Patents Examined by Brittany L Raymond
  • Patent number: 11271231
    Abstract: An apparatus for controlling cooling of a fuel cell-based generator system is provided. The apparatus includes a first valve disposed between an individual cooling-water line of a first fuel cell system and a common cooling-water line and a first valve driver that opens and closes the first valve. A second valve is disposed between an individual cooling-water line of a second fuel cell system and the common cooling-water line and a second valve driver opens and closes the second valve. A controller determines whether a cooling-water temperature of the first fuel cell system exceeds a reference value, and opens the first valve and the second valve so that cooling-water for the second fuel cell system flows into the first fuel cell system, when the cooling-water temperature of the first fuel cell system exceeds the reference value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2022
    Assignees: Hyundai Motor Company, Kia Motors Corporation
    Inventors: Deuk Kuen Ahn, Seon Jong Kang, Hyun Jae Lee
  • Patent number: 11271204
    Abstract: Provided is an active material for a fluoride-ion secondary battery, the active material containing a composite fluoride. The composite fluoride has a layered structure and is represented by a composition formula AmMnFx, where A is an alkali metal, M is a transition metal, 0<m?2, 1?n?2, and 3?x?4. The alkali metal may be at least one kind selected from the group consisting of Na, K, Rb, and Cs. The transition metal may be a 3d transition metal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 4, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2022
    Assignee: PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Jin Zhang, Kazuko Asano, Mitsuhiro Hibino, Kensuke Nakura
  • Patent number: 11271232
    Abstract: A method for controlling an output of a fuel cell stack is provided. The method includes calculating a total requirement current value to be output from a plurality of fuel cell stacks in a fuel cell electric vehicle (FCEV) including the plurality of fuel cell stacks. The calculated total requirement current value is then allocated to each fuel cell stack based on a voltage of the fuel cell stack.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2022
    Assignees: Hyundai Motor Company, Kia Motors Corporation
    Inventor: Jae Won Jung
  • Patent number: 11264625
    Abstract: A cooling plate assembly includes an anode half-plate having an anode upper surface and an opposing anode lower surface, and a cathode half-plate having a cathode upper surface and an opposing cathode lower surface, the cathode lower surface configured to engage the anode upper surface. The assembly further includes a cooling tube disposed between and engaging the anode upper surface and the cathode lower surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 1, 2022
    Assignee: FuelCell Energy, Inc.
    Inventors: Pinakin Patel, Jonathan Malwitz, Ray Kopp, Ludwig Lipp, Jesse Roy
  • Patent number: 11262657
    Abstract: Described herein are technologies to facilitate device fabrication, especially those that involve spin coatings of a substrate. More particularly, technologies described herein facilitate the planarization (i.e., flatness) of spin coatings during the device fabrication to form a uniformly planar film or layer on the substrate. This abstract itself is not intended to limit the scope of this patent. The scope of the present invention is pointed out in the appending claims.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 15, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 1, 2022
    Assignee: Tokyo Electron Limited
    Inventors: Michael Carcasi, Ryan Burns, Mark Somervell
  • Patent number: 11258084
    Abstract: A fuel cell system includes: a fuel cell generating electricity when being supplied with anode gas and cathode gas; a supply channel through which the anode gas to be supplied to the fuel cell flows; a discharge channel through which anode-off gas discharged from the fuel cell flows; a discharge valve provided on the discharge channel and opened to discharge the anode-off gas; and a control section controlling opening/closing of the discharge valve. The control section calculates a valve open time of the discharge valve corresponding to a target value of a discharge amount of the anode-off gas by using an aperture ratio of the discharge channel and the target value, and closes the discharge valve based on the valve open time, the aperture ratio of the discharge channel being calculated from a first discharge amount of the anode-off gas, which is discharged by opening of the discharge valve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 22, 2022
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Yusuke Nishida, Tomotaka Ishikawa
  • Patent number: 11251447
    Abstract: A process for detecting a low-level leak in a fuel cell system is provided. The process includes, within a computerized fuel cell controller, operating programming to monitor operation of the fuel cell system, determine an expected reduction in pressure within an anode gas loop of the fuel cell system based upon the monitored operation, determine a calibrated threshold pressure change based upon the expected reduction in pressure and a margin selected to indicate excess hydrogen gas within the anode gas loop indicating a fuel injector leak, when a fuel injector of the fuel cell system is commanded to a closed state, monitor a pressure within the anode gas loop through a time period, compare the monitored pressure within the anode gas loop through the time period to the calibrated threshold pressure change, and when the comparing indicates the excess hydrogen gas is present, taking remedial action.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 12, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 15, 2022
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Jie Kou, Chad Dubois, Xiaofeng Wang
  • Patent number: 11251430
    Abstract: The epsilon polymorph of vanadyl phosphate, ?-VOPO4, made from the solvothermally synthesized H2VOPO4, is a high density cathode material for lithium-ion batteries optimized to reversibly intercalate two Li-ions to reach the full theoretical capacity at least 50 cycles with a coulombic efficiency of 98%. This material adopts a stable 3D tunnel structure and can extract two Li-ions per vanadium ion, giving a theoretical capacity of 305 mAh/g, with an upper charge/discharge plateau at around 4.0 V, and one lower at around 2.5 V.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 15, 2022
    Assignee: The Research Foundation for The State University of New York
    Inventors: Carrie Siu, M. Stanley Whittingham
  • Patent number: 11251449
    Abstract: A redox flow battery system including a cell and a monitor cell to which a same electrolyte solution is supplied; a current measuring unit that measures a current that is input to and output from the cell; a voltage measuring unit that measures an open circuit voltage of the monitor cell; and a computing unit. The computing unit includes a first processing unit, a second processing unit, and a third processing unit. The first processing unit computes an integral value obtained by integrating a current value measured by the current measuring unit, for an amount of time corresponding to a predetermined time constant. The second processing unit computes a corrected voltage value based on a measured voltage value measured by the voltage measuring unit and the integral value. And the third processing unit calculates a first state-of-charge value of the electrolyte solution from the corrected voltage value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 15, 2022
    Assignee: SUMITOMO ELECTRIC INDUSTRIES, LTD.
    Inventor: Toshikazu Shibata
  • Patent number: 11245116
    Abstract: An electrode using a carbon nanotube as a conductive material and having a small resistance is provided. An electrode for a secondary battery disclosed herein has a collector, and an active material layer formed on the collector. The active material layer includes an active material and carbon nanotubes. Each of the carbon nanotube has a coating of a material including an element with a higher electronegativity than that of carbon on at least a part of the surface thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 8, 2022
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Yuji Yamamoto
  • Patent number: 11217780
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for manufacturing a secondary battery and a secondary battery using the same, which can improve the quality of a cut surface of an electrode plate and improve the reliability of the secondary battery. For example, disclosed is a method for manufacturing a secondary battery, the method comprising: an active material layer forming step of forming an active material layer by coating an active material on both surfaces of a collector plate; an active material layer removing step of removing a part of the active material layer by irradiating a laser beam to the both surfaces of the collector plate; and a cutting step of cutting the collector plate by irradiating a laser beam onto the collector plate from which the active material layer has been removed in the active material layer removing step.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 4, 2022
    Assignee: Samsung SDI Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Jung Hyuck Choi, Won Shik Park
  • Patent number: 11211628
    Abstract: Disclosed herein are electrolyte bismuth calcium ferrites having high oxygen vacancy ion mobility. There can be provided an oxygen vacancy electrolyte material including bismuth calcium ferrites (Bi1-xCaxFeO3-?).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 28, 2021
    Assignee: Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology
    Inventors: Chan-Ho Yang, Ji Soo Lim
  • Patent number: 11211613
    Abstract: A solid-state battery includes an anode, a cathode, and a solid electrolyte between the anode and cathode. The anode or cathode includes bonded active material particles having thereon a mixed ionic and electronic conducting conformal interface layer that provides a transport path for ions and electrons during operation of the solid-state battery, and lacks solid electrolyte particles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 1, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 28, 2021
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Venkataramani Anandan, Chanyeop Yu, Jung-Hyun Kim
  • Patent number: 11205791
    Abstract: An apparatus for inspecting a stack assembly including a fluid channel through which fluid is supplied into fuel cell stacks includes a frame, a conveyor that is installed in the frame and that carries the stack assembly in a predetermined direction of movement to locate the stack assembly in a predetermined inspection position, a masking mechanism that is installed in the frame and that masks a fluid inlet and a fluid outlet of the stack assembly to seal the fluid channel of the stack assembly from outside the stack assembly, and a gas injection mechanism that is installed in the frame and that injects an inspection gas into the fluid channel of the stack assembly to inspect a sealing state of the fluid channel in the stack assembly, in a state in which the stack assembly is sealed by the masking mechanism.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 21, 2021
    Assignees: Hyundai Motor Company, Kia Motors Corporation
    Inventors: Hee Seung Hong, Sung Hoon Jeong
  • Patent number: 11201376
    Abstract: A separator for an electric battery includes a first solid electrolyte layer; a plastic separator film impregnated with a liquid or gel electrolyte; and a second solid electrolyte layer, the first and second electrolyte layers sealing the liquid or gel electrolyte in the plastic separator. Also disclosed is a separator where first and second electrolyte layers sealing a plastic separator film and have a porosity less than 5%. A method for manufacturing a separator, an electric battery and a vehicle are also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 14, 2021
    Assignees: VOLKSWAGEN AG, AUDI AG, DR. ING. H.C.F. PORSCHE AG
    Inventors: Mirko Herrmann, Angela Speidel
  • Patent number: 11198621
    Abstract: A lithium-rich layered oxide material with a phase structure gradient and method for making the same are disclosed, used as cathode material for lithium ion battery. The invention has the following technical features: the spherical granule-shaped lithium-rich layered oxide material contains two types of structural units whose ratio gradually changes from the center to the surface of the spherical granule, wherein the monoclinic Li2MnO3 structural unit is gradually reduced, and the rhombohedral LiTMO2 structural unit is gradually increased from the center to the surface of the spherical granule. By controlling the ratio of the monoclinic Li2MnO3 structural unit versus the rhombohedral LiTMO2 structural unit along from the center to the surface the spherical granule, the performance of the Lithium-rich layered oxide materials as cathode for lithium ion battery, such as cyclic stability, specific discharge capacity, safety and other properties, is improved.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 14, 2021
    Assignee: Beijing University of Technology
    Inventors: Haijun Yu, Guangyin Li, Tianhao Wu, Errui Wang, Lin Wang, Qi Zhang
  • Patent number: 11196063
    Abstract: A formed substrate assembly includes an air flow form plate, a fuel flow form plate, and an anode. The fuel flow form plate is positioned over the air flow form plate. The fuel flow form plate partially defines a plurality of first channels. The fuel flow form plate also defines a plurality of second channels. The plurality of second channels defines a plurality of apertures, where a portion of the apertures extend from the plurality of second channels to the plurality of first channels. The anode is positioned over the fuel flow form plate. The anode partially defines the plurality of first channels such that the fuel flow form plate and the anode define the plurality of first channels. The portion of the plurality of apertures is configured to channel a flow of fuel from the plurality of second channels to the plurality of first channels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 7, 2021
    Assignee: CUMMINS ENTERPRISE LLC
    Inventors: Andrew Philip Shapiro, Darren Bawden Hickey
  • Patent number: 11196042
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for preparing silicon-based active material particles for a secondary battery and silicon-based active material particles. The method for preparing silicon-based active material particles according to an embodiment of the present invention comprises the steps of: providing silicon powder; dispersing the silicon powder into an oxidant solvent to provide a mixture prior to grinding; fine-graining the silicon powder by applying mechanical compression and shear stress to the silicon powder in the mixture prior to grinding to produce silicon particles; producing a layer of chemical oxidation on the fine-grained silicon particles with the oxidant solvent while applying mechanical compression and shear stress to produce silicon-based active material particles; and drying the resulting product comprising the silicon-based active material particles to yield silicon-based active material particles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 12, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 7, 2021
    Inventors: Young Tai Cho, Yong Gil Choi, Seung Chul Park, Seon Park, Hee Young Seo, Jee Hye Park, Yong Eui Lee, Chul Hwan Kim
  • Patent number: 11189820
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for manufacturing a secondary battery and a secondary battery using the same, which can improve the quality of a cut surface of an electrode plate and improve the reliability of the secondary battery. For example, disclosed is a method for manufacturing a secondary battery, the method comprising: an active material layer forming step of forming an active material layer by coating an active material on both surfaces of a collector plate; an active material layer removing step of removing a part of the active material layer by irradiating a laser beam to the both surfaces of the collector plate; and a cutting step of cutting the collector plate by irradiating a laser beam onto the collector plate from which the active material layer has been removed in the active material layer removing step.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 30, 2021
    Assignee: Samsung SDI Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Jung Hyuck Choi, Won Shik Park
  • Patent number: 11189853
    Abstract: Embodiments of the invention include fuel cells incorporating sheets and/or powders of silica fibers and methods for producing such devices. The silica fibers may be formed via electrospinning of a sol gel produced with a silicon alkoxide reagent, such as tetraethyl ortho silicate, alcohol solvent, and an acid catalyst.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 30, 2021
    Assignee: AMERICAN NANO LLC.
    Inventors: Mitch Dellinger, Surya Raj Banks