Patents Examined by James Erwin
  • Patent number: 10044062
    Abstract: An ionic material that contains a crosslinked polydimethylsiloxane network and an ionic liquid and, optionally, a lithium salt. Also disclosed are a methods of preparing the above-described ionic material, as well as a battery and a capacitor each including the ionic material as an electrolyte.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 7, 2018
    Assignee: Tufts University
    Inventors: Ariel Horowitz, Matthew Panzer
  • Patent number: 10026938
    Abstract: A cylindrical lithium ion battery in which an electrode group formed by winding a positive electrode and a negative electrode is housed in a battery case is disclosed. A sealing plate seals an opening of the battery case. An insulating plate having a plurality of openings is provided on a side of the electrode group closer to the sealing plate. The plurality of openings include a first hole with a largest opening area, and a plurality of second holes with opening areas smaller than the opening area of the first hole. An opening ratio of the first hole is 12% or more and 40% or less; a sum of opening ratios of the second holes is 0.3% or more and 10% or less; and a total opening ratio of all the openings is 20% or more and 50% or less.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 16, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 17, 2018
    Assignee: Panasonic Intellectual Property Management Co, Ltd.
    Inventors: Tomohiko Yokoyama, Yoshiyuki Muraoka, Takahiro Fukuoka, Kyosuke Miyata
  • Patent number: 10014549
    Abstract: A fuel cell system mounted on a vehicle, includes: a fuel cell configured to cause electrochemical reaction between an anode gas and a cathode gas to proceed; and a fuel cell casing that is configured to place the fuel cell therein, wherein the fuel cell casing has a bottom face that is formed in an approximately rectangular shape, the fuel cell casing is positioned such that longitudinal sides of the approximately rectangular shape are parallel to a left-right direction of the vehicle, and the bottom face has a rib that is extended only in a front-back direction of the vehicle is provided on the bottom face.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 4, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 3, 2018
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Hiroaki Nishiumi, Tateki Takayama, Toshiyuki Tonuma
  • Patent number: 10014541
    Abstract: A method for producing a purified carbon dioxide product suitable for EOR and surplus electricity uses a vaporous hydrocarbon feed and a SOFC system. A SOFC system includes a condensate removal system, an acid gas removal system, a hydrodesulfurization system, a sorption bed system, a pre-reformer, a solid oxide fuel cell, a CO2 separations system and a CO2 dehydration system operable to form the purified carbon dioxide product, where the SOFC system is operable to produce surplus electricity from the electricity produced by the solid oxide fuel cell. A method of operating the pre-reformer to maximize the internal reforming capacity of a downstream solid oxide fuel cell uses a pre-reformer fluidly coupled on the upstream side of a solid oxide fuel cell. A method of enhancing hydrocarbon fluid recovery from a hydrocarbon-bearing formation using a SOFC system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 3, 2018
    Assignee: Saudi Arabian Oil Company
    Inventors: Aqil Jamal, Thang Pham, Aadesh Harale
  • Patent number: 10014553
    Abstract: Electrolyte solutions including additives or combinations of additives that provide low temperature performance and high temperature stability in lithium ion battery cells.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 5, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 3, 2018
    Assignees: WILDCAT DISCOVERY TECHNOLOGIES, INC, JOHNSON CONTROLS TECHNOLOGY COMPANY
    Inventors: Gang Cheng, Ye Zhu, Deidre Strand, Boutros Hallac, Bernhard M. Metz
  • Patent number: 10008701
    Abstract: A battery is provided comprising a plurality of cylindrical type cells. Three cylindrical cells may be arranged in a triangular configuration with an electrical isolation spacer positioned between the three cylindrical cells, and a casing may be wrapped around the cells to restrict relative movement of the cells forming a cell group. Multiple cells groups, separated by electrical isolation spacers, may be electrically coupled via bus bars and arranged to form a cell module, where multiple cell modules may be included in the battery, and where the cell modules may be electrically coupled via inter-module connectors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 26, 2018
    Assignee: A123 Systems, LLC
    Inventors: Timothy E. Hughes, Lingchang Wang, Arfan Ahmad
  • Patent number: 10003062
    Abstract: A device may include an electronic component stack cover having an open end sized to receive a modular electronic component stack including a plurality of like modular electronic components, an at least partially closed end, and sides extending from the at least partially closed end toward the open end. The at least partially closed end and the at least one side may form a chamber. At least one electrically conductive probe may extend from the at least partially closed end into the chamber. The chamber may conform to an outer shape of at least a portion of the modular electronic component stack, and the electrically conductive probe may be configured to electrically interface with a first connector on the electronic component stack when the stack is within the chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 19, 2018
    Assignee: Lenovo Enterprise Solutions (Singapore) Pte. Ltd.
    Inventors: Yakup Bulur, Richard J. Fishbune, Mark E. Maresh, Neil C. Swenson, Adam M. Wheeler
  • Patent number: 10003085
    Abstract: Provided are a supporting carbon material for a solid polymer fuel cell and a metal-catalyst-particle-supporting carbon material that, when used as a carrier for a solid polymer fuel cell catalyst, have excellent power generation performance in high-humidity conditions, which are conditions in which solid polymer fuel cells are operated. A supporting carbon material for a solid polymer fuel cell and a metal-catalyst-particle-supporting carbon material characterized in being a porous carbon material, the hydrogen content being 0.004-0.010% by mass, the nitrogen adsorption BET specific surface area being 600 m2/g-1500 m2/g, and the relative intensity ratio (ID/IG) between the peak intensity (ID) in the range of 1200-1400 cm?1 known as the D-band and the peak intensity (IG) in the range of 1500-1700 cm?1 known as the G-band, obtained from the Raman spectrum, being 1.0-2.0.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 19, 2018
    Assignees: NIPPON STEEL & SUMITOMO METAL CORPORATION, NIPPON STEEL & SUMIKIN CHEMICAL CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Katsumasa Matsumoto, Takashi Iijima, Masataka Hiyoshi, Hiroyuki Hayashida, Kazuhiko Mizuuchi, Takumi Kouno, Masakazu Higuchi, Masakazu Katayama
  • Patent number: 9991499
    Abstract: A flat electrode body of a battery has a first-side curved end positioned on a first side of an electrode body width direction and a second-side curved end positioned on a second side. A positive electrode innermost curved portion of a positive electrode sheet is disposed inside the first-side curved end. When the dimension from a positive electrode connecting portion to the end on the first side of the electrode body is defined as a distance and the dimension from the positive electrode connecting portion to the end on the second side of the electrode body is defined as a distance, the positive electrode connecting portion being in the positive electrode protrusion wound portion and connected to a terminal connecting portion of a positive terminal member, the terminal connecting portion is connected to the positive electrode connecting portion at a position satisfying the condition Ha?1.1Hb.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 5, 2018
    Assignees: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA, KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOYOTA JIDOSHOKKI
    Inventors: Taira Saito, Masato Kamiya, Junpei Terashima, Ayumu Kamakura, Shinji Suzuki
  • Patent number: 9991524
    Abstract: In a fuel cell separator and the like, a technology for reducing the separation of a flow path rib which rectifies the flow of a fluid is desired. A separator used in a fuel cell is provided, the separator including: a separator main body that includes a fluid flow region through which a reactive gas or a coolant flows, a through-hole through which the reactive gas or the coolant flows, and a connection portion which connects the fluid flow region and the through-hole; and a flow rectifying portion that is arranged by being adhered on the connection portion and that rectifies flow of the reactive gas or the coolant between the fluid flow region and the through-hole, where the flow rectifying portion includes a plurality of protruded portions and a coupling portion which is thinner than the protruded portions and which couples the protruded portions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 5, 2018
    Assignees: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha, Sumitomo Riko Company Limited
    Inventors: Kenji Sato, Hiroki Itakura, Takahiro Aoki
  • Patent number: 9985319
    Abstract: A method for producing a laminate battery includes: forming a membrane electrode assembly having a multilayer structure including a positive electrode plate, a negative electrode plate and an electrolyte layer, the electrolyte layer being provided between the positive electrode plate and the negative electrode plate, a tab attachment step including joining terminal tabs to end portions of the positive electrode plate and the negative electrode plate of the membrane electrode assembly on an outer packaging material, and covering the membrane electrode assembly with the outer packaging material. Each terminal tab is joined by bending at least a part of the end portion of the outer packaging material in a direction opposite to the membrane electrode assembly, and then joining the terminal tab to the positive electrode plate or the negative electrode plate at a portion corresponding to the bent part of the end portion of the outer packaging material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 25, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 29, 2018
    Assignee: SEKISUI CHEMICAL CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Masaru Heishi, Masashi Kanoh, Mitsuhide Nogami, Hiroshi Ogawa
  • Patent number: 9979048
    Abstract: A polymer electrolyte for a lithium battery, wherein the polymer electrolyte includes a polymerization product of a lithium ion conductive compound including an ethylenically unsaturated bond, a lithium ion conductive unit, and an ion-exchangeable functional group; and a heteroatom-containing ionic liquid polymerizable with the lithium ion conductive compound.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 22, 2018
    Assignee: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Myungjin Lee, Jehwon Choi, Soyeon Kim, Dahye Park, Joungwon Park, Yonggun Lee
  • Patent number: 9966577
    Abstract: A battery includes an outer package including a laminated film including one or more resin layers, a terminal, and a melt-bonding assisting member including a thermoplastic resin and extending along the terminal. The outer package includes a melt-bonded region at which the terminal is sandwiched between the one or more resin layers. The terminal includes an inner part, a sandwiched part, and an outer part arranged in a first direction. The melt-bonding assisting member internally and externally extends in the first direction beyond contact with the outer package.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 8, 2018
    Assignee: GS YUASA INTERNATIONAL LTD.
    Inventors: Hiroaki Yoshida, Keita Nakamura
  • Patent number: 9966606
    Abstract: A binder composition for power storage devices comprising a polymer which contains at least 3 to 40 mass % of a first recurring unit derived from an unsaturated carboxylic acid ester having an alicyclic hydrocarbon group and 1 to 40 mass % of a second recurring unit derived from an ?, ?-unsaturated nitrile compound based on 100 mass % of the total of all recurring units.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 8, 2018
    Assignee: JSR CORPORATION
    Inventors: Yoshiharu Otsuka, Nobuyuki Fujihara, Hiroyuki Miyauchi
  • Patent number: 9960436
    Abstract: An ion filter life perception device for a fuel cell vehicle is provided to detect a replacement life of a fuel cell ion filter cartridge. The device includes a body part that is installed within an ion filter and has an ion resin filled therein. A checker is disposed within the body part and has a varying position based on a volume of the ion resin. In addition, an elastic member is disposed between a first side end in the body part and the checker to push the checker within the body part by elasticity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2018
    Assignee: Hyundai Motor Company
    Inventors: Hun Woo Park, Sung Wook Na
  • Patent number: 9929452
    Abstract: An energy conversion cell includes an electrochemical conversion unit. The energy conversion cell has an electrically positive side with a process gas supply and an electrically negative side. The electrochemical conversion unit, which has a self-supporting substrate and a number of functional layers, is disposed between the two sides. The electrochemical conversion unit has a positive electrode and a negative electrode. The negative electrode includes a porous metallic, self-supporting substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2018
    Assignee: SIEMENS AKTIENGESELLSCHAFT
    Inventors: Katrin Benkert, Sylvio Kosse, Thomas Soller
  • Patent number: 9923181
    Abstract: Provided is a laminate which is capable of ensuring a high level of safety by preventing an internal short circuit due to, for example, breakage of a non-aqueous electrolyte secondary battery while maintaining various performance capabilities of the non-aqueous electrolyte secondary battery. A laminate (10) includes: a porous film containing polyolefin as a main component; and a porous layer containing fine particles; the porous layer being laminated to at least one side of the porous film, in an electrical conduction test by nail penetration in which test a displacement in a thickness direction of the laminate (10) during a period from when a dielectric breakdown occurs in the laminate (10) to when the laminate (10) is brought into electrical conduction is measured by use of a nail (2) of N50 specified in JIS A 5508 and under a condition in which the nail (2) descends at a descending speed of 50 ?m/min, the displacement being not less than 20 ?m and not more than 200 ?m.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 21, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 20, 2018
    Assignee: SUMITOMO CHEMICAL COMPANY, LIMITED
    Inventors: Chikae Yoshimaru, Kosuke Kurakane, Chikara Murakami
  • Patent number: 9923176
    Abstract: An electronic device includes a flexible conductive member having a first length, and a battery substrate having a second length shorter or equal than the first length. There is an active battery on the battery substrate. An adhesive layer couples the active battery and the battery substrate to the flexible conductive member such that the active battery and the flexible conductive member are electrically coupled, and such that the flexible substrate encapsulates the active battery and the upper portion of the battery substrate without an intervening layer. The flexible conductive member includes an insulating flexible base layer having a conductive via formed therein. Upper and lower metallized layers are formed on the insulating flexible base layer and are electrically coupled to one another by the conductive via.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 8, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 20, 2018
    Assignee: STMicroelectronics (Tours) SAS
    Inventors: Alexis Durand, Franck Dosseul
  • Patent number: 9905892
    Abstract: A battery module and a method are provided. The battery module includes a first battery cell having a first electrical terminal, a second battery cell having a second electrical terminal, and an interconnect assembly having a plate portion, first and second finger portions, a blade portion, and first and second voltage sense members. The first and second voltage sense members are coupled to the first and second finger portions, respectively. The blade portion is disposed between the first and second finger portions such that a first gap is defined between the first finger portion and the blade portion, and a second gap is defined between the second finger portion and the blade portion. The first and second electrical terminals extend through the first and second gaps, respectively, and are coupled to the first and second voltage sense members, respectively.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 9, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2018
    Assignee: LG Chem, Ltd.
    Inventors: Robert Merriman, Heekook Yang
  • Patent number: 9893352
    Abstract: In at least one embodiment, a method of scavenging hydrogen in a lithium-ion battery is provided. The method may comprise including an atomic intermetallic material in at least one of a positive electrode or a negative electrode of a lithium-ion battery and reacting hydrogen present inside the lithium-ion battery with the atomic intermetallic material to form a metal hydride. The method may include preparing a positive electrode slurry and a negative electrode slurry, each slurry including an active material and a binder, mixing an atomic intermetallic material including a proton absorbed state into at least one of the slurries, and casting the slurries to form a positive electrode and a negative electrode. The method may alternately include applying an atomic intermetallic material including a proton absorbed state to a surface of at least one of a lithium-ion battery positive electrode or negative electrode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 14, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2018
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Feng Li, Chi Paik, Jun Yang