Patents Examined by Karie O'Neill Apicella
  • Thermal runaway detection method and battery management system
    Patent number: 11342601
    Abstract: The present application provides a thermal runaway detection method and a battery management system, which can effectively detect occurrence of thermal runaway of a battery. The method includes: acquiring at least one parameter of a cooling medium of a battery, the battery including a heat conducting apparatus, and the cooling medium being contained in the heat conducting apparatus; and determining, when the at least one parameter satisfies a preset condition, that thermal runaway occurs in the battery.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 10, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2022
    Assignee: CONTEMPORARY AMPEREX TECHNOLOGY CO., LIMITED
    Inventors: Xiaobo Chen, Yao Li
  • Current collecting system for battery module, battery module, and vehicle
    Patent number: 11342633
    Abstract: A current collecting system for a battery module, a battery module including the same, and a vehicle are disclosed. According to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the current collecting system includes a first current collecting plate and a second current collecting plate stacked to be insulated from each other, wherein the first current collecting plate is connected to the battery cells of the first group through a plurality of first connectors, respectively, and the second current collecting plate is connected to the battery cells of the second group through a plurality of second connectors, respectively, and wherein a minimum distance between two first connectors in the first current collecting plate and a minimum distance between two second connectors in the second current collecting plate are greater than a distance between any pair of neighboring connectors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2022
    Assignee: SAMSUNG SDI CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Andrej Golubkov
  • Corrugated fuel electrode
    Patent number: 11335918
    Abstract: A fuel electrode incorporates a first and second corrugated portion that are attached to each other at offset angles respect to their corrugation axis and therefore reinforce each other. A first corrugated portion may extend orthogonally with respect to a second corrugated portion. The first and second corrugated portions may be formed from metal wire and may therefore have a very high volumetric void fraction and a high surface area to volume ratio (sa/vol). In addition, the strands of the wire may be selected to enable high conductivity to the current collectors while maximizing the sa/vol. In addition, the shape of the corrugation, including the period distance, amplitude and geometry may be selected with respect to the stiffness requirements and electrochemical cell application factors. The first and second corrugated portions may be calendared or crushed to reduce thickness of the fuel electrode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 20, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 17, 2022
    Assignee: FORM ENERGY, INC.
    Inventors: Joel Ryan Hayes, Ramkumar Krishnan, Todd Trimble, Clifford Anderson
  • Battery submodule assembly fixture with multiple actuators
    Patent number: 11329344
    Abstract: A first holder holds a plurality of layers associated with a battery submodule that is being assembled. A first and second pair of actuators, while the plurality of layers is held by the first holder, extend so that the first and second pair of actuators apply pressure to the plurality of layers. While the first and second pair of actuators are extended and applying pressure to the plurality of layers, the first holder retracts. A second holder holds a container associated with the battery submodule that is being assembled and extends so that the container gradually surrounds the plurality of layers. While the container gradually surrounds the plurality of layers, the first and second pair of actuators sequentially retract.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 10, 2022
    Assignee: Wisk Aero LLC
    Inventor: John Melack
  • Electrode for lithium-ion cell, lithium-ion cell, and method for manufacturing electrode for lithium-ion cell
    Patent number: 11322732
    Abstract: The present invention aims to provide an electrode for lithium ion batteries which exhibits excellent electrical conductivity even if its thickness is large. The electrode for lithium ion batteries of the present invention includes a first main surface to be located adjacent to a separator of a lithium ion battery and a second main surface to be located adjacent to a current collector of the lithium ion battery. The electrode has a thickness of 150 to 5000 ?m. The electrode contains, between the first main surface and the second main surface, a conductive member (A) made of an electronically conductive material and a large number of active material particles (B). At least part of the conductive member (A) forms a conductive path that electrically connects the first main surface to the second main surface. The conductive path is in contact with the active material particles (B) around the conductive path.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 12, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 3, 2022
    Assignees: SANYO CHEMICAL INDUSTRIES, LTD., NISSAN MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Yusuke Mizuno, Yasuhiro Shindo, Yasuhiro Tsudo, Kenichi Kawakita, Yuki Kusachi, Yasuhiko Ohsawa, Hajime Satou, Hiroshi Akama, Hideaki Horie
  • System and method for maintaining thermal control of battery cells
    Patent number: 11316222
    Abstract: A system includes a cell support and an insulator. The cell support has an opening defined therethrough. The opening is configured to have a battery cell positioned at least partially therein. The insulator is positioned at least partially within the opening. The insulator is configured to be positioned between the battery cell and the cell support such that the insulator electrically-insulates the cell support from the battery cell.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 8, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 26, 2022
    Assignee: THE BOEING COMPANY
    Inventors: Gregory R. Day, Dennis L. Coad
  • Method and device for estimating a state of an energy storage system of a vehicle
    Patent number: 11309591
    Abstract: A method of estimating a state of an energy storage system of a vehicle, in particular for estimating an aging state of the energy storage system, includes the following steps: acquiring information about the energy storage system; analyzing the acquired information while taking into account specified boundary conditions; and estimating the state of the energy storage system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 7, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 19, 2022
    Assignees: Ciarlos Germany GmbH & Co. KG, Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Ingo Koch, Eberhard Meissner, Peter Ostertag
  • Electrode structure, air cell, and air cell stack
    Patent number: 11302974
    Abstract: An electrode structure includes a first electrode unit, a second electrode unit and a first insulating frame, in which the electrode units are adjacent to each other. The first insulating unit has an airflow space therein and includes an electrically conducive base with an airflow plane and an air cell cathode disposed on an outer surface of the airflow plane. The second insulating unit includes an electrically conductive base and an air cell anode disposed on an outer surface of the electrically conductive base. The first insulating frame spaces and joins the adjacent electrode units to each other such that the air cell cathode and the air cell anode of the adjacent electrode units are opposed to each other. The first insulating frame together with the adjacent electrode units forms an electrolytic solution container.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 7, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2022
    Assignee: NISSAN MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Itaru Shibata, Noriko Uchiyama, Hirokazu Komatsu, Yoshiko Tsukada
  • Particulates of polymer electrolyte-protected anode active material particles for lithium-ion batteries
    Patent number: 11302911
    Abstract: The disclosure provides multi-functional composite particulates for a lithium battery, wherein at least one of the composite particulates has a diameter from 100 nm to 50 ?m and comprises a polymer electrolyte matrix comprising a lithium salt dissolved or dispersed in the polymer electrolyte matrix and one or a plurality of primary particles of an anode active material that are encapsulated by, embedded in, dispersed in, or bonded by the polymer electrolyte having a lithium ion conductivity from 10?8 to 5×10?2 S/cm, wherein the primary particles have a diameter or thickness from 0.5 nm to 20 ?m and occupy a weight fraction from 5% to 98% based on the total weight of the composite particulate. Also provided is a method of producing such composite particulates, an anode electrode comprising these particulates, and a lithium cell.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 13, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2022
    Assignee: Global Graphene Group, Inc.
    Inventor: Bor Z. Jang
  • Electrolyte for lithium metal battery and lithium metal battery including the same
    Patent number: 11302959
    Abstract: Provided are an electrolyte for a lithium metal battery and a lithium metal battery including the electrolyte, wherein the electrolyte includes a composite including a lithium ion-conductive compound which is a non-carbonate-based substance having resistance to reduction of lithium metal, a polymerization product of a crosslinkable polymer, and a lithium salt, wherein the lithium ion-conductive compound is glycol ether.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 3, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2022
    Assignee: Samsung SDI Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Heeeun Yoo, Duckhyun Kim, Taeri Kwon, Taehyun Bae, Woocheol Shin, Minju Lee, Siyoung Cha
  • Electrode plate, electrochemical device and safety coating
    Patent number: 11289748
    Abstract: This application relates to an electrode plate, an electrochemical device and a safety coating. The electrode plate comprises a current collector, an electrode active material layer and a safety coating disposed between the current collector and the electrode active material layer. The safety coating layer comprises fluorinated polyolefin and/or chlorinated polyolefin polymer matrix, a conductive material and an inorganic filler. The electrode plate can quickly cut off the circuit when the electrochemical device (for example, a capacitor, a primary battery, or a secondary battery) is in a high temperature condition or an internal short circuit occurs, and thus it may improve the high temperature safety performance of the electrochemical device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2022
    Assignee: Contemporary Amperex Technology Co., Limited
    Inventors: Zhenhua Li, Haizu Jin, Xing Li
  • Method for producing an electrode catalyst from a perovskite metal oxide
    Patent number: 11271216
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method of producing electrode materials for solid oxide cells which comprises applying an electric potential to a metal oxide which has a perovskite crystal structure. The resultant electrode catalyst exhibits excellent electrochemical performance. The invention extends to the electrode catalyst itself, and to electrodes and solid oxide cells comprising the electrode catalyst.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 7, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2022
    Assignee: UNIVERSITY COURT OF THE UNIVERSITY OF ST ANDREWS
    Inventors: John T. S. Irvine, Jae-Ha Myung, Dragos Neagu, David Miller
  • Battery pack having expandable battery module structure
    Patent number: 11264670
    Abstract: Disclosed is a battery pack, which includes a plurality of unit battery modules, each unit battery module having a plurality of battery cells accommodated in an inner space thereof, the plurality of unit battery modules being structurally connected successively in one direction; and a pack case configured to cover the plurality of unit battery modules, wherein each unit battery module has two side plates forming opposite side surfaces thereof, and wherein one of the side plates of any one of the unit battery modules and one of the side plates of another one of the unit battery modules adjacent thereto are engaged with each other to form a single common wall.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 12, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 1, 2022
    Inventors: Ho-June Chi, Dal-Mo Kang, Jeong-O Mun, Yoon-Koo Lee, Jin-Yong Park, Sung-Won Seo, Dong-Yeon Kim, Jin-Hak Kong, Yong-Seok Choi
  • Non-flammable electrolyte containing liquefied gas and lithium secondary batteries containing same
    Patent number: 11258101
    Abstract: A rechargeable lithium cell comprising a cathode, an anode, an optional ion-permeable membrane disposed between the anode and the cathode, a non-flammable salt-retained liquefied gas electrolyte in contact with the cathode and the anode, wherein the electrolyte contains a lithium salt dissolved in or mixed with a liquefied gas solvent having a lithium salt concentration greater than 1.0 M so that the electrolyte exhibits a vapor pressure less than 1 kPa when measured at 20° C., a vapor pressure less than 60% of the vapor pressure of the liquefied gas solvent alone, a flash point at least 20 degrees Celsius higher than a flash point of the liquefied gas solvent alone, a flash point higher than 150° C.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 22, 2022
    Assignee: Global Graphene Group, Inc.
    Inventors: Aruna Zhamu, Bor Z. Jang
  • Stable positive side material for all-organic flow battery
    Patent number: 11245111
    Abstract: A quinone derivative with a high redox potential that does not undergo Michael addition or proto-desulfonation. This molecule addresses the key issues faced with the positive side material of an aqueous all-organic flow battery. This new molecule is 2,5-dihydroxy-4,6-dimethylbenzene-1,3-disulfonic acid (or the disulfonate salt thereof). This quinone derivative offers good solubility, electrochemical reversibility, and robustness to charge/discharge cycling. Quinones with reduced crossover are also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 8, 2022
    Assignee: University of Southern California
    Inventors: Bo Yang, G. K. Surya Prakash, Robert Aniszfeld, Sri R. Narayan, Lena Hoober-Burkhardt, Sankarganesh Krishnamoorthy, Advaith Murali, Archith Nirmalchandar
  • Positive electrode mixture for secondary battery, method for manufacturing positive electrode for secondary battery, and method for manufacturing secondary battery
    Patent number: 11245107
    Abstract: Provided is a positive electrode mixture for a secondary battery, the positive electrode mixture allowing provision of a secondary battery that exhibits a high capacity maintenance rate in a charge-discharge cycle. The positive electrode mixture for a secondary battery comprises a positive electrode active material, a binder, and an organic acid, wherein the positive electrode active material comprises a lithium nickel complex oxide having a layered crystal structure, the binder comprises a vinylidene fluoride-based polymer, and when a solution prepared by suspending the positive electrode active material in pure water has a pH of A, and the content of the organic acid per 100 parts by mass of the positive electrode active material is B parts by mass, A and B satisfy the following expression (1).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 8, 2022
    Assignee: Envision AESC Japan Ltd.
    Inventors: Masaaki Matsuu, Ai Fujisawa
  • Purge circuit of a fuel cell
    Patent number: 11239477
    Abstract: A purging circuit for purging an anodic compartment of a cell of a fuel cell, this circuit including: a capacity, forming a related volume at least equal to 500 ml, for containing and homogenising a recovery gas, including an inlet and an outlet; a first nonreturn valve to prevent the recovery gas from returning through the outlet and allowing gas to flow from the first outlet to an inlet of the compartment; a second nonreturn valve to prevent gas from being discharged from the capacity through the inlet; a pressure sensor able to measure the pressure of a fluid present in the circuit; a valve controlling the flow of a supply gas to and from the compartment as a function of data of the sensor and allowing gas to flow from the first nonreturn valve to the inlet of the compartment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 14, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 1, 2022
    Assignees: SYMBIOFCELL, ASSOCIATION POUR LA RECHERCHE ET LE DEVELOPPEMENT DES METHODES ET PROCESSUS INDUSTRIELS
    Inventors: Rudolf Metkemeijer, Benjamin De Grisard, Patrick Leroux, Patrick Achard
  • Battery separators and related methods
    Patent number: 11239532
    Abstract: Battery separators and methods are disclosed. The battery separator may be used in a lithium battery. The separator may include a microporous membrane laminated to a coated nonwoven. The coating may contain a polymer and optionally, a filler or particles. The methods may include the steps of: unwinding the microporous membrane and the nonwoven, laminating the nonwoven and microporous membrane, and coating the nonwoven before or after lamination.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 17, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 1, 2022
    Assignee: Celgard, LLC
    Inventors: Lie Shi, Christopher L. Cowger, Heba K. Botros
  • Electrode for lithium-ion cell, lithium-ion cell, and method for manufacturing electrode for lithium-ion cell
    Patent number: 11233229
    Abstract: The present invention aims to provide an electrode for lithium ion batteries which exhibits excellent electrical conductivity even if its thickness is large. The electrode for lithium ion batteries of the present invention includes a first main surface to be located adjacent to a separator of a lithium ion battery and a second main surface to be located adjacent to a current collector of the lithium ion battery. The electrode has a thickness of 150 to 5000 ?m. The electrode contains, between the first main surface and the second main surface, a conductive member (A) made of an electronically conductive material and a large number of active material particles (B). At least part of the conductive member (A) forms a conductive path that electrically connects the first main surface to the second main surface. The conductive path is in contact with the active material particles (B) around the conductive path.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 12, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 25, 2022
    Assignees: SANYO CHEMICAL INDUSTRIES, LTD., NISSAN MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Yusuke Mizuno, Yasuhiro Shindo, Yasuhiro Tsudo, Kenichi Kawakita, Yuki Kusachi, Yasuhiko Ohsawa, Hajime Satou, Hiroshi Akama, Hideaki Horie
  • Energy storage system
    Patent number: 11217862
    Abstract: An energy storage system includes a module housing and multiple battery cells with insulating material and discharge directing material positioned inside the module housing. Each of the battery cells has a first end and a second end. Further, each of the battery cells has a positive terminal and a negative terminal. The energy storage system includes a first interconnect and a second interconnect positioned over the battery cells. Multiple first cell connectors connect the positive terminals of the battery cells to the first interconnect. Multiple second cell connectors connect the negative terminals of the battery cells to the second interconnect. A top plate having an interior side and an exterior side is positioned over the first interconnect and the second interconnect. The top plate includes one or more weak areas with reduced integrity positioned above one or more battery cells.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 4, 2022
    Assignee: Tesla, Inc.
    Inventors: Augusto E. Barton, Robert Clinton Lane, Nathan Khalil Chidiac, Julian Christian Carl, Hugh Burnett Ross, William B. Stockton, Nicholas Paul Manov