Patents Examined by Michael L Dignan
  • Patent number: 10749161
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 18, 2020
    Assignee: Artisan Vehicle Systems Inc.
    Inventors: Brian R. Huff, Michael E. Kasaba, Kyle Hickey
  • Patent number: 10749206
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 18, 2020
    Assignee: I-TEN
    Inventors: Fabien Gaben, Frédéric Bouyer, Bruno Vuillemin
  • Patent number: 10727484
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 28, 2020
    Assignee: HITACHI METALS, LTD.
    Inventors: Hisato Tokoro, Takashi Nakabayashi, Shuichi Takano, Shin Takahashi, Akira Gunji, Tatsuya Toyama
  • Patent number: 10714786
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: November 6, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 14, 2020
    Assignees: 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
  • Patent number: 10700335
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 30, 2020
    Assignee: Thunder Power New Energy Vehicle Development Company Limited
    Inventors: Francesco Mastrandrea, Peter Tutzer
  • Patent number: 10693188
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 23, 2020
    Assignee: Clemson University
    Inventors: Mark E Roberts, Jesse C Kelly
  • Patent number: 10693158
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 23, 2020
    Assignee: LG Electronics, Inc.
    Inventors: Michele Bozzolo, Robert Hay Cunningham, Gary John Saunders
  • Patent number: 10686198
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 16, 2020
    Assignee: TEMASEK POLYTECHNIC
    Inventors: Ming Han, Ee Ho Gareth Tang, Yunzhong Chen
  • Patent number: 10686183
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 16, 2020
    Assignee: Zenlabs Energy, Inc.
    Inventors: Charan Masarapu, Yogesh Kumar Anguchamy, Yongbong Han, Haixia Deng, Sujeet Kumar, Herman A. Lopez
  • Patent number: 10680258
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 9, 2020
    Assignee: HYDROGENICS CORPORATION
    Inventor: Paolo Forte
  • Patent number: 10680261
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 9, 2020
    Assignee: LG Electronics, Inc.
    Inventors: Michele Bozzolo, Robert Hay Cunningham, Gary John Saunders
  • Patent number: 10680269
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: August 10, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 9, 2020
    Assignees: VOLKSWAGEN AG, AUDI AG
    Inventors: Jan-Philipp Brinkmeier, Dirk Jenssen
  • Patent number: 10665848
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 26, 2020
    Assignee: CPS Technology Holdings LLC
    Inventors: Robert J. Mack, Dale B. Trester, Richard M. DeKeuster, Jennifer L. Czarnecki, Jason D. Fuhr
  • Patent number: 10651450
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: October 25, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 12, 2020
    Assignee: YAZAKI CORPORATION
    Inventor: Yutaro Okazaki
  • Patent number: 10644288
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: November 10, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 5, 2020
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Takahiro Sakurai
  • Patent number: 10644365
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 5, 2020
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Kenji Kimura
  • Patent number: 10637111
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 28, 2020
    Assignee: 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
  • Patent number: 10637062
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 28, 2020
    Assignee: Nissan North America, Inc.
    Inventor: Rameshwar Yadav
  • Patent number: 10629944
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: January 16, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2020
    Assignee: SK Innovation Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Tae Il Kim, Dong Ju Kim, Jin Go Kim, Seung Noh Lee
  • Patent number: 10629884
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: May 29, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2020
    Assignee: CPS Technology Holdings LLC
    Inventors: Matthew R. Tyler, Christopher M. Bonin, John P. Dinkelman, Richard M. DeKeuster, Dale B. Trester