Patents Examined by Jonathan Jelsma
  • Energy storage element, method of producing energy storage element, and non-aqueous electrolyte
    Patent number: 8986881
    Abstract: An energy storage element, wherein a non-aqueous electrolyte contains lithium difluorobis(oxalato)phosphate that is a first additive represented by Formula (1): and lithium tetrafluorooxalatophosphate that is a second additive represented by Formula (2): wherein the amount of the first additive to be added is not less than 0.3% by weight and not more than 1.0% by weight based on the total weight of the non-aqueous electrolyte, and the amount of the second additive to be added is not less than 0.05 times and not more than 0.3 times the amount of the first additive to be added.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 11, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 24, 2015
    Assignee: GS Yuasa International Ltd.
    Inventors: Tomonori Kako, Sumio Mori, Kenta Nakai, Akihiko Miyazaki
  • Battery
    Patent number: 8974954
    Abstract: Disclosed is a battery having an improved life. Specifically disclosed is a battery which comprises an electric power generating element in which one or more unit cell layers are stacked, each being constituted by sequentially laminating or stacking a positive electrode, an electrolyte and a negative electrode; a first collector plate which is provided on the outermost positive electrode surface of the electric power generating element; a second collector plate which is provided on the outermost negative electrode surface of the electric power generating element; a convex or protruding portion provided on the first collector plate and/or the second collector plate with a width that is not less than a half of the width of the end edge of the collector plate; and a terminal which is attached to the convex portion for retrieving electric current from the convex portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 23, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 10, 2015
    Assignee: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yasuhito Miyazaki, Takuya Kinoshita, Takaaki Abe, Yoshio Shimoida
  • Fuel cell system and method of controlling reaction condition of fuel in fuel cell
    Patent number: 8968954
    Abstract: A target value of each of factors in a fuel cell system is determined based on a correspondence relationship of a change in each of the factors determining reaction conditions of fuel in a fuel cell to a change in an external environment of the fuel cell system, and peripheral devices of the fuel cell affecting the reaction conditions of the fuel in the fuel cell are controlled according to a target value of each of the factors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 9, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 3, 2015
    Assignee: Samsung SDI Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Jin S. Heo, Hye-jung Cho, Young-jae Kim, Jong-rock Choi
  • SOFC hot box components
    Patent number: 8968943
    Abstract: Various hot box fuel cell system components are provided, such as heat exchangers, steam generator and other components.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 5, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 3, 2015
    Assignee: Bloom Energy Corporation
    Inventors: Martin Perry, Vlad Kalika, David Weingaertner, Ananda Sundararajan, Navaneetha Krishnan, Nilanjana Basu, Ram Ramanan, Virpaul Bains, William David Lyle
  • Electrode for a nonaqueous electrolyte secondary battery, nonaqueous electrolyte secondary battery, and method of manufacture of electrode for a nonaqueous electrolyte secondary battery
    Patent number: 8968930
    Abstract: An electrode for a nonaqueous electrolyte secondary battery includes a current collector and an electrode material disposed on the current collector. the electrode material has a thickness of 50 ?m or larger. The electrode material contains at least active material particles, an electro-conductive material, and a crack preventive material. An average particle diameter of the crack preventive material is two times or larger than an average particle diameter of the active material particles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 3, 2015
    Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Shumpei Nishinaka, Takahiro Matsuyama
  • Method and apparatus for manufacturing a battery for a vehicle
    Patent number: 8968912
    Abstract: A battery module assembly and method of assembling a battery. The battery module assembly includes a plurality of modules in which a plurality of battery cells are preassembled. The modules are compressed by end plates that are held together under compression by a plurality of linking members. The end plates may include a protrusion that applies pressure to the central portion of the battery cells within the modules. The central portion of the end plates may be partially spherical, partially cylindrical or a flat surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 3, 2015
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Patrick Daniel Maguire, Giriraj Srinivasan, Steven F. Chorian, Kanchana Pentapati
  • Process for producing toner for electrophotography
    Patent number: 8956798
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for producing a toner for electrophotography which is excellent in dispersibility of a colorant in the toner and capable of considerably improving an image density, as well as a toner for electrophotography which is produced by the process. There is provided a process for producing a toner for electrophotography which includes the step of mixing a dispersion of colorant-containing polymer particles with a dispersion of resin particles containing substantially no colorant to aggregate the colorant-containing polymer particles and the resin particles, wherein the polymer contains a constitutional unit derived from a salt-forming group-containing monomer (a) and a constitutional unit derived from an aromatic ring-containing monomer (b).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 15, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 17, 2015
    Assignee: Kao Corporation
    Inventors: Shinichi Sata, Takehiro Tsutsumi, Hiroshi Mizuhata
  • Battery module
    Patent number: 8940421
    Abstract: A battery module includes battery cells arranged side-by-side in a stacked configuration, the battery cells having positive and negative cell terminals. Buss bars are electrically connected to corresponding cell terminals to electrically connect adjacent battery cells. A battery cover coupled to the battery cells. A module controller is held by the battery cover and is electrically connected to the buss bars to monitor a voltage of the corresponding buss bar.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 27, 2015
    Assignees: Tyco Electronics Corporation, Tyco Electronics AMP Korea Limited
    Inventors: Weiping Zhao, Young Geun Park
  • Liquid developer with an incompatible additive
    Patent number: 8940469
    Abstract: A liquid developer for electrography, comprising toner particles dispersed in a liquid carrier, wherein the toner particles include a pigment, a thermoplastic resin, and an organic filler, which organic filler is reactive with groups of the thermoplastic resin and incompatible with the liquid carrier.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 13, 2006
    Date of Patent: January 27, 2015
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
    Inventors: Albert Teishev, Stalla Stolin Rodith, Michael Shishkin
  • Toner, and developer, image forming method and process cartridge using the toner
    Patent number: 8927186
    Abstract: A toner for use in developing an electrostatic latent image is provided. The toner includes a colored particulate material including at least a binder resin and a colorant; and an external additive present on a surface of the colored particulate material and including a particulate crystalline hydroxyapatite. The particulate crystalline hydroxyapatite has an average aspect ratio of not less than 3 and less than 30.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 23, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 6, 2015
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Limited
    Inventors: Masayuki Ishii, Toyoshi Sawada
  • Electrolyte for redox flow battery and redox flow battery including the same
    Patent number: 8927130
    Abstract: An electrolyte for a redox flow battery and a redox flow battery including the electrolyte, the electrolyte including a metal-ligand coordination compound as a cation and an anion containing at least four atoms linked to each other by a straight chain in a certain direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 16, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 6, 2015
    Assignees: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd., Seoul National University R&DB Foundation
    Inventors: Jun-young Mun, Seung-sik Hwang, Doo-yeon Lee, Hyung-tae Kim, Young-gyu Kim, Oh-min Kwon, Tae-eun Yim
  • Battery pack assembly
    Patent number: 8920952
    Abstract: A battery pack assembly including: an inner pack accommodating a plurality of secondary cells; an outer pack accommodating the inner pack; a first shock absorbing member between a first surface of the inner pack and a first surface of the outer pack, the first shock absorbing member configured to absorb a shock between the inner pack and the outer pack; and a second shock absorbing member between at least a side surface of the inner pack and a side surface of the outer pack among surfaces of the inner pack and the outer pack other than the first surfaces, the second shock absorbing member configured to absorb a shock between the inner pack and the outer pack.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 5, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 30, 2014
    Assignee: Samsung SDI Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Joon-Soo Bae, Min-Cheol Bae, Ik-Jae Jeong, Tae-Jin Kim
  • Hermetic high temperature dielectric conduit assemblies
    Patent number: 8921001
    Abstract: A conduit assembly for a fuel cell system includes a dielectric tube comprising a first end and a second end, a first metal tube including a first lip coupled to the first end of the dielectric tube, a first dielectric ring coupled to the first lip of the first metal tube, a second metal tube including a second lip coupled to the second end of the dielectric tube, and a second dielectric ring coupled to the second lip of the second metal tube.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 26, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 30, 2014
    Assignee: Bloom Energy Corporation
    Inventors: James Huynh, Michael Petrucha
  • Continuous emulsification-aggregation process for the production of particles
    Patent number: 8916098
    Abstract: A continuous emulsion aggregation process for the production of particles is presented including a plurality of continuous stirred-tank reactors (CSTR). The plurality of continuous stirred-tank reactors includes at least one feed tank of raw materials, at least one reactor for facilitating cold addition, at least two reactors for facilitating an aggregation process, at least one reactor for facilitating a shell addition process; at least one reactor for facilitating a freeze process, at least one reactor for facilitating a chelating process, at least one reactor for facilitating a ramp-up process and at least one reactor for facilitating a coalescence process, wherein the reactors are sequentially assembled in a series configuration and separated by short conduits to produce toner particles that are narrowly distributed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 23, 2014
    Assignee: Xerox Corporation
    Inventors: Santiago Faucher, Kimberly Nosella, David Thomas Borbely, Gaetano Lavigne, Simon Burke
  • Proton-exchange membrane fuel cell having enhanced performance
    Patent number: 8916309
    Abstract: A fuel-cell stack includes a proton-exchange membrane, a first electrode, a second electrode, a first current-collecting metal plate, a first gas diffusion layer, and first and second layers that contact each other. The first electrode and second electrodes are fixed on corresponding sides of the membrane. The first gas diffusion layer is interposed between the first current-collecting plate and the second electrode. The first layer is fixed on the first current-collecting plate, while the second layer is fixed to the first gas diffusion layer. Both layers include a polyurethane matrix containing conductive fillers. The second layer makes contact with the first layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 7, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 23, 2014
    Assignee: Commissariat a l'energie atomique et aux energies alternatives
    Inventors: Remi Vincent, Julien Tard
  • Toner, method for producing the same, and developer
    Patent number: 8916324
    Abstract: The present invention provides a toner containing base particles formed by emulsifying or dispersing, in an aqueous medium, a toner composition liquid which is obtained by dissolving or dispersing, in an organic solvent, at least a binder resin soluble in the organic solvent and a colorant masterbatch containing a colorant and a colorant dispersion resin, wherein the colorant dispersion resin is a resin having sparing solubility defined below: where the “sparing solubility” means that when 4 parts by mass of the colorant dispersion resin are added to and mixed with 10 parts by mass of the organic solvent, the mixture becomes white turbid at 25° C. or becomes a transparent solution once at 25° C. and then becomes white turbid within 12 hours.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 13, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 23, 2014
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Kazumi Suzuki, Tatsuya Morita
  • Hydrocarbon composite electrolyte membrane for fuel cell
    Patent number: 8911915
    Abstract: The present invention provides a hydrocarbon composite electrolyte membrane for a fuel cell, which is formed of an inexpensive hydrocarbon electrolyte membrane to ensure mechanical and thermochemical stability. The present invention provides a hydrocarbon composite electrolyte membrane for a fuel cell, the hydrocarbon composite electrolyte membrane including at least one composite electrolyte membrane layer having a structure in which graphene nanostructures are impregnated into a hydrocarbon electrolyte membrane.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 16, 2014
    Assignees: Hyundai Motor Company, Kia Motors Corporation
    Inventor: Hoon Hui Lee
  • Automotive battery case
    Patent number: 8900744
    Abstract: A battery case comprises a tray member (20), a cover member (22), a first holding member (24) of a metal arranged to contact a tray flange (32) with its outer circumferential edge portion projecting outward from the tray flange by a predetermined length, a second holding member (26) of a metal arranged to contact a cover flange (36) with its outer circumferential edge portion projecting outward from the cover flange by a predetermined length, and a fastening means (28, 29) fastening the first and second holding members together at a predetermined location outwardly away from the tray and cover flanges.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 24, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 2, 2014
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Jidosha Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Weng Leong Loo, Yutaka Fujiwara, Hideki Yoshioka, Yasuhiro Inoue, Fumihiro Ogata, Seiichi Takasaki, Hideki Honjo
  • Apparatus and method for controlling temperature of battery
    Patent number: 8900732
    Abstract: According to some aspects, an apparatus and a method for controlling a temperature of a battery are disclosed. A cooling fan may be controlled according to a temperature of the battery, thereby preventing a reduction in performance of the battery. According to one aspect, the apparatus includes a temperature sensor configured to output an analog resistance value as a temperature of batteries of a battery pack. The apparatus further includes a battery temperature control part configured to convert the analog resistance value of the temperature sensor into a digital signal to control the temperature of the battery pack, and a cooling fan that is operated by a signal from the battery temperature control part. The battery temperature control part may include a defect discrimination part that senses a defective operation of the cooling fan.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 2, 2014
    Assignee: Samsung SDI Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Jinwook Kang, Hyunghoon Lim
  • Emulsion aggregation toner formulation
    Patent number: 8895220
    Abstract: An emulsion aggregation toner formulation for electrophotography and a method for preparation thereof. The emulsion aggregation toner formulation includes a polyester resin emulsion formed using an extruded polyester binder resin having a broad molecular weight distribution. The extruded polyester binder resin is formed using a plurality of polyester binder resins. Further, the emulsion aggregation toner formulation comprises at least one colorant dispersion and a wax dispersion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 25, 2014
    Assignee: Lexmark International, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael James Bensing, Craig Michael Bartelsen, John Joseph Kraseski, Bryan Patrick Livengood, Jing X. Sun, Vincent Wen-Hwa Ting