Patents Examined by Jennifer Michener
  • Shaped tab conductors for a photovoltaic cell
    Patent number: 8334453
    Abstract: A shaped tab conductor configured to allow more incident light to strike a cell substrate, improving the photovoltaic efficiency of the cell. The shaped tab conductor is configured to reduce the amount of incident light that is blocked by the tab from reaching the surface of the cell substrate. The tab may also be configured to redirect light reflected from the cell surface back to the cell surface. The cross-section of the tab conductor may be polygonal, such as a rhombus, with at least one generally planar surface that forms an acute angle with the substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 18, 2012
    Assignee: Evergreen Solar, Inc.
    Inventor: Brown Williams
  • Battery pack heat transfer
    Patent number: 8329323
    Abstract: A battery pack for thermal conduction of heat from a battery cell to a portable computer system is described. The battery pack comprises a housing, a battery cell within the housing, at least one electrode, and a thermal transfer contact separate from the at least one electrode. The thermal transfer extends through the housing and transfers heat from the battery cell to external of the battery pack.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 11, 2012
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
    Inventors: Lee Atkinson, Darien Chen
  • Portable fuel cell power source
    Patent number: 8329348
    Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention relate to a portable fuel cell power source including an expandable enclosure, a first reactant contained within the enclosure, one or more fuel cells and a fluid port positioned in the expandable enclosure and adapted to be in fluidic communication with the one or more fuel cells. The enclosure may also include an opening to insert a second reactant. When the first reactant is contacted with the second reactant a fuel is generated for use with one or more of the fuel cells. The volume of the portable fuel cell power source in a collapsed state may be smaller than the volume of the amount of first reactant and second reactant needed to substantially consume the first reactant in a fuel generation reaction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 7, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 11, 2012
    Assignee: Societe BIC
    Inventors: Gerard F. McLean, Joerg Zimmermann, Jeremy Schrooten
  • Terminal box for solar cell modules
    Patent number: 8330035
    Abstract: A condition of not permitting an increased temperature value of a diode to exceed the junction temperature is satisfied by a simple structure at a low cost. A plurality of countercurrent prevention diodes between terminal boards to which electrodes of solar cell modules are connected are connected in parallel. When an output current from the solar cell module flows in a circuit of the plurality of diodes connected in parallel, a current flowing in each diode is reduced by a factor of the number of diodes connected in parallel, for instance, when the three diodes are connected in parallel, the current becomes one third. When the value of the flowing current is reduced, a heating value is also reduced. A heat radiating piece is provided on the terminal board.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 19, 2005
    Date of Patent: December 11, 2012
    Assignee: Kitani Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Yutaka Hattori
  • Catalyst for a fuel cell, method of preparing the same, and membrane-electrode assembly and fuel cell system including the same
    Patent number: 8323847
    Abstract: The cathode catalyst for a fuel cell of the present invention includes M-Co-Ch where M is at least one metal selected from the group consisting of Ru, Rh, Pd, Os, Ir, Pt, and combinations thereof, and Ch is at least one element selected from the group consisting of S, Se, Te, and combinations thereof. The cathode catalyst of the present invention has high activity and excellent selectivity for reduction of an oxidant, and is capable of improving performance of a membrane-electrode assembly for a fuel cell, a fuel cell system including the same, and a membrane-electrode assembly including the same.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2012
    Assignee: Samsung SDI Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Alexey Alexandrovichserov, Chan Kwak, Si-Hyun Lee
  • Luminescent solar concentrators
    Patent number: 8324497
    Abstract: A luminescent solar concentrator comprises a primary waveguide and at least one photovoltaic cell. The primary waveguide has a curved surface which concentrates light on a perimeter. The photovoltaic cell is oriented at the perimeter so that it can both receive the concentrated light and receive direct light as well. A back sheet may be provided that provides structural support and protection. The perimeter may have the shape of a polygon where a photovoltaic cell is oriented along each edge. Modules and arrays of such units are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2012
    Assignee: SABIC Innovative Plastics IP B.V.
    Inventors: Marcel Brounne, Huashan Wang
  • Low-profile single-axis tracker with wind mitigation
    Patent number: 8324496
    Abstract: Wind screens for reducing wind loading on one or more solar collectors are disclosed. The wind screens move with the solar collector as the collector tracks the sun in one or more dimensions. The wind screen pivotably connects to at least one solar panel of the collector. Another side of the wind screen may connect to the ground or to an adjacent collect, thus serving to divert wind over the collector. Wind screens may be made of various materials including rigid, flexible, or elastic materials and can change position, orientation, and/or effective length as the one or more collectors track the sun from East to West.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2012
    Assignee: First Solar, Inc.
    Inventors: William Gross, Jean-Paul Labrosse, Matthew N. Schneider
  • Alkaline electrochemical cell
    Patent number: 8318350
    Abstract: An alkaline electrochemical cell is provided which efficiently utilizes active materials within the cell to achieve enhanced cost efficiency. The electrochemical cell includes a container defining a sealed volume and an anode and cathode disposed in the sealed volume of the container. The cathode includes manganese dioxide and the anode includes zinc. A ratio of zinc weight to anode volume is less than 1.8. An alkaline electrolyte is disposed in the container in contact with the anode and cathode, and water is disposed within the container. A weight ratio of water to manganese dioxide is greater than 0.28, and a weight ratio of water to zinc is greater than 0.65.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2012
    Assignee: Eveready Battery Company, Inc.
    Inventor: Robert P. Johnson
  • Porous semiconductor film on a substrate
    Patent number: 8319098
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method of producing a porous semiconductor film and the film resulting from such production. It furthermore relates to an electronic device incorporating such film and to potential uses of such film.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2012
    Assignee: Sony Deutschland GmbH
    Inventors: Michael Duerr, Andreas Schmid, Gabriele Nelles, Akio Yasuda
  • Multilayer terionomer encapsulant layers and solar cell laminates comprising the same
    Patent number: 8319094
    Abstract: The present invention provides a solar cell pre-lamination assembly comprising a terionomer multilayer film or sheet and solar cell modules prepared therefrom.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2012
    Assignee: E I du Pont de Nemours and Company
    Inventors: Richard Allen Hayes, Jane Kapur, Sam Louis Samuels
  • Lithium ion battery
    Patent number: 8318346
    Abstract: A lithium ion battery includes an electrode assembly having a first electrode plate folded into a V-shaped sectional surface, a second electrode plate which is inserted into an inner-side surface of the first electrode plate and which has an opposite polarity to the said first electrode plate, and separator which is interposed between the first electrode plate and the second electrode plate, a case to receive the electrode assembly, and a first electrode tab electrically coupled to the first electrode plate and which extends to the exterior of the case, and a second electrode tab electrically coupled to the second electrode plate, and which extends to the exterior of the case.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 2006
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2012
    Assignee: Samsung SDI Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Joongheon Kim, Hyungbok Lee
  • System and method for reducing radiator sizes for low temperature fuel cell systems
    Patent number: 8318369
    Abstract: A fuel cell cooling system includes a fuel cell having a liquid loop that produces water vapor. An antifreeze cooling loop includes an inductor that receives the water vapor and introduces the water vapor to an antifreeze. The water is separated from the antifreeze and returned to the liquid cooling loop as liquid water after the mixture of condensed water vapor and antifreeze has passed through a radiator. Water in the liquid cooling loop exits the fuel cell and passes through a restricting valve thereby lowering the pressure of the water. A flash cooler downstream from the restricting valve collects the water vapor and provides it to the inductor in the antifreeze cooling loop. The flash cooling in the first cooling loop provides a first cooling capacity that is low temperature and pressure compatible with fuel cell operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 2, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2012
    Assignee: UTC Power Corporation
    Inventor: Leslie L. VanDine
  • Solar energy collecting apparatus and method
    Patent number: 8314328
    Abstract: A solar energy collection device includes a solar converting station housing having a concentrator for aiding in focusing the energy onto a photovoltaic material. The photovoltaic material is applied to a series of cylindrically shaped power cells. A series of the power cells are rotationally assembled to the solar energy collection device. The power cells rotate about the cell axles, providing a cooling process for the photovoltaic material. The rotation can be provided via any number of means. The series of the power cells can be built in a removable assembly, providing a power pack for the end user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 20, 2012
    Assignee: MicroGlo, LLC
    Inventors: William A Jacobs, Allen D Hertz
  • Method for filling with electrode active material and method for producing all-solid-state cell
    Patent number: 8309258
    Abstract: A solid electrolyte structure containing a porous solid electrolyte is prepared. At least the porous solid electrolyte of the solid electrolyte structure is immersed in a first sol solution containing at least a precursor of an electrode active material as a solute. Then, the first sol solution, in which the porous solid electrolyte is immersed, is heated. A solvent of the first sol solution is evaporated by the heating, whereby a pore of the porous solid electrolyte is filled with a high concentration (a large amount) of the electrode active material precursor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 13, 2012
    Assignees: Tokyo Metropolitan University, NGK Insulators, Ltd.
    Inventors: Kiyoshi Kanamura, Masanori Hara, Atsushi Kaeriyama, Yosuke Sato, Toshihiro Yoshida
  • Fuel cell assembly and electricity generation unit used in same
    Patent number: 8309263
    Abstract: A fuel cell assembly has a housing defining an electricity generation/combustion chamber, and electricity generation/combustion means disposed within the housing. A fuel gas and an oxygen-containing gas are supplied to the electricity generation/combustion means, and a combustion gas formed within the electricity generation/combustion chamber is discharged from the electricity generation/combustion chamber. A heat exchanger having a first channel and a second channel is disposed on at least one surface of the housing, the combustion gas is discharged from the interior of the electricity generation/combustion chamber through the first channel of the heat exchanger, and one of the oxygen-containing gas and the fuel gas is supplied to the electricity generation/combustion means through the second channel of the heat exchanger.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 6, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 13, 2012
    Assignee: Kyocera Corporation
    Inventors: Takashi Ono, Naruto Takahashi, Masatoshi Ikeda, Kazumasa Maruya, Michiaki Nishimura
  • High-voltage battery comprising a connector unit, and connector unit for such a battery
    Patent number: 8309244
    Abstract: A high-voltage battery comprising a number of cells (2) that are arranged in rows, a support structure (3), and a cover plate on which high-current connectors (24) for the individual cells and a cell monitoring unit (9) are mounted. In order to reduce production, assembly, and logistics costs, the cover plate (6) is embodied as a multilayer printed board encompassing at least two conducting layers (15, 17). The first conducting layer (15) is mounted on the side of the printed board facing the cells (2) and has a considerable thickness in order to form the high-current connectors (24), while the second conducting layer (17) has a small thickness and forms the connecting lines (20) to the cell monitoring unit (9). The two layers (15, 17) are interconnected at certain points by means of conducting bores (19) that penetrate the printed board.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 13, 2012
    Assignee: MAGNA STEYR Fahrzeugtechnik AG & Co KG
    Inventor: Oliver Heidenbauer
  • Non-aqueous electrolyte solution for lithium secondary battery and lithium secondary battery including the same
    Patent number: 8304118
    Abstract: Disclosed is a non-aqueous electrolyte solution for a lithium secondary battery. The non-aqueous electrolyte solution includes an electrolyte salt and an organic solvent. The non-aqueous electrolyte solution further includes (a) a polyfunctional compound including two or more functional groups, at least one of which is an acryl group, and (b) an anion receptor selected from the group consisting of a borane compound, a borate compound and a mixture thereof. Further disclosed is a lithium secondary battery including the non-aqueous electrolyte solution. A stable solid electrolyte interface (SEI) film is formed on an anode of the lithium secondary battery. The amount of LiF in the SEI film is controlled, achieving improved cycle life characteristics of the battery.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2012
    Assignee: LG Chem, Ltd.
    Inventors: Su-Jin Yoon, Sung-Hoon Yu, Jong-Ho Jeon
  • Fuel cell stack
    Patent number: 8304127
    Abstract: A fuel cell stack includes a plurality of power generation cells stacked in a direction of gravity. In a cathode side separator of the power generation cell, an oxygen-containing gas discharge passage is connected to an oxygen-containing gas flow field, and a water guide member is provided for the oxygen-containing gas discharge passage for allowing condensed water to be directly dropped in the direction of gravity along the oxygen-containing gas discharge passage. The water guide member is a plate member protruding into the oxygen-containing gas discharge passage and inclined toward the direction of gravity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 17, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2012
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kazuo Nunokawa, So Fujiwara, Seiji Sugiura
  • Cathode active material and secondary battery comprising the same
    Patent number: 8304111
    Abstract: Disclosed are a cathode active material and a secondary battery including the same, wherein the cathode active material includes (a) a first lithium-containing metal composite oxide and (b) a second lithium-containing metal composite oxide coated on an entire particle surface of the first lithium-containing metal composite oxide particle, the second lithium-containing metal composite oxide having a higher resistance and a lower potential vs. lithium potential (Li/Li+) than the first lithium-containing metal composite oxide.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 23, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2012
    Assignee: LG Chem, Ltd.
    Inventors: Pil-Kyu Park, Young-Sun Park, Jae-Won Lee
  • Method and apparatus for making internal connections within a battery pack
    Patent number: RE43831
    Abstract: A battery pack which provides for the making of internal connections within the battery pack includes a plurality of apertures (206) having battery pack contacts (204) in register with the apertures (206) and are located on top of corresponding metal tabs (104). The invention allows for a welding tip to be passed through the aperture (206) in order to weld the battery pack contacts (204) to their corresponding metal tabs (104). Once welded the apertures (206) can be sealed by preferably placing a battery label over the apertures (206).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 16, 2002
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2012
    Assignee: Motorola Mobility LLC
    Inventors: Amy Terese Herrmann, Steven Fischl, Christian Schneider, Robert Leon