Patents Examined by Jeremiah Smith
  • Patent number: 9373852
    Abstract: A fuel cell stack includes a stacked body, a first terminal plate, a first insulator, a first end plate, a second terminal plate, a second insulator, a second end plate, a fluid manifold, a fluid channel, a fluid hole, a first connection passage, and a second connection passage. The stacked body includes a plurality of separators and a membrane electrode assembly. The plurality of separators and the membrane electrode assembly are stacked in a stacking direction. The membrane electrode assembly includes an electrolyte membrane and a pair of electrodes sandwiching the electrolyte membrane therebetween. The stacked body has a first end and a second end opposite to the first end in the stacking direction. The first terminal plate, the first insulator, and the first end plate are disposed at the first end of the stacked body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 19, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 21, 2016
    Assignee: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Eri Terada, Kentaro Ishida
  • Patent number: 9364993
    Abstract: The invention discloses jewelry made of disinfected, pulverized and chemically bonded primary teeth. The teeth are pulverized into two or more parts, located in a mold, and bonded with a bonding agent to form a tooth matrix that is shaped for connection to a jewelry frame. In another embodiment, a hollow interior of a deciduous tooth is filled with a bonding agent. The tooth is positioned in a mold with other tooth particles and bonded to form the tooth matrix. In another embodiment, the hollow interior and/or occlusal of a deciduous tooth is filled with a bonding agent to form a tooth matrix for mounting on a jewelry frame. A display side of the tooth is positioned adjacent to a display surface in a mold. A bonding agent fills the space between the tooth and the mold to form a solid tooth matrix. The solidified tooth matrix is machinable.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2016
    Assignee: Shawdon, LP
    Inventor: John G. Fischer
  • Patent number: 9362593
    Abstract: A method for forming a solvo-ionic liquid suitable for use as an electrolyte in an electrochemical cell is provided. The solvo-ionic liquid, a mixture including a multidentate ethereal solvent and magnesium borohydride, can be a liquid, a gel or a solid at room temperature and generally has high thermal stability including virtually no volatility at a typical cell operating temperature. An electrochemical cell having a solvo-ionic liquid as electrolyte is also disclosed. The electrochemical cell will typically be a rechargeable magnesium battery, having an anode suitable to accommodate magnesium oxidation during battery discharge.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2016
    Assignee: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc.
    Inventor: Rana Mohtadi
  • Patent number: 9362594
    Abstract: A method for forming a solvo-ionic liquid suitable for use as an electrolyte in an electrochemical cell is provided. The solvo-ionic liquid, a mixture including a multidentate ethereal solvent and magnesium borohydride, can be a liquid, a gel or a solid at room temperature and generally has high thermal stability including virtually no volatility at a typical cell operating temperature. An electrochemical cell having a solvo-ionic liquid as electrolyte is also disclosed. The electrochemical cell will typically be a rechargeable magnesium battery, having an anode suitable to accommodate magnesium oxidation during battery discharge.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 22, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2016
    Assignee: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc.
    Inventor: Rana Mohtadi
  • Patent number: 9356288
    Abstract: Provided are a transition metal mixed hydroxide comprising an alkali metal other than Li, SO4 and a transition metal element, wherein the molar ratio of the molar content of the alkali metal to the molar content of the SO4 is not less than 0.05 and less than 2, and a lithium mixed metal oxide obtained by calcining a mixture of the transition metal mixed hydroxide and a lithium compound by maintaining the mixture at a temperature of 650 to 1000° C.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2016
    Assignee: SUMITOMO CHEMICAL COMPANY, LIMITED
    Inventors: Kenji Takamori, Hiroshi Inukai, Taiga Obayashi
  • Patent number: 9356270
    Abstract: A battery assembly includes a lower array including opposing endplates having upwardly protruding pins, and an upper array including opposing endplates having pin bores. The upper array includes a mid-tray defining holes positioned such that the pins are receivable in the holes and the bores when the arrays are properly oriented and such that the mid-tray blocks the pins from being received within the bores when the arrays are positioned in a reverse orientation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 20, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2016
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Rajaram Subramanian, Tommy M. Gunther, Daniel Miller, Steven Droste, Andrew Elms
  • Patent number: 9356302
    Abstract: A fuel cell system includes a fuel cell, a fuel-gas supply path, a fuel-gas circulation path, a first flow adjuster, an ejector, a bypass flow path, and a second flow adjuster. The fuel cell has a fuel-gas flow path and an oxidant-gas flow path. The bypass flow path connects an upstream section of the fuel-gas supply path located upstream of the first flow adjuster to a downstream section of the fuel-gas supply path located downstream of the ejector so as to cause fuel gas to bypass the first flow adjuster and the ejector. The second flow adjuster is provided in the bypass flow path to adjust a flow rate of the fuel gas by intermittently ejecting the fuel gas at a larger flow rate than the first flow adjuster.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2016
    Assignee: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Tetsuya Fukuda, Kazunori Fukuma
  • Patent number: 9346207
    Abstract: A hydraulic circuit architecture for use in a drive circuit having a hydraulic pump for driving a load is disclosed. The hydraulic circuit architecture includes a flow control valve for controlling a hydraulic fluid flow rate supplied from the hydraulic pump to the load. The hydraulic circuit architecture also includes a hydraulic fluid accumulator arranged in parallel with respect to the flow control valve. Hydraulic circuit architectures having multiple accumulators arranged in parallel with respect to the flow control valve are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2016
    Assignee: Eaton Corporation
    Inventor: QingHui Yuan
  • Patent number: 9339868
    Abstract: In a method of processing a substrate in accordance with an embodiment, a trench may be formed in the substrate, a stamp device may be disposed at least in the trench; at least one part of the trench that is free from the stamp device may be at least partially filled with trench filling material; and the stamp device may be removed from the trench.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 8, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 17, 2016
    Assignee: Infineon Technologies AG
    Inventors: Joerg Ortner, Michael Sorger
  • Patent number: 9343775
    Abstract: A nonaqueous electrolyte battery is provided and includes a positive electrode, a negative electrode, and an electrolyte. The electrolyte contains a nonaqueous solvent, an electrolyte salt, a matrix polymer and a ceramic powder, and further contains a polyacid and/or a polyacid compound.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 23, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 17, 2016
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Yumiko Torimizu, Haruo Watanabe, Fumihata Yamamoto, Masaki Machida, Yuki Ogawa
  • Patent number: 9343752
    Abstract: A fuel cell stack includes a stacked body which includes separators and a membrane electrode assembly. A first terminal plate, a first insulator, and a first end plate are disposed at a first end of the stacked body. A second terminal plate, a second insulator, and a second end plate are disposed at a second end of the stacked body. Each of the first terminal plate and the second terminal plate is provided in a first recessed portion formed in each of the first insulator and the second insulator. Each of the first and second insulators includes an outer peripheral part and a protrusion and recess portion in the outer peripheral part which is in contact with each of the separators that is disposed at the first and second ends. The protrusion and recess portion has a shape corresponding to a protrusion and recess shape of the separator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 19, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 17, 2016
    Assignee: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Eri Terada, Kentaro Ishida
  • Patent number: 9337494
    Abstract: A fuel cell includes a first electrode and a second electrode with an ion conducting polymer membrane positioned between these electrodes. The fuel cell further comprises a first OER catalyst-containing ionic layer positioned between the first electrode and the ion conducting polymer membrane. The first OER catalyst-containing layer includes an OER catalyst-containing compound, an ion conducting polymer and carbon. Characteristically, the weight ratio of ion conducting polymer to carbon is from about 10 to about 100. A method for forming the fuel cell is also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 12, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 10, 2016
    Assignee: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventors: Jingxin Zhang, Jeanette E. Owejan
  • Patent number: 9325019
    Abstract: A composite body in which the Cr diffusion can be sufficiently reduced and conductivity is good, a collector member, a fuel battery cell device, and a fuel battery device are provided. The composite body includes a substrate containing Cr, and a coating layer covering at least a part of the substrate, in which the coating layer includes a first layer containing Cr among constituent elements excluding oxygen, and including a chromium oxide crystal, a second layer disposed on the first layer, containing Zn, Al, and Cr among the constituent elements excluding oxygen, and including a spinel type crystal, a third layer disposed on the second layer, containing Zn and Mn among the constituent elements excluding oxygen, and including a spinel type crystal, and a fourth layer disposed on the third layer, containing Zn among the constituent elements excluding oxygen, and including a zinc oxide crystal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 26, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 26, 2016
    Assignee: KYOCERA CORPORATION
    Inventors: Tetsuro Fujimoto, Masahiko Higashi
  • Patent number: 9318775
    Abstract: An electrolyte for a magnesium battery includes a magnesium salt having the formula MgBxHy where x=11-12 and y=11-12. The electrolyte also includes a solvent, the magnesium salt being dissolved in the solvent. Various solvents including aprotic solvents and molten salts such as ionic liquids may be utilized.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 19, 2016
    Assignee: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc.
    Inventors: Rana F. Mohtadi, Tyler J. Carter
  • Patent number: 9312566
    Abstract: The electrolyte includes a magnesium salt having the formula Mg(BX4)2 where X is selected from H, F and O-alkyl. The electrolyte also includes a solvent, the magnesium salt being dissolved in the solvent. Various solvents including aprotic solvents and molten salts such as ionic liquids may be utilized.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2016
    Assignee: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc.
    Inventors: Rana F. Mohtadi, Masaki Matsui
  • Patent number: 9312561
    Abstract: A microbattery that includes, in succession starting from a first substrate: a first current collector, a first electrode, an electrolyte, a second electrode consisting of a solder joint, a second current collector and a second substrate. Additionally, a method for manufacturing a microbattery, which includes the following steps: forming a thin-film multilayer including, in succession from the first substrate, a first current collector, a first electrode, an electrolyte and a first metal film; forming a second current collector on a face of a second substrate; and forming a second electrode by soldering the first metal film and the second current collector together, said substrates being placed facing each other during assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2016
    Assignee: COMMISSARIAT À L'ENERGIE ATOMIQUE ET AUX ENERGIES ALTERNATIVES
    Inventors: Sami Oukassi, Nicolas Dunoyer, Raphael Salot
  • Patent number: 9306239
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to a starch-based battery system. The starch-based battery system uses a rheological and replaceable starch gluten electrolyte that generates colloidal starch gel adhesive contacted with and/or attached on electrodes to generate current for powering electronic devices. The starch-based battery system that includes control circuit and standard cap module replaces a conventional dry cell battery or is integrated with electronic devices to power, for example, flash-light, lighting ornaments or magnetic actuated motion products and toys. In other embodiments of the invention, the starch-based battery system is integrated into a device for attracting aquatic life forms in an aquatic environment, wherein the starch-based battery powers a light source and/or sound source and also the starch gluten electrolyte acts as bait for attracting aquatic life forms within the aquatic environment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2016
    Assignee: G. CONCEPT TECHNOLOGY LTD.
    Inventors: Wing Fai Leung, Po Fong Cheng
  • Patent number: 9287567
    Abstract: A secondary battery includes: a cathode including a cathode active material layer on a cathode current collector; an anode; and an electrolytic solution. The cathode active material layer includes spherical active materials each being a secondary particle and planular active materials each being a secondary particle. The spherical active materials are each included in a region closer to the cathode current collector, and the planular active materials are each included in a region farther from the cathode current collector. Primary particles of the spherical active materials have an average particle diameter that is larger than an average particle diameter of primary particles of the planular active materials.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 15, 2016
    Assignee: SONY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Satoshi Fujiki, Asuki Yanagihara, Yosuke Hosoya, Guohua Li
  • Patent number: 9287532
    Abstract: An electric battery including a microbattery provided with first and second current collectors and an encapsulation device including an electrically-conductive and sealing layer formed by a matrix made of polymer material including electrically-conductive particles. First and second connection pads made of electrically-conductive material are respectively electrically connected to the first and second current collectors of the microbattery. The encapsulation device also includes an additional microbattery provided with first and second current collectors, arranged opposite to and separate from the microbattery by the sealing layer. The first and/or second current collectors of the additional microbattery are electrically connected, respectively, to the first and/or second connection pads via at least a portion of the electrically-conductive particles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 5, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 15, 2016
    Assignee: COMMISSARIAT À L'ENERGIE ATOMIQUE ET AUX ENERGIES ALTERNATIVES
    Inventors: Gabriel Delepierre, Messaoud Bedjaoui
  • Patent number: 9276242
    Abstract: A battery cell arrangement having a battery cell which is in the form of a film cell and includes a flat cell body with two end faces, a flexible cell rim surrounding the cell body, and two contact sections arranged on a rim side of the battery cell. The battery cell arrangement further has a frame arrangement which includes a first frame element and a second frame element which frames the cell body on all sides on the rim. At least one vent opening is provided on a side of the frame arrangement which faces away from the end faces of the cell body, in order to allow fluid, in particular gas, to emerge from the battery cell arrangement in the event of damage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 1, 2016
    Assignee: Samsung SDI CO., Ltd.
    Inventors: Peter Dämon, Stefan Roepke, Herbert Thanner, Ralph Wünsche