Patents Examined by Olatunji A Godo
  • Patent number: 11611091
    Abstract: An air handling system for a fuel cell stack includes a pneumatic storage device disposed downstream from a compressor, a flow control valve system configured to operatively couple an inlet of the pneumatic storage device to an outlet of the compressor and configured to operatively couple an outlet of the pneumatic storage device to an inlet of the fuel cell stack, and a controller configured to, in response to a power demand being greater than a threshold, cause the flow control valve to open to increase a flow rate of air from the pneumatic storage device to the fuel cell stack.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 10, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2023
    Assignee: CUMMINS INC.
    Inventors: Avinash Vallur Rajendran, Vivek Anand Sujan, Archit N. Koti
  • Patent number: 11605829
    Abstract: The present invention relates to an ion exchange membrane and an energy storage device comprising same, wherein the ion exchange membrane comprises: a polymer membrane comprising an ion conductor; and any one ion permeation inhibiting additive selected from the group consisting of a columnar porous metal oxide, crown ether, a nitrogen-containing cyclic compound, and a mixture thereof. In the ion exchange membrane, the size of a channel through which ions permeate is limited or an additive capable of trapping ions is introduced into an ion movement path, so that the permeation of ions is prevented, leading to the improvement of voltage efficiency and the prevention of deterioration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 14, 2023
    Assignee: Kolon Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: Junghwa Park, Donghoon Lee, Nayoung Kim, Eunsu Lee, Seungjib Yum
  • Patent number: 11594777
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a dual energy storage system that includes a lithium ion battery electrically coupled in parallel with a lead acid battery, where the lithium ion battery and the lead-acid battery are electrically coupled to a vehicle bus, where the lithium ion battery open circuit voltage (OCV) partially matches the lead-acid battery OCV such that the lead-acid battery OCV at 100% of the lead-acid battery state of charge (SOC) is about equal to the lithium ion battery OCV at 50% of the lithium ion battery SOC.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 2, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2023
    Assignee: CPS Technology Holdings LLC
    Inventors: Daniel B. Le, David R. Boone
  • Patent number: 11594772
    Abstract: A battery module and a method of assembling a battery module are provided. The method includes selectively applying a light-cure adhesive to recesses in a first side of a carrier layer and inserting battery cells into respective recesses. The method further includes exposing the first side of the carrier layer to light to at least partially cure the light-cure adhesive with the carrier layer in a first orientation, moving the carrier layer into a second orientation, and exposing a second opposite side of the carrier layer to light to fully cure the light-cure adhesive. The recesses may include a sidewall having crush points spaced apart along the sidewall and a bottom portion having an opening between a pair of crush points, where adhesive is not disposed between the pair of crush points.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 6, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2023
    Assignee: Rivian IP Holdings, LLC
    Inventors: Travis Cournoyer, Nathaniel Wynn
  • Patent number: 11588159
    Abstract: A control system and method for preventing a fuel cell from overheating are disclosed. The system includes: a fuel cell that generates electric power through reaction of fuel gas and oxidation gas; a cooling line in which a cooling medium flows and performs heat exchange with the fuel cell; a cooling pump installed on the cooling line and configured to circulate the cooling medium through the cooling line; a cooling controller that controls an operating state of the cooling pump on the basis of the temperature of the fuel cell or the cooling medium; and a power generation controller that limits power generation of the fuel cell on the basis of the operating state of the cooling pump.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2023
    Assignees: HYUNDAI MOTOR COMPANY, KIA CORPORATION
    Inventors: Seong Cheol Jeong, Jae Won Jung, Jong Gyun Kim
  • Patent number: 11575175
    Abstract: A manufacturing process flow and accompanying methods for assembling a battery module are designed to increase efficiency, reduce a footprint of the manufacturing process, reduce manufacturing time, allow for increased flexibility, and reduce costs. The process flow takes advantage of robotic functionality to combine multiple manufacturing and quality assurance operations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 3, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2023
    Assignee: Faraday & Future Inc.
    Inventors: Steven Harold Offutt, Hrayr Torosyan
  • Patent number: 11569517
    Abstract: A fuel cell control method and system based on model prediction control are provided. The method includes: (1) obtaining data required for control; (2) determining whether the data required for control are received completely; (3) estimating an internal state of a fuel cell based on outlet pressure of an air compressor and a voltage of the fuel cell to obtain a state estimation result; (4) calculating a target outlet flow of the air compressor and a target current of the fuel cell with a model prediction control algorithm based on the state estimation result; (5) calculating a control voltage of the air compressor, and a target outlet flow of the air compressor; and (6) tracking power of the fuel cell based on the target current of the fuel cell, and controlling air supply of the fuel cell based on the control voltage of the air compressor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 6, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2023
    Assignee: Tongji University
    Inventors: Ke Song, Xiaodi Wang
  • Patent number: 11565607
    Abstract: A high efficiency hydrogen fuel system for an aircraft at high altitude which utilizes compressors to compress air to a sufficiently high pressure for the fuel cell. Liquid hydrogen is compressed and then utilized in heat exchangers to cool the compressed air, maintaining the air at a temperature low enough for the fuel cell. The hydrogen is also used to cool the fuel cell as it is also depressurized prior to its entry in the fuel cell cycle. A water condensation system allows for water removal from the airstream to reduce impacts to the atmosphere. The hydrogen fuel system may be used with VTOL aircraft, which may allow them to fly at higher elevations. The hydrogen fuel system may be used with other subsonic and supersonic aircraft, such as with asymmetric wing aircraft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2023
    Assignee: Joby Aero, Inc.
    Inventors: Gregor Veble Mikic, JoeBen Bevirt, Robert Gulliver Lynn, Alex Stoll
  • Patent number: 11563209
    Abstract: This application describes a process for the preparation of carbon-coated particles, where the particles comprise an electrochemically active material. The process comprises the steps of emulsion polymerization, drying and thermally treating the polymer to obtain a nano-layer of carbon on the particles, where the carbon layer comprises fibers and nitrogen-containing polyaromatics have a graphene-like structure. The application also further relates to the particles produced by the method as well as to electrode materials, electrodes and electrochemical cells comprising the particles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2023
    Assignees: HYDRO-QUEBEC, MURATA MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Jean-Christophe Daigle, Yuichiro Asakawa, Shinichi Uesaka, Karim Zaghib
  • Patent number: 11560068
    Abstract: The invention relates to a circuit arrangement (24) for a vehicle electrical system of an electrically driven motor vehicle (42), comprising: a high-voltage battery (26) for supplying power to an electrical drive machine (28) of the motor vehicle (42); a range extender (22), which is designed to charge the high-voltage battery (26) and which has a plurality of identical fuel-cell base modules (10) having interfaces for supplying reactants in the form of hydrogen and air; a switching device (32) for connecting the range extender (22), the circuit arrangement (42) having no DC-to-DC converter; a control device (36) which is designed to carry out the following steps after the control device has received an activation signal regarding the range extender (22): determining an operating point of the range extender (22) in dependence on at least one variable of the high-voltage battery (26); defining a setpoint value regarding the supply of the reactants to the fuel-cell base modules (10) and/or a setpoint value rega
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 16, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2023
    Assignee: STACK HYDROGEN SOLUTIONS GMBH
    Inventors: Stefan Dany, Jan-Philipp Prote, Waldemar Schneider
  • Patent number: 11557808
    Abstract: A battery module includes a plurality of battery cells, a module case configured to accommodate the plurality of battery cells and having inner cooling channels formed at both sides of the plurality of battery cells. At least one opening is provided at both side surfaces of the module case to face the inner cooling channels of the module case and a pair of film members is mounted to both side surfaces of the module case to cover the at least one opening, the pair of film members being melted over a predetermined temperature to open the at least one opening.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 5, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 17, 2023
    Assignee: LG ENERGY SOLUTION, LTD.
    Inventor: Jin-Kyu Lee
  • Patent number: 11557801
    Abstract: A temperature control device for temperature control of a battery system has at least one battery subsystem. The temperature control device has a temperature control line for conducting a temperature control fluid and a pump device for generating a flow of the temperature control fluid in the temperature control line at least in a first flow direction. The temperature control line has at least one temperature control section which can be thermally conductively connected to the at least one battery subsystem for supplying and/or discharging thermal energy to or from the battery subsystem.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 17, 2023
    Assignee: Lion Smart GmbH
    Inventors: Christian Behlen, Tobias Mayer, Daniel Quinger
  • Patent number: 11557780
    Abstract: An energy regulation method for a fuel cell energy supply system including a plurality of fuel cell power generation modules, a plurality of power conversion modules, and a communication control module connected to the plurality of power conversion modules includes: calculating a parameter average value based on an energy state parameter of the fuel cell power generation module; calculating a compensation factor depending on the energy state parameter and the parameter average value; calculating a control parameter reference value of each of the power conversion modules based on a droop algorithm, and multiplying the control parameter reference value by the corresponding compensation factor to obtain a control parameter set value of the power conversion module; and regulating the corresponding fuel cell power generation modules depending on the control parameter set value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 19, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 17, 2023
    Assignee: DELTA ELECTRONICS (SHANGHAI) CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Guoqiao Shen, Tsu-Hua Al, Jinfa Zhang
  • Patent number: 11552378
    Abstract: A fusing apparatus including a main connection member provided on a main path and having one side and the other side electrically connected to the main path, respectively, a sub connection member provided on a sub path and having one side and the other side electrically connected to the sub path, respectively, and a shifting member provided between the main connection member and the sub connection member and configured to be moved and coupled from the main connection member to sub connection member to shift a connection relation from a connected state of the main connection member to a connected state of the sub connection member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 7, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2023
    Inventors: Ki-Hyun Kim, Chang-Bog Lee
  • Patent number: 11552315
    Abstract: A control system and a control method of fuel cell stacks are provided. The control system includes a set of fuel cell stacks, a secondary battery, a monitoring device, and a control device. Each fuel cell stack has a power output that can be independently started up or shut down. The secondary battery is connected to power output terminals of the fuel cell stacks via a power transmission path. The monitoring device is configured to monitor an electrical parameter of the power transmission path. The control device receives an electrical parameter signal from the monitoring device, and outputs a control signal to shut down or start up the power output of at least one of the fuel cell stacks if the electrical parameter's value is higher than a predetermined upper limit or lower than a predetermined lower limit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 14, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2023
    Assignee: Industrial Technology Research Institute
    Inventors: Yin-Wen Tsai, Chih-Wei Hsu, Ku-Yen Kang, Yuh-Fwu Chou, Chin-Yi Shih
  • Patent number: 11552310
    Abstract: The invention relates to a cooling system (10) for fuel cell stacks (22, 26), comprising a first cooling module (14) and a second cooling module (18). The first cooling module (14) comprises a fuel cell stack (22, 26), a supply line connection (30, 34) for connecting a supply line (38, 42) for supplying coolant to the fuel cell stack (22, 26), a discharge line connection (46, 50) for connecting a discharge line (54, 58) for discharging coolant from the fuel cell stack (22, 26), and a venting line connection (94, 98) for connecting a venting line (102, 106).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2023
    Assignees: Nikola Corporation, Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Kevin Lynk, Jesse Schneider, Werner Belschner, Jorg Heyse, Markus Remlinger
  • Patent number: 11552366
    Abstract: One aspect of the present disclosure provides a power source controller including a first battery pack connector, a working machine connector, and a power supply control device. The first battery pack connector is configured to be coupled to a first battery pack including a rechargeable battery. The working machine connector is configured to be detachably coupled to an electric working machine driven by an electric power of the first battery pack. The power supply control device is configured to supply the electric power of the first battery pack to the electric working machine in response to fulfillment of a first condition. The power supply control device is configured to transmit a dummy command signal to the first battery pack in response to fulfillment of a second condition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 31, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2023
    Assignee: MAKITA CORPORATION
    Inventor: Junichi Katayama
  • Patent number: 11552314
    Abstract: To provide a fuel-efficient fuel cell system configured to eliminate flooding in a fuel-based gas flow path, etc. The fuel cell system is a fuel cell system comprising a first fuel cell stack, a second fuel cell stack, a fuel gas supplier, a first supply flow path, a first circulation flow path, a second supply flow path, a second circulation flow path, a first bypass flow path which includes a first on-off valve, a second bypass flow path which includes a second on-off valve, a temperature detector, a current detector, a voltage detector and a controller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 21, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2023
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Koichiro Ikeda
  • Patent number: 11552311
    Abstract: An embodiment fuel cell includes a cell stack including a plurality of unit cells stacked in a first direction, a plate disposed at one of two end portions of the cell stack, the plate including a first terminal unit protruding in a second direction intersecting the first direction, a heating element including a second terminal unit engaged with the first terminal unit of the plate in the second direction, the heating element being disposed between the one of the two end portions of the cell stack and the plate, and an insulation part disposed at at least one of the first terminal unit or the second terminal unit, wherein one of the first terminal unit and the second terminal unit includes a pair of male heater terminals protruding in the second direction, and the other includes a pair of female heater terminals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 12, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2023
    Assignees: Hanon Systems, Hyundai Motor Company, Kia Corporation
    Inventors: Hyun Woong Ko, Yong Ha Chae, Kil Sang Jang
  • Patent number: 11539091
    Abstract: A battery module includes a housing, at least one cell stack inside the housing, a tightening assembly and a thermal conductive element. The tightening assembly includes first and second plugin members. The first plugin member has a first stopping portion and a first bolt portion connected with the first stopping portion, and the first bolt portion is tapered from the first stopping portion. The second plugin member has a second stopping portion and a second bolt portion connected with the second stopping portion, and the second bolt portion is tapered from the second stopping portion. The first and second plugin members are detachably inserted into the battery module from two opposing sides of the cell stack. The thermal conductive element tightens the cell stack to the housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2022
    Assignee: INDUSTRIAL TECHNOLOGY RESEARCH INSTITUTE
    Inventors: Chein-Chung Sun, Chih-Ting Chen