Patents Examined by Michael Dignan
  • Patent number: 8795867
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 5, 2014
    Assignees: Samsung SDI Co., Ltd., Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventor: Tae-Yong Kim
  • Patent number: 8758947
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: January 11, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 24, 2014
    Assignee: Battelle Memorial Institute
    Inventors: Jiguang Zhang, Jie Xiao, Jun Liu, Wu Xu, Xiaolin Li, Deyu Wang
  • Patent number: 8753772
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: February 8, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 17, 2014
    Assignee: Battelle Memorial Institute
    Inventors: Jun Liu, John P. Lemmon, Zhenguo Yang, Yuliang Cao, Xiaolin Li
  • Patent number: 8734974
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: October 6, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 27, 2014
    Assignees: Samsung SDI Co., Ltd., Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventor: Chi-Young Lee
  • Patent number: 8734537
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 27, 2014
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Kenji Tsuchiya, Takeshi Uehara
  • Patent number: 8728643
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: July 12, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 20, 2014
    Assignees: Samsung SDI Co., Ltd., Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventor: Sang-Won Byun
  • Patent number: 8728677
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 20, 2014
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Michio Yoshida, Kenji Umayahara
  • Patent number: 8722256
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: October 20, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 13, 2014
    Assignee: UT-Battelle, LLC
    Inventors: Chaitanya Kumar Narula, Jagjit Nanda, Brian L. Bischoff, Ramesh R. Bhave
  • Patent number: 8709643
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 29, 2014
    Assignees: Samsung SDI Co., Ltd., Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventor: Ji-Hyoung Yoon
  • Patent number: 8691423
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 8, 2014
    Inventor: Joseph Krzywicki
  • Patent number: 8679662
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: January 4, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 25, 2014
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Patrick Daniel Maguire, Sarav Paramasivam, Hari Addanki
  • Patent number: 8679678
    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: August 9, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 25, 2014
    Assignee: Johnson Controls—SAFT Advanced Power Solutions LLC
    Inventors: Jason D. Fuhr, Gerald K. Bowen, John P. Dinkleman, Thomas J. Dougherty, Wataru Tsutsui, Chris Bonin
  • Patent number: 8679667
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 25, 2014
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Herman K. Phlegm, Pablo Valencia, Jr.
  • Patent number: 8673480
    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: July 12, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 18, 2014
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Stuart D. Barter, William L. Martz, Benjamin D. Kaufman, Michael Duffield
  • Patent number: 8658308
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: July 23, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 25, 2014
    Assignee: Samsung SDI Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Ki-Sung Hong
  • Patent number: 8658320
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: May 10, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 25, 2014
    Assignee: Panasonic Corporation
    Inventors: Yoshio Tamura, Koichi Kusumura
  • Patent number: 8652687
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: December 24, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 18, 2014
    Assignee: Nanotek Instruments, Inc.
    Inventors: Aruna Zhamu, Bor Z. Jang
  • Patent number: 8652685
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: January 26, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 18, 2014
    Assignee: Eveready Battery Co., Inc.
    Inventor: Jingdong Guo
  • Patent number: 8647765
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: April 25, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 11, 2014
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Teruo Ishishita, Yuji Nishi, Keiji Kaita, Masaru Takagi
  • Patent number: 8628878
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: July 6, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 14, 2014
    Assignees: Samsung SDI Co., Ltd., Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Sung-Bae Kim, Yong-Sam Kim, Sang-Won Byun