Patents Examined by Jonathan Crepeau
  • Patent number: 12218373
    Abstract: A battery module includes a box shaped housing case that is open at an upper side, a battery stack in which plural battery cells are stacked along a horizontal direction, and that is housed inside the housing case, and plural types of shim that are made of different materials and that are disposed between the battery stack and the housing case in a state in which the battery stack is pressed along the stacking direction of the battery cells.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 19, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 4, 2025
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Nobuyuki Yamazaki
  • Patent number: 12218391
    Abstract: Disclosed are: a reinforced composite membrane-type polymer electrolyte membrane which can prevent the loss of an ion conductor even when the ion conductor is chemically deteriorated due to long-term use, and thus has remarkably enhanced mechanical and chemical durability; a method for manufacturing same; and an electrochemical device comprising same. The polymer electrolyte membrane of the present invention comprises: a non-crosslinked ion conductor; and a porous support having a plurality of pores filled with the ion conductor, wherein the porous support comprises a polymer having at least one crosslinking functional group, and the crosslinking functional group is a functional group which, when the ion conductor is deteriorated, can cause crosslinking of the ion conductor by binding to the deteriorated ion conductor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 3, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 4, 2025
    Assignee: KOLON INDUSTRIES, INC.
    Inventors: Jung Hwa Park, Kwang Sei Oh, Dong Hoon Lee, Na Young Kim, Eun Su Lee, Seung Jib Yum
  • Patent number: 12212007
    Abstract: Improved catalyst layers for use in fuel cell membrane electrode assemblies, and methods for making such catalyst layers, are provided. Catalyst layers can comprise structured units of catalyst, catalyst support, and ionomer. The structured units can provide for more efficient electrical energy production and/or increased lifespan of fuel cells utilizing such membrane electrode assemblies. Catalyst layers can be directly deposited on exchange membranes, such as proton exchange membranes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 28, 2025
    Assignee: Nikola Corporation
    Inventor: John Slack
  • Patent number: 12212026
    Abstract: A highly efficient fuel cell capable of reasonably and effectively utilizing an internal reforming reaction is obtained even when an anode layer provided in a fuel cell element has a thickness of several tens of micron order. A fuel cell single unit is configured to include a reducing gas supply path for supplying a gas containing hydrogen to an anode layer, a steam supply path for supplying steam generated in a fuel cell element to the reducing gas supply path, and an internal reforming catalyst layer for producing hydrogen from a raw fuel gas by a steam reforming reaction are provided in the fuel cell single unit, and at least one steam supply path is provided on an upstream side of the internal reforming catalyst layer in a flow direction of the reducing gas supplied to the anode layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 28, 2025
    Assignee: Osaka Gas Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Mitsuaki Echigo, Hisao Onishi, Noritoshi Shinke, Yuji Tsuda
  • Patent number: 12206131
    Abstract: A battery module according to the present disclosure includes a plurality of cylindrical battery cells including a gas vent configured to discharge an internal gas and a busbar plate including a negative electrode connection terminal extending from an edge of a connection opening and having the extended part in contact with a negative electrode terminal to electrically connect the plurality of cylindrical battery cells wherein among a positive electrode connection terminal and the negative electrode connection terminal, the connection terminal in contact with a positive electrode terminal or a negative electrode terminal that is not opened by the gas vent includes a fuse portion configured to blow when a predetermined current or above flows from the cylindrical battery cell, the fuse portion having a bent structure that is bent in a horizontal direction at least once.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 13, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 21, 2025
    Assignee: LG ENERGY SOLUTION, LTD.
    Inventors: Han-Yong Jeong, Suk-Hoon Lee, Young-Su Son
  • Patent number: 12199323
    Abstract: A fuel cell system comprises an interface configured to receive a user operation toward the fuel cell system, and a controller configured to perform a predetermined process related to a reception stop of the user operation at least during a period from a start to an end of a stop operation of the fuel cell system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 14, 2025
    Assignee: KYOCERA CORPORATION
    Inventors: Shoma Takeuchi, Masahiro Baba, Shinji Aikawa
  • Patent number: 12199237
    Abstract: A solid electrolyte material according to an aspect of the present disclosure is represented by the following Compositional Formula (1): Li6-3zYzX6 where 0<z<2 is satisfied; and X represents Cl or Br.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 2023
    Date of Patent: January 14, 2025
    Assignee: PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Tetsuya Asano, Akihiro Sakai, Satoru Ohuchi, Masashi Sakaida, Akinobu Miyazaki, Shinya Hasegawa
  • Patent number: 12191451
    Abstract: An electrolyte solution for a lithium-sulfur battery including: a lithium salt, which includes an anion having a donor number of 15 kcal/mol of more, and a non-aqueous solvent, and a lithium-sulfur battery including the same.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 3, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 7, 2025
    Assignees: LG ENERGY SOLUTION, LTD., KOREA ADVANCED INSTITUTE OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
    Inventors: Yun Kyoung Kim, Hee Tak Kim, Doo Kyung Yang, Hyungjun Noh, Hyunwon Chu
  • Patent number: 12183885
    Abstract: An electrolyte for a lithium secondary battery and a lithium secondary battery including the same are disclosed herein. In some embodiments, an electrolyte includes a lithium salt, an organic solvent, and an additive, wherein the additive includes a compound represented by Formula 1 and a compound represented by Formula 2.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 31, 2024
    Assignee: LG Energy Solution, Ltd.
    Inventors: Yu Ha An, Hyun Seung Kim, Jeong Woo Oh, Chul Haeng Lee
  • Patent number: 12176589
    Abstract: A method for making an improved fuel cell using a porosity gradient design for gas diffusion layers in a hydrogen fuel cell, a gas diffusion layer made by the method and a fuel cell containing the gas diffusion layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 2024
    Date of Patent: December 24, 2024
    Assignee: KING FAHD UNIVERSITY OF PETROLEUM AND MINERALS
    Inventor: Jamal Hussain Al-Smail
  • Patent number: 12176577
    Abstract: A method for interconnecting cell stacks of a battery module in a battery. In the battery module, the cell stacks are arranged in a battery module housing. In each case two cell stacks are arranged next to one another and form a cell stack group, and the two cell stack groups are arranged behind one another. The two cell stacks of the first cell stack group are inserted into the battery module housing. The two cell stacks of the first cell stack group are electrically interconnected via at least one opening arranged in a wall of the battery module housing. The two cell stacks of the second cell stack group are inserted into the battery module housing. Electrically interconnecting the two cell stacks of the second cell stack group to each one of the two cell stacks of the first cell stack group.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 22, 2021
    Date of Patent: December 24, 2024
    Assignee: Dr. Ing. h.c. F. Porsche Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Enerji Cavus, Philipp Kellner, Max Falk, Christopher Volkmer, Marco Augustdörfer
  • Patent number: 12176477
    Abstract: The present invention relates to charging and discharging methods of a lithium ion battery with a high capacity retention rate, which comprise the following steps: (1) when a number of turns is n, the negative and positive electrodes of the lithium ion battery are only charged; after the charging is finished, a third electrode and a fourth electrode are discharged with controlled current, wherein the controlled current is 0.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 24, 2024
    Assignee: ZHEJIANG FUNLITHIUM NEW ENERGY TECH CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Xiaoxiong Xu, Yanming Cui, Yuanqiao Huang
  • Patent number: 12176559
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to the technical field of energy storage devices, and provides a battery cell assembly, a battery module, and a battery pack. The battery cell assembly includes: at least two battery cells and an insulation film. The at least two battery cells are stacked. Each battery cell includes an electrode assembly and a battery housing. The electrode assembly is accommodated in the battery housing. The electrode assembly includes a first electrode plate, a second electrode plate, and a separator disposed between the first electrode plate and the second electrode plate. The insulation film surrounds a periphery of the at least two battery cells to wrap the at least two battery cells together.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 24, 2024
    Assignee: CONTEMPORARY AMPEREX TECHNOLOGY (HONG KONG) LIMITED
    Inventors: Zhenhua Li, Haizu Jin, Dongyang Shi, Ning Chen, Fei Hu, Yuanbao Chen
  • Patent number: 12176495
    Abstract: A battery pack including a housing defining an aperture, a first battery cell within the housing, a second battery cell within the housing, and a switch. The first battery cell is electrically connected to a first terminal. The second battery cell is electrically connected to a second terminal. The switch is configured to be in a first position and a second position. The switch includes a user-interface, that may extend through the aperture, and a plate, located within the housing. The plate includes a conductive portion and a non-conductive portion. The conductive portion is configured to electrically connect the first terminal to the second terminal when the switch is in the first position. The non-conductive portion is configured to galvanically isolate the first terminal from the second terminal when the switch is in the second position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 2021
    Date of Patent: December 24, 2024
    Assignee: Milwaukee Electric Tool Corporation
    Inventors: Kyle J. Radovich, Cameron R. Schulz
  • Patent number: 12166204
    Abstract: A positive electrode active material for a lithium ion secondary battery containing lithium composite oxide particles, the lithium composite oxide particles including lithium (Li), nickel (Ni), manganese (Mn), zirconium (Zr), and an additive element M (M) in an amount of substance ratio of Li:Ni:Mn:Zr:M=a:b:c:d:e, wherein 0.95?a?1.20, 0.70?b?0.98, 0.01?c?0.20, 0.0003?d?0.01, and 0.01?e?0.20, and the additive element M is one or more elements selected from Co, W, Mo, V, Mg, Ca, Al, Ti, and Ta, wherein, a unit lattice volume V (?3) determined from lattice constants a and c that are calculated from an X-ray diffraction pattern in the lithium composite oxide is 117.5 ?3 or more and 118.0 ?3 or less, and a ratio I(003)/I(104) of a peak strength I(003) of a (003) plane to a peak strength I(104) of a (104) plane is 1.70 or more.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 19, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 10, 2024
    Assignee: SUMITOMO METAL MINING CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Haruki Kaneda, Yuki Koshika
  • Patent number: 12166220
    Abstract: A cell top cover and a cell are provided. The cell top cover includes an aluminum sheet, at least one pole post, and at least one upper plastic member. The aluminum sheet defines at least one pole through-hole, each respective pole post penetrates through a respective pole through-hole of the at least one pole through-hole, and the at least one upper plastic member is disposed on a top side of the aluminum sheet, and a respective upper plastic member is sleeved and fixed on the respective pole post. The aluminum sheet is provided with at least one limiting portion on the top side of the aluminum sheet, and a respective limiting portion protrudes from a circumferential side of the respective pole through-hole, and is fitted with the respective upper plastic member to limit rotation of the respective upper plastic member relative to the aluminum sheet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 2023
    Date of Patent: December 10, 2024
    Assignee: Jinko Energy Storage Technology Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Yadong Liang
  • Patent number: 12166250
    Abstract: Systems and methods for monitoring the isolation resistance of one or more fuel cells are described herein. In one example, a system includes a current transformer having a hollow core. First and second portions of a load line from a fuel cell are located within the hollow core. The first portion of the load line is electrically between an anode of a fuel cell and an electrical load, while the second portion of the load line being electrically between a cathode of the fuel cell and the electrical load. The current transformer is configured to output an electrical signal proportional to a current passing through the hollow core. This electrical signal can then be used to determine the isolation resistance of the fuel cell.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 2021
    Date of Patent: December 10, 2024
    Assignee: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc.
    Inventors: Matthew K. McClory, Daniel Charles Folick, Dakota Kelley
  • Patent number: 12148933
    Abstract: An electrode catalyst of the present invention contains an electrically conductive material carrying a metal or a metal oxide, and has an electrical conductivity at 30° C. of 1×10?13 Scm?1 or more.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 2023
    Date of Patent: November 19, 2024
    Assignee: JAPAN SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY AGENCY
    Inventors: Miho Yamauchi, Tatsuyoshi Morimoto
  • Patent number: 12148926
    Abstract: A lithium composite transition metal oxide includes nickel (Ni), cobalt (Co), and manganese (Mn), wherein the lithium composite transition metal oxide includes two or more kinds of first dopants selected from the group consisting of Zr, Al, V, Co, and Mg and two or more kinds of second dopants selected from the group consisting of Ti, Y, Sr, Nb, Ba, and Ca, and particles of the lithium composite transition metal oxide has a crystallite size of 170-300 nm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 19, 2024
    Assignee: LG Energy Solution, Ltd.
    Inventors: Sang Min Park, Ji Hye Kim, Tae Gu Yoo, Wang Mo Jung, Gi Beom Han
  • Patent number: 12136723
    Abstract: An electrochemical cell includes a mist elimination system that prevents mist from escaping from the cell chamber and conserves moisture within the cell. An exemplary mist elimination system includes a spill prevention device that reduces or prevents an electrolyte from escaping from the cell chamber in the event of an upset, wherein the electrochemical cell is tipped over. A mist elimination system includes a recombination portion that reacts with hydrogen to produce water, that may be reintroduced into the cell chamber. A mist elimination system includes a neutralizer portion that reacts with an electrolyte to bring the pH closer to neutral, as acid/base reaction. A mist elimination system includes a filter that captures mist that may be reintroduced into the cell chamber. A mist elimination system includes a hydrophobic filter on the outer surface to prevent water and other liquids from entering into the mist elimination system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 10, 2022
    Date of Patent: November 5, 2024
    Assignee: FORM ENERGY, INC.
    Inventors: Ramkumar Krishnan, Joel Hayes, Scott Klug, Patrick Samuleson, Craig Trzebny