Patents Examined by Raymond Alejandro
  • Patent number: 12095050
    Abstract: A secondary battery protection apparatus includes a temperature sensitive element and a secondary battery protection circuit with a first terminal coupled to an external device and the temperature sensitive element to control charge and discharge using a switching circuit to protect a secondary battery from temperature, and a conversion circuit of the secondary battery protection circuit is controlled such that a first input of a comparison circuit to compare a voltage against a threshold is electrically coupled to the first terminal of the secondary battery protection circuit, the voltage corresponding to a change in temperature of the secondary battery.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 2022
    Date of Patent: September 17, 2024
    Assignee: MITSUMI ELECTRIC CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Yohei Watanabe, Takashi Takeda, Junji Takeshita, Daisuke Suzuki
  • Patent number: 12087983
    Abstract: A redox flow battery (“CRB”) performs as an energy storage system and has a negative electrode that directly utilizes CO2 in the battery charge step as an active species instead of metals. The CRB also has a positive electrode utilizing a metallic or non-metallic redox species, and a cation exchange membrane in between the negative and positive electrodes. The negative electrode comprises a porous base layer, a porous intermediate layer containing a metal oxide and a bi-functional catalyst layer for electrochemical reduction of CO2 or carbonate to formate and for formate oxidation to either carbonate or CO2. The bi-functional catalyst can be a PdSn based catalyst, such as PdSn, PdSnIn, and PdSnPb. The metal oxide in the intermediate layer acts as a catalyst support and can be a non-Platinum group metal (PGM) oxide, such as LaCoO3 or LaNiO3.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 2021
    Date of Patent: September 10, 2024
    Assignee: AGORA ENERGY TECHNOLOGIES LTD.
    Inventors: Pooya Hosseini-Benhangi, Christina Gyenge, Elod Gyenge
  • Patent number: 12087985
    Abstract: In a fuel cell stack, a plurality of projections are provided on a surface of a first end plate opposite to a cell stack body. The projections have support surfaces oriented in a stacking direction. The plurality of projections are overlapped with, or adjacent to the flow field seal as viewed in the stacking direction, and the support surfaces of the plurality of projections are positioned on a single plane surface perpendicular to the stacking direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 2021
    Date of Patent: September 10, 2024
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Hideharu Naito
  • Patent number: 12087901
    Abstract: Described herein are high capacity electrochemical cells including a first electrode comprising a metal oxide, such as acidified metal oxide (“AMO”) materials, and a second electrode comprising lithium metal, where the metal oxide is present in the first electrode at less than 80 weight percent. Methods of making electrodes comprising a metal oxide and methods of making electrochemical cells are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 10, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 10, 2024
    Assignee: HHELI, LLC
    Inventor: Paige L. Johnson
  • Patent number: 12087951
    Abstract: An electrochemical cell is provided having an anode, a cathode, and an alkaline electrolyte. The cell is sealed and generates energy via a water-splitting reaction. In accordance with aspects and embodiments, the cathode comprises a surface layer having a first work function and base metal having a second work function. The work function of the surface layer metal is greater than the work function of the base metal. The differences in work functions cause transient charge to travel from the base metal to the surface layer. A double layer of charge forms at the interface of the surface layer and electrolyte that stores energy and drives a water-splitting reaction. Hydrogen gas produced from the water-splitting reaction at the cathode is spontaneously oxidized at the anode, releasing energy, and powering an external load. In some embodiments, the disclosed sealed electrochemical cells may be capable of delivering electrode current densities of 25 mA/cm2 at 0.55V to an external load.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 10, 2024
    Inventor: Peter Hermansen
  • Patent number: 12080868
    Abstract: Provided is an air electrode/separator assembly including a hydroxide ion conductive dense separator and an air electrode layer provided on one side of the hydroxide ion conductive dense separator. The air electrode layer includes: an internal catalyst layer provided closer to the hydroxide ion conductive dense separator and filled with a mixture containing a hydroxide ion conductive material, an electron conductive material, an organic polymer, and an air electrode catalyst (provided that the hydroxide ion conductive material may be the same material as the air electrode catalyst, and provided that the electron conductive material may be the same material as the air electrode catalyst); and an outermost catalyst layer provided away from the hydroxide ion conductive dense separator having a porosity of 60% or more, composed of a porous current collector and a layered double hydroxide (LDH) covering a surface thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 2021
    Date of Patent: September 3, 2024
    Assignee: NGK INSULATORS, LTD.
    Inventors: Naomi Hashimoto, Ozora Kano, Naomi Saito
  • Patent number: 12080926
    Abstract: An electrochemical cell system and a method of controlling water imbalance is provided. The electrochemical cell system and the method both include determining a present water imbalance in the electrochemical cell by summing a waterin and a watercreated less a waterout; tracking a cumulative water imbalance during operation of the electrochemical cell by repeatedly determining the present water imbalance and continuing to sum the results during operation; and adjusting a flow rate of the oxidant feed gas entering the electrochemical cell based on the cumulative water imbalance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 2, 2021
    Date of Patent: September 3, 2024
    Assignee: Nuvera Fuel Cells, LLC
    Inventor: Scott Blanchet
  • Patent number: 12081914
    Abstract: A personal tactical system including a load-bearing garment, a pouch with one or more batteries enclosed in the pouch, at least one power distribution and data hub, and at least one camera. The camera is incorporated into or removably attachable to the load-bearing garment, the pouch is removably attachable to the load-bearing garment and the one or more batteries are operable to supply power to the at least one power distribution and data hub. The at least one power distribution and data hub is operable to supply power to at least one peripheral device. A plurality of personal tactical systems is operable to form an ad hoc network to share images and other information for determining object direction, location, and movement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 2023
    Date of Patent: September 3, 2024
    Assignee: LAT Enterprises, Inc.
    Inventors: Laura Thiel, Giancarlo Urzi, Carlos Cid
  • Patent number: 12074288
    Abstract: A lithium secondary battery is provided with a higher capacity and a longer life. The lithium secondary battery includes: a cathode containing a material that is capable of inserting and desorbing lithium ions; a lithium ion conductive electrolyte; and an anode containing a material that is capable of occluding and releasing lithium metal or lithium ions, wherein the electrolyte contains a metal 6,6?-bis(benzoylamino)-2,2?-bipyridine (babp) complex, which is a metal complex.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 27, 2024
    Assignee: NIPPON TELEGRAPH AND TELEPHONE CORPORATION
    Inventors: Shuhei Sakamoto, Yoko Ono, Hironobu Minowa, Takeshi Komatsu
  • Patent number: 12074276
    Abstract: Set forth herein are processes for making and using electrolytes (also known as catholytes when the electrolytes are mixed with cathode active materials) for a positive electrode of an electrochemical cell. The catholytes include additives that prevent surface fluorination of lithium-stuffed garnet solid-state separators in contact with the positive electrode. Also set forth herein are electrochemical devices which include the catholytes in addition to a lithium-stuffed garnet solid-state electrolyte separator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 27, 2024
    Assignee: QuantumScape Battery, Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas Arnold, Larry Beck, Tiffany Ho, Aram Yang
  • Patent number: 12068474
    Abstract: A battery electrode composition is provided that comprises composite particles. Each of the composite particles in the composition (which may represent all or a portion of a larger composition) may comprise a porous electrode particle and a filler material. The porous electrode particle may comprise active material provided to store and release ions during battery operation. The filler material may occupy at least a portion of the pores of the electrode particle. The filler material may be liquid and not substantially conductive with respect to electron transport.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 20, 2024
    Assignee: SILA NANOTECHNOLOGIES, INC.
    Inventors: Gleb Yushin, Bogdan Zdyrko, Eugene Berdichevsky, Alexander Jacobs, Alper Nese, Adam Kajdos, Justin Yen, Justin Doane
  • Patent number: 12057587
    Abstract: A method for preparing a support for an electrode catalyst including forming first and second polymer layers having charges different from each other on a surface of a carbon support and carbonizing the result, wherein the polymers included in the first and the second polymer layers are an aromatic compound including a heteroatom, and the first or the second polymer includes a pyridine group.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 2023
    Date of Patent: August 6, 2024
    Assignee: LG CHEM, LTD.
    Inventors: Wonkyun Lee, Sang Hoon Kim, Gyo Hyun Hwang, Jun Yeon Cho, Kwanghyun Kim, Ran Choi
  • Patent number: 12057604
    Abstract: Improvements in the structural components and physical characteristics of lithium battery articles are provided. Standard lithium ion batteries, for example, are prone to certain phenomena related to short circuiting and have experienced high temperature occurrences and ultimate firing as a result. Structural concerns with battery components have been found to contribute to such problems. Improvements provided herein include the utilization of thin metallized current collectors (aluminum and/or copper, as examples), high shrinkage rate materials, materials that become nonconductive upon exposure to high temperatures, and combinations thereof. Such improvements accord the ability to withstand certain imperfections (dendrites, unexpected electrical surges, etc.) within the target lithium battery through provision of ostensibly an internal fuse within the subject lithium batteries themselves that prevents undesirable high temperature results from short circuits.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 6, 2024
    Assignee: Soteria Battery Innovation Group, Inc.
    Inventor: Brian G. Morin
  • Patent number: 12051787
    Abstract: An apparatus includes a plurality of press plates arranged opposite each other with a cell insertion space therebetween into which a battery cell is insertable, and the plurality of press plates being movable towards each other to press a body of the battery cell, at least one gripper unit mounted on an upper edge of each press plate of the plurality of press plates, the at least one gripper unit extending to the cell insertion space, and the at least one gripper unit coming into contact with an electrode lead of the battery cell when adjacent press plates press the body of the battery cell, and at least one push bar unit coupled with the at least one gripper unit, the at least one push bar unit extending to the cell insertion space and including a push bar pressing portion to elastically press a terrace area of the battery cell.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 12, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 30, 2024
    Assignee: LG ENERGY SOLUTION, LTD.
    Inventor: Jae-Hyoung Son
  • Patent number: 12051813
    Abstract: Disclosed are a gas diffusion layer and a method for preparing the same. In the preparation method, a conductive material is fed to a carbon fiber suspension slurry to obtain a carbon fiber substrate. The carbon fiber substrate is processed to obtain a conductive porous substrate. A hydrophobic layer is formed on the conductive porous substrate to obtain a hydrophobic-conductive porous substrate. Then a microporous layer is formed on the hydrophobic-conductive porous substrate to obtain the gas diffusion layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2021
    Date of Patent: July 30, 2024
    Assignee: General Hydrogen Corp., Ltd.
    Inventor: Keguang Yao
  • Patent number: 12046779
    Abstract: A fuel cell power generation system is provided with at least one fuel cell module each of which includes a fuel cell having a fuel-side electrode, an electrolyte, and an oxygen-side electrode; at least one fuel supply line for supplying a fuel gas to the fuel-side electrode included in the at least one fuel cell module; at least one oxidizing gas supply line for supplying an oxidizing gas to the oxygen-side electrode included in the at least one fuel cell module; and a most downstream exhaust fuel gas line through which an exhaust fuel gas discharged from a most downstream module that is disposed most downstream in a flow of the fuel gas among the at least one fuel cell module flows.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 2021
    Date of Patent: July 23, 2024
    Assignee: MITSUBISHI HEAVY INDUSTRIES, LTD.
    Inventors: Norihisa Matake, Yasushi Iwai, Hiroyuki Ozawa, Yoshiki Kato, Nagao Hisatome
  • Patent number: 12046786
    Abstract: A fuel cell system with a stack that includes at least one high temperature membrane electrode assembly and a bipolar plate laminated with an electrically conducting layer to form a structure that contains a liquid cooling chamber inside the structure and gas flow channels on an outer side of the structure. Preferably, a membrane of the membrane electrode assembly contains a composite of inorganic and organic proton-conducting particles and is structurally supported at an anode of the assembly with a porous layer of metallic material. Methodologies of manufacture and used of such fuel cell system. An electrical generation system employing such fuel cell system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 2, 2021
    Date of Patent: July 23, 2024
    Assignee: ARIZONA BOARD OF REGENTS ON BEHALF OF THE UNIVERSITY OF ARIZONA
    Inventors: Dominic Francis Gervasio, Peiwen Li
  • Patent number: 12046722
    Abstract: A power system for a stationary installation comprising a battery pack, a system component, and a system control unit. The batter pack has a plurality of removable battery modules. Each battery module has an internally controllable connection to a common power bus. The system component is controlled by a power controller unit having a connection to the common power bus. The system control unit is in communication with each of the battery modules and the power controller unit. The system control unit receives control inputs from an operator of the power system. The operator may be a human operator, an electronic operator unit, or a combination thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2022
    Date of Patent: July 23, 2024
    Assignee: Palatov Group, LLC
    Inventor: Dennis Palatov
  • Patent number: 12040515
    Abstract: To provide a membrane electrode assembly which can suppress cracking of the catalyst layers. The membrane electrode assembly of the present invention is a membrane electrode assembly comprising an anode having a catalyst layer containing a proton-conductive polymer, a cathode having a catalyst layer containing a proton-conductive polymer, and a polymer electrolyte membrane disposed between the anode and the cathode, wherein the proton-conductive polymer contained in the catalyst layer of at least one of the anode and the cathode is a polymer (H) having units containing a cyclic ether structure and sulfonic acid-type functional groups, and the polymer electrolyte membrane contains a porous material containing a fluorinated polymer, and a fluorinated polymer (S) having sulfonic acid-type functional groups.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 2021
    Date of Patent: July 16, 2024
    Assignee: AGC Inc.
    Inventor: Susumu Saito
  • Patent number: 12040485
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method of preparing a sodium metal oxide material comprising NaxMyCozO2-?, where M is one or more of the following elements: Mn, Cu, Ti, Fe, Mg, Ni, V, Zn, Al, Li, Sn, Si, Ga, Ge, Sb, W, Zr, Nb, Mo, Ta, 0.7?x?1.3, 0.9?y?1.1, 0?z<0.15, 0???0.2 and wherein the average length of primary particles of said sodium metal oxide material is between 2 and 10 ?m, preferably between 5 and 10 ?m. The invention also relates to such a material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 16, 2024
    Assignee: TOPSOE BATTERY MATERIALS A/S
    Inventors: Jon Fold Von Bülow, Søren Dahl