Patents Examined by Eugenia Wang
  • Metal-air electrochemical cell with high energy efficiency mode
    Patent number: 9761920
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a metal-air electrochemical cell with a high energy efficiency mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 11, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2017
    Assignee: FLUIDIC, INC.
    Inventors: Cody A. Friesen, Ramkumar Krishnan, Todd Trimble, Joel Hayes
  • Propylene-based resin microporous film, separator for battery, battery, and method for producing propylene-based resin microporous film
    Patent number: 9748545
    Abstract: The present invention provides a propylene-based resin microporous film which has excellent electrolyte solution retention property, and can provide a lithium ion battery in which a decrease in discharge capacity is highly reduced even after repeated charge and discharge. The propylene-based resin microporous film is a propylene-based resin microporous film having micropores, wherein a propylene-based resin having a weight average molecular weight of 250,000 to 500,000, a melting point of 160 to 170° C., and a pentad fraction of 96% or more is contained, the surface aperture ratio is 27 to 42%, the ratio of a surface aperture ratio to a porosity is 0.6 or less, and the degree of gas permeability is 50 to 400 s/100 mL.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2017
    Assignee: SEKISUI CHEMICAL CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Shotaro Kobaru, Yuki Sakurai
  • Battery cell
    Patent number: 9742044
    Abstract: A battery cell, in particular a lithium-ion battery cell, includes a housing, at least two electrical storage elements and a conductive cooling sheet metal. The at least two storage elements and the conductive cooling sheet metal are situated in the housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 20, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2017
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Stefan Pfeiffer, Kai Kuhlmann, Thomas Kretschmar
  • Vanadyl phosphates as high energy density cathode materials for rechargeable sodium battery
    Patent number: 9722247
    Abstract: A positive electrode comprising ?-VOPO4 and/or Nax(?-VOPO4) wherein x is a value from 0.1 to 1.0 as an active ingredient, wherein the electrode is capable of insertion and release of sodium ions and a reversible sodium battery containing the positive electrode are provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2017
    Assignees: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc., The Research Foundation for The State University of New York
    Inventors: Ruigang Zhang, Fuminori Mizuno, Chen Ling, M. Stanley Whittingham, Ruibo Zhang, Zehua Chen
  • Three-dimensional net-like aluminum porous body, electrode using the aluminum porous body, nonaqueous electrolyte battery using the electrode, and nonaqueous electrolyte capacitor using the electrode
    Patent number: 9711801
    Abstract: Provided are a three-dimensional net-like aluminum porous body in which the diameter of cells in the porous body is uneven in the thickness direction of the porous body; a current collector and an electrode each using the aluminum porous body; and methods for producing these members. The porous body is a three-dimensional net-like aluminum porous body in a sheet form, for a current collector, in which the diameter of cells in the porous body is uneven in the thickness direction of the porous body. When a cross section in the thickness direction of the three-dimensional net-like aluminum porous body is divided into three regions of a region 1, a region 2 and a region 3 in this order, the average cell diameter of the regions 1 and 3 is preferably different from the cell diameter of the region 2.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 21, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 18, 2017
    Assignees: SUMITOMO ELECTRIC INDUSTRIES, LTD., SUMITOMO ELECTRIC TOYAMA CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Nobuhiro Ota, Akihisa Hosoe, Masatoshi Majima, Koji Nitta, Hajime Ota, Kazuki Okuno, Koutaro Kimura, Kengo Goto, Junichi Nishimura
  • Lithium ion conducting protective film and method of use
    Patent number: 9705167
    Abstract: A lithium ion conducting protective film is produced using a layer-by-layer assembly process. The lithium ion conducting protective film is assembled on a substrate by a sequential exposure of the substrate to a first poly(ethylene oxide) (PEO) layer including a cross-linking silane component on the first side of the substrate, a graphene oxide (GO) layer on the first PEO layer, a second poly(ethylene oxide) (PEO) layer including a cross-linking silane component on the GO layer and a poly(acrylic acid) (PAA) layer on the second PEO layer, The film functions as a lithium ion conducting protective film that isolates the lithium anode from the positive electrochemistry of the cathode in a lithium-air battery, thereby preventing undesirable lithium dendrite growth.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 11, 2017
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Mariya Khiterer, Paula T. Hammond, Sun Hwa Lee
  • Rechargeable battery
    Patent number: 9698407
    Abstract: A rechargeable battery includes an electrode assembly including a first electrode and a second electrode; a case for accommodating the electrode assembly; a cap plate in an opening of the case to seal the case, including a terminal hole, and connected to the first electrode through a lead tab; and first and second electrode terminals electrically coupled to the electrode assembly and protruding away from the cap plate, the first electrode terminal including plurality of lead terminals connected to the cap plate, and a plate terminal supported by the plurality of lead terminals to be spaced apart from the cap plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2017
    Assignee: SAMSUNG SDI CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Sung-Kab Kim, Myung-Jae Jang, Sung-Hoon Kim
  • Non-aqueous electrolyte and secondary battery comprising the same
    Patent number: 9673484
    Abstract: Disclosed is a secondary battery including an electrolyte and/or an electrode, the electrolyte including an electrolyte salt and an electrolyte solvent, i) a cyclic carbonate compound substituted with at least one halogen element; and ii) a compound containing a vinyl group in a molecule thereof, and the electrode including a solid electrolyte interface (SEI) layer partially or totally formed on the surface thereof by electrical reduction of the two compounds.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 6, 2017
    Assignee: LG Chem, Ltd.
    Inventors: Hochun Lee, Jeong-Ju Cho, Sujin Yoon
  • Middle or large-sized battery module
    Patent number: 9620826
    Abstract: Disclosed herein is a middle- or large-sized battery module comprising: a battery cell stack including a plurality of battery cells or unit modules electrically connected with each other; a first module case constructed in a structure to entirely surround one side end of the battery cell stack and to partially surround the upper and lower ends of the battery cell stack; a second module case coupled with the first module case, the second module case being constructed in a structure to entirely surround the other side end of the battery cell stack and to partially surround the upper and lower ends of the battery cell stack; a sensing member mounted to the first module case or the second module case; and a battery management system (BMS) mounted to the first module case or the second module case.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2017
    Assignee: LG Chem, Ltd.
    Inventors: Hee Kook Yang, Jong Moon Yoon, Jae Hun Yang
  • Self-pumping membraneless fuel cell
    Patent number: 9601789
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to a device, and method of operation, for a fuel cell which uses bubble-based pumping to self-pump the fuel to the anode, and a single, common channel separating the anode from the cathode through which a mixed fuel and electrolyte flow. The fuel cell includes a single channel having two of its sides formed by the anode and the cathode, each having a suitable catalyst. A bubble generating region is formed in the anode and cathode reaction area of the channel. A one-way valve is located upstream of the bubble generating region. A vent for venting bubbles is disposed over a portion of the channel downstream of the bubble generating region. The fuel cell may be advantageously used to build miniature fuel cells for miniature electronic devices, or scaled to build larger fuel cells for larger electronic devices.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2017
    Assignee: THE REGENTS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA
    Inventors: Chang-Jin Kim, Janet Hur, Desheng Meng
  • Secondary battery
    Patent number: 9601744
    Abstract: A secondary battery includes: a case; an electrode assembly housed in the case and including a first electrode, a second electrode, and a separator between the first electrode and the second electrode, the first electrode having a coating portion coated with a first active material and a non-coating portion absent the first active material; and a collector plate including first and second collector plates enmeshed together with the non-coating portion therebetween.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 27, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2017
    Assignees: Samsung SDI Co., Ltd., Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Chiyoung Lee, Seokyoon Yoo, Yoontai Kwak, Dongwook Kim, Jongseok Moon, Tatsuya Hashimoto
  • Closed-loop cooling device for batteries
    Patent number: 9595744
    Abstract: Provided is a closed-loop cooling device for batteries, including: a housing including components of the cooling device for batteries disposed therein and sealed to prevent outer air from being introduced thereinto; a battery module disposed inside the housing; an inlet duct including an intake port through which cooled gas is introduced into the battery module; a blower fan including an exhaust port through which gas present inside the battery module is discharged and sucking and discharging the gas; a loop duct having one side connected to the exhaust port and the other side connected to the intake port to deliver the gas; a heat exchanger connected to the loop duct to cool heated gas; and a pipe through which a cooling fluid to cool the heat exchanger moves.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 28, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 14, 2017
    Assignee: SK Innovation Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Won Jun Lee, Hyuk Chan Tae, Ji Seok Lee
  • Battery for work vehicle and battery-type work vehicle
    Patent number: 9586498
    Abstract: A battery that supplies electric power to a battery-driven work vehicle, includes: battery cells; a casing including storing the battery cells in a space surrounded by the top, the bottom, and the sides thereof; an inlet hole open to the side to introduce a gas into the casing; an outlet hole open to a side facing the side to which the inlet hole is open, and discharging the gas from an inside of the casing; and a fan introducing the gas from the inlet hole into the casing to make the gas flow in contact with the top and bottom surfaces of the battery cells, and then discharging the gas from the inside the casing, wherein the casing includes rod-shaped members extended from the inlet hole to the outlet hole, and wherein the rod-shaped members come in contact with the bottom surface of the battery cell.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 2, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2017
    Assignee: Komatsu Ltd.
    Inventor: Shigeru Seimiya
  • Lithium battery
    Patent number: 9559344
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a lithium battery and, more particularly, to a lithium battery, in which the structure of a battery module contained in the lithium battery is simplified, thus reducing the size of the entire lithium battery, and which includes a connector by which two or more lithium batteries are mechanically coupled to each other so that in response to a required amount of power, an appropriate number of lithium batteries can be easily connected to each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2017
    Assignee: Global Battery Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Gueng Hyun Nam, Sang Min Jang, Seok Ho Kim, Dong Ho Baek, Min Ho Jang
  • Alkali and alkaline-earth ion batteries with hexacyanometallate cathode and non-metal anode
    Patent number: 9559358
    Abstract: A battery structure is provided for making alkali ion and alkaline-earth ion batteries. The battery has a hexacyanometallate cathode, a non-metal anode, and non-aqueous electrolyte. A method is provided for forming the hexacyanometallate battery cathode and non-metal battery anode prior to the battery assembly. The cathode includes hexacyanometallate particles overlying a current collector. The hexacyanometallate particles have the chemical formula A?n?AmM1xM2y(CN)6, and have a Prussian Blue hexacyanometallate crystal structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 17, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2017
    Assignee: Sharp Laboratories of America, Inc.
    Inventors: Yuhao Lu, Jong-Jan Lee, Motoaki Nishijima, Seizoh Kakimoto
  • Method for making membrane-electrode assembly for fuel cell and method for making fuel cell system comprising the same
    Patent number: 9537156
    Abstract: A membrane-electrode assembly for a fuel cell of the present invention includes an anode and a cathode facing each other, and a polymer electrolyte membrane interposed therebetween. At least one of the anode and the cathode includes a catalyst layer and an electrode substrate. The catalyst layer includes a catalyst and a porous ionomer. The polymer electrolyte membrane contacts one side of the catalyst layer and the electrode substrate contacts the other side of the catalyst layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 6, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2017
    Assignee: Samsung SDI Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hee-Tak Kim, Hae-Kwon Yoon, Young-Mi Park
  • Pouch type lithium secondary battery
    Patent number: 9537173
    Abstract: A pouch type lithium secondary battery including a medium- or large-sized battery module includes: a jelly-roll type electrode assembly; a resin-type first packing material that is formed of a two-layer structure having an inner resin layer and an outer resin layer, and for packing the jelly-roll type electrode assembly in the form of a unit cell; and a metal-type second packing material that integrally packs and contains two or more unit cells packed in the first packing material in the form of a module, and prevents moisture and gas penetration by a sealed structure. The pouch type lithium secondary battery is applicable particularly to medium- and large-sized batteries for EVs, p-HEVs, HEVs, and so on.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 10, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2017
    Assignee: LG Chem, Ltd.
    Inventors: Sang Hun Kim, Jong Hwan Kim, Han Ho Lee, Jong Hyun Chae
  • Battery holding device
    Patent number: 9530993
    Abstract: A battery holding device includes: a battery housing portion which is adapted to house a battery; and a conductive terminal which is disposed in a sidewall portion of the battery housing portion, and which is to be in contact with an electrode terminal of the battery. The sidewall portion of the battery housing portion is formed with: a first cutout that is formed along a first direction; and a second cutout that is formed along a second direction different from the first direction and that communicates with the first direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 5, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2016
    Assignee: NIHON KOHDEN CORPORATION
    Inventors: Hiroaki Yahagi, Takanori Sato
  • Fuel cell stack discrete header
    Patent number: 9531021
    Abstract: A fuel cell system comprises a main body including a first partial header and a fastening point. The main body is adapted to be coupled to a plurality of plates forming a fuel cell stack, allowing a single plate design to be used for multiple fuel cell stack lengths having a large differential of energy requirements, affording a durable alignment mechanism for the fuel cell stack, and providing integration flexibility for components and configurations of the fuel cell system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2016
    Assignee: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventors: Todd D. Bogumil, Glenn W. Skala, Matthew J. Beutel
  • Non-aqueous electrolyte and secondary battery comprising the same
    Patent number: 9515351
    Abstract: Disclosed is a secondary battery including an electrolyte and/or an electrode, the electrolyte including an electrolyte salt and an electrolyte solvent, i) a cyclic carbonate compound substituted with at least one halogen element; and ii) a compound containing a vinyl group in a molecule thereof, and the electrode including a solid electrolyte interface (SEI) layer partially or totally formed on the surface thereof by electrical reduction of the two compounds.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2016
    Assignee: LG Chem, Ltd.
    Inventors: Hochun Lee, Jeong-Ju Cho, Sujin Yoon