Patents Examined by Helen Oi K Conley
  • Patent number: 10873076
    Abstract: A negative electrode active material for a nonaqueous electrolyte secondary battery includes secondary particles each formed of primary particles bonded to each other, and the primary particles contain carbon material particles and a lithium ion-conductive solid electrolyte which covers the surfaces of the carbon material particles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 22, 2020
    Assignee: PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Hiroyuki Matsumoto, Hiroshi Kawada, Atsushi Fukui
  • Patent number: 10873083
    Abstract: Provided is an anode particulate, having a dimension from 10 nm to 300 ?m, for use in an alkali metal battery, the particulate comprising (i) an anode active material capable of reversibly absorbing/desorbing lithium or sodium ions, (ii) an electron-conducting material, and (iii) a lithium or sodium salt with an optional polymer or its monomer, but without a liquid solvent, for an electrolyte, wherein the electron-conducting material forms a 3D network of electron-conducting pathways in electronic contact with the anode active material and the lithium or sodium salt is in physical contact with the anode active material (so that the salt, when later impregnated with a liquid solvent, becomes an electrolyte forming a 3D network of lithium or sodium ion-conducting channels in ionic contact with the anode active material). The particulate can be of any shape, but preferably spherical or ellipsoidal in shape. Also provided is a cathode particulate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 2, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 22, 2020
    Assignee: Global Graphene Group, Inc.
    Inventors: Aruna Zhamu, Hui He, Baofei Pan, Bor Z. Jang
  • Patent number: 10868329
    Abstract: To provide an all solid state secondary battery capable of realizing favorable bonding properties and a favorable ion conductivity. Provided is an all solid state secondary battery having a structure in which an electrode layer is located between a collector and an inorganic solid electrolyte layer, in which the electrode layer contains an inorganic solid electrolyte having a conductivity of ions of metals belonging to Group I or II of the periodic table, an active material, and a specific polymer described below, specific polymer: a polymer having at least one specific functional group selected from acidic functional groups, amide groups, or hydroxyl groups.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 15, 2020
    Assignee: FUJIFILM Corporation
    Inventors: Tomonori Mimura, Hiroaki Mochizuki, Masaomi Makino, Katsuhiko Meguro
  • Patent number: 10862178
    Abstract: An apparatus (1) for determining the aging of a battery cell (2), the battery cell (2) having at least one galvanic element (3) for converting chemical energy into electrical energy and a housing (4) which surrounds the galvanic element (3) and has a wall (8) formed at least on one side of the galvanic element (3), comprising at least one length sensor (5) for sensing a length change of the galvanic element (3), the aging of the battery cell (2) being able to be determined via the length change of the galvanic element (3).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 17, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 8, 2020
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventor: Karsten Haug
  • Patent number: 10847762
    Abstract: A battery packaging material has a very thin aluminum alloy foil with a thickness of not more than 40 ?m, in which pinholes or cracks are unlikely to occur during molding, which has excellent moldability and appearance after molding, which is unlikely to be erroneously determined to be a defective product, and which makes highly accurate defect determination possible. The battery packaging material includes a stacked member provided with at least, in this order: a base material layer; an aluminum alloy foil layer; and a heat sealable resin layer, wherein: the aluminum alloy foil layer has a thickness of not more than 40 ?m; the aluminum alloy foil layer is an aluminum alloy conforming to JIS standard A8021; and the aluminum alloy has a maximum crystal grain size of not more than 25 ?m, and an average crystal grain size of not more than 10 ?m.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 14, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 24, 2020
    Assignee: DAI NIPPON PRINTING CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Tetsuya Ojiri, Hiroshi Kishida, Kenji Kanda
  • Patent number: 10804548
    Abstract: A fuel cell system includes: a fuel cell; a hydrogen tank; a hydrogen supply flow path configured to connect the hydrogen tank and the fuel cell to each other; a valve element configured to, when closed, shut off supply of hydrogen from the hydrogen tank to the hydrogen supply flow path; a pressure sensor; a pressure reducer configured to reduce internal pressure of the hydrogen supply flow path; and a controller configured to decide presence or absence of a hydrogen leak in the fuel cell system upon a power-generation halt of the fuel cell.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 13, 2020
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Hiromu Saito
  • Patent number: 10797367
    Abstract: Disclosed is a power storage unit which can safely operate over a wide temperature range. The power storage unit includes: a power storage device; a heater for heating the power storage device; a temperature sensor for sensing the temperature of the power storage device; and a control circuit configured to inhibit charge of the power storage device when its temperature is lower than a first temperature or higher than a second temperature. The first temperature is exemplified by a temperature which allows the formation of a dendrite over a negative electrode of the power storage device, whereas the second temperature is exemplified by a temperature which causes decomposition of a passivating film formed over a surface of a negative electrode active material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 6, 2020
    Assignee: Semiconductor Energy Laboratory Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Minoru Takahashi, Shunpei Yamazaki, Masaaki Hiroki, Kei Takahashi, Junpei Momo
  • Patent number: 10797291
    Abstract: A bus bar module includes an electric wire routing structure that is attached to an battery assembly including a plurality of battery cells and accommodates a plurality of bus bars in which each electrodes of the battery cells is electrically connected to each other, a plurality of electric wires connected to the battery cells via the bus bars, respectively, an electric wire routing groove formed in the electric wire routing structure and accommodating the electric wires in a pair of side walls, and a lid that is supported by a first side wall via a hinge and covers the electric wire routing groove to block a groove opening.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 18, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 6, 2020
    Assignee: YAZAKI CORPORATION
    Inventor: Takahiro Chaen
  • Patent number: 10797324
    Abstract: Second inlet connection flow grooves and second outlet connection flow grooves are formed in a power generation cell. The second inlet connection flow grooves connect a fuel gas supply passage and a fuel gas flow field. The second outlet connection flow grooves connect a fuel gas discharge passage and the fuel gas flow field. The flow channel of the second inlet connection flow grooves diverges multiple times in an area from the fuel gas supply passage to the fuel gas flow field. The flow channel of the second outlet connection flow grooves merges multiple times in an area from the fuel gas flow field to the fuel gas discharge passage. The number of merging in the second outlet connection flow grooves is larger than the number of diverging in the second inlet connection flow grooves.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 3, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 6, 2020
    Assignee: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Yosuke Nishida, Kentaro Ishida
  • Patent number: 10777858
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to methods by which lead from spent lead-acid batteries may be extracted, purified, and used in the construction of new lead-acid batteries. A method includes: (A) forming a mixture including a carboxylate source and a lead-bearing material; (B) generating a first lead salt precipitate in the mixture as the carboxylate source reacts with the lead-bearing material; (C) increasing the pH of the mixture to dissolve the first lead salt precipitate; (D) isolating a liquid component of the mixture from one or more insoluble components of the mixture; (E) decreasing the pH of the liquid component of the mixture to generate a second lead salt precipitate; and (F) isolating the second lead salt precipitate from the liquid component of the mixture. Thereafter, the isolated lead salt precipitate may be converted to leady oxide for use in the manufacture of new lead-acid batteries.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 8, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 15, 2020
    Assignee: CPS Technology Holdings LLC
    Inventor: Matthew A. Spence
  • Patent number: 10777844
    Abstract: The present invention provides a nonaqueous electrolyte secondary battery containing (i) a separator containing a polyolefin porous film, (ii) a porous layer containing a polyvinylidene fluoride-based resin, (iii) a positive electrode plate having a capacitance falling within a certain range, and (iv) a negative electrode plate having a capacitance falling within a certain range, the polyvinylidene fluoride-based resin containing an ?-form polyvinylidene fluoride-based resin in an amount of not less than 35.0 mol %.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 15, 2020
    Assignee: SUMITOMO CHEMICAL COMPANY, LIMITED
    Inventors: Ichiro Arise, Toshihiko Ogata, Junji Suzuki
  • Patent number: 10770700
    Abstract: A battery pack includes: battery cells arranged such that the positive terminals and the negative terminals are alternately arranged; bus bars electrically connecting the positive terminals and the negative terminals of the adjacent battery cells; an insulating cover attachable to the battery cells and covering the positive terminals and the negative terminals; a monitor substrate in which a monitor circuit is mounted; and detection terminals electrically connected to the monitor substrate and electrically connected to the respective bus bars. The monitor substrate and the detection terminals are disposed integrally to an inner surface of the insulating cover. The detection terminals are electrically connected to the respective bus bars in a state in which the insulating cover is attached to the battery cells.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 11, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 8, 2020
    Assignee: YAZAKI CORPORATION
    Inventors: Katsunori Sato, Yoshiaki Ichikawa, Takao Shoji
  • Patent number: 10763519
    Abstract: A fuel cell stack includes: a separator comprising channels and lands alternately repeated; and a gas diffusion layer in contact with the separator for transferring gas to a membrane-electrode assembly. The gas diffusion layer has a fiber arrangement structure having a predetermined directionality beneath the lands adjacent to opposite lateral sides of the channels based on a central portion of the channels to guide a transfer passage of the gas.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 1, 2020
    Assignee: HYUNDAI MOTOR COMPANY
    Inventor: Sung Ho Lee
  • Patent number: 10763497
    Abstract: The present invention provides a positive electrode active material for a secondary battery, the positive electrode active material including a lithium composite metal oxide particle represented by Formula 1 below, and a secondary battery including the same. LiaNi1?x?yCoxM1yM2zM3wO2??[Formula 1] In Formula 1, M1 is a metal element whose surface energy (?Esurf) calculated by Equation 1 below is ?0.5 eV or higher, M2 is a metal element whose surface energy (?Esurf) calculated by Equation 1 below is ?1.5 eV or higher and less than ?0.5 eV, M3 is a metal element whose surface energy (?Esurf) calculated by Equation 1 below is less than ?1.5 eV, and 1.0?a?1.5, 0<x?0.5, 0<z?0.05, 0.002?w?0.1, 0<x+y?0.7.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 1, 2020
    Assignee: LG Chem, Ltd.
    Inventors: Byung Chun Park, Wang Mo Jung, Young Cheol Choi, Ju Kyung Shin, Sang Min Park, Sang Wook Lee
  • Patent number: 10756335
    Abstract: A microporous lead-containing solid material is produced, which can serve as a carrier for desired materials into a reaction for various desired purposes. For example, if the microporous solid is impregnated with borax it tends to inhibit the growth of unduly large crystals of tetrabasic lead, which is useful in producing batteries having improved functional qualities.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 4, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 25, 2020
    Inventor: George E. Mayer
  • Patent number: 10749228
    Abstract: Disclosed is a battery module, which includes: a battery cell assembly having at least one battery cell; a module case configured to accommodate the battery cell assembly; and at least one injection hole provided in a bottom portion of the module case to inject a thermally conductive adhesive into the module case.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 18, 2020
    Assignee: LG Chem, Ltd.
    Inventors: Soo-Youl Kim, Jae-Hun Yang, Han-Jong Yoon, Jae-Min Lee, Hae-Ryong Jeon, Young-Ho Choi
  • Patent number: 10749156
    Abstract: A battery including supporting material is disclosed. The battery comprises a plurality of modules, each of which further comprises a plurality of battery cells that store and discharge electrical energy. To support the battery modules, a supporting material such as foam is inserted in the space between the battery modules. To support the cells within the modules, a supporting material such as foam is also inserted in between the battery cells in each of the modules.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 18, 2020
    Assignee: NIO USA, Inc.
    Inventors: Austin L. Newman, Joshua Smith
  • Patent number: 10741815
    Abstract: A nonaqueous electrolyte secondary battery includes: a separator including a polyolefin porous film; a porous layer containing a polyvinylidene fluoride-based resin; a positive electrode plate; and a negative electrode plate, wherein a sum of interface barrier energies being a predetermined value, the polyolefin porous film having a puncture strength of a predetermined value, the value represented by Formula (1) below being not less than 0.00 and not more than 0.54, |1?T/M|??Formula (1), and the polyvinylidene fluoride-based resin containing an ?-form polyvinylidene fluoride-based resin in an amount of not less than 35.0 mol %.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 11, 2020
    Assignee: SUMITOMO CHEMICAL COMPANY, LIMITED
    Inventors: Ichiro Arise, Toshihiko Ogata, Kosuke Kurakane, Chikara Murakami
  • Patent number: 10714760
    Abstract: An electrode for redox flow batteries, the electrode being formed of a carbon fiber aggregate including a plurality of carbon fibers. Each of the carbon fibers has a plurality of pleats formed in the surface thereof. The ratio of L1 to L2, that is, L1/L2, is more than 1, where L1 is the peripheral length of a cross section of the carbon fibers and L2 is the peripheral length of a virtual rectangle circumscribing the cross section of the carbon fibers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 14, 2020
    Assignee: Sumitomo Electric Industries, Ltd.
    Inventors: Kousuke Shiraki, Takashi Kanno, Kenichiro Miyatake
  • Patent number: 10714723
    Abstract: Provided is a separator for a non-aqueous secondary battery, including: a porous substrate having an average pore diameter of from 20 nm to 100 nm; and a porous layer provided on one or both sides of the porous substrate and including a polyvinylidene fluoride resin and a filler, the porous layer including a filler in an amount of from 45% by volume to 75% by volume with respect to a total solid content of the porous layer, a weight average molecular weight of the polyvinylidene fluoride resin being 1,000,000 or more, and a peel strength between the porous substrate and the porous layer being 0.20 N/12 mm or more.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 14, 2020
    Assignee: TEIJIN LIMITED
    Inventors: Rika Kuratani, Satoshi Nishikawa