Patents Examined by Ladan Mohaddes
  • Patent number: 10777820
    Abstract: A non-aqueous electrolyte battery includes bi-polar electrodes and non-aqueous electrolyte layers. Each electrode has a pyroelectric member and positive-pole and negative-pole active material layers on one and the other surfaces of the member. In the electrode, a position of the positive-pole layer does not overlap a position of the negative-pole layer in a thickness direction of the member. A laminated product in which the bi-polar electrodes are laminated with the electrolyte layers being interposed between the positive-pole and negative-pole active material layers on one and the other members is provided. The product has one of a first type electrode group in which the product is spirally wound and a second type electrode group in which the product is alternately bent, folded, and layered.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 15, 2020
    Assignee: KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOSHIBA
    Inventors: Kazuomi Yoshima, Yasuhiro Harada, Norio Takami
  • Patent number: 10770722
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for easily producing nanoparticles by expansion, explosion, vaporization, condensation and cooling of plasma in a liquid by means of heat resistance and, more particularly, to a method for preparing a silicon nanocomposite dispersion having a uniform carbon layer coated on the surface of silicon of which at least one area is connected to a silicon carbide formed by reacting a carbon in liquid (C) during expansion, explosion, vaporization, condensation and cooling, and applied products thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 3, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 8, 2020
    Inventor: Kab Young Moon
  • Patent number: 10763528
    Abstract: A method of operating a fuel cell stack that powers a vehicle includes determining when the vehicle is in a non-moving state, calculating an O2 concentration over time of an assumed enclosed space while the vehicle is in the non-moving state, establishing a set of O2 concentration concern levels that includes a first O2 concentration concern level being less than a standard atmospheric O2 concentration and a second O2 concentration concern level being less than the first O2 concentration concern level, comparing the O2 concentration of the assumed enclosed space over time with the set of O2 concentration concern levels, and operating the fuel cell stack without restriction when the vehicle is in the non-moving state so long as the O2 concentration of the assumed enclosed space remains greater than the first O2 concentration concern level.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 18, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 1, 2020
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Robert S. Foley, Jeffrey J. Gagliardo
  • Patent number: 10763484
    Abstract: A wiring module includes multiple bus bars, a resin protector that has one or more holding portions that hold the bus bars and is provided with a tolerance absorbing portion that absorbs tolerance in the arrangement direction of power storage elements, and a cover that is attached to the resin protector and holds all of the holding portions. The resin protector is provided with a locking portion that locks the cover, the locking portion projecting in a direction identical to the projecting direction of electrode terminals and extending along the arrangement direction of the power storage elements. The cover is provided with a lock-receiving portion that is locked to the locking portion. The locking portion and the lock-receiving portion are locked in a manner of enabling relative movement along the arrangement direction of the power storage elements at an edge portion of the cover that extends in the arrangement direction of the power storage elements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 6, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 1, 2020
    Assignees: AUTONETWORKS TECHNOLOGIES, LTD., SUMITOMO WIRING SYSTEMS, LTD., SUMITOMO ELECTRIC INDUSTRIES, LTD.
    Inventors: Hiroki Shimoda, Shinichi Takase, Nobuyuki Matsumura, Yoshinori Ito, Hideo Takahashi
  • Patent number: 10763525
    Abstract: A device for supplying fuel to a motor vehicle having a fuel cell, comprising a generating device for generating hydrogen, a filling device for filling an exchangeable hydrogen storage device with hydrogen generated, and a loading and unloading device for the automatic unloading of an emptied hydrogen storage device from a mounting device of the motor vehicle, as well as for loading the mounting device with a filled hydrogen storage device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 1, 2020
    Assignee: AUDI AG
    Inventor: Jürgen Kapfhamer
  • Patent number: 10749222
    Abstract: A thermal battery including a storage vessel as well as an inlet pipe and an outlet pipe for a fluid that are connected to a circulation circuit is disclosed. The thermal battery also has at least two shut-off valves placed on the inlet pipe and the fluid outlet pipe, respectively, to isolate the fluid contained in the storage vessel when the circulation circuit of the fluid is shut off. The shut-off valves are automatic and include an enclosure containing the fluid and including an inlet and an outlet for the fluid, and a float that is moveable between: an upper position in which the float floats and obstructs at least the outlet when the circulation circuit is shut off, and a lower position in which the float is submerged and allows the fluid to flow between the inlet and the outlet when the circulation circuit is operational.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 2, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 18, 2020
    Assignee: Valeo Systemes Thermiques
    Inventors: Julien Tissot, Kamel Azzouz
  • Patent number: 10741843
    Abstract: An energy storage device can include a cathode and an anode, where at least one of the cathode and the anode are made of a polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) composite binder material including PTFE and at least one of polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF), a PVDF co-polymer, and poly(ethylene oxide) (PEO). The energy storage device can be a lithium ion battery, a lithium ion capacitor, and/or any other lithium based energy storage device. The PTFE composite binder material can have a ratio of about 1:1 of PTFE to a non-PTFE component, such a PVDF, PVDF co-polymer and/or PEO.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 17, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 11, 2020
    Assignee: Maxwell Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Hieu Minh Duong, Haim Feigenbaum, Jian Hong
  • Patent number: 10741842
    Abstract: A solid-state battery including a cathode, an anode, and a solid-state electrolyte layer including a solid-state electrolyte, wherein the solid-state electrolyte layer is disposed between the cathode and the anode, wherein the anode includes an anode active material, a first binder, and a second binder, the first binder is inactive to the solid-state electrolyte, the second binder has a tensile modulus greater than a tensile modulus of the first binder, and the second binder has a binding force which is greater than a binding force of the first binder.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 11, 2020
    Assignee: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Koji Hoshiba, Satoshi Fujiki, Takanobu Yamada, Yuichi Aihara
  • Patent number: 10741868
    Abstract: A vehicle may include an engine compartment and a fuel cell stack arranged in the engine compartment. The fuel cell stack may include an enclosure having an interior space and a cell disposed in the interior space of the enclosure configured to generate electrical energy. The enclosure may include an enclosure inlet guiding air from an exterior of the enclosure to the interior space, and an enclosure outlet guiding air from the interior space to the exterior. The fuel cell stack may also include a filter preventing foreign matter from being introduced into the interior space of the enclosure arranged in the enclosure inlet. The filter may include a filter member covering the enclosure inlet and a filter cover covering the filter member. The filter cover may include a filter cover inlet guiding air to the filter member. The filter cover inlet may fluidically communicate with the engine compartment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 15, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 11, 2020
    Assignees: MAHLE DONGHYUN FILTER SYSTEMS CO., LTD., MAHLE INTERNATIONAL GMBH
    Inventor: Chanjung Jung
  • Patent number: 10734646
    Abstract: Provided is a lithium secondary battery, comprising a cathode, an anode, and a porous separator or electrolyte, wherein the anode comprises: (a) an anode active layer containing a layer of lithium or lithium alloy, in a form of a foil, coating, or multiple particles aggregated together, as an anode active material; and (b) an anode-protecting layer of a conductive sulfonated elastomer composite, disposed between the anode active layer and the separator/electrolyte; wherein the composite has from 0.01% to 40% by weight of a conductive reinforcement material and from 0.01% to 40% by weight of an inorganic filler dispersed in a sulfonated elastomeric matrix material and the protecting layer has a thickness from 1 nm to 100 ?m, a fully recoverable tensile strain from 2% to 500%, a lithium ion conductivity from 10?7 S/cm to 5×10?2 S/cm, and an electrical conductivity from 10?7 S/cm to 100 S/cm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 4, 2020
    Assignee: Global Graphene Group, Inc.
    Inventors: Hui He, Aruna Zhamu, Bor Z. Jang
  • Patent number: 10734631
    Abstract: The purpose of the present invention is to provide an electricity storage device, the positive electrode and negative electrode of which can be protected when housing an electrode assembly body into a case main body. A secondary battery of the present invention has a lid terminal member formed by integrating: a lid; a positive electrode terminal and a negative electrode terminal; a positive electrode conductive member and a negative electrode conductive member; and an insulating member. The lid terminal member is integrated with an electrode assembly body through a positive electrode tab group and a negative electrode tab group. The electrode assembly body includes an electrode housing separator and a negative electrode each having a bottom-side contact portion contacting the inner bottom surface of a case main body. The electrode housing separator also has a lid-side contact portion contacting the lid terminal member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 15, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 4, 2020
    Assignee: KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOYOTA JIDOSHOKKI
    Inventors: Atsushi Minagata, Motoaki Okuda
  • Patent number: 10727531
    Abstract: Provided is a lithium secondary battery, comprising a cathode, an anode, and a porous separator or electrolyte disposed between the cathode and the anode, wherein the anode comprises: (a) an anode active layer containing a layer of lithium or lithium alloy, in a form of a foil, coating, or multiple particles aggregated together, as an anode active material; and (b) an anode-protecting layer of a conductive sulfonated elastomer composite, disposed between the anode active layer and the separator/electrolyte; wherein the composite has from 0.01% to 50% by weight of a conductive reinforcement material dispersed in a sulfonated elastomeric matrix material and the protecting layer has a thickness from 1 nm to 100 ?m, a fully recoverable tensile strain from 2% to 500%, a lithium ion conductivity from 10?7 S/cm to 5×10?2 S/cm, and an electrical conductivity from 10?7 S/cm to 100 S/cm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 21, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 28, 2020
    Assignee: Global Graphene Group, Inc.
    Inventors: Aruna Zhamu, Bor Z. Jang
  • Patent number: 10714729
    Abstract: A core prevents or reduces misalignment of a battery separator wound around the core. The core has one or more grooves in the outer peripheral surface thereof. The grooves extend substantially in the width direction of the core. The grooves have a depth of 30 ?m or greater, and the following condition (1) is satisfied: N/D>0.0025??(1) where D is the outer circumference in mm of the core and N is the number of the grooves in the outer peripheral surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 14, 2020
    Assignee: SUMITOMO CHEMICAL COMPANY, LIMITED
    Inventor: Hiroki Hashiwaki
  • Patent number: 10714735
    Abstract: A battery pack includes an enclosure containing a plurality of battery modules. A cooling system disposed among and electrically isolated from the plurality of battery modules uses a coolant solution that is a first mixture of a first liquid and a second liquid in a predetermined ratio to produce a first boiling point. Boiling of the coolant solution changes the predetermined ratio to produce a second boiling point that is higher than the first boiling point and that is sufficient to induce a thermal runaway condition for the plurality of battery module. A sensor monitors at least one operational characteristic of the plurality of battery modules and a controller determines a possible high voltage electrolysis within the enclosure based upon the at least one operational characteristic. A remediation system is responsive to the possible high voltage electrolysis to decrease risks associated with the possible high voltage electrolysis when operated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 3, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 14, 2020
    Assignee: Tesla, Inc.
    Inventors: Francisco LePort, Weston Arthur Hermann, Michael Bell
  • Patent number: 10714733
    Abstract: A battery terminal includes a penetration plate arranged to penetrate from one end portions of annular portions to the other end portions interposing slits, a fastening bolt supported to be rotatable around an axial direction by a threaded hole provided on the other end portion of the penetration plate, and a spacer arranged in contact with the annular portions from the other end portion side of the penetration plate and converting a tightening force in the axial direction arising along with the rotation of the fastening bolt around the axial direction into a pressing force that presses the annular portions from a long-side direction. The penetration plate is arranged to penetrate a clearance of the pair of annular portions. The pair of annular portions includes projecting portions as a clearance reduction portion that reduces the clearance in at least a part of the penetration area of the penetration plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 4, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 14, 2020
    Assignee: YAZAKI CORPORATION
    Inventors: Takayuki Kato, Takahiro Shiohama, Takashi Yoshida
  • Patent number: 10707500
    Abstract: A fuel cell system includes a fuel cell module, auxiliary equipment, a power converter, and a casing containing the fuel cell module, the auxiliary equipment, and the power converter. The casing has a plurality of surfaces including one detachable maintenance surface. Only the maintenance surface has an air intake port for taking an oxygen-containing gas into the casing, an air exhaust port for discharging an exhaust gas discharged from the fuel cell module, to the outside of the casing, and a ventilation inlet port and a ventilation outlet port for ventilation of an inside of the casing by air.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 3, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 7, 2020
    Assignee: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Hideyuki Ushiyama
  • Patent number: 10707469
    Abstract: A separator for a flowing electrolyte battery, and a method of forming such a separator, enable improved efficiency in a flowing electrolyte battery. The separator includes a sheet having a first surface and a second surface opposing the first surface. A first spacer element is disposed on the first surface, and a second spacer element is disposed on the second surface. The first spacer element is wider than the second spacer element in a direction that is both parallel to the first and second surfaces and perpendicular to longitudinal axes of the first and second spacer elements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 13, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 7, 2020
    Assignee: RedFlow R&D Pty Ltd
    Inventor: Alexander Rudolf Winter
  • Patent number: 10700376
    Abstract: Methods for fast-charging batteries while minimizing lithium plating (LP) comprise charging the battery in a first phase at a near-maximum charging current, subsequently charging the battery in a second phase by decreasing the charging current while charging in order to maintain the anode potential equal to or above an anode potential threshold, and subsequently charging the battery in a third phase at constant cell potential such that the cathode potential remains below a cathode potential threshold. LP can be detected by determining the derivative of the charging current and examining the derivative for smooth curves or local discontinuities, wherein a smooth curve indicates the absence of LP and a curve with a local discontinuity indicates the presence of LP. A fast-charging profile can be defined by plotting the cell potential vs. the charging current from the first phase, the second phase, and the third phase to define a fast-charging profile.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 30, 2020
    Assignee: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventor: Brian J. Koch
  • Patent number: 10700316
    Abstract: The invention relates to a battery housing for receiving at least one battery unit (46) comprising a first housing wall (2) and a second housing wall (3), characterized in that the first housing wall (2) forms a first securing element (4) and the second housing wall (3) forms a second securing element (5) which are formed in such a way that the first securing element (4) and the second securing element (5) are reversibly connected to one another for fixing the first housing wall (2) relative to the second housing wall (3).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 30, 2020
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Claus Gerald Pflueger, Klaus Wipfler
  • Patent number: 10696170
    Abstract: A method for changing at least one energy store of a vehicle and an energy store changing apparatus. The method includes steps for ascertaining the vehicle type and the provision of vehicle data relating to the ascertained vehicle type. The vehicle data includes data about the arrangement of the energy store in the vehicle. The position of the vehicle is ascertained on the basis of at least one physical reference point, and at least one energy store of the vehicle is changed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 30, 2020
    Assignee: KUKA Systems GmbH
    Inventors: Reinhold Neider, Stefan Mayr