Patents Examined by Eli S Mekhlin
  • Patent number: 10948454
    Abstract: Methods for nanopore-based protein analysis are provided. The methods address the characterization of a target protein analyte, which has a dimension greater than an internal diameter of the nanopore tunnel, and which is also physically associated with a polymer. The methods further comprise applying an electrical potential to the nanopore system to cause the polymer to interact with the nanopore tunnel. The ion current through the nanopore is measured to provide a current pattern reflective of the structure of the portion of the polymer interacting with the nanopore tunnel. This is used as a metric for characterizing the associated protein that does not pass through the nanopore.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 22, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 16, 2021
    Assignee: University of Washington
    Inventors: Jens Gundlach, Ian Michael Derrington, Andrew Laszlo, Jonathan Craig, Henry Brinkerhoff
  • Patent number: 10944136
    Abstract: The invention relates to a battery cell, in particular lithium-ion battery cell, having a housing (61) in which the electrochemical components of the battery cell (4) are accommodated, wherein the housing (61) of the battery cell (4) comprises a casing (60) which is designed for guiding a temperature-control fluid flowing around the battery cell (4), which casing at least partially covers the housing (61) of the battery cell, wherein the casing (60) is formed from a main body (62) which comprises at least one filler material (63).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 9, 2021
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventor: Mario Kustosch
  • Patent number: 10944129
    Abstract: There is described a process for forming a conformal film of conducting polymer onto one or more surfaces of a substrate by polymerising onto the one or more surfaces in a single step one or more conducting polymer precursors including one or more monomers in the presence of conductivity enhancing additives comprising one or more ionic liquids and one or more optional ionic dopants.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 9, 2021
    Assignee: Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation
    Inventors: Thomas Ruther, Jean-Pierre Veder, Mike Horne, Paulo De Souza
  • Patent number: 10923610
    Abstract: Provided is a solar cell that can suppress loss of power generation performance of a solar cell module when shaded and a solar cell module having the solar cell. An n-type low-doped region and a first main-surface side highly doped region, which has an n-type dopant concentration higher than that in the n-type low-doped region, are provided in an n-type crystalline silicon substrate. The first main-surface side highly doped region is arranged between the n-type low-doped region and a p-type amorphous silicon layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 16, 2021
    Assignee: PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Satoshi Tohoda, Masato Shigematsu, Kenta Matsuyama
  • Patent number: 10921282
    Abstract: An apparatus comprising a channel member, first and second electrodes configured to enable a flow of electrical current from the first electrode through the channel member to the second electrode, and a supporting substrate configured to support the channel member and the first and second electrodes, wherein one or more of the supporting substrate and electrodes are configured such that a portion of the channel member is suspended to expose opposing surfaces of the portion, the exposed opposing surfaces comprising respective functional coatings thereon configured to facilitate variation of the flow of electrical current through the channel member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 16, 2021
    Assignee: Nokia Technologies Oy
    Inventor: Samiul Haque
  • Patent number: 10910541
    Abstract: A thermoelectric element according to one embodiment of the present invention comprises: a first substrate; a plurality of P-type thermoelectric legs and a plurality of N-type thermoelectric legs that are alternately arranged on the first substrate; a second substrate disposed on the plurality of P- and N-type thermoelectric legs; and a plurality of electrodes that connect the plurality of P- and N-type thermoelectric legs in series, wherein the plurality of electrodes include a plurality of first electrodes disposed between the first substrate and the plurality of P- and N-type thermoelectric legs, and a plurality of second electrodes disposed between the second substrate and the plurality of P- and N-type thermoelectric legs, and grains constituting at least one of the plurality of first and second electrodes grow in the direction from the first substrate to the second substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 13, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 2, 2021
    Assignee: LG Innotek Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Young Sam Yoo
  • Patent number: 10910683
    Abstract: This disclosure details exemplary battery pack designs for use in electrified vehicles or other electrified components. An exemplary battery pack may include a heat exchanger plate assembly having a metallic plate and a polymeric plate that are joined together to establish a coolant circuit therebetween. The metallic plate or the polymeric plate may include a protrusion that extends through an opening of the other of the metallic plate or the polymeric plate. The protrusion may either be crimped or heat staked to a surface surrounding the opening in order to join together the metallic plate and the polymeric plate of the heat exchanger plate assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 2, 2021
    Assignee: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Eric Myers, Samuel Jeffrey Tomlinson, Neil Robert Burrows
  • Patent number: 10897059
    Abstract: The problem of the present invention is to provide a sulfide solid electrolyte material with favorable reduction resistance. The present invention solves the problem by providing a sulfide solid electrolyte material having a peak at a position of 2?=30.26°±1.00° in X-ray diffraction measurement using a CuK? ray, and having a composition of Li(4?x?4y)Si(1?x+y)P(x)S(4?2a?z)O(2a+z) (a=1?x+y, 0.65?x?0.75, ?0.025?y?0.1, ?0.2?z?0).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 19, 2021
    Assignees: TOKYO INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY, TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Ryoji Kanno, Satoshi Hori, Yuki Kato
  • Patent number: 10890550
    Abstract: The present invention discloses a novel capacitive vapor sensor comprising porous immobilized graphene oxide (pGO) on an electrode surface. Also disclosed is an in-situ process for the preparation of this sensor and various uses thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 8, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 12, 2021
    Assignee: B.G. NEGEV TECHNOLOGIES & APPLICATIONS LTD. AT BEN-GURION UNIVERSITY
    Inventors: Raz Jelinek, Nagappa Teradal, Ahiud Morag
  • Patent number: 10868200
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a conductive paste for forming a conductive track or coating on a substrate, particularly suitable for use in solar cells. The paste comprises a solids portion dispersed in an organic medium, the solids portion comprising electrically conductive material and an inorganic particle mixture wherein the inorganic particle mixture comprises substantially crystalline particles. The present invention also relates to a method of preparing a conductive paste, a method for the manufacture of a surface electrode of a solar cell, an electrode for a solar cell and a solar cell.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 8, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 15, 2020
    Assignee: Johnson Matthey Public Limited Company
    Inventors: Beatriz Cela Greven, Jonathan Charles Shepley Booth, Nicholas Nowak, Simon Johnson, Tobias Droste
  • Patent number: 10847777
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates generally to a battery module having a housing and a stack of battery cells disposed in the housing. Each battery cell has a battery cell terminal and a battery cell vent on an end of each battery cell, and the battery cell vent is configured to exhaust effluent into the housing. The battery module has a vent shield plate disposed in the housing and directly along an immediate vent path of the effluent, a first surface of the vent shield plate configured to direct the effluent to an opening between the shield plate and the housing, and a second surface of the vent shield plate opposite the first surface. The battery module also has a venting chamber coupled to the opening and at least partially defined by the second surface and a vent configured to direct the effluent out of the battery module.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 4, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 24, 2020
    Assignee: CPS Technology Holdings LLC
    Inventors: Richard M. DeKeuster, Dale B. Trester
  • Patent number: 10804838
    Abstract: A photovoltaic system includes a photovoltaic cell including a sun tracker, a top surface configured to generate electrical energy from the incident sunlight, and a bottom surface configured to thermally dispel heat generated by the photovoltaic cell; at least one mirror including a reflective surface; a plurality of actuators securing the at least one mirror the photovoltaic cell; at least one actuator pump connected to the plurality of actuators and configured to extend or retract the plurality of actuators and adjust the distance of the at least one mirror from the top surface; a heat exchanger thermally coupled to the bottom surface of the photovoltaic cell; and a fluid pump connected to the heat exchanger and configured to circulate the fluid through the heat exchanger.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 4, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 13, 2020
    Assignee: King Abdulaziz University
    Inventor: Hussain Bassi
  • Patent number: 10804841
    Abstract: A solar thermal energy collection module formed by a sandwich of metal plates. The metal plates collect solar radiant energy and convert that to thermal energy in a heat transfer fluid that flows through conduits and manifolds formed between the plates. The collector module may be directly integrated into the exterior of building structures in an array. The collector module also may be glazed or integrated with photovoltaic solar panels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 23, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 13, 2020
    Inventor: John C. Weekley
  • Patent number: 10794852
    Abstract: This disclosure describes, in one aspect, a device for electrochemical quantitation of autoantibodies. Generally, the device includes a housing that defines a plurality of channels and at least two reaction zones. A first reaction zone includes a porous membrane and a first electrode assembly in fluid communication with a first channel. The first reaction zone also includes a first plurality of autoantigens immobilized to the porous membrane. The first electrode assembly is in communication with an amperometric reader. A second reaction zone includes a porous membrane and a second electrode assembly in fluid communication with a second channel. The second reaction zone includes a second plurality of autoantigens immobilized to the porous membrane. The second electrode assembly is in communication with the amperometric reader. Finally, the device includes a source of negative pressure in fluid communication with the first reaction zone and the second reaction zone.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 6, 2020
    Inventors: Robert L. Rubin, Konstantin N. Konstantinov, David A. Wall
  • Patent number: 10790429
    Abstract: An energy harvester for use to provide power to metrology hardware like gas meters and flow measuring devices. The energy harvester may include a body with ends connectable to a pipe, a fluid circuit disposed in the body and coupled to the ends, the fluid circuit comprising, a flow unit configured to convert a single stream of fuel gas into a pair of streams at different temperatures, and a power unit responsive to a temperature differential between the two streams to generate an electrical signal. The electrical signal can be directed to the flow device to operate the flow device or, when necessary, replace, supplement, or recharge a power source on the flow device that powers electronics necessary to expand functions on the flow device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 3, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 29, 2020
    Assignee: Natural Gas Solutions North America, LLC
    Inventors: Roman Leon Artiuch, Francisco Manuel Gutierrez, Francisco Enrique Jimenez
  • Patent number: 10790431
    Abstract: A method of manufacturing a thermoelectric conversion material includes a sintering step. In the sintering step, a sintered body of a sintered material (20) is obtained by applying a voltage to a conductive mold (10) in a first direction so as to cause energization under the condition in which an insulating layer (30) is disposed in at least a portion between an inner wall (12) of the mold (10) and the sintered material (20) and the insulating layer (30) keeps having insulating properties. Here, the sintered body is a thermoelectric conversion substance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 29, 2020
    Assignee: FURUKAWA CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Taketoshi Tomida, Shogo Suzuki, Atsuro Sumiyoshi, Ge Nie, Takahiro Ochi, Masaaki Kikuchi, Junqing Guo
  • Patent number: 10784396
    Abstract: An n-type low-doped region and a first main-surface side highly doped region, which has an n-type dopant concentration higher than that in the n-type low-doped region, are provided in an n-type crystalline silicon substrate. The first main-surface side highly doped region is arranged between the n-type low-doped region and a p-type amorphous silicon layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 22, 2020
    Assignee: PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Satoshi Tohoda, Masato Shigematsu, Kenta Matsuyama
  • Patent number: 10784490
    Abstract: The present invention provides a battery cell including: an electrode assembly having a structure in which a positive electrode, a negative electrode, and a separator are laminated, each of the positive electrode and the negative electrode having 2×n (n?2), wherein a positive tab is provided in each of odd-numbered sides, and a negative electrode tab is provided in each of even-numbered sides, and the positive electrodes and the negative electrode tabs are alternately formed along the sides; electrode terminals respectively disposed on a first side and a second side of the electrode assembly, in which outermost electrodes are disposed, or third sides which are side surfaces of the electrode assembly, being perpendicular to the first side and the second side, and a battery case having a structure of surrounding an external surface of the electrode assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 13, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 22, 2020
    Assignee: LG Chem, Ltd.
    Inventors: Hee Seok Jeong, Hyun Min Kim, Ju Ri Kim, Sei Woon Oh
  • Patent number: 10770659
    Abstract: Provided is a composition for a hole trapping layer of an organic photoelectric conversion element, such composition: containing a solvent and a charge-transporting substance comprising a polyaniline derivative represented by formula (1); and providing a thin film that is suitable as a hole trapping layer of an organic photoelectric conversion element and can also be used to produce an inverse lamination type organic photoelectric conversion element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 8, 2020
    Assignee: NISSAN CHEMICAL INDUSTRIES, LTD.
    Inventors: Takuji Yoshimoto, Juro Oshima, Shun Sugawara
  • Patent number: 10763780
    Abstract: A photovoltaic (PV) module having bi-directional couplings is described. The bi-directional couplings include a first coupling mounted on a support frame under a first edge of the PV module and a second coupling mounted on the support frame under a second edge of the PV module. The PV module can be a keystone module and the bi-directional couplings of the keystone module can connect to respective couplings of several adjacent PV modules. The bi-directional couplings can form male-to-female connections with the respective couplings to quickly combine the PV modules into a PV module assembly. The PV module assembly includes the bi-directionally connected PV modules supporting each other in both an x-direction and a y-direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 12, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 1, 2020
    Assignee: SunPower Corporation
    Inventors: Lee Gorny, Gabriela Elena Bunea