Patents Examined by Stephan Essex
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Patent number: 7833655Abstract: Disclosed herein is a frame member for fabrication of a battery module including two battery cells, each of which has electrode terminals formed at upper and lower ends thereof, as unit cells. The frame member includes a lower-end frame having a groove, into which lower electrode terminals of the unit cells are inserted while the lower electrode terminals of the unit cells are coupled with each other, the lower-end frame being constructed such that lower-end sealing parts of the unit cells are mounted to the lower-end frame, an upper-end frame constructed such that upper-end sealing parts of the unit cells are mounted to the upper-end frame, and external input and output terminals, which are connected to upper electrode terminals of the unit cells, protrude from the outer surface of the upper-end frame, and a side frame connected between the lower-end frame and the upper-end frame, the side frame being constructed such that one-side sealing parts of the unit cells are mounted to the side frame.Type: GrantFiled: November 17, 2006Date of Patent: November 16, 2010Assignee: LG Chem, Ltd.Inventors: Junill Yoon, Heekook Yang, Juyoung Kim, Juhyun Kang, Jongmoon Yoon, Seungjae You, John E. Namgoong
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Patent number: 7833660Abstract: A composition is provided as a salt having the formula MBF3X where M is an alkali metal cation and X is the halide fluoride, bromide or iodide. A lithium salt has several characteristics making the composition well suited for inclusion within a lithium-ion battery. A process for forming an alkali metal trifluorohaloborate salt includes the preparation of a boron trifluoride etherate in an organic solvent. An alkali metal halide salt where the halide is chloride, bromide or iodide is suspended in the solution and reacted with boron trifluoride etherate to form an alkali metal trifluorohaloborate. The alkali metal trifluorohaloborate so produced is collected as a solid from the solution. The process is simple and yields alkali metal trifluorohaloborate of sufficient purity to be used directly in battery applications.Type: GrantFiled: September 7, 2006Date of Patent: November 16, 2010Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the ArmyInventors: Shengshui Zhang, Conrad Xu, T. Richard Jow
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Patent number: 7824818Abstract: In a fuel cell stack that is made by stacking unit cells in alternation with separators, lower edges of collector members that are in contact with oxygen electrodes of the unit cells project downward, providing projecting portions that project below lower edges of frames. Water-repellent regions are provided on lower edges of the projecting portions, facilitating shedding of water from the projecting portions.Type: GrantFiled: March 29, 2007Date of Patent: November 2, 2010Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Equos ResearchInventors: Kenichi Katahira, Toshihiko Nonobe, Kouji Mogi
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Patent number: 7807315Abstract: For operation, PEMFCs require among other things a compressor for the cathode air, and a system for removing the water which is generated on the cathode side as a result of the electrochemical reaction. According to an embodiment of the present invention the removal of water is supported in that the fuel cell is made to rotate by way of an electric motor so that the water contained in the cathodes of the fuel cell can be extracted by centrifugal force. To this effect the air channels on the cathode side are arranged so as to extend radially or in a spiral shape from the inside towards the outside. In this way the efficiency of the fuel cell can be significantly improved.Type: GrantFiled: September 13, 2005Date of Patent: October 5, 2010Assignee: Airbus Deutschland GmbHInventors: Claus Hoffjann, Hansgeorg Schuldzig, Hans-Juergen Heinrich
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Patent number: 7807316Abstract: A fuel cell system is provided including a fuel cell stack having a first end and second end; an upper end unit adjacent the first end of the fuel cell stack; a lower end unit adjacent the second end of the fuel cell stack; and a compression retention system disposed external to the fuel cell stack. The compression retention system includes at least one restraining member extending from the upper end unit to the lower end unit, fastening means disposed at opposite ends of the at least one restraining member, and compressive means interposed between at least one of the fastening means and the end units; wherein the fastening means and the compressive means urge the upper end unit toward the lower end unit, thereby applying compressive force to the fuel cell stack. Also provided is a method for assembling the fuel cell system.Type: GrantFiled: November 1, 2006Date of Patent: October 5, 2010Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations, Inc.Inventors: Benno Andreas-Schott, Gerald W. Fly, Jeffrey A. Rock, Ian R. Jermy
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Patent number: 7803495Abstract: The polymer electrolyte membrane for a fuel cell comprises a hygroscopic substrate and a proton conductive polymer disposed at the inside, one side, and/or both sides of the hygroscopic substrate.Type: GrantFiled: January 26, 2006Date of Patent: September 28, 2010Assignee: Samsung SDI Co., Ltd.Inventors: Myoung-Ki Min, Hye-A Kim, Ho-Jin Kweon
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Patent number: 7785738Abstract: The lithium-ion secondary battery has a portion where a thickness of a sealing member from a surface of an outer package to a surface of a lead in a laminating direction of electrode bodies on one side of the lead differs from that on the other side of the lead such that two leads connected to each electrode body are arranged within the same plane perpendicular to the laminating direction of the electrode bodies. The electrode bodies are laminated in the outer package such as to yield portions where only one of the planar leads of a first electrode body overlaps one of the planar leads of a second electrode body in the laminating direction of the electrode bodies in the opening part of the outer package.Type: GrantFiled: December 18, 2008Date of Patent: August 31, 2010Assignee: TDK CorporationInventors: Yoshihiko Ohashi, Keita Kobayashi
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Patent number: 7785723Abstract: A battery device includes a battery set, and a casing; the casing includes a right covering part and a left covering part, which are joined together to provide a holding room for the battery set; the battery set include at least two batteries, and are held in the casing with positive and negative poles thereof being exposed through front and tail ends of the casing respectively; a socket is held in the casing, and electrically connected with the positive and the negative poles of the battery set; thus, after a plug of a charger is inserted in the socket, the single-part batteries together will be charged through the charger without the battery device being located on the charger.Type: GrantFiled: July 5, 2007Date of Patent: August 31, 2010Inventor: Yun-Zhao Liu
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Patent number: 7771868Abstract: A battery pack includes a plurality of cylinder-type battery cells, each cylinder-type battery cell including a first end and a second end having different polarities. The battery pack also includes a conductive plate having a bendable portion located between a first half portion and a second half portion. The first half portion is fixedly connected to the first end of at least a first cylinder-type battery cell and the second half portion is fixedly connected to the second end of at least a second battery cell so that the conductive plate connects at least two cylinder-type battery cells in series. A width of the bendable portion is narrower than a width of the rest of the conductive plate and the conductive plate is in a bent configuration bent about the bendable portion such that the first half portion and the second half portion are aligned.Type: GrantFiled: November 1, 2006Date of Patent: August 10, 2010Assignee: Samsung SDI Co., Ltd.Inventor: Paul Kim
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Patent number: 7767352Abstract: When it is detected that the ignition switch is turned off a short period of time after the ignition switch turned on at the temperature below the freezing point, the charge threshold of a capacitor is changed to a larger charge threshold C for increasing the amount of electrical energy charged in the capacitor based on the charge threshold C. The capacitor is used for performing a scavenging process for a sufficient period of time. At the time of starting operation of the fuel cell system at the temperature below the freezing point the next time, using the electrical energy of the capacitor, a fuel cell is warmed rapidly by a heater or the like to start operation of the fuel cell system.Type: GrantFiled: August 1, 2006Date of Patent: August 3, 2010Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.Inventors: Chihiro Wake, Koichiro Miyata, Jumpei Ogawa
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Patent number: 7759014Abstract: A power generation cell includes a membrane electrode assembly, and a cathode side metal separator and an anode side metal separator sandwiching the membrane electrode assembly. A seal member covers inner surfaces of inlet through holes. The seal member includes a plurality of flow grooves and a plurality of receivers. The flow grooves guide a fuel gas from the inlet through holes to a fuel gas flow field through an inlet buffer. The receivers directly contact an anode.Type: GrantFiled: November 22, 2005Date of Patent: July 20, 2010Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.Inventors: Toshiya Wakahoi, Hiroyuki Tanaka, Yosuke Fuji
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Patent number: 7745061Abstract: An electrolyte membrane for a fuel cell includes: a proton conductive material in which hollow inorganic fine particles having through-holes on the surface of the hollow inorganic fine particles, are filled with an electrolyte resin; and a non-proton conductive polymer.Type: GrantFiled: November 6, 2008Date of Patent: June 29, 2010Assignees: National University Corporation Shizuoka University, Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Tatsuo Fujinami, Takuya Mase, Masayoshi Takami
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Patent number: 7736797Abstract: A rechargeable battery includes an electrode assembly comprising a positive electrode, a negative electrode, and a separator interposed therebetween, the electrode assembly having an uncoated region; a case for housing the electrode assembly; an outer terminal; a cap assembly combined with the case and sealing the case, and combined with the outer terminal; and a tab. The tab includes a terminal element connected with the outer terminal; left and right connection elements extended from ends of the terminal element and disposed to correspond to each other in parallel; and left and right inward junction elements connected at respective sides of the left and right connection elements through respective bending areas to form gaps relative to a part of the respective left and right connection elements and electrically connected with the uncoated region of the electrode assembly through the gaps.Type: GrantFiled: July 3, 2006Date of Patent: June 15, 2010Assignee: Samsung SDI Co., Ltd.Inventors: Yong-Sam Kim, Ki-Ho Kim, Jae-Kyung Kim
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Patent number: 7732087Abstract: The catalyst for a fuel cell includes a carbon-based material, and Re-Ch supported on the carbon-based material, wherein Ch is selected from the group consisting of S, Se, Te, and combinations thereof. The cathode catalyst has high activity and selectivity for reduction of oxidant and is capable of improving performance of a membrane-electrode assembly and a fuel cell system.Type: GrantFiled: March 20, 2007Date of Patent: June 8, 2010Assignee: Samsung SDI Co., Ltd.Inventors: Alexey Alexandrovichserov, Chan Kwak, Si-Hyun Lee
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Patent number: 7727660Abstract: Modified fuel cells with improved distribution of humidity and/or temperature are provided.Type: GrantFiled: July 17, 2006Date of Patent: June 1, 2010Assignee: IRD Fuel Cells A/SInventors: Henning Frederiksen, Steen Yde-Andersen, Laila Grahl-Madsen, Joergen Schjerning Lundsgaard
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Patent number: 7727661Abstract: A flow passage member and a reformed gas supply pipe for supplying a reformed gas to a fuel cell stack are provided. Hot air to be supplied to the fuel cell stack flows through the flow passage member. A gold gasket is provided at a joint portion between the flow passage member and the reformed gas supply pipe. The gold gasket has malleability to achieve stable sealing performance and durability in the presence of the oxidizing atmosphere and the reducing atmosphere at high temperature.Type: GrantFiled: January 13, 2006Date of Patent: June 1, 2010Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.Inventor: Tetsuya Ogawa
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Patent number: 7722994Abstract: A rechargeable lithium-ion battery includes an anode, a cathode and an electrolyte containing one or more dispersed lithium salts. The electrolyte is composed of one or more solvent materials. A principal solvent constituent compound is at least one of ?-valerolactone, methyl isobutyryl acetate, 2-methoxyethyl acetate, 2-ethoxyethyl acetate, and diethyl oxalate.Type: GrantFiled: March 28, 2007Date of Patent: May 25, 2010Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations, Inc.Inventor: Ion C. Halalay
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Patent number: 7713649Abstract: A fuel cell stack includes a plurality of fuel cells, and a plurality of fuel delivery ports. Each of the plurality of fuel delivery ports is positioned on or in the fuel cell stack to provide fuel to a portion of the plurality fuel cells in each stack.Type: GrantFiled: March 10, 2006Date of Patent: May 11, 2010Assignee: Bloom Energy CorporationInventors: Darren Hickey, Matthias Gottmann
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Patent number: 7695839Abstract: A fuel cell system that employs a method for increasing stack power ramp up for high power up-transients by decoupling the build-up of stack current density from the cathode side pressure. The system gives the compressor power priority during the power up-transient to quickly provide the proper compressor speed, and therefore the proper air mass flow, for the desired current density of the fuel cell stack. The system also maintains the cathode side pressure of the stack low by keeping a cathode back-pressure valve open. By increasing the cathode input airflow rate to the proper level at the power up-transient, the current density of the stack will increase to the desired stack power level. Subsequently, the back-pressure valve is closed to increase the stack voltage to provide the total maximum power achievable by the stack.Type: GrantFiled: October 16, 2006Date of Patent: April 13, 2010Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations, Inc.Inventors: David A. Arthur, Abdullah B. Alp
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Patent number: 7682741Abstract: A composite particle for a lithium rechargeable battery is contained in at least one of a positive electrode and a negative electrode of the lithium rechargeable battery that includes the positive electrode, the negative electrode, a separator, and non-aqueous electrolytic solution. The composite particle contains a conductive agent and an active material that can reversibly store and emit lithium ions. The composite particle is a hollow body formed of an outer wall including the active material and conductive agent, and a cavity capable of retaining non-aqueous electrolytic solution. At least one opening of the cavity that can pass the electrolytic solution is formed in the surface of the composite particle.Type: GrantFiled: May 26, 2006Date of Patent: March 23, 2010Assignee: Panasonic CorporationInventors: Masaki Hasegawa, Yasuhiko Bito