Patents Examined by Cynthia H. Kelly
  • Patent number: 11881602
    Abstract: Provided are electrochemical cells, comprising water-retaining components, and methods of fabricating such electrochemical cells. A water-retaining component is configured to deliver water to the positive active material during the operation of the electrochemical cell. The water-retaining component may be a part of the positive active material layer, a part of the electrolyte layer, and/or a standalone component. In some examples, the water-retaining component comprises one or more crystal hydrates (e.g., MgSO4, MgCl2, Na2SO4, Na2HPO4, CuSO4, CaCl2, KAl(SO4)2, and Mg(NO3)2), one or more water-retaining polymers (e.g., sodium polyacrylate, potassium polyacrylate, ammonium polyacrylate, and a cellulose derivative), one or more inorganic compounds (e.g., fumed silica, precipitated silica). In some examples, a method of forming an electrochemical cell comprises printing a positive active material layer, a negative active material layer, and an electrolyte layer, e.g.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 23, 2024
    Assignee: CCL LABEL, INC.
    Inventors: Jesse Smithyman, Konstantin Tikhonov, Christine Ho, Chaojun Shi, Ehsan Faegh
  • Patent number: 11881584
    Abstract: A negative electrode active material including natural graphite, wherein a D90/D10, which is the ratio of D90 to D10, is 2.20 or less, a D50 is 6 ?m to 11 ?m, and a BET specific surface area is 2.2 m2/g or less.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 2, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 23, 2024
    Assignee: LG ENERGY SOLUTION, LTD.
    Inventors: Li Lin Piao, Je Young Kim, Sang Wook Woo
  • Patent number: 11881604
    Abstract: A fuel cell system comprising: a fuel cell, a fuel gas supplier configured to supply fuel gas to an anode of the fuel cell, an oxidant gas supplier configured to supply oxidant gas to a cathode of the fuel cell, a humidity adjuster configured to adjust a relative humidity of the fuel gas and a relative humidity of the oxidant gas, and a controller, wherein the controller detects the relative humidity of the fuel gas at an anode inlet of the fuel cell, and the controller detects the relative humidity of the oxidant gas at a cathode outlet of the fuel cell, and wherein, based on detection results, the controller controls the humidity adjuster so that the relative humidity of the fuel gas at the anode inlet is higher than the relative humidity of the oxidant gas at the cathode outlet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 23, 2024
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Masaki Ando, Toshihiko Yoshida, Adam Z. Weber
  • Patent number: 11881583
    Abstract: A positive electrode active material includes a doped lithium nickel phosphate having an olivine structure comprising distorted NiO6 octahedra. The dopant is an anion; or a combination of at least two transition metals having different ionic radii; or an anion and a metal cation. The positive electrode active material can be used in a positive electrode for an electrochemical cell.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 15, 2022
    Date of Patent: January 23, 2024
    Assignee: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Valentina Lacivita, Yongwoo Shin, Samuel Robert Cross
  • Patent number: 11876173
    Abstract: An all-solid-state battery includes a case, a battery element, and a restraint component. The case accommodates the battery element. The battery element includes an electrode part and a resin part. The resin part covers at least a part of a side face of the electrode part. The restraint component applies a first pressure to the electrode part. The restraint component applies a second pressure to the resin part. The ratio of the second pressure to the first pressure is from 1.5 to 18.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 16, 2024
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Motoshi Isono, Masato Ono, Keiichi Minami, Kazuhito Kato, Katsuaki Odagi
  • Patent number: 11876269
    Abstract: The invention relates to a rechargeable battery system 1, comprising: at least one electrochemical cell 2 adapted for in charge mode to convert one or more gaseous electrochemical reaction reactant(s) 3 into one or more gaseous electrochemical reaction product(s) 4, at least one storage arrangement 5 for storing said gaseous electrochemical reaction reactants and products, wherein at least one of the gaseous electrochemical reaction product(s) 4 is converted to and stored as at least one chemical reaction product(s) 7,11, where said chemical reaction product(s) 7,11 has a lower gas pressure upon formation than the corresponding gaseous electrochemical reaction product(s) 4, a first fluid communication system 12 between the at least one cell and the at least one storage arrangement 5, wherein the first fluid communication system is configured to form a closed system within the battery system, whereby the battery system is adapted to generate an automatic gas flow between the at least one storage arrangement 5
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 17, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 16, 2024
    Assignee: Noon Energy
    Inventor: Christopher Ronald Graves
  • Patent number: 11876164
    Abstract: An electrode core encasing apparatus includes a main power mechanism, a housing fixing mechanism, an encasing mechanism, and an electrode core fixing mechanism. The housing fixing mechanism is disposed on one side of the encasing mechanism, which is located between the housing fixing mechanism and the electrode core fixing mechanism. The encasing mechanism includes an encasing mechanism body and an XY floating slide block. Two ends of the XY floating slide block are connected to the main power mechanism and the encasing mechanism body, respectively. The XY floating slide block is configured to drive the encasing mechanism body to slide freely relative to the main power mechanism, so as to adjust a relative position between the housing and the electrode core. The main power mechanism is configured to drive the housing fixing mechanism and the encasing mechanism to move to sleeve the electrode core into the housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 7, 2023
    Date of Patent: January 16, 2024
    Assignee: CONTEMPORARY AMPEREX TECHNOLOGY CO., LIMITED
    Inventors: Yinhang Tu, Yuan Peng
  • Patent number: 11876188
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to an electrolyte comprising: a) a sodium salt; b) an additive comprising at least one additional metallic/metalloid cation having a standard reduction potential which is at least 2.5V more positive than that of sodium cation; wherein said sodium salt and said additive are dispersed in a solvent comprising at least one alkyl carbonate, and wherein the concentration of said metallic/metalloid cation in the electrolyte is 15 mM to 250 mM. The present disclosure also relates to a sodium-sulfur cell comprising a sodium anode, a microporous sulfur cathode, and the electrolyte as described herein. The present disclosure further provides a method of improving cycling life of a sodium-sulfur cell, wherein the sodium-sulfur cell comprising a sodium anode, a sulfur cathode, and an electrolyte containing a sodium salt dispersed in an alkyl carbonate solvent.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 16, 2024
    Assignee: AGENCY FOR SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY AND RESEARCH
    Inventors: Vipin Kumar, Zhi Wei Seh
  • Patent number: 11876196
    Abstract: A method of treating a leaching solution derived from a black mass from spent lithium-ion batteries comprising setting pH of the leaching solution to about pH 1.2 to 2.5, adding iron powder to induce copper cementation, adding lime after copper cementation, and after adding lime, transiting pH of the leaching solution to about pH 6 to extract calcium fluoride, titanium hydroxide, aluminium hydroxide, iron hydroxide, and iron phosphate. A black mass recycling system comprising an impurity removal reactor configured to receive a sodium hydroxide feed, an iron powder feed, and a lime feed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 2023
    Date of Patent: January 16, 2024
    Assignee: GREEN LI-ION PTE. LTD.
    Inventor: Reza Katal
  • Patent number: 11870121
    Abstract: A fuel cell column includes a stack of alternating fuel cells and interconnects, where the interconnects separate adjacent fuel cells in the stack and contain fuel and air channels which are configured to provide respective fuel and air to the fuel cells. a manifold plate containing a bottom inlet hole and a bottom outlet hole located in a bottom surface of the manifold plate, top outlet holes and top inlet holes formed in opposing sides of a top surface of the manifold plate, outlet channels fluidly connecting the top outlet holes to the bottom inlet hole, and inlet channels fluidly connecting the top inlet holes to the bottom outlet hole, and a mitigation structure configured to reduce stress applied to the stack due to at least one of a shape mismatch or coefficient of thermal expansion mismatch between the stack and the manifold plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 10, 2022
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2024
    Assignee: BLOOM ENERGY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Michael Gasda, Robert Hintz, Karanpal Bhangu, Siddharth Patel, Harald Herchen, Victor Silva, Thuy Thanh Muhl, Tyler Dawson, David Edmonston, Tad Armstrong
  • Patent number: 11870039
    Abstract: An electrode assembly according to an embodiment of the present invention for achieving the above object comprises: a first electrode formed in the form of a single sheet and repetitively in-folded and out-folded at a predetermined interval; a second electrode formed into a plurality of pieces and respectively interposed in spaces formed by folding the first electrode; and a separator formed in the form of a single sheet and interposed between the first electrode and the second electrode so as to be repetitively in-folded and out-folded at a predetermined interval together with the first electrode, wherein the first electrode is a single-sided electrode in which a first electrode active material is applied to only one surface of a first electrode collector, and the second electrode is a double-sided electrode in which a second electrode active material is applied to all both surfaces of a second electrode collector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2024
    Inventor: Han Young Lee
  • Patent number: 11870085
    Abstract: A battery module includes a battery module, which includes a battery unit and a casing for receiving the battery unit. The casing includes a first casing body, a second casing body assembled to the first casing body, and a first sealing ring disposed between the first casing body and the second casing body. The first casing body includes a first cover plate and first sidewalls connected to edges of the first cover plate. A slot is defined on outer surface of the first sidewalls. The second casing body includes a second cover plate and second sidewalls connected to edges of the second cover plate. A latch is disposed at inner surface of the second sidewalls, corresponding to the slot. The latch is configured to be received in the slot, locating and sealing the second cover plate on the first cover plate by compressing the first sealing ring.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2024
    Assignee: Dongguan Amperex Technology Limited
    Inventors: Pengcheng Yang, Jinbing Zhou, Mingjie Wu, Xin Wang
  • Patent number: 11870096
    Abstract: A lead-acid battery is disclosed. The lead-acid storage battery has a container with a cover, the container including one or more compartments. One or more cell elements are provided in the one or more compartments. The one or more cell elements include a positive plate, the positive plate having a positive grid and a positive electrochemically active material on the positive grid; a negative plate, the negative plate having a negative grid and a negative electrochemically active material on the negative grid, wherein the negative electrochemically active material comprises barium sulfate and an organic expander; and a separator between the positive plate and the negative plate. Electrolyte is provided within the container. One or more terminal posts extend, from the cover and are electrically coupled to the one or more cell elements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 5, 2022
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2024
    Assignees: CPS Technology Holdings LLC, Clarios Germany GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Frank-Thomas Johns, Uwe Bitomsky, Andreas Dudenbostel, Matthew A. Spence, Kavi G. Loganathan, Qingfang Shi, Cornelia Brendel
  • Patent number: 11862788
    Abstract: A non-aqueous electrolyte secondary battery, in which a positive electrode includes a positive electrode mixture layer in which a mixture containing a positive electrode active material is formed and a positive electrode mixture layer non-forming portion in which the positive electrode mixture layer is not formed, and a negative electrode includes a negative electrode mixture layer in which a mixture containing a negative electrode active material is formed and a negative electrode mixture layer non-forming portion in which the negative electrode mixture layer is not formed. At least one of the positive electrode mixture layer non-forming portion and the negative electrode mixture layer non-forming portion has a resin portion substantially formed of a swellable resin having a property of swelling the non-aqueous electrolyte.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 13, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2024
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Yoshitomo Takebayashi
  • Patent number: 11862805
    Abstract: A battery includes a packaging shell and a battery cell. The battery cell is disposed in the packaging shell, the battery cell includes a first electrode plate, the first electrode plate includes a first empty foil area and a second empty foil area where no active material is disposed on either side of the first electrode plate. The first empty foil area is arranged on a first surface, the second empty foil area is arranged on a second surface. At least one of the first surface and the second surface is adhered to the packaging shell by a bonding member. In a width direction of the battery cell, a width of the battery cell is W, a width of the first empty foil area is W1, a width of the second empty foil area is W2, and 0?(W1+W2)/W?40%.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 31, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2024
    Assignee: NINGDE AMPEREX TECHNOLOGY LIMITED
    Inventor: Yuanjie Zhang
  • Patent number: 11843133
    Abstract: An electrochemical cell includes a cylindrical housing that encloses an interior space having a first end face and a second end face that are interconnected by an annular shell, and a positive and a negative electrode are arranged in the interior of the housing, wherein the negative electrode is electrically connected, either directly or via a separate conductor, to the first end face to constitute a negative pole, and the positive electrode is electrically connected, either directly or via a separate conductor, to the second end face to constitute a positive pole, and a contact lug is fastened to the first or second end face of the housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2021
    Date of Patent: December 12, 2023
    Assignee: VARTA Microbattery GmbH
    Inventors: Marc Oliver Nestle, Sunil Siddannavar
  • Patent number: 11843106
    Abstract: A solid-state ion conductor includes a compound of Formula (I): Li4+(b?a)y+c?+(a??)xM13+x+yM23?yM?xO12X1cX21?c??Formula (I) wherein, M1 is a cationic element having an oxidation state of +2 or +3; M2 is a cationic element having an oxidation state of +4 or +5; M? is a cationic element having an oxidation state of ?, wherein ? is less than b; X1 is a cluster anion having an oxidation state of (?1-?), wherein ? is 0 or 1; X2 is a halogen; 0<c?1; 0?x?1; and 0?y?2.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 5, 2021
    Date of Patent: December 12, 2023
    Assignees: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD., THE REGENTS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA
    Inventors: Gerbrand Ceder, Bin Ouyang, YingZhi Sun, Yihan Xiao, Yan Eric Wang, Lincoln James Miara
  • Patent number: 11843146
    Abstract: A fuel cell system comprising: a fuel cell, a fuel gas supplier configured to supply fuel gas to an anode of the fuel cell, an oxidant gas supplier configured to supply oxidant gas to a cathode of the fuel cell, a humidity adjuster configured to adjust a relative humidity of the fuel gas and a relative humidity of the oxidant gas, and a controller, wherein the controller detects the relative humidity of the fuel gas at an anode inlet of the fuel cell, and the controller detects the relative humidity of the oxidant gas at a cathode outlet of the fuel cell, and wherein, based on detection results, the controller controls the humidity adjuster so that the relative humidity of the fuel gas at the anode inlet is higher than the relative humidity of the oxidant gas at the cathode outlet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2021
    Date of Patent: December 12, 2023
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Masaki Ando, Toshihiko Yoshida, Adam Z. Weber
  • Patent number: 11843124
    Abstract: This disclosure details exemplary battery pack designs for use in electrified vehicles. An exemplary battery pack may include a multi-piece enclosure assembly and an urethane based adhesive. The urethane based adhesive may function as both a fastener for securing the enclosure assembly components together and as a seal for blocking the ingress of moisture into the interior of the battery pack. Associated battery pack assembly methods are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 2022
    Date of Patent: December 12, 2023
    Assignee: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: James M. McManaman, Louis Paspal
  • Patent number: 11837700
    Abstract: An energy storage device includes an electrode assembly having a negative electrode plate and a separator wound around a tubular core material. The core material has a first line part and a second line part extending along a first imaginary line and a second imaginary line parallel to a long side surface of a case, respectively. At least one of the first line part and the second line part has a curved portion that protrudes toward the other beyond the first imaginary line or the second imaginary line. An inner peripheral edge of the negative electrode plate is located at a position other than the curved portion in at least one of the first line part and the second line part.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 4, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2023
    Assignee: GS Yuasa International Ltd.
    Inventor: Katsuya Oji