Patents Examined by Jonathan Crepeau
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Patent number: 11367928Abstract: An electrode assembly including an electrode stack including a plurality of radical units including an electrode and a separator and having a structure in which the plurality of radical units are sequentially stacked, wherein at least a portion of a circumference of the electrode stack is surrounded by the separator, a curved surface having a curvature radius is formed on a top or bottom surface of the electrode stack, and the separator surrounding at least the portion of the circumference of the electrode stack surrounds the curved surface formed on the electrode stack to maintain a relative distance between the radical units adjacent to each other is provided. A method of forming the electrode assembly is also provided.Type: GrantFiled: January 24, 2019Date of Patent: June 21, 2022Assignee: LG ENERGY SOLUTION, LTD.Inventors: Mi Jung Yoo, Byung Heon Shin, Woo Yong Lee
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Patent number: 11362400Abstract: Thermoresponsive composite switch (TRCS) membranes for ion batteries include a porous scaffolding providing ion channels and a thermoresponsive polymer coating. Boron nitride nanotube (BNNT)/polymer composite TRCS membrane embodiments are preferable due to unique BNNT properties. A BNNT scaffold coated with one or more polymers may form a composite separator with tunable porosity (porosity level and pore size distribution), composition, wettability, and superior electronic isolation, oxidative/reduction resistance, and mechanical strength. The BNNT/polymer composite TRCS membrane optimizes the performance of ion batteries with tunable separator thicknesses that may be under 5 ???. Nano-scale porosity with thin separator thicknesses improves the charge density of the battery. Nano-scale architecture allows for reversible localized switching on the nano scale, in proximity to thermally stressed ion substrates.Type: GrantFiled: February 2, 2017Date of Patent: June 14, 2022Assignee: BNNT, LLCInventors: Thomas G. Dushatinski, Gary S. Huvard, R. Roy Whitney, Kevin C. Jordan, Diego Pedrazzoli, Michael W. Smith, Jonathan C. Stevens
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Patent number: 11362366Abstract: The present invention is provided to reduce the influence of expansion and contraction of an active material, form a favorable interface between the solid electrolyte and the active material, and increase ion conductivity in the electrolyte, thereby obtaining a wide operation temperature range. A secondary battery composite electrolyte includes an inorganic compound having an Li ion conductivity at room temperature that is 1×10?10 S/cm or more and having particle diameter of 0.05 ?m or more and less than 8 ?m, and an organic electrolyte. The weight ratio between the organic electrolyte and the inorganic compound is 0.1% or more and 20% or less.Type: GrantFiled: August 28, 2017Date of Patent: June 14, 2022Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha ToshibaInventors: Kazuomi Yoshima, Yasuhiro Harada, Norio Takami
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Patent number: 11355774Abstract: Provided herein is a fiber having a fiber body including fiber body material with a longitudinal-axis fiber body length. A plurality of gel domains is disposed within the fiber body along at least a portion of the longitudinal-axis fiber body length. Each gel domain includes a porous host matrix material and a liquid gel component that is entrapped in the molecular structure of the host matrix material and that is disposed in interstices of the host material matrix. At least two of the gel domains within the fiber body are disposed directly adjacent to each other in direct physical contact with each other. This fiber can include polymeric fiber body material and gel domains including a porous polymer host matrix material and an ionically conducting liquid solvent that is entrapped in the molecular structure of the polymer host matrix material and disposed in interstices of the polymer host material matrix.Type: GrantFiled: March 21, 2019Date of Patent: June 7, 2022Assignee: Massachusetts Institute of TechnologyInventors: Jung Tae Lee, Benjamin Jean-Baptiste Grena, Tural Khudiyev, Chong Hou, Yoel Fink
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Patent number: 11349125Abstract: The object of the invention is to provide a new lithium ion battery system that can have both high energy density and fast chargeable capability. The invention provides a lithium ion battery, comprising an anode comprising an anode active material layer on an anode current collector, the anode active material layer having a mass load higher than 60 g/m2, a cathode comprising a cathode active material layer on a cathode current collector, the cathode active material layer having a mass load higher than 100 g/m2, and an electrolytic solution comprising an imide anion based lithium salt and LiPO2F2, wherein at least one of the anode and cathode active material layers comprises a spacer composed of a hard carbon.Type: GrantFiled: October 6, 2016Date of Patent: May 31, 2022Assignee: NEC CORPORATIONInventors: Qian Cheng, Katsumi Maeda, Noriyuki Tamura
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Patent number: 11342616Abstract: The present disclosure provides a cell and a battery. The cell includes a cell body and a packaging pouch for accommodating the cell body therein. The packaging pouch includes a seal portion, and the seal portion includes a sealed area. The sealed area includes a recess portion. The recess portion is provided in an end surface of the sealed area adjacent to the cell body and is recessed in a direction away from the cell body.Type: GrantFiled: June 3, 2019Date of Patent: May 24, 2022Assignee: NINGDE AMPEREX TECHNOLOGY LIMITEDInventors: Feng Wang, Yu Chen
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Patent number: 11342634Abstract: Embodiments are directed to contact plates configured to establish electrical bonds between battery cells in a battery module. In a first embodiment, the contact plate includes at least one primary conductive layer including a hole that is aligned with two or more terminals of two or more battery cells in a group of battery cells that are configured to be connected in parallel with each other, and a bonding connector configured to provide direct electrical bonds between the contact plate and the two or more terminals of the two or more battery cells. In a second embodiment, a contact plate includes at least one primary conductive layer and a set of bonding connectors made from at least one material that is selected to match at least one material used for the terminals of the at least one group of battery cells.Type: GrantFiled: November 13, 2019Date of Patent: May 24, 2022Assignee: TIVENI MERGECO, INC.Inventors: Heiner Fees, Andreas Track, Alexander Eichhorn, Ralf Maisch, Jörg Damaske, Martin Eberhard
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Patent number: 11342624Abstract: An apparatus may include a first panel including a first upper surface and a first lower surface. The first upper surface may include a cavity extending into the first upper surface towards the first lower surface and a bus bar within the cavity. In addition, the apparatus may include a second panel having a second lower surface in direct contact with the first upper surface, wherein the second lower surface extends over a substantial portion of the cavity. In addition, the bus bar may include a first coupling element. The first coupling element may be configured to be mechanically coupled to a terminal of a battery module. Further, the cavity may position the first coupling element to align with the terminal.Type: GrantFiled: February 24, 2020Date of Patent: May 24, 2022Assignee: ARTISAN VEHICLE SYSTEMS INC.Inventors: Brian R. Huff, Mike Kasaba, Russell Davis
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Patent number: 11335915Abstract: An activation mechanism for a battery for an electronic ignition mechanism contains an ampoule filled with an electrolyte. The mechanism for breaking has a snap spring element to which the ampoule is attached in a freely suspended manner. The snap spring element snaps from a first shape into a second shape when a force due to acceleration is applied, thereby severing the attachment of the ampoule.Type: GrantFiled: June 12, 2020Date of Patent: May 17, 2022Assignee: Diehl & Eagle Picher GmbHInventor: Roland Hein
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Patent number: 11335921Abstract: A method of setting a cutting time of a gasket during manufacture of a membrane electrode assembly (MEA) is provided. The method includes: moving a reaction sheet, in which electrode layers are formed on an electrolyte membrane with a predetermined interval; photographing a boundary area between the electrolyte membrane and the electrode layer in the moving reaction sheet by using a fixed vision; setting a front end reference line and a rear end reference line between a front-most end and a rear-most end in the boundary area; calculating a trigger reference line between the front end reference line and the rear end reference line, except for a front portion of the front end reference line and a rear portion of the rear end reference line; and calculating a cutting time of a gasket based on the trigger reference line.Type: GrantFiled: May 7, 2020Date of Patent: May 17, 2022Assignees: HYUNDAI MOTOR COMPANY, KIA MOTORS CORPORATIONInventors: Sun Ho Lee, Sunha Hwang
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Patent number: 11329338Abstract: A rechargeable battery according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention includes: an electrode assembly formed by spirally winding a first electrode, a separator, and a second electrode; and a pouch that forms a sealing portion by thermally bonding an outer edge of a first external material and an outer edge of a second external material that receive the electrode assembly to withdraw tabs respectively connected to the first electrode and the second electrode to the outside, wherein the electrode assembly includes first curved portions that are convex at opposite sides of a first planar portion in a spiral-wound cross-section, the pouch includes a second planar portion corresponding to the first planar portion, and second curved portions that are connected to the second planar portion corresponding to the first curved portions, and the sealing portion is disposed in spaces, each set by an extension plane set in an extension direction of the first planar portion, external surfaces of the second cuType: GrantFiled: July 27, 2017Date of Patent: May 10, 2022Assignee: Samsung SDI Co., Ltd.Inventors: Jaewook Lee, Kyongjin Kim, Jinhwan Kim, Junhyoung Park
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Patent number: 11329339Abstract: A method for manufacturing a battery cell (1) and a battery cell (1) comprises providing a battery housing (3) and introducing electrodes (5) and an electrolyte (9) into the battery housing (3). At least partial regions (23) of a surface, in particular an outer surface, of the battery housing (3) are coated with a diffusion barrier layer (25) made of a polymer material (27) and then the polymer material (27) of the diffusion barrier layer (25) is oxidized at least on the surface to form an oxide layer (29). The polymer material (27) may be in particular silicone so that the oxide layer (29) consists of silicon dioxide. An oxide layer (29) thus generated increases a barrier effect of the diffusion barrier layer (25) considerably and may be generated using technically simple means, such as for example an atmospheric pressure plasma.Type: GrantFiled: May 2, 2019Date of Patent: May 10, 2022Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbHInventor: Andreas Ringk
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Patent number: 11329336Abstract: In a laser welding step, a laser beam is irradiated fin a thickness direction of an external terminal from a side of a front surface of a bus bar toward a space. This irradiation melts a separated portion of the external terminal, i.e., a portion located apart from the insulating part by the space between the insulating part and the separated portion in the thickness direction, and an opposed portion of the bus bar, i.e., a portion opposed to the space via the separated portion in the thickness direction, thereby forming a welded portion including the separated portion and the opposed portion melted together.Type: GrantFiled: December 18, 2019Date of Patent: May 10, 2022Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventors: Nobuyuki Yamazaki, Syoma Minami
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Patent number: 11329316Abstract: The present invention is provided to reduce the influence of expansion and contraction of an active material, form a favorable interface between a solid electrolyte and an active material, and improve the high temperature durability and cycle lifespan of a battery. A secondary battery composite electrolyte includes an inorganic compound having an Li ion conductivity at 25° C. that is less than 1×10?10 S/cm and an organic electrolyte. The weight ratio between the organic electrolyte and the inorganic compound is 0.1% or more and 20% or less.Type: GrantFiled: August 28, 2017Date of Patent: May 10, 2022Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha ToshibaInventors: Yasuhiro Harada, Norio Takami, Kazuomi Yoshima
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Patent number: 11322751Abstract: A battery includes an electrode group including an air electrode and a negative electrode stacked with a separator therebetween, and an accommodating bag accommodating the electrode group along with an alkali electrolyte solution. The air electrode includes a catalyst for an air secondary battery. This catalyst for an air secondary battery is produced by a method for producing a catalyst for an air secondary battery, the method including a precursor preparation step of preparing a bismuth-ruthenium oxide precursor, a calcination step of calcining the bismuth-ruthenium oxide precursor obtained in this precursor preparation step to form a bismuth-ruthenium oxide, and a nitric acid treatment step of immersing the bismuth-ruthenium oxide obtained by this calcination step in a nitric acid aqueous solution.Type: GrantFiled: March 25, 2019Date of Patent: May 3, 2022Assignee: FDK CORPORATIONInventors: Shohei Unoki, Takeshi Kajiwara, Takahiro Endo, Shigekazu Yasuoka, Yoshikatsu Watanabe
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Patent number: 11322772Abstract: Battery assembly techniques and a corresponding system are disclosed. In various embodiments, the battery assembly techniques include compressing battery cells and inserting the battery cells in a can. Battery cells are stacked and then compressed using pneumatic cylinders that exert pressure on a first external layer of the stacked battery cells. A first portion of the stacked battery cells is released from the pneumatic cylinders while a second portion of the battery cells remains compressed. The first portion of the stacked battery cells is inserted in a can. In various embodiments, friction decreasing materials are added to the stacked battery cells to compress the stacked battery cells or ease insertion.Type: GrantFiled: February 12, 2020Date of Patent: May 3, 2022Assignee: Wisk Aero LLCInventors: John Melack, Thomas P. Muniz, Nihal Murthy
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Patent number: 11322783Abstract: A system for managing a battery removal from an electronic device is provided. The electronic device includes a battery interface including multiple battery coupling contacts that engage with battery contacts of the battery in an installed position of the battery. A battery removal detector is configured to detect, based on signals received via the battery interface, an ongoing battery removal process during which first battery contact(s) are disconnected from corresponding first interface contact(s) while second battery contact(s) remain connected with second battery coupling contact(s), and in response, to output a battery removal signal. The system also includes a controller that receives the battery removal signal and, still during the battery removal process, controls a memory device of the electronic device to prevent or complete a defined operation (e.g., writing of persistent storage keys) prior to completion of the battery removal process, to thereby prevent a corruption of the memory device.Type: GrantFiled: August 12, 2019Date of Patent: May 3, 2022Assignee: PLANTRONICS, INC.Inventors: Ryan Douglas Rocha, Thomas G Criswell, Jesus Arias Duarte, Anfeng Yin
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Patent number: 11322743Abstract: The present application relates to a negative electrode composite material and preparation thereof and a lithium ion battery. The negative electrode composite material comprises an active material, a metal oxide on the surface of the active material, wherein the ratio of the specific surface area of the negative electrode composite material to the specific surface area of the active material is 1-7. The present application improves the volume energy density and safety performance of a lithium ion battery by selecting a ratio of a specific surface area of the negative electrode composite material to the active material.Type: GrantFiled: October 28, 2018Date of Patent: May 3, 2022Assignee: Ningde Amperex Technology LimitedInventors: Peng Du, Yuansen Xie, Yisong Su, Fan Yang
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Patent number: 11322793Abstract: A battery module includes a plurality of cylindrical batteries that each include a safety valve surrounded by an annular breaking portion configured to break when internal pressure of each of the batteries exceeds a predetermined level. The battery module further includes an exhaust duct to guide gas emitted from the cylindrical battery to outside the module when safety valve is opened, and a gas direction regulator component disposed between the cylindrical batteries and the exhaust duct. The gas direction regulator component has a plurality of openings to expose the respective safety valves. Portions of the gas direction regulator component overhang areas overlapping the respective safety valves so as to cover an end of each safety valve opposite another end of each safety valve adjacent to an exit of the exhaust duct.Type: GrantFiled: December 13, 2017Date of Patent: May 3, 2022Assignee: PANASONIC INTEILECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD.Inventors: Keisuke Shimizu, Shinya Motokawa, Daisuke Kishii, Akira Takano
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Patent number: 11322765Abstract: Methods for optimizing, designing, making, and assembling various component parts and layers to produce optimized MEAs. Optimization is generally achieved by producing multi-layered MEAs wherein characteristics such as catalyst composition and morphology, ionomer concentration, and hydrophobicity/hydophilicity are specifically tuned in each layer. The MEAs are optimized for use with a variety of catalysts including catalysts with specifically designed and controlled morphology, chemical speciation on the bulk, chemical speciation on the surface, and/or specific hydrophobic or hydrophilic or other characteristics. The catalyst can incorporate non-platinum group metal (non-PGM) and/or platinum group metal (PGM) materials.Type: GrantFiled: March 14, 2016Date of Patent: May 3, 2022Assignee: UMM Rainforest InnovationsInventors: Alexey Serov, Plamen B. Atanassov