Patents Examined by Jacob Buchanan
  • Patent number: 11978936
    Abstract: A method for making an improved fuel cell using a porosity gradient design for gas diffusion layers in a hydrogen fuel cell, a gas diffusion layer made by the method and a fuel cell containing the gas diffusion layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 2, 2023
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2024
    Assignee: KING FAHD UNIVERSITY OF PETROLEUM AND MINERALS
    Inventor: Jamal Hussain Al-Smail
  • Patent number: 11961962
    Abstract: A solid ion conductor compound including Li, Ho, and a halogen element, wherein the compound has diffraction peaks at 30°2? to 33°2?, 33°2? to 36°2?, 40°2? to 44°2?, and 48°2? to 52°28?, when analyzed using CuK? radiation, and wherein a full width at half maximum of at least one peak at 40°2? to 44°2? is 0.3°2? or greater.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2024
    Assignee: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Wonsung Choi, Gabin Yoon, Tomoyuki Tsujimura, Toshinori Sugimoto
  • Patent number: 11961958
    Abstract: A composition includes an electrode made of Lithium Manganese Oxyfluoride (LMOF). A single layer separator adheres to a surface of the electrode, is a dielectric that is conductive for Lithium ions but not electrons, and has top and bottom sides. A solid polymer electrolyte (SPE) saturates the electrode so that the LMOF is between 55 percent and 85 percent by mass of a composition of the LMOF electrode and the SPE is between 7.5 percent and 20 percent by mass of the composition of the LMOF electrode. The SPE saturates the separator so that the SPE resides both on the separator top and bottom sides so that the SPE residing on the separator top side contacts the surface. The LMOF exhibits X-Ray Diffraction spectrum peaks between twenty-two and twenty-four 2-theta degrees, between forty-eight and fifty 2-theta degrees, between fifty-four and fifty-six 2-theta degrees, and between fifty-six and fifty-eight 2-theta degrees.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2024
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: John Collins, Bucknell C. Webb, Paul S. Andry, Teodor Krassimirov Todorov, Devendra K. Sadana
  • Patent number: 11894570
    Abstract: A load applicator includes an elastic mechanism, a first member configured to move in accordance with contraction of power storage cells, a second member provided on a side opposite to the first member across the elastic mechanism, and a switching device. The elastic mechanism has a first form in which a first restraint load is applied to the power storage module when the power storage module expands by a first dimension, and a second form in which a second restraint load larger than the first restraint load is applied to the power storage module when the power storage module expands by the first dimension. The switching device performs an operation to switch from the first form to the second form in a case where a restraint load smaller than the first restraint load is applied to the power storage module when the power storage module expands by the first dimension.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 20, 2022
    Date of Patent: February 6, 2024
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Shotaro Ishikawa, Tatsuhiko Sasaki, Koichiro Kishi, Kenta Watanabe
  • Patent number: 11894591
    Abstract: Electrochemical cells and batteries that can operate with a single electrolyte solution, such as those comprising an anode, a cathode current collector, and a porous, non-conductive spacer between the cathode current collector and anode. Membraneless electrochemical cells and batteries are also disclosed. The electrochemical cells and batteries disclosed herein may be used, for example, to produce electricity or to generate hydrogen or both, and to deliver electricity or hydrogen or both to process applications.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 15, 2022
    Date of Patent: February 6, 2024
    Assignee: IFBattery Inc.
    Inventor: John H. Cushman
  • Patent number: 11881603
    Abstract: A fuel cell system includes a mass flow rate measuring unit, an oxygen consumption mass flow rate acquiring unit, an exhaust-side air temperature acquiring unit, and an exhaust-side air humidity estimating unit. The mass flow rate measuring unit measures a first mass flow rate of intake-side air and a second mass flow rate of exhaust-side air. The oxygen consumption mass flow rate acquiring unit acquires a mass flow rate of oxygen consumption. The exhaust-side air humidity estimating unit estimate humidity in the exhaust-side air, on the basis of a difference between a flow rate of intake gas in the fuel cell system and a flow rate of exhaust gas from the fuel cell system, and the mass flow rate of the oxygen consumption.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 23, 2024
    Assignee: SUBARU CORPORATION
    Inventor: Takumi Nunokawa
  • Patent number: 11881598
    Abstract: A module for interconnecting electrical components such as batteries, fuel cells, capacitors, and resistors. The module has a body for retaining the electrical components, and terminal bulkheads capable of coupling with the body. The terminal bulkheads have cavities that define fluid reservoirs when the terminal bulkheads are coupled with the body, and gaskets that seal the fluid reservoirs. Electrical contacts of the terminal bulkheads contact the electrical components within the sealed fluid reservoir. The fluid reservoirs are filled with a fluid such that forces applied to the electrical components are dampened, and oxidation of electrical connections is mitigated through displacement of oxygen. The fluid can also be selected to neutralize chemicals that may leak from the electrical components. The electrical contacts can be interconnected with conductor buses such that the electrical components are connected in series, parallel, or a mixture of both.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 23, 2024
    Inventors: Tanner Ober, Daniel Sieben, David Atkins-Apeldoorn, Rajiv Parmar, Roger Hull
  • Patent number: 11876237
    Abstract: The present invention discloses a cylindrical waterproof battery box, including a box body, a compartment body, and a box cover. One end of the box body is provided with a mounting opening, the compartment body is configured to be mounted into the mounting opening and extend to an inner cavity of the box body, the box cover and the compartment body are assembled to form an external thread assembly portion, an internal thread portion is disposed in the mounting opening, and the external thread assembly portion is configured to be fitted with the internal thread portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 3, 2022
    Date of Patent: January 16, 2024
    Inventor: Xiaofeng Zhang
  • Patent number: 11870113
    Abstract: A method for accurately measuring the impedance of the fuel cell stack in the vehicle during operation of the vehicle includes determining whether measuring the impedance of the fuel cell stack is requested during driving of the vehicle driven by using a power of a fuel cell stack, switching a DC-DC converter connecting the fuel cell stack and a battery to each other to a buck mode when measuring the impedance is requested, thereby blocking output current of the fuel cell stack from flowing to the battery through the DC-DC converter, determining a first current value of the fuel cell stack for measuring the impedance, controlling a resistance value of a COD variable resistor consuming the output current of the fuel cell stack according to the first current value, and measuring the impedance of the fuel cell stack while the output current of the fuel cell stack is maintained at the first current value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 4, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2024
    Assignees: HYUNDAI MOTOR COMPANY, KIA MOTORS CORPORATION
    Inventor: Gun Hyung Park
  • Patent number: 11862806
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides a button cell and an electronic device. In the button cell, a conductive member covers an opening of a top cover, and the top cover is connected to the conductive member. A cell is placed in an accommodating cavity of a bottom shell. A first tab is welded to an inner bottom wall of the bottom shell, and then the top cover having the conductive member is connected to the bottom shell in a sealed manner, with a second tab on the cell being electrically connected to the conductive member. Finally, an electrolyte solution is injected into the accommodating cavity. After the electrolyte solution is injected, a sealing member covers the liquid injection port, and the sealing member is connected to the liquid injection port in a sealed manner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2024
    Inventors: Ning Peng, Bin Xie
  • Patent number: 11855318
    Abstract: The present invention aims to provide a fuel battery system improved in reliability by accurately detecting when a fuel electrode gas or an air electrode gas has leaked. A fuel battery cell according to the present invention includes a first electrode, an electrolyte membrane, and a second electrode which are layered on a support substrate. Further, at least any one of the first electrode, the electrolyte membrane, and the second electrode is electrically isolated by an insulating member to form a first region and a second region. The insulating member is disposed at a position where the insulating member does not overlap with an opening portion of the support substrate (refer to FIG. 3).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2023
    Assignee: HITACHI HIGH-TECH CORPORATION
    Inventors: Munenori Degawa, Noriyuki Sakuma, Yoshitaka Sasago, Aritoshi Sugimoto, Nobuyuki Mise, Takashi Tsutsumi
  • Patent number: 11843145
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for reducing an exhaust hydrogen concentration in a fuel cell system includes a first air cut-off valve (ACV) blocking ambient air supplied to a cathode, a second ACV blocking exhaust hydrogen discharged from the cathode, and an air suction valve (ASV) operating in a first mode connecting the cathode and an intake port of an air compressor and in a second mode blocking connection between the cathode and the intake port of the air compressor. The apparatus also includes a controller for operating the ASV in the first mode to store air of the cathode while the first ACV is opened and the second ACV is closed when hydrogen is supplied to an anode, and for operating the ASV in the second mode to discharge ambient air through an exhaust line while the first ACV is opened and the second ACV is opened when ambient air is supplied to the cathode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 12, 2023
    Assignees: HYUNDAI MOTOR COMPANY, KIA MOTORS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Won Uk Lee, Nam Woo Lee
  • Patent number: 11831029
    Abstract: A battery and a battery manufacturing method are provided. The battery includes a main body portion, a cover plate assembly, a tab portion, and a connecting piece. The cover plate assembly is located on a top surface of the main body portion and includes a pole. The tab portion extends out from a side surface of the main body portion and is bent toward a first large surface of two opposite large surfaces of the main body portion. The connecting piece is bent into a first section, located on the top surface and connected with the pole, and a second section, parallel or almost parallel to the side surface and welded to a surface of one side of the tab portion facing or facing away from the main body portion. A surface where the connecting piece is connected with the second section is disposed opposite to the main body portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 26, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2023
    Assignees: CALB Co., Ltd., CALB Technology Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Binwei Qi, Yongjie Zhang, Ci Zhang
  • Patent number: 11817561
    Abstract: An electrolyte solution according to one aspect of the present disclosure comprises water, a lithium salt, and a polycarboxylic acid having two or more carboxylic acid groups. A secondary battery according to one aspect of the present disclosure comprises a positive electrode, a negative electrode, and the electrolyte solution.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 19, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 14, 2023
    Assignee: PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Kenji Matsubara, Nobuhiko Hojo, Hiroyuki Matsumoto, Atsushi Fukui
  • Patent number: 11811111
    Abstract: A control method for a fuel cell system includes: acquiring a poisoning rate of an electrode catalyst of a fuel cell; performing a potential maintaining operation of maintaining a potential of the fuel cell in a first potential range when the poisoning rate of the electrode catalyst is greater than a prescribed value ?; and performing a potential changing operation of repeating a cycle in which the potential of the fuel cell is changed between an upper-limit potential and a lower-limit potential of a second potential range which is higher than the first potential range after the potential maintaining operation has been performed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 20, 2022
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2023
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Hiroyuki Sugata
  • Patent number: 11804613
    Abstract: A method of controlling a fuel battery system of the present disclosure is a method of controlling a fuel battery system, including a measurement process in which a power generation voltage at a predetermined current density of a fuel battery cell is measured, a first calculation process in which a poisoning rate of an electrode catalyst at the power generation voltage measured in the measurement process is calculated from a predetermined relationship between the power generation voltage at the predetermined current density and the poisoning rate of the electrode catalyst of the fuel battery cell, and a second calculation process in which a generation rate of hydrogen peroxide at the poisoning rate of the electrode catalyst calculated in the first calculation process is calculated from a predetermined relationship between the poisoning rate of the electrode catalyst and the generation rate of hydrogen peroxide of the fuel battery cell.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 4, 2022
    Date of Patent: October 31, 2023
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Hiroyuki Sugata
  • Patent number: 11786970
    Abstract: Methods for fabricating an interconnect for a fuel cell stack that include providing a protective layer over at least one surface of an interconnect formed by powder pressing pre-alloyed particles containing two or more metal elements and annealing the interconnect and the protective layer at elevated temperature to bond the protective layer to the at least one surface of the interconnect.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 8, 2022
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2023
    Assignee: BLOOM ENERGY CORPORATION
    Inventor: Tad Armstrong
  • Patent number: 11777130
    Abstract: An apparatus for stacking electrode assemblies includes: a magazine, a loading plate, a lifting member, a receiver, and an auxiliary lifting mechanism. The magazine has a magazine frame defines a storage space within which electrode assemblies can be stacked and stored. The loading plate is configured to support the electrode assemblies and has a through hole. The lifting member is positioned in the magazine frame and is coupled to the loading plate so as to vertically displace the loading plate within the magazine frame. The receiver is positioned above the magazine frame and is movable between a loading position (to temporarily support the electrode assemblies) and a retracted position (to transfer the electrode assemblies to the loading plate). The auxiliary lifting mechanism is coupled to the loading plate and includes an auxiliary lift configured to advance through the through hole of the loading plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2023
    Inventors: Jae Woong Yoo, Seong Je Jo
  • Patent number: 11757140
    Abstract: Dual-functional energy storage systems that couple ion extraction and recovery with energy storage and release are provided. The dual-functional energy storage systems use ion-extraction and ion-recovery as charging processes. As the energy used for the ion extraction and ion recovery processes is not consumed, but rather stored in the system through the charging process, and the majority of the energy stored during charging can be recovered during discharging, the dual-functional energy storage systems perform useful functions, such as solution desalination or lithium-ion recovery with a minimal energy input, while storing and releasing energy like a conventional energy storage system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 2, 2021
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2023
    Assignee: Wisconsin Alumni Research Foundation
    Inventors: Kyoung-Shin Choi, Dohwan Nam, Margaret Lumley
  • Patent number: 11731518
    Abstract: A working machine is provided which can suppress the adhesion of rain water, snow, and melting snow to an electrical connecting portion between a battery containing portion side and a battery side. An electrically driven snowplow as a working machine includes a battery pack incorporating a battery, a battery containing portion disposed so as to allow the battery pack to be inserted and removed in a direction inclined from a vertical direction, and an electrode portion configured to be connected with an output terminal of a battery disposed on an upper surface of the battery containing portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 29, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2023
    Assignee: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Wataru Matsuyama, Takayuki Enomoto, Makoto Yamanaka