Patents Examined by Claire L Rademaker
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Patent number: 7976981Abstract: A pouch-type lithium secondary battery in which an additional packing case is not used is provided. The pouch material is used to perform packing processes, thereby simplifying packing processes and methods of manufacturing. The pouch-type lithium secondary battery includes an electrode assembly and a pouch material. The electrode assembly includes a first electrode plate to which a first electrode tab is attached, a second electrode plate to which a second electrode tab is attached, and a separator between the first and second electrode plates. The pouch material has first, second, and third surfaces. The first and second surfaces are folded along a first fold to form an electrode assembly accommodating unit for accommodating the electrode assembly. The third surface wraps around the electrode assembly accommodating unit at least once. The first fold is parallel to a line along which the first electrode tab and the second electrode tab extend.Type: GrantFiled: September 28, 2006Date of Patent: July 12, 2011Assignee: Samsung SDI Co., Ltd.Inventor: Hyungbok Lee
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Patent number: 7951500Abstract: In one embodiment the present invention provides for an anode side gas flow heater for a fuel cell generator that comprises a recirculating anode gas flow 28, at least one burner 24, and an energy source 22. The energy source heats the burner, the anode gas flow passes over the at least one burner and is heated, and the heated anode gas flow is then passed through the anode side of the fuel cell generator 4, where the fuel cell generator is heated.Type: GrantFiled: May 25, 2006Date of Patent: May 31, 2011Assignee: Siemens Energy, Inc.Inventors: Stephen E. Veyo, Raymond A. George
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Patent number: 7947408Abstract: The collecting plate of the present invention is used in a stacked fuel cell, and comprises a collecting section and an output terminal that is electrically connected to the collecting section and has a thickness that is greater than the thickness of the collecting section. For example, the output terminal is formed by bending at least part of an output terminal forming portion that is extended from the collecting section, at least one time.Type: GrantFiled: July 19, 2005Date of Patent: May 24, 2011Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki KaishaInventor: Tadahiro Ichioka
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Patent number: 7939197Abstract: An electrode plate of a rechargeable battery that is capable of preventing wastage of a base film and preventing an active material layer from being irregularly formed and a method for fabricating the same is disclosed. The electrode plate is fabricated by continuously coating the active material layer lengthwise along a surface of the base film and cutting the base film in a direction substantially perpendicular to a length of the base film or in a direction that forms a predetermined angle in relation to the length of the base film. The method includes forming an active material layer lengthwise on a base film except for on predetermined parts of both ends of the base film by continuously coating active materials, and forming an electrode plate by cutting the base film formed with the active material layer in a direction substantially perpendicular to the length of the base film using a cutter.Type: GrantFiled: May 12, 2010Date of Patent: May 10, 2011Assignee: Samsung SDI Co., Ltd.Inventors: Jong Ku Kim, Akihiko Saito
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Patent number: 7935452Abstract: The present invention relates to fuel cells and components used within a fuel cell. Heat transfer appendages are described that improve fuel cell thermal management. Each heat transfer appendage is arranged on an external portion of a bi-polar plate and permits conductive heat transfer between inner portions of the bi-polar plate and outer portions of the bi-polar plate proximate to the appendage. The heat transfer appendage may be used for heating or cooling inner portions of a fuel cell stack. Improved thermal management provided by cooling the heat transfer appendages also permits new channel field designs that distribute the reactant gases to a membrane electrode assembly. Flow buffers are described that improve delivery of reactant gases and removal of reaction products. Single plate bi-polar plates may also include staggered channel designs that reduce the thickness of the single plate.Type: GrantFiled: December 31, 2008Date of Patent: May 3, 2011Assignee: UltraCell CorporationInventor: Ian W. Kaye
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Patent number: 7919214Abstract: Carbonate fuel cathode side hardware having a thin coating of a conductive ceramic formed from one of Perovskite AMeO3, wherein A is at least one of lanthanum and a combination of lanthanum and strontium and Me is one or more of transition metals, lithiated NiO (LixNiO, where x is 0.1 to 1) and X-doped LiMeO2, wherein X is one of Mg, Ca, and Co.Type: GrantFiled: May 25, 2005Date of Patent: April 5, 2011Assignee: FuelCell Energy, Inc.Inventors: Gengfu Xu, Chao-Yi Yuh
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Patent number: 7914921Abstract: The present invention discloses enhanced separators for storage batteries with zinc negative electrodes. These enhanced separators include a separator layer and one or more resistive layers on said separator layer. The dimensions of the one or more resistive layers are less than or equal to that of the separator layer. Portions of the separator layer can also be treated with a PTFE suspension to increase the resistance at those portions. For storage batteries where the resistance along two edges of the separator layer has to be larger then the center, the enhanced separator include said resistive layers where each layer includes two independent parts positioned along the two edges of the separator layer. The edge portions of the separator layer can also be treated with a PTFE suspension. Using these enhanced separators in storage batteries with zinc negative electrodes can increase the capacity and prolong the life of the batteries.Type: GrantFiled: July 22, 2005Date of Patent: March 29, 2011Assignee: BYD Company LimitedInventor: Zhijian Zhu
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Patent number: 7914948Abstract: The present invention provides a metallic bipolar plate for a fuel cell and a method for forming a surface layer of the same, in which the surface layer is formed in such a manner that a plasma nitridation process is performed on the surface of a stainless steel base material to form a nitrogen implanted layer, and oxidation and reduction processes are performed on the surface of the nitrogen implanted layer to form a Fe3O4 surface oxidation layer thereon, thus improving conductivity and corrosion resistance.Type: GrantFiled: December 17, 2008Date of Patent: March 29, 2011Assignee: Hyundai Motor CompanyInventors: In Woong Lyo, Jeong Uk An, Seung Gyun Ahn, Young Min Nam, Yoo Chang Yang, Sae Hoon Kim, Sang Mun Chin
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Patent number: 7914946Abstract: Carbonate fuel cathode side hardware having a thin coating of a conductive ceramic formed from one of LSC (La0.8Sr0.2CoO3) and lithiated NiO (LixNiO, where x is 0.1 to 1).Type: GrantFiled: June 15, 2004Date of Patent: March 29, 2011Assignee: FuelCell Energy, Inc.Inventors: Gengfu Xu, Chao-Yi Yuh
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Patent number: 7909893Abstract: The invention relates to a lithium battery, comprising at least one lithium intercalation compound, made up of crystallites and obtained by a production method, comprising at least the following steps: formation of a homogeneous mixture of at least one precursor for the lithium intercalation compound with a given adjunct, chemically stable with relation to crystallites and designed to limit the growth of crystallites or crystallite precursors during the formation thereof, thermal treatment of the homogeneous mixture for the synthesis of the lithium intercalation compound in the form of crystallites and to give a composite material comprising at least two phases formed respectively by the lithium intercalation compound and the adjunct and forming of the composite material to give said electrode. The invention further relates to an electrode obtained by said method and lithium battery comprising such an electrode.Type: GrantFiled: July 21, 2005Date of Patent: March 22, 2011Assignee: Commissariat a l'Energie AtomiqueInventors: Frederic Le Cras, Sebastien Martinet, Carole Bourbon, Sebastien Launois
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Patent number: 7901822Abstract: Disclosed herein are a fuel cell and a voltage supply method which are designed to supply power to various electric circuits in a stable manner. The fuel cell of stack structure with output terminals attached to different generating elements as mentioned above produces a potential across the output electrodes which corresponds to the number of generating cells connected in series. The output terminals are connected respectively to the potential regulators varying in the allowable voltage range and the ratio of voltage conversion. A large output voltage is obtained if the generating units are connected in series, and a large output current is obtained if the generating units are connected in parallel. Thus the fuel cell can supply an adequate amount of power in response to load operation.Type: GrantFiled: June 1, 2004Date of Patent: March 8, 2011Assignee: Sony CorporationInventors: Toshiyuki Matsuno, Chiaki Kanai
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Patent number: 7887972Abstract: A cathode catalyst for a fuel cell includes an Ru—Se alloy having an average particle size of less than or equal to 6 nm. The Ru—Se alloy is amorphous catalyst. A membrane electrode assembly and a fuel cell system include the cathode catalyst. A catalyst for a fuel cell is prepared by drying a ruthenium solution including a water-soluble ruthenium precursor to obtain a first dried product; subjecting the first dried product to a first heat-treatment to obtain a heat-treated product; adding an Se solution including a water-soluble Se precursor to the heat-treated product to obtain a mixture; drying the mixture to obtain a second dried product including ruthenium and Se; and subjecting the second dried product to second heat-treatment.Type: GrantFiled: November 13, 2006Date of Patent: February 15, 2011Assignee: Samsung SDI Co., Ltd.Inventors: Alexey Alexandrovichserov, Chan Kwak, Ho-Jin Kweon, Si-Hyun Lee
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Patent number: 7887945Abstract: A conductive plate connects the electrode terminals between batteries of a battery pack and prevents a change in thickness of the battery pack due to swelling of a battery during charging by forming an expansion unit in a conductive plate electrically connecting batteries of the battery pack in which at least two batteries are stacked.Type: GrantFiled: December 21, 2006Date of Patent: February 15, 2011Assignee: Samsung SDI Co., Ltd.Inventors: Sangdo Heo, Woojin Lee
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Patent number: 7887941Abstract: Provision of an extension-type battery pack which is improved in safety thereof against dropping and impact application. Although a battery pack is susceptible to damage caused by an impact since partial battery cells are located outside the outline of a notebook PC when it is mounted on the notebook PC, the battery pack is provided with a partition wall structure including an air space and a fireproof wall formed of a material which does not melt at a temperature of combustible gas discharged from a gas discharge valve of the respective battery cells. The material of the fireproof wall is preferably mica or the like. The partition wall structure can be provided between an inside battery compartment and an outside battery compartment of the battery pack or can be provided among other battery cells. This prevents fire spreading to other battery cells even if high-temperature combustible gas is discharged from a battery cell damaged by an impact or the like.Type: GrantFiled: March 5, 2008Date of Patent: February 15, 2011Assignee: Lenovo (Singapore) Pte. Ltd.Inventors: Seita Horikoshi, Kenshin Yonemochi
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Patent number: 7879485Abstract: Disclosed herein is a housing member for a battery module, which is mounted to at least one side of the battery module such that a flow channel of refrigerant is defined in the battery module having unit cells stacked therein, wherein the housing member is provided with electrically connecting members for electrically connecting electrode terminals of the unit cells with each other and/or electrically connecting an external device to the electrode terminals, the electrically connecting members being integrally formed at the housing member. The housing member according to the present invention is manufactured in a structure in which the electrically connecting members are integrally formed at the housing member. Consequently, the manufacturing costs of the housing member are reduced. Furthermore, the assembly process of the battery module is greatly simplified, and the occurrence of short circuits caused by an engineer's mistake is effectively prevented.Type: GrantFiled: April 19, 2006Date of Patent: February 1, 2011Assignee: LG Chem, Ltd.Inventors: Junill Yoon, Jong-yul Ro, Yeo Won Yoon, Heekook Yang, Jaesung Ahn
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Patent number: 7867643Abstract: A battery module according to one embodiment of the present invention includes a plurality of unit batteries, each including a protective circuit for protecting the unit battery, and a battery management system electrically connected to the unit battery. Each unit battery further includes a molding part for covering the protective circuit, and a positive terminal and a negative terminal to be connected to each of the protective circuit, and which protrude outward from each molding part.Type: GrantFiled: June 20, 2005Date of Patent: January 11, 2011Assignee: Samsung SDI Co., Ltd.Inventor: Kyu-Woong Cho
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Patent number: 7858234Abstract: A nonaqueous electrolyte battery includes a negative electrode containing a titanium-containing oxide, a positive electrode, and a nonaqueous electrolyte. The positive electrode includes a lithium-transition metal composite oxide and at least one kind of oxide selected from a group consisting of FePO4, Li3Fe2(PO4)3, LiFeP2O7, Fe4(P2O7)3, Fe2(SO4) 3, and V2O5.Type: GrantFiled: September 12, 2006Date of Patent: December 28, 2010Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha ToshibaInventors: Hideaki Morishima, Hiroki Inagaki, Hidesato Saruwatari, Shinsuke Matsuno, Yumi Fujita, Norio Takami
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Patent number: 7838171Abstract: The present invention provides a metallic separator for fuel cells capable of suppressing dropping out of conductive inclusions due to gaps formed at the interface of a base material and the conductive inclusions due to press-forming, thereby decreasing the contact resistance and enhancing the power generation performance, and also provides a method for producing the same.Type: GrantFiled: October 23, 2002Date of Patent: November 23, 2010Assignee: Honda Giken Kogyo Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Teruyuki Ohtani, Makoto Tsuji, Masao Utsunomiya
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Patent number: 7833656Abstract: An electrochemical device having an electrode plate assembly. The electrode plate assembly includes (a) at least one first electrode, (b) at least one second electrode, and (c) a separator interposed between the first electrode and the second electrode. The first electrode includes a first current collector sheet and at least one first electrode mixture layer carried thereon. The second electrode includes a second current collector sheet and at least one second electrode mixture layer carried thereon. At least one of the first current collector sheet and the second current collector sheet has a conductive area and an insulating area.Type: GrantFiled: December 9, 2003Date of Patent: November 16, 2010Assignee: Panasonic CorporationInventors: Ken Nishimura, Naoto Arai, Toru Oshima, Fumio Daio, Munehisa Ikoma, Norio Saito, Hideo Kaiya
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Patent number: 7811708Abstract: A lithium-ion battery includes a cathode that includes an active cathode material. The active cathode material includes a cathode mixture that includes a lithium cobaltate and a manganate spinel a manganate spinel represented by an empirical formula of Li(1+x1)(Mn1-y1A?y2)2-x2Oz1 or Li(1+x1)Mn2Oz1. The lithium cobaltate and the manganate spinel are in a weight ratio of lithium cobaltate:manganate spinel between about 0.9:0.1 to about 0.6:0.4. A lithium-ion battery pack employs a cathode that includes an active cathode material as described above. A method of forming a lithium-ion battery includes the steps of forming an active cathode material as described above; forming a cathode electrode with the active cathode material; and forming an anode electrode in electrical contact with the cathode via an electrolyte.Type: GrantFiled: December 22, 2008Date of Patent: October 12, 2010Assignee: Boston-Power, Inc.Inventors: Christina M. Lampe-Onnerud, Per Onnerud, Yanning Song, Richard V. Chamberlain, II