Patents Examined by Patrick Ryan
  • Patent number: 9786920
    Abstract: A current collector in the form of a conductive substrate subjected to a special chemical etch to provide the current collector having a multi-thickness structure, is described. The multiple-thickness current collector structure provides an electrochemical cell with increased charge capacity per volume while enabling a robust weld connection thereto. The current collector has a frame and comprises within an inner perimeter of the frame, first strand structures that intersect second strand structures to provide a plurality of openings or interstices bordered by the strands. At least one tab portion having a thicker distal portion spaced from a thinner proximal tab portion that extends from an outer perimeter of the frame.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 10, 2017
    Assignee: Greatbatch Ltd.
    Inventors: Kenneth B. Talamine, Lou Serpe, Gary L. Freitag
  • Patent number: 9786898
    Abstract: A secondary battery and a secondary battery array are disclosed. In one aspect, the secondary battery includes an electrode assembly and a battery case accommodating the electrode assembly. The battery also includes a plurality of lead terminals comprising a first pair of lead terminals having opposite polarities and outwardly extending from the electrode assembly to protrude from a first side of the battery case and a second pair of lead terminals having opposite polarities and outwardly extending from the electrode assembly to protrude from a second side of the battery case opposing the first side. The battery further includes a plurality of insulation members respectively extending along the first and second pairs of lead terminals to at least partially cover the lead terminals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 9, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 10, 2017
    Assignee: Samsung SDI Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Sangdo Heo
  • Patent number: 9786928
    Abstract: A fuel cell stack includes a membrane electrode assembly and a bipolar plate. The bipolar plate has a corrugated portion defined by an adjacent pair of proximal and distal peak portions and a sidewall segment connecting the peak portions. The sidewall segment and membrane electrode assembly at least partially define a flow channel. The sidewall segment includes a shoulder portion defining a step spaced away from the peak portions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 24, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 10, 2017
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Daniel E. Wilkosz, Ronald David Brost, Thomas A. Wagner
  • Patent number: 9786879
    Abstract: A battery module includes a plurality of battery blocks formed by arranging a plurality of unit cells in each block; and a hollow spacer placed between two adjacent battery blocks. The accommodation member and the spacer may be made of the same metal material. The spacer may be formed to include an insulation member for insulating two joined battery blocks from each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 10, 2017
    Assignee: SANYO ELECTRIC CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Hiroshi Takasaki
  • Patent number: 9780356
    Abstract: Process for the fabrication of an electrode structure comprising an electrochemically active material suitable for use in an energy storage device. The method includes electrodepositing the electrochemically active material onto an electrode in electrodeposition bath containing a non-aqueous electrolyte. The electrode structure can be used for various applications such as electrochemical energy storage devices including high power and high-energy lithium-ion batteries.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2017
    Assignee: XERION ADVANCED BATTERY CORP.
    Inventors: Huigang Zhang, John D. Busbee, Hailong Ning, Kevin A. Arpin
  • Patent number: 9780415
    Abstract: A battery includes at least two battery cells and a first electrical connection between a first battery pole of one of the at least two battery cells and a second battery pole of one other battery cell of the at least two battery cells. A second electrical connection branches off from the first electrical connection for the purpose of measuring a battery cell voltage of at least one battery cell of the at least two battery cells.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 21, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2017
    Assignees: Robert Bosch GmbH, Samsung SDI Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Markus Kohlberger
  • Patent number: 9780403
    Abstract: The present application relates to the filed of energy storage devices, and in particular, relates to a cathode sheet and a lithium ion electric roll using the cathode sheet. The cathode sheet comprises a cathode current collector, an active substance layer, a cathode tab, a head protective adhesive, a tail protective adhesive, an ending adhesive, and an anti-puncture cushion. The cathode current collector comprises a head exposed zone, a head adhesive application zone, a coating zone, a tail adhesive application zone, and a tail exposed zone. The active substance layer covers the coating zone, the head protective adhesive covers the head adhesive application zone, the tail protective adhesive covers the tail adhesive application zone, the ending adhesive is bonded to a tail of the tail exposed zone, and the anti-puncture cushion is connected to the tail exposed zone.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2017
    Assignee: DONGGUAN AMPEREX TECHNOLOGY LIMITED
    Inventors: Junliang Zhu, Haibing Wang, Tongming Dong, Wenqiang Cheng, Baohua Chen, Shufeng Wu, Wei Yang, Zhihua Qin, Meina Lin
  • Patent number: 9780385
    Abstract: A process for producing an oxygen reducing catalyst including a step of heat-treating, in a non-oxidizing atmosphere, a catalyst precursor including a compound (i) supplying a carbon element and a nitrogen element by heating in a non-oxidizing atmosphere, and a compound (ii) containing at least one element of iron and cobalt. Also disclosed is an oxygen reducing catalyst, a fuel cell catalyst layer including the oxygen reducing catalyst, an electrode including the fuel cell catalyst layer, a membrane-electrode assembly including the electrode and a fuel cell including the membrane-electrode assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 10, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2017
    Assignee: SHOWA DENKO K.K.
    Inventors: Kazunori Ichioka, Takuya Imai, Chunfu Yu
  • Patent number: 9780380
    Abstract: Provided is a current collector including a laminate in which a conductive substrate and an insulator are laminated, wherein the insulator is a porous insulator formed with an open pore channel penetrating through the insulator. The current collector may be used as a current collector for an electrode of a secondary battery and stably maintain capacity of the secondary battery at the time of repeating charge and discharge cycles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2017
    Assignee: SK INNOVATION CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Je Hyun Chae, Jeong Soo Kim, Won Sang Koh, Seung Ok Lee, Young Shol Kim
  • Patent number: 9781492
    Abstract: Systems and methods for discovering and interacting with video on a frame level are disclosed. A person viewing a video can capture a frame from a video using a mobile device. The captured frame and information about items within the frame are displayed on the user's mobile device. The user can learn about the items or interact with the displayed items such as purchasing the items using the mobile device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 15, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2017
    Assignee: Ever Curious Corporation
    Inventors: Chander Chawla, Rajiv Jain
  • Patent number: 9774022
    Abstract: A wiring module includes an insulating protector. The insulating protector includes a main body and a lid. The main body includes a holding portion that holds at least one of an element connecting member and an external connecting member. The lid is attached to the main body. The lid swings between an open position and a closed position. The holding portion is open at the open position and closed at the closed position. The lid includes a shaft for detachable attachment. The main body includes a shaft holder that receives the shaft and holds the shaft such that rotation of the shaft is allowed. The main body includes a restriction portion to hold the lid to the main body such that the swing of the lid is restricted between the open position and the closed position. The lid includes a restriction portion receiving portion that receives the restriction portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 29, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 26, 2017
    Assignees: SUMITOMO WIRING SYSTEMS, LTD., HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Masaru Shitamichi, Yoshinao Kobayashi, Yuko Kinoshita, Tomomi Kurita, Yusuke Ozaki, Nobuaki Ishibashi
  • Patent number: 9774019
    Abstract: The invention relates to a rechargeable battery unit, in particular for a watercraft, having a plurality of rechargeable batteries which are connected to one another by means of a holding arrangement to form a rechargeable battery cell, wherein the holding arrangement has at least one holder which forms receptacles by means of which the rechargeable batteries are held in the region of a pole end, and that at least some of the rechargeable batteries are electrically coupled to one another in the region of their poles by means of a pole connector. A design of this kind allows a powerful rechargeable battery unit to be constructed with a compact installation space, it also being possible for the rechargeable battery cells to be cascaded for the purpose of varying the energy density and/or voltage in said rechargeable battery unit. A rechargeable battery unit of this kind is suitable, in particular, for use in motor-operated watercraft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 26, 2017
    Assignee: Cayago GmbH
    Inventor: Hans Peter Walpurgis
  • Patent number: 9770890
    Abstract: A thin film production apparatus which includes: a substrate feeding mechanism configured to continuously feed a substrate; a substrate receiving mechanism configured to receive the substrate; a substrate conveying mechanism; a film formation roller; a first film formation source configured to form a first thin film on a film formation surface of the substrate traveling on an upstream side of the film formation roller in a substrate conveyance direction along the substrate conveying mechanism; and a second film formation source configured to form a second thin film on a roller circumferential surface of the film formation roller. The film formation roller is placed so that the second thin film is joined to the first thin film. The second thin film is formed to a greater thickness and/or at a higher deposition rate than the first thin film.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 29, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 26, 2017
    Assignee: PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Kazuyoshi Honda
  • Patent number: 9774066
    Abstract: A battery and an associated method are provided for generating power using an air cathode battery with a slurry anode. The method provides a battery with an air cathode separated from an anode current collector by an electrically insulating separator and an extrusion gap. The anode current collector extruder has a first plate with a plurality of slurry outlet perforations, and a sleeve having a first partition immediately adjacent to the extruder first plate, with a plurality of slurry inlet perforations. Active slurry is provided under pressure to an extruder inlet, and the extruder first plate slurry outlet perforations are selectively aligned with sleeve first partition slurry inlet perforations. Active slurry deposits are formed in the extrusion gap to mechanically charge the battery. In the discharge position, the sleeve moves so that the perforations no longer align, and slurry in the extruder is isolated from slurry in the extrusion gap.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 26, 2017
    Assignee: Sharp Laboratories of America, Inc.
    Inventors: Hidayat Kisdarjono, Yuhao Lu, David Evans, Jong-Jan Lee
  • Patent number: 9774059
    Abstract: A lithium-ion battery cell includes at least two working electrodes, each including an active material, an inert material, an electrolyte and a current collector, a first separator region arranged between the at least two working electrodes to separate the at least two working electrodes so that none of the working electrodes are electronically connected within the cell, an auxiliary electrode including a lithium reservoir, and a second separator region arranged between the auxiliary electrode and the at least two working electrodes to separate the auxiliary electrode from the working electrodes so that none of the working electrodes is electronically connected to the auxiliary electrode within the cell.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 16, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 26, 2017
    Assignee: ROBERT BOSCH GMBH
    Inventors: John F. Christensen, Jasim Ahmed, Sungbae Park, Aleksander Kojic
  • Patent number: 9774016
    Abstract: A battery pack includes: a plurality of battery cells (1); a cell support that holds the plurality of battery cells; a connection part (6) that connects to the plurality of battery cells; and a circuit substrate (8) that is used to mount circuits for the plurality of battery cells. The cell support (2) is integrally formed with battery cell storage units (3) that store the plurality of battery cells, a base unit (4) that supports the battery cell storage units, and impact relaxation ribs (21), and each of the impact relaxation ribs is formed between an outer circumference of the base unit and an exterior surface of each of the battery cell storage units, and is configured in a shape capable of being transformed in a direction to which impact is applied.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 1, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 26, 2017
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventor: Hiroshi Kano
  • Patent number: 9768429
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a pouch type secondary battery. The pouch type secondary battery includes an electrode assembly, and a pouch type case in which the electrode assembly is accommodated, the pouch type case comprising a sealing part disposed on an edge thereof. The sealing part includes an inner sealing part forming a closed curve to protect the electrode assembly against the outside, and an outer sealing part defining a gas flow path between the inner and outer sealing parts to surround a peripheral portion of the inner sealing part, the outer sealing part having a safety vent.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 25, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2017
    Assignee: LG Chem, Ltd.
    Inventors: Seung Hyun Chung, Sun Kyu Kim, Cha Hwan Hwang
  • Patent number: 9768431
    Abstract: An example battery pack separator includes a spacer section and a vent section. The spacer section has a portion that is operative to fit between a first battery cell and a second battery cell along an axis. The portion has a perimeter. A vent section has an aperture that extends away from the axis outside the perimeter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 17, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2017
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Daniel Miller, Saravanan Paramasivam, Dave Moschet
  • Patent number: 9768430
    Abstract: A non-woven fabric base material for a lithium ion secondary battery separator composed mainly of a polyethylene terephthalate fiber, characterized in that the non-woven fabric base material comprises a polyethylene terephthalate binder fiber and a crystallized polyethylene terephthalate fiber, and the content of a polyethylene terephthalate binder fiber having a fiber length of 2.5 mm or less is 10 to 60 mass %.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2017
    Assignee: MITSUBISHI PAPER MILLS LIMITED
    Inventors: Tomohiro Sato, Toshihiro Shigematsu, Makoto Kato, Kenji Hyodo, Wakana Aizawa
  • Patent number: 9768426
    Abstract: A cell contacting system for an electro-chemical device is provided, which has a reduced weight and yet a high security against damage. The electro-chemical device includes a plurality of electro-chemical cells, a cover which includes a carrier element, on which there is arranged at least one cell connector for the electrically conductive connection of a first cell terminal of a first electro-chemical cell and a second cell terminal of a second electro-chemical cell, and a cover element for covering the at least one cell connector, the cover element including a covering film.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 22, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2017
    Assignees: ElringKlinger AG, Bayerische Motoren Werke Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Mark Laderer, Wolfgang Fritz, Hubertus Goesmann, Axelle Hauck, Christian Zachar