Patents Examined by Sean P Cullen
  • Patent number: 10505233
    Abstract: According to an embodiment, an electrode is provided. The electrode group includes a stack. The stack includes a positive electrode, a negative electrode or negative electrodes, and separator. Each negative electrode includes a negative electrode current collector and a negative electrode layer provided on the negative electrode current collector. The electrode group satisfies following relational formulae (I) to (III): 10?a1/b1?16 (I); 0.7?D1/E1?1.4 (II); E1?85 (III). Here, the a1 [mm] is a thickness of the stack. The b1 [mm] is a thickness of the negative electrode current collector, or is a total thickness of the negative electrode current collectors. The D1 [?m] is a thickness of the positive electrode. The E1 [?m] is a thickness of the negative electrode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 10, 2019
    Assignee: KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOSHIBA
    Inventors: Yasuaki Murashi, Nobuyasu Negishi, Tatsuya Shinoda, Koichi Takeshita, Koichi Kawamura, Tatsuya Hashimoto
  • Patent number: 10505165
    Abstract: In a lid for a battery case where an annular thin portion is formed integrally with a lid main body by coining, a pair of ribs formed integrally with the lid main body so as to bulge from the lid main body and extending in a short direction of the lid main body are disposed on both sides of the annular thin portion in a long direction of the lid main body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 10, 2019
    Assignee: NIPPON STEEL NISSHIN CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Masato Ootsuka
  • Patent number: 10505321
    Abstract: An electrical connection system for cell voltage monitoring in a fuel cell stack. A fuel cell stack assembly comprises a plurality of fuel cells disposed in a stacked configuration, each cell substantially parallel to an x-y plane and including an electrical tab extending laterally from an edge of a plate in the cell in the x-direction to form an array of tabs extending along a side face of the fuel cell stack in a z-direction orthogonal to the x-y plane. A connector device comprises a planar member having a plurality of spaced-apart slits formed in an edge of the planar member, each slit having an electrically conductive material on an inside face of the slit. The slits are spaced along the edge of the planar member and configured to receive the tabs by sliding engagement in the y-direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 21, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 10, 2019
    Assignee: Intelligent Energy Limited
    Inventor: Peter David Hood
  • Patent number: 10497633
    Abstract: The present invention provides electronic systems, including device arrays, comprising functional device(s) and/or device component(s) at least partially enclosed via one or more fluid containment chambers, such that the device(s) and/or device component(s) are at least partially, and optionally entirely, immersed in a containment fluid. Useful containment fluids for use in fluid containment chambers of electronic devices of the invention include lubricants, electrolytes and/or electronically resistive fluids. In some embodiments, for example, electronic systems of the invention comprise one or more electronic devices and/or device components provided in free-standing and/or tethered configurations that decouple forces originating upon deformation, stretching or compression of a supporting substrate from the free standing or tethered device or device component.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 3, 2019
    Assignee: The Board of Trustees of the University of Illinois
    Inventors: John A. Rogers, Sheng Xu, Jonathan A. Fan, Lin Jia
  • Patent number: 10490812
    Abstract: A negative electrode for nonaqueous electrolyte secondary batteries is provided which includes SiOx and allows the cycle characteristics of batteries to be enhanced. A negative electrode according to an example embodiment includes a negative electrode current collector and a negative electrode mixture layer disposed on the current collector. The negative electrode mixture layer includes SiOx (0.5?x?1.5) particles having a carbon coating on a particle surface, carbonaceous active material particles, and a compound having at least one of a carboxyl group and a hydroxyl group and having an average number of etherifying agent moieties present per unit molecule of not more than 0.8. The carbon coating includes a first coating disposed on the surface of the SiOx and a second coating disposed on the first coating and including carbon having higher crystallinity than the carbon forming the first coating.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 15, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 26, 2019
    Assignee: SANYO Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Mai Yokoi, Yasunobu Iwami, Taizou Sunano
  • Patent number: 10483533
    Abstract: Provided is particulate of a cathode active material for a lithium battery, comprising one or a plurality of cathode active material particles being embraced or encapsulated by a thin layer of a high-elasticity polymer having a recoverable tensile strain no less than 5%, a lithium ion conductivity no less than 10?6 S/cm at room temperature, and a thickness from 0.5 nm to 10 ?m, wherein the polymer contains an ultrahigh molecular weight (UHMW) polymer having a molecular weight from 0.5×106 to 9×106 grams/mole. The UHMW polymer is preferably selected from polyacrylonitrile, polyethylene oxide, polypropylene oxide, polyethylene glycol, polyvinyl alcohol, polyacrylamide, poly(methyl methacrylate), poly(methyl ether acrylate), a copolymer thereof, a sulfonated derivative thereof, a chemical derivative thereof, or a combination thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 10, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 19, 2019
    Assignee: Global Graphene Group, Inc.
    Inventors: Aruna Zhamu, Bor Z. Jang
  • Patent number: 10483518
    Abstract: A secondary battery includes a battery cell, a protection circuit module electrically connected to the battery cell, a top case covering the protection circuit module, and a bottom case covering a bottom surface of the battery cell. The bottom case includes a pull tab protruding to an outside of the bottom case.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 19, 2019
    Assignee: Samsung SDI Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Sangdo Hur
  • Patent number: 10476103
    Abstract: An electrode for a battery cell, including an active material which contains silicon and which contains a first polymer which is ionically conductive. The active material contains in this case a copolymer, which includes the first polymer and a second polymer, the second polymer being electrically conductive. A battery cell which includes at least one electrode is also described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 12, 2019
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Bernd Schumann, Pallavi Verma
  • Patent number: 10446833
    Abstract: Electrode materials comprising (a) at least one compound of general formula (I) Li(1+x)[NiaCObMncM1d](1-x)O2 (I) the integers being defined as follows: x is in the range of from 0.01 to 0.05, a is in the range of from 0.3 to 0.6, b is in the range of from zero to 0.35, c is in the range of from 0.2 to 0.6, d is in the range of from zero to 0.05, a+b+c+d=1 M1 is at least one metal selected from Ca, Zn, Fe, Ti, Ba, Al, (b) at least one compound of general formula (II) LiFe(1-x)M2yPO4 (II) y is in the range of from zero to 0.8 M2 is at least one element selected from Ti, Co, Mn, Ni, V, Mg, Nd, Zn and Y, that contains at least one further iron-phosphorous compound, in form of a solid solution in compound (b) or in domains, (c) carbon in electrically conductive modification.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 16, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 15, 2019
    Assignee: BASF SE
    Inventors: Ivana Krkljus, Aleksei Volkov, Carsten Sueling
  • Patent number: 10446830
    Abstract: The present invention discloses a high-voltage ternary positive electrode material for lithium-ion battery and preparation method thereof. The chemical formula of the material is LiNi0.6-xMgxCo0.2-yAlyMn0.2-zTizO2-dFd, wherein 0<x,y,z,d?0.05. The precursor of the positive electrode material is synthesized by gradient co-precipitation method and the positive electrode material is prepared by solid phase method. The content of nickel in the synthesized precursor particles has a gradient distribution from the inside to the outside. The obtained precursor is mixed and grinded evenly with the lithium source and the fluorine source at a certain ratio and put into the tube furnace. The obtained precursor is then pre-sintered in the oxygen-enriched air atmosphere and then heated up to be sintered, to obtain the target product.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 1, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 15, 2019
    Assignee: SICHUAN FUHUA NEW ENERGY HIGH-TECH CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Xingquan Liu, Yiding Liu, Zhenhua He
  • Patent number: 10439176
    Abstract: Disclosed is a battery pack, which includes at least one battery module, a pack case configured to package the at least one battery module, a BMS (Battery Management System) unit provided in the pack case to control the at least one battery module, and a memory slot unit electrically connected to the BMS unit and configured to insert a memory unit therein for firmware update of the battery pack.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 8, 2019
    Assignee: LG Chem, Ltd.
    Inventors: Yeo-Joo Choi, Hyeon-Kyu Kim, Bum-Hyun Lee, Jae-Ki Lee
  • Patent number: 10424805
    Abstract: The present invention provides a redox flow battery comprising a negative electrode (also referred to herein as an “anode”) immersed in a first liquid electrolyte (also referred to herein as a “negative electrolyte” or “anolyte”), a positive electrode (also referred to herein as a “cathode”) immersed in a second liquid electrolyte (also referred to herein as a “positive electrolyte” or “catholyte”), and a cation-permeable separator (e.g., a membrane or other cation-permeable material) partitioning the negative electrode/anolyte from the positive electrode/catholyte. The redox reactant of the catholyte comprises a compound of Formula (I) as described herein.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 15, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 24, 2019
    Assignee: UCHICAGO ARGONNE, LLC
    Inventors: Jingjing Zhang, Lu Zhang, Ilya A. Shkrob
  • Patent number: 10424772
    Abstract: A separator which includes a covering layer in which a fine framework of polyolefin resin is coated with a glass layer and an exposed layer in which the polyolefin resin is exposed is provided. A battery is provided having a cathode and an anode, an electrolyte, and a separator where the separator has the covering layer in which the fine framework of polyolefin resin is coated with the glass layer and a method for manufacturing a separator including the step of coating a fine framework of polyolefin resin with the glass layer by applying a precursor containing viscous liquid product which contains only polysilazane compound or a mixture of viscous liquid product which contains only polysilazane compound with polycarbosilazane compound to the polyolefin resin and placing the precursor applied polyolefin resin in a water bath to dry.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 24, 2019
    Assignee: Murata Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Atsushi Kajita, Yukako Teshima, Hiroshi Imoto, Takehiko Tanaka, Hiroshi Horiuchi
  • Patent number: 10424796
    Abstract: There is provided a fuel cell system comprising a first fuel stack, a first temperature gauge configured to measure a first temperature value, a power generation voltage meter configured to measure a power generation voltage, a cell voltage meter and a controller configured to control a temperature regulating mechanism such as to perform a temperature rise of the fuel cell stack. The controller is further configured to start the temperature rise of the fuel cell stack when a cell voltage is lower than a predetermined voltage value. When at least one of a plurality of time measurement conditions is satisfied after the first temperature value has reached a first reference temperature after a start of the temperature rise, the controller measures a time duration during which a voltage difference by subtracting the cell voltage from an average voltage of cells is maintained to be not greater than a predetermined voltage difference.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 24, 2019
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Shigeki Hasegawa, Masashi Toida
  • Patent number: 10418637
    Abstract: The invention relates to a grid arrangement for a plate-shaped battery electrode of an electrochemical accumulator comprising a frame and a grid arranged thereon, wherein the frame comprises at least one upper frame element having a connecting lug of the battery electrode disposed on its side facing away from the grid, wherein the grid comprises grid bars respectively surrounding cutouts of the grid, wherein the majority of the grid bars surrounding the cutouts are respectively disposed in a hexagonal arrangement such that the cutout situated in between forms a hexagon, characterized by one, some or all of the following a), b), c), d), e) features): a) the grid arrangement is coated with a pasty active mass on which liquid-absorbing material designed to absorb liquid electrolyte of the accumulator is disposed, b) the size of the hexagonal cutouts increases toward the upper frame element, c) the grid bars of all the hexagonal cutouts have the same width or the same cross-sectional area, d) none of the grid ba
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 17, 2019
    Assignee: Johnson Controls Autobatterie GmbH & Co. KGaA
    Inventors: Ingo Koch, Bernd Ide, Frank-Thomas Johns, Armin Staffeldt, Andreas Dudenbostel, Dirk Goebbels, Christian Fischer, Juergen Bauer
  • Patent number: 10418668
    Abstract: Electrochemical cells that cycle lithium ions and methods for suppressing or minimizing dendrite formation are provided. The electrochemical cells include a positive electrode, a negative electrode, and a separator sandwiched therebetween. The positive and negative electrodes and separator may each include an electrolyte system comprising one or more lithium salts, one or more solvents, and one or more complexing agents. The one or more complexing agents binds to metal contaminants found within the electrochemical cell to form metal ion complex compounds that minimize or suppress formation of dendrite protrusions on the negative electrode at least by increasing the horizontal area (e.g., decreasing the height) of any dendrite formation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 7, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 17, 2019
    Assignee: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventors: Qiang Wu, Zhiqiang Yu, Haijing Liu, Honggu Pan, Ion C. Halalay
  • Patent number: 10418656
    Abstract: The present specification relates to a compound comprising an aromatic ring, a polymer comprising the same, a polyelectrolyte membrane comprising the same, a membrane-electrode assembly comprising the polyelectrolyte membrane, a fuel cell comprising the membrane-electrode assembly, and a redox flow battery comprising the polyelectrolyte membrane.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 26, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 17, 2019
    Assignee: LG CHEM, LTD.
    Inventors: Yong Jin Jang, Joong Jin Han, Youngjea Kim, Esder Kang, Sehee Jung, Hyun Woog Ryu, Yunah Yu
  • Patent number: 10418657
    Abstract: The present embodiment describes a method of forming different layers in a solid oxide fuel cell. The method begins by preparing slurries which are then delivered to a spray nozzle. The slurries are then atomized and sprayed subsequently onto a support to produce a layer which is then dried. In this embodiment different layers can comprise an anode, an electrolyte and a cathode. Also the support can be a metal or a metal oxide which is later removed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 6, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 17, 2019
    Assignee: Phillips 66 Company
    Inventors: Ying Liu, Mingfei Liu, David M. Bierschenk, Ting He
  • Patent number: 10411317
    Abstract: A metal-air battery includes an anode and a passivation layer formed on the anode. The passivation layer functions as electrolyte and cathode, so that no additional electrolyte or cathode is included. During discharge, metal cations derived from oxidation of the anode migrate across the passivation layer, and react with nucleophilic gas and electrons received from a gas diffusion layer. The metal-air battery, by virtue of having no added electrolyte or cathode, is compact and contains no volatile materials.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 10, 2019
    Assignee: Toyota Research Institute, Inc.
    Inventor: Jens Strabo Hummelshøj
  • Patent number: 10411315
    Abstract: A battery pack structure includes a chamber, a cooling duct arranged outside the pack case, and a connector that communicates the chamber and the cooling duct with each other. The connector includes a first opening, which is connected with the chamber in a state of being sealed by a first sealing member, a second opening, which is connected with a cooling duct in a state of being sealed by a second sealing member, a first sealing surface, which is formed in a peripheral part of the first opening and is either a tube-shaped surface or a plane that faces a chamber inlet surface though the first sealing member, and a second sealing surface, which is formed in a peripheral part of the second opening and is a tube-shaped surface or a plane that faces a duct outlet surface through the second sealing member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 21, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 10, 2019
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Akihiro Kosaki, Kouichi Tanaka, Takenori Kobayashi, Shigeru Fukuda, Toshiaki Naruke, Akira Azumi