Patents Examined by Jonathan Jelsma
  • Methods of making metal-doped nickel oxide active materials
    Patent number: 9028564
    Abstract: Methods of making high-energy cathode active materials for primary alkaline batteries are described. The primary batteries include a cathode having an alkali-deficient nickel(IV)-containing oxide including one or more metals such as Co, Mg, Al, Ca, Y, Mn, and/or non-metals such as B, Si, Ge or a combination of metal and/or non-metal atoms as dopants partially substituted for Ni and/or Li in the crystal lattice; an anode; a separator between the cathode and the anode; and an alkaline electrolyte solution.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 12, 2015
    Assignee: The Gillette Company
    Inventors: Jennifer A. Nelson, Paul A. Christian, Kirakodu S. Nanjundaswamy, Fan Zhang
  • Lithium ion battery
    Patent number: 9023520
    Abstract: A lithium ion battery includes a positive electrode, a negative electrode, a microporous polymer separator disposed between the negative electrode and the positive electrode, and a polymer having a chelating agent tethered thereto. The polymer is incorporated into the lithium ion battery such that the chelating agent complexes with metal cations in a manner sufficient to not affect movement of lithium ions across the microporous polymer separator during operation of the lithium ion battery.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 12, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 5, 2015
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Ion C. Halalay, Timothy J. Fuller, Lijun Zou, Zicheng Li
  • Rechargeable battery
    Patent number: 9023498
    Abstract: A rechargeable battery includes a case having an interior and an exterior, an electrode assembly having first and second electrodes, the electrode assembly being disposed in the interior of the case, and an electrode terminal member at the exterior of the case and electrically connected to the first electrode, wherein the electrode terminal member includes a first plate and a second plate, the first plate and the second plate being spaced apart from each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 23, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 5, 2015
    Assignees: Samsung SDI Co., Ltd., Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Duk-Jung Kim, Jae-Ik Kwon, In Kim
  • Electric energy storage device for a motor vehicle
    Patent number: 9017845
    Abstract: An electric energy storage device (10) for a motor vehicle, in particular a high-voltage energy storage device for a hybrid vehicle or an electric vehicle, having a housing (11) and having storage modules (12) accommodated in the housing. The housing (11) has a housing top part (15), a housing bottom part (16) and a supporting element (17) with an annular supporting frame (18). The housing bottom part (15) and the housing top part (16) are connected detachably to the supporting frame (18), which is positioned between them. The annular supporting frame (18) has fastening sections (19, 20) for detachably connecting the electric energy storage device to a body structure of a motor vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 13, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 28, 2015
    Assignee: Dr. Ing. h.c. F. Porsche Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Stefan Bender, Steffen Maurer
  • Structure for mounting cylindrical battery on electric vehicle
    Patent number: 9017846
    Abstract: A cylindrical battery includes a pair of female terminals. One of the pair of female terminals is placed at the axial center of the battery, and provided to recede from one end surface of the battery. The other terminal is placed in a position away from the axial center, to recede from the one end surface of the battery. A male thread portion is provided on an outer peripheral surface of the battery. A handle portion is provided on another end surface of the battery. A female thread portion to be threadedly engaged with the male thread portion is provided in an inner peripheral surface of the battery box. A pair of male terminals are provided on a bottom surface of the battery box. The battery is designed to be detachably mounted inside the battery box by being rotated inside the battery box.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 28, 2015
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Shinji Kawatani, Yoshitaka Kobayashi
  • Frame sequence for a cell voltage measurement system with a low probability of natural occurrence
    Patent number: 9017889
    Abstract: A method for providing calibration and synchronization pulses in a pulse width modulation (PWM) signal including cell voltage measurement pulses, where the calibration pulses are four calibration pulses having a pattern of a narrow width high voltage pulse followed by a wide width low voltage pulse followed by a narrow width high voltage pulse followed by a wide width low voltage pulse that has a very low probability of occurring in a practical fuel cell system. The method modulates a combined sequence of the voltage measurement signals and the calibration pulses using an inverted saw tooth wave to provide the PWM signal, where a width of the pulses representing the voltage signals are proportional to a width of the pulses representing the calibration pulses.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 28, 2015
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: David J. Reed, Kenneth L. Kaye, Derek R. Lebzelter, Kevin Sampson
  • Electric storage device
    Patent number: 9012089
    Abstract: A positive electrode system of an electric storage device includes first and second positive electrodes. The first and second positive electrodes include current collectors, and first and second positive-electrode mixture layers, respectively. The negative electrode system of the electric storage device has a negative electrode including a current collector and a negative-electrode mixture layer. The first positive electrode and the second positive electrode are arranged across the negative electrode. The first positive-electrode mixture layer and the second positive-electrode mixture layer are connected to each other, and of different types. Through-holes are formed in the current collector of the negative electrode arranged between the first positive-electrode mixture layer and the second positive-electrode mixture layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 7, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2015
    Assignee: Fuji Jukogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Nobuo Ando, Kenji Kojima
  • Sensor integrated glass bulb temperature pressure relief device design for hydrogen storage systems
    Patent number: 9012103
    Abstract: A TPRD for a high pressure storage vessel including an integrated pressure sensor cooperative with an activation mechanism and a method of monitoring a TPRD for use in a fuel cell system. The TPRD comprises a release piston, moveable between an open and a closed position, which controls the flow of gas from a fuel storage vessel through a gas outlet port. The thermally activated activation mechanism comprises a gas-inlet chamber and a liquid-filled bulb having an air bubble. Upon activation, the release piston moves from the closed position to the open position. The integrated pressure sensor detects the pressure within the TPRD. A difference in pressure between that of the fluid within the fuel storage vessel and the pressure within the TPRD provides indicia of impaired movement of the release piston.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 5, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2015
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventor: Axel Heise
  • Secondary battery
    Patent number: 9012059
    Abstract: A secondary battery includes at least two electrode assemblies, each electrode assembly including a first electrode plate, a separator, and a second electrode plate, a case accommodating the at least two electrode assemblies, electrode terminals electrically connected to the at least two electrode assemblies, a cap plate sealing the case and exposing the electrode terminals to the outside, and at least one insulation member between the at least two electrode assemblies, the insulation member defining a space between the at least two electrode assemblies.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 6, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2015
    Assignees: Samsung SDI Co., Ltd., Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Sangwon Byun, Jeongwon Oh, Sooseok Choi, Joongheon Kim
  • Fluoroalkyl containing salts combined with fluorinated solvents for electrolytes
    Patent number: 9012094
    Abstract: Provided are electrochemical cells and electrolytes used to build such cells. An electrolyte may include a fluoroalkyl-substituted LiPF6 salt or a fluoroalkyl-substituted LiBF4 salt. In some embodiments, at least one fluorinated alkyl of the salt has a chain length of from 1 to 8 or, more specifically, between about 2 and 8. These fluorinated alkyl groups, in particular, relatively large fluorinated alkyl groups improve solubility of these salts in fluorinated solvents that are less flammable than, for example, conventional carbonate solvents. At the same time, the size of fluoroalkyl-substituted salts should be limited to ensure adequate concentration of the salt in an electrolyte and low viscosity of the electrolyte. In some embodiments, the concentration of a fluoroalkyl-substituted salt is at least about 0.5M.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 4, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2015
    Assignee: A123 Systems LLC
    Inventors: Konstantin Tikhonov, Ka Ki Yip, Tzu-Yuan Lin, Michael Jason Erickson
  • Polymer fuel cell stack and polymer fuel cell separator pair
    Patent number: 9005840
    Abstract: A fuel cell separator pair has first and second separators having front and back surfaces, a corrugated plate portion shaped in a wave form at the central portion, and a flat plate portion formed in the peripheral portion and surrounding the corrugated plate portion, wherein the corrugated plate portion of the front surface constitutes a reaction gas channel and the corrugated plate portion of the back surface constitutes a coolant channel. The back surfaces of the first and second separators are facing each other. The flat plate portions of the first and second separators are arranged on top of each other so as to be in contact with each other. The flat plate portion of the second separator protrudes toward the outside beyond the flat plate portion of the first separator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 14, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2015
    Assignee: Panasonic Intellectual Property Management Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Takashi Morimoto, Toshihiro Matsumoto, Atusi Murata, Mitsuo Yoshimura, Yoko Yamamoto
  • Battery with a stack of bipolar individual battery cells
    Patent number: 9005797
    Abstract: A battery includes a stack of bipolar individual battery cells, each of which includes an electrode stack and two sheet metal covers bounding the individual battery cell at least in the stacking direction. The electrode stack is connected to at least one of the sheet metal covers by at least one weld. In the region of the at least one weld, the sheet metal cover welded to the electrode stack and/or the sheet metal cover of the adjacent individual battery cell in contact with the sheet metal cover is/are of a set-back design. As a result, the sheet metal covers of adjacent individual battery cells do not have any contact in the region of the at least one weld.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 3, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2015
    Assignee: Daimler AG
    Inventors: Dirk Schroeter, Jens Meintschel, Martin Ertle, Rainer Kaufmann, Claudia Brasse, Claus-Rupert Hohenthanner, Joerg Kaiser
  • Battery cell holder of improved connecting reliability and battery module employed with the same
    Patent number: 8999540
    Abstract: Disclosed is a battery cell holder configured so that a cylindrical battery cell is mounted therein, the battery cell holder including an upper cover including a first main body to cover an upper part of the battery cell in a state in which a first electrode terminal of the battery cell is exposed and at least one first extension fastening part extending downward from the first main body and a lower cover including a second main body to cover a lower part of the battery cell in a state in which a second electrode terminal of the battery cell having a polarity opposite to that of the first electrode terminal is exposed and at least one second extension fastening part extending upward from the second main body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 7, 2015
    Assignee: LG Chem, Ltd.
    Inventors: Seung Hyun Bang, Sooryoung Kim, Gi Hwan Kwon, Burn Choi, Kyung Min Lee
  • Busbar module and power supply unit including same busbar module
    Patent number: 8999552
    Abstract: A busbar module for connecting a plurality of batteries of a battery unit in which the batteries are arranged so that electrodes of each of the batteries having different polarities are disposed adjacent to each other is provided. The busbar module includes busbars, terminals, wires and plates. The busbars connect the electrodes adjacent to each other. The terminals are connected to the busbars respectively to detect a voltage of the batteries. The wires are connected to the terminals respectively. The plates accommodate the busbar, the terminals and the wires, and provided above the battery unit. A connector connects the plates together.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 7, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 7, 2015
    Assignee: Yazaki Corporation
    Inventors: Shigeyuki Ogasawara, Keizo Aoki, Shinichi Yanagihara
  • Cooling member of improved cooling efficiency and battery module employed with the same
    Patent number: 8999549
    Abstract: Disclosed is a cooling member mounted at a top and/or a bottom of a battery module or a battery pack to remove heat generated from battery cells during charge and discharge of the battery cells, wherein the cooling member includes a thermal conduction member including a stepped fastening plate having step portions of different lengths, coolant flow channels being formed at interfaces of the fastening plate and a coolant conduit configured to have a hollow structure through which a coolant flows, the coolant conduit including a main conduit and one or more branch conduits extending vertically in a state in which the branch conduits communicate with the main conduit such that the branch conduits communicate with the coolant flow channels of the thermal conduction member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 19, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 7, 2015
    Assignee: LG Chem, Ltd.
    Inventors: MinJung Kim, Jin Kyu Lee, DalMo Kang
  • Fuel cell
    Patent number: 8999592
    Abstract: A cell unit of a fuel cell includes a first membrane electrode assembly, a first metal separator, a second membrane electrode assembly, and a second metal separator. Frames are provided at outer circumferences of the first and second membrane electrode assemblies. An oxygen-containing gas supply passage and a fuel gas supply passage, and an oxygen-containing gas discharge passage and a fuel gas discharge passage are provided in one pair of opposite sides of the frames, and a pair of coolant supply passages and a pair of coolant discharge passages are provided in the other pair of opposite sides of the frames at distances from one another.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 7, 2015
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Narutoshi Sugita, Shuhei Goto, Kentaro Ishida, Tetsuya Nakamura
  • Secondary battery
    Patent number: 8999563
    Abstract: Disclosed is a battery pack which includes: a battery case comprising a first case member and a second case member, which in combination define an enclosed space, the first case member comprising a first sealing portion, the second case member comprising a second sealing portion, wherein the first and second sealing portions adhere to each other for sealing the enclosed space; an electrode assembly contained in the enclosed space, the electrode assembly comprising a first electrode plate, a second electrode plate, and a separator disposed between the first and second electrode plates; an electrolyte contained in the enclosed space; and a pocket formed in at least one of the first and second sealing portions, wherein the pocket contains an ionic material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 23, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 7, 2015
    Assignee: Samsung SDI Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Chang-Bum Ahn
  • Electric energy store of a motor vehicle
    Patent number: 8999544
    Abstract: An electric energy store (10) of a motor vehicle, in particular a high voltage energy store of a hybrid vehicle or an electric vehicle, has a housing (11) and storage modules (12) accommodated in the housing. The housing (11) has a supporting element (17) with an annular supporting frame (18) made from a fiber reinforced plastic and via which the electric energy store (10) can be connected to a body structure of a motor vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 10, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 7, 2015
    Assignee: Dr. Ing. h.c.F. Porsche Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Stefan Bender, Guan Chew, Steffen Maurer
  • Fuel cell, cell stack, fuel cell module, and fuel cell device
    Patent number: 8993194
    Abstract: A fuel cell includes a solid electrolyte layer containing Zr; an intermediate layer containing CeO2 solid solution having a rare-earth element excluding Ce; an air electrode layer containing Sr, the intermediate layer and the air electrode layer being stacked in this order on one surface of the solid electrolyte layer; and a fuel electrode layer on another surface of the solid electrolyte layer which is opposite to the one surface. A value obtained by dividing a content of the rare-earth element excluding Ce by a content of Zr is equal to or less than 0.05 at a site of the solid electrolyte layer, the site being 1 ?m away from an interface between the solid electrolyte layer and the intermediate layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2015
    Assignee: KYOCERA Corporation
    Inventors: Tetsurou Fujimoto, Yuuichi Hori, Takayuki Iwamoto
  • Electrode compositions, energy storage devices and related methods
    Patent number: 8993169
    Abstract: A positive electrode composition is presented. The composition includes at least one electroactive metal; at least one alkali metal halide; and at least one additive including a plurality of nanoparticles, wherein the plurality of nanoparticles includes tungsten carbide. An energy storage device, and a related method for the preparation of an energy storage device, are also presented.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2015
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Richard Louis Hart, Michael Alan Vallance, David Charles Bogdan, Jr.