Patents Examined by Brittany Raymond
  • Patent number: 9985276
    Abstract: A battery grid comprising a continuous cast and mechanically deformed lead-based alloy that comprises lead and silver and is essentially free of calcium, wherein the silver is at a concentration that is in a range of about 0.003 to about 0.015 weight percent, and has a predominant equiaxed grain structure that comprises grain sizes that are in a range of about 0.1 to about 5 microns. Other alloy constituents include bismuth at a concentration that is in a range of about 0.003 to about 0.002 weight percent and tin at a concentration that is in a range of about 0.2 to about 1.8 weight percent. A process for making strip of said alloy for use in manufacturing said grid. A battery comprising said grid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 29, 2018
    Assignees: NORTHSTAR BATTERY COMPANY, LLC, RSR TECHNOLOGIES INC.
    Inventors: Frank A Fleming, Timothy W Ellis, David R Prengaman
  • Patent number: 9985289
    Abstract: The present application is generally directed to energy storage materials such as activated carbon comprising enhanced particle packing properties and devices containing the same. The energy storage materials find utility in any number of devices, for example, in electric double layer capacitance devices and batteries. Methods for making the energy storage materials are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 29, 2018
    Assignee: BASF SE
    Inventors: Henry R. Costantino, Chad Goodwin, William D. Scott, Aaron M. Feaver
  • Patent number: 9979049
    Abstract: Provided are an electrolyte for a high-voltage lithium secondary battery and a high-voltage lithium secondary battery containing the same, and more particularly, an electrolyte for a high-voltage lithium secondary battery which may not be oxidized and decomposed at the time of being kept at a high voltage and a high temperature to prevent swelling of a battery through suppression of gas generation, thereby having excellent high-temperature storage characteristics and excellent discharge characteristics at a low temperature while decreasing a thickness increase rate of the battery, and a high-voltage lithium secondary battery containing the same.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 22, 2018
    Assignee: SK INNOVATION CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Jin Sung Kim, Seung Yon Oh, Jong Ho Lim, Jin Su Ham
  • Patent number: 9969673
    Abstract: Fluoroalkyl alkyl carbonates which are suitable as additives or solvents in lithium ion batteries are prepared from fluoroalkyl fluoroformiates and an aldehyde, preferably formaldehyde and acetaldehyde. 1,1?-difluoromethyl carbonate and 1,1?-di-fluorodiethylcarbonate are the preferred compounds prepared by the process of the present invention.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 23, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 15, 2018
    Assignee: SOLVAY S.A.
    Inventor: Martin Bomkamp
  • Patent number: 9960428
    Abstract: Provided herein is a method for electrocatalyst infiltration of a porous substrate, of particular use for preparation of a cathode for a solid oxide fuel cell. The method generally comprises preparing an electrocatalyst infiltrate solution comprising an electrocatalyst, surfactant, chelating agent, and a solvent; pretreating a porous mixed ionic-electric conductive substrate; and applying the electrocatalyst infiltration solution to the porous mixed ionic-electric conductive substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 13, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2018
    Assignee: U.S. Department of Energy
    Inventors: Kirk Gerdes, Shiwoo Lee, Regis Dowd
  • Patent number: 9960460
    Abstract: An energy storage apparatus includes: an energy storage device; a spacer disposed on one side of the energy storage device in a first direction, the spacer including a pair of wall portions; and a measuring part for measuring a state of the energy storage device, the measuring part disposed on one side of the energy storage device in a second direction which intersects with the first direction. The wall portions include a first wall portion disposed on the one side of the energy storage device in the second direction and a second wall portion disposed on the other side of the energy storage device opposite to the one side of the energy storage device. The energy storage device is arranged at a position where a distance between the energy storage device and the first wall portion is set shorter than a distance between the energy storage device and the second wall portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 3, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2018
    Assignee: GS YUASA INTERNATIONAL LTD.
    Inventors: Shogo Tsuruta, Yuichiro Yamamoto
  • Patent number: 9941517
    Abstract: Provided are an electrode for a lithium battery that is capable of providing a lithium battery having both high stability and high battery properties; a process for producing an electrode for a lithium battery, in which a positive electrode plate and/or a negative electrode plate, even when coated with a thermal activation material dissolved in an organic solvent such as a pyrrolidone-based solvent, is prevented from swelling; and a lithium battery including said electrode for a lithium battery. The electrode for a lithium battery includes an electrode plate, a mix layer and a heat insulating layer in this order, wherein the mix layer includes at least an aqueous adhesive and an active material; the heat insulating layer includes at least a thermal activation material; and at least part of the mix layer is in contact with at least part of the heat insulating layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2018
    Assignees: MITSUI CHEMICALS, INC., INDUSTRIAL TECHNOLOGY RESEARCH INSTITUTE
    Inventors: Akihito Shigematsu, Gen Miyata, Jung-Mu Hsu, Chang-Rung Yang, Jing-Pin Pan
  • Patent number: 9935300
    Abstract: An illustrative battery retaining assembly comprises a retaining plate, and a casing including mounting devices. One of the mounting devices may include a hinge device, and another of the mounting devices may include a latch device. The retaining plate includes engagement portions engageable with the mounting devices, such that the retaining plate may be mounted to the casing. One of the engagement portions may include a channel engageable with the hinge device, and another of the engagement portions may include a catch engageable with the latch device. The mounting devices and engagement portions may be configured to enable the retaining plate to slide at an oblique angle with respect to the casing, to provide a variable separation distance between the casing and the retaining plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 4, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 3, 2018
    Assignee: Schlage Lock Company LLC
    Inventors: Abdul Khadar Jailani Mannanayak, James D. Ohl
  • Patent number: 9928820
    Abstract: A fuel cell system includes a fuel cell, an air supplier that supplies air to a cathode of the fuel cell, a flow rate sensor that senses an air flow rate, and a silencer that reduces sound of a certain frequency through interference of an acoustic wave, the flow rate sensor, the air supplier, and the fuel cell being arranged in an air passage in series in order named from an upstream side of flow of the air, the silencer being arranged in a branch portion of the air passage, the branch portion being between the flow rate sensor and the air supplier.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2018
    Assignee: PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Yuuichi Yakumaru, Akinori Yukimasa
  • Patent number: 9929394
    Abstract: A secondary battery includes: an electrode assembly; a cap plate; a first terminal plate electrically connected to the electrode assembly, the first terminal plate being on the cap plate; and a current limiting plate between the first terminal plate and the cap plate, the current limiting plate including: a first surface accommodated in a first accommodation portion of the terminal plate, a second surface accommodated in a second accommodation portion of the cap plate, and a third surface extending between the first and second surfaces, wherein a first portion of the third surface is accommodated in the first accommodation portion, and a second portion of the third surface is accommodated in the second accommodation portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 19, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2018
    Assignee: Samsung SDI Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Honghyeon Lee
  • Patent number: 9923205
    Abstract: Disclosed herein are oxidized carbon blacks, which can be incorporated into electrode compositions for lead acid batteries. In some embodiments, the oxidized carbon blacks have a BET surface area ranging from 650 to 2100 m2/g; an oil absorption number (OAN) ranging from 35 to 500 mL/100 g; and a volatile content of at least 5.5 wt. % relative to the total weight of the oxidized carbon black, as determined by weight loss at 950° C.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 15, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 20, 2018
    Assignee: Cabot Corporation
    Inventors: Andriy Korchev, Aurelien DuPasquier, Paolina Atanassova
  • Patent number: 9923178
    Abstract: A sealing member 40 to seal an opening of a battery can, the sealing member being used to configure a tube-shaped battery provided with a bottomed tube-shaped battery can and a power generating element that has been arranged inside the battery can, the sealing member 40 includes an electrode terminal that is to be electrically connected to the power generating element, a sealing plate 41, insulating gaskets 42a, 42b, and a washer 44. An inserting part 43b extending from the electrode terminal 43 is inserted through these elements so that the elements are integrally tightened. The insulating gasket 42a is provided with a protruding part 42a1 having an appropriate horizontal section shape, and the sealing plate 41 adjacent to the insulating gasket is provided with a recess part 41a that has been formed in a shape corresponding to the protruding part 42a1.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 20, 2018
    Assignee: FDK Corporation
    Inventors: Kanji Urushihara, Shohei Itagaki
  • Patent number: 9912011
    Abstract: Described herein are additives for use in electrolytes that provide a number of desirable characteristics when implemented within batteries, such as high capacity retention during battery cycling at high temperatures. In some embodiments, a high temperature electrolyte includes a base electrolyte and one or more polymer additives, which impart these desirable performance characteristics.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2018
    Assignee: WILDCAT DISCOVERY TECHNOLOGIES, INC
    Inventors: Gang Cheng, Jinhua Huang, Ye Zhu
  • Patent number: 9911541
    Abstract: Embodiments provide a hybrid supercapacitor exhibiting high energy and power densities enabled by a high-performance lithium-alloy anode coupled with a porous carbon cathode in an electrolyte containing lithium salt. Embodiments include a size reduced silicon oxide anode, a boron-doped silicon oxide anode, and/or a carbon coated silicon oxide anode, which may improve cycling stability and rate performance. Further embodiments include a hybrid supercapacitor system using a Li-active anode in an electrolyte including LiPF6 in a mixture of ethylene carbonate, diethyl carbonate, and dimethyl carbonate (EC:DEC:DMC, 2:1:2 by vol.) and 10 wt % fluoroethylene carbonate (FEC), which may reduce the self-discharge rate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2018
    Assignee: The Penn State Research Foundation
    Inventors: Donghai Wang, Ran Yi, Shuru Chen
  • Patent number: 9905856
    Abstract: Provided is a rope-shape alkali metal-sulfur battery having (a) a first electrode comprising a conductive porous rod and a mixture of a first electrode active material and a first electrolyte residing in pores of the first porous rod; (b) a porous separator wrapping around the first electrode to form a separator-protected first electrode; (c) a second electrode comprising a conductive porous rod having a mixture of a second electrode active material and a second electrolyte residing in pores of the second porous rod; wherein the separator-protected first electrode and the second electrode are combined to form a braid or a yarn; and (d) a protective sheath encasing the braid or yarn; wherein either the first or the second electrode is a cathode containing sulfur or a sulfur compound as a cathode active material and the battery has a rope shape having a length-to-diameter aspect ratio no less than 5.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2018
    Assignee: Nanotek Instruments, Inc.
    Inventors: Aruna Zhamu, Hui He, Baofei Pan, Yu-Sheng Su, Bor Z Jang
  • Patent number: 9899681
    Abstract: Provided is a secondary battery positive electrode that can improve the rapid charge and discharge and can increase the heat resistance. Also provided are a secondary battery comprising the secondary battery positive electrode, and a method for producing the secondary battery positive electrode. The secondary battery positive electrode comprises an aluminum material, a positive active material layer comprising a lithium-containing metal oxide as a positive active material, and formed on the surface of the aluminum material, and an intervening layer comprising aluminum and carbon, and formed between the aluminum material and the positive active material layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2018
    Assignee: TOYO ALUMINIUM KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Yui Morishima, Hidetoshi Inoue, Kunihiko Nakayama
  • Patent number: 9899670
    Abstract: A secondary battery includes: a cathode; an anode; and an electrolytic solution. The cathode contains an active material capable of inserting and extracting an electrode reactant. A ratio IS/IF of a peak intensity IS derived from SO2? and a peak intensity IF derived from LiF2? is 0.04 or more, the peak intensity IS and the peak intensity IF being obtained by negative ion analysis on the active material with use of time-of-flight secondary ion mass spectrometry. Since a secondary battery according to the present invention has an intensity ratio IS/IF of 0.04 or more as obtained by a negative ion analysis of the active material using time-of-flight secondary ion mass spectrometry, the secondary battery is able to achieve excellent battery characteristics.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 9, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2018
    Assignee: Murata Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Masaki Misawa, Toru Odani, Toshio Nishi
  • Patent number: 9887431
    Abstract: A secondary battery includes: a cathode; an anode; and non-aqueous electrolytic solution including a cyclic ether compound that includes a skeleton and one or more substituent groups introduced into the skeleton. The skeleton includes one or more four-or-more-membered oxygen-containing rings. The one or more substituent groups each are a monovalent group represented by Formula (1). —X—O—R??(1) (X is one of a divalent chain saturated hydrocarbon group, a halide group thereof, and nothing. R is one of a monovalent chain saturated hydrocarbon group, etc. At least one of one or more Rs includes one or more of the monovalent chain unsaturated hydrocarbon group, the monovalent cyclic unsaturated hydrocarbon group, the monovalent oxygen-containing cyclic unsaturated hydrocarbon group, the halide group thereof, and the monovalent group obtained by bonding two or more thereof, and includes a carbon-carbon multiple bond (one of —C?C— and —C?C—) bonded to an ether bond (—O—).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 6, 2018
    Assignee: Murata Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Toru Odani, Tadahiko Kubota
  • Patent number: 9887435
    Abstract: The invention relates to an electrochemical cell for a lithium-ion battery comprising: a negative electrode comprising as an active material silicon; a positive electrode; and an electrolyte positioned between said negative electrode and said positive electrode, said electrolyte comprising at least one lithium salt, at least one carbonate solvent, at least one mononitrile compound and at least one compound fitting at least one of the following formulae (I) and (II): wherein R1 and R2 represent, independently of each other, H, Cl or F, provided that R1 and R2 do not both represent H.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 18, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 6, 2018
    Assignee: Commissariat a l'energie atomique et aux energies alternatives
    Inventors: Jean-Frederic Martin, Laura Boutafa
  • Patent number: 9882191
    Abstract: The present invention provides a laminated porous film and a non-aqueous electrolyte secondary battery. The laminated porous film is a laminated porous film in which a heat-resistant layer comprising a binder resin and a filler is laminated on one or both of the surfaces of a porous film substrate mainly comprising a polyolefin, wherein a part occupied by at least one out of the binder resin and the filler is formed in the porous film substrate so as to touch the heat-resistant layer, and the total thickness of the occupied part is not less than 1% and not more than 20% of the overall thickness of the porous film substrate. The non-aqueous electrolyte secondary battery comprises the laminated porous film according as a separator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2018
    Assignee: SUMITOMO CHEMICAL COMPANY, LIMITED
    Inventors: Hirohiko Hasegawa, Yuzuru Saitou