Patents Examined by Olatunji Godo
  • Patent number: 10873065
    Abstract: A battery cell degassing apparatus for degassing a battery cell having a gas pocket, which includes a chamber cover to which the battery cell is detachably mounted, a vacuum chamber coupled to the chamber cover and configured to accommodate the battery cell in a vacuum environment, the chamber cover being slidable in a horizontal direction with respect to the vacuum chamber, a piercing unit provided at the vacuum chamber to pierce a part of the gas pocket, and a pressing unit provided at the vacuum chamber to be spaced apart from the piercing unit and configured to flatten an upper surface and a lower surface of the battery cell and to discharge a gas inside the battery cell to the outside of the battery cell is provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 2, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 22, 2020
    Inventors: Hyo-Jin Park, Myung-Hyun Kim, Joon-Sung Bae, Eui-Kyung Lee, Jin-Woo Heo, Suk-Hyun Hong
  • Patent number: 10873099
    Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for creating and operating a Direct Current (DC) micro-grid. A DC micro-grid may include power generators, energy storage devices, and loads coupled to a common DC bus. Power electronics devices may couple the power generators, energy storage devices, and loads to the common DC bus and provide power transfer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 22, 2020
    Assignee: BLOOM ENERGY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Ranganathan Gurunathan, Arne Ballantine, Prasad Pmsvvsv, Rakesh Kumar Roy, Badrinarayanan Thiruvengadaswamy, Rajesh Gopinath, Saravanakumar Narayanasamy, Vishal Anand Gopalakrishnan, Anilkumar Vishnuvarjula, Tad Armstrong, Ian Russell
  • Patent number: 10873112
    Abstract: The invention relates to a battery system with a battery module (2) comprising a plurality of battery cells (3), wherein the battery cells (3) take the form, in particular, of lithium-ion battery cells or lithium-polymer battery cells, wherein the battery system (1) exhibits a first temperature-control-fluid guide (4) which is designed to be capable of being flowed through by a first temperature-control fluid (5) and, moreover, exhibits a first conveying unit (6) designed for a conveyance of the first temperature-control fluid (5) through the first temperature-control-fluid guide (4), and wherein the first temperature-control-fluid guide (4) is connected to the battery module (2) in heat-conducting manner, wherein the battery system (1) exhibits a second temperature-control-fluid guide (7) which is designed to be capable of being flowed through by a second temperature-control fluid (8) and, moreover, exhibits a second conveying unit (9) designed for an uptake of kinetic energy from the second temperature-cont
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 22, 2020
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventor: Torsten Koller
  • Patent number: 10859193
    Abstract: A waste-gas line has a first pipe section connectable to a battery and having an inlet end and a first flange, a separate second pipe section having a second outlet end and a second flange, and an inner sleeve and an outer sleeve, both of a non-conductive material. The inner sleeve is positioned on an outer side of the first flange and of the second flange. The outer sleeve surrounds the first flange, the second flange and the inner sleeve. The first and the second flanges are fastened to one another in such a way that at least the second pipe section is electrically insulated by the inner and the outer sleeves and, by the combination of inner and outer sleeves, is heat-resistant up to a temperature of at least 1100° C. and pressure-resistant up to a pressure of at least 8 bar, for a duration of at least 120 seconds.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 1, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 8, 2020
    Inventors: Dirk Harmuth, Jürgen Meinke
  • Patent number: 10862088
    Abstract: A battery case for securing and mechanically isolating a battery from a vehicle having an OEM battery holder. The battery case includes an adapter for securing the battery case to the vehicle. The adapter is configured for placement within a receiving cavity defined by the OEM battery holder. The adapter has a footprint that is substantially identical to the footprint of the battery. The adapter further has securement features that are substantially identical to the securement features on the battery. The battery case further includes a lower battery containment plate for supporting the battery thereon. The battery case still further includes at least one shock absorbing element positioned between the adapter and the lower battery containment plate for absorbing shocks and vibrations received from the vehicle so as to mechanically isolate the battery from the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 8, 2020
    Assignee: Savior Products, Inc.
    Inventors: Jon Clayton Templeman, Brock Christian Templeman
  • Patent number: 10854895
    Abstract: A thermal regulator system (10) for a fuel cell (12), the system comprising a passive pump member (14) having a first inlet (14a) connected to a first pipe (16), a second inlet (14b) connected to a second pipe (18), and an outlet (14c) configured to be connected to a cooling circuit (20) of the fuel cell (12), the passive pump member (14) being configured to use the Venturi effect to drive a fluid flow along the second pipe (18) by means of a fluid flowing along the first pipe (16). The first pipe (16) and the second pipe (18) are configured to be connected to an outlet of the cooling circuit (20) of the fuel cell (12), the first pipe (16) and the second pipe (18) being configured to feed the passive pump member (14) with fluids at different temperatures.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 17, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 1, 2020
    Assignee: SAFRAN POWER UNITS
    Inventors: Antoine Romet, Serge Le Gonidec
  • Patent number: 10854893
    Abstract: A power generation cell or a fuel cell includes an MEA, a first separator, and a second separator. A frame member is provided on an outer peripheral portion of the MEA. The frame member includes a frame member inner peripheral portion and a frame member outer peripheral portion held between the first separator and the second separator. The central position of a power generation area of the MEA in the thickness direction and the central position of the frame member outer peripheral portion in the thickness direction are offset from each other. Further, a first seal line of the first separator and a second seal line of the second separator, sealing the frame member outer peripheral portion, are non-symmetrical with each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 1, 2020
    Assignee: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Kentaro Ishida, Masahiro Matsutani, Satoshi Oyama
  • Patent number: 10840483
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to systems and methods for packaging a solid-state battery. Consistent with some embodiments, a package for a solid-state battery includes a substrate, a cap disposed over the substrate and forming an enclosure with the substrate, and a solid-state battery disposed inside the enclosure. The solid-state battery includes a first electrode that is disposed over the substrate, an electrolyte that is disposed over the first electrode, and a second electrode that is disposed over the electrolyte. The package further includes a compressible component disposed inside the enclosure and between the cap and the second electrode of the solid-state battery. The compressible component applies a pressure to at least one of the electrodes of the solid-state battery in a direction substantially perpendicular to the electrode(s) of the solid-state battery.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 17, 2020
    Assignee: Verily Life Sciences LLC
    Inventors: James Etzkorn, Kedar Shah
  • Patent number: 10826145
    Abstract: An electrochemical cell includes a bifunctional air cathode, an anode, and a ceramic electrolyte separator disposed substantially between the bifunctional air cathode and the anode. The anode includes a solid metal and an electrolyte configured to transition to a liquid phase in an operating temperature range. The electrolyte includes at least one of an alkali oxide, boron oxide, a carbonate, a phosphate, and a group III-X transition metal oxide.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 3, 2020
    Assignee: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventors: Richard Louis Hart, Sergei Kniajanski, Joseph John Shiang, Alok Mani Srivastava
  • Patent number: 10827653
    Abstract: A thermal management system includes one or more heating elements positioned proximate a battery pack. A temperature sensor is configured to determine a battery temperature for the battery pack. A controller is configured to: compare the battery temperature to a desired set point, and if the battery temperature is below the desired set point, energize the one or more heating elements positioned proximate the battery pack to raise the temperature of the battery pack.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 25, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 3, 2020
    Assignee: EMC IP Holding Company, LLC
    Inventors: Haifang Zhai, Xizhi Cui
  • Patent number: 10826049
    Abstract: According to embodiments of the present application, an electrode tab is provided comprising a substrate, a protective layer located outside the substrate, wherein the protective layer includes a first non-metallic element and a first metal element and the atomic ratio between the first non-metallic element and the first metal element is in the range of 10% to 30%. The embodiments of the present application further provide an electrode assembly and a battery. The object of the present application is to provide an electrode tab, an electrode assembly and a battery so as to at least achieve the improvement of electrolyte resistance under the immersion of electrolyte.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 3, 2020
    Assignee: Ningde Amperex Technology Limited
    Inventors: Chunye Wen, Guifu Wang
  • Patent number: 10826037
    Abstract: A vehicle-mounted battery apparatus to be mounted in a vehicle includes: a battery pack, the battery pack including a battery cell, the battery cell including a gas exhaust portion configured to discharge internal gas; a smoke exhaust duct connected to the battery pack and configured to discharge gas to an outside of the vehicle; and a check valve disposed in the smoke exhaust duct and configured to block flow of gas from the outside of the vehicle toward the battery pack. The check valve includes: a valve seat disposed in the smoke exhaust duct and having a hole; a valve body configured to be seated on the valve seat to cover the hole; and a shock absorbing member disposed between the valve body and the valve seat to alleviate impact of the valve body against the valve seat.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 3, 2020
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Atsushi Oki, Junta Katayama
  • Patent number: 10826115
    Abstract: The present disclosure sets forth battery components for secondary and/or traction batteries. Described herein are new solid-state lithium (Li) conducting electrolytes including monolithic, single layer, and bi-layer solid-state sulfide-based lithium ion (Li30) conducting catholytes or electrolytes. These solid-state ion conductors have particular chemical compositions which are arranged and/or bonded through both crystalline and amorphous bonds. Also provided herein are methods of making these solid-state sulfide-based lithium ion conductors including new annealing methods. These ion conductors are useful, for example, as membrane separators in rechargeable batteries.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 3, 2020
    Assignee: QuantumScape Corporation
    Inventors: Tim Holme, Zhebo Chen, William Hudson, Kian Kerman, Sunil Mair, Amal Mehrotra, Kim Van Berkel, Cheng-Chieh Chao, Drake Nguyen
  • Patent number: 10818952
    Abstract: Lignin-based electrolytes and flow battery cells and systems for use with lignin-based electrolytes are disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 27, 2020
    Assignee: Northeastern University
    Inventors: Hongli Zhu, Jonathan Hamel
  • Patent number: 10818887
    Abstract: The present invention provides a power storage device capable of preventing deterioration of sealability even when a pulling force is applied to a casing and having high safety and excellent durability.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 27, 2020
    Assignees: Honda Motor Co., Ltd., ELIIY Power Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Tomoya Makabe, Takeshi Yanagisawa, Hiroyuki Suzuki, Masaharu Nakamori, Hideyuki Sugiyama, Hiroshi Sato, Takeshi Sawada, Kazutoshi Miyauchi
  • Patent number: 10818949
    Abstract: A proton conducting membrane (16) for a fuel cell comprises light-transmissive proton conducting material (102, 104) and light scattering material (106) for scattering light within the membrane, the membrane further comprising a light guide (108) through which light can enter the membrane. Also disclosed is a fuel cell comprising the membrane.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 27, 2020
    Assignee: Enocell Limited
    Inventor: Donald MacPhee
  • Patent number: 10811663
    Abstract: Methods and systems for welding a terminal of a battery cell to corresponding terminal tab or busbar are described using a magnet that causes the terminal and tab/busbar to be placed in physical contact. The terminal of a battery cell is aligned in contact with the tab/busbar by the force of a magnetic field. A welder, e.g., a laser welder, can then generate a laser weld beam to weld the terminal of the battery cell to the tab/busbar. Next, the laser weld beam is narrowed, reducing the first diameter to a smaller second diameter. Without touching the tab/busbar or terminal of the battery (which could affect the welding operation), the magnetic field can cause a force that brings the tab and terminal in contact during welding.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 12, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 20, 2020
    Assignee: NIO USA, Inc.
    Inventors: Austin L. Newman, Alexander J. Smith
  • Patent number: 10797298
    Abstract: A battery has an electrode body which has an outer periphery and includes positive and negative electrodes with a separator disposed there between in a stacking direction. The battery further include an exterior body having a shape other than a substantially rectangular parallelepiped or cuboidal shape. The electrode body and an electrolytic solution are housed in the exterior body. The exterior body has at least first, second and third inner surfaces with the first and third inner surfaces being located on opposite sides of the second inner surface. The second inner surface is larger in area than the first and second inner surfaces. A liquid injection port is located in the exterior body and extends through the second inner surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 28, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 6, 2020
    Assignee: MURATA MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Kazuya Ishihama, Yasuhiro Matsuzaki, Tatsuo Niino, Takuya Horie
  • Patent number: 10797350
    Abstract: A method for producing a secondary battery including: an electrolytic solution containing a metal salt whose cation is an alkali metal, an alkaline earth metal, or aluminum and whose anion has a chemical structure represented by general formula (1) below, and a linear carbonate represented by general formula (2) below; a negative electrode; a positive electrode; and a coating on a surface of the negative electrode and/or the positive electrode, the coating containing S, O, and C, the method including forming the coating by performing a specific activation process on a secondary battery including the electrolytic solution, the negative electrode, and the positive electrode, (R1X1)(R2SO2)N??general formula (1), R20OCOOR21??general formula (2).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 5, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 6, 2020
    Assignee: KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOYOTA JIDOSHOKKI
    Inventors: Hiroyuki Sasaki, Tomoyuki Kawai, Yoshihiro Nakagaki, Hitoshi Aikiyo, Takeshi Maki
  • Patent number: 10777365
    Abstract: A power storage apparatus includes bag-shaped separators. Each of the bag-shaped separators includes a first welded portion and a first non-welded portion. The first welded portion exists along a first edge of the bag-shaped separator and is formed by welding the surplus sections of the separator members together. In the first non-welded portion, the separator members are not welded together. The bag-shaped separator includes a second welded portion and a second non-welded portion. The second welded portion exists along a second edge and is formed by welding the surplus sections of the separator members together. The second non-welded portion is located closer to the second edge than the second welded portion. In the second non-welded portion, the separator members are not welded together. In the power storage apparatus, the width of the first non-welded portion>the width of the second non-welded portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 15, 2020
    Assignee: KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOYOTA JIDOSHOKKI
    Inventors: Atsushi Minagata, Masato Ogasawara, Tomoaki Tachibana