A battery pack includes a plurality of unit batteries arranged side by side in a first direction, each unit battery including a can accommodating an opening including an electrode assembly having a first electrode plate, a second electrode plate, and a separator between the electrode plates, and a cap plate sealing the opening. The plurality of unit batteries may be arranged side by side in the first direction with all the cap plates exposed in the same direction. The battery pack may further include a protection circuit module adjacent to the cap plate with a circuit board extending in the first direction and a protection device coupled to it, wherein each unit battery further includes a first terminal on a first area of the cap plate and a second terminal on a second area of the cap plate, each coupled to the unit battery and the protection circuit module.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 10, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 21, 2017
    Assignee: Samsung SDI Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Byung-Kook Ahn, Dae-Yon Moon
  • Patent number: 9812925
    Abstract: Processing units and electrical power generation are integrated with a botanical environment to form a closed loop system whereby the outputs of one component serve as the inputs of another. Additionally, humans can be added to the system while maintaining the closed loop nature. Heat generated by the electrical power generation and processing units aids in the growth of botanicals and in the conversion of waste organic materials into both fertilizer and fuel for the electrical power generation. Additionally, carbon dioxide output by the electrical power generation is consumed by the botanicals, which, in turn, output oxygen consumed by the electrical power generation. Water is obtained by passing the exhaust of the electrical power generation across condenser coils, and is utilized for adiabatic cooling, as well as a heat transfer medium. Water is also consumed by the botanicals, aiding their growth.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 18, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2017
    Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing, LLC
    Inventors: Christian L. Belady, Brian Janous, Sean James
  • Patent number: 9806377
    Abstract: A secondary battery capable of improving cycle characteristics, conservation characteristics, and load characteristics is provided. The secondary battery includes a cathode, an anode, and an electrolytic solution. A separator provided between the cathode and the anode is impregnated with an electrolytic solution. The electrolytic solution includes one or more of a dicarbonic ester compound, a dicarboxylic compound, a disulfonic compound, a monofluoro lithium phosphate, and difluoro lithium phosphate and one or more of fluorinated lithium phosphate, fluorinated lithium borate, and imide lithium.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 31, 2017
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Masayuki Ihara, Yuko Hayakawa, Tadahiko Kubota
  • Patent number: 9774054
    Abstract: An electricity storage battery is described, including an anode electrolyte solution 32 that contains a zinc redox material and an amine represented by a general formula (1) below: In the general formula (1), n is one of the integers 0 to 4, and each of R1, R2, R3 and R4 independently represents hydrogen, methyl or ethyl.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 26, 2017
    Assignee: NISSIN ELECTRIC CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Lan Huang, Hiroshige Deguchi, Toshihiro Miyazaki, Shosuke Yamanouchi
  • Patent number: 9761889
    Abstract: A device (10) for use in a fuel cell includes a fuel-cell flow-field channel (18) having a channel-inlet section (42) and a channel-outlet section (44). At least one of the channel-inlet section (42) or the channel-outlet section (44) includes an obstruction member (46) that partially blocks flow through the fuel-cell flow-field channel (18).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 2005
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2017
    Assignee: Audi AG
    Inventors: Michael L. Perry, Ned Emidio Cipollini
  • Patent number: 9761867
    Abstract: Nanocomposits of conductive, nanoparticulate polymer and electronically active material, in particular PEDOT and LiFePO4, were found to be significantly better compared to bare and carbon coated LiFePO4 in carbon black and graphite filled non conducting binder. The conductive polymer containing composite outperformed the other two samples. The performance of PEDOT composite was especially better in the high current regime with capacity retention of 82% after 200 cycles. Hence an electrode based on composite made of conductive, nanoparticulate polymer and electronically active material, in particular LiFePO4 and PEDOT nanostubs, with its higher energy density and increased resistance to harsh charging regimes proved to dramatically extend the high power applicability of materials such as LiFePO4.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2017
    Assignee: Belenos Clean Power Holding AG
    Inventors: Reinhard Nesper, Rahul Fotedar, Yoann Mettan
  • Patent number: 9761911
    Abstract: Disclosed herein is a battery pack including a power supply unit including two or more battery cells or battery modules electrically connected to each other, at least one pressure driven switch configured to cause a short circuit in a portion or the entirety of the battery pack upon detecting expansion in volume of the battery cells or the battery modules when the power supply unit malfunctions, a cut-off portion located at at least one series connection region between the battery cells or the battery modules to interrupt electrical connection in the battery pack when the short circuit occurs in the battery pack, and external input and output terminals connected to electrode terminals located at outermost sides of the power supply unit to supply power to an external device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 21, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2017
    Assignee: LG CHEM, LTD.
    Inventors: Jin Kyu Lee, Dalmo Kang, Junseok Choi, Seongtae Kim, Taehyuck Kim, Taehwan Roh
  • Patent number: 9755259
    Abstract: There is provided a power generation body used for a fuel cell. The power generation body comprising a membrane electrode and gas diffusion layer assembly comprising an electrolyte membrane, a first catalyst layer placed on one surface of the electrolyte membrane, a second catalyst layer placed on the other surface of the electrolyte membrane, a first gas diffusion layer placed outside of the first catalyst layer and a second gas diffusion layer placed outside of the second catalyst layer; a frame placed around a circumference of the membrane electrode and gas diffusion layer assembly; and an adhesive provided to bond the membrane electrode and gas diffusion layer assembly to the frame. The first gas diffusion layer is formed to have an identical size with that of the electrolyte membrane, and the second gas diffusion layer is formed smaller than the electrolyte membrane. The frame has a stepped portion corresponding to a stepped shape formed by the electrolyte membrane and the second gas diffusion layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2017
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Tomokazu Hayashi
  • Patent number: 9755251
    Abstract: A system and method for processing the electric signals from a plurality of fuel cells in a fuel cell system is disclosed. Groups of the plurality of fuel cells, such as five bipolar plates, are electrically coupled to a conductive compressible connector or a circuit board, where some of the bipolar plates have a plate contactor for providing the electrical contact to either the conductive compressible connector or the circuit board. The system allows for the processing of the electric signals of every cell using fewer electrical components, thereby reducing the amount of space required and the costs associated therewith.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2017
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Jeffrey A. Rock, Jeff D. Williams
  • Patent number: 9742043
    Abstract: A battery pack temperature control structure is provided for an electric vehicle, and basically includes first and second battery modules, a temperature control unit and an air duct. The first and second battery modules are disposed inside a battery pack case. The second battery module has a lower height than the first battery module. The temperature control unit has an air blowing port for blowing a temperature control air to the first and second battery modules. The air duct is connected to the air blowing port of the temperature control unit, and has an air blowout opening arranged to blow out the temperature control air to a front of the first battery module at a location above the top of the second battery module. The air blowout opening-extends in a vehicle width direction and blows out the temperature control air toward the first battery module.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 7, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2017
    Assignee: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Tatsunori Tanigaki, Kentaro Hatta, Norihisa Tsujimura
  • Patent number: 9735451
    Abstract: Disclosed herein is a battery module including two or more battery cells, wherein the battery module is configured in a structure in which a sensor (a “temperature sensor”) to measure the temperature of at least one of the battery cells is disposed between the at least one of the battery cells and a corresponding member contacting the at least one of the battery cells, the corresponding member is provided at a region thereof contacting the at least one of the battery cells with a groove formed in a shape corresponding to the temperature sensor, and the temperature sensor is disposed in contact with the outside of the at least one of the battery cells in a state in which the temperature sensor is mounted in the groove.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 17, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2017
    Assignee: LG CHEM, LTD.
    Inventors: Minjung Kim, Jinkyu Lee, Dal Mo Kang, Hee Soo Yoon