Patents Examined by Michael Dignan
  • Patent number: 9553305
    Abstract: An anode active material. The anode active material includes a core including SiOx (0.5?x?1.7), and a coating layer formed on the core at least partially. The coating layer includes metal unreactive toward lithium.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 20, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2017
    Assignee: Samsung SDI Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kyu-Nam Joo, Tae-Sik Kim, Deok-Hyun Kim, Jae-Myung Kim
  • Patent number: 9553297
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a battery pack including a housing, a latch mechanism, a printed circuit board connected to electrical terminals, and an internal frame. The housing includes a first and second portion. The first portion includes openings that receive the latch mechanism and openings that receive the terminals. The battery pack also includes a latch cover that protects against water infiltrating between the openings and the latch mechanism, and a terminal cover that protects against water infiltrating between the first housing portion and the terminals. Water that enters the battery pack is directed to the bottom of the battery pack. The water is then drained through openings in the lower housing portion. The internal frame includes openings that secure batteries within the lower housing portion with the help of wedges that are positioned in between adjacent rows of batteries.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 17, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2017
    Assignee: MILWAUKEE ELECTRIC TOOL CORPORATION
    Inventors: Michael Kolden, Samuel Sheeks
  • Patent number: 9496589
    Abstract: A system for packaging and thermal management of battery cells in a battery module is provided. The battery module comprises at last one extruded aluminum or aluminum alloy profile (40) provided with a plurality of thermal transfer fins (42) arranged at a space from each other. A plurality of battery cells (1) is mounted in the at least one profile (40) in thermal contact with the thermal transfer fins (42). Thermal transfer medium is arranged in thermal contact with the at least one profile (40) so that thermal energy is conducted through the aluminum or aluminum alloy profile (40) so that thermal energy is conducted through the aluminum or aluminum alloy profile (40) from/to the battery cells (1) to/from the thermal transfer medium.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2016
    Assignee: VALMET AUTOMOTIVE OY
    Inventors: Lasse Kopra, Jusso Kelkka
  • Patent number: 9496557
    Abstract: A current collector for an electrochemical cell includes a member having an outer member and an inner member coupled to the outer member by a plurality of flexible arms configured to allow the inner member to move relative to the outer member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 17, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2016
    Assignee: Johnson Controls -SAFT Advanced Power Solutions LLC
    Inventors: Jason D. Fuhr, Gerald K. Bowen, John P. Dinkleman, Thomas J. Dougherty, Waterloo Tsutsui, Christopher M. Bonin
  • Patent number: 9484580
    Abstract: An example fuel cell electrode forming method includes covering at least a portion of a copper monolayer with a liquid platinum and replacing the copper monolayer to form a platinum monolayer from the liquid platinum.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2016
    Assignee: Audi AG
    Inventors: Minhua Shao, Sathya Motupally, Belabbes Merzougui, Lesia V. Protsailo
  • Patent number: 9472797
    Abstract: The battery pack includes: a battery cell including a cell tab; a housing configured to accommodate the battery cell; a middle cover configured to close the housing in a state where the cell tab extends outward through the middle cover; a bus bar electrically connected to the cell tab extending outward through the middle cover; a sensing circuit board disposed on the bus bar and electrically connected to the bus bar; an isolation plate coupled to the middle cover to cover the bus bar and the sensing circuit board; and a battery management system disposed on the isolation plate and electrically connected to the sensing circuit board.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 13, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2016
    Assignee: Samsung SDI Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Jungyeop Han, Seungsoo Jang
  • Patent number: 9450263
    Abstract: A fuel cell stack is provided that includes: i) a plurality of unit cells that are stacked together; ii) end plates that are each disposed at outermost ends of the unit cells and that press the plurality of unit cells together; and iii) a plurality of tension bars that engage the end plates, wherein an tension bar corresponding to an outermost portion of the unit cells has a predetermined angle of slope and engages with the end plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 26, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2016
    Assignee: Hyundai Motor Company
    Inventor: Yongsuk Heo
  • Patent number: 9406918
    Abstract: A battery assembly including a plurality of battery cells and at least one frame having a support feature formed thereon is disclosed. The support feature supports electrically conductive tabs of the battery cells and militates against damage to the battery assembly during a joining of one of the electrically conductive tabs with another one of the electrically conductive tabs of an adjacent battery cell or during a joining of the electrically conductive tabs of adjacent battery cells with a connector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2016
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Stuart D. Barter, William L. Martz, Benjamin D. Kaufman, Michael Duffield
  • Patent number: 9356317
    Abstract: Amorphous lithium lanthanum zirconium oxide (LLZO) is formed as an ionically-conductive electrolyte medium. The LLZO comprises by percentage of total number of atoms from about 0.1% to about 50% lithium, from about 0.1% to about 25% lanthanum, from about 0.1% to about 25% zirconium, from about 30% to about 70% oxygen and from 0.0% to about 25% carbon. At least one layer of amorphous LLZO may be formed through a sol-gel process wherein quantities of lanthanum methoxyethoxide, lithium butoxide and zirconium butoxide are dissolved in an alcohol-based solvent to form a mixture which is dispensed into a substantially planar configuration, transitioned through a gel phase, dried and cured to a substantially dry phase.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2016
    Assignee: Johnson IP Holding, LLC
    Inventors: Davorin Babic, Lonnie G. Johnson, William Rauch, David Ketema Johnson, Stanley Jones, Lazbourne Alanzo Allie, Adrian M. Grant
  • Patent number: 9349542
    Abstract: An energy storage stack of at least two surface-mediated cells (SMCs) internally connected in parallel or in series. The stack includes: (A) At least two SMC cells, each consisting of (i) a cathode comprising a porous cathode current collector and a cathode active material; (ii) a porous anode current collector; and (iii) a porous separator disposed between the cathode and the anode; (B) A lithium-containing electrolyte in physical contact with all the electrodes, wherein the cathode active material has a specific surface area no less than 100 m2/g in direct physical contact with the electrolyte to receive lithium ions therefrom or to provide lithium ions thereto; and (C) A lithium source. This new-generation energy storage device exhibits the highest power densities of all energy storage devices, much higher than those of all the lithium ion batteries, lithium ion capacitors, and supercapacitors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2016
    Assignee: Nanotek Instruments, Inc.
    Inventors: Aruna Zhamu, GuoRong Chen, Xiqing Wang, Bor Z. Jang, Yanbo Wang
  • Patent number: 9306243
    Abstract: Techniques for optimizing battery usage are provided. The techniques include sensing energy level of a battery, comparing the sensed energy level of the battery to a predetermined energy threshold for the battery, and controlling energy flow to and from the battery based on the comparison of the sensed energy level and the energy threshold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 24, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2016
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Sara H. Basson, Rick Hamilton, Dimitri Kanevsky, Tara N. Sainath
  • Patent number: 9306215
    Abstract: A nickel-metal hydride secondary cell holds therein an electrode group and an alkaline electrolyte solution containing NaOH as a main constituent of its solute. The electrode group has positive and negative electrodes lapped one over the other with a separator therebetween. The negative electrode contains a hydrogen absorbing alloy having a composition represented by the general formula: (RE1-xTx)1-yMgyNiz-aAla (where RE is at least one element selected from among Y, Sc and rare-earth elements, T is at least one element selected from among Zr, V and Ca, and subscripts x, y, z and a are values respectively satisfying 0?x, 0.05?y?0.35, 2.8?z?3.9, and 0.10?a?0.25), the hydrogen absorbing alloy has a crystal structure in which an AB2 subunit and an AB5 subunit are superimposed one upon the other, and Cr is substituted for part of the Ni.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 18, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2016
    Assignee: FDK CORPORATION
    Inventors: Takuya Kai, Jun Ishida
  • Patent number: 9287586
    Abstract: Described herein are materials for use in electrolytes that provide a number of desirable characteristics when implemented within batteries, such as high stability during battery cycling up to high temperatures, high voltages, high discharge capacity, high coulombic efficiency, and excellent retention of discharge capacity and coulombic efficiency over several cycles of charging and discharging. In some embodiments, a high voltage electrolyte includes a base electrolyte and an additive compounds.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 16, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 15, 2016
    Assignee: Wildcat Discovery Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Gang Cheng, Bin Li, Steven Kaye
  • Patent number: 9269996
    Abstract: An electrochemical cell system is configured to utilize an ionically conductive liquid flowing through a plurality of electrochemical cells. One or more hydrophilic filters for venting of gas from the cells are provided along a flow path for the ionically conductive liquid, so as to permit gasses that evolve in the ionically conductive liquid during charging or discharging to vent outside the cell system, while constraining the ionically conductive liquid within the flow path of the electrochemical cell system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 1, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 23, 2016
    Assignee: FLUIDIC, INC.
    Inventors: Cody A. Friesen, Ramkumar Krishnan, Grant Friesen, Joel R. Hayes
  • Patent number: 9196427
    Abstract: A winding-type electric storage device may prevent swaying or movement of an electrode assembly. The winding-type electric storage device includes a flat electrode assembly, which includes a core, and a case in which the electrode assembly is housed, the core including first and second curved sections which are disposed so that the inner circumferential surfaces thereof face to each other, and each of which is at least in part composed of a material stacked into two or more plies, and first and second opposed sections which connect the mutually-opposed first ends and second ends of the first and second curved sections to each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 17, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 24, 2015
    Assignees: GS Yuasa International Ltd., Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Masakazu Tsutsumi, Jun Nakamura, Takashi Suzuki
  • Patent number: 9178217
    Abstract: A multiply-conductive matrix (MCM) for a current collector/electrode and a method of making the MCM are disclosed. The MCM includes a frame, preferably including a lug, the frame preferably made from a reticulated polymer foam substrate, and a body preferably made from the same substrate. The specific surface area of the frame is greater than the specific surface area of the body, resulting in greater rigidity and strength of the frame when the body and frame are joined to form an assembled matrix. Electrically conductive material is applied to the matrix to form the current collector. Optionally, a bonding material is also applied. Electro-active paste is applied to current if collector. The resulting MCM-based electrodes are ultra light and may be used as anode or cathodes in a lead-based battery, lithium ion battery, and nickel metal hydride battery for improved performance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 5, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 3, 2015
    Inventor: Joey Chung Yen Jung
  • Patent number: 9172115
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a battery pack including a housing, a latch mechanism, a printed circuit board connected to electrical terminals, and an internal frame. The housing includes a first and second portion. The first portion includes openings that receive the latch mechanism and openings that receive the terminals. The battery pack also includes a latch cover that protects against water infiltrating between the openings and the latch mechanism, and a terminal cover that protects against water infiltrating between the first housing portion and the terminals. Water that enters the battery pack is directed to the bottom of the battery pack. The water is then drained through openings in the lower housing portion. The internal frame includes openings that secure batteries within the lower housing portion with the help of wedges that are positioned in between adjacent rows of batteries.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 11, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 27, 2015
    Assignee: Milwaukee Electric Tool Corporation
    Inventors: Michael Kolden, Samuel Sheeks
  • Patent number: 9160000
    Abstract: An active material for a battery, which has high thermal stability and low electric potential. According to the invention, an active material for a battery including an M element in Group III, a Ti element, an O element, and an S element and having an M2Ti2O5S2 crystalline phase is provided to solve the problem.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 18, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 13, 2015
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Takeshi Tojigamori, Hideki Oki
  • Patent number: 9136542
    Abstract: An electrode for reduction of an oxidant including a phosphorus-doped carbon-containing catalyst represented by the chemical formula CNxPy, where x is from 0 to about 10 wt. % and y is from about 1 ppm to about 10 wt. %. A device for producing electricity by facilitating an electrochemical reaction between a fuel and an oxidant. The device including a first electrode for oxidizing the fuel to produce protons and electrons. The device further includes a second electrode in electrical communication with the first electrode when electrically connected to the external circuit. The second electrode includes a phosphorus-doped carbon-containing catalyst for reducing the oxidant and is represented by the chemical formula CNxPy, where x is from 0 to about 10 wt. % and y is from about 1 ppm to about 10 wt. %. The device further includes an electrolyte, such as, a membrane, separating the first electrode from the second electrode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 17, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 15, 2015
    Assignee: The Ohio State University
    Inventors: Umit S. Ozkan, Dieter von Deak, Elizabeth Biddinger
  • Patent number: 9099741
    Abstract: A cathode, electrochemical cell and process for making either is disclosed. The cathode includes iron disulfide which exhibits multiple peaks representing distinct maxima of mean diameters for the volume-based particle size distribution. All of the maxima are less than 20 microns. A combination of natural pyrite ore and synthetic iron disulfide may be mixed to achieve the desired distribution, or a combination of natural pyrite ores may be processed in different manners to achieve the desired characteristics.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 4, 2015
    Assignee: Eveready Battery Company, Inc.
    Inventors: Jack W. Marple, Michael W. Wemple, Ronald Crawford, Weiwei Huang, George L. Schimek