Patents Examined by Patrick Ryan
  • Patent number: 9755283
    Abstract: A heating and cooling device for a battery may include an electrically conductive base plate for thermal coupling to the battery. The base plate may include at least one fluid path for flowing through by a coolant. The device may include a carrier plate of an electrically non-conductive material, into which at least one electric heating element may be inserted. The carrier plate may be connected electrically with the electrically conductive base plate. An electrically conductive cover plate may be connected electrically with the electric heating element. The base plate, the carrier plate and the cover plate may be stacked on one another along a stacking direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2017
    Assignees: Mahle International GmbH, Behr France Rouffach SAS
    Inventors: Stefan Hirsch, Pascal Miss, Bernd Schaefer, Joachim Treier, Stephane Weingaertner
  • Patent number: 9755211
    Abstract: The invention relates to an accumulator arrangement which has a plurality of series-connected individual accumulators, each individual accumulator having at least one plus pole and a minus pole as externally accessible connection poles, busbar elements being secured on the connection poles in order to form the series connection, which each connect a minus pole of an individual accumulator to a plus pole of another individual accumulator, characterized in that a specific assembly sequence of said busbar elements is determined by the structural design of the busbar elements. The invention further relates to a busbar element and a to method for producing an accumulator arrangement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2017
    Assignee: Johnson Controls Technology Company
    Inventors: Henning Eisermann, Kristina Brettschneider, Helge Brenner, Markus Hoh, Martin Wiegmann, Marco Jansen
  • Patent number: 9755217
    Abstract: A prismatic secondary battery includes a prismatic hollow outer body having a mouth and a bottom; a flat electrode assembly, a positive electrode collector, a negative electrode collector, and an electrolyte, all of which are stored in the prismatic outer body; a sealing plate sealing up the mouth of the prismatic outer body; and a positive electrode terminal attached to the sealing plate in an electrically insulated manner. The sealing plate includes a gas release valve and an electrolyte pour hole and further includes, on the front face, a concaved flat face having an identification code. With the prismatic secondary battery of the invention, a jig for assembly or the like is unlikely to come into contact with the identification code during an assembly process of the prismatic secondary battery, hence the identification code is unlikely to be abraded, and the traceability is unlikely to be lost.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 13, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2017
    Assignee: SANYO Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Takayuki Hattori, Yoshinori Yokoyama, Eiji Okutani, Yasuhiro Yamauchi
  • Patent number: 9755228
    Abstract: A lithium metal electrode is disclosed in this invention. The lithium metal electrode includes a lithium metal layer, a plurality of gate layers and a current collector layer having a plurality of holes. The gate layers are disposed corresponding to the holes. The lithium metal layer and the gate layers are disposed correspondingly. The lithium metal layer is insulated via the gate layers and/or the current collector layer before formation. While the gate layers are alloyed with the lithium ions from the media such as the electrolyte, the alloyed gate layers may provide the ionic access for the lithium metal layer so that the lithium metal layer may feedback the lithium ions back to the chemical system of the electricity supply system. Also, at the same time, the potentials of all the gate layers may be kept equally to the potential of the lithium metal layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 13, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2017
    Assignee: PROLOGIUM HOLDING INC.
    Inventor: Szu-Nan Yang
  • Patent number: 9755215
    Abstract: A secondary battery includes an electrode assembly; a case accommodating the electrode assembly; a cap plate sealing the case; and a first electrode terminal electrically connected to the electrode assembly and passing through the cap plate, wherein the electrode assembly is connected to the first electrode terminal through a first current collection tab.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2017
    Assignee: Samsung SDI Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Dukjung Kim
  • Patent number: 9755240
    Abstract: Provided is an electrode for a sodium molten-salt battery in which degradation of the electrode can be suppressed even when charging and discharging are repeated, and which has excellent cycle characteristics. The electrode for a sodium molten-salt battery includes a current collector and an electrode mixture adhering to a surface of the current collector, in which the electrode mixture includes an electrode active material and a binder containing a polymer, and the polymer does not contain a fluorine atom. The polymer can include, for example, at least one selected from the group consisting of polyamide resins and polyimide resins or at least one selected from the group consisting of acrylic resins, rubber-like polymers, and cellulose derivatives.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2017
    Assignee: Sumitomo Electric Industries, Ltd.
    Inventors: Shoichiro Sakai, Koma Numata, Eiko Imazaki, Atsushi Fukunaga, Koji Nitta, Shinji Inazawa
  • Patent number: 9755264
    Abstract: A method for the production of a battery includes at least production, against a substrate made of a material able to form an electrode, of at least one solid electrolyte layer, production of a first electrode in contact with the electrolyte, and thinning the substrate such that at least a remaining proportion of the substrate, in contact with the solid electrolyte layer, forms a second electrode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 23, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2017
    Assignee: Commissariat à l'énergie atomique et aux énergies alternatives
    Inventors: Steve Martin, Messaoud Bedjaoui, Sylvain Poulet, Jouhaiz Rouchou
  • Patent number: 9748786
    Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention are directed to a battery stack with a leapfrogging communication network. Each cell stage may include a controller, a transmitter, and a pair of receivers. The cell stage in the battery stack may be coupled to the closest two preceding battery cell stages in the stack. In this manner, each cell stage may be able to determine if a fault is present in an immediately preceding cell stage in the stack by monitoring the first preceding cell stage and the second preceding cell stage. If discharge/charge commands transmitted by the second preceding cell stage are not reaching the battery cell stage at issue, the controller may determine that there is a fault in the first preceding cell stage and discharge/charge the cell stage based on the commands transmitted by the second preceding cell stage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 5, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2017
    Assignee: Analog Devices, Inc.
    Inventors: James C. Camp, Thomas M. MacLeod
  • Patent number: 9748614
    Abstract: A battery temperature regulating device is applied to a battery pack configured by parallely connecting battery groups, each of which is a series connection of battery cells capable of charge and discharge. The device regulates temperatures of the battery groups. The battery temperature regulating device includes a heat transfer unit that transfers heat of a part of the battery groups to another battery group.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 5, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2017
    Assignee: DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Hideaki Okawa, Hiroshi Kishita, Yasumitsu Omi, Masayuki Takeuchi, Nobuharu Kakehashi, Kouji Miura
  • Patent number: 9748546
    Abstract: A flexible microporous polymer sheet having first and second opposite major surfaces comprises a polymer matrix binding a filler component that exhibits high oil absorption capacity in its initial state before the start of material processing. The polymer matrix includes a polyolefin component and has three-dimensional interconnecting and interpenetrating pore and polymer networks through which the bound filler component is distributed from the first major surface to the second major surface. The polyolefin and filler components are included in amounts that result in a microporous polymer sheet having between about 75% and about 90% porosity and containing less than about 10 wt. % polyolefin component. Preferred polyolefin and filler components include ultrahigh molecular weight polyethylene and high oil absorption precipitated silica, respectively.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2017
    Assignee: AMTEK RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL LLC
    Inventors: Jeff Frenzel, Jungseung Kim, Robert R. Waterhouse, Richard W. Pekala
  • Patent number: 9748543
    Abstract: Provided are a separator for a nonaqueous cell that has air permeability and is small in thickness while maintaining strength properties; and a nonaqueous cell having this separator. The separator includes a fiber sheet in which a polyvinyl alcohol fiber is incorporated in a proportion of 30% or more by mass (based on the fiber sheet). The fiber has a fiber breaking temperature in heated water of lower than 100° C. and higher than 85° C.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 25, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2017
    Assignee: KURARAY CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Tomohiro Hayakawa, Hiroyuki Kawai, Hideo Hayashi, Koichi Kambe
  • Patent number: 9748584
    Abstract: A fuel cell assembly comprising an enclosure having a fuel cell stack mounted therein. The fuel cell stack has an inlet face for receiving coolant/oxidant fluid and an outlet face for expelling said coolant/oxidant fluid. The fuel cell stack further includes a pair of end faces extending transversely between the inlet face and outlet face. The enclosure defines a flow path for the coolant/oxidant fluid that is configured to guide the coolant/oxidant fluid to the inlet face, from the outlet face, and over at least one of the end faces.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 18, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2017
    Assignee: Intelligent Energy Limited
    Inventors: Peter David Hood, Christopher James Gurney
  • Patent number: 9748587
    Abstract: A fuel cell comprises: a membrane electrode assembly configured to have an electrolyte membrane joined between an anode electrode and a cathode electrode; a flow path-forming member configured to form a flow path that is adjacent to one electrode out of the anode electrode and the cathode electrode and makes a flow of a reactive gas to the one electrode; and a plate-like member made of a material of blocking the reactive gas and stacked on a portion of a flow path-side surface of the one electrode to be adjacent to the flow path. The plate-like member has a gas permeation structure allowing for permeation of the reactive gas in a part where the anode electrode and the cathode electrode are placed in a stacking direction of the plate-like member on the one electrode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2017
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Masato Nakajima, Hideyuki Kumei, Hiromichi Satou
  • Patent number: 9746695
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus to form biocompatible energization elements are described. In some embodiments, the methods and apparatus to form the biocompatible energization elements involve forming cavities comprising active cathode chemistry. The active elements of the cathode and anode are sealed with a laminate stack of biocompatible material. In some embodiments, a field of use for the methods and apparatus may include any biocompatible device or product that requires energization elements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2017
    Assignee: Johnson & Johnson Vision Care, Inc.
    Inventors: Frederick A. Flitsch, Shivkumar Mahadevan, Daniel B. Otts, Randall B. Pugh, James Daniel Riall, Adam Toner
  • Patent number: 9742028
    Abstract: An example of a flexible membrane includes a porous membrane and a solid electrolyte coating formed on at least a portion of a surface of the porous membrane, in pores of the porous membrane, or both on the surface and in the pores. The solid electrolyte coating includes i) a polymer chain or ii) an inorganic ionically conductive material. The polymer chain or the inorganic material includes a group to interact or react with a polysulfide through covalent bonding or supramolecular interaction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 4, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2017
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Weidong Zhou, Xingcheng Xiao, Mei Cai
  • Patent number: 9742020
    Abstract: A fuel cell capable of achieving excellent power output, which comprises a non-catalytic anode electrode and in which a reductant is used as a fuel, is provided. The fuel cell of the present invention comprises an anode electrode, a cathode electrode, and a membrane having ion conductivity that is disposed between the anode electrode and the cathode electrode, in which a reducing fuel in the anode electrode is oxidized in the presence of a heterocyclic compound containing nitrogen and carbon atoms and having 5- or 6-membered ring.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2017
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Noriko Kono, Takahiro Kusumegi, Yusaku Onochi, Tatsuhiro Sugimoto
  • Patent number: 9741988
    Abstract: A non-aqueous electrolyte secondary battery includes a separator including a base material and a heat resistance layer formed on at least one main surface of the base material and containing inorganic particles and a resin binder. The non-aqueous electrolyte secondary battery further includes an electrode composite material layer stacked on the heat resistance layer and containing electrode active material particles and an interposed layer interposed between the heat resistance layer and the electrode composite material layer. In the interposed layer, the inorganic particles, the resin binder, and the electrode active material particles are present as being mixed. A ratio of a thickness of the interposed layer to a thickness of the base material is not lower than 1% and not higher than 5%.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 16, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2017
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Hiroya Umeyama, Harunari Shimamura, Yusuke Fukumoto
  • Patent number: 9741980
    Abstract: A storage structure including a housing, a locker, a cover and a connector is provided. The housing has a receiving slot. The locker is disposed in the receiving slot, and includes a locking portion. The cover includes a protrusion. The protrusion and the locking portion are engaged with each other. The connector is pivotally connected between the cover and the housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2017
    Assignee: ABILITY ENTERPRISE CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Wan-Chin Wu, Shu-Hung Liu, Chun-Ho Hsiao
  • Patent number: 9741974
    Abstract: Disclosed herein is a battery cell configured to have a structure in which an electrode assembly, including positive electrodes, negative electrodes, and separators disposed respectively between the positive electrodes and the negative electrodes, is mounted in a battery case made of a laminate sheet including a resin layer and a metal layer, wherein the battery case is made of a one-unit member, which is bent to form an upper case and a lower case, at least one of the upper and lower cases is provided with a receiving part, in which the electrode assembly is mounted, the receiving part having a round corner formed at at least one side edge thereof, and sealed portions, which are formed at the upper case and the lower case by thermal welding, are located at an upper side of the battery case at which at least one electrode terminal is located, a first lateral side of the battery case adjacent to the upper side, and a lower side of the battery case opposite to the upper side, and a second lateral side of the ba
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 8, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2017
    Assignee: LG CHEM, LTD.
    Inventors: Sungjin Kwon, Young Hoon Kim, Sunghan Yoon, Dong-Myung Kim, Ki Woong Kim
  • Patent number: 9741984
    Abstract: Disclosed herein is a battery module including a unit module stack configured to have a structure in which two or more unit modules, each of which includes two or more battery cells mounted at a cell cover in a state in which the battery cells are electrically connected to each other, and electrode terminal connection parts of which protrude outward from the cell cover in a state in which the electrode terminal connection parts are vertically bent, are stacked, a module case in which the unit modules of the unit module stack are arranged such that the unit modules are connected in series to each other, and electrode terminals of the unit modules are open, a bus bar assembly mounted at the electrode terminals of the unit modules in the module case, the bus bar assembly including one or more bus bars for connection in series between the unit modules, the bus bars being mounted in an exposed state such that welding is performed from outside, and an electrically insulative cover for covering the bus bar assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 15, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2017
    Assignee: LG CHEM, LTD.
    Inventors: Bum Hyun Lee, Jun Yeob Seong, Dal Mo Kang