Patents Examined by Patrick A Ryan
  • Patent number: 9825290
    Abstract: The present invention is a negative electrode material for a secondary battery with a non-aqueous electrolyte comprising at least a silicon-silicon oxide composite and a carbon coating formed on a surface of the silicon-silicon oxide composite, wherein at least the silicon-silicon oxide composite is doped with lithium, and a ratio I(SiC)/I(Si) of a peak intensity I(SiC) attributable to SiC of 2?=35.8±0.2° to a peak intensity I(Si) attributable to Si of 2?=28.4±0.2° satisfies a relation of I(SiC)/I(Si)?0.03, when x-ray diffraction using Cu-K? ray. As a result, there is provided a negative electrode material for a secondary battery with a non-aqueous electrolyte that is superior in first efficiency and cycle durability to a conventional negative electrode material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 21, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 21, 2017
    Assignee: SHIN-ETSU CHEMICAL CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Nobuo Kawada
  • Patent number: 9825345
    Abstract: An electrical energy storage device for powering portable devices such as vehicles or consumer electronics includes barriers to minimize migration of thermal energy and propagation of combustion in the rare event that electrical energy storage cells fail, burst and ignite. Thermal energy absorbing materials are contained within the electrical energy storage device. Sacrificial members are provided within the thermal energy absorbing materials. In-situ channels are formed within the thermal energy absorbing materials when the sacrificial members thermally decompose.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 21, 2017
    Assignee: Gogoro Inc.
    Inventors: Tai-Tsun Liu, Chian-Peng Yang, Yi-Hsiang Lin, Hok-Sum Horace Luke
  • Patent number: 9818988
    Abstract: One subject of the invention is an isolating device (10) for electrically isolating a plurality of power-storage assemblies (102) placed side-by-side in a power-storage module (100) from one another, the device comprising a sheet (11) made of an electrically insulating material lying in a main plane (P), the device also comprising at least one tongue (12A-12E; 14A-14E, 16A-16E, 18A-18D, 20A, 20D, 22A-22D) integral with the sheet (11) and capable of protruding from the main plane (P) of the sheet by extending essentially perpendicularly to said main plane of the sheet. Another subject of the invention is a module comprising at least one of these devices.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 14, 2017
    Assignee: BLUE SOLUTIONS
    Inventors: Anne-Claire Juventin, Laurent Le Gall
  • Patent number: 9819034
    Abstract: Disclosed is a stack for simulating a cell voltage reversal behavior in a fuel cell. The stack is configured to have a structure in which a separator of a portion of a plurality of cells in the stack have an inlet of a hydrogen flow field partially blocked to induce hydrogen starvation only in the portion of the plurality of cells.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 14, 2017
    Assignee: Hyundai Motor Company
    Inventors: Bo Ki Hong, Kook Il Han, Ji Yeon Park, Se Joon Im
  • Patent number: 9818991
    Abstract: Provided is a secondary battery, which can improve a coupling force between a case and a cap plate and can improve stability of the secondary battery, by forming a coupling protrusion on a side surface of the cap plate and forming a coupling groove corresponding to the coupling protrusion on an inner surface of the case. The secondary battery includes an electrode assembly, a case accommodating the electrode assembly, and a cap plate coupled to an opening of the case. A coupling protrusion protruding toward an inner surface of the case is formed on a side surface of the cap plate, and a coupling groove corresponding to the coupling protrusion is formed on the inner surface of the case.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 14, 2017
    Assignee: Samsung SDI Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Jaeil Seong
  • Patent number: 9819063
    Abstract: A vehicle includes a refrigerant system having an intermediary heat exchanger, an exterior heat exchanger, and an expansion device disposed therebetween. The vehicle also includes a coolant circuit having a pump configured to circulate coolant through the intermediary heat exchanger and an engine. A controller is programmed to, in response to air conditioning being requested and the coolant temperature exceeding a threshold temperature, open the expansion device and de-energize the pump to condense refrigerant in the exterior heat exchanger.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 18, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 14, 2017
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Timothy Noah Blatchley, Mark G. Smith, Angel Fernando Porras
  • Patent number: 9819006
    Abstract: A battery is provided. The battery includes a positive electrode including a positive electrode active material layer provided on a positive electrode current collector; a negative electrode; and a separator at least including a porous film, wherein the porous film has a porosity ? [%] and an air permeability t [sec/100 cc] which satisfy formulae of: t=a×Ln(?)?4.02a+100 and ?1.87×1010×S?4.96?a??40 wherein S is the area density of the positive electrode active material layer [mg/cm2] and Ln is natural logarithm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 23, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 14, 2017
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Tomohiro Abe, Motomi Suzuki
  • Patent number: 9812693
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a lithium-ion battery module including a housing having a base, a battery cell in the housing, and a battery module terminal coupled to the battery cell via an electrical pathway, wherein the battery module terminal provides an electrical output when coupled to an electrical load, and wherein the electrical pathway is defined by a first portion, a second portion, and an interconnecting portion connecting the first and second portions. The first portion has a plurality of first conductive components coupled to one another within first connection planes using a first conductive material, and the first connection planes are substantially parallel to the base. The second portion has a plurality of second conductive components coupled to one another within second connection planes using a second conductive material, different from the first conductive material, and the second connection planes are crosswise to the first connection planes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2017
    Assignee: Johnson Controls Technology Company
    Inventors: Richard M. DeKeuster, Robert J. Mack, Edward J. Soleski, Jennifer L. Czarnecki
  • Patent number: 9812719
    Abstract: A mixed reactant fuel cell (MRFC) including a MRFC-optimized electrocatalyst utilizing a combination of selective catalysts and selective fuel distributors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2017
    Assignee: STC.UNM
    Inventors: Alexey Serov, Plamen B Atanassov, Elod Gyenge, Amin Aziznia
  • Patent number: 9812687
    Abstract: An electric storage device including an electrode assembly, a case holding the electrode assembly therein, the case including a container, a lid formed in an opening of the container and including a long side and a short side, and a gas exhausting portion comprising a safety valve formed in the lid, the safety valve being configured to open to exhaust internal gas when an internal pressure reaches a specific level, and a sealing member formed on an outer surface of the lid, the sealing member including a short side which is adjacent to the short side of the lid, and a long side which is adjacent to the long side of the lid, and the sealing member including a protective portion formed over the gas exhausting portion, the protective portion comprising a perforation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 26, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2017
    Assignee: GS YUASA INTERNATIONAL LTD.
    Inventors: Syun Ito, Shogo Tsuruta, Seiichi Irie
  • Patent number: 9812674
    Abstract: Electrochemical cells and methods of making electrochemical cells are described herein. In some embodiments, an apparatus includes a multi-layer sheet for encasing an electrode material for an electrochemical cell. The multi-layer sheet including an outer layer, an intermediate layer that includes a conductive substrate, and an inner layer disposed on a portion of the conductive substrate. The intermediate layer is disposed between the outer layer and the inner layer. The inner layer defines an opening through which a conductive region of the intermediate layer is exposed such that the electrode material can be electrically connected to the conductive region. Thus, the intermediate layer can serve as a current collector for the electrochemical cell.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 21, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2017
    Assignee: 24M Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Ricardo Bazzarella, Alexander H. Slocum, Tristan Doherty, James C. Cross, III
  • Patent number: 9812676
    Abstract: A prismatic secondary battery includes a battery case in a prismatic shape and a battery cover which seals up an opening part of the battery case. The battery cover has a convex part which projects toward the inside of the battery case, faces an inner surface of a side wall part of the battery case, and extends continuously along the entire periphery of the side wall part. Cover thickness of a contact part of the battery cover which is in contact with the upper end of the side wall part of the battery case at a position outside the convex part is greater than ½ of cover thickness of a blockage part blocking up an opening part at a position inside the convex part and is less than the cover thickness of the blockage part.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2017
    Assignee: HITACHI AUTOMOTIVE SYSTEMS, LTD.
    Inventors: Kouichi Kajiwara, Hayato Koguchi, Takeshi Hizono, Hiroaki Egawa
  • Patent number: 9812722
    Abstract: A fuel cell system includes an auxiliary machine to be connected to a fuel cell, warm-up power control means for controlling generated power of the fuel cell by adjusting power supplied to the auxiliary machine during the warm-up of the fuel cell, and IV characteristic estimation means for temporarily reducing the power supplied to the auxiliary machine and estimating an IV characteristic of the fuel cell on the basis of at least two pairs of current values and voltage values at that time during the warm-up of the fuel cell.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2017
    Assignee: NISSAN MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Kiyoshi Hoshi
  • Patent number: 9812732
    Abstract: A battery system may include a plurality of battery cell assemblies electrically coupled in series. A first battery cell assembly of the plurality of battery cell assemblies includes a first lithium ion battery cell and a first lead acid battery cell electrically coupled in parallel with the first lithium ion battery cell such that the first lead acid battery cell is configured to resist overcharging and overdischarging of the first lithium ion battery cell.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2017
    Assignee: Johnson Controls Technology Company
    Inventors: Junwei Jiang, Bernhard M. Metz
  • Patent number: 9806300
    Abstract: A replacement battery system design incorporating a pivoting battery holster and other features enabling one-handed battery removal for devices requiring a power source.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 31, 2017
    Assignee: Ultralife Corporation
    Inventors: Jeffrey C. Ladd, John Domm, Michael Manna
  • Patent number: 9806353
    Abstract: The present invention provides a fuel cell separator with a gasket manufactured by integrally forming a gasket on one side of a separator; independently injection molding a frame gasket on a frame such that a first airtight portion covers the entire surface of the frame to maintain the shape of the frame gasket and a second airtight portion projects upward and downward from both ends of the first airtight portion; and bringing the first airtight portion of the frame gasket into contact with the other side of the separator with the gasket formed on one side thereof. To create a fuel cell stack in certain embodiments, the invention stacks the second airtight portion of the frame gasket on another second airtight portion of an adjacent unit cell with a membrane-electrode assembly interposed therebetween.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 31, 2017
    Assignee: Hyundai Motor Company
    Inventors: Sang Mun Chin, Sae Hoon Kim, Yoo Chang Yang, Suk Min Baeck, Seong Il Heo
  • Patent number: 9806304
    Abstract: Provided is a secondary battery, which can prevent a protective circuit board and an electrode terminal from colliding with each other by providing a gasket including a support unit protruding from a top surface of a cap plate to be higher than the electrode terminal. The secondary battery includes an electrode assembly, a case accommodating the electrode assembly, a cap plate coupled to an opening of the case, an electrode terminal electrically connected to the electrode assembly and upwardly protruding through a terminal throughhole of the cap plate, and a gasket interposed between the cap plate and the electrode terminal and electrically insulating the cap plate and the electrode terminal from each other. The gasket includes a support unit protruding from the cap plate to be higher than the electrode terminal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 31, 2017
    Assignee: Samsung SDI Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Jaeil Seong
  • Patent number: 9806340
    Abstract: According to one embodiment, a nonaqueous electrolyte battery including a positive electrode and a negative electrode is provided. The positive electrode includes LiNixM1-xO2 wherein M is a metal element including Mn, and x is within a range of 0.5?x?1. The negative electrode includes graphitized material particles and a layer. The graphitized material particles have an interplanar spacing of (002), according to an X-ray diffraction method, of 0.337 nm or less. The layer includes a titanium-containing oxide. The layer covers at least a part of a surface of the graphitized material particles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 31, 2017
    Assignee: KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOSHIBA
    Inventors: Norio Takami, Wen Zhang, Hiroki Inagaki
  • Patent number: 9806338
    Abstract: Nanoporous metal oxide framework compositions useful as anodic materials in a lithium ion battery, the composition comprising metal oxide nanocrystals interconnected in a nanoporous framework and having interconnected channels, wherein the metal in said metal oxide comprises titanium and at least one metal selected from niobium and tantalum, e.g., TiNb2-x TaxOy (wherein x is a value from 0 to 2, and y is a value from 7 to 10) and Ti2Nb10-vTavOw (wherein v is a value from 0 to 2, and w is a value from 27 to 29). A novel sol gel method is also described in which sol gel reactive precursors are combined with a templating agent under sol gel reaction conditions to produce a hybrid precursor, and the precursor calcined to form the anodic composition. The invention is also directed to lithium ion batteries in which the nanoporous framework material is incorporated in an anode of the battery.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 23, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 31, 2017
    Assignee: UT-BATTELE, LLC
    Inventors: Sheng Dai, Bingkun Guo, Xiao-Guang Sun, Zhenan Qiao
  • Patent number: 9799892
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to an electrocatalyst for oxygen reduction including a silver/silver halide composite, a fuel cell including the electrocatalyst for oxygen reduction, and a method for preparing the electrocatalyst for oxygen reduction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 11, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2017
    Assignee: Ewha University Industry Collaboration Foundation
    Inventors: Youngmi Lee, Chongmok Lee, Jun Ho Shim, Su-jin Kim