Patents Examined by Austin Murata
  • Patent number: 11637290
    Abstract: A slurry including at least a carbon black and a dispersion medium, wherein a concentration of the carbon black in the slurry is 5% by mass or more and 25% by mass or less, and wherein in a volume-based frequency distribution of particle size of the carbon black measured by a laser diffraction/scattering method, provided that a volume concentration of carbon black with a particle size of 0.6 ?m or more is x (%), a volume concentration of carbon black with a particle size of 0.3 ?m or more and less than 0.6 ?m is y (%), and a volume concentration of carbon black having a particle size of less than 0.3 ?m is 100?(x+y) (%), the slurry satisfies 10?x?70, 30?y?90, and 0?100?(x+y)?30.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 17, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 25, 2023
    Assignee: DENKA COMPANY LIMITED
    Inventors: Akira Yoda, Tatsuya Nagai, Tetsuya Ito
  • Patent number: 11621410
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for manufacturing an electrode, preferably an implantable electrode array comprising the following steps: Applying (101) a layer of electrically conducting material (4) above a substrate material (1) for forming the electrically conductive traces; applying (102) a layer of insulating material (6) directly on top of the layer of electrically conducting material (4) for covering the electrically conductive traces; patterning (103) the layer of insulating material (4) by partly exposing the layer of electrically conducting material (4) to form at least one contact area (8) on the layer of the electrically conducting material (4), wherein a mask for patterning the layer of insulating material (6) defines a region (9) in the at least one contact area (8) at which the insulating material (6) in the at least one contact area (8) remains; and partly applying (104) a top layer (13) of electrically conducting material (4) at the contact area (8) on top of the layer of insulating materi
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 4, 2023
    Assignee: École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne
    Inventors: Diego Ghezzi, Marta Airaghi Leccardi
  • Patent number: 11621411
    Abstract: Disclosed is a method for making a lithium-ion cell by depositing from an atmospheric plasma deposition device inorganic oxide particles produced from a precursor in an atmospheric plasma as a coating on a surface of a lithium-ion electrochemical cell component. The coating formed by the inorganic oxide particles may be an insulating coating or may provide dimensional stability during a thermal runaway.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 4, 2023
    Assignee: INTECELLS, INC.
    Inventors: Xiaohong Gayden, Joseph M. Ziegelbauer, Lu Liu
  • Patent number: 11611063
    Abstract: Provided herein is a method for preparing a cathode based on an aqueous slurry. The cathode slurry comprises a cathode active material, especially a nickel-containing cathode active material, with improved stability in water. Pre-treatment of nickel-containing cathode active materials may improve stability of the cathode by preventing undesirable decomposition of the material. In addition, battery cells comprising the cathode prepared by the method disclosed herein exhibit impressive electrochemical performances.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 8, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2023
    Assignee: GRST International Limited
    Inventors: Kam Piu Ho, Yingkai Jiang
  • Patent number: 11605806
    Abstract: Methods of forming a composite material film can include providing a layer comprising a carbon precursor and silicon particles on a sacrificial substrate. The methods can also include pyrolysing the carbon precursor to convert the precursor into one or more types of carbon phases to form the composite material film, whereby the sacrificial substrate has a char yield of about 10% or less.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 14, 2023
    Assignee: ENEVATE CORPORATION
    Inventors: Ian Russell Browne, Rahul R. Kamath, Monika Chhorng, Benjamin Yong Park
  • Patent number: 11590713
    Abstract: Shifting is a method for manipulating unidirectional non-crimp fabrics that allows for a curved fiber path along with compound surface geometry. The bases for shifting is understanding unidirectional (UD) non-crimp-fabrics (NCFs) as a semi-flexible prismatic linkage and planning manipulations such that the array of linkages can conform to the surface geometry and path plan within allowable manufacturing tolerances. This has applications in structural composite components such as the current trailing edge prefabricated unidirectional components for wind turbine blades, and for future wind turbine blade designs including a curve-linear spar cap.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 12, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2023
    Assignee: TPI Composites, Inc.
    Inventor: Corey Magnussen
  • Patent number: 11594458
    Abstract: This curable resin film forms a first protective film on a surface having bumps of a semiconductor wafer by being attached to the surface and being cured, in which a cured material of the curable resin film has a Young's modulus of equal to or greater than 0.02 MPa and a peak value of a load measured by a probe tack test at 80° C. is equal to or less than 500 g. A first protective film forming sheet is provided with a first supporting sheet, and the curable resin film is provided on one surface of the first supporting sheet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2023
    Assignee: LINTEC Corporation
    Inventors: Akinori Sato, Masanori Yamagishi
  • Patent number: 11594714
    Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for high volume roll-to-roll direct coating of electrodes for silicon-dominant anode cells and may include applying a slurry to a current collector film, the slurry comprising silicon particles and a binder material; drying the slurry to form a precursor composite film; rolling the current collector film into a precursor composite roll; and applying a heat treatment to the precursor composite film and the current collector film in a nitrogen gas environment, wherein the heat treatment is configured for converting the precursor composite film to a pyrolyzed composite film. The heat treatment may include one or both of: applying the heat treatment to a roll comprising the precursor composite roll in whole; and applying the heat treatment to the current collector film as it is continuously fed from the precursor composite roll.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 14, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2023
    Assignee: ENEVATE CORPORATION
    Inventors: Fred Bonhomme, Benjamin Park, Kirk Shockley, Giulia Canton, David J. Lee
  • 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: 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: 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: 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: 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: 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: 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