Patents Examined by Jacob Buchanan
  • Patent number: 11276899
    Abstract: A rechargeable battery according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention includes: an electrode assembly including a first electrode, a separator, and a second electrode; a case that accommodates the electrode assembly, and of which one side through which the electrode assembly is inserted is opened; a cap assembly provided in the opening of the case by being fixed thereto; a vent hole that is formed in a bottom plate of the case, and of which side walls are multi-stepped; and a vent member provided in the vent, wherein a depth of the vent is greater than a thickness of the bottom plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 15, 2022
    Assignee: Samsung SDI Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Chiyoung Lee, Sangwon Byun, Myungjae Jang
  • Patent number: 11258103
    Abstract: A zinc alkaline secondary battery includes a positive electrode, a negative electrode including a multi-valent oxide species, a separator system disposed between the electrodes, and an alkaline electrolyte in contact with the negative electrode. The alkaline electrolyte includes hexametaphosphate salt and zinc acetate. Ligands from the hexametaphosphate salt and zinc acetate are anchored to the negative electrode via chelation sites created by the multi-valent oxide species.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 22, 2022
    Assignee: ZAF ENERGY SYSTEMS, INCORPORATED
    Inventors: Melissa D. McIntyre, Ernest Rimanosky, Adam Weisenstein, Cody R. Carter, Allen Charkey
  • Patent number: 11258055
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a cathode active material for a lithium secondary battery, and more particularly, to a cathode active material for a lithium secondary battery, which includes a core portion and a shell portion surrounding the core portion, in which a total content of cobalt in the core portion and the shell portion is 5 to 12 mol %, and the content of cobalt in the core portion and the shell portion is adjusted to be within a predetermined range. In the cathode active material precursor and the cathode active material for a secondary battery prepared using the same according to the present invention, optimal capacity of a lithium secondary battery may be increased by adjusting the cobalt content in the particles of the cathode active material, and life characteristics may be enhanced by improving stability.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 22, 2022
    Assignee: ECOPRO BM CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Sung Jin Jang, Moon Ho Choi, Jun Won Suh, Jung Han Lee, Ji Hyun Nam, Seung Woo Choi
  • Patent number: 11250994
    Abstract: The electrode (10) includes an electrically conductive surface (14) with a galvanic pellicle, or carbon nanotube mat (18), secured to the conductive surface (14). The pellicle (18) has a first surface (20) and an opposed outer surface (22) and defines an uncompressed thickness dimension (24) as a longest length of a straight axis (26) extending from the first surface (20) to the outer surface (22) of an uncompressed section (28) of the galvanic pellicle (18). Uncompressed sections (28) of the pellicle are defined between connected areas (30) and continuous connected areas (32) of the pellicle (18). Any point (35) within any uncompressed section (28) is no more distant from one of a nearest connected area (30) and/or a nearest segment (34) of a continuous connected area (32) than about ten times the uncompressed thickness dimension (24) of the pellicle (18), thereby achieving significantly reduced contact resistance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 8, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 15, 2022
    Assignee: Global Energy Science, LLC
    Inventor: Halbert P. Fischel
  • Patent number: 11239492
    Abstract: A solid electrolyte material according to an aspect of the present disclosure is represented by the following Compositional Formula (1): Li6-3zYzX6 where, 0<z<2 is satisfied; and X represents Cl or Br.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 22, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 1, 2022
    Assignee: PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Tetsuya Asano, Akihiro Sakai, Satoru Ohuchi, Masashi Sakaida, Akinobu Miyazaki, Shinya Hasegawa
  • Patent number: 11233248
    Abstract: The method for coating a separator for a fuel cell according to one form of the present disclosure includes the steps of: vaporizing a metal nitride precursor to obtain a precursor gas; introducing a metal nitride coating layer-forming gas containing the precursor gas and a reactive gas to a reaction chamber; applying a voltage to the reaction chamber so that the precursor gas and reactive gas may be converted into a plasma state, thereby forming a metal nitride coating layer on a substrate; introducing a carbon layer-forming gas containing a carbonaceous gas to the reaction chamber; and applying a voltage to the reaction chamber so that the carbonaceous gas may be converted into a plasma state, thereby forming a carbon coating layer on the metal nitride coating layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 19, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 25, 2022
    Assignees: HYUNDAI MOTOR COMPANY, KIA MOTORS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Kwang Hoon Choi, Woong Pyo Hong, Chi Seung Lee, Hyun Dal Park, Bokyung Kim, Jungyeon Park, In Woong Lyo, Jiyoun Seo
  • Patent number: 11211622
    Abstract: A fuel cell system includes: a fuel cell that includes an anode and a cathode and generates electricity by reducing a mediator at the cathode; a regenerator that oxidizes the mediator reduced by the cathode; a first path that leads from the cathode to the regenerator and through which the mediator reduced by and discharged from the cathode is guided to the regenerator; a second path that leads from the regenerator to the cathode and through which the mediator oxidized at the regenerator is returned to the cathode; and a first heat exchanger that exchanges heat between a first fluid and a second fluid, the first fluid being a fluid flowing in the first path and containing the mediator reduced by cathode, and the second fluid being a fluid flowing in the second path and containing the mediator oxidized at the regenerator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 30, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 28, 2021
    Assignee: PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Marine Fayolle, Satoru Tamura, Yosuke Kitazawa, Takao Hayashi
  • Patent number: 11205807
    Abstract: A mixture stability criterion asserts that a mixture of at least two redox elements in a crystal lattice will be unstable during charge and discharge cycles unless a set of charged ground state configurations at a specified value of a mixing ratio for the redox elements and a set of discharged ground state configurations at the same value of mixing ratio both consist of the same derivative superstructures. All members of the charged ground state set and all members of the discharged ground state set are within a same energy threshold value of the lowest-energy member of each set. The value for the energy threshold may represent a value of thermal energy calculated with Boltzmann's constant. Examples of alternative embodiments include a method for implementing the mixture stability criterion, computer hardware adapted to perform a method embodiment, and computer-readable media including a method embodiment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 21, 2021
    Assignee: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Masoud Aryanpour, Young-Gyoon Ryu
  • Patent number: 11201350
    Abstract: Method of making solid-state electrolyte with composition formula Li7-xLa3Zr2-xBixO12. The method includes making a polymerized complex of the metal-ions of the composition formula, and making an agglomerate therefrom to be calcined and sintered to produce the solid-state electrolyte. A solid-state electrolyte with the composition formula Li7-xLa3Zr2-xBixO12 with superior ionic conductivity by choice of the value of x and processing conditions. A battery employing a solid-state electrolyte of superior ionic conductivity with the composition formula Li7-xLa3Zr2-xBixO12.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 14, 2021
    Assignee: Purdue Research Foundation
    Inventors: Derek Karl Schwanz, Esteban E Marinero-Caceres
  • Patent number: 11189840
    Abstract: A method for manufacturing a composite electrode for a metal-air electrochemical cell with a liquid electrolyte of basic pH. A liquid solution comprising a fluoropolymer suspended in a solvent is synthesized, then deposited on the outer surface of a porous structure forming an air electrode. The fluoropolymer comprises SO2N groups suitable for conducting hydroxyl ions and is capable of forming a membrane impermeable to at least the liquid electrolyte of basic pH. When the liquid solution is applied to the porous structure, the solvent flows through the porous structure and the fluoropolymer is deposited by aggregating into a layer on the outer surface of the porous structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 13, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 30, 2021
    Assignees: ELECTRICITE DE FRANCE, SOLVAY SA
    Inventors: Philippe Stevens, Gwenaelle Toussaint, Sophie Deshayes, Silvia Rita Petricci, Padmanabhan Srinivasan
  • Patent number: 11189871
    Abstract: Provided are a lithium secondary battery, which includes an electrode assembly, a battery case accommodating the electrode assembly, a surface layer comprising an engineering plastic located on the outer side of the battery case, and lead terminals connected with the electrode assembly and drawn out of the battery case, and a method of fabricating the same.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 30, 2021
    Inventors: Won Pill Hwang, Yong Su Choi, Sang Hun Kim, Sang Suk Jung, Cho Long Kim, Yong Kim
  • Patent number: 11171369
    Abstract: Modular sealed battery packs configured to provide enhanced performance and safety features, along with associated apparatus, systems, and methods for monitoring and controlling operation and use of such battery packs and associated coupled devices and systems are disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 23, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 9, 2021
    Assignee: SeeScan, Inc.
    Inventors: Mark S. Olsson, Alexander L. Warren, David A. Cox, Joseph B. Phaneuf, Paul G. Stuart
  • Patent number: 11152620
    Abstract: An process for producing multiple porous graphene particulates for a lithium battery anode, the process comprising: (a) preparing a graphene dispersion having multiple anode material particles, multiple sheets of a starting graphene material, and a blowing agent dispersed in a liquid medium, wherein the blowing agent-to-graphene material weight ratio is from 0.01/1.0 to 1.0/1.0; (b) dispensing, forming and drying the graphene dispersion into multiple droplets containing therein graphene sheets, particles of the anode active material, and the blowing agent; and (c) heat treating the droplets at a heat treatment temperature selected from 80° C. to 3,200° C. at a desired heating rate sufficient to induce volatile gas molecules from the non-carbon elements or to activate the blowing agent for producing the multiple porous graphene particulates.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 18, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 19, 2021
    Assignee: Global Graphene Group, Inc.
    Inventors: Sheng-Yi Lu, Wen Y. Chiu, Bor Z. Jang
  • Patent number: 11152626
    Abstract: An illustrative fuel cell component includes a body that has a plurality of first pores. The first pores have a first pore size. A fluorinated carbon coating is on at least some of the body. The coating establishes a plurality of second pores in a coated portion of the body. The second pores have a second pore size that is smaller than the first pore size.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 16, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 19, 2021
    Assignee: Audi AG
    Inventor: Siddique Ali Khateeb Razack
  • Patent number: 11139493
    Abstract: A system and method for controlling hydrogen purging of a fuel cell are provided. The method includes calculating a hydrogen supply amount and estimating a hydrogen consumption amount. An estimated hydrogen concentration is then corrected when a difference between the calculated hydrogen supply amount and the estimated hydrogen use amount is greater than a predetermined threshold value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 5, 2021
    Assignees: Hyundai Motor Company, Kia Motors Corporation
    Inventors: Soon Woo Kwon, Joon Yong Lee
  • Patent number: 11114731
    Abstract: A battery module having a housing (15) including a plurality of cavities (16), each receiving a housing-element assembly (1) having: a) an electrochemical element (2) with a cylindrical container and two current output terminals (3, 4) disposed on a wall of one of the ends of the container, at least one of the two current output terminals being electrically connected to an electrical connection bar (5); b) a housing (6) in the form of a tube for receiving the electrochemical element, the housing electrically insulating the electrochemical element and having one or more indexing members (7, 8); c) a housing cover (9) provided with a means (10) for causing the electrochemical element to rotate about its longitudinal axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 7, 2021
    Assignee: SAFT
    Inventor: Rémi Sazarin
  • Patent number: 11043722
    Abstract: A flexible rechargeable battery includes a first conductive substrate, a second conductive substrate, and a seal. The first conductive substrate includes a first protrusion. The second conductive substrate faces the first conductive substrate and includes a second protrusion. The seal is located along at least one edge of the first conductive substrate and the second conductive substrate, and includes at least one sealing metal layer and at least one sealing resin layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 22, 2021
    Assignee: SAMSUNG SDI CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Taesoo Lee, Junwon Suh, Jandee Kim, Jeongdoo Yi, Junggyu Nam, Jungyup Yang, Wonkyu Bang, Juhyeong Han, Bong-Kyoung Park, Juhee Sohn, Da-Un Han, Sol Choi, Seokhun Hong, Hyunhwa Song, Hyeri Eom
  • Patent number: 11031632
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for recovering a positive electrode active material from a lithium secondary battery including: 1) separating a positive electrode into a collector and a positive electrode part; 2) removing an organic substance by firing the separated positive electrode part; 3) washing the fired resultant and removing remaining fluorine (F); 4) adding a lithium-containing material into the washed resultant and firing to recover a lithium transition metal oxide.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 10, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 8, 2021
    Inventors: Dong Hun Lee, Dae Jin Lee, Ji Hoon Ryu, Gi Beom Han, Dong Hwi Kim, Wang Mo Jung, Sang Wook Lee, Eun Sol Lho
  • Patent number: 11024922
    Abstract: Disclosed herein is a cap assembly disposed on an open upper end part of a cylindrical can of a battery, the battery being configured to have an electrode assembly mounted in the cylindrical can, the cap assembly including a safety vent configured to rupture in order to exhaust gas when the interior pressure of the battery reaches a predetermined pressure limit, an upwardly-protruding cap plate disposed on the upper part of the safety vent, the cap plate having a through-opening configured to receive the gas exhausted therethrough, a current interrupt member attached to the lower end of the safety vent, the current interrupt member configured to interrupt electric current when the interior pressure of the battery reaches the predetermined pressure limit, and a guide member attached to the inside of the cap plate, the guide member being configured to prevent escape of a ruptured portion of the safety vent.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 1, 2021
    Inventors: Sang Gu Ji, Sang Uck Kim, Cheon Hee Bok, Myung An Lee, Geun Young Park, Yong Han Kim, Da Na Kim
  • Patent number: 11011774
    Abstract: There is provided a lithium ion secondary battery having excellent cycle characteristics at a high temperature and comprising lithium nickel composite oxides, in which the Ni content is high, in a positive electrode. The present invention relates to a lithium ion secondary battery having a positive electrode, a negative electrode and an electrolyte solution, wherein the positive electrode comprises a lithium nickel complex oxide denoted by the general formula, LiNixCoyMnzO2, wherein x, y, and z are respectively 0.75?x?0.85, 0.05?y?0.15, and 0.10?z?0.20.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 18, 2021
    Assignee: NEC CORPORATION
    Inventor: Takeshi Azami