Patents Examined by Michael L Dignan
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Patent number: 10749161Abstract: A flexible connector a battery system and a method for assembling in a battery assembly. The apparatus can include a plurality of pads that are secured to a central spine. The flexible connector may be a single piece connector. The flexible connector can include monitors that are mounted to the flexible connector to gather data regarding battery cells.Type: GrantFiled: September 21, 2017Date of Patent: August 18, 2020Assignee: Artisan Vehicle Systems Inc.Inventors: Brian R. Huff, Michael E. Kasaba, Kyle Hickey
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Patent number: 10749206Abstract: Process for fabrication of all-solid-state thin film batteries, said batteries comprising a film of anode materials, a film of solid electrolyte materials and a film of cathode materials, in which: each of these three films is deposited using an electrophoresis process, the anode film and the cathode film are each deposited on a conducting substrate, preferably a thin metal sheet or band, or a metalized insulating sheet or band or film, said conducting substrates or their conducting elements being useable as battery current collectors, the electrolyte film is deposited on the anode and/or cathode film, and in which said process also comprises at least one step in which said sheets or bands are stacked so as to form at least one battery with a “collector/anode/electrolyte/cathode/collector” type of stacked structure.Type: GrantFiled: June 26, 2018Date of Patent: August 18, 2020Assignee: I-TENInventors: Fabien Gaben, Frédéric Bouyer, Bruno Vuillemin
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Patent number: 10727484Abstract: Provided are a cathode active substance used for a lithium ion secondary battery capable of suppressing an increase in an internal resistance inside the battery caused following charge/discharge cycles, a cathode including the cathode active substance, and a lithium ion secondary battery provided with the cathode. The cathode active substance includes a lithium composite compound represented by Formula: Li1+?NixCoyM11-x-y-zM2zO2+?. When Pi is defined as porosity with respect to an opening diameter of 0.6 ?m or less and measured by subjecting the active substance to a mercury press-in method, and Pp is defined as porosity with respect to the same diameter and measured by filling the active substance in a mold with an inner diameter of 10 mm, pressing the filled substance by a load of 40 MPa, and subjecting the pressed substance to the same method, a value of Pp/Pi is 1.5 or less.Type: GrantFiled: April 27, 2017Date of Patent: July 28, 2020Assignee: HITACHI METALS, LTD.Inventors: Hisato Tokoro, Takashi Nakabayashi, Shuichi Takano, Shin Takahashi, Akira Gunji, Tatsuya Toyama
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Patent number: 10714786Abstract: Disclosed are a positive electrode active material capable of suppressing a reaction between a core and a solid electrolyte, a method of manufacturing the same and an all-solid battery including the same. Provided is a positive electrode active material for all-solid batteries including a core comprising a lithium-containing metal oxide, and a coating layer comprising LiI applied to the surface of the core.Type: GrantFiled: November 6, 2017Date of Patent: July 14, 2020Assignees: HYUNDAI MOTOR COMPANY, KIA MOTORS CORPORATION, UNIST (ULSAN NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY)Inventors: Oh Min Kwon, Hong Seok Min, Yong Sub Yoon, Kyung Su Kim, Yoon Seok Jung, Young Jin Nam, Dae Yang Oh, Sung Hoo Jung
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Patent number: 10700335Abstract: A battery pack for an electric vehicle is disclosed. The battery pack includes an upper tray, a first busbar attached to the upper tray, a lower tray, and a second busbar attached to the lower tray. The battery pack also includes a plurality of battery cells arranged in the upper and lower trays between the first and second busbars, where the first busbar is between the battery cells and the upper tray, and where the second busbar is between the battery cells and the lower tray.Type: GrantFiled: April 28, 2017Date of Patent: June 30, 2020Assignee: Thunder Power New Energy Vehicle Development Company LimitedInventors: Francesco Mastrandrea, Peter Tutzer
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Patent number: 10693188Abstract: Methods compositions for controlling lithium-ion cell performance, using thermally responsive electrolytes incorporating compounds that exhibit a phase transition at elevated temperatures and are suited for incorporation into lithium-ion and lithium-metal cells are disclosed.Type: GrantFiled: October 29, 2015Date of Patent: June 23, 2020Assignee: Clemson UniversityInventors: Mark E Roberts, Jesse C Kelly
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Patent number: 10693158Abstract: A fuel cell system and corresponding methods are provided. The fuel cell system includes a fuel cell stack configured for in-block reforming, as well as a pre-reformer. The fuel cell stack may include a plurality of fuel cells. The fuel cell stack may also include a fuel supply manifold, a fuel exhaust manifold, an oxidant supply manifold, and an oxidant exhaust manifold. The fuel supply manifold may be configured to receive fuel, and to supply the fuel to the fuel cell stack for in-block reforming. The fuel exhaust manifold may be configured to expel fuel exhaust from the fuel cell stack. The oxidant supply manifold may be configured to receive an oxidant and to supply the oxidant to the fuel cell stack for in-block reforming. The oxidant exhaust manifold may be configured to expel oxidant exhaust from the fuel cell stack.Type: GrantFiled: October 26, 2017Date of Patent: June 23, 2020Assignee: LG Electronics, Inc.Inventors: Michele Bozzolo, Robert Hay Cunningham, Gary John Saunders
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Patent number: 10686198Abstract: A fuel cell assembly (10) is provided. The fuel cell assembly (10) includes a first endplate (12), a second endplate (14), a plurality of separator plates (16) provided between the first and second endplates (12) and (14), and a plurality of fuel cells (18) forming a fuel cell stack (20). Each of the fuel cells (18) is provided between adjacent ones of the separator plates (16). A plurality of oxidant flow channels (22) is formed in the separator plates (16). The oxidant flow channels (22) define a first flow passage. Each of the fuel cells (18) has an active area. A portion (28) of the separator plates (16) extends beyond the active area of the fuel cells (18) to define a second flow passage at a downstream portion of the first flow passage.Type: GrantFiled: July 30, 2013Date of Patent: June 16, 2020Assignee: TEMASEK POLYTECHNICInventors: Ming Han, Ee Ho Gareth Tang, Yunzhong Chen
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Patent number: 10686183Abstract: Improved high energy capacity designs for lithium ion batteries are described that take advantage of the properties of high specific capacity anode active compositions and high specific capacity cathode active compositions. In particular, specific electrode designs provide for achieving very high energy densities. Furthermore, the complex behavior of the active materials is used advantageously in a radical electrode balancing design that significantly reduced wasted electrode capacity in either electrode when cycling under realistic conditions of moderate to high discharge rates and/or over a reduced depth of discharge.Type: GrantFiled: August 29, 2017Date of Patent: June 16, 2020Assignee: Zenlabs Energy, Inc.Inventors: Charan Masarapu, Yogesh Kumar Anguchamy, Yongbong Han, Haixia Deng, Sujeet Kumar, Herman A. Lopez
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Patent number: 10680258Abstract: An electrical power supply system has a fuel cell module and a battery. The fuel cell can be selectively connected to the battery system through a diode. The system preferably also has a current sensor and a controller adapted to close a contactor in a by-pass circuit around the diode after sensing a current flowing from the fuel cell through the diode. The system may also have a resistor and a contactor in another by-pass circuit around the diode. In a start-up method, a first contactor is closed to connect the fuel cell in parallel with the battery through the diode and one or more reactant pumps for the fuel cell are turned on. A current sensor is monitored for a signal indicating current flow through the diode. After a current is indicated, a by-pass circuit is provided around the diode.Type: GrantFiled: October 1, 2014Date of Patent: June 9, 2020Assignee: HYDROGENICS CORPORATIONInventor: Paolo Forte
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Patent number: 10680261Abstract: A fuel cell system and corresponding methods are provided. The fuel cell system includes a fuel cell stack configured for in-block reforming, as well as a pre-reformer. The fuel cell stack may include a plurality of fuel cells. The fuel cell stack may also include a fuel supply manifold, a fuel exhaust manifold, an oxidant supply manifold, and an oxidant exhaust manifold. The fuel supply manifold may be configured to receive fuel, and to supply the fuel to the fuel cell stack for in-block reforming. The fuel exhaust manifold may be configured to expel fuel exhaust from the fuel cell stack. The oxidant supply manifold may be configured to receive an oxidant and to supply the oxidant to the fuel cell stack for in-block reforming. The oxidant exhaust manifold may be configured to expel oxidant exhaust from the fuel cell stack.Type: GrantFiled: October 26, 2017Date of Patent: June 9, 2020Assignee: LG Electronics, Inc.Inventors: Michele Bozzolo, Robert Hay Cunningham, Gary John Saunders
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Patent number: 10680269Abstract: The invention relates to a fuel cell stack having at least two segments of individual fuel cells arranged in parallel in terms of fluid, said segments being arranged in series relative to one another in terms of fluid. It is provided that the fuel cell stack is set up to vary the number of individual fuel cells in at least one segment.Type: GrantFiled: August 10, 2016Date of Patent: June 9, 2020Assignees: VOLKSWAGEN AG, AUDI AGInventors: Jan-Philipp Brinkmeier, Dirk Jenssen
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Patent number: 10665848Abstract: The present disclosure includes a battery module having a stack of electrochemical cells that includes terminals, a housing that receives the stack of electrochemical cells, and a bus bar carrier disposed over the stack of electrochemical cells such that bus bars disposed on the bus bar carrier interface with the terminals of the stack of electrochemical cells. The bus bar carrier includes opposing first and second guide extensions, the stack of electrochemical cells is disposed between the opposing first and second guide extensions, and the opposing first and second guide extensions physically contact a first outer electrochemical cell and a second outer electrochemical cell, respectively, of the stack of electrochemical cells to guide the terminals of the stack of electrochemical cells toward corresponding ones of the bus bars disposed on the bus bar carrier.Type: GrantFiled: February 27, 2015Date of Patent: May 26, 2020Assignee: CPS Technology Holdings LLCInventors: Robert J. Mack, Dale B. Trester, Richard M. DeKeuster, Jennifer L. Czarnecki, Jason D. Fuhr
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Patent number: 10651450Abstract: A conductive module includes: a first conductive member electrically connected to a battery cell; a second conductive member electrically connecting a battery monitoring unit to the first conductive member; a circuit protection member arranged between the first conductive member and the second conductive member; a first electrical connection structural body; a second electrical connection structural body electrically connecting the second conductive member and the circuit protection member; and a housing member. The second electrical connection structural body includes a linking portion, which is a part that extends in an intersecting direction and physically and electrically connects an electrical connection portion of the second conductive member, and enables the second conductive members of all the conductive modules to be arranged side by side along the intersecting direction.Type: GrantFiled: October 25, 2017Date of Patent: May 12, 2020Assignee: YAZAKI CORPORATIONInventor: Yutaro Okazaki
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Patent number: 10644288Abstract: A separator-integrated electrode plate includes a current collector plate; an active material layer formed on the current collector plate; and a resin separator layer formed on the active material layer. A belt-like laser-cut end portion along a laser-cut edge that is laser-cut in a thickness direction of the separator-integrated electrode plate and forms part of a peripheral edge of the separator-integrated electrode plate has a resin-permeated portion in which a resin forming the resin separator layer permeates the active material layer over a width that is more than twice a thickness of the resin separator layer.Type: GrantFiled: November 10, 2017Date of Patent: May 5, 2020Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventor: Takahiro Sakurai
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Patent number: 10644365Abstract: A battery pack including adjacent battery modules is provided. Each of the battery modules includes one or more cylindrical batteries; a thermal diffusing plate holding the one or more cylindrical batteries; and a first chamber configured to distribute cooling air to cool each of the one or more cylindrical batteries. The battery pack further includes a second chamber provided between the adjacent battery modules, each of the respective thermal diffusing plates of the adjacent battery modules forming at least part of a wall of the second chamber; and a heater provided in the second chamber, the heater facing the respective thermal diffusing plates of the adjacent battery modules.Type: GrantFiled: March 18, 2016Date of Patent: May 5, 2020Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventor: Kenji Kimura
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Patent number: 10637111Abstract: Provided is a battery module having improved sealing properties of a cooling duct. The battery module includes a battery stack, in which an inlet of an air flow path is opened at one side and an outlet of the air flow path is opened at another side, and a plurality of cooling ducts combined to two side portions of the battery stack to respectively communicate with the inlet of the air flow path and the outlet of the air flow path. At least one of the plurality of cooling ducts includes a plug accommodating part defining a through hole, and a harness accommodating plug air-tightly inserted into the through hole and having a plurality of wire accommodating holes. The harness accommodating plug passes a wire of the internal harness or a wire of the external harness through the wire accommodating hole. The internal harness and the external harness are electrically combined around the harness accommodating plug.Type: GrantFiled: September 29, 2016Date of Patent: April 28, 2020Assignee: LG CHEM, LTD.Inventors: Yong-Joon Choi, Ki-Youn Kim, Duck-Hee Moon, Jun-Yeob Seong, Sung-Chun Yu, Gang-U Lee, Jung-Hang Lee, Sang-Yoon Jeong
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Patent number: 10637062Abstract: An electrode for an electrochemical device has a current collector, an electrolyte layer, and an active material layer between the current collector and the electrolyte layer comprising active material. The active material layer has a first sub-layer in contact with the electrolyte layer, the first sub-layer having only an electronically conductive polymer binder as a binder material; a second sub-layer in contact with the current collector, the second sub-layer having only an ionically conductive polymer binder as the binder material; and a mid-layer between the first sub-layer and the second sub-layer.Type: GrantFiled: February 26, 2018Date of Patent: April 28, 2020Assignee: Nissan North America, Inc.Inventor: Rameshwar Yadav
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Patent number: 10629944Abstract: A battery cell comprises a case including a sidewall portion defined as a depth of a receiving space and a planar portion extended from the sidewall portion and completing the receiving space; and an electrode assembly formed in such a manner that a plurality of electrode plates are stacked and accommodated in the receiving space of the case. In addition, the sidewall portion includes a first side wall and a second side wall protruding outwardly of the first side wall and expanding the receiving space.Type: GrantFiled: January 16, 2017Date of Patent: April 21, 2020Assignee: SK Innovation Co., Ltd.Inventors: Tae Il Kim, Dong Ju Kim, Jin Go Kim, Seung Noh Lee
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Patent number: 10629884Abstract: The present disclosure includes a battery module having a housing with a cell receptacle region defined by walls of the housing and configured to enable passage of electrochemical cells therethrough. The battery module also includes a bus bar carrier sealed in the cell receptacle region. The bus bar carrier includes a perimeter having flexible ribs extending along at least a majority of the perimeter and configured to enable intimate contact between the walls of the housing and the perimeter of the bus bar carrier.Type: GrantFiled: May 29, 2018Date of Patent: April 21, 2020Assignee: CPS Technology Holdings LLCInventors: Matthew R. Tyler, Christopher M. Bonin, John P. Dinkelman, Richard M. DeKeuster, Dale B. Trester