Patents Examined by Jimmy Vo
  • Patent number: 11258054
    Abstract: A positive electrode active material contains a lithium-rich lithium manganese-based oxide represented by chemical formula (1), Li1+aNixCoyMnzMvO2?bAb??(1) wherein, 0<a?0.2, 0<x?0.4, 0<y?0.4, 0.5?z?0.9, 0?v?0.2, a+x+y+z+v=1, and 0?b?0.5; M is one or more elements selected from the group consisting of Al, Zr, Zn, Ti, Mg, Ga, In, Ru, Nb, and Sn; and A is one or more elements selected from the group consisting of P, N, F, S and Cl; and a coating layer formed on a surface of the lithium-rich lithium manganese-based oxide, wherein the coating layer contains a lithium-deficient transition metal oxide in a lithium-deficient state having a molar ratio of lithium to transition metal of less than 1 is formed on the surface of the lithium-rich lithium manganese-based oxide, and wherein the content of the coating layer is 1% to 10% by weight based on the total weight of the positive electrode active material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 7, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 22, 2022
    Inventors: Gi Beom Han, Min Kyu You, Chi Ho Jo, Jintae Hwang, Wang Mo Jung, Sungbin Park
  • Patent number: 11251448
    Abstract: A method for determining a sealing tightness of a fuel cell stack includes providing of fuel into a cathode space, sealed off gas-tight against further components of a cathode subsystem, formed at least partly by the fuel cell stack, and detecting of a value which is indicative of a pressure change in the cathode space, where a cathode test pressure in the cathode space is higher than a pressure outside the fuel cell stack.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 9, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 15, 2022
    Assignee: Bayerische Motoren Werke Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Volker Formanski, Norbert Frisch, Martin Thomas
  • Patent number: 11245154
    Abstract: An environmental enclosure is disclosed. The environmental enclosure may include sidewalls defining an enclosure volume, each of the sidewalls having an internally facing surface and an externally facing surface, and a solar shield comprising a reflective surface. The solar shield is spaced a first distance externally from the enclosure volume and is connected to a sidewall. The first distance defines a portion of a flow area that is configured to produce stack effect draft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 8, 2022
    Assignee: International Power Supply AD
    Inventors: Alexander Stoilov Rangelov, Filip Stoilov Rangelov, Kiril Todorov Marinov, Stoil Rangelov Trifonov
  • Patent number: 11239468
    Abstract: A secondary battery and an electrode plate are provided. The electrode plate includes a current collector, an active material layer, a conductive structure, and a first protective layer. The current collector includes an insulating layer and a conductive layer disposed on the insulating layer. The conductive layer includes a main body portion and a protrusion portion. A surface of the main body portion facing away from the insulating layer is covered by the active material layer, while a surface of the protrusion portion facing away from the insulating layer is uncovered by the active material layer. The conductive structure is welded to the protrusion portion and thus a welded zone is formed. The first protective layer has elasticity, and is disposed on a side of the protrusion portion facing away from the insulating layer and is located between the welded zone and the active material layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 4, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 1, 2022
    Inventors: Yaru Zhou, Qingrui Xue, Zige Zhang, Miao Jiang, Jing Li, Wei Li, Long Wang
  • Patent number: 11211615
    Abstract: Various embodiments are directed to an electrochemical cell having a non-homogeneous anode. The electrochemical cell includes a container, a cathode forming a hollow cylinder within the container, an anode positioned within the hollow cylinder of the cathode, and a separator between the cathode and the anode. The anode comprises at least two concentric anode portions, defined by different anode characteristics. For example, the two anode portions may contain different surfactant types, which provides the two anode portions with different charge transfer resistance characteristics. By lowering the charge transfer resistance of a portion of an anode located proximate the current collector of the cell (and away from the separator) relative to an anode portion located adjacent the separator, improved cell discharge performance may be obtained.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 28, 2021
    Assignee: Energizer Brands, LLC
    Inventors: Zhufang Liu, Dawn Marie Freeman, Angelo Mandato
  • Patent number: 11205798
    Abstract: A capacitor-assisted, solid-state lithium-ion battery is formed by replacing at least one of the electrodes of the battery with a capacitor electrode of suitable particulate composition for the replaced battery particulate anode or cathode material. The solid-state electrodes typically contain solid-state electrode material and are separated with solid-state electrode material. In another embodiment the capacitor anode or cathode particles may be mixed with lithium-ion battery anode or cathode particles respectively. Preferably, the battery comprises at least two positively-charged electrodes and two negatively-charged electrodes, and the location and compositions of the capacitor material electrode(s) may be selected to provide a desired combination of energy and power.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 21, 2021
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Zhe Li, Dave G. Rich, Haijing Liu, Dewen Kong, Sherman H. Zeng
  • Patent number: 11196058
    Abstract: A frame equipped membrane electrode assembly includes a membrane electrode assembly and a frame member having a first frame shaped sheet provided on an outer peripheral portion of the membrane electrode assembly over the entire periphery. An outer peripheral portion of an electrolyte membrane is provided between a cathode and the first frame shaped sheet, stacked on an outer peripheral portion of the cathode, and joined to an inner peripheral portion of the first frame shaped sheet through an adhesive layer. The adhesive layer is filled in an area surrounded by an inner peripheral end of the first frame shaped sheet, an anode, and the electrolyte membrane.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 7, 2021
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yutaka Ebato, Satoru Terada, Takashi Kato, Matthew J. Beutel
  • Patent number: 11183729
    Abstract: A battery pack, a vehicle, and an energy storage device. The battery pack includes a housing with a first direction and a second direction perpendicular to the first direction. The battery pack housing includes at least one rectangular cell accommodating unit is formed therein. The battery pack also includes a plurality of rectangular cells, and has a dimension greater than or equal to 600 mm along the first direction. The plurality of rectangular cells are arranged in the rectangular cell accommodating unit along the second direction. The rectangular cell has a thickness of D, length of L, and height of H. A length direction of at least one rectangular cell extends from one side of the rectangular cell accommodating unit to its other side along the first direction, and meets: L>H, L>D, 600 mm?L?2500 mm, 23?L/D?208.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 21, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 23, 2021
    Assignee: BYD COMPANY LIMITED
    Inventors: Long He, Huajun Sun, Wenfeng Jiang, Zhipei Lu, Weixin Zheng, Jianglong Tang, Yan Zhu, Xinyue Wang, Kefeng He
  • Patent number: 11171365
    Abstract: A capacitor-assisted, solid-state lithium-ion battery is formed by replacing at least one of the electrodes of the battery with a capacitor electrode of suitable particulate composition for the replaced battery particulate anode or cathode material. The solid-state electrodes typically contain quasi-solid-state electrode material and are separated with a layer of quasi-solid-state electrolyte material. In another embodiment the capacitor anode or cathode particles may be mixed with lithium-ion battery anode or cathode particles respectively. Preferably, the battery comprises at least two positively-charged electrodes and two negatively-charged electrodes, and the location, number and compositions of the capacitor material electrode(s) may be selected to provide a desired combination of energy and power.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 22, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 9, 2021
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Zhe Li, Dave G. Rich, Haijing Liu, Dewen Kong, Sherman H. Zeng
  • Patent number: 11171354
    Abstract: The present invention relates to an electrode assembly and a method for manufacturing the same, and more particularly, to an electrode assembly in which a degree of alignment of cells is improved and a method for manufacturing the same. An electrode assembly according to the present invention comprises a separator sheet folded in a zigzag shape and a unit cell having a structure in which an electrode and a separator are alternately stacked, wherein the unit cell is repeatedly disposed between the separator sheet that is folded in a zigzag shape, and at least a portion of the unit cell and at least a portion of the separator sheet are bonded to each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 7, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 9, 2021
    Assignee: LG CHEM, LTD.
    Inventors: Sang Kyun Lee, Jung Kwan Pyo, Cha Hun Ku
  • Patent number: 11165059
    Abstract: A negative electrode active material including lithium titanium oxide particles, wherein the lithium titanium oxide particles have a Na content of 50 ppm-300 ppm, a K content of 500 ppm-2400 ppm and a crystallite size of 100-200 nm, and a lithium secondary battery including the same.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 2, 2021
    Assignee: LG CHEM, LTD.
    Inventors: Sung-Bin Park, Ji-Young Park, Bo-Ram Lee, Chi-Ho Jo, Jung-Min Han, Hyuck Hur, Wang-Mo Jung
  • Patent number: 11158889
    Abstract: Improved battery systems, apparatuses, and methods for use in electric air, land, and marine vehicles and mobile, portable, and stationary electrical appliances and devices are provided. The systems employ acoustic and current manipulation of anode interface deposits including dendrites on or proximate lithium and other anodes. This invention may employ multistatic ultrasonic phased arrays and current modulation to 1) minimize deposit, e.g., dendrite, initiation and formation by acoustic stirring, 2) acoustically image dendritic growths to monitor changes in dendrite growths, 3) cue dendrite cleaning and battery shutdown to avoid short circuit, 4) induce failure in dendritic structure and shearing of at least a portion of the dendrite from the anode, and 5) transport sheared dendrites and other dead metal to a graveyard.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 26, 2021
    Assignee: RFNAV Inc.
    Inventors: Jefferson M. Willey, Richard E. Pavek, James H. Schoenduve
  • Patent number: 11145905
    Abstract: A lithium-ion electrochemical cell comprises a first electrode, a second electrode comprising elemental silicon, a microporous separator membrane between the first and second electrodes, and an electrolyte in contact with the electrodes and the membrane. The electrolyte comprises a lithium salt at a concentration in the range of about 0.1 M to about 5 M, and an additional metal salt at a concentration in the range of about 0.001 to about 5 M dissolved in an organic solvent. The additional metal salt comprises a metal cation that can form a lithium-silicon-metal Zintl phase; and the first electrode comprises metallic lithium or a cathode active material capable of donating and accepting lithium ions to and from the second electrode during electrochemical cycling. Electrolytes for use with silicon-containing electrodes also are described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 4, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 12, 2021
    Assignee: UCHICAGO ARGONNE, LLC
    Inventors: John T. Vaughey, Binghong Han, Baris Key, Fulya Dogan Key, Chen Liao
  • Patent number: 11145848
    Abstract: A method of producing a secondary battery disclosed here includes forming a positive electrode active material layer containing a lithium- and manganese-containing composite oxide on a positive electrode current collector to produce a positive electrode; measuring a peel strength between the positive electrode active material layer and the positive electrode current collector; producing a secondary battery assembly including the positive electrode, a negative electrode, and a nonaqueous electrolyte using the positive electrode; and initially charging the secondary battery assembly. When the secondary battery assembly is initially charged, a restraining pressure is determined based on the measured peel strength, and in a predetermined peel strength range, a higher restraining pressure is set for a secondary battery assembly including a positive electrode having a low peel strength than for a secondary battery assembly including a positive electrode having a large peel strength.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 10, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 12, 2021
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Akira Tsujiko, Ippei Goto
  • Patent number: 11139480
    Abstract: A secondary battery includes: a positive electrode having a positive-electrode current collector and a positive-electrode active-material layer; a negative electrode having a negative-electrode current collector and a negative-electrode active-material layer; a electrolyte; and an insulating tape covering a portion of the positive electrode. Furthermore, the positive-electrode current collector has an exposed section that the positive-electrode active-material layer is not disposed. In addition, at least a portion of the exposed section is covered with the insulating tape; the insulating tape has a substrate material layer and an adhesive layer; and the adhesive layer includes an adhesive agent and an insulating inorganic material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 1, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 5, 2021
    Assignee: Panasonic Intellectual Property Management Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Tomoki Shiozaki, Yuji Oura, Hajime Nishino
  • Patent number: 11127999
    Abstract: Described is an apparatus which comprises: a cathode current collector configured to be in direct contact to a first client terminal; an anode current collector configured to be in direct contact to a second client terminal; and at least two layers of active material, where one layer is adjacent to the cathode current collector and another layer is adjacent to the anode current collector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 21, 2021
    Assignee: INTEL CORPORATION
    Inventor: Andrew W. Keates
  • Patent number: 11121411
    Abstract: Provided is a battery pack including a busbar connection state protection circuit that detects an opening of a busbar when the busbar that connects between unit batteries is opened by damage and prevents a problem in that a reverse voltage generated when the busbar is damaged damages a battery management board. Provided is also a method for detecting whether or not a busbar is opened using the battery pack, capable of easily detecting whether or not the busbar is opened using the battery pack.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 6, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 14, 2021
    Assignee: SK Innovation Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Kyu Min Hwang
  • Patent number: 11121394
    Abstract: The present invention discloses a rechargeable button cell, which includes an anode shell, a cathode shell and a coiled electric core. The anode shell and the cathode shell define a receiving cavity in which the coiled electric core is located. A channel that extends in an axial direction of the rechargeable button cell is provided in the middle of the coiled electric core. An electrically conductive bar that extends on the cathode shell is located in the channel. An anode tab and a cathode tab of the coiled electric core are provided on the same side, which facilitates monitoring the conditions of the two tabs at the same time during the production and preventing the tabs from being damaged, thereby achieving good weldability and improving the assembling efficiency.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 14, 2021
    Assignee: Fujian Nanping Yanping District Nanfu New Energy Technology Co., Ltd
    Inventors: Haitao Chang, Zhiming Zhang, Sheng Su
  • Patent number: 11114714
    Abstract: A miniature electrochemical cell having a volume of less than 0.5 cc includes a casing having a header assembly comprising a ceramic plate formed by co-firing a metallic-containing paste in first and second via holes extending through a green-state ceramic. The ceramic plate is joined to a metal ring by a gold-braze to form the header assembly that is secured to an open-ended metal container by a weld to provide the casing. The fill material resulting from sintering the metallic-containing paste provides a first conductive pathway to the anode current collector contacting an anode active material and a second conductive pathway to a cathode current collector contacting a cathode active material. A solid electrolyte activates the anode and cathode while also serving as a separator. Outer surfaces of the first and second conductive pathways are configured for electrical connection to a load.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 4, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 7, 2021
    Assignee: Greatbatch Ltd.
    Inventors: Robert S. Rubino, Keith W. Seitz, Brian P. Hohl
  • Patent number: 11108110
    Abstract: A battery holder includes at least two connecting shafts, a first lateral frame, and a second lateral frame, wherein two juxtaposed battery assemblies are disposed between the first lateral frame and the second lateral frame. The at least two connecting shafts respectively pass through the corresponding battery modules, and is connected to the first lateral frame and the second lateral frame. The first lateral frame includes two adjacent side frames, each of which includes a first side bar and a second side bar which is opposite to the first side bar. The first side bar has a first perforation, and the second side bar has a second perforation, wherein a width of the first perforation is greater than a width of the second perforation. An engaging member passes through the first perforation and the second perforation, whereby to fix one of the side frames to another one.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 9, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 31, 2021
    Assignee: Mobiletron Electronics CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Ming-Hung Hsu