Patents Examined by Daniel S Gatewood
  • Electrolyte, a battery including the same, and methods of reducing electrolyte flammability
    Patent number: 11050284
    Abstract: An improved electrolyte including a fire-retardant additive suitable for application in wide temperature cell and/or battery operation with safer cell design, a battery including the electrolyte and a separator optionally containing a fire-retardant additive, improved electrical and thermal conductive electrodes are disclosed. The presence of the fire-retardant additive reduces flammability of the electrolyte and improved the overall safety of the battery.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 4, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 29, 2021
    Assignee: EAGLEPICHER TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Ramanathan Thillaiyan, Wujun Fu, Mario Destephen, Gregory Lee Miller, Eivind Listerud, Eric Lloyd Quee
  • Stacked battery components and configurations
    Patent number: 11043703
    Abstract: Batteries according to embodiments of the present technology may include a first battery cell including a first body characterized by a first length and a first width, and a first tab extending from an edge of the first body. The first tab may be characterized by a width less than the first width of the first body. The batteries may also include a second battery cell stacked below the first battery cell. The second battery cell may include a second body characterized by a second length and a second width, and a second tab extending from an edge of the second body. The second tab may be characterized by a width less than the second width of the second body. The second tab may also be characterized by a width greater than the width of the first tab providing an extension of the second tab protruding from below the first tab.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 22, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 22, 2021
    Inventors: Qingcheng Zeng, Donald G. Dafoe
  • Cerium nanofiber additives for improved fuel cell durability
    Patent number: 11038189
    Abstract: A membrane electrode assembly component for a fuel cell includes a generally planar gas-permeable body having opposed first and second faces defining in-plane and through-plane directions, a side face extending about an outer perimeter of the body and adjoining each of the first and second faces, and an active region bounded by the first and second faces and an active region perimeter defined generally within the outer perimeter. The active region includes a distribution of cerium-zirconium oxide nanofibers dispersed across at least one of the in-plane and through-plane directions, wherein the cerium-zirconium oxide nanofibers have a molecular formula of CexZryO4.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 13, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 15, 2021
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Ruichun Jiang, Frank D. Coms, Timothy J. Fuller
  • Battery pack and electric hand tool
    Patent number: 11038237
    Abstract: The invention relates to a rechargeable battery pack, in particular for a hand-held electrical power tool, comprising: at least two rechargeable battery cells and/or rechargeable battery cell blocks, which are connected in series or in parallel, a housing with a cell carrier for receiving the rechargeable battery cells and/or rechargeable battery cell blocks in rows arranged one above the other, and a printed circuit board, wherein the rechargeable battery cells are connected to the printed circuit board via conductor plates when the rechargeable battery packs are in the installed state, and wherein at least one of the conductor plates at least partially surrounds at least two conductor plate layers when the rechargeable battery pack is in the assembled state with the printed circuit board.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 15, 2021
    Assignee: Metabowerke GmbH
    Inventors: Wolfgang Stickel, Michael Stoll, Alexander Wolf
  • Battery and cell stack
    Patent number: 11031601
    Abstract: A battery includes: a unit cell including an electrode layer, a counter electrode layer, and a solid electrolyte layer; an electrode current collector; an electrode current collector; a counter electrode current collector; and a seal disposed between the electrode current collector and the counter electrode current collector. The thickness of a first stack portion is larger than the thickness of a second stack portion. The first stack portion includes: a first sealing portion that is at least part of the seal; a part of the electrode current collector that overlaps the first sealing portion; and a part of the counter electrode current collector that overlaps the first sealing portion. The second stack portion includes: the unit cell; a part of the electrode current collector that overlaps the unit cell; and a part of the counter electrode current collector that overlaps the unit cell.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 14, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 8, 2021
    Assignee: PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Kazuyoshi Honda, Akira Kawase, Yasutaka Tsutsui
  • Battery pack
    Patent number: 11031635
    Abstract: A battery pack, which includes: a battery module having a positive electrode terminal and a negative electrode terminal; a first power connector having a first power terminal connected to the positive electrode terminal, a second power terminal connected to the negative electrode terminal and a first auxiliary terminal, the first power connector being configured to be coupled to or separated from a second power connector that is included in an external device; a control unit to determine whether the first power connector and the second power connector are coupled; a first communication connector to input or output a communication signal between the external device and the control unit; and a communication switching unit installed between the control unit and the first communication connector, the control unit turns on or off the communication switching unit in response to the determination result.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 8, 2021
    Inventors: Hak-In Kim, Dong-Hyun Kim, Ho-Chol Nam
  • Lithium secondary battery including lithium metal as negative electrode active material
    Patent number: 11031584
    Abstract: A lithium secondary battery includes: a positive electrode; a negative electrode; a separator disposed between the positive electrode and the negative electrode; and a nonaqueous electrolyte solution filled between the positive electrode and the negative electrode. The negative electrode includes: an electrically conductive layer having a surface; and lithium metal pieces arranged spaced from each other on the surface of the electrically conductive layer. There is no lithium metal on an imaginary line extending from a first end to a second end opposite to the first end of the surface of the electrically conductive layer and traversing a space between the lithium metal pieces.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 8, 2021
    Assignee: PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Tooru Matsui, Junichi Sakamoto, Kazuko Asano, Akira Kano, Kensuke Nakura
  • Lithium potassium element oxide compounds as Li super-ionic conductor, solid electrolyte and coating layer for lithium metal battery and lithium-ion battery
    Patent number: 11018375
    Abstract: Solid-state lithium ion electrolytes of lithium potassium element oxide based compounds are provided which contain an anionic framework capable of conducting lithium ions. The element atoms are Ir, Sb, I Nb and W. An activation energy of the lithium potassium element oxide compounds is from 0.15 to 0.50 eV and conductivities are from 10?3 to 22 mS/cm at 300K. Compounds of specific formulae are provided and methods to alter the materials with inclusion of aliovalent ions shown. Lithium batteries containing the composite lithium ion electrolytes are also provided. Electrodes containing the lithium potassium element oxide based materials and batteries with such electrodes are also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 25, 2021
    Assignees: UNIVERSITY OF MARYLAND, COLLEGE PARK, TOYOTA MOTOR ENGINEERING & MANUFACTURING NORTH AMERICA, INC.
    Inventors: Yifei Mo, Qiang Bai, Xingfeng He, Chen Ling
  • Lithium secondary battery including lithium metal as negative electrode active material
    Patent number: 11018332
    Abstract: A lithium secondary battery includes: a positive electrode; a negative electrode including a negative electrode collector having a surface, on which a lithium metal is deposited during charge; a separator disposed between the positive electrode and the negative electrode; and a nonaqueous electrolyte solution filled between the positive electrode and the negative electrode. The negative electrode collector includes projection portions projecting from the surface toward the separator. There is no projection portion on an imaginary line extending from a first end to a second end opposite to the first end of the surface of the negative electrode collector and traversing a space between the projection portions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 25, 2021
    Assignee: PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Tooru Matsui, Junichi Sakamoto, Kazuko Asano, Akira Kano, Kensuke Nakura
  • Power modulation for fuel cell powered datacenters
    Patent number: 11011768
    Abstract: A fuel cell power controller tracks load current and fuel cell output voltage, and alerts on excessive fuel cell ramp rate, so another power source can supplement the fuel cell and/or the load can be reduced. A power engineering process makes efficient use of available fuel cell power by ramping up power flow rapidly when power is available, while respecting the ramp rate and other power limitations of the fuel cell and safety limitations of the load. Power flow decreases after an alert indicating an electrical output limitation of the fuel cell. Permitted power flow increases in response to a power demand increase (actual or requested) from the load in the absence of the alert. Power flow may increase or decrease in a fixed amount, a proportional amount, or per a sequence. A power controller relay may trip open on a low fuel cell output voltage or high load current.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 18, 2021
    Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing, LLC
    Inventors: Di Wang, Sriram Govindan, John J. Siegler, Jie Liu, Ricardo Bianchini, Eric Peterson, Sean M. James, Bryan Kelly
  • Electroactive polymer devices, systems, and methods
    Patent number: 11011739
    Abstract: An electroactive device may include a primary electrode, a secondary electrode overlapping at least a portion of the primary electrode, and a tertiary electrode overlapping at least a portion of the secondary electrode. The electroactive device may also include (i) a first electroactive polymer element including a first elastomer material disposed between and abutting the primary electrode and the secondary electrode, and (ii) a second electroactive polymer element including a second elastomer material disposed between and abutting the secondary electrode and the tertiary electrode. Various other devices, methods, and systems are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 9, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 18, 2021
    Assignee: Facebook Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Andrew John Ouderkirk, Katherine Marie Smyth
  • Fuel cell vehicle
    Patent number: 10998570
    Abstract: A fuel cell vehicle includes a fuel cell system and an exhaust gas pipe. The fuel cell system includes a fuel cell stack, an oxygen-containing gas supply line, an oxygen-containing gas discharge line, and an air pump. The air pump includes a compressor provided in an oxygen-containing gas supply line, and an expander provided in an oxygen-containing gas discharge line. An air cleaner is provided upstream of the compressor. An exhaust gas pipe is connected to an expander. The air compressor is closer to the air cleaner than the expander is.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 4, 2021
    Assignee: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Takuma Kanazawa
  • PEM fuel cell power systems with efficient hydrogen generation
    Patent number: 10998562
    Abstract: Methods and devices for generating power using PEM fuel cell power systems comprising a rotary bed reactor for hydrogen generation are disclosed. Hydrogen is generated by the hydrolysis of fuels such as lithium aluminum hydride and mixtures thereof. Water required for hydrolysis may be captured from the fuel cell exhaust. Water is preferably fed to the reactor in the form of a mist generated by an atomizer. An exemplary 750 We-h, 400 We PEM fuel cell power system may be characterized by a specific energy of about 550 We-h/kg and a specific power of about 290 We/kg.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 12, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 4, 2021
    Assignee: Intelligent Energy Limited
    Inventors: Jason L. Stimits, Russell Barton, Douglas A. Knight, Iain M. Fraser, Hao Huang, Sandra H. Withers-Kirby, Piotr Marcin Kleszyk, Hossein Ostadi, Zachary Elliott
  • Positive electrode active material, positive electrode, and lithium ion secondary battery
    Patent number: 10998542
    Abstract: A positive electrode active material according to the present invention is a positive electrode active material that is used in a positive electrode for a lithium ion secondary battery. This positive electrode active material includes positive electrode active material particles A represented by Formula (A): Li?NixCoyM1(1-x-y)O2 (where 0<??1.15, 0.90<x?0.98, 0<y?0.10, and 0<(1-x-y)), and positive electrode active material particles B represented by Formula (B): Li?NiaCobM2(1-a-b)O2 (where 0<??1.15, 0.70?a?0.90, 0<b?0.20, and 0<(1-a-b)). M1 and M2 each independently represent one element or two or more elements selected from the group consisting of Li, B, Mg, Al, Fe, and Mn.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 26, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 4, 2021
    Assignee: Envision AESC Energy Devices Ltd.
    Inventor: Masaaki Matsuu
  • Solid-state electrolytes based on lithium halides for all-solid-state lithium-ion battery operating at elevated temperatures
    Patent number: 10991976
    Abstract: Solid-state lithium-ion batteries with a solid-state antiperovskite electrolyte are disclosed. In one aspect, a solid-state Li3ClO electrolyte is deposited on a Cu-supported thin carbon working electrode using a delamination approach for half-cells with lithium metal as a reference electrode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 27, 2021
    Assignee: SOUTH DAKOTA BOARD OF REGENTS
    Inventors: Alevtina Smirnova, Matthew Dondelinger, Joel Swanson
  • Realization of a microelectronic device collector
    Patent number: 10991922
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for producing a microelectronic device successively comprising: a formation of a first current collector on a face of a substrate; a formation of a first electrode (14) on, and in electrical continuity with, a portion of the first current collector; a heat treatment configured to treat the first electrode (14) characterised by the fact that: the formation of the first collector comprises a formation of a first collector layer (12) on the face of the substrate and a formation of a second collector layer (13) covering at least one part, called covered part, of the first collector layer (12) and having a first face in contact with the first electrode (14), the second collector layer (13) is configured to protect the covered part during the heat treatment, such that the heat treatment does not oxidise said covered part.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 27, 2021
    Assignee: Commissariat A L'Energie Atomique et aux Energies Alternatives
    Inventors: Christophe Dubarry, Francoise Geffraye, Sami Oukassi
  • Energy storage container and heat dissipation system for the same
    Patent number: 10991997
    Abstract: An energy storage container and a heat dissipation system for the same are provided. The heat dissipation system for the energy storage container includes a container body, and a battery module assembly and multiple air conditioning modules both located in the container body. In a length direction or a width direction of the container body, each of two side ends of the battery module assembly is provided with at least one air conditioning module. The heat dissipation system further includes an air supply duct and an air return duct, a partition plate is arranged in the air supply duct, to divide the air supply duct into a first air supply duct and a second air supply duct which are mutually independent. The above arrangement avoids increasing a height of the energy storage container, thereby effectively facilitating the transportation and installation of the energy storage container.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 16, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 27, 2021
    Assignee: SUNGROW POWER SUPPLY CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Youjin Yang, Guohong Li, Zengfu Ding
  • Layer and layer system, as well as bipolar plate, fuel cell and electrolyser
    Patent number: 10985385
    Abstract: Layers for a bipolar plates are disclosed, as well as bipolar plates including the layers and fuel cells and/or electrolyzers including the bipolar plates. The layer may include a homogeneous or heterogeneous solid metallic solution or compound which either contains a first chemical element from the group of the noble metals in the form of iridium; or contains a first chemical element from the group of the noble metals in the form of iridium and a second chemical element from the group of the noble metals in the form of ruthenium. The layer may also include at least one further nonmetallic chemical element from the group consisting of nitrogen, carbon, boron, fluorine, and hydrogen.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 5, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 20, 2021
    Assignee: Schaeffler Technologies AG & Co. KG
    Inventors: Ladislaus Dobrenizki, Tim Hosenfeldt, Yashar Musayev, Detlev Repenning
  • Binder composition for solid electrolyte battery and slurry composition for solid electrolyte battery
    Patent number: 10985401
    Abstract: Provided are a binder composition for a solid electrolyte battery and a slurry composition for a solid electrolyte battery that have excellent processability and can cause a solid electrolyte battery to display excellent battery characteristics. The binder composition contains a particulate polymer of a copolymer including an acrylate monomer unit and an aromatic monomer unit, alkyl-modified cellulose represented by formula (I), and an organic solvent. In formula (I), R1, R2, and R3 each indicate a hydrogen atom or an alkyl group having a carbon number of at least 1 and not more than 4. At least two of R1, R2, and R3 are alkyl groups having a carbon number of at least 2 and not more than 4 in 50 mol % or more of all repeating units. Also, n indicates a natural number.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 20, 2021
    Assignee: ZEON CORPORATION
    Inventor: Kouichirou Maeda
  • Anode active material and anode for lithium-ion battery, method for preparing the anode active material, and lithium-ion battery
    Patent number: 10978695
    Abstract: An anode active material for a lithium-ion battery with greatly reduced recharging time includes SiO particles, graphite particles, and a carbon coating layer. The graphite particles and SiO particles are processed to form spherical SiO/graphite composite particles. A layer of carbon coating is applied to the surface of the SiO/graphite composite particle and the resulting anode active material resembles a pomegranate structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 13, 2021
    Assignee: GP Batteries International Limited
    Inventors: Xian-Wen Ren, Yu-Sum Chow, Wei-Gong Zheng, Jia-Miao Liu, Wei-Chen Hu, Kwok-Fung Kan