Patents Examined by Rena Dye Cronin
  • Patent number: 10263290
    Abstract: It is an object of the present invention to provide a nonaqueous electrolyte secondary battery in which swelling due to charge-discharge cycling is inhibited. The nonaqueous electrolyte secondary battery including a flat electrode assembly in which a first electrode plate and a second electrode plate having a different polarity from the first electrode plate are wound with a separator provided therebetween.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 14, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2019
    Assignee: SANYO Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Shunsuke Mitani, Satoshi Yamamoto, Yasunori Watanabe, Kentaro Takahashi, Masaki Deguchi, Yuta Ichikawa, Masaya Ugaji
  • Patent number: 10263293
    Abstract: Provided is a method of preparing a lithium secondary battery which may simultaneously improve output characteristics and lifetime characteristics of the lithium secondary battery by preparing an electrode on which an SEI film is formed through a pretreatment process, putting an electrode assembly including the electrode in a battery case, and injecting an electrolyte thereinto.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2019
    Assignee: LG Chem, Ltd.
    Inventors: Sung Hoon Yu, Yoo Sun Kang, Kyung Mi Lee
  • Patent number: 10256508
    Abstract: The invention aims to allow carbon dioxide, which is generated upon decomposition of lithium carbonate contained in a positive electrode mixture layer, to easily flow toward the outside of a flat wound electrode body, and further aims to rapidly raise the pressure inside a battery and to reliably operate a pressure-sensitive current interrupt mechanism before the temperature inside the battery rises to such an extent as causing an abnormal state, e.g., smoking, firing, or a burst. A nonaqueous electrolyte secondary battery (10) according to one embodiment of the present invention includes a pressure-sensitive current interrupt mechanism.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2019
    Assignee: SANYO ELECTRIC CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Eiji Okutani
  • Patent number: 10230126
    Abstract: A fuel cell stack assembly (101) comprising a fuel cell stack (102) comprising one or more fuel cells and a retaining member (100) comprising a first engaging region (104) that engages a first end face (110) of the fuel cell stack (102), a second engaging region (106) that engages a second opposing end face (112) of the fuel cell stack (102, and a joining region (108) configured to bias the first engaging region (104) towards the second engaging region (106). The retaining member (106) defines a fluid chamber (118) for communicating a fluid to or from the fuel cell stack (102).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 17, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2019
    Assignee: INTELLIGENT ENERGY LIMITED
    Inventor: Mark Phillip Horlock
  • Patent number: 10218028
    Abstract: In accordance with one embodiment an electrochemical cell system includes a housing, at least one electrochemical cell within the housing and including an anode including a form of lithium, and an ionic liquid electrolyte within a cathode, the cathode separated from the anode by a solid separator impervious to the ionic liquid electrolyte, a temperature sensor within the housing, and an environmental controller at least partially positioned within the housing and configured to maintain a temperature within the housing at least 50° C. above ambient based upon input from the temperature sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 14, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 26, 2019
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Paul Albertus, John F. Christensen, Timm Lohmann, Boris Kozinsky
  • Patent number: 10211470
    Abstract: Various examples are provided for operational control of fuel cells. In one example, among others, a system for controlling a fuel cell includes a stack temperature controller in cascade with a liquid level controller. The liquid level controller can provide a control output based at least in part upon an indication of a liquid level of a liquid fuel tank and a level reference. The stack temperature controller can provide a fan speed control output based at least in part upon an indication of a stack temperature of the fuel cell and the control output of the liquid level controller. In another example, a system for estimating methanol concentration of a fuel cell system includes a state observer that generates an estimate of the methanol concentration of fuel provided to a direct methanol fuel cell based upon a plurality of states of the fuel cell system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 19, 2019
    Assignee: UNIVERSITY OF FLORIDA RESEARCH FOUNDATION, INC.
    Inventors: Oscar D. Crisalle, Mohammad A. R. Biswas, Shyam Prasad Mudiraj, William E. Lear, Jr.
  • Patent number: 10193143
    Abstract: A negative electrode active material for an electricity storage device of the present invention includes TiO2, Na2O, and a network-forming oxide.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 4, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 29, 2019
    Assignee: NIPPON ELECTRIC GLASS CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Hideo Yamauchi
  • Patent number: 10170754
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a silicon monoxide composite negative electrode material, which comprises silicon monoxide substrate. Nano-Silicon material uniformly deposited on the silicon monoxide substrate and nanoscale conductive material coating layer on the surface of the silicon monoxide/Nano-Silicon. The preparation method of the silicon monoxide composite negative electrode material includes Nano-Silicon chemistry vapor deposition, nanoscale conductive material coating modification, screening and demagnetizing. The silicon monoxide composite negative electrode material has properties of high specific capacity (>1600 mAh/g), high charge-discharge efficiency of the first cycle (>80%) and high conductivity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 6, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 1, 2019
    Assignee: Shenzhen BTR New Energy Materials Inc.
    Inventors: Jianguo Ren, Dexin Yu, Min Yue
  • Patent number: 10164249
    Abstract: The present invention provides a positive active material for use in a secondary lithium battery, a method for preparing the positive active material and a secondary lithium battery containing the positive active material. The positive active material includes a core of lithium transition metal oxide represented by Formula LixMyN1-yO2-?A? and a coating layer of lithium transition metal silicate represented by Formula x?Li2O.y?N?Oa.SiO2-?B?which in-situ formed on the core, wherein 0.8?x?1.3, 0.6?y?1.0, 0.01?x??2.1, 0.2?y??1.5, 0.1?a?3.0, 0???0.2, 0???0.4, 0???0.5, 0???0.5. The positive active material according to the present invention has high capacity, desirable cycling performance and safety performance, as well as desirable thermal stability.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 20, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2018
    Assignee: Contemporary Amperex Technology Co., Limited
    Inventors: Xiangpeng Fang, Chengren Wu, Na Liu, Xuguang Gao
  • Patent number: 10135074
    Abstract: The present invention is to provide a carbon powder that can provide a catalyst having excellent durability and a catalyst. A carbon powder for catalyst of the present invention is a carbon powder containing as a main component carbon, which has a BET specific surface area per unit weight of 900 m2/g or greater, and a ratio R? (D?/G intensity ratio) of peak intensity for a D?-band (D? intensity) measured in the vicinity of 1620 cm?1 to peak intensity for a G-band (G intensity) measured in the vicinity of 1580 cm?1 by Raman spectroscopy of 0.6 or less.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 20, 2018
    Assignees: NISSAN MOTOR CO., LTD., NIPPON STEEL & SUMIKIN CHEMICAL CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Shinichi Takahashi, Atsushi Ohma, Tetsuya Mashio, Ken Akizuki
  • Patent number: 10103360
    Abstract: The present invention includes a battery cell, and a module case that contains the battery cell. The battery cell is formed in a flat shape in which a laminate current collector in which a positive current collector and a negative current collector are laminated or wound with a separator interposed therebetween, and an electrolytic solution are contained in a packaging body. The module case includes a deformation part swelling toward a principal surface side of the battery cell, at a position that faces the principal surface of the battery cell in the flat shape, and the deformation part is formed so as to be able to swell toward the outside of the module case when the battery cell expands.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 5, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 16, 2018
    Assignee: NEC ENERGY DEVICES, LTD.
    Inventor: Shoichiro Shiraishi
  • Patent number: 10096864
    Abstract: A nonaqueous electrolyte secondary battery includes a pressure-sensitive current interrupt mechanism, and a flat wound electrode body that is inserted in an outer casing with a winding axis of the flat wound electrode body arranged to extend in a horizontal direction. A positive electrode plate, a negative electrode plate, and a separator in a winding end portion of the flat wound electrode body are all directed toward a top side.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 9, 2018
    Assignee: SANYO ELECTRIC CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Keisuke Minami, Toyoki Fujihara, Toshiyuki Nohma
  • Patent number: 10090532
    Abstract: The present invention provides a method for producing a fuel cell electrode which is configured to be able to deliver stable electricity generation performance even if the humidity condition of the external environment is changed. Disclosed is a method for producing a fuel cell electrode comprising a catalyst layer that contains a catalyst composite-carried carbon containing platinum, a titanium oxide and an electroconductive carbon, wherein the method comprises: a first step of decreasing an amount of acidic functional groups on a surface of the catalyst composite-carried carbon by firing the catalyst composite-carried carbon at 250° C. or more; a second step of producing a catalyst ink by mixing the catalyst composite-carried carbon obtained in the first step, an ionomer, and a solvent; and a third step of forming the catalyst layer using the catalyst ink obtained in the second step.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 11, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2018
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Tatsuya Arai, Takazumi Mandokoro
  • Patent number: 10069129
    Abstract: Disclosed herein is a battery module including battery cells, electrode terminals of which are electrically connected to each other via a connecting member, wherein each of the battery cells is configured to have a structure in which an electrode assembly is mounted in a battery case made of a laminate sheet including a metal layer and a resin layer, and plate-shaped electrode terminals protrude from the battery case, the electrode terminals include a first electrode terminal and a second electrode terminal made of dissimilar metals, the connecting member includes a main connecting part, to which the first electrode terminal is welded, the main connecting part including the metal of the first electrode terminal, and a buried connecting part, to which the second electrode terminal is welded, the buried connecting part including the metal of the second electrode terminal, the buried connecting part is buried in the main connecting part in a state in which the buried connecting part is exposed at one surface of
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 4, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 4, 2018
    Assignee: LG Chem, Ltd.
    Inventors: Tae Su Kim, Sang Yoon Jeong, Jung Mo Kim, Han Sik Kim
  • Patent number: 10062891
    Abstract: A wiring module includes connecting members for electrically connecting electrode terminals of adjacent power storage elements, an insulating protector for accommodating the connecting members and an insulating cover for covering the insulating protector. The insulating cover is configured by arranging a plurality of division covers. At least one of the division covers is formed with an overlapping portion to be overlapped with an adjacent one of the division covers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 3, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 28, 2018
    Assignees: AutoNetworks Technologies, Ltd., Sumitomo Wiring Systems, Ltd., Sumitomo Electric Industries, Ltd.
    Inventors: Osamu Nakayama, Mitsutoshi Morita, Tetsuya Fujita
  • Patent number: 10062910
    Abstract: A method for producing electrical energy in a munition includes; initiating a thermal battery contained within the munition to generate electrical energy; dumping the electrical energy generated by the thermal battery into an electrical energy storage device before the thermal battery becomes inactive; and using the stored electrical energy in the electrical energy storage device over a period of time. The initiation device can be an inertial igniter, the electrical energy storage device can be a capacitor and the thermal battery, initiation device and electrical energy storage device can be configured such that the initiation device and electrical energy storage device sandwich the thermal battery.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 26, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 28, 2018
    Assignee: OMNITEK PARTNERS LLC
    Inventor: Jahangir S. Rastegar
  • Patent number: 10056589
    Abstract: A method of manufacturing a separator for an electrochemical device according to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure includes extruding a resin composition including polyolefin and a diluent, stretching the extruded resin composition to obtain a polyolefin film, extracting the diluent from the obtained polyolefin film to obtain a porous polyolefin film, coating a slurry for forming a porous coating layer on at least one surface of the porous polyolefin film, and heat setting the porous polyolefin film coated with the slurry to obtain a composite separator with a porous coating layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2018
    Assignee: LG CHEM, LTD.
    Inventors: Bi-Oh Ryu, Heon-Sik Song
  • Patent number: 10044058
    Abstract: A flow battery includes at least a cell that has a first electrode, a second electrode and an electrolyte separator layer arranged between the electrodes. A supply/storage system is external of the cell and includes a first vessel fluidly connected in a first loop with the first electrode and a second vessel fluidly connected in a second loop with the second electrode. The first loop and the second loop are isolated from each other. The supply/storage system is configured to fluidly connect the first loop and the second loop to move a second liquid electrolyte from the second vessel into a first liquid electrolyte in the first vessel responsive to a half-cell potential at the first electrode being less than a defined threshold half-cell potential.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 7, 2018
    Assignee: UNITED TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Robert Mason Darling, Rachid Zaffou, Michael L. Perry, Craig R. Walker
  • Patent number: 10033041
    Abstract: Disclosed herein is an artificial solid electrolyte interface (SEI) cathode material for use in a rechargeable battery, particularly a lithium battery. The artificial SEI cathode material includes in its structure, a cathode material, and a conductive polymer/carbon composite encapsulating the cathode material for forming an artificial solid electrolyte interface (SEI) around the cathode in the secondary battery, in which the conductive polymer/carbon composite is no more than 5% by weight of that of the artificial cathode material. Also provided herein is a lithium secondary battery including a cathode formed from the artificial SEI cathode material that renders the lithium secondary battery a reduced level of equivalent series resistance (ESR), an enhanced level of capacitance, and a long cycle life-time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 24, 2018
    Assignee: SILVER H-PLUS TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Li-Hsiang Perng, Chen-Chun Chuang, Chih-Chan Lin
  • Patent number: 10003058
    Abstract: A battery separator comprises a co-extruded, microporous membrane having at least two layers made of extrudable polymers and having: a uniform thickness defined by a standard deviation of <0.80 microns (?m); or an interply adhesion as defined by a peel strength >60 grams.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 2006
    Date of Patent: June 19, 2018
    Assignee: Celgard, LLC
    Inventors: Ronald W. Call, C. William Fulk, Jr., Lie Shi, Xiaomin Zhang, Khuy V. Nguyen