Patents Examined by Maria J Laios
-
Patent number: 9413031Abstract: A battery is disclosed for reducing the severity of thermal runaway. The battery includes an anode sheet, a cathode sheet, and a separator situated between the anode sheet and the cathode sheet. The anode sheet, cathode sheet, and separator may be put together in a jelly roll configuration. The battery also includes internal fuses that subdivide the anode sheet, cathode sheet, or both, into electrically separate areas. The fuses are activated during thermal runaway and isolate separate areas of the sheet, thus reducing the total energy available during thermal runaway and reducing the severity. The fuses may be positive temperature coefficient (PTC) fuses that conduct current at normal operating temperatures but stop conducting current at temperatures above normal operating temperatures. The fuses may be placed in the current collectors, or directly into the anode sheet and cathode sheet themselves.Type: GrantFiled: March 24, 2009Date of Patent: August 9, 2016Assignee: Lenovo (Singapore) PTE. LTD.Inventors: Joseph Anthony Holung, Tin-Lup Wong, Bouziane Yebka
-
Patent number: 9413039Abstract: The present invention relates to a battery pack including a bare cell for charge/discharge of an electric current; a protection circuit board electrically connected to the bare cell and protecting the bare cell against overcharge/discharge thereof; a connector serving as a current path between the bare cell and an external apparatus; a cover frame disposed on the bare cell to cover the protection circuit board; and a connector housing where the connector is disposed and which is exposed to the outside of the cover frame. The assembly strength of the battery pack is improved due to solid mounting of the connector housing on the protection circuit board and non-separable connection of the connector housing and the cover frame.Type: GrantFiled: December 23, 2009Date of Patent: August 9, 2016Assignee: Samsung SDI Co., Ltd.Inventors: Eunok Kwak, Seok Koh
-
Patent number: 9399499Abstract: A bicycle battery holder is basically provided with a battery holder body, an operating member and a battery engaging member. The battery holder body includes a contact portion. The operating member is movably mounted to the battery holder body between a first position and a second position. The battery engaging member is pivotally coupled to the operating member on an axle such that the battery engaging member moves in a first direction with respect to the battery holder body to a battery retaining position as the operating member moves from the first position to the second position. The contact portion of the battery holder body limits rotational movement of the operating member around an axis of the axle to maintain the operating member in the first position while the operating member is disposed in the first position.Type: GrantFiled: June 29, 2011Date of Patent: July 26, 2016Assignee: Shimano Inc.Inventors: Kazuki Honda, Hiroshi Tachibana, Hideki Chouji
-
Patent number: 9391314Abstract: A negative active material for rechargeable lithium batteries and a method of manufacturing the negative active material are provided. The negative active material for rechargeable lithium batteries includes at least one generally spherical assembly having flake-shaped materials that are capable of doping and dedoping lithium, and are arranged in a generally spherical shape defining a central pore. The negative active material imparts improved cycle-life characteristics.Type: GrantFiled: November 28, 2008Date of Patent: July 12, 2016Assignees: Samsung SDI Co., Ltd., 3M Innovation Properties CompanyInventors: Sang-Min Lee, Sung-Soo Kim, Goo-Jin Jeong, Nam-Soon Choi, Yong-Mook Kang, Min-Seok Sung, Leif Christensen
-
Patent number: 9379371Abstract: A secondary battery including: an electrode assembly including a plurality of first and second electrode plates, and a plurality of separators between the first and second electrode plates; a first electrode tab on the first electrode plate, and a second electrode tab on the second electrode plate; a case housing the electrode assembly, and the first and second electrode tabs; and first and second external lead terminals at an outer side of the case and electrically coupled to the first and second electrode tabs, respectively.Type: GrantFiled: November 29, 2010Date of Patent: June 28, 2016Assignee: Samsung SDI Co., Ltd.Inventors: Changbum Ahn, Jeongsoon Shin, Youngbae Sohn
-
Patent number: 9362575Abstract: A fuel cell module includes a fuel cell stack, a partial oxidation reformer for reforming a mixed gas of a raw fuel and an oxygen-containing gas, an exhaust gas combustor for combusting a fuel exhaust gas and an oxygen-containing exhaust gas discharged from the fuel cell stack thereby to produce a combustion gas, and a heat exchanger for raising the temperature of the oxygen-containing gas by heat exchange with the combustion gas. The heat exchanger is provided on one side of the fuel cell stack, and the partial oxidation reformer and the exhaust gas combustor are provided on the other side of the fuel cell stack. The partial oxidation reformer is provided so as to surround the exhaust gas combustor.Type: GrantFiled: April 12, 2012Date of Patent: June 7, 2016Assignee: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.Inventors: Tetsuya Ogawa, Keiji Tsukamoto
-
Patent number: 9356271Abstract: An electrochemical stack comprising carrier ions, an anode comprising an anode active material layer, a cathode comprising a cathode active material layer, a separator between the anode and the cathode comprising a porous dielectric material and a non-aqueous electrolyte, and an ionically permeable conductor layer located between the separator and an electrode active material layer.Type: GrantFiled: January 24, 2012Date of Patent: May 31, 2016Assignee: ENOVIX CORPORATIONInventors: Murali Ramasubramanian, Robert Spotnitz, Nirav Shah, Ashok Lahiri, Christopher Castledine, III, James D. Wilcox, Michael J. Armstrong, Robert A. Cole, Brian Brusca, Harold J. Rust, III, Ken S. Matsubayashi, Laurie J. Lauchlan, Gunther A. Koblmiller
-
Patent number: 9350017Abstract: Disclosed herein are lithium or lithium-ion batteries that employ an aluminum or aluminum alloy current collector protected by conductive coating in combination with electrolyte containing aluminum corrosion inhibitor and a fluorinated lithium imide or methide electrolyte which exhibit surprisingly long cycle life at high temperature.Type: GrantFiled: March 15, 2013Date of Patent: May 24, 2016Assignee: A123 Systems LLCInventors: Konstantin Tikhonov, Tobias Johnson, Jesse Chau, Ka Ki Yip, Marc Juzkow
-
Patent number: 9343753Abstract: Fuel cell devices and systems are provided. A reaction zone positioned along a portion of the length is configured to be heated to an operating reaction temperature, and has at least one active layer therein comprising an electrolyte separating an anode from an opposing cathode, and fuel and oxidizer gas passages adjacent the respective anode and cathode. At least one cold zone positioned from the first end along another portion of the length is configured to remain below the operating reaction temperature. The anode and cathode each have electrical pathways extending to an exterior surface in the cold zone for electrical connection at the lower temperature. The electrolyte includes at least a portion thereof comprising a ceramic material sintered from a nano-sized powder. In one embodiment, the sintered nano-sized powder provides an uneven surface topography on the electrolyte.Type: GrantFiled: February 23, 2015Date of Patent: May 17, 2016Inventors: Alan Devoe, Lambert Devoe
-
Patent number: 9343772Abstract: A rechargeable battery includes an electrode assembly undergoing charging and discharging, a pressurization holder covering the electrode assembly and fixing the electrode assembly, a positive terminal and a negative terminal electrically connected to the electrode assembly, and a case accommodating the electrode assembly and the pressurization holder in a state in which the positive terminal and the negative terminal protrude from the case.Type: GrantFiled: August 10, 2011Date of Patent: May 17, 2016Assignees: Samsung SDI Co., Ltd., Robert Bosch GmbHInventor: Sang-Won Byun
-
Patent number: 9331314Abstract: An electrochemical cell includes a housing and a lid coupled to the housing. The electrochemical cell also includes a first member conductively coupled to the housing and configured to act as a first terminal for the electrochemical cell. The electrochemical cell further includes a second member electrically insulated from the lid and configured to act as a second terminal for the electrochemical cell. A first portion of the second member extends through the lid and a second portion of the second member extends in a direction generally perpendicular to the first portion.Type: GrantFiled: July 19, 2011Date of Patent: May 3, 2016Assignee: Johnson Controls—SAFT Advanced Power Solutions LLCInventors: Jason Fuhr, Xugang Zhang, Gary P. Houchin-Miller, Dale B. Trester
-
Patent number: 9318759Abstract: An exemplary method includes of operating a fuel cell at a first power output level that includes a plurality of operation parameters. Each operation parameter has a value to satisfy a first power demand. A change between the first power demand and a second power demand is determined. At least a first one of the operation parameters is maintained at a value corresponding to the first power output level or at an intermediate value while at least a second one of the operation parameters is changed to a value corresponding to a second power output level to satisfy the second power demand. The first operation parameter is delayed from changing to a value corresponding to the second power output level until a predetermined criterion is met.Type: GrantFiled: December 9, 2011Date of Patent: April 19, 2016Assignee: Audi AGInventors: Jonathan O'Neill, Timothy W. Patterson
-
Patent number: 9318741Abstract: An object is to improve the characteristics of a power storage device such as a charging and discharging rate or a charge and discharge capacity. The grain size of particles of a positive electrode active material is nano-sized so that a surface area per unit mass of the active material is increased. Specifically, the grain size is set to greater than or equal to 10 nm and less than or equal to 100 nm, preferably greater than or equal to 20 nm and less than or equal to 60 nm. Alternatively, the surface area per unit mass is set to 10 m2/g or more, preferably 20 m2/g or more. Further, the crystallinity of the active material is increased by setting an XRD half width to greater than or equal to 0.12° and less than 0.17°, preferably greater than or equal to 0.13° and less than 0.16°.Type: GrantFiled: April 25, 2011Date of Patent: April 19, 2016Assignee: SEMICONDUCTOR ENERGY LABORATORY CO., LTD.Inventors: Takahiro Kawakami, Masaki Yamakaji
-
Patent number: 9312559Abstract: A main object of the present invention to provide a nonaqueous electrolyte secondary battery having high durability towards charge and discharge cycles, by preventing buckling of a wound electrode body. The secondary battery provided by the present invention comprises: a nonaqueous electrolyte; and a wound electrode body 80 configured by superposing on each other, and winding a positive electrode sheet 10 having a positive electrode collector formed to a sheet shape and a positive electrode active material layer formed on that collector, a, negative electrode sheet 20 having a negative electrode collector formed to a sheet shape and a negative electrode active material layer formed on that collector, and a separator 40 formed to a sheet shape. The negative electrode active material contained in the negative electrode active material layer is oriented in a predetermined direction.Type: GrantFiled: September 22, 2010Date of Patent: April 12, 2016Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Koji Takahata, Toshihiko Mitsuhashi, Naoyuki Wada
-
Patent number: 9312562Abstract: The battery cell plate frame assembly comprising a frame, and a sub-assembly comprising a conductive cell plate connector bracket, a conductive terminal, a fuse interposed between the connector bracket and the terminal and a non-conductive bridge separately supporting the connector bracket, the terminal and the fuse. In one form, the connector bracket and terminal include planar elements frictionally connected to the bridge. The bridge includes grasping prongs to releasably support the fuse. The fuse includes a wire connected to the connector bracket and a wire connected to the terminal.Type: GrantFiled: July 16, 2012Date of Patent: April 12, 2016Assignee: ILLINOIS TOOL WORKS INC.Inventors: Daniel A. Dechant, Jason D. Holt, Robert R. Schaser, Glenn Heavens
-
Patent number: 9306223Abstract: A eutectic formulation of KOH and NaOH is used as an electrolyte or an electrolyte-separator. An anode, and/or a cathode can contain the eutectic formulation of KOH and NaOH. A battery can contain an electrolyte-separator, an anode, and/or a cathode with the eutectic formulation of KOH and NaOH. The electrolyte in the electrolyte-separator can have a melting point from about 170° C. to about 300° C. making it suitable for use in a thermal battery that does not require a pyrotechnic device for certain high-temperature applications.Type: GrantFiled: September 22, 2011Date of Patent: April 5, 2016Assignee: EAGLEPICHER TECHNOLOGIES, LLCInventor: Geoffrey Swift
-
Patent number: 9306248Abstract: A battery pack and a liquid leakage detection method thereof are provided. The battery pack comprises a plurality of battery cells, a isolated liquid and a battery box containing the isolated liquid. The battery cells are soaked in the isolated liquid. The battery box comprising a box body and a cover plate. The isolated liquid is a fire-retardant and insulating liquid that has a specific gravity smaller than an electrolyte and is insoluble in the electrolyte. A collection portion is disposed at the bottom of the battery box, and a detection component is disposed in the collection portion. The present disclosure encloses the leaked electrolyte in the fire-retardant isolated liquid and uses the detection component to detect a resistance value of the isolated liquid so as to improve the safety of the box body.Type: GrantFiled: January 16, 2013Date of Patent: April 5, 2016Assignee: Microvast Power Systems Co., Ltd.Inventors: Congming Yang, Zhiming Tong, Xiang Li, Hui Li
-
Patent number: 9299973Abstract: A battery module 11 is structured to include a flat-type battery 40 in which current can be taken out from both faces of an electric generation element 20 in a layered direction, flat-plate-type electrode tabs 50 and 60 having a face contact with a current-taking-out plane of the flat-type battery to take out current, and a packaging case 100 covering the flat-type battery and the electrode tab. The inner face of the packaging case and the electrode tab have therebetween an elastic member 120.Type: GrantFiled: February 9, 2007Date of Patent: March 29, 2016Assignee: NISSAN MOTOR CO., LTD.Inventors: Takuya Kinoshita, Hideaki Horie, Osamu Shimamura, Kenji Hosaka, Takaaki Abe
-
Patent number: 9299970Abstract: A jelly-roll type battery unit, a winding method thereof and a lithium secondary battery comprising the battery unit include a first electrode plate having a first electrode current collector with a first electrode tab and a first electrode active material layer coated on at least one surface of the first electrode current collector, a second electrode plate having a second electrode current collector with a second electrode tab and a second electrode active material layer coated on at least one surface of the second electrode current collector, and a separator that is interposed between the first electrode plate and the second electrode plate, wherein the electrode tab is incorporated into the electrode current collector in an area of either the first or the second electrode plate where the corresponding electrode active material layer is not coated.Type: GrantFiled: December 31, 2003Date of Patent: March 29, 2016Assignee: Samsung SDI Co., Ltd.Inventors: Chang-Seob Kim, Ju-Hyung Kim, Min-Ho Song, Jung-Won Kang
-
Patent number: 9287561Abstract: The present invention is a negative electrode material for non-aqueous electrolyte secondary batteries, comprising at least: particles wherein silicon nanoparticles are dispersed in silicon oxide (silicon oxide particles); and a metal oxide coating formed on a surface of the silicon oxide particles. As a result, there is provided a negative electrode material for non-aqueous electrolyte secondary batteries that enables the production of a negative electrode suitable for lithium-ion secondary batteries and the like that provides improved safety and cycle performance over conventional negative electrode materials.Type: GrantFiled: October 1, 2010Date of Patent: March 15, 2016Assignee: SHIN-ETSU CHEMICAL CO., LTD.Inventors: Koichiro Watanabe, Tetsuo Nakanishi, Kazuyuki Taniguchi