Patents Examined by Austin Murata
  • Patent number: 11581526
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for producing an electrochemical cell comprising at least one porous electrode (2?), the method comprising at least the following method steps: (a) providing an electrode composition in the form of a homogeneous mixture comprising (i) at least one particulate active material (3); (ii) at least one particulate binder (5); (iii) at least one particulate pore-forming agent (4); and (iv) optionally at least one conducting additive (6); (b) forming a mouldable mass from the electrode composition; (c) applying the electrode composition to at least one surface of a substrate (1) to obtain a compact electrode (2); (d) producing an electrochemical cell comprising at least one compact electrode (2) which comprises the electrode composition according to method step (a); and (e) heating the at least one compact electrode (2) to liquefy the at least one particulate pore-forming agent (4); and/or (f) bringing the compact electrode (2) into contact with at least one liquid electrolyte compo
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2023
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Calin Iulius Wurm, Harald Bauer, Leonore Glanz
  • Patent number: 11581571
    Abstract: Disclosed is a method for improving the performance of a layered electrode material. An interlayer spacing of the layered electrode material is measured and donated as (b). A salt compound is selected and added into a solvent with a molecular diameter of (c) to prepare an electrolytic solution, where a diameter (a) of a cation in the salt compound is smaller than the interlayer spacing (b), and c>b?a. The electrolytic solution is used as the working electrolytic solution for the layered electrode material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2023
    Assignee: WUHAN RIKOMAY NEW ENERGY CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Yuancheng Cao, Yaqing Guo, Shun Tang
  • Patent number: 11572450
    Abstract: The present invention provides a method for fabricating patterned cellulose nanocrystal (CNC) composite nanofibers and thin films for optical and electromagnetic sensor and actuator application, comprising the following steps of: selecting materials for fabricating patterned cellulose nanocrystal (CNC) composite nanofibers; and fabricating patterned CNCs composite nanofibers by incorporating secondary phases either during electrospinning or post-processing, wherein the secondary phases may include dielectrics, electrically or magnetically activated nanoparticles or polymers and biological cells mechanically reinforced by CNCs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 2022
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2023
    Assignee: National Tsinghua University
    Inventors: Wei-Chih Wang, Yen-Tse Cheng
  • Patent number: 11575115
    Abstract: An electrode heat treatment device and associated method for fabricating an electrode are described, and include forming a workpiece, including coating a current collector with a slurry. The workpiece is placed on a first spool, and the first spool including the workpiece is placed in a sealable chamber, wherein the sealable chamber includes the first spool, a heat exchange work space, and a second spool. An inert environment is created in the sealable chamber. The workpiece is subjected to a multi-step continuous heat treatment operation in the inert environment, wherein the multi-step continuous heat treatment operation includes continuously transferring the workpiece through the heat exchange work space between the first spool and the second spool and controlling the heat exchange work space to an elevated temperature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 15, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2023
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Ion C. Halalay, Kevin B. Rober, Niccolo Jimenez, Michael P. Balogh, Teresa U. Holiness-Stalling, Raghunathan K
  • Patent number: 11563412
    Abstract: A method of manufacture for an acoustic resonator or filter device. In an example, the present method can include forming metal electrodes with different geometric areas and profile shapes coupled to a piezoelectric layer overlying a substrate. These metal electrodes can also be formed within cavities of the piezoelectric layer or the substrate with varying geometric areas. Combined with specific dimensional ratios and ion implantations, such techniques can increase device performance metrics. In an example, the present method can include forming various types of perimeter structures surrounding the metal electrodes, which can be on top or bottom of the piezoelectric layer. These perimeter structures can use various combinations of modifications to shape, material, and continuity. These perimeter structures can also be combined with sandbar structures, piezoelectric layer cavities, the geometric variations previously discussed to improve device performance metrics.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 9, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2023
    Assignee: Akoustis, Inc.
    Inventors: Ramakrishna Vetury, Alexander Y. Feldman, Michael D. Hodge, Art Geiss, Shawn R. Gibb, Mark D. Boomgarden, Michael P. Lewis, Pinal Patel, Jeffrey B. Shealy
  • Patent number: 11557752
    Abstract: The present disclosure discloses a method for preparing an anode material for lithium ion battery of a SiC nanoparticle encapsulated by nitrogen-doped graphene. The method includes: in an ammonia atmosphere, heating a SiC nanoparticle for a predetermined time, and cooling to obtain the SiC nanoparticle encapsulated by nitrogen-doped graphene.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 17, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 17, 2023
    Inventors: Yan-Jie Wang, Changlong Sun, Peng Zhang, Tao Wang, Dan Liu, Weijie Ma
  • Patent number: 11557751
    Abstract: A process of synthesizing a solid state lithium ion conductor includes mechanically milling at least two precursors so as to form crystalline Li6MgBr8. For instance, the mechanical milling can be carried out using a planetary mill. Moreover, in a practical application, the precursors include LiBr and MgBr2.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 17, 2023
    Inventors: Rahul Bhowmik, Jitendra Kumar, Yuxing Wang
  • Patent number: 11552292
    Abstract: The present invention provides lithium nickelate-based positive electrode active substance particles having a high energy density which are excellent in charge/discharge cycle characteristics when highly charged, and hardly suffer from generation of gases upon storage under high-temperature conditions, and a process for producing the positive electrode active substance particles, as well as a non-aqueous electrolyte secondary battery. The present invention relates to positive electrode active substance particles each comprising a core particle X comprising a lithium nickelate composite oxide having a layer structure which is represented by the formula: Li1+aNi1?b?cCobMcO2 wherein M is at least one element selected from the group consisting of Mn, Al, B, Mg, Ti, Sn, Zn and Zr; a is a number of ?0.1 to 0.2 (?0.1•a•0.2); b is a number of 0.05 to 0.5 (0.05•b•0.5); and c is a number of 0.01 to 0.4 (0.01•c•0.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2023
    Assignee: TODA KOGYO CORP.
    Inventors: Hiroyasu Watanabe, Xiang Sun
  • Patent number: 11535517
    Abstract: The present disclosure is directed to methods for production of composites of carbon nanotubes and electrode active material from liquid dispersions. Composites thusly produced may be used as self-standing electrodes without binder or collector. Moreover, the method of the present disclosure may allow more cost-efficient production while simultaneously affording control over nanotube loading and composite thickness.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2022
    Assignee: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Avetik R. Harutyunyan
  • Patent number: 11522168
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides a negative electrode sheet, a preparation method thereof and a lithium ion battery containing the same. The negative electrode sheet includes a negative electrode current collector, where the negative electrode current collector includes a single-sided coating area and a double-sided coating area; in the double-sided coating area, second coating layers are disposed on both side surfaces of the negative electrode current collector, respectively, wherein each of the second coating layers includes a first negative electrode active material layer and a second negative electrode active material layer, the second negative electrode active material layer is disposed on a surface of the negative electrode current collector, and the first negative electrode active material layer is disposed on a surface of the second negative electrode active material layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2022
    Inventors: Baohai Zhang, Chong Peng, Wei He, Chao Shi, Junyi Li, Yanming Xu
  • Patent number: 11515571
    Abstract: A method of co-extruding battery components includes forming a first thin film battery component via hot melt extrusion, and forming a second thin film battery component via hot melt extrusion. A surface treatment is applied to a surface region of at least one of the first and second components so that, relative to a remainder of the at least one component, the surface region has at least one of a decreased inter-particle distance, a decreased amount of polymer binder material, and an increased amount of exposed ionically conductive material. The first and second components are fed through a co-extrusion die to form a co-extruded multilayer thin film.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 29, 2022
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Ram Subbaraman, Saravanan Kuppan
  • Patent number: 11476463
    Abstract: Disclosed herein is a method comprising mixing an electroactive particle with a carbonaceous material to form a particle mixture that comprises a carbon coated particle; subjecting the carbon coated particle to a pulsed voltage between parallel plate electrodes or between rolls of a roll mill; and converting the carbon coated particle to a graphite coated particle via localized Joule heating. Disclosed herein too is an apparatus comprising a mixing device that is operative to mix an electroactive particle with a carbonaceous material to form a particle mixture that comprises a carbon coated particle; and a device for applying a pulsed voltage to the particle mixture; where the applying of the pulsed voltage is conducted when the particle mixture is located between opposing plate electrodes or between opposing rolls of a roll mill; where the device for applying the pulsed voltage converts the carbon coated particle into a graphite coated particle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 7, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2022
    Assignee: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventors: Jeffrey D. Cain, Thomas E. Moylan, Andrew C. Bobel, Lei Wang
  • Patent number: 11476501
    Abstract: The invention discloses a lithium metal anode protection method improving lithium utilization efficiency, and relates to the field of lithium batteries. In a lithium battery, lithium metal is deposited on a current collector as a battery anode, and a high molecular polymer is added as an additive to an ester electrolyte. In the present application, the high molecular polymer is prepared by a polymerization reaction of monomer A being acrylonitrile or derivatives thereof, monomer B being perfluoroalkyl ethyl methacrylate or derivatives thereof, and monomer C being alkyl alcohol diacrylate or derivatives thereof. Due to the negative charge on the surface of lithium metal, the —CN and —CF3 in the polymer are strong electron-withdrawing groups, which promote the preferential adsorption of electrolyte additives on the surface of lithium metal and reduce the contact of other components in the electrolyte with lithium metal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 26, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2022
    Assignee: XIAMEN UNIVERSITY
    Inventors: Ling Huang, Qiong Wang, Ying Lei, Chenguang Shi, Shigang Sun
  • Patent number: 11462722
    Abstract: Embodiments described herein relate generally to apparatuses and processes for forming semi-solid electrodes having high active solids loading by removing excess electrolyte. In some embodiments, the semi-solid electrode material can be formed by mixing an active material and, optionally, a conductive material in a liquid electrolyte to form a suspension. In some embodiments, the semi-solid electrode material can be disposed onto a current collector to form an intermediate electrode. In some embodiments, the semi-solid electrode material can have a first composition in which the ratio of electrolyte to active material is between about 10:1 and about 1:1. In some embodiments, a method for converting the semi-solid electrode material from the first composition into the second composition includes removing a portion of the electrolyte from the semi-solid electrode material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 20, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2022
    Assignees: 24M Technologies, Inc., Kyocera Corporation
    Inventors: Junji Aranami, Raymond Zagars, Naoki Ota, Junzheng Chen, Ricardo Bazzarella
  • Patent number: 11462732
    Abstract: Process for making a coated electrode active material wherein said process comprises the following steps: (a) providing a particulate electrode active material according to general formula Li1+xTM1?xO2, wherein TM is a combination of Ni, Co and, optionally, Mn, and, optionally, at least one metal selected from Mg, Al, Ba, Ti and Zr, and x is in the range of from zero to 0.2, wherein at least 15 mole-% of the transition metal of TM is Ni, (b) treating said electrode active material with a compound of M1, wherein M1 is selected from Li, Al, B, Mg, Si, Sn, and from transition metals, or a combination of at least two of the foregoing, with or without a solvent, wherein said compound of M1 does not act as a cathode active material on its own, (c) optionally, removing compound of M1 which is not deposited on said particulate electrode active material, (d) performing a post-treatment by heating the material obtained after the step (b) or (c), if applicable, at a temperature from 300 to 800° C.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 18, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2022
    Assignee: BASF SE
    Inventors: Benedikt Kalo, Torsten Maeurer, Regina Vogelsang
  • Patent number: 11453793
    Abstract: The invention provides an inkjet method for producing a solder mask in the manufacture of a Printed Circuit Board. By using a solder mask inkjet ink containing at least one photoinitiator, at least one free radical polymerizable compound and at least one mercapto functionalized carboxylic acid as adhesion promoter, a high quality solder mask withstanding the high thermal stress during the soldering process while maintaining excellent physical properties, may be produced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 6, 2021
    Date of Patent: September 27, 2022
    Assignees: AGFA-Gevaert NV, Electra Polymer Ltd.
    Inventors: Rita Torfs, Marion Sauvageot, Johan Loccufier
  • Patent number: 11456448
    Abstract: A process for making an at least partially coated electrode active material may involve, with an electrode active material of formula Li1?xTM1?xO2, wherein TM is a combination of Ni, Co and, optionally, Mn, and, optionally, at least one metal selected from Al, Ti and Zr, and x is in the range of from 0 to 0.2, treating the electrode active material with at least one compound of W or Mo that bears at least one group or ion that is replaced or displaced when such compound reacts with the surface of the electrode active material particle, treating the surface-reacted material with an agent to decompose the compound of W or Mo, repeating the sequence 1 to 100 times, wherein the average thickness of the resulting coating is in the range of from 0.1 to 50 nm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 27, 2022
    Inventors: Jose Jimenez, Robert Prunchak
  • Patent number: 11449159
    Abstract: Light reflection from a metal mesh touch sensor is reduced or prevented by encasing the metal lines with a passivation coating and including non-reflective nanoparticles in the patterning photoresist. The photoresist is mixed with catalytic nanoparticles wherein the nanoparticles are formed to minimize light reflection. The nanoparticles may be carbon coated metallic particles, or uncoated palladium nanoparticles. Also, a standoff photoresist layer may be included between the substrate and the photoresist composition to prevent reflection from the edges of the metallic lines.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2022
    Assignee: FUTURETECH CAPITAL, INC.
    Inventors: Robert Petcavich, Michael Morrione, Robert Routh
  • Patent number: 11450855
    Abstract: An electrode including a lithium diffusion rate-controlling layer and a lithium layer stacked successively on the surface thereof, and a method for manufacturing the same are disclosed. The electrode includes: a current collector; an electrode active material layer formed on the surface of the current collector; a lithium diffusion rate-controlling layer formed on the surface of the electrode active material layer; and a lithium layer containing a lithium metal ingredient and formed on the surface of the lithium diffusion rate-controlling layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2022
    Assignee: LG ENERGY SOLUTION, LTD.
    Inventors: Yeon-Suk Hong, Seok-Koo Kim, Sun-Kyu Kim
  • Patent number: 11417886
    Abstract: To produce a silicon oxide-based negative electrode material containing Li and having uniform distribution of a Li concentration both inside particles and between particles although a C-coating film is formed on a surface, and yet in which generation of SiC is suppressed. A SiO gas and a Li gas are simultaneously generated by heating a Si-lithium silicate-containing raw material under reduced pressure. The Si-lithium silicate-containing raw material includes Si, Li, and O, in which a part of the Si is present as a Si simple substance and the Li is present as lithium silicate. By cooling the generated gases, Li-containing silicon oxide having an average composition of SiLixOy (0.05<x<y and 0.5<y<1.5 are satisfied) is prepared. After adjusting the particle size, a C-coating film having an average film thickness of 0.5 to 10 nm is formed on a surface of particles at a treatment temperature of 900° C. or less.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2022
    Assignee: OSAKA TITANIUM TECHNOLOGIES CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Yusuke Kashitani