Patents Examined by Rashid Alam
  • Patent number: 9077038
    Abstract: A lithium ion battery includes a positive electrode, a negative electrode, and a microporous polymer separator soaked in an electrolyte solution. The microporous polymer separator is disposed between the positive electrode and the negative electrode. An ion exchange polymer material is any of i) incorporated as a binder in any of the positive electrode or the negative electrode, ii) deposited onto a surface of any of the positive electrode or the negative electrode, iii) incorporated into the microporous polymer separator, or iv) deposited onto a surface of the microporous polymer separator. Examples of methods for making the ion exchange polymer material for use in the lithium ion batteries are also disclosed herein.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 6, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 7, 2015
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Ion C. Halalay, Timothy J. Fuller, Lijun Zou, Thomas C. Jackson
  • Patent number: 9065097
    Abstract: A fuel cell electric generator designed for back-up in the absence of network electricity supply. The generator comprises a fuel cell stack, means for supplying the stack with a first and a second reagent flow comprising, in turn, pressure reducing means, and a manifold body to communicate with the stack said first and second reagent flows and at least a flow of coolant fluid via a respective coolant loop. The manifold body comprises inside chambers for the mixing of said reagent flows with corresponding re-circulated product flows and a coolant fluid expansion chamber within which said pressure reducing means of said first and second reagent flows are positioned at least partially drowned by said coolant. Method for the start-up and shut-down of the generator, and a method for detecting the flooding of a fuel cell and a method for detecting the presence of gas leakages in the generator are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 11, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 23, 2015
    Assignee: ELECTRO POWER SYSTEMS S.P.A.
    Inventors: Pierpaolo Cherchi, Luca Mercante, Andrea Musso, Dario Ceffa, Luisa Borello, Giuseppe Gianolio
  • Patent number: 9034528
    Abstract: Disclosed is a membrane humidifier for a fuel cell, which uniformly humidifies entire hollow fiber membranes from an outer side to a central portion of an interior of the membrane humidifier to improve the distribution of wet air and dry air, thereby improving a humidification performance. The membrane humidifier for the fuel cell includes a hollow upper case including first wet air inlet apertures and first wet air outlet apertures and a membrane module assembly including a plurality of unit membrane modules received lengthwise within the upper case along the flow direction of dry air.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 19, 2015
    Assignees: Hyundai Motor Company, Kia Motors Corporation
    Inventors: Hyun Yoo Kim, Hyuck Roul Kwon
  • Patent number: 9028564
    Abstract: Methods of making high-energy cathode active materials for primary alkaline batteries are described. The primary batteries include a cathode having an alkali-deficient nickel(IV)-containing oxide including one or more metals such as Co, Mg, Al, Ca, Y, Mn, and/or non-metals such as B, Si, Ge or a combination of metal and/or non-metal atoms as dopants partially substituted for Ni and/or Li in the crystal lattice; an anode; a separator between the cathode and the anode; and an alkaline electrolyte solution.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 12, 2015
    Assignee: The Gillette Company
    Inventors: Jennifer A. Nelson, Paul A. Christian, Kirakodu S. Nanjundaswamy, Fan Zhang
  • Patent number: 9023520
    Abstract: A lithium ion battery includes a positive electrode, a negative electrode, a microporous polymer separator disposed between the negative electrode and the positive electrode, and a polymer having a chelating agent tethered thereto. The polymer is incorporated into the lithium ion battery such that the chelating agent complexes with metal cations in a manner sufficient to not affect movement of lithium ions across the microporous polymer separator during operation of the lithium ion battery.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 12, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 5, 2015
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Ion C. Halalay, Timothy J. Fuller, Lijun Zou, Zicheng Li
  • Patent number: 9017915
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides inks, systems, and methods directed towards dispersed pigments. In one embodiment, an electrophotographic ink can comprise an aliphatic solvent and a pigment having a surface comprising carbonyl groups stabilized by an amine dispersant having the structure: R1R2N[(CH2)nNR5]m(CH2)pNR3R4, where R1, R3, R4, and R5 are independently selected from the group of H; COR6; COOR6; CONHR6; linear or branched, substituted or unsubstituted, alkyl; linear or branched, substituted or unsubstituted, aryl; and combinations thereof; R2 is an aliphatic polymer chain; R6 is selected from the group of H; linear or branched, substituted or unsubstituted, alkyl; linear or branched, substituted or unsubstituted, aryl; and combinations thereof; m is from 0 to 200; n is from 1 to 20; and p is from 1 to 20; where the electrophotographic ink has a low field conductivity of less than 200 pS/cm and a viscosity from about 0.5 to about 40 cps.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 7, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 28, 2015
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
    Inventors: Sivapackia Ganapathiappan, Hou T. Ng
  • Patent number: 9017845
    Abstract: An electric energy storage device (10) for a motor vehicle, in particular a high-voltage energy storage device for a hybrid vehicle or an electric vehicle, having a housing (11) and having storage modules (12) accommodated in the housing. The housing (11) has a housing top part (15), a housing bottom part (16) and a supporting element (17) with an annular supporting frame (18). The housing bottom part (15) and the housing top part (16) are connected detachably to the supporting frame (18), which is positioned between them. The annular supporting frame (18) has fastening sections (19, 20) for detachably connecting the electric energy storage device to a body structure of a motor vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 13, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 28, 2015
    Assignee: Dr. Ing. h.c. F. Porsche Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Stefan Bender, Steffen Maurer
  • Patent number: 9012117
    Abstract: An electrostatic image developing toner including a resin fine particle, and a toner material containing a polyester-based resin, wherein the electrostatic image developing toner is obtained by dissolving and/or dispersing the toner material containing the polyester-based resin in an organic solvent to prepare a toner material liquid, and dispersing the toner material liquid in an aqueous solvent containing the resin fine particle, and wherein the polyester-based resin contains a polyester resin obtained by polycondensation of an alcohol component with a carboxylic acid component containing a modified purified-rosin.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2015
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Hisashi Nakajima, Shinya Nakayama, Saori Yamada, Hiroshi Yamashita
  • Patent number: 9012089
    Abstract: A positive electrode system of an electric storage device includes first and second positive electrodes. The first and second positive electrodes include current collectors, and first and second positive-electrode mixture layers, respectively. The negative electrode system of the electric storage device has a negative electrode including a current collector and a negative-electrode mixture layer. The first positive electrode and the second positive electrode are arranged across the negative electrode. The first positive-electrode mixture layer and the second positive-electrode mixture layer are connected to each other, and of different types. Through-holes are formed in the current collector of the negative electrode arranged between the first positive-electrode mixture layer and the second positive-electrode mixture layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 7, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2015
    Assignee: Fuji Jukogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Nobuo Ando, Kenji Kojima
  • Patent number: 9012059
    Abstract: A secondary battery includes at least two electrode assemblies, each electrode assembly including a first electrode plate, a separator, and a second electrode plate, a case accommodating the at least two electrode assemblies, electrode terminals electrically connected to the at least two electrode assemblies, a cap plate sealing the case and exposing the electrode terminals to the outside, and at least one insulation member between the at least two electrode assemblies, the insulation member defining a space between the at least two electrode assemblies.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 6, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2015
    Assignees: Samsung SDI Co., Ltd., Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Sangwon Byun, Jeongwon Oh, Sooseok Choi, Joongheon Kim
  • Patent number: 9005840
    Abstract: A fuel cell separator pair has first and second separators having front and back surfaces, a corrugated plate portion shaped in a wave form at the central portion, and a flat plate portion formed in the peripheral portion and surrounding the corrugated plate portion, wherein the corrugated plate portion of the front surface constitutes a reaction gas channel and the corrugated plate portion of the back surface constitutes a coolant channel. The back surfaces of the first and second separators are facing each other. The flat plate portions of the first and second separators are arranged on top of each other so as to be in contact with each other. The flat plate portion of the second separator protrudes toward the outside beyond the flat plate portion of the first separator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 14, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2015
    Assignee: Panasonic Intellectual Property Management Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Takashi Morimoto, Toshihiro Matsumoto, Atusi Murata, Mitsuo Yoshimura, Yoko Yamamoto
  • Patent number: 8999540
    Abstract: Disclosed is a battery cell holder configured so that a cylindrical battery cell is mounted therein, the battery cell holder including an upper cover including a first main body to cover an upper part of the battery cell in a state in which a first electrode terminal of the battery cell is exposed and at least one first extension fastening part extending downward from the first main body and a lower cover including a second main body to cover a lower part of the battery cell in a state in which a second electrode terminal of the battery cell having a polarity opposite to that of the first electrode terminal is exposed and at least one second extension fastening part extending upward from the second main body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 7, 2015
    Assignee: LG Chem, Ltd.
    Inventors: Seung Hyun Bang, Sooryoung Kim, Gi Hwan Kwon, Burn Choi, Kyung Min Lee
  • Patent number: 8999544
    Abstract: An electric energy store (10) of a motor vehicle, in particular a high voltage energy store of a hybrid vehicle or an electric vehicle, has a housing (11) and storage modules (12) accommodated in the housing. The housing (11) has a supporting element (17) with an annular supporting frame (18) made from a fiber reinforced plastic and via which the electric energy store (10) can be connected to a body structure of a motor vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 10, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 7, 2015
    Assignee: Dr. Ing. h.c.F. Porsche Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Stefan Bender, Guan Chew, Steffen Maurer
  • Patent number: 8993204
    Abstract: According to aspects of the present invention, an electrophotographic photosensitive member includes a surface layer comprising a cured resin obtained by polymerizing a compound having at least one polymerizable functional group. Aspects of the present invention provide an electrophotographic photosensitive member whose surface layer comprises a compound (urea derivative) having a certain structure, a method for producing the electrophotographic photosensitive member, and a process cartridge and an electrophotographic apparatus including the electrophotographic photosensitive member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2015
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Masaki Nonaka, Masato Tanaka, Masataka Kawahara, Michiyo Sekiya, Akira Yoshida
  • Patent number: 8974954
    Abstract: Disclosed is a battery having an improved life. Specifically disclosed is a battery which comprises an electric power generating element in which one or more unit cell layers are stacked, each being constituted by sequentially laminating or stacking a positive electrode, an electrolyte and a negative electrode; a first collector plate which is provided on the outermost positive electrode surface of the electric power generating element; a second collector plate which is provided on the outermost negative electrode surface of the electric power generating element; a convex or protruding portion provided on the first collector plate and/or the second collector plate with a width that is not less than a half of the width of the end edge of the collector plate; and a terminal which is attached to the convex portion for retrieving electric current from the convex portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 23, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 10, 2015
    Assignee: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yasuhito Miyazaki, Takuya Kinoshita, Takaaki Abe, Yoshio Shimoida
  • Patent number: 8962228
    Abstract: A low melt or ultra low melt toner includes at least one amorphous polyester of an alkoxylated bisphenol based polyester, a crystalline polyester derived from the reaction of an aliphatic dicarboxylic acid or aromatic dicarboxylic acid with an aliphatic diol, at least one colorant and at least one fluorescence agent. Methods of authentication of the toner, of authentication of documents formed from the toner, of embedding information in documents, and the like are also set forth.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 24, 2015
    Assignee: Xerox Corporation
    Inventors: Gabriel Iftime, Karen A. Moffat, Jordan H. Wosnick, Eric Rotberg, Cuong Vong, Richard P. N. Veregin, Peter M. Kazmaier
  • Patent number: 8927183
    Abstract: A photoreceptor including an electroconductive substrate; a photosensitive layer, which is located overlying the electroconductive substrate and which includes a charge generation material, a charge transport material having no radical polymerizability, a binder resin having no radical polymerizability, and a crosslinked polymer including a unit obtained from a first radically polymerizable monomer having three or more functional groups and no charge transport structure and a unit obtained from a second radically polymerizable monomer having a charge transport structure; and an outermost layer, which is located on the photosensitive layer and which includes a crosslinked polymer including a unit obtained from a third radically polymerizable monomer having three or more functional groups and no charge transport structure and a unit obtained from a fourth radically polymerizable monomer having a charge transport structure. An image forming method and apparatus, and a process cartridge using the photoreceptor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 28, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 6, 2015
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Yoshiaki Kawasaki, Akihiro Sugino, Mitsuaki Hirose
  • Patent number: 8911906
    Abstract: There is provided a lithium ion secondary cell excellent in charging and discharging cycle characteristics. A lithium ion secondary cell includes: an electrode body including a positive electrode having a positive electrode active material, a negative electrode having a negative electrode active material, and a separator; and a non-aqueous electrolyte containing a lithium salt as a supporting salt in an organic solvent, the electrode body and the non-aqueous electrolyte being accommodated in a case. The positive electrode active material is a lithium transition metal oxide having a layered structure. The electrolyte contains a compound represented by a chemical formula (I) in an amount of ? mol relative to the total content ? mol of moisture to be mixed in the cell. ? satisfies ?1.3?log(?/?)?1.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 4, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 16, 2014
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Koji Takahata, Yukihiro Okada
  • Patent number: 8911912
    Abstract: A fuel cell system (100) includes: a hydrogen generator (2) including a reformer (3); a combustor (5) configured to supply heat to the reformer (3); a fuel cell (1); a first channel (10); a second channel (8); a third channel (16) through which an oxidation gas flows, the oxidation gas being supplied to the first channel (10) extending between a branch portion (10a) and the fuel cell (1); a first on-off valve (7a) provided on the first channel (10) located downstream of a meeting portion (10c); a second on-off valve (6) provided on the second channel (8); an oxidation gas supply unit (15) provided on the third channel (16); and a controller (200) configured such that when the first on-off valve (7a) is closed and the second on-off valve (6) is opened, and a hydrogen-containing gas is discharged from the hydrogen generator (2) at the time of start-up, the controller (200) activates the oxidation gas supply unit (15) to supply the oxidation gas through the third channel (16) to the first channel (10) located do
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 16, 2014
    Assignee: Panasonic Corporation
    Inventors: Akinori Yukimasa, Shigeki Yasuda, Naohisa Tanabe, Hidetoshi Wakamatsu
  • Patent number: 8900782
    Abstract: An electrophotographic photoreceptor includes a substrate; an undercoat layer provided on the substrate and containing a tin-zinc complex oxide powder having a volume resistivity of about 2×109 ?·cm or less; and a photosensitive layer provided on the undercoat layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 29, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 2, 2014
    Assignee: Fuji Xerox Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kazunori Anazawa, Tomoko Miyahara, Kaoru Torikoshi