Patents Examined by Jacob Buchanan
  • 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
  • Patent number: 11011747
    Abstract: A lithium metal oxide powder for a cathode material in a rechargeable battery, consisting of a core and a surface layer, the surface layer being delimited by an outer and an inner interface, the inner interface being in contact with the core, the core having a layered crystal structure comprising the elements Li, M and oxygen, wherein M has the formula M=(Niz (Ni1/2 Mn1/2)y Cox)1-k Ak, with 0.15?x?0.30, 0.20?z?0.55, x+y+z=1 and 0<k?0.1, wherein the Li content is stoichiometrically controlled with a molar ratio 0.95?Li:M?1.10; wherein A is at least one dopant and comprises Al; wherein the core has an Al content of 0.3-3 mol % and a F content of less than 0.05 mol %; and wherein the surface layer has an Al content that increases continuously from the Al content of the core at the inner interface to at least 10 mol % at the outer interface, and a F content that increases continuously from less than 0.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 20, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 18, 2021
    Assignees: Umicore, Umicore Korea Ltd.
    Inventors: Xin Xia, Jens Paulsen, JiHye Kim, Song-Yi Han
  • Patent number: 11005138
    Abstract: A battery module includes a plurality of single cells, a battery chamber, an exhaust chamber, a partition wall, a smoke exhaust cover and a seal member. The exhaust chamber is provided adjacently to the battery chamber. Gas released from the single cells flows through the exhaust chamber. The exhaust chamber has one or more exhaust holes configured to release the gas to an outside. The partition wall isolates the exhaust chamber and the battery chamber from each other. The smoke exhaust cover is arranged so as to lace the partition wall. The exhaust chamber is surrounded by the partition wall, the smoke exhaust cover and the seal member. The smoke exhaust cover has a protective protrusion at a location between the seal member and the exhaust valves adjacent to the seal member. The protective protrusion is configured upright from the smoke exhaust cover toward the partition wall.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 7, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 11, 2021
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Satoshi Morioka
  • Patent number: 10998535
    Abstract: A lithium-iron disulfide battery with improved high temperature performance is disclosed. The separator characteristics are deliberately selected to be compatible with the electrolyte at the intended temperature. Additional or alternative modifications can be made in the form of a scaffold or laminated structure. A preferred polymer for such separators is polyimide.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 7, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 4, 2021
    Assignee: Energizer Brands, LLC
    Inventors: Mark A. Schubert, Matthew T. Wendling, Weiwei Huang
  • Patent number: 10978708
    Abstract: The invention relates to doped nickelate-containing compounds comprising AaM1VM2WM3XM4yM5ZO2-c wherein A comprises either sodium or a mixed alkali metal in which sodium is the major constituent; M1 is nickel in oxidation state greater than 0 to less than or equal to 4+, M2 comprises a metal in oxidation state greater than 0 to less than or equal to 4+, M3 comprises a metal in oxidation state 2+, M4 comprises a metal in oxidation state greater than 0 to less than or equal to 4+, and M5 comprises a metal in oxidation state 3+ wherein 0?a<1, v>0, at least one of w and y is >0 x?0, z?0 wherein c is determined by a range selected from 0<c?0.1 and wherein (a, v, w, x, y, z and c) are chosen to maintain electroneutrality.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 8, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 13, 2021
    Assignee: FARADION LIMITED
    Inventors: Jeremy Barker, Richard Heap
  • Patent number: 10978725
    Abstract: A control valve for controlling the exhausting of a purge gas from a fuel cell assembly, comprising a valve body having a valve member therein moveable between a first position and a second position, an inlet port for receiving a purge gas from the fuel cell assembly and an outlet port for providing an outlet for the purge gas, the valve member configured to, in the first position, prevent purge gas from flowing between the inlet port and the outlet port and, in the second position, allow the flow of purge gas between the inlet port and the outlet port, the valve body including a drain port adapted and arranged in the valve body to allow liquid to drain out of the valve body, the drain port configured to close when the valve member is in the second position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 27, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 13, 2021
    Assignee: Intelligent Energy Limited
    Inventors: Gareth Coates, Karl Blackmore, Ralph Clague
  • Patent number: 10938041
    Abstract: An air conditioner includes a body including an air inlet configured to receive air from an air compressor configured to press and transfer the air to provide the air to a cathode of a fuel cell stack. An air element is configured to supply the air to the cathode, and an inner space allows the air inlet and the air outlet to communicate with each other. A plurality of tubes is provided in the inner space of the body and through which fluid flows along hollows holes of the tubes. While the air supplied through the air inlet passes through the inner space, the air is cooled through heat exchange with the fluid flowing along the hollows of the tubes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 2, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 2, 2021
    Assignees: Hyundai Motor Company, Kia Motors Corporation
    Inventor: Yong Gyu Noh
  • Patent number: 10930904
    Abstract: A battery module with high impact resistance is provided. A battery module using an elastic body such as rubber for its exterior body covering a battery is provided. A bendable battery module is provided. As the exterior body covering a battery, an elastic body such as rubber is used, and the exterior body is molded in two steps. First, a first portion provided with a depression in which a battery is stored is molded using a first mold. Next, a battery is inserted into the first portion. Subsequently, second molding is performed using a second mold so as to fill an opening of the depression in the first portion, so that a second portion is formed. The second portion serves as a cover for closing the opening of the depression in the first portion. The second portion is formed in contact with part of the electrodes in the battery and part of an end portion of the second exterior body in the battery.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 23, 2021
    Assignee: Semiconductor Energy Laboratory Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Ryota Tajima, Kazuhei Narita, Kensuke Yoshizumi
  • Patent number: 10923757
    Abstract: A fuel cell module includes a plurality of fuel cell stacks; a manifold configured to provide process gases to and receive process gases from the plurality of fuel cell stacks; and a module housing enclosing the plurality of fuel cell stacks and the manifold. Each of the plurality of fuel cell stacks is individually installable onto the manifold by lowering the fuel cell stack onto the manifold, and is individually removable from the manifold by raising the fuel cell stack from the manifold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 13, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 16, 2021
    Assignee: FuelCell Energy, Inc.
    Inventors: Keith Davis, Stephen Jolly, Michael L. Quatannens, Matthew Lambrech
  • Patent number: 10916754
    Abstract: A separator includes a porous substrate having a plurality of pores; and a porous coating layer formed on at least one surface of the porous substrate and made of a mixture of a binder and a plurality of inorganic particles, wherein the binder includes a crosslinked binder. This separator may improve high temperature cycle performance, discharge characteristics and thermal resistance of an electrochemical device since the separator exhibits improved insolubility and impregnation to electrolyte and improved thermal resistance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 9, 2021
    Assignees: LG Chem, Ltd., Toray Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: Jong-Hun Kim, Sang-Young Lee, Pil-Kyu Park, Jang-Hyuk Hong, Byoung-Jin Shin, In-Chul Kim
  • Patent number: 10916772
    Abstract: A positive electrode active material for a sodium ion battery includes a sodium complex oxide of the formula Na4(M1aM21?a)2O5 having an orthorhombic crystal structure, wherein M1 and M2 are each independently Ti, Cr, Fe, Co, Ni, Mn, V, or a combination there of provided that M1 and M2 are different from each other; and 0?a?1.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 9, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 9, 2021
    Assignee: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Masoud Aryanpour, Young-Gyoon Ryu, Yan Wang
  • Patent number: 10892455
    Abstract: A system for producing a battery arrangement with at least one battery module and a battery housing. The at least one battery module comprises at least one supply channel which extends in a designated introduction direction through the at least one battery module. The at least one battery module is to be introduced in the introduction direction into the battery housing, positioned in an end position provided for the battery module and firmly connected in this end position to the battery housing. Between a bottom of the at least one battery module and a bottom of the battery housing, at least one cavity is provided, which is to be connected to the at least one supply channel. A filler material is to be filled into the at least one cavity through the at least one supply channel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 3, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 12, 2021
    Assignee: AUDI AG
    Inventors: Markus Thurmeier, Martin Simon, Oliver Schieler
  • Patent number: 10886583
    Abstract: In one example, the present disclosure describes a battery and capacitor assembly for a hybrid vehicle that includes a plurality of battery cells, a plurality of capacitor cells, a cooling plate, a pair of end brackets, and a housing. The plurality of capacitor cells are arranged adjacent to the plurality of battery cells such that the plurality of battery cells and the plurality of capacitor cells form a cell stack. The pair of end brackets are disposed at opposite ends of the cell stack and are attached to the cooling plate. The pair of end brackets compress the plurality of battery cells and the plurality of capacitor cells. The housing is attached to the cooling plate and encloses the cell stack and the pair of end brackets.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 12, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 5, 2021
    Assignee: Gentherm Incorporated
    Inventors: Michael Peter Ciaccio, Brian Moorhead
  • Patent number: 10879518
    Abstract: A battery includes a housing and a laminate in the housing. The laminate includes an anode and cathode, each having a first end and an opposing second end. The anode includes an anode collector including a first sheet of patterned conductive material having a first active area and a first plurality of conductive tabs formed integrally with the first active area, and a first active material on the first active area of the anode collector. The cathode includes a cathode collector including a second sheet of patterned conductive material having a second active area and a second plurality of conductive tabs formed integrally with the second active area, and a second active material on the second active area of the cathode collector. Active material is not on either the first or second plurality of conductive tabs. A separator is positioned between the anode and the cathode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 29, 2020
    Assignee: AMAZON TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
    Inventors: Bryan Holmdahl, Ramez Nachman
  • Patent number: 10873062
    Abstract: A rechargeable battery, in particular a rechargeable battery for a power tool, which includes a cell block having a sealing device provided for closing the cell block in at least a dust-proof and/or water-proof manner, and which includes an external rechargeable battery housing. It is provided that the external rechargeable battery housing is provided for conducting an airflow along between the external rechargeable battery housing and the sealing device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 22, 2020
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventor: Wolf Zahn
  • Patent number: 10854912
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a solid electrolyte comprising a sulfide-based compound and an all-solid-state battery applied therewith and, more particularly, to a solid electrolyte comprising a sulfide-based compound that is free of phosphorus (P) element but exhibits high ionic conductivity, and an all-solid-state battery applied therewith. The sulfide-based solid electrolyte and the all-solid-state battery applied therewith according to the present invention exhibit improved reactivity to moisture to prevent the generation of toxic gas, resulting in an improvement in safety and stability and do not reduce in ion conductivity even after being left in air, and the solid electrolyte is easy to handle and store thanks to the improved shelf stability thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 12, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 1, 2020
    Assignee: LG CHEM, LTD.
    Inventors: Da Young Sung, Chan Yeup Chung, Su Hwan Kim, Jong Hyun Chae, Doo Kyung Yang
  • Patent number: 10833329
    Abstract: Provided are a nickel-based active material for a lithium secondary battery, a method of preparing the nickel-based active material, and a lithium secondary battery including a positive electrode including the nickel-based active material. The nickel-based active material includes at least one secondary particle that includes at least two primary particle structures, the primary particle structures each including a porous inner portion and an outer portion having a radially arranged structure, and the secondary particle including at least two radial centers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 10, 2020
    Assignee: Samsung SDI Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Jinhwa Kim, Hyunbeom Kim, Jongmin Kim, Wooyoung Yang, Donggyu Chang, Jangsuk Hyun
  • Patent number: 10826135
    Abstract: A battery pack includes a first unit battery, a second unit battery, and a spacer. The first unit battery includes a wound electrode body and a casing that accommodates an electrolyte solution. The spacer includes: a primary surface that faces the first unit battery; and plural projections, each of which is projected from the primary surface. The plural projections include: a first projection that abuts the casing in a state where the casing is not expanded; and a second projection, a height of which is lower than a height of the first projection.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 18, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 3, 2020
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Kengo Iwakura, Isao Takahashi, Junta Katayama, Koji Umemura, Yuki Okamoto