Patents Examined by Cynthia K. Walls
  • Patent number: 10957935
    Abstract: Various arrangements for compressing a cylindrical battery cell are presented herein. The cylindrical battery cell may be wrapped in a buffer material. The buffer material may then be compressed using a compression mechanism. The buffer material may uniformly distribute pressure applied to the buffer material to a curved sidewall of the cylindrical battery cell. The cylindrical battery cell may be heated while the buffer material is being compressed using the compression mechanism.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 14, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 23, 2021
    Assignee: TeraWatt Technology Inc.
    Inventors: Ken Ogata, Yang Yang, Hajime Hoshi, Masatsugu Nakano, Hiroshi Imoto
  • Patent number: 10938015
    Abstract: A plurality of unit cells is stacked on each other in a secondary battery, and each of the plurality of unit cells includes first and second collector layers, which are spaced apart from each other, and a 3-dimensional (“3D”) electrode structure provided between the first and second collector layers and having an outer side surface that is externally exposed and insulated, wherein, in the plurality of unit cells, the first collector layers are stacked to face each other and the second collector layers are stacked to face each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 2, 2021
    Assignee: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Hojung Yang, Kyounghwan Kim, Hwiyeol Park, Sungjin Lim, Huisu Jeong, Jin S. Heo
  • Patent number: 10938054
    Abstract: Provided is a method for operating a redox flow battery, the method including a step of mixing a predetermined volume of a positive electrolyte and a predetermined volume of a negative electrolyte at a predetermined period, in which the predetermined period is time x selected from a range of 320 hours or less, the predetermined volume is y % of a storage volume set for one of a positive electrolyte tank and a negative electrolyte tank, y is equal to or higher than a value represented by y=0.01%×x, when x is selected from a range of 30 hours or less, y is equal to or lower than a value represented by y=0.9%×x, and when x is selected from a range of more than 30 hours to 320 hours, y is 27.0% or less.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 2, 2021
    Assignee: Sumitomo Electric Industries, Ltd.
    Inventors: Hideyuki Yamaguchi, Katsuya Yamanishi
  • Patent number: 10923752
    Abstract: Disclosed are a membrane-electrode assembly, a method of manufacturing the same, and a fuel cell including the membrane-electrode assembly. The membrane-electrode assembly includes a catalyst layer, an interfacial adhesive layer which is positioned on the catalyst layer and formed by permeating an interface between the interfacial adhesive layer and the catalyst layer into a partial depth of the catalyst layer, and an ion exchange membrane which is positioned on the interfacial adhesive layer and bonded to the catalyst layer by the medium of the interfacial adhesive layer, the interfacial adhesive layer including a fluorine-based ionomer having an equivalent weight (EW) of 500 to 1000 g/eq.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 16, 2021
    Assignee: KOLON INDUSTRIES, INC.
    Inventors: Jun-Young Kim, Jin-Hwa Lee
  • Patent number: 10923712
    Abstract: Improved anodes and cells are provided, which enable fast charging rates with enhanced safety due to much reduced probability of metallization of lithium on the anode, preventing dendrite growth and related risks of fire or explosion. Anodes and/or electrolytes have buffering zones for partly reducing and gradually introducing lithium ions into the anode for lithiation, to prevent lithium ion accumulation at the anode electrolyte interface and consequent metallization and dendrite growth. Various anode active materials and combinations, modifications through nanoparticles and a range of coatings which implement the improved anodes are provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 16, 2021
    Assignee: STOREDOT LTD.
    Inventors: Doron Burshtain, Nir Kedem, Daniel Aronov
  • Patent number: 10923756
    Abstract: A joining structure includes a first bonded member and a glass portion that is bonded to a surface of the first bonded member. The glass portion includes an interface region not exceeding 5 ?m of the surface of the first bonded member, and an inner region more than 5 ?m from the surface of the first bonded member. The interface region and inner region respectively include rod-shaped crystal particles that have three or more aspect ratios when viewed in cross section. An average orientation angle of the rod-shaped crystal particles included in the interface region is greater than or equal to 60 degrees and less than or equal to 120 degrees. A standard deviation of the orientation angle of the rod-shaped crystal particles included in the inner region is greater than a standard deviation of the orientation angle of the rod-shaped crystal particles included in the interface region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 9, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 16, 2021
    Assignee: NGK INSULATORS, LTD.
    Inventors: Genta Terazawa, Masato Fukumori, Yuki Tanaka, Takashi Ryu, Makoto Ohmori
  • Patent number: 10923701
    Abstract: A sensing block having a block body and a first connecting member of conductive material. The block body includes a terminal seat section and a cell lead coupling section provided on one or both sides of the terminal seat section. The first connecting member is positioned to correspond to the terminal seat section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 16, 2021
    Assignee: Tyco Electronics AMP Korea Co. Ltd.
    Inventor: Kwang Wook Ahn
  • Patent number: 10903530
    Abstract: Improved anodes and cells are provided, which enable fast charging rates with enhanced safety due to much reduced probability of metallization of lithium on the anode, preventing dendrite growth and related risks of fire or explosion. Anodes and/or electrolytes have buffering zones for partly reducing and gradually introducing lithium ions into the anode for lithiation, to prevent lithium ion accumulation at the anode electrolyte interface and consequent metallization and dendrite growth. Various anode active materials and combinations, modifications through nanoparticles and a range of coatings which implement the improved anodes are provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 22, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 26, 2021
    Assignee: STOREDOT LTD.
    Inventors: David Jacob, Sergey Remizov, Nitzan Shadmi, Hani Farran, Daniel Aronov, Boris Brudnik
  • Patent number: 10879546
    Abstract: When setting a requested operating point of a compressor that supplies oxidizing gas to a fuel cell by a target flow rate and a target pressure ratio, a control section of a fuel cell system sets the target pressure ratio to be equal to or higher than a minimum pressure ratio corresponding to the target flow rate using a predetermined operation characteristic in which a minimum pressure ratio that can be realized to the flow rate that can be discharged from the compressor. In the case where a condition under which it should be determined that the minimum value of the pressure ratio in an actual operation characteristic of the compressor differs from the minimum pressure ratio in the predetermined operation characteristic is satisfied, the control section updates the minimum pressure ratio in the predetermined operation characteristic using the minimum value of the pressure ratio in the actual operation characteristic.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 19, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 29, 2020
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Naoki Tomi, Shigeki Hasegawa
  • Patent number: 10873103
    Abstract: An electrode assembly and rechargeable battery, the electrode assembly including a first electrode including a first sub-electrode in which an active material is on both surfaces of a base substrate, a second sub-electrode in which the active material is on one surface of the base substrate, and a first electrode uncoated region extending from the first sub-electrode; a second electrode including a third sub-electrode in which an active material is on both surfaces of a base substrate, a fourth sub-electrode in which the active material is on one surface of the base substrate, and a second electrode uncoated region extending from the third sub-electrode; and a separator between the electrodes, wherein the active material at the third sub-electrode includes a protruding portion protruding therefrom, and a distance from the end of the active material at sides based on the third sub-electrode to the protruding portion is 0 to 3 mm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 15, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 22, 2020
    Assignee: SAMSUNG SDI CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Youngsan Ko, Kijun Kim, Yuhyun Kim, Junsik Lee, Woonsuk Jang
  • Patent number: 10862122
    Abstract: A negative electrode active material which is a negative electrode active material containing particles of a negative electrode active material, wherein the particles of the negative electrode active material contain particles of a silicon compound which contain a silicon compound (SiOx: 0.5?x?1.6), the particles of the negative electrode active material contain lithium, and the particles of the negative electrode active material have a peak in the range of 2?=31.8±0.5° measured by X-ray diffraction spectrum using K? line of Cu. According to this constitution, it is provided a negative electrode active material capable of improving cycle characteristics and initial charge and discharge characteristics when it is used as a negative electrode active material of a lithium ion secondary battery.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 8, 2020
    Assignee: SHIN-ETSU CHEMICAL CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Hiromichi Kamo, Takakazu Hirose
  • Patent number: 10862155
    Abstract: A fuel cell system includes at least one modular enclosure having a top wall, a bottom wall, and a plurality of side walls that connect the top wall and the bottom wall and close off the modular enclosure on all sides; at least one fuel cell stack disposed within the at least one modular enclosure; at least one piping manifold configured to supply at least one process gas to the at least one fuel cell stack and to receive at least one exhaust process gas from the at least one fuel cell stack; and at least one process gas seal configured to seal the at least one piping manifold. The at least one process gas seal is effected via a static force from a weight of the at least one fuel cell stack or a weight of the at least one piping manifold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 8, 2020
    Assignee: FuelCell Energy, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael L. Quatannens, Matthew Lambrech, Fred C. Jahnke
  • Patent number: 10862180
    Abstract: A battery module includes: a battery cell stack having a plurality of battery cells stacked; a case configured to accommodate the battery cell stack; and a heat dissipation member inserted into the case and supported in contact with the battery cell stack.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 5, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 8, 2020
    Assignee: LG CHEM, LTD.
    Inventors: Gang-U Lee, Jun-Yeob Seong
  • Patent number: 10840486
    Abstract: The disclosure relates to a battery module. The battery module comprises: a first end plate, a plurality of batteries and a second end plate successively arranged in a direction, wherein the battery comprises a top cover; a connecting component, wherein the first end plate is fixedly connected to the second end plate through the connecting component; and a pulling component comprising a first connecting segment, an intermediate segment and a second connecting segment successively arranged, wherein the first connecting segment is fixedly connected to the first end plate, the intermediate segment is disposed facing the top cover, and the second connecting segment is fixedly connected to the second end plate, and wherein the pulling component can tighten the first end plate and the second end plate in an arrangement direction of the batteries to compress the batteries along with the first end plate and the second end plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 17, 2020
    Assignee: Contemporary Amperex Technology Co., Limited
    Inventors: Gen Cao, Jihua Yao, Taosheng Zhu
  • Patent number: 10840570
    Abstract: A battery pack for a vehicle is presented. The battery pack comprises a plurality of bricks, each brick of the plurality of bricks comprising a phase change material block, a side of the phase change material block defining a plurality of channels, and a plurality of battery cells, each battery cell being disposed at least in part in the phase change material block; and at least one connector for electrically connecting a first one of the plurality of bricks to a second one of the plurality of bricks, the at least one connector being disposed at least partially in one of the plurality of channels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 17, 2020
    Assignee: CONSORTIUM DE RECHERCHE BRP—UNIVERSITE DE SHERBROOKE S.E.N.C.
    Inventors: Normand Lebreux, Eric Menard
  • Patent number: 10833353
    Abstract: A stretchable battery comprising at least one electrochemical cell further comprising a first electrode having a first active material coupled with a first current collector, a second electrode having a second active material coupled with a second current collector, an electrolytic separator configured between the first and second electrodes, and at least one stretchable substrate coupled with the formation of at least one electrochemical cell, wherein the stretchable substrate encapsulates the formation and is capable of reversible stretching.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 10, 2020
    Assignee: UNIVERSITY OF HOUSTON SYSTEM
    Inventors: Haleh Ardebili, Taylor Dizon, Mejdi Kammoun
  • Patent number: 10826084
    Abstract: A fuel cell includes: a membrane electrode assembly; and a separator disposed on one side of the membrane electrode assembly, wherein the separator includes flow path grooves through which reactant gas flows between the separator and the membrane electrode assembly, the flow path grooves include: wavy grooves wavily extending in a first direction and arranged in a second direction orthogonal to the first direction; and a linear groove linearly extending in the first direction, the wavy grooves include: a first wavy groove located closest to the linear groove among the wavy grooves; and a second wavy groove located opposite to the linear groove with respect to the first wavy groove, and amplitude of the first wavy groove is smaller than that of the second wavy groove.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 3, 2020
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Hiroki Okabe, Manabu Kato
  • Patent number: 10818919
    Abstract: Improved anodes and cells are provided, which enable fast charging rates with enhanced safety due to much reduced probability of metallization of lithium on the anode, preventing dendrite growth and related risks of fire or explosion. Anodes and/or electrolytes have buffering zones for partly reducing and gradually introducing lithium ions into the anode for lithiation, to prevent lithium ion accumulation at the anode electrolyte interface and consequent metallization and dendrite growth. Various anode active materials and combinations, modifications through nanoparticles and a range of coatings which implement the improved anodes are provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 11, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 27, 2020
    Assignee: STOREDOT LTD.
    Inventors: Doron Burshtain, Nir Kedem, Eran Sella, Daniel Aronov, Hani Farran, Leora Shapiro
  • Patent number: 10811720
    Abstract: A battery cell tray includes a bottom plate, a top plate opposite the bottom plate, at least one partition plate between the bottom plate and the top plate, a pressing plate between the partition plate and the bottom plate, and a transmission device between the pressing plate and the bottom plate and on the bottom plate. The transmission device includes moving members, a spiral rod, and supporting arms. The moving members respectively have a first threaded hole and a second threaded hole. The spiral rod has a first screw thread and a second screw thread that are arranged in reverse rotation directions and respectively engaged with the first threaded hole and the second threaded hole. Two top ends of the supporting arms are pivoted to the pressing plate, and two bottom ends of the supporting arms are respectively pivoted to the moving members.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 19, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 20, 2020
    Assignee: CHROMA ATE INC.
    Inventors: Hsu-Chang Hsu, Kuo-Yen Hsu
  • Patent number: 10804515
    Abstract: Batteries having vents are disclosed. An example battery includes a housing, including: a first terminal and a second terminal. The first terminal includes a cover. The cover includes at least one line of weakness therein. The line of weakness is structured to form an opening when a threshold pressure is satisfied within the housing to enable gas to vent from the housing through the opening. A filter is positioned within the housing and adjacent the cover. The filter has an aperture structured to enable the gas to vent from the housing and to deter solid material housed within the housing from exiting the opening when the threshold pressure is satisfied.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 8, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 13, 2020
    Assignee: DURACELL U.S. OPERATIONS, INC.
    Inventors: Mark Ashbolt, Alexander Shelekhin, Brien Merrill, Oleg Podoprigora, Robert S. Ferrin