Patents Examined by Patrick Ryan
  • Patent number: 9728758
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a method of manufacturing an electrode assembly, the method including: preparing an electrode laminate including at least one negative electrode, at least one positive electrode, and at least one separation film; generating a separation film assembly by bonding remaining portions of the separation film positioned in regions not corresponding to shapes of the negative electrode and the positive electrode; and cutting the separation film assembly so as to correspond to the shapes of the negative electrode and the positive electrode, and an electrode assembly manufactured by the method.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2017
    Assignee: LG Chem, Ltd.
    Inventors: Sung-Jin Kwon, Soon-Ho Ahn, Dong-Myung Kim, Ki-Woong Kim, Young-Hoon Kim, Sung-Han Yoon, Seung-Min Ryu
  • Patent number: 9725396
    Abstract: Provided is an active material used for a sodium ion battery or a lithium ion battery, the active material including: (COONa)3-trioxotriangulene represented by the following Formula (1) or (COOLi)3-trioxotriangulene represented by the following Formula (2). In Formulae (1) and (2), a double line including a solid line and a broken line represents a single bond or a double bond.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 4, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2017
    Assignees: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha, Osaka University
    Inventors: Yasushi Morita, Shinji Nakanishi
  • Patent number: 9728791
    Abstract: A self-sealing flow frame is provided having a first frame component and a second frame component. Each frame component is provided with a tongue-and-groove configuration that when assembled forms a tessellation engagement, which creates the seal. When each frame component is assembled into a flow frame, with the inner surfaces facing towards each other, the tongue-and-groove arrangements create a seal profile that circumscribe constituent parts of a device within which the self-sealing flow frame is being employed. As the frame components are compressively secured and fastened together, a tessellation engagement of the seal profile forms the fluid seal. Fluids of the device are prevented from exfiltrating the device, and are contained within the self-sealing flow frame by the fluid seal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 10, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2017
    Assignee: Concurrent Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: Michel J. McCluskey, John Ellsworth Gover, Jr., Bryan P. Tipton, Kevin Anthony Weaver, Jennifer Lyne Kronick, David B. Berkey, Daniel R. Markiewicz
  • Patent number: 9728802
    Abstract: In polymer electrolyte membrane (PEM) fuel cells and electrolyzes, attaining and maintaining high membrane conductivity and durability is crucial for performance and efficiency. The use of low equivalent weight (EW) perfluorinated ionomers is one of the few options available to improve membrane conductivity. However, excessive dimensional changes of low EW ionomers upon application of wet/dry or freeze/thaw cycles yield catastrophic losses in membrane integrity. Incorporation of ionomers within porous, dimensionally-stable perforated polymer electrolyte membrane substrates provides improved PEM performance and longevity. The present invention provides novel methods using micromolds to fabricate the perforated polymer electrolyte membrane substrates. These novel methods using micromolds create uniform and well-defined pore structures. In addition, these novel methods using micromolds described herein may be used in batch or continuous processing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 14, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2017
    Assignee: GINER, INC.
    Inventors: Cortney Mittelsteadt, Avni Argun, Castro Laicer, Jason Willey
  • Patent number: 9728815
    Abstract: An assembled battery includes a plurality of air cells arranged in a horizontal direction and a plurality of connection flow paths. Each air cell includes a storage portion between a positive electrode and a metal negative electrode to store an electrolysis solution. The storage portions of the respective adjacent air cells communicate with each other by the respective connection flow paths. An insulation fluid for electrically insulating the electrolysis solution in the respective adjacent air cells is sealed in the respective connection flow paths.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2017
    Assignee: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Mori Nagayama, Atsushi Miyazawa
  • Patent number: 9722277
    Abstract: An energy storage device comprising: an anode; and a solute-containing electrolyte composition wherein the solute concentration in the electrolyte composition is sufficiently high to form a regenerative solid electrolyte interface layer on a surface of the anode only during charging of the energy storage device, wherein the regenerative layer comprises at least one solute or solvated solute from the electrolyte composition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2017
    Assignee: Battelle Memorial Institute
    Inventors: Jie Xiao, Dongping Lu, Yuyan Shao, Wendy D. Bennett, Gordon L. Graff, Jun Liu, Ji-Guang Zhang
  • Patent number: 9722267
    Abstract: This disclosure relates to module level redundancy for fuel cell systems. A monitoring component monitors a set of operational parameters for a fuel cell group. The fuel cell group includes a set of fuel cell units, each having a set of fuel cell stacks. The fuel cell stacks include a set of gas powered fuel cells that convert air and fuel into electricity using a chemical reaction. The monitoring component determines that the set of operational parameters do not satisfy a set of operational criteria, and, in response, a load balancing component adjusts the electrical output capacity of the set of fuel cell units included in the fuel cell group.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 19, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2017
    Assignee: Google Inc.
    Inventor: Allen Wayne Schade
  • Patent number: 9722218
    Abstract: A plating layer 4 is formed on a surface of a battery cover 3, and a peripheral edge part 37b of a cover case 37 is arranged on an upper surface of the plating layer 4. A welding part 40 is formed at a tip part of the peripheral edge part 37b. The welding part 40 includes a melted part 41 in which the tip of the peripheral edge part 37b is melted, and an elution part 42 flowing from the tip onto the plating layer 4, and the melted part 41 and the elution part 42 are welded to the plating layer 4 in the upper surface of the plating layer 4.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2017
    Assignee: HITACHI AUTOMOTIVE SYSTEMS, LTD.
    Inventors: Kohtaro Ikeda, Eiichi Isono, Shin Onose, Hayato Koguchi
  • Patent number: 9721734
    Abstract: A graphene-nanomaterial composite, an electrode and an electric device including the graphene-nanomaterial composite and a method of manufacturing the graphene-nanomaterial composite include a graphene stacked structure including a plurality of graphene films stacked on one another; and a nanomaterial between the plurality of graphene films and bonded to at least one of the plurality of graphene films by a chemical bond.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 21, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2017
    Assignees: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd., Corning Precision Materials Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Chong-joon Ryu, Nae-young Jung, Soon-geun Kwon, Jae-young Choi
  • Patent number: 9722237
    Abstract: A secondary battery having improved safety includes an electrode assembly, a case, and a cap assembly. The electrode assembly has first and second non-coating portions. The case accommodates the electrode assembly. The cap assembly includes a cap plate coupled to the case, and first and second collector plates. In the secondary battery, the first and second non-coating portions and the first and second collector plates are connected or coupled by first and second lead tabs, respectively, and the first and/or second lead tabs include a fuse portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2017
    Assignee: Samsung SDI Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Min-Hyung Guen, Yong-Chul Seo
  • Patent number: 9722254
    Abstract: This disclosure relates to a battery and a method for its manufacture. The method of manufacture may include forming a cathode layer proximate to a cathode current collector. The method further includes forming an electrolyte layer proximate to the cathode layer and an anode layer proximate to the electrolyte layer. The method additionally includes forming an anode current collector layer proximate to the anode layer. At least one of the cathode current collector layer or the anode current collector layer includes a plurality of graphene monolayers. The method yet further includes determining a stepped arrangement of the graphene monolayers; and patterning at least a portion of the plurality of graphene monolayers according to the stepped arrangement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2017
    Assignee: X Development LLC
    Inventor: Ramesh C. Bhardwaj
  • Patent number: 9722257
    Abstract: One embodiment includes a method of forming a hydrophilic particle containing electrode including providing a catalyst; providing hydrophilic particles suspended in a liquid to form a liquid suspension; contacting said catalyst with said liquid suspension; and, drying said liquid suspension contacting said catalyst to leave said hydrophilic particles attached to said catalyst.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2017
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Eric L. Thompson, Anusorn Kongkanand, Frederick T. Wagner
  • Patent number: 9720048
    Abstract: A battery sensor data transmission unit is described as including a connection state ascertainment unit for ascertaining a series connection state in which a battery cell is connected in series to one other battery cell with the aid of a power transmission line and/or for determining a bypassing state in which at least one pole of the battery cell is decoupled from at least one other battery cell. Furthermore, the battery sensor data transmission unit includes a data transmission unit designed for outputting a sensor signal, which represents a physical variable in or at the battery cell, in the series connection state to an evaluation device using the power transmission line and/or outputting the sensor signal in the bypassing state to the evaluation device using a battery housing wall as the transmission medium.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 24, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2017
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Fabian Henrici, Axel Wenzler, Werner Schiemann, Reiner Schnitzer, Berthold Elbracht
  • Patent number: 9716293
    Abstract: Examples of the present technology may include a method of making a non-woven fiber mat. The wet nonwoven fiber mat may include a first plurality of first glass fibers and a second plurality of second glass fibers. The first plurality of first glass fibers may have nominal diameters of less than 5 ?m, and the second plurality of second glass fibers may have nominal diameters of greater than 6 ?m. The method may further include curing the binder composition to produce the nonwoven fiber mat. The nonwoven fiber mat may have an average 40 wt. % sulfuric acid wick height of between about 1 cm and about 5 cm after exposure to 40 wt. % sulfuric acid for 10 minutes conducted according to method ISO8787, and the nonwoven fiber mat may have a total normalized tensile strength greater than 2 (lbf/in)/(lb/sq) for a sq (100 ft2).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 25, 2017
    Assignee: Johns Manville
    Inventors: Zhihua Guo, Souvik Nandi, Jawed Asrar, Albert G Dietz, III
  • Patent number: 9716300
    Abstract: An electrochemical cell system is configured to utilize an oxidant reduction electrode module containing an oxidant reduction electrode mounted to a housing to form a gaseous oxidant space therein that is immersed into the ionically conductive medium. A fuel electrode is spaced from the oxidant reduction electrode, such that the ionically conductive medium may conduct ions between the fuel and oxidant reduction electrodes to support electrochemical reactions at the fuel and oxidant reduction electrodes. A gaseous oxidant channel extending through the gaseous oxidant space provides a supply of oxidant to the oxidant reduction electrode, such that the fuel electrode and the oxidant reduction electrode are configured to, during discharge, oxidize the metal fuel at the fuel electrode and reduce the oxidant at the oxidant reduction electrode, to generate a discharge potential difference therebetween for application to a load.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 3, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 25, 2017
    Assignee: FLUIDIC, INC.
    Inventors: Cody Friesen, Ramkumar Krishnan, Michael Mihalka, Grant Friesen, Andrew Goodfellow
  • Patent number: 9716296
    Abstract: A lithium ion battery pack includes a plurality of prismatic lithium polymer cells and one or more graphite heat spreaders. Each spreader has at least two major surfaces and is made of one of a sheet of a compressed mass of exfoliated graphite particles, a graphitized polyimide sheet, or combinations thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 23, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 25, 2017
    Assignee: Advanced Energy Technologies LLC
    Inventors: Ryan J. Wayne, Jonathan Andrew Taylor, Julian Norley, Bradley E. Reis, Mark Pollock, Ian Andrew McCallum, Thomas W. Weber, Robert A. Reynolds, III, Martin David Smalc, Elliot G. Fishman
  • Patent number: 9716279
    Abstract: Embodiments of the disclosure relate to electrocatalysts. The electrocatalyst may include at least one gas-diffusion layer having a first side and a second side, and particle cores adhered to at least one of the first and second sides of the at least one gas-diffusion layer. The particle cores includes surfaces adhered to the at least one of the first and second sides of the at least one gas-diffusion layer and surfaces not in contact with the at least one gas-diffusion layer. Furthermore, a thin layer of catalytically atoms may be adhered to the surfaces of the particle cores not in contact with the at least one gas-diffusion layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 25, 2017
    Assignee: Brookhaven Science Associates, LLC
    Inventors: Radoslav Adzic, Stoyan Bliznakov, Miomir Vukmirovic
  • Patent number: 9716280
    Abstract: Provided is a highly water repellent, air permeable, and liquid leakage resistant magnesium-air fuel cell that can quickly achieve a discharge reaction peak and can discharge a predetermined amount of current for a relatively long period of time. In a magnesium-air fuel cell, a cathode body includes: a first layer including a porous body formed by mixing a conductive carbon material and fluororesin; and a second layer including a porous body formed by mixing activated carbon and fluororesin, the second layer being joined to one surface of the first layer to be in contact with reaction liquid in the outer frame.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 25, 2017
    Assignee: AQUA POWER SYSTEM, JAPAN
    Inventors: Tadashi Ishikawa, Yoshiaki Hasebe, Masato Hamade
  • Patent number: 9716267
    Abstract: A parameter for producing a positive electrode having excellent safety, and a positive electrode active material layer satisfying the parameter. The positive electrode active material layer includes a first positive electrode active material, a second positive electrode active material having a lower charge/discharge potential than the first positive electrode active material, and an additive. When the first positive electrode active material tap density is defined as dt1, the second positive electrode active material tap density is defined as dt2, a true density of the additive is defined as d3, a mass percentage of the first positive electrode active material is defined as Wt1, a mass percentage of the second positive electrode active material is defined as Wt2, a mass percentage of the additive is defined as Wt3, and a porosity of the positive electrode active material layer is defined as p, the positive electrode active material layer satisfies (1?p)×(Wt1/dt1)/((Wt1/dt1)+(Wt2/dt2)+(Wt3/d3))<0.38.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 26, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 25, 2017
    Assignee: KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOYOTA JIDOSHOKKI
    Inventors: Tatsuya Eguchi, Takeshi Maki, Manabu Miyoshi, Yuuhi Sato, Jun Kaneda, Yusuke Yamamoto, Takahiro Sugioka
  • Patent number: 9716286
    Abstract: An active cell is prepared by dispensing first electrode sub-layers, pressing in physical structures to partially embed them in an uppermost sub-layer, and dispensing more first electrode sub-layers wherein dispensing is in order of increasing porosity, then drying the sub-layers to form a first electrode layer. An electrolyte layer is then formed thereon. Further preparation includes dispensing second electrode sub-layers over the electrolyte layer, pressing in physical structures to partially embed them in an uppermost sub-layer, and dispensing more second electrode sub-layers wherein dispensing is in order of decreasing porosity, then drying the sub-layers to form a second electrode layer. A laminated stack is formed, then the physical structures are pulled out. Sintering then forms the active cell with active passages embedded in and supported by the sintered electrode layers, and with decreasing porosity in the electrode layers in a thickness direction away from the electrolyte layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 21, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 25, 2017
    Inventors: Alan Devoe, Lambert Devoe