Patents Examined by Jacob Marks
  • Patent number: 9871276
    Abstract: A cooling plate design for cooling a battery cell is provided that employs a plastic plate having cutouts for coolant flow paths. The plastic plate has a layer of adhesive film on each side to maintain coolant in the channels. Compression within an alternating battery cell and coolant plate stack provides pressure that minimizes coolant load on the film. Methods to manufacture the cooling plate are also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 7, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 16, 2018
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Robert N. Shaaia, Roger M. Brisbane
  • Patent number: 9871238
    Abstract: To provide a secondary battery that can be prevented from exploding or catching fire due to the occurrence of a short circuit. The secondary battery (10) of the present invention includes an electric cell assembly that is, at least, partially enclosed by an extensible sheet (11) having a surface resistivity of 10?2 ?/sq to 1010 ?/sq, and is housed together with an electrolyte in a container (5), and in which positive electrodes (1) and negative electrodes (2) are stacked on each other or wound with a separator (3) interposed therebetween.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 16, 2018
    Assignee: NEC ENERGY DEVICES, LTD.
    Inventor: Akihiro Modeki
  • Patent number: 9853315
    Abstract: A fuel cell system (1), especially for motor vehicles, is provided with at least one fuel cell (2), which has at least two electrodes (3), to which at least one electric user (4) can be connected. The electrodes (3), especially the anode (4), are protected if a temperature-measuring device (8) measures the electrode temperature of at least one of the electrodes (3) and if a control (24) sets the water fed into the fuel cell (2) by a water feed device (11), preferably before the reformate gas enters the fuel cell (2), as a function of the measured electrode temperature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2017
    Assignee: Eberspächer Climate Control Systems GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Karsten Reiners, Sven Wenzel
  • Patent number: 9831529
    Abstract: A lithium metal battery including: a lithium negative electrode including lithium metal; a positive electrode; and an electrolyte interposed between the lithium negative electrode and the positive electrode, wherein the electrolyte contains non-fluorine substituted ether, which is capable of solvating lithium ions, a fluorine substituted ether represented by the following Formula 1, and a lithium salt, wherein an amount of the fluorine substituted ether represented by Formula 1 is greater than an amount of the non-fluorine substituted ether, R—{O(CH2)a}b—CH2—O—CnF2nH??Formula 1 wherein R is —CmF2mH or —CmF2m+1, n is an integer of 2 or greater, m is an integer of 1 or greater, a is an integer of 1 or 2, and b is 0 or 1.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 18, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2017
    Assignee: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Wonseok Chang, Tomonobu Mizumo, Toshinori Sugimoto, Hyorang Kang, Joungwon Park, Yonggun Lee, Hongsoo Choi, Hosang Park
  • Patent number: 9819003
    Abstract: A rechargeable battery includes an electrode assembly including first and second electrodes; a case accommodating the electrode assembly; a cap plate having a short-circuit opening; a first terminal coupled to the first electrode; a second terminal coupled to the second electrode; and a short-circuit member at the cap plate, corresponding to the short-circuit opening, and configured to deform to electrically couple the first and second electrodes; and a short-circuit protrusion at the second terminal and configured to contact the short-circuit member, wherein a surface roughness of the short-circuit protrusion is greater than that of the cap plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 14, 2017
    Assignee: Samsung SDI Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Min-Hyung Guen, Yong-Chul Seo
  • Patent number: 9819031
    Abstract: A membrane-electrode assembly (MEA) including a membrane and two electrodes, and further at least one layer located at the interface of the membrane and of an electrode. The layer contains a proton conductive polymer which has a glass transition temperature lower than or equal to, advantageously lower than, that of the proton conductive polymer contained in the membrane.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 7, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 14, 2017
    Assignee: Commissariat A L'Energie Atomique Et Aux Energies Alternatives
    Inventors: Rémi Vincent, Julien Tard, Denis Tremblay
  • Patent number: 9818992
    Abstract: A battery pack includes a plurality of battery cells, each of the battery cells extending in a lengthwise direction between a first end and a second end; and a battery case accommodating the plurality of battery cells, wherein the battery case includes a holder unit protruding in the lengthwise direction of the plurality of battery cells and fixing the plurality of battery cells within the case.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 14, 2017
    Assignee: Samsung SDI Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Soomin Ahn
  • Patent number: 9812684
    Abstract: An assembly for a vehicle includes a first member including a plurality of elastically deformable locating protrusions extending outward, and a second member defining a cavity extending inward and including a plurality of elastically deformable compression features disposed within the cavity. The locating protrusions of the first member are disposed within the cavity of the second member in press fit engagement with the compression features of the second member to secure the first member relative to the second member. The average of the elastic deformation between all of the locating protrusions of the first member and all of the compression features of the second member precisely aligns the first member relative to the second member. The assembly may include but is not limited to a multiple unit battery pack, a multiple unit fuel cell pack, a dashboard assembly or adjoining body panels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2017
    Assignee: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventors: Mark A. Smith, Xiang Zhao, Ronald Charles Daul, David A. Okonski, Lane G. Lindstrom, Elmer B. Santos, Jeffrey A. Abell
  • Patent number: 9806366
    Abstract: A redox flow battery system is provided. The system includes a positive electrode in fluid communication with a positive electrolyte comprising a first metal ion and a negative electrode in fluid communication with a negative electrolyte comprising a second metal ion. An electrically insulating ion conducting surface is provided separating the positive electrode from the negative electrode. Further, the system includes a catalyst surface in fluid communication with the first metal ion, the second metal ion, or a combination thereof, and hydrogen gas, wherein the hydrogen gas and the first metal ion, the second metal ion, or a combination thereof are fluidly contacted at the catalyst surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 18, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 31, 2017
    Assignee: ESS Tech, Inc.
    Inventors: Yang Song, Craig E. Evans
  • Patent number: 9806382
    Abstract: Provided herein is a positive temperature coefficient film comprising an inorganic positive temperature coefficient compound. Also provided herein are a positive temperature coefficient electrode, a positive temperature coefficient separator, and a positive temperature coefficient lithium secondary battery, each of which comprises the positive temperature coefficient film.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 18, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 31, 2017
    Assignee: American Lithium Energy Corporation
    Inventors: Jiang Fan, Dengguo Wu
  • Patent number: 9806328
    Abstract: Electrodes and methods of forming electrodes are described herein. The electrode can be an electrode of an electrochemical cell or battery. The electrode includes a current collector and a film in electrical communication with the current collector. The film may include a carbon phase that holds the film together. The electrode further includes an electrode attachment substance that adheres the film to the current collector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 11, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 31, 2017
    Assignee: Enevate Corporation
    Inventors: Benjamin Yong Park, Ian R. Browne, Stephen W. Schank, Steve Pierce
  • Patent number: 9799904
    Abstract: A polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cell is provided. The polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cell includes a phosphoric acid-doped polyimidazole electrolyte membrane and a complex catalyst. In the complex catalyst, an alloy or mixture of a metal and a chalcogen element is supported on a carbon carrier. The polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cell exhibits further improved long-term operation, power generation efficiency, and operational stability at high temperature. The complex catalyst can be produced by a simple method.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 3, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2017
    Assignee: KOREA INSTITUTE OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
    Inventors: Jong Hyun Jang, Hee-young Park, Hyoung-Juhn Kim, Dirk Henkensmeier, Sung Pil Yoon, Suk Woo Nam, Hyung Chul Ham, Tae-Hoon Lim, Jonghee Han, Sung Jong Yoo, Eun Ae Cho
  • Patent number: 9799918
    Abstract: Described are electrolyte compositions and electrochemical devices containing the electrolyte compositions. The compositions include an organosilicon compound, an imide salt and optionally LiPF6. The electrolytes provide improved high-temperature performance and stability and will operate at temperatures as high as 250° C.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 2, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2017
    Assignee: Silatronix, Inc.
    Inventors: Tobias Johnson, Michael Pollina, Liu Zhou, Monica Usrey, Deborah Gilbert, Peng Du
  • Patent number: 9793572
    Abstract: A rechargeable battery includes an electrode assembly having first and second electrodes at opposite sides of a separator and wound about an axis; a first terminal coupled to the first electrode through a first tab; a second terminal coupled to the second electrode through a second tab; a case accommodating the electrode assembly and including first and second openings at its opposite ends; a first gasket between the first terminal and the first opening, the first gasket sealing the first opening and allowing the first terminal to protrude outside of the case; and a second gasket between the second terminal and the second opening, the second gasket sealing the second opening and allowing the second terminal to protrude outside of the case. The case may further include a fixing portion at its inner side that protrudes toward the electrode assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2017
    Assignee: Samsung SDI Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Jin-Hyon Lee, Ji-Woon Lee, Eun-Young Goh, Sang-In Park, Sung-Yong Kim, Jin-Seon Shin, Jong-Ki Lee
  • Patent number: 9793523
    Abstract: The present invention relates to apparatus, compositions and methods of fabricating high performance thin-film batteries on metallic substrates, polymeric substrates, or doped or undoped silicon substrates by fabricating an appropriate barrier layer composed, for example, of barrier sublayers between the substrate and the battery part of the present invention thereby separating these two parts chemically during the entire battery fabrication process as well as during any operation and storage of the electrochemical apparatus during its entire lifetime. In a preferred embodiment of the present invention thin-film batteries fabricated onto a thin, flexible stainless steel foil substrate using an appropriate barrier layer that is composed of barrier sublayers have uncompromised electrochemical performance compared to thin-film batteries fabricated onto ceramic substrates when using a 700° C. post-deposition anneal process for a LiCoO2 positive cathode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 21, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2017
    Assignee: SAPURAST RESEARCH LLC
    Inventors: Shawn W. Snyder, Bernd J. Neudecker
  • Patent number: 9782853
    Abstract: A gas diffusion electrode for a membrane electrode assembly is provided with expanded metal layers each having a mesh configuration defining a length orientation of the expanded metal layers. The expanded metal layers each have opposed flat sides and are stacked in a layered arrangement such that the flat sides of the expanded metal layers that are neighboring each other in the layered arrangement are facing each other as facing flat sides, respectively. The facing flat sides are connected to each other by pulsed resistance welding at welded contact points. Due to the mesh configuration, the welded contact points are distributed evenly across the entire surface area of the facing flat sides. At least one of the expanded metal layers is oriented with its length orientation so as to be rotated by 90° relative to the length orientation of one of the neighboring expanded metal layers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 8, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 10, 2017
    Assignee: MeliCon GmbH
    Inventor: Ulrich Müller
  • Patent number: 9780374
    Abstract: To provide a binder that has high adhesiveness to a collector, does not cause release in press molding, has high flexibility, and is excellent in binding capability and resistance to an electrolytic solution, and to provide a lithium secondary battery that is excellent in charge and discharge characteristics using an electrode produced with the binder. The binder for an electrode used contains a hydrophilic group-containing polyurethane as a water dispersion that contains (A) a polyisocyanate, (B) a compound that has two or more active hydrogen groups, (C) a compound that has one or more active hydrogen groups and one or more hydrophilic groups, and (D) a chain extending agent, or contains an aqueous resin composition containing a polymer of an unsaturated polymerizable monomer that is emulsified with the hydrophilic group-containing polyurethane.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2017
    Assignee: DAI-ICHI KOGYO SEIYAKU CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Katsuo Takahashi, Shuichi Ito, Takeshi Miyamura
  • Patent number: 9773621
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for the uniform dispersion of nano scaled redox particles in a conductive fiber including, combining at least one nano sized redox capable material having metal oxides and/or metals, at least one conductive binder, and at least one solvent to form electrically conductive metal imbedded fiber(s) by fiber spinning and the conductive polymeric binder having a molecular weight greater than 20,000 Daltons, and coating a substrate with the electrically conductive fiber(s) to form an active layer substrate complex having a conductivity greater than 0.05 S/cm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 24, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 26, 2017
    Assignee: The United States of America as Represented by the Secretary of the Navy
    Inventors: William W. Lai, Alfred J. Baca, John D. Stenger-Smith, Heather Meylemans
  • Patent number: 9768459
    Abstract: A hydrogen fuel cell cartridge is provided. Furthermore, a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium is provided, which is configured to store a program for controlling a hydrogen fuel cell cartridge of a fuel cell. In addition, a hydrogen fuel cell system is provided, which includes a plurality of cartridge segments and a control unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 5, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2017
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Army
    Inventors: Tony M. Thampan, Jonathan Novoa, Terrill B. Atwater
  • Patent number: 9761899
    Abstract: An example of a stable electrode structure is to use a gradient electrode that employs large platinum particle catalyst in the close proximity to the membrane supported on conventional carbon and small platinum particles in the section of the electrode closer to a GDL supported on a stabilized carbon. Some electrode parameters that contribute to electrode performance stability and reduced change in ECA are platinum-to-carbon ratio, size of platinum particles in various parts of the electrode, use of other stable catalysts instead of large particle size platinum (alloy, etc), depth of each gradient sublayer. Another example of a stable electrode structure is to use a mixture of platinum particle sizes on a carbon support, such as using platinum particles that may be 6 nanometers and 3 nanometers. A conductive support is typically one or more of the carbon blacks.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 20, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2017
    Assignee: Audi AG
    Inventors: Lesia V. Protsailo, Laura Roen Stolar, Jesse M. Marzullo, Mallika Gummalla, Sergei F. Burlatsky