Patents Examined by Michael Dignan
-
Patent number: 8795867Abstract: A battery pack and a vehicle including the same, the battery pack including a battery module including at least one battery cell; a support frame for supporting the battery module; and a support portion including a wire for supporting the battery module with respect to the support frame.Type: GrantFiled: June 24, 2010Date of Patent: August 5, 2014Assignees: Samsung SDI Co., Ltd., Robert Bosch GmbHInventor: Tae-Yong Kim
-
Patent number: 8758947Abstract: Some batteries can exhibit greatly improved performance by utilizing electrodes having randomly arranged graphene nanosheets forming a network of channels defining continuous flow paths through the electrode. The network of channels can provide a diffusion pathway for the liquid electrolyte and/or for reactant gases. Metal-air batteries can benefit from such electrodes. In particular Li-air batteries show extremely high capacities, wherein the network of channels allow oxygen to diffuse through the electrode and mesopores in the electrode can store discharge products.Type: GrantFiled: January 11, 2011Date of Patent: June 24, 2014Assignee: Battelle Memorial InstituteInventors: Jiguang Zhang, Jie Xiao, Jun Liu, Wu Xu, Xiaolin Li, Deyu Wang
-
Patent number: 8753772Abstract: Rechargeable lithium-sulfur batteries having a cathode that includes a graphene-sulfur nanocomposite can exhibit improved characteristics. The graphene-sulfur nanocomposite can be characterized by graphene sheets with particles of sulfur adsorbed to the graphene sheets. The sulfur particles have an average diameter less than 50 nm.Type: GrantFiled: February 8, 2011Date of Patent: June 17, 2014Assignee: Battelle Memorial InstituteInventors: Jun Liu, John P. Lemmon, Zhenguo Yang, Yuliang Cao, Xiaolin Li
-
Patent number: 8734974Abstract: A rechargeable battery including at least one electrode assembly that performs charging and discharging; a case receiving the electrode assembly; a cap assembly coupled to the case and including at least one terminal electrically connected to the electrode assembly; a lead tab electrically connecting the terminal and the electrode assembly; and a supporting member between the lead tab and the case, wherein the lead tab includes at least one coupling bar attached to the electrode assembly, and the supporting member includes a supporting protrusion coupled to one surface of the coupling bar and a base supported by an inner surface of the case.Type: GrantFiled: October 6, 2011Date of Patent: May 27, 2014Assignees: Samsung SDI Co., Ltd., Robert Bosch GmbHInventor: Chi-Young Lee
-
Patent number: 8734537Abstract: A method for producing a battery comprises a deformation step for moving a first metal foil forming a pair of perpendicularly intersecting portions of a first metal, respectively, toward the outside in a second radial direction while enlarging the inside diameter, in the second radial direction, of a first metal winding part by making a force act on the pair of perpendicularly intersecting portions of a first metal toward the outside in the second radial direction, and a resistance welding step for pressing a pair of first metal welding portions toward the inside in a first radical direction under a state where the first terminal welding part of a first current collecting terminal member is arranged on the radial by inside of the first metal winding part after the first metal winding part is deformed.Type: GrantFiled: December 17, 2008Date of Patent: May 27, 2014Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Kenji Tsuchiya, Takeshi Uehara
-
Patent number: 8728643Abstract: A rechargeable battery including: an electrode assembly; a case having an opening to receive the electrode assembly; a cap plate covering the opening of the case; a terminal arranged at the cap plate and electrically connected to the electrode assembly; a current collecting member coupled to the electrode assembly and the terminal and including a fuse unit; and a supporting member coupled to the current collecting member and supporting the fuse unit.Type: GrantFiled: July 12, 2012Date of Patent: May 20, 2014Assignees: Samsung SDI Co., Ltd., Robert Bosch GmbHInventor: Sang-Won Byun
-
Patent number: 8728677Abstract: Provided is a fuel cell system which can measure an air blow interval and consider an exceptional condition such as a high-potential-avoiding operation, thereby enabling an accurate judgment of degradation of an electrolyte. An actual air blow time interval is measured while estimating a theoretical air blow time interval when an increase of a hydrogen consumption amount corresponding to a cell voltage in the high-potential-avoiding operation according to an output current by using a relationship table which contains a record of a relationship between a hydrogen consumption amount consumed for maintaining the function of a fuel cell and the air supply time interval varying with the increase of the hydrogen consumption amount. The degradation of the electrolyte of the fuel cell is judged according to whether the measured actual air blow time interval is shorter than the theoretical air blow time interval corresponding to the hydrogen consumption amount.Type: GrantFiled: December 11, 2008Date of Patent: May 20, 2014Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Michio Yoshida, Kenji Umayahara
-
Patent number: 8722256Abstract: Disclosed are multilayer, porous, thin-layered lithium-ion batteries that include an inorganic separator as a thin layer that is chemically bonded to surfaces of positive and negative electrode layers. Thus, in such disclosed lithium-ion batteries, the electrodes and separator are made to form non-discrete (i.e., integral) thin layers. Also disclosed are methods of fabricating integrally connected, thin, multilayer lithium batteries including lithium-ion and lithium/air batteries.Type: GrantFiled: October 20, 2010Date of Patent: May 13, 2014Assignee: UT-Battelle, LLCInventors: Chaitanya Kumar Narula, Jagjit Nanda, Brian L. Bischoff, Ramesh R. Bhave
-
Patent number: 8709643Abstract: A battery pack including a plurality of battery cells, the battery cells including positive electrode terminals and negative electrode terminals; and a first substrate and a second substrate, the first substrate and second substrate being selectively coupleable to the positive electrode terminals and the negative electrode terminals of the plurality of battery cells, wherein the first substrate includes a first circuit for connecting the positive electrode terminals and the negative electrode terminals to connect the plurality of battery cells together in a first manner, and the second substrate includes a second circuit for electrically connecting the plurality of battery cells in a second manner different from the first manner.Type: GrantFiled: June 24, 2010Date of Patent: April 29, 2014Assignees: Samsung SDI Co., Ltd., Robert Bosch GmbHInventor: Ji-Hyoung Yoon
-
Patent number: 8691423Abstract: A rechargeable power tool battery is rebuilt by replacing its spent cells with an array of replacement cells in which connections are made by conductive connectors, ends of which are clamped by bent-over arms of star-shaped malleable metal grips, the hubs of which are spot welded to cell terminals by the replacement cell supplier. Replacement cells can be supplied in pairs with the positive terminal of one cell of the pair permanently connected to the negative terminal of the other cell of the pair and with the other positive and negative terminals each provided with a spot-welded star-shaped grip.Type: GrantFiled: March 14, 2011Date of Patent: April 8, 2014Inventor: Joseph Krzywicki
-
Patent number: 8679662Abstract: A battery gas discharge system is provided having a floorpan with an outlet and a fastener aperture. The outlet and the fastener aperture are laterally spaced from each other. The system also includes a battery module with a base for resting upon the floorpan. An attachment aperture and a vent aperture are formed through the base. The attachment aperture and the vent aperture are laterally spaced from each other. A gas discharge mechanism defines a passageway for gas discharge between the battery module and the vent aperture. The gas discharge mechanism includes a vent port that is coupled to the vent aperture and sized for receiving discharged gas. The vent port is adapted for mating with and forming a seal about the outlet by securing the base to the floorpan during assembly.Type: GrantFiled: January 4, 2011Date of Patent: March 25, 2014Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: Patrick Daniel Maguire, Sarav Paramasivam, Hari Addanki
-
Patent number: 8679678Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: August 9, 2012Date of Patent: March 25, 2014Assignee: Johnson Controls—SAFT Advanced Power Solutions LLCInventors: Jason D. Fuhr, Gerald K. Bowen, John P. Dinkleman, Thomas J. Dougherty, Wataru Tsutsui, Chris Bonin
-
Patent number: 8679667Abstract: A prismatic repeating frame assembly for a battery pack includes a main body and a hollow compression limiter. The main body is formed from a first polymer. The main body has an aperture formed therein. The hollow compression limiter is formed from a second polymer. The compression limiter is disposed in the aperture of the main body and permits a compression rod to be disposed therethrough. The second polymer is configured to withstand forces during an assembly of the battery pack and frequency inputs during an operation of the battery pack.Type: GrantFiled: October 29, 2010Date of Patent: March 25, 2014Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLCInventors: Herman K. Phlegm, Pablo Valencia, Jr.
-
Patent number: 8673480Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: July 12, 2010Date of Patent: March 18, 2014Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLCInventors: Stuart D. Barter, William L. Martz, Benjamin D. Kaufman, Michael Duffield
-
Patent number: 8658308Abstract: A secondary battery may include an electrode assembly, the electrode assembly including first and second electrode plates and a separator interposed between the electrode plates; a battery case, the battery case including an accommodating part and a sealing part formed along an edge of the accommodating part, the accommodating part accommodating the electrode assembly; an insulating member attached to the sealing part, the insulating member covering and insulating the sealing part; and an alignment mark on at least one region of the sealing part, the alignment mark identifying a position on the sealing part at which a predetermined portion of the insulating member is aligned, wherein a non-insulating part of the sealing part extends past the insulating member.Type: GrantFiled: July 23, 2012Date of Patent: February 25, 2014Assignee: Samsung SDI Co., Ltd.Inventor: Ki-Sung Hong
-
Patent number: 8658320Abstract: A fuel cell system according to the present invention includes: a deodorizing device (20) configured to remove an odor component contained in a raw material gas; a reformer (32) configured to generate a hydrogen-containing gas through reforming reaction using the raw material gas that is discharged from the deodorizing device; a fuel cell (1) configured to generate power by using the hydrogen-containing gas that is discharged from the reformer; at least one on-off valve (21a, 21b, 3a, 3b, 28, 29) provided on the combustible gas passage which is downstream from the deodorizing device and which extends through the reformer; and a stuck-state checker (13, 18, 7) configured to perform a stuck-state check on the on-off valve by supplying the raw material gas to the combustible gas passage.Type: GrantFiled: May 10, 2010Date of Patent: February 25, 2014Assignee: Panasonic CorporationInventors: Yoshio Tamura, Koichi Kusumura
-
Patent number: 8652687Abstract: The present invention provides an electrically conductive electrode comprising particles of an electroactive material and a conductive graphene polymer binder that bonds multiple particles of the electroactive material together, wherein the binder is in an amount of from 0.01% to 90% by weight based on the total electrode weight. Also provided are (a) a precursor solution or suspension to the graphene polymer binder for the electrode; (b) a paste containing electroactive particles and a graphene polymer dispersed in a liquid; (c) a method of producing the electrode from the precursor paste; and (d) an electrochemical cell (a battery or supercapacitor) containing such an electrode.Type: GrantFiled: December 24, 2009Date of Patent: February 18, 2014Assignee: Nanotek Instruments, Inc.Inventors: Aruna Zhamu, Bor Z. Jang
-
Patent number: 8652685Abstract: The invention is a process for making an electrochemical cell with a catalytic electrode including a catalyst made by a solution precipitation process via an oxidation-reduction reaction between water-soluble oxidizing and reducing agents, at least one of which includes manganese. The reaction is carried out at less than 65° C., preferably with little or no heating. The oxidizing agent does not have a cation that is reduced in the reaction, and the reducing agent does not have an anion that is reduced in the reaction.Type: GrantFiled: January 26, 2011Date of Patent: February 18, 2014Assignee: Eveready Battery Co., Inc.Inventor: Jingdong Guo
-
Patent number: 8647765Abstract: A battery pack has a plurality of assembled batteries connected in parallel. Each of the assembled batteries has a plurality of cells connected electrically. A circulating current in each of the assembled batteries is calculated from an open circuit voltage of the assembled battery that varies according to the number of the cells connected in series, a value indicating a charge state of the assembled battery that varies according to the number of the cells connected in parallel, and an internal resistance of the assembled battery. The number of the cells connected in parallel and the number of the cells connected in series in each of the assembled batteries are numbers determined under the condition that the circulating current should not exceed an allowable current value for the assembled battery.Type: GrantFiled: April 25, 2011Date of Patent: February 11, 2014Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Teruo Ishishita, Yuji Nishi, Keiji Kaita, Masaru Takagi
-
Patent number: 8628878Abstract: A battery includes a case defining an inner space, the case having an inner wall, an electrode assembly in the inner space, the electrode assembly including an uncoated region, a lead tab configured to carry electricity, the lead tab being connected to the uncoated region, and a retainer, the retainer being joined to the lead tab and disposed between the electrode assembly and the inner wall, the retainer having a predetermined thickness.Type: GrantFiled: July 6, 2010Date of Patent: January 14, 2014Assignees: Samsung SDI Co., Ltd., Robert Bosch GmbHInventors: Sung-Bae Kim, Yong-Sam Kim, Sang-Won Byun