Patents Examined by Patrick A Ryan
  • Patent number: 9698421
    Abstract: The present invention relates to an active cathode material of the general formula (I): MxN iaM1bM2cO2 (I) in which the variables are each defined as follows: M is an alkali metal, M1 is V, Cr, Mn, Fe or Co, M2 is Ge, Sn, Ti or Zr, x is in the range from 0.5 to 0.8, a is in the range from 0.1 to 0.4, b is in the range from 0.05 to 0.6, c is in the range from 0.05 to 0.6, wherein a+b+c=1. The present invention further relates to an electrode material comprising said active cathode material, to electrodes produced from or using said electrode material and to a rechargeable electrochemical cell comprising at least one electrode. The present invention further relates to a process for preparing said active cathode material of the general formula (I).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 3, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2017
    Assignee: BASF SE
    Inventors: Arnd Garsuch, Shinichi Komaba, Naoaki Yabuuchi, Hiroaki Yoshida
  • Patent number: 9698405
    Abstract: An electric connector and a battery comprising the same may be provided. The electric connector (3) may comprise a core fixing part and an extension part (32) connected to the core fixing part. The core fixing part may include at least two hosting portions (31) each configured to hold an electrode tab of a winding core of a battery, respectively, and a connection portion (33) configured to connect the two adjacent hosting portions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 23, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2017
    Assignees: SHENZHEN BYD AUTO R&D COMPANY LIMITED, BYD COMPANY LIMITED
    Inventors: Yuanyuan He, Weixin Zheng
  • Patent number: 9698430
    Abstract: A lithium-lanthanum-titanium oxide sintered material has a lithium ion conductivity 3.0×10?4 Scm?1 or more at a measuring temperature of 27° C., the material is described by one of general formulas (1-a)LaxLi2-3xTiO3-aSrTiO3, (1-a)LaxLi2-3xTiO3-aLa0.5K0.5TiO3, LaxLi2-3xTi1-aMaO3-a, and Srx-1.5aLaaLi1.5-2xTi0.5Ta0.5O3 (0.55?x?0.59, 0?a?0.2, M=at least one of Al, Fe and Ga), and concentration of S is 1500 ppm or less. The material is obtained by sintering raw material powder mixture having S content amount of 2000 ppm or less in the entirety of raw material powders for mixture, that is, titanium raw material, lithium raw material, and lanthanum raw material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 12, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2017
    Assignees: TOHO TITANIUM CO., LTD., NAKASHIMA SANGYO CO., LTD., THE GAKUSHUIN SCHOOL CORPORATION
    Inventors: Mamoru Nakashima, Yoshiyuki Inaguma, Mikio Nakashima
  • Patent number: 9692044
    Abstract: A rechargeable battery comprising a positive electrode, a negative electrode and an electrolyte, wherein: —the electrolyte comprises a SEI film-forming agent, and—the negative electrode comprises a micrometric Si based active material, a polymeric binder material and a conductive agent, wherein at least part of the surface of the Si based active material consists of Si—OCO—R groups, Si being part of the active material, and R being the polymeric chain of the binder material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 4, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 27, 2017
    Assignees: Umicore, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, Institut National de la Recherche Scientifique, Umicore Korea Ltd.
    Inventors: Nathalie Delpuech, Driss Mazouzi, Bernard Lestriez, Dominique Guyomard, Lionel Roue
  • Patent number: 9692037
    Abstract: A rechargeable battery includes: an electrode assembly; a case housing the electrode assembly; a cap plate closing and sealing an opening of the case; an electrode terminal at an outside of the cap plate with respect to the case, extending through an opening in the cap plate, and electrically connected to the electrode assembly; and an insulating member between the electrode terminal and the cap plate. The electrode terminal includes: a first plate terminal electrically connected to the electrode assembly; a second plate terminal spaced from the first plate terminal; and a fuse connecting the first plate terminal and the second plate terminal and being at least partially surrounded by the insulating member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 18, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 27, 2017
    Assignee: Samsung SDI Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Myung-Jae Jang, Sang-Won Byun, Chi-Young Lee
  • Patent number: 9692048
    Abstract: A positive electrode collector includes a main body layer and a surface layer. The surface layer is provided at least at a portion of a surface of the main body layer where the positive electrode mixture layer is provided, and is made of a carbon material. A first positive electrode active material is made of first lithium complex oxide having a layered crystal structure. A second positive electrode active material includes a particle made of second lithium complex oxide having an olivine crystal structure, a carbon film provided at least at a part of a surface of the particle, and alginic acid salt provided at least at a part of a surface of the carbon film. A conducting agent in the positive electrode mixture layer includes a carbon particle and alginic acid salt provided at least at a part of a surface of the carbon particle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 27, 2017
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Hiroya Umeyama, Yusuke Fukumoto, Hideki Sano, Yuji Yokoyama, Tatsuya Hashimoto
  • Patent number: 9692052
    Abstract: According to one embodiment, an electrode material for a battery includes a tungsten oxide powder or a tungsten oxide composite powder provided with a coating unit containing at least one selected from a metal oxide, silicon oxide, a metal nitride, and silicon nitride.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 27, 2017
    Assignees: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba, Toshiba Materials Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yoko Tokuno, Tomomichi Naka, Naoaki Sakurai, Akito Sasaki, Shuzi Hayase
  • Patent number: 9689624
    Abstract: A battery module with one or more battery cells and a heat exchange member placed in thermal communication with the battery cell, and a method of making a heat pipe system from the heat exchange member. The heat exchange member includes a container with a heat transfer fluid disposed therein. In one form, the heat transfer fluid is capable of going through a phase change as a way to absorb at least a portion of heat present in or generated by battery cell. A pressure control device cooperates with the container and heat transfer fluid such that upon attainment of a predetermined thermal event within the battery cell, the pressure control device permits liberation of at least a portion of the heat transfer fluid to an ambient environment, thereby relieving pressure on the container and removing some of the excess heat caused by the thermal event.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 18, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 27, 2017
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Adam T. Timmons, Benjamin R. Christian
  • Patent number: 9692068
    Abstract: A fuel cell system includes: a fuel cell; a coolant path connected to the fuel cell and allowing a coolant that cools the fuel cell to flow therethrough; a temperature detection unit configured to detect a temperature of the coolant in the coolant path; a temperature correction unit configured to calculate a temperature correction value by correcting the temperature of the coolant detected by the temperature detection unit; and a lower limit voltage control unit configured to control a lower limit voltage of the fuel cell based on the temperature correction value, wherein the temperature correction unit calculates the temperature correction value based on a following equation: T filt = T filt ? _ ? old + T - T filt ? _ ? old ? where Tfilt represents the temperature correction value, Tfilt_old represents a last temperature correction value, T represents the temperature of the coolant, and ? represents a coefficient, and the coefficient when the temperature of the coolant is less than a
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 10, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 27, 2017
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yohei Okamoto, Yutaka Tano, Mitsuhiro Nada, Tomohiko Kaneko
  • Patent number: 9692063
    Abstract: A fuel cell separator comprises a first plate and a second plate. The first plate has a plurality of first projections protruded toward the second plate to define reactive gas flow paths, the second plate has a plurality of second projections protruded toward the first plate to define reactive gas flow paths. A top of each of the plurality of first projections is in contact with an intermediate part between adjacent two of the plurality of second projections formed on the second plate, and a top of each of the plurality of second projections is in contact with an intermediate part between adjacent two of the plurality of first projections formed on the first plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 27, 2017
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Takehiro Naoki
  • Patent number: 9692047
    Abstract: A positive electrode active material for a non-aqueous electrolyte secondary battery according to an example of an embodiment of the present disclosure includes a lithium composite oxide as a main component. The ratio of a number of moles of Ni in the lithium composite oxide to a total number of moles of metal elements in the lithium composite oxide other than Li is larger than 30 mol %. The lithium composite oxide includes particles each including aggregated primary particles having a volumetric average particle size of 0.5 ?m or more and at least one element selected from W, Mo, Nb, and Ta is dissolved in the lithium composite oxide.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 21, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 27, 2017
    Assignee: PANASONIC CORPORATION
    Inventors: Hidekazu Hiratsuka, Akihiro Maeda
  • Patent number: 9692081
    Abstract: According to one embodiment, a manufacturing device for a battery, includes, an electrolyte supply unit which introduces an electrolyte into a cell, a chamber which accommodates the battery cell, a first pressure adjustment unit configured to make a pressure in the battery cell lower than a pressure on the side of the electrolyte supply unit, and a second pressure adjustment unit configured to make a pressure outside the battery cell in the chamber lower than the pressure in the battery cell, thereby increasing the capacity of the battery cell.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 27, 2017
    Assignee: KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOSHIBA
    Inventor: Kenta Fukatsu
  • Patent number: 9687253
    Abstract: A battery housing for a driver of a powered surgical tool. The battery housing includes a casing with an opening for inserting at least one battery into the casing, a door for closing the opening when the door is in its closed position, and a driver interface for removably attaching the battery housing to a driver of a powered surgical tool. The door includes at least one part that is configured for being blocked by the driver when the door is moved out of its closed position and the battery housing is attached to the driver, such that the door cannot be opened when the battery housing is attached to the driver.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 15, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 27, 2017
    Assignee: Zimmer Surgical SA
    Inventors: Marc Detry, Kévin Sornay
  • Patent number: 9692022
    Abstract: A rechargeable battery that reduces a production cost by reducing a number of processes of a case is provided. The rechargeable battery includes: a case that houses an electrode assembly; a cap plate that is coupled to an opening of the case; and an electrode terminal that is electrically connected to the electrode assembly to be provided in the cap plate, wherein the cap plate has an inclined portion at a side surface of an outer edge and a modified groove at a corner of an outer surface and is coupled to the opening with the inclined portion while the modified groove becomes narrow.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 27, 2017
    Assignee: Samsung SDI Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Chi-Young Lee, Myung-Jae Jang
  • Patent number: 9688889
    Abstract: [Problem] An object of the present invention is to provide a sealant composition for a nonaqueous electrolyte cell in which the application position and uniformity of applied film thickness of the sealant can be visually confirmed even when being applied as a thin film, and having excellent durability in relation to various electrolytic solutions used in the cell. [Solution] A sealant composition for a nonaqueous electrolyte cell, containing (A) an elastomer and (B) a cobalt blue colorant, in which the component (B) has a content of 0.1-20 mass parts with respect to 100 mass parts of the component (A).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 27, 2017
    Assignee: THREE BOND FINE CHEMICAL CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Kazuhiro Furuya, Kanako Morii
  • Patent number: 9692025
    Abstract: A battery cell design is disclosed that provides a predictable pathway through a portion of the cell (e.g., the cell cap assembly) for the efficient release of the thermal energy that occurs during thermal runaway, thereby reducing the chances of a rupture in an undesirable location. Furthermore the disclosed design maintains the functionality of the cell cap as the positive terminal of the cell, thereby having minimal impact on the manufacturability of the cell as well as its use in a variety of applications.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 27, 2017
    Assignee: TESLA, INC.
    Inventors: Francisco LePort, Scott I. Kohn, Orion A. King, Alex Prilutsky
  • Patent number: 9692056
    Abstract: Batteries having improved current collection are provided. In some implementations, an electrode structure of a battery may include an active material and two or more current collectors in electrical communication with the active material. In some implementations, an electrode structure of a battery may include two or more current collector layers. According to various implementations, the electrode structure may or may not include a current collector substrate. In some implementations, a battery anode includes a current collector substrate in electronic contact with nanostructured active material. In order to ensure that electronic communication between the active material and the current collector substrate is maintained throughout the life of the battery, a second electronically conductive path is provided in the form of a current collector layer over the nanostructured active material. The additional layer is thin and electronically conductive, and does not interfere adversely with battery operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 15, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 27, 2017
    Assignee: Amprius, Inc.
    Inventors: Zuqin Liu, Song Han
  • Patent number: 9692032
    Abstract: A thin film is used in a metallic collector in order to increase the volume energy density. However, the strength of the thin film is low, so when a negative plate or a positive plate is directly joined to a terminal base portion, even an insignificant load might cause damage, such as cutting of the metallic collector. Even in a structure where the metallic collector is joined to a highly-conductive plate-like metal or a highly-conductive plate-like resin, and where the collecting plate is joined to a terminal base portion, the connection between the collecting plate and the terminal base portion affects the battery properties.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 27, 2017
    Assignee: HITACHI CHEMICAL COMPANY, LTD.
    Inventors: Naoko Tsurumi, Akira Tanaka, Murashi Shinto, Yoshiki Miyamoto
  • Patent number: 9692071
    Abstract: A membrane, suitable for use in a fuel cell comprises: (a) a central region comprising an ion-conducting polymeric material; (b) a border region which creates a frame around the central region and which consists of one or more non-ion-conducting materials wherein at least one of the one or more non-ion-conducting materials forms a layer; wherein the non-ion-conducting material of the border region overlaps the ion-conducting polymeric material of the central region by 0 to 10 mm in an overlap region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 21, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 27, 2017
    Assignee: JOHNSON MATTHEY FUEL CELLS LIMITED
    Inventors: David Edward Barnwell, Peter Antony Trew, Thomas Robertson Ralph, Robert Jeffrey Coleman
  • Patent number: 9692069
    Abstract: The present invention generally relates to storing energy in a form that is carbon neutral, storable and transportable, so that it can be used on demand. The present invention provides a process and system for using energy as available to produce carbon from carbon oxide, and then oxidizing the carbon to generate useful energy on demand, while effectively recycling the carbon, oxidant, and carbon oxide used in the process or system. In one embodiment, the present invention effectively stores renewable energy as carbon, transports the carbon, oxidizes the carbon to generate useful energy on demand and recycles the carbon as carbon dioxide. This invention may increase the utilization of renewable energy, especially for electrical power generation, while producing no net carbon dioxide or other air pollutants.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 27, 2017
    Assignee: ZIET, LLC
    Inventor: Douglas A. Zietlow