Patents Examined by Osei K Amponsah
  • Patent number: 11201347
    Abstract: The secondary-cell manufacturing system that forms the electrode assembly with lamination as demonstrated includes the unit-cell-forming device that forms a unit-cell from a separator roll, negative-cell roll, and positive-cell roll as stacked in the order of separator/negative cell/separator/positive cell/separator, the overturning device that forms an inverse unit-cell stacked in the order of separator/positive cell/separator/negative cell by overturning a portion of minimum 2 cells that are formed by the unit-cell-forming device, and the stacking device that performs stacking in the order of unit-cell/negative cell/inverse unit-cell/positive cell. Accordingly, the invention provides a secondary-cell manufacturing system that forms an electrode assembly, which simplifies the process for building the electrode assembly, reduces the defect rate for the built electrode assembly, and forms the electrode assembly with lamination.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 14, 2021
    Inventor: Sora Lee
  • Patent number: 11201355
    Abstract: A non-aqueous electrolyte secondary cell provided with: a positive electrode that has a positive electrode active material; a negative electrode; and a non-aqueous electrolyte. The positive electrode active material contains a lithium composite oxide containing Ni, and the non-aqueous electrolyte contains a non-aqueous solvent containing a fluorinated chain carboxylic acid ester and an organochlorine compound. The organochlorine compound is represented by general formula CF3CH2CO—CClR1R2 (where in the formula, R1 and R2 are respectively independent, and are selected from a hydrogen, a halogen, a C1-2 alkyl group, or a C1-2 halogenated alkyl group).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 14, 2021
    Assignee: PANASONIC CORPORATION
    Inventors: Kazuhiro Iida, Takanobu Chiga, Naoya Morisawa, Atsushi Fukui
  • Patent number: 11196086
    Abstract: The present application relates to a lithium ion battery, comprising: a positive electrode plate, a negative electrode plate, a separator disposed between the positive electrode plate and the negative electrode plate, and an electrolytic solution, the positive electrode plate including a positive electrode current collector and a positive electrode active material layer provided on at least one side of the positive electrode current collector, and the electrolytic solution including an organic solvent, a lithium salt and an additive, wherein the lithium salt comprises a primary lithium salt, the primary lithium salt is a first compound in an amount of 30% or more relative to the total molar amount of the lithium salt, and the first compound has a structure represented by the following formula I, and wherein the additive comprises a second compound represented by the following formula II.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 7, 2021
    Assignee: Contemporary Amperex Technology Co., Limited
    Inventors: Chengdu Liang, Cuiping Zhang, Ming Zhang, Peipei Chen, Hailin Zou, Liye Li
  • Patent number: 11196048
    Abstract: Provided is a positive electrode active material that has high output characteristics and battery capacity when used for a positive electrode of a nonaqueous electrolyte secondary battery and can inhibit gelation of positive electrode mixture paste. A method for producing the positive electrode active material is also provided. A positive electrode active material for a nonaqueous electrolyte secondary battery contains a lithium-nickel-cobalt-manganese composite oxide represented by General Formula (1): Lii+sNixCoyMnzBtM1uO2+? and having a hexagonal layered crystal structure. The lithium-nickel-cobalt-manganese composite oxide contains a secondary particle formed of a plurality of flocculated primary particles and a boron compound containing lithium present at least on part of surfaces of the primary particles. A water-soluble Li amount present on the surfaces of the primary particles is up to 0.1% by mass relative to the entire amount of the positive electrode active material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 7, 2021
    Assignee: SUMITOMO METAL MINING CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Mitsuru Yamauchi, Tetsufumi Komukai
  • Patent number: 11196126
    Abstract: In accordance with at least selected embodiments, novel or improved separator membranes, separators, batteries including such separators, methods of making such membranes and/or separators, and/or methods of using such membranes and/or separators are disclosed or provided. In accordance with at least certain embodiments, an ionized radiation treated microporous polyolefin, polyethylene (PE), copolymer, and/or polymer blend (e.g., a copolymer or blend comprising PE and another polymer, such as polypropylene (PP)) battery separator for a secondary or rechargeable lithium battery and/or a method of making an ionized radiation treated microporous battery separator is disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 18, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 7, 2021
    Assignee: Celgard, LLC
    Inventors: Changqing Wang Adams, Michael Bielmann, Zhengming Zhang
  • Patent number: 11183689
    Abstract: Systems and methods for use of silicon with impurities in silicon-dominant anode cells may include a cathode, an electrolyte, and an anode including an active material, where the anode active material includes silicon, and where an impurity level of the silicon may be more than 400 ppm. The impurity level of the silicon is more than 600 ppm. The impurity level may be for elements with an atomic number between 2 and 42. The silicon may have a purity of 99.90% or less. A resistance of the silicon when pressed into a 4 mm thick and 15 mm diameter pellet may be 25 k? or less. The active material may include silicon, carbon, and a pyrolyzed polymer on a metal current collector. The metal current collector may include a copper or nickel foil in electrical contact with the active material. The active material may include more than 50% silicon.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 23, 2021
    Assignee: ENEVATE CORPORATION
    Inventors: Ian Browne, Benjamin Park, Jill Renee Pestana
  • Patent number: 11177538
    Abstract: The reliability of electrical connection between electrode terminals of power storage devices and bus bars can be improved. A bent portion that is provided on each bus bar is formed at a position shifted in the left-right direction from an intermediate position between one contact portion of two contact portions of the bus bar and the other contact portion positioned next to the one contact portion. In a bus bar housing portion, a beam portion on which a corresponding bus bar is placed is formed extending in the front-rear direction. Each beam portion is formed at a position shifted in the left-right direction from the bent portion in a state where the bus bar is housed in the bus bar housing portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 16, 2021
    Assignees: AUTONETWORKS TECHNOLOGIES, LTD., SUMITOMO WIRING SYSTEMS, LTD., SUMITOMO ELECTRIC INDUSTRIES, LTD.
    Inventors: Taiji Yanagida, Hiroki Shimoda, Yoshinori Ito
  • Patent number: 11177469
    Abstract: The present application relates to a cathode, an electrochemical device and an electronic device comprising the same. The cathode comprises: a cathode current collector; a first cathode active material layer, comprising a first cathode active material; and a second cathode active material layer, comprising a second cathode active material, wherein the first cathode active material layer is disposed between the cathode current collector and the second cathode active material layer, and the first cathode active material layer is formed on at least one surface of the cathode current collector; and wherein the second cathode active material is embedded in the first cathode active material layer and forms a continuous transition layer with the first cathode active material at an interface between the first cathode active material layer and the second cathode active material layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 16, 2021
    Assignee: NINGDE AMPEREX TECHNOLOGY LIMITED
    Inventors: Huawei Zhong, Chaowang Lin, Fan Yang, Yisong Su
  • Patent number: 11158910
    Abstract: The disclosure provides a battery busbar including a conductive sheet, at least two bridge portions and at least two terminal contact portions. The conductive sheet has at least one cavity portion. Each of the at least two bridge portions has a first end and a second end which are opposite to each other, and the first ends of the bridge portions are respectively connected to different sides of the at least one cavity portion. The terminal contact portions are spaced apart from each other and are respectively connected to the second ends of the bridge portions. A width direction is defined to be substantially perpendicular to a line passing through the first end and the second end of one of the at least two bridge portions; along the width direction, a width of the bridge portion is smaller than a width of the terminal contact portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 17, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 26, 2021
    Assignee: INDUSTRIAL TECHNOLOGY RESEARCH INSTITUTE
    Inventors: Chih-Ting Chen, Chein-Chung Sun
  • Patent number: 11133532
    Abstract: A membrane-electrode assembly for a lithium battery includes: a cathode including a cathode current collector and a composite cathode active material layer on the cathode current collector, wherein the composite cathode active material layer includes a cathode active material and a first electrolyte including a high concentration lithium salt and a first ionic liquid; an electrolyte reservoir layer on a surface of the cathode, wherein the electrolyte reservoir layer includes a second electrolyte including a polymer and a second ionic liquid; and a solid electrolyte on a surface of the electrolyte reservoir layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 28, 2021
    Assignees: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD., SAMSUNG SDI CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Wonseok Chang, Hyorang Kang, Toshinori Sugimoto
  • Patent number: 11127998
    Abstract: A direct heat to electricity engine includes solid state electrodes of an electrochemically active material that has an electrochemical reaction potential that is temperature dependent. The electrodes are configured in combination with electrolyte separators to form membrane electrode assemblies. The membrane electrode assemblies are grouped into pairs, whereby each membrane electrode assembly of a given pair is ionically and electronically interconnected with the other. One membrane electrode assembly of a given pair is coupled to a heat source with the other to a heat sink. One membrane electrode assembly of the pair is electrically discharged while the other is electrically charged, whereby the net and relative charge between the two remains constant because of the electronic and ionic interconnection and the difference in temperature of the membrane electrode assemblies, and thereby voltage, results in net power generation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 9, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 21, 2021
    Assignee: JOHNSON IP HOLDING, LLC
    Inventor: Lonnie G. Johnson
  • Patent number: 11128020
    Abstract: Secondary batteries and methods of manufacture thereof are provided. A secondary battery can comprise an offset between electrode and counter-electrode layers in a unit cell. Secondary batteries can be prepared by removing a population of negative electrode subunits from a negative electrode sheet, the negative electrode sheet comprising a negative electrode sheet edge margin and at least one negative electrode sheet weakened region that is internal to the negative electrode sheet edge margin, removing a population of separator layer subunits from a separator sheet, and removing a population of positive electrode subunits from a positive electrode sheet, the positive electrode sheet comprising a positive electrode edge margin and at least one positive electrode sheet weakened region that is internal to the positive electrode sheet edge margin, and stacking members of the negative electrode subunit population, the separator layer subunit population and the positive electrode subunit population.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 21, 2021
    Assignee: Enovix Corporation
    Inventors: Robert S. Busacca, Ashok Lahiri, Murali Ramasubramanian, Bruno A. Valdes, Gardner Cameron Dales, Christopher J. Spindt, Geoffrey Matthew Ho, Harrold J. Rust, III, James D. Wilcox, John F. Varni, Kim Han Lee, Nirav S. Shah, Richard J. Contreras, Lynn Van Erden, Ken S. Matsubayashi, Jeremie J. Dalton, Jason Newton Howard, Robert Keith Rosen, Jonathan C. Doan, Michael J. Armstrong, Anthony Calcaterra, Benjamin L. Cardozo, Joshua David Winans, Neelam Singh, Jeffrey Glenn Buck, Thomas John Schuerlein, Kim Lester Fortunati, Neal Sarswat
  • Patent number: 11121375
    Abstract: Individual electrodes for a solid-state lithium-ion battery cell may be formed, for example, by elevated temperature consolidation in air of a mixture of resin-bonded, electrode active material particles, oxide solid electrolyte particles, and particles of a non-carbon electronic conductive additive. Depending on the selected compositions of the electrode materials and the solid electrolyte, one or both of the cathode and anode layer members may be formed to include the non-carbon electronic conductive additive. The battery cell is assembled with the solid-state electrodes placed on opposite sides of a consolidated layer of oxide electrolyte particles. The electronic conductivity of at least one of the cathode and anode is increased by the incorporation of particles of a selected non-carbon electronic conducive additive with the respective electrode particles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 14, 2021
    Assignee: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventors: Mengyan Hou, Zhe Li, Dewen Kong, Haijing Liu, Qili Su
  • Patent number: 11121361
    Abstract: The present invention provides a method of preparing a slurry for a secondary battery positive electrode which includes forming a first mixture in a paste state by adding a lithium iron phosphate-based positive electrode active material, a conductive agent, a binder, and a solvent, and preparing a slurry for a positive electrode by mixing while further adding a solvent to the first mixture in the paste state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 14, 2021
    Inventors: Byoung Hoon Ahn, Sang Hoon Choy, Chang Wan Koo, Hyun Chul Ha
  • Patent number: 11121373
    Abstract: A method for manufacturing an electrochemical device includes the following steps: a step of preparing a positive electrode, the positive electrode including a first current collector and a positive electrode layer containing a conductive polymer; a step of preparing a negative electrode, the negative electrode including a second current collector and a negative electrode layer; and a step of sealing the positive electrode, the negative electrode, and an electrolytic solution in an exterior body. The step of preparing the positive electrode includes a step of holding the positive electrode in depressurized atmosphere and then introducing gas containing CO2 as a primary component into the depressurized atmosphere.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 14, 2021
    Assignee: PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Kiyohiro Isii, Takuma Asari, Chiho Nobumori, Yasuyuki Ito, Nao Matsumura
  • Patent number: 11114693
    Abstract: A nonaqueous electrolytic solution contains a nonaqueous solvent and an electrolyte dissolved in the solvent. The solution includes a difluoro ionic complex (1-Cis) in a cis conformation represented by the formula (1-Cis), and at least one of cyclic sulfonic acid ester, cyclic sulfonic acid ester having an unsaturated bond, cyclic sulfuric acid ester, cyclic disulfonic acid ester, chain disulfonic acid ester, cyclic disulfonic acid anhydride, nitrile group-containing compound, silyl phosphate ester derivative, and silyl borate ester derivative.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 7, 2021
    Assignee: Central Glass Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Saori Itabashi, Wataru Kawabata, Katsutoshi Suzuki, Kazunari Takeda
  • Patent number: 11108073
    Abstract: A manufacturing method of a fuel cell stack includes: stacking fuel cells on a first end plate; superposing a pressure plate, on which protruding portions are provided along an outer periphery thereof, on a stacked body of the fuel cells so that the protruding portions protrude outward from side faces of the stacked body; pressing the protruding portions so that the stacked body is pressed between the first end and the pressure plates; measuring a length of the stacked body in a stacking direction while pressing the protruding portions; superposing on the pressure plate an adjustment plate having a thickness in accordance with the measured length while pressing the protruding portions; and fixing a second end plate to the first end plate so as to sandwich the stacked body, the pressure plate and the adjustment plate between the first and the second end plates while pressing the protruding portions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 5, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 31, 2021
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Hideo Nagaosa
  • Patent number: 11101472
    Abstract: A resin film equipped MEA of a power generation cell includes a membrane electrode assembly and a resin film. An inner peripheral end of a first frame shaped sheet of the resin film is positioned outside an outer peripheral end of a cathode, and faces the outer peripheral end of the cathode so as to be separated by a gap. An inner peripheral portion of a second frame shaped sheet is held between the anode and the cathode. A first metal separator facing the first frame shaped sheet is provided with protruding support structure configured to support an inner peripheral portion of the first frame shaped sheet and an outer peripheral portion of the cathode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 17, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 24, 2021
    Assignee: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Kenji Sasaki, Yutaka Ebato, Takaaki Shikano, Takashi Kato, Sho Nakajima
  • Patent number: 11101487
    Abstract: A fuel cell battery includes a plurality of stacks. Each of the stacks is a module containing a cell, and a base plate and a cover plate sandwiching the cell therebetween. In a state where the stacks are stacked together with a gasket being sandwiched between two adjacent stacks of the stacks, the two adjacent stacks are connected to each other by a connecting bolt. The gasket has, at a central part thereof, a contact plate that is elastic and electrically conductive. When the gasket is sandwiched between the two adjacent stacks, the contact plate is brought into abutment with the cover plate and the base plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 24, 2021
    Assignee: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Hideaki Takada
  • Patent number: 11095001
    Abstract: In an assembled battery 1 disclosed herein, unit cells 10A, 10B are electrically connected to each other by way of bus bars 30 that extend along an array direction X of the unit cells. The bus bars 30 of the assembled battery 1 are each provided with a base 32 in which a plurality of terminal insertion holes 34, into which electrode terminals 12, 14 of the unit cells 10A, 10B are inserted, are formed, and with junction projections 36, which are present along the electrode terminals 12, 14, extending from respective regions of the base 32 adjacent to the terminal insertion holes 34. In the assembled battery 1 disclosed herein, the electrode terminals 12, 14 are in surface contact with the junction projections 36, and tips 12a, 14a of the electrode terminals 12, 14 and tips 36a of the junction projections 36 are welded to each other. As a result, the electrode terminals 12, 14 and the bus bars 30 can be welded to each other while a welding state is checked.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 17, 2021
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Masashi Kato