Patents Examined by Ashley Kwon
  • Patent number: 7914925
    Abstract: To provide a high capacity thin-type secondary battery suitably formed into a module and having no thickness fluctuation, excellent quality stability, and excellent heat radiation properties, by using a sheet-like separator having expansion anisotropy due to penetration of an electrolytic solution.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 21, 2005
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2011
    Assignees: Enax, Inc., Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kazunori Ozawa, Kazuhiro Takahashi, Yuuji Tanjou, Takeshi Miyamoto
  • Patent number: 7824799
    Abstract: A battery apparatus and electronic equipment is capable of reliably mounting the battery apparatus on a battery mounting section, and advantageous in improving operability when mounting the battery apparatus on the battery mounting section. One surface of a case of a battery apparatus in a thickness direction is formed as a flat bottom surface. At the portions of the bottom surface on the both sides in a width direction, a plurality of engaging pieces are formed respectively so as to project outwardly in the width direction at spaced intervals in the length direction. The engaging pieces are arranged to engage with the engaging claws of the battery mounting section and position the positions in the thickness direction of the case in the battery mounting section, while mating the bottom surface of the case with the mounting surface of the battery mounting section of the electronic equipment and then sliding the case in the length direction of the case.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 24, 2004
    Date of Patent: November 2, 2010
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Toshio Takeshita, Yoichi Miyajima
  • Patent number: 7816049
    Abstract: A direct liquid feed fuel cell includes a membrane electrode assembly (MEA) including an anode electrode and a cathode electrode respectively disposed on either side of an electrolyte membrane. A conductive anode plate and a conductive cathode plate which respectively face the anode electrode and the cathode electrode, and have flow channels therein. Stripe-shaped hydrophilic members are formed on the cathode electrode, cross the flow channels of the conductive cathode plate, and transfer water from the flow channels to the conductive cathode plate. The conductive cathode plate is hydrophilic.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 2006
    Date of Patent: October 19, 2010
    Assignee: Samsung SDI Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Seung-jae Lee, Ji-rae Kim, Kyoung Hwan Choi, Jin-ho Kim, Yoon-hoi Lee
  • Patent number: 7803485
    Abstract: A positive electrode for use in a lithium secondary battery comprises a positive electrode current collector, and a positive electrode film which is carried on the positive electrode current collector and includes a plurality of mixture layers. The positive electrode film contains, as a positive electrode active material, two or more kinds of lithium-containing compounds having exothermic initiation temperatures different from each other. At least one kind of the two or more kinds of lithium-containing compounds has the exothermic initiation temperature of 300 ° C. or higher. A first mixture layer of the plural mixture layers closest to the positive electrode current collector contains at least one kind of the lithium-containing compound having the exothermic initiation temperature of 300 ° C. or higher.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 14, 2006
    Date of Patent: September 28, 2010
    Assignee: Panasonic Corporation
    Inventors: Hideharu Takezawa, Hajime Nishino
  • Patent number: 7794895
    Abstract: It is described a bipolar separator for polymer membrane fuel cell stacks, delimited by two sheets provided with fluid passage holes connected by means of a corrugated element and comprising a passage section for a thermostatting liquid, which allows to achieve the withdrawal of heat from the adjacent cells and the humidification and distribution of gases with a single integrated piece, simplifying the assembly and the hydraulic sealing of the stack.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2004
    Date of Patent: September 14, 2010
    Assignee: Nuvera Fuel Cells Europe S.r.l.
    Inventor: Antonino Toro
  • Patent number: 7781101
    Abstract: An electrode for a non-aqueous electrolyte secondary battery 6 according to the present invention includes: a current collector 3; a first active material layer 2 formed on the current collector 3; and a second active material layer 5 provided on the first active material layer 2, the second active material layer 5 including a plurality of active material particles 4. The plurality of active material particles 4 is mainly of a chemical composition represented as SiOx (0?x<1.2). The first active material layer 2 is mainly of a chemical composition represented as SiOy (1.0?y<2.0, y>x). The area in which the first active material layer 2 is in contact with the plurality of active material particles 4 is smaller than the area in which the current collector 3 is in contact with the first active material layer 2.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 13, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 24, 2010
    Assignee: Panasonic Corporation
    Inventors: Sadayuki Okazaki, Kazuyoshi Honda, Masaya Ugaji
  • Patent number: 7776489
    Abstract: A clamping device includes an oblique device and a unidirectional load control plate disposed on the outside of the fuel cell stack, not on the inside of the fuel cell stack. The device can automatically compensating the surface pressure in the fuel cell stack to be maintained constant, and provide a large clamping load with a small force using the load of the fuel cell stack.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 14, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 17, 2010
    Assignees: Hyundai Motor Company, Pohang University of Science and Technology
    Inventors: Young Bum Kum, Sae Hoon Kim, Yoo Chang Yang, Sung Ho Lee, Jung Do Suh, Chul Ho Yim, Ji Hoon Jeon, Woon Bong Hwang, Sang Min Lee, Chang Woo Lee, Seong Jin Cho
  • Patent number: 7771888
    Abstract: A purge valve for a split fuel cell stack design that prevents a direct flow path between the anode sides of the split stacks. The purge valve includes an inlet port that receives purge air from a compressor, a first outlet port in fluid communication with the anode side of one of the split stacks and a second outlet port in fluid communication with the anode side of the other split stack. A spring biased shaft maintains a diaphragm in a closed position to close off the flow channels between the inlet port and the first outlet port, the inlet port and the second outlet port and the first and second outlet ports during normal fuel cell operation. A hole is provided through the diaphragm to provide pressure equalization in the chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 19, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 10, 2010
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations, Inc.
    Inventors: Aaron Rogahn, Bruce J. Clingerman, Joseph Gerzseny
  • Patent number: 7771873
    Abstract: In an alkaline battery including a cathode mixture including gamma-manganese dioxide and lambda-manganese dioxide, an anode, and an alkaline electrolyte, the weight ratio of the lambda-manganese dioxide to the gamma-manganese dioxide is set to 0.5/100 to 4.5/100, and the average particle size of the lambda-manganese dioxide is set to 3 to 10 ?m. An alkaline battery excellent in high-load discharge performance without decline in low-load discharge performance is provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 25, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 10, 2010
    Assignee: Panasonic Corporation
    Inventors: Jun Nunome, Yuji Mototani, Hidekazu Hiratsuka, Shigeru Hanaoka
  • Patent number: 7759013
    Abstract: A fuel delivery apparatus for a direct liquid feed fuel cell is provided. The fuel delivery apparatus includes a plate stack formed by a one or more double-sided plates positioned between opposing end plates. Both sides of the one or more double-sided plates, and the interior side of each end plate, may include one or more microchannels that extend between, and link, an inlet port with an outlet port. The length of the microchannels is chosen to be less than the height of a predetermined meniscus so that liquid fuel propelled by capillary force forms a meniscus that stands proximate the interface between the ends of the microchannels and the outlet port. A heater may be located at the upper ends of the microchannels around the plate stack, to vaporize the liquid fuel at the meniscus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 28, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 20, 2010
    Assignee: Samsung SDI Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Jae-yong Lee, Hye-jung Cho
  • Patent number: 7758985
    Abstract: Control systems, sensors and methods for controlling the fuel concentration in a fuel cell or a fuel cell stack are provided. In certain examples, the control system may be configured to detect a performance degradation, and the fuel concentration provided to the fuel cell may be adjusted in response to detection of the performance degradation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 20, 2010
    Assignee: American Power Conversion Corporation
    Inventors: Peter Nielsen, Ulrik Karlsson
  • Patent number: 7745045
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a layered product in which at least an aluminum foil, a chemical conversion layer, an olefinic resin layer having an adhesive property to metal and a thermal bonding resin layer are successively laminated on a substrate layer. A fluororesin layer, formed by a fluorine-containing copolymer having a crosslinking group and a curing agent that reacts with the crosslinking group, is formed between the olefinic resin layer and the thermal bonding resin layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 2005
    Date of Patent: June 29, 2010
    Assignee: Dai Nippon Printing Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Takanori Yamashita, Masataka Okushita, Youichi Mochizuki
  • Patent number: 7740987
    Abstract: A method of operating a fuel cell cogeneration system comprises the steps of cooling a fuel cell by circulating an internal heat transfer medium through the fuel cell while the fuel cell is generating electric power, storing an external heat transfer medium in a heat utilization portion, detecting remaining calories of the heat utilization portion by a first detector provided at the heat utilization portion, increasing a temperature of the fuel cell to an operating temperature by carrying out a first temperature increasing operation, and increasing the temperature of the fuel cell to the operating temperature by carrying out a second temperature increasing operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 22, 2010
    Assignee: Panasonic Corporation
    Inventors: Shinji Miyauchi, Tetsuya Ueda, Yoshiaki Yamamoto
  • Patent number: 7718297
    Abstract: A product comprising a fuel cell stack comprising a cathode outlet, a first conduit connected to the cathode outlet and to a first housing, a water-retaining material provided in said first housing, a bypass conduit connected to the cathode outlet of the fuel cell system, and a first valve for opening and closing at least one of said first conduit and said bypass conduit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 8, 2006
    Date of Patent: May 18, 2010
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations, Inc.
    Inventors: Reiner Wilpsbaeumer, Detlef Guenther, Remy Fontaine, Dirk Wexel
  • Patent number: 7713643
    Abstract: A collector plate (14) is connected to an output terminal (16). The collector plate (14) is made such that heat capacity per unit area of a neighboring region (14A) thereof, which is near to a portion where the output terminal (16) is connected, is different to the heat capacity per unit area of other regions (14B, 14C). More specifically, the other regions (14B, 14C) are formed such that the heat capacity per unit area thereof is smaller than that of the neighboring region (14A).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 2005
    Date of Patent: May 11, 2010
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Hideaki Kume, Keiji Kishida
  • Patent number: 7709132
    Abstract: A side plate of a casing includes bracket members and a surface member. Each of the bracket members includes three second coupling portions and a plate-shaped attachment portion provided integrally with the second coupling portions. A coupling pin is inserted into the second coupling portions. The surface member is joined to the plate-shaped attachment portion. The bracket member includes a step fitted to an end of the surface member. The plate-shaped attachment portion and the surface member are jointed at a spot welding section including spots in a zigzag pattern.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 16, 2005
    Date of Patent: May 4, 2010
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Ayumu Ishizuka, Hideaki Kikuchi, Go Morimoto
  • Patent number: 7709155
    Abstract: A nonaqueous solvent in a nonaqueous electrolytic solution in a lithium-ion secondary battery 1 contains propylene carbonate (PC), a first compound expressed by formula (I), and a second compound expressed by formula (II). The content of PC in the nonaqueous solvent is at least 10 volume %. The content X [mass %] of the first compound and the content Y [mass %] of the second compound simultaneously satisfy the conditions represented by expressions (1) and (2) [2?(X+Y)?8 (1), 0.01?(Y/X)?0.30 (2)]. R1 to R6 in formula (I) indicate any of a hydrogen atom and hydrocarbon groups having a carbon number of 1 to 3, whereas R7 and R8 in formula (II) indicate any of a hydrogen atom and hydrocarbon groups having a carbon number of 1 to 3.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 28, 2004
    Date of Patent: May 4, 2010
    Assignee: TDK Corporation
    Inventors: Kazuya Ogawa, Atsushi Sano, Tsuyoshi Iijima, Satoshi Maruyama
  • Patent number: 7682727
    Abstract: A portable electronic device includes a battery for providing electricity to the portable electronic device; a housing for accommodating the battery; a battery cover for covering the battery; a latch affixed to the housing in a slidable manner along a first direction, wherein when the latch is at a first position, the latch is capable of fixing the battery cover and the housing together; and an elastic unit for lifting the battery cover when the latch is at a second position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 2005
    Date of Patent: March 23, 2010
    Assignee: Lite-On Technology Corp.
    Inventor: Cheng-Hua Hsu
  • Patent number: 7662518
    Abstract: A microporous polyolefin battery separator membrane is extremely high in porosity, high in puncture strength, very low in shrinkage and with shutdown temperature of 130-140 degrees C. and melt integrity greater than 165 degrees C. It consists of 20-30% by weight of a UHMW polyethylene having Mw of 1×106 or higher, 60-70% by weight of a HDPE having average Mw of between 200,000-500,000 and 5-15% by weight of TiO2 with an average particle size of less than 0.2 microns.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2007
    Date of Patent: February 16, 2010
    Inventors: Abbas Samii, Garrin Samii, David Veno
  • Patent number: 7662500
    Abstract: A package for a fuel cell having an upper plate having a plurality of openings, the front surface of a cell element being intended to be received under each opening to close it, each cell element having a first pad and a second connection pad, each opening being provided with at least one crossbar connecting two sides of the opening, this crossbar having at least a conductive track portion having a first end connected to a pad of a first cell element and having a second end connected to a pad of a neighboring cell element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2007
    Date of Patent: February 16, 2010
    Assignee: STMicroelectronics S.A.
    Inventors: Yann Bedu, Christophe Serre