Patents Examined by Milton I Cano
  • Patent number: 10505186
    Abstract: In general, according to one embodiment, there is provided an active material. The active material contains a composite oxide having an orthorhombic crystal structure. The composite oxide is represented by a general formula of LixM11?yM2yTi6?zM3zO14+?. In the general formula, M1 is at least one selected from the group consisting of Sr, Ba, Ca, and Mg; M2 is at least one selected from the group consisting of Cs, K, and Na; M3 is at least one selected from the group consisting of Al, Fe, Zr, Sn, V, Nb, Ta, and Mo; and x is within a range of 2?x?6, y is within a range of 0<y<1, z is within a range of 0<z?6, and ? is within a range of ?0.5???0.5.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 10, 2019
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventors: Yasuhiro Harada, Norio Takami, Kazuki Ise
  • Patent number: 10497946
    Abstract: A first sealing member includes a first flat sealing portion facing a first electrode, a second flat sealing portion, and a first protruding sealing portion. The second flat sealing portion is opposite to the first electrode in the stacking direction. The first protruding sealing portion protrudes from the second flat sealing portion in the stacking direction and includes a crossing portion at which the first protruding sealing portion diverges. A second sealing member includes a third flat sealing portion facing a second electrode, a second protruding sealing portion, and a block-shaped seal. The second protruding sealing portion protrudes from the third flat sealing portion in the stacking direction. The block-shaped seal is disposed in a region corresponding to the crossing portion viewed in a stacking direction and protruding from the third flat sealing portion apart from the second protruding sealing portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 3, 2019
    Assignee: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Shuhei Goto, Seiji Sugiura, Kentaro Ishida
  • Patent number: 10490782
    Abstract: A rechargeable battery capable of preventing rust generation at an opening side of a battery case. The rechargeable battery according to embodiments of the present invention includes: an electrode assembly; a case having an opening and accommodating the electrode assembly; and a cap assembly electrically connected to the electrode assembly, and coupled to an opening side of the case with a gasket interposed therebetween, wherein the opening side of the case includes a trimming end, a gap proximate the trimming end, and a coating layer on an inner surface of the gap proximate the trimming end.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 26, 2019
    Assignee: Samsung SDI Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Jae-Il Seong, Hideaki Yoshio, Ji-Won Yun
  • Patent number: 10468706
    Abstract: A REDOX flow battery or fuel battery includes a reactant storing and collecting unit for preventing leakage of a reactant. The battery includes two end plates and a stack that is disposed between the end plates and includes one or more unit cells. The reactant storing and collecting unit for preventing leakage of a reactant is disposed inside or outside the stack. According to the present invention, sealing reliability of the REDOX battery or fuel battery is dramatically improved. In addition, although a reactant or a product leaks from the stack, the reactant or the product may not leak to an outside of the battery but is collected before leaking to the outside. Therefore, the battery according to the present invention has an advantage of easy maintenance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 31, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 5, 2019
    Assignee: STANDARD ENERGY CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Bu Gi Kim, Da Young Kim
  • Patent number: 10468647
    Abstract: A battery pack includes a first battery module and a second battery module arranged adjacent the first battery module so as to define an open space portion. Each of the first and second battery modules includes a case configured to house at least one single cell. Each case includes a wall portion including a vent through which an inside of the case is capable of communicating with an area outside the case, and a wall region without the vent. The vent disposed in the wall portion of the case of the first battery module opens toward the open space portion and toward the wall region of the case of the second battery module, when the first battery module is disposed adjacent to the second battery module.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 26, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 5, 2019
    Assignee: Envision AESC Japan Ltd.
    Inventor: Ryuichi Amagai
  • Patent number: 10461330
    Abstract: The present invention provides a positive-electrode active material for a lithium-ion secondary cell, which can effectively exhibit more excellent charge/discharge characteristics; and a method for manufacturing the positive-electrode active material. Namely, the present invention relates to a positive-electrode active material for a secondary cell comprising an oxide represented by formula (A): LifeaMnbMcPO4; and carbon derived from a cellulose nanofiber supported thereon.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 29, 2019
    Assignee: TAIHEIYO CEMENT CORPORATION
    Inventors: Hiroki Yamashita, Tomoki Hatsumori, Takaaki Ogami
  • Patent number: 10461343
    Abstract: A fuel cell assembly includes a fuel cell arrangement having first and second plates sandwiching a membrane electrode assembly. The arrangement defines first and second header regions that each include supply and return headers. The first plate defines coolant channels that extend between the header regions and connect to the return header in the first region. The second plate defines coolant channels that extend between the header regions and connect to the supply header in the first region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 11, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 29, 2019
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Craig Michael Mathie, Michael Allen DeBolt, Brian Gillespey, William F. Sanderson, Zijie Lu
  • Patent number: 10461358
    Abstract: A rechargeable lithium battery includes a positive electrode, a negative electrode, a separator between the positive electrode and the negative electrode, a polymer layer on the separator, the polymer layer including a polyvinylidene fluoride based polymer, and an electrolyte solution including an alkyl propionate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 29, 2019
    Assignee: Samsung SDI Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Cheon-Soo Kim
  • Patent number: 10454076
    Abstract: A rechargeable battery according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention includes: an electrode assembly including electrodes at opposite sides of a separator, each of the electrodes having a coated region and an uncoated region, and the electrodes and the separator being spirally wound; an insulating case for accommodating the electrode assembly and allowing the uncoated regions to be drawn out through respective uncoated region holes; a case for accommodating the insulating case; and a cap plate coupled to an opening of the case and allowing electrode terminals respectively coupled to the uncoated regions to be drawn out through respective terminal holes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 22, 2019
    Assignee: Samsung SDI Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Sang-Kyoon Park, Yong-Chul Seo, Seung-Ho Kwak, Joong-Heon Kim
  • Patent number: 10454120
    Abstract: A fuel cell system in a vehicle has a cathode and an anode. A compressor has an inlet and an outlet, the outlet being configured to outlet a compressed air from the compressor. A bypass line is configured to return the compressed air from the outlet to the inlet such that the air returns to the compressor in a loop. A valve is located downstream of the compressor and is operable in a plurality of modes. In a first mode, the valve is configured to block the air from the cathode and return the air via the bypass line. In a second mode, the valve is configured to direct at least some of the air to the cathode. The valve can also be configured to operate in a third mode in which the air is sent to the cathode without going through the bypass line.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 3, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 22, 2019
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Craig Michael Mathie, Martin Pryor, Matthew Riley
  • Patent number: 10454131
    Abstract: A secondary battery includes a first electrode assembly comprising a first separator in a serpentine form and first and second electrode plates that are respectively located on two surfaces of the first separator at different positions; and a second electrode assembly comprising a second separator in a serpentine form and third and fourth electrode plates that are respectively located on the second separator at different positions, wherein the first separator, to which the first and second electrode plates are combined, is bent with respect to ends of the first and second electrode plates so that the portion of the first separator is located on the second separator, and the second separator, on which the third and fourth electrode plates are combined, is bent with respect to ends of the third and fourth electrode plates so that the portion of the second separator is located on the first separator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 14, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 22, 2019
    Assignee: Samsung SDI Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Jaekyung Cho, Jinho So, Daewook Ki, Gisung Kim
  • Patent number: 10446851
    Abstract: An electrode for a fuel cell includes a catalyst layer adjacent to a gas diffusion layer and a proton exchange membrane, and ionomer-free active metal-loaded carbon nanostructures and active metal-free ionomer-coated carbon nanostructures arranged to define pores therebetween to facilitate transport of reactant gases and product water in the fuel cell.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 17, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 15, 2019
    Assignee: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Zijie Lu, Jun Yang, Mark S. Sulek, Chunchuan Xu, Kerrie K. Gath
  • Patent number: 10439224
    Abstract: A positive electrode for non-aqueous electrolyte secondary battery suppresses a decrease in discharge capacity under a high output condition while minimizing an increase in battery temperature in an overcharged state of the battery. The positive electrode includes: a positive electrode current collector; and a positive electrode active material layer that is formed on a surface of the positive electrode current collector, contains a positive electrode active material and a conductive aid, and has a BET specific surface area of from 1 to 3 m2/g, in which the conductive aid contains a first conductive aid and a second conductive aid having a larger average particle diameter than the first conductive aid. The content of the first conductive aid is greater than the content of the second conductive aid in the positive electrode active material layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 8, 2019
    Assignee: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Kodai Nagano
  • Patent number: 10439251
    Abstract: Disclosed herein are garnet material compositions, e.g., lithium-stuffed garnets and lithium-stuffed garnets doped with alumina, which are suitable for use as electrolytes and catholytes in solid state battery applications. Also disclosed herein are lithium-stuffed garnet thin films having fine grains therein. Also disclosed herein are methods of making and using lithium-stuffed garnets as catholytes, electrolytes and/or anolytes for all solid state lithium rechargeable batteries. Also disclosed herein are electrochemical devices which incorporate these garnet catholytes, electrolytes and/or anolytes. Also disclosed herein are methods for preparing dense thin (<50 um) free standing membranes of an ionically conducting material for use as a catholyte, electrolyte, and, or, anolyte, in an electrochemical device, a battery component (positive or negative electrode materials), or a complete solid state electrochemical energy storage device. Also disclosed herein are sintering techniques, e.g.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 11, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 8, 2019
    Assignee: QuantumScape Corporation
    Inventors: Tim Holme, Niall Donnelly, Sriram Iyer, Adrian Winoto, Mohit Singh, Will Hudson, Dong Hee Anna Choi, Oleh Karpenko, Kian Kerman
  • Patent number: 10439237
    Abstract: a fuel cell system comprises a solid oxide fuel cell which generates a power by receiving a supply of an anode gas and a cathode gas, the system further comprising: a fuel tank to store a liquid fuel which is to become the anode gas, an anode gas supply path connecting the fuel tank and an anode electrode of the fuel cell, an exhaust gas burner to burn an anode off-gas and a cathode off-gas, both gases been discharged from the fuel cell, a collector which is communicated to the fuel tank and collects the fuel which is vaporized in the fuel tank, and a fuel supply path which connects the collector with the exhaust gas burner. When the fuel cell system is stopped, the fuel collected by the collector is supplied to the exhaust gas burner via the fuel supply path.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 8, 2019
    Assignee: NISSAN MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Tatsuya Yaguchi
  • Patent number: 10439236
    Abstract: An air supply device using a cooling water heater of a fuel cell vehicle can effectively reduce cold starting time of the fuel cell vehicle and effectively remove moisture in a stack in cold shut down (CSD) of the fuel cell vehicle. In the air supply device, a bypass flow path is formed to be branched from a first air supply line connected between an air blower for supplying air to a fuel cell stack and a humidifier for humidifying the air supplied to the stack. The bypass flow path allows air exhausted from the air blower to pass through a cooling water heater by bypassing the humidifier and then to be supplied to the stack.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 8, 2019
    Assignee: Hyundai Motor Company
    Inventors: Su Dong Han, Hyung Kook Kim
  • Patent number: 10411256
    Abstract: According to one embodiment, there is provided an active material. The active material includes particles. Each of the particles includes a core phase and a shell phase surrounding at least a part of the core phase. The core phase includes a first monoclinic niobium-titanium composite oxide. The shell phase includes a second monoclinic niobium-titanium composite oxide. An oxidation number of titanium in the core phase is larger than an oxidation number of titanium in the shell phase, and/or an oxidation number of niobium in the core phase is larger than an oxidation number of niobium in the shell phase.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 10, 2019
    Assignee: KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOSHIBA
    Inventors: Wen Zhang, Keigo Hoshina, Yasuhiro Harada, Kazuki Ise, Norio Takami
  • Patent number: 10403869
    Abstract: The present disclosure includes a battery module that includes a housing having a stack of battery cells. Each battery cell of the stack of battery cells includes a terminal end having at least one cell terminal and a face oriented transverse to the terminal end. The battery module also includes adhesive tape disposed between a first face of a first battery cell of the stack of battery cells and a second face of a second battery cell of the stack of battery cells, and where the adhesive tape fixedly couples the first battery cell to the second battery cell, and where a first terminal end of the first battery cell is substantially aligned with a second terminal end of the second battery cell.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 3, 2019
    Assignee: CPS TECHNOLOGY HOLDINGS, LLC
    Inventors: Matthew R. Tyler, Jennifer L. Czarnecki
  • Patent number: 10403932
    Abstract: Set forth herein are garnet material compositions, e.g., lithium-stuffed garnets and lithium-stuffed garnets doped with alumina, which are suitable for use as electrolytes and catholytes in solid state battery applications. Set forth herein are lithium-stuffed garnet thin films having fine grains therein. Disclosed herein are novel and inventive methods of making and using lithium-stuffed garnets as catholytes, electrolytes and/or anolytes for all solid state lithium rechargeable batteries. Disclosed herein are novel electrochemical devices which incorporate these garnet catholytes, electrolytes and/or anolytes. Set forth herein are methods for preparing novel structures, including dense thin free standing membranes of an ionically conducting material for use as a catholyte, electrolyte, and, or, anolyte, in an electrochemical device, a battery component (positive or negative electrode materials), or a complete solid state electrochemical energy storage device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 10, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 3, 2019
    Assignee: QuantumScape Corporation
    Inventors: Dong Hee Anna Choi, Niall Donnelly, Tim Holme, Will Hudson, Sriram Iyer, Oleh Karpenko, Mohit Singh, Adrian Winoto
  • Patent number: 10396376
    Abstract: A fuel cell vehicle control method changes an output current of a fuel cell depending on a required generated power and adjusts an air supply flow rate depending on the change of the output current. The output current is reduced in response to a decrease of the required generated power when a gearshift operation of a transmission is under an inertia phase of an upshift operation. The air supply flow rate is controlled to an inertia phase supply flow rate higher than the air supply flow rate set in response to the decrease of the output current.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 5, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 27, 2019
    Assignee: NISSAN MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Hideaki Setoguchi, Mitsunori Kumada