Patents Examined by Haroon S Sheikh
  • Patent number: 11495834
    Abstract: A battery module includes a carrier configured to receive electrical components. The carrier is electrically insulative and includes a first portion configured to receive a first plurality of electrical components, a second portion configured to receive a second plurality of electrical components, and a flexible region configured to enable the first portion to turn relative to the second portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 3, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 8, 2022
    Assignee: Clarios Advanced Solutions GmbH
    Inventors: Helge Brenner, Markus Hoh, Ralf Joswig
  • Patent number: 11495811
    Abstract: A fuel cell system includes an inlet pipe configured to guide a fuel gas injected from an injector to a fuel cell stack, and a gas liquid separator configured to perform gas liquid separation of a fuel exhaust gas discharged from the fuel cell stack. The gas liquid separator is directly coupled to a lower portion of the inlet pipe. A connection channel configured to connect the inside of the gas liquid separator and a channel in the inlet pipe together is formed in a part coupling the gas liquid separator and the inlet pipe together.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 19, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 8, 2022
    Assignee: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Ryoichi Yoshitomi
  • Patent number: 11489178
    Abstract: A method for determining the starting state of a fuel-cell system is provided having cathode and anode chambers separated by a membrane-electrode assembly, comprising the steps of initially introducing hydrogen into the anode chamber, measuring the voltage and evaluating whether at least a threshold value has been reached immediately after the start of the introduction of hydrogen into the anode chamber, and determining the starting state as a function of whether the threshold value has been reached.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2022
    Assignees: VOLKSWAGEN AG, AUDI AG
    Inventors: Maren Ramona Kirchhoff, Christian Schröder
  • Patent number: 11462804
    Abstract: Various battery cell arrangements are presented herein. The battery cell can include an anode current collector. The battery cell can include a carbon-based anode coating layer that coats the anode current collector. A first bond between the anode current collector and the anode coating layer may have a first adhesion strength. The battery cell also includes a cathode, a separator layer that contacts the cathode, and a separator coating layer. The separator coating layer can be positioned between the anode coating layer and the separator layer. A second bond between the separator coating material and the anode coating material has a second adhesion strength. The second adhesion strength of the second bond may be greater than the first adhesion strength of the first bond.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 8, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2022
    Assignee: TeraWatt Technology Inc.
    Inventors: Hiroshi Imoto, Ken Ogata, Juichi Arai, Yang Yang
  • Patent number: 11450921
    Abstract: A method for manufacturing a separator, including the steps of: (S1) preparing a dispersion containing inorganic particles dispersed in a first solvent and a first binder polymer dissolved in the first solvent; (S2) preparing a binder polymer solution containing a second binder polymer dissolved in a second solvent, and mixing the binder polymer solution with the dispersion so that a combined weight of the inorganic particles and the first binder polymer in the dispersion may be 1.5-8 times of a weight of the second binder polymer in the binder polymer solution; and (S3) applying the resultant mixture to at least one surface of a porous polymer substrate, followed by drying, to form a porous coating layer on the porous polymer substrate. Also, a separator obtained by the method and an electrochemical device including the same.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 23, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2022
    Assignee: LG ENERGY SOLUTION, LTD.
    Inventors: Hye-Jin Kwon, Su-Jin Yoon, Myeong-Soo Kim, Je-An Lee
  • Patent number: 11437632
    Abstract: Disclosed herein is a fuel-cell unit cell, at a first part of which: the fuel-cell unit cell has a bonding layer; between a first separator and an outer peripheral edge portion of a first gas diffusion layer, the bonding layer bonds the first separator and the outer peripheral edge portion together; between the first separator and an outer peripheral edge portion of a membrane-electrode assembly, the bonding layer is bonded to the outer peripheral edge portion of the membrane-electrode assembly; and between the first separator and a support frame and/or between a second separator and the support frame, the bonding layer bonds the support frame and the separator together.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 4, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2022
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Nobuaki Nonoyama
  • Patent number: 11424457
    Abstract: Various embodiments include a method for producing a gas diffusion electrode, the method comprising: providing a raw electrode layer comprising an electrically non-conducting web; adapting a thickness of the raw electrode layer; and applying a non-solvent to the raw electrode layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2022
    Assignee: SIEMENS ENERGY GLOBAL GMBH & CO. KG
    Inventors: Martin Kalmar Hansen, Kasper Tipsmark Therkildsen
  • Patent number: 11424463
    Abstract: A fuel cell system includes a fuel cell stack, an oxidizing gas supply system, a fuel gas supply system, a current control circuit configured to control an output current of the fuel cell stack, a control unit configured to control power generation of the fuel cell stack, and the output current of the current control circuit, the control unit controlling the current control circuit to adjust the output current thereby adjusting a heating value of the fuel cell stack; and a monitoring unit configured to monitor abnormal fuel gas generation, the abnormal fuel gas generation corresponding to a state where the fuel gas in excess of a predetermined allowable amount exists in the cathode. When the monitoring unit detects the abnormal fuel gas generation during execution of a warm-up operation to allow the fuel cell stack to generate heat with a predetermined target heating value, the control unit reduces the output current by reducing the target heating value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 3, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2022
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Ryouichi Namba, Masahiro Ito, Hiroyuki Tsunekawa, Tomotaka Ishikawa
  • Patent number: 11411259
    Abstract: The invention is directed to provide a battery pack in which a current sensor is eliminated and the whole size is reduced. In order to solve the problem described above, a battery pack of the invention includes a battery group in which a plurality of battery cells (lithium ion battery 11, 12) are connected in series, a resistor (bus bar 20) connected in series to the battery group, cell voltage detection lines (cell voltage detection lines 101 to 104) arranged at both ends of the battery cells (lithium ion battery 11, 12) and the resistor (bus bar 20), and a battery controller connected to the cell voltage detection lines (cell voltage detection lines 101 to 104), in which one cell voltage detection line (cell voltage detection lines 101 to 104) adjacent to the battery cell (lithium ion battery 11, 12) includes a terminal which is branched and connected to the battery controller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 10, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2022
    Assignee: HITACHI ASTEMO, LTD.
    Inventors: Akihiro Machida, Tatsumi Yamauchi
  • Patent number: 11411275
    Abstract: A grid spring is provided with first raised pieces that generate an elastic force for pressing a separator toward a power generation cell and second raised pieces that generate an elastic force independently of the first raised pieces. The spring constant of the first raised pieces decreases as a result of heating of a grid spring. The grid spring functions as a high reaction force spring as a result of a larger spring constant of the first spring member relative to a spring constant of the second spring member before heating. After being heated, the grid spring functions as a low reaction force spring as a result of the smaller spring constant of the first spring member before being heated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2022
    Assignee: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Motoki Yaginuma, Norihiro Tajima, Koichi Kawasaki
  • Patent number: 11398638
    Abstract: A cell structure for a fuel cell including: power generation cell assemblies each including a power generation cell which includes a fuel electrode, an oxidant electrode, and an electrolyte sandwiched therebetween and is configured to generate power by using supplied gases; a separator configured to separate the adjacent power generation cell assemblies from each other; a sealing member disposed between an edge of a corresponding one of the power generation cell assemblies and an edge of the separator and configured to retain any of the gases supplied to the power generation cells between the corresponding power generation cell assembly and the separator; and a heat exchange part disposed adjacent to the sealing member and configured to perform temperature control of the sealing member by using any of the gases supplied to the power generation cells.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 10, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 26, 2022
    Assignee: NISSAN MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Keiji Ichihara
  • Patent number: 11387470
    Abstract: An electrochemical cell stack is provided. The electrochemical cell stack has a plurality of electrochemical cells. Each electrochemical cell has a membrane electrode assembly which includes a cathode catalyst layer, an anode catalyst layer, and a polymer membrane interposed between the catalyst layer and the anode layer. Each electrochemical cell also has an anode plate and a cathode plate with the membrane electrode assembly interposed therebetween, and a cathode flow field positioned between the cathode plate and the cathode catalyst layer. The cathode flow field includes a porous structure having a plurality of pores having an average pore size. The plurality of electrochemical cells has a first electrochemical cell positioned at a first end of the electrochemical cell stack. The porous structure of the first electrochemical cell has an average pore size greater than the average pore size of the porous structures of the plurality of electrochemical cells.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 17, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2022
    Assignee: Nuvera Fuel Cells, LLC
    Inventors: Filippo Gambini, Scott Blanchet, Olga Polevaya, Edward Domit, Andrew Baugher, Patrick Burand
  • Patent number: 11387468
    Abstract: A separator plate for at least one fuel cell of a fuel cell system is provided. The separator plate includes at least one seal, wherein the seal is designed to seal at least one media-conducting inner region from a non-media-conducting outer region. The separator plate additionally includes at least one spacer element, which is preferably arranged in the outer region. The separator plate can be contacted by an evaluating device in a contacting region, this region being located such that it lies, in part, between the seal and spacer element. According, a deformation of the separator plate in the contacting region within a fuel cell stack is thus prevented.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 18, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2022
    Assignee: Bayerische Motoren Werke Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventor: Stefan Haase
  • Patent number: 11387494
    Abstract: An electrode assembly and a secondary battery are provided. In an exemplary embodiment, an electrode assembly includes: a first electrode plate having a first electrode tab attached thereto; a second electrode plate having at least one second electrode tab attached thereto; and a separator between the first electrode plate and the second electrode plate, the electrode assembly wound in a state in which the first electrode plate, the separator, and the second electrode plate are stacked, and the first electrode plate includes coating portions formed by coating an active material on first and second surfaces thereof, and a half-coating portion formed by coating the active material on only one of the first and second surfaces at a region corresponding to a leading edge, on the basis of a winding direction, where an active material of the second electrode plate begins.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 13, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2022
    Assignee: Samsung SDI Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Jung Hyun Park, June Hyoung Park, Hyun Ki Jeong, Nobuyuki Oyagi
  • Patent number: 11380930
    Abstract: A fuel cell is disclosed. The fuel cell includes a cell stack including a plurality of unit cells stacked in a first direction, an enclosure surrounding side portions of the cell stack and including at least one opening to expose at least one of opposite end portions of the cell stack therethrough, first and second end plates respectively disposed at the opposite end portions of the cell stack, and a gasket disposed between a target end plate disposed in the at least one opening in the enclosure, among the first and second end plates, and the enclosure in order to seal the cell stack.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2022
    Assignees: Hyundai Motor Company, Kia Motors Corporation
    Inventors: Yong Suk Heo, Suk Min Baeck
  • Patent number: 11380900
    Abstract: Provided are an anode for a lithium secondary battery and a lithium secondary battery comprising the same. The anode comprises: a current collector; an anode active material layer disposed on the current collector; and a coating layer disposed on the anode active material layer and including an inorganic material and a binder polymer, wherein the binder polymer has a decomposition temperature of 100° C. to 400° C., and an elastic modulus of 1.0 GPa to 3.0 GPa at 220° C. or lower.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2022
    Assignee: SAMSUNG SDI CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Yongho Kim, Junghyun Nam, Seyeong Kang
  • Patent number: 11367896
    Abstract: Set forth herein are garnet material compositions, e.g., lithium-stuffed garnets and lithium-stuffed garnets doped with alumina, which are suitable for use as electrolytes and catholytes in solid state battery applications. Also set forth herein are lithium-stuffed garnet thin films having fine grains therein. Disclosed herein are novel and inventive methods of making and using lithium-stuffed garnets as catholytes, electrolytes and/or anolytes for all solid state lithium rechargeable batteries. Also disclosed herein are novel electrochemical devices which incorporate these garnet catholytes, electrolytes and/or anolytes. Also set forth herein are methods for preparing novel structures, including dense thin (<50 um) free standing membranes of an ionically conducting material for use as a catholyte, electrolyte, and, or, anolyte, in an electrochemical device, a battery component (positive or negative electrode materials), or a complete solid state electrochemical energy storage device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 19, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 21, 2022
    Assignee: QuantumScape Battery, Inc.
    Inventors: Tim Holme, Niall Donnelly
  • Patent number: 11355779
    Abstract: Set forth herein are garnet material compositions, e.g., lithium-stuffed garnets and lithium-stuffed garnets doped with alumina, which are suitable for use as electrolytes and catholytes in solid state battery applications. Also set forth herein are lithium-stuffed garnet thin films having fine grains therein. Disclosed herein are novel and inventive methods of making and using lithium-stuffed garnets as catholytes, electrolytes and/or anolytes for all solid state lithium rechargeable batteries. Also disclosed herein are novel electrochemical devices which incorporate these garnet catholytes, electrolytes and/or anolytes. Also set forth herein are methods for preparing novel structures, including dense thin (<50 um) free standing membranes of an ionically conducting material for use as a catholyte, electrolyte, and, or, anolyte, in an electrochemical device, a battery component (positive or negative electrode materials), or a complete solid state electrochemical energy storage device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2022
    Assignee: QuantumScape Battery, Inc.
    Inventors: Tim Holme, Niall Donnelly
  • Patent number: 11355765
    Abstract: A cooling control system and method for fuel cells are provided. The cooling control system includes a fuel cell, a cooling circulation line connected to the fuel cell to circulate cooling water for cooling the fuel cell therein and a cooling water pump provided on the cooling circulation line to adjust a circulation amount of the cooling water. A calculation unit calculates a thermal energy change of the fuel cell based on a heating value and an amount of radiant heat of the fuel cell. A controller operates the cooling water pump based on the calculated thermal energy change of the fuel cell.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 21, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2022
    Assignees: Hyundai Motor Company, Kia Motors Corporation
    Inventor: Jung Hwan Ryu
  • Patent number: 11349146
    Abstract: An all-solid lithium ion secondary battery has a pair of electrode layers and a solid electrolyte layer between the pair of electrode layers. In the all-solid lithium ion secondary battery, at least one electrode of the pair of electrodes has an active material layer and an intermediate layer on the surface of the active material layer on the side of the solid electrolyte layer, and each of the solid electrolyte layer, the intermediate layer, and the active material layer includes a compound containing Li and two or more shared types of metal elements other than Li, the two or more shared types of metal elements in the solid electrolyte layer, the intermediate layer, and the active material layer are identical between the solid electrolyte layer, the intermediate layer, and the active material layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2022
    Assignee: TDK CORPORATION
    Inventors: Hiroshi Sato, Masahiro Oishi, Takeo Tsukada, Gakuho Isomichi, Tetsuya Ueno