Patents Examined by Stephen J. Kalafut
  • Method for producing lithium-containing composite oxide and non-aqueous secondary battery
    Patent number: 8404211
    Abstract: A method for producing a lithium-containing composite oxide represented by General Formula (1): LixMyMe1?yO2+???(1) where M represents at least one element selected from the group consisting of Ni, Co and Mn, Me represents a metal element that is different from M, 0.95?x?1.10 and 0.1?y?1. A lithium compound and a compound that contains M and Me are baked. The thus-obtained baked product is washed with a washing solution that contains one or more water-soluble polar aprotic solvents such as N-methyl-2-pyrrolidone (NMP), N,N?-dimethylimidazolidinone (DMI) and dimethylsulfoxide (DMSO).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2013
    Assignee: Panasonic Corporation
    Inventor: Kozo Watanabe
  • Method of operating polymer electrolyte fuel cell
    Patent number: 8404391
    Abstract: A polymer electrolyte fuel cell includes a cathode, an anode, and an electrolyte membrane sandwiched between the cathode and the anode. A plurality of projections each having a height of 5 to 15 ?m or a plurality of depressions each having a depth of 5 to 15 ?m are formed on a surface of the electrolyte membrane, the surface being opposed to the cathode. The cathode is constituted by a catalyst layer formed to tightly contact the surface of the electrolyte membrane and having a maximum thickness that is one to three times the height of the projection or the depth of the depression. An oxygen-containing gas having a relative humidity of 10% or less is supplied to the cathode, and electric power is generated by using the polymer electrolyte fuel cell.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 26, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2013
    Assignee: Panasonic Corporation
    Inventors: Hisaaki Gyoten, Masato Aizawa, Akira Taomoto
  • Fuel cell system and control method of the system
    Patent number: 8394517
    Abstract: A fuel cell system comprises a fuel cell, a reactant gas supply device, and a capacitor which supplies a power to various devices when the fuel cell is in a temporary power generation stop state. The fuel cell system drives the reactant gas supply device based on a predetermined current instruction value to supply a reactant gas to the fuel cell, thereby generating the power. Such a fuel cell system comprises a control device which judges whether or not the current instruction value is below a water balance zero current value when the water content of the fuel cell is below a predetermined threshold and the stored electric charge of the capacitor is a predetermined threshold or more. If affirmative judgment is obtained, the control device switches the power generation state of the fuel cell to the temporary power generation stop state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 17, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2013
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Shigeto Kajiwara
  • Oriented nanotube electrodes for lithium ion batteries and supercapacitors
    Patent number: 8389157
    Abstract: An electrode having an oriented array of multiple nanotubes is disclosed. Individual nanotubes have a lengthwise inner pore defined by interior tube walls which extends at least partially through the length of the nanotube. The nanotubes of the array may be oriented according to any identifiable pattern. Also disclosed is a device featuring an electrode and methods of fabrication.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 20, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2013
    Assignee: Alliance for Sustainable Energy, LLC
    Inventors: Arthur J. Frank, Kai Zhu, Qing Wang
  • Hydrogen generating apparatus and fuel cell system
    Patent number: 8389166
    Abstract: A hydrogen generating apparatus (10) of the present invention includes a desulfurizer (7) which is supplied with a raw material and which is configured to remove sulfur compounds present in the raw material, a reformer (17) which is configured to form a hydrogen containing gas from the raw material which has passed through the desulfurizer (7), a meter device (3) which is configured to measure the amount of sulfur compounds removed by the desulfurizer (7) (which amount is hereinafter referred to as the amount of removal of sulfur compounds), and a controller (40), wherein the controller (40) is configured so as not to permit the next time start-up if the integrated value of the amount of removal of sulfur compounds measured by the meter device (3) becomes greater than or equal to a first threshold value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2013
    Assignee: Panasonic Corporation
    Inventors: Yukimune Kani, Hidenobu Wakita, Seiji Fujihara
  • Fuel cell separator plate with integrated heat exchanger
    Patent number: 8383280
    Abstract: A fuel cell separator plate having a planar substrate having a main body with first and second opposed major surfaces, a first open channel reactant flow field recessed in the first major surface, and a first segment extending from the main body, and a thermally and electrically conductive first current collector layer having a flow field portion on the first major surface of the main body and a heat exchange portion extending from the flow field portion onto the first segment such that heat in the flow field portion conducts to the heat exchange portion during fuel cell use.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 12, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 26, 2013
    Inventor: Amir Niroumand
  • Fiber manufacturing method, fiber manufacturing apparatus and proton-exchange membrane fuel cell
    Patent number: 8383539
    Abstract: A carried material is carried only on a surface of nano-fibers. It includes a raw material liquid spray step that sprays raw material liquid, which is a raw material of nano-fibers, into a space, a raw material liquid electrically charging step, which applies an electric charge to the raw material liquid and makes the raw material liquid electrically charged, a nano-fiber manufacturing step that manufactures the nano-fibers by having the electrically charged and sprayed raw material liquid explode electrostatically, a carried material electrically charging step that electrically charges a carried material carried on the nano-fibers with a polarity opposite to a polarity of the electrically charged nano-fibers, and a mixing step that mixes the manufactured nano-fibers and the electrically charged carried material in a space.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 26, 2013
    Assignee: Panasonic Corporation
    Inventors: Hiroto Sumida, Takahiro Kurokawa, Kazunori Ishikawa, Yoshiaki Tominaga, Mikio Takezawa, Mitsuhiro Takahashi, Takatoshi Mitsushima
  • Film-packaged electric device
    Patent number: 8383261
    Abstract: To provide a film-packaged battery 1 in which battery element 2 formed by collectively joining a plurality of positive and negative extending portions 2a and 2b to positive and negative electrode leads 3a and 3b for each polarity, is surrounded by laminate films 5 and 6 which are formed by laminating at least heat fusion layer 10 and metal layer 11. Protection member 4a having a melting point lower than that of heat fusion layer 10 is arranged at least between each of joining portions 20a and 20b of positive and negative electrode extending portions 2a and 2b, and heat fusion layer 10 of laminate film 5 which layer face the each of joining portions 20a and 20b.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 2007
    Date of Patent: February 26, 2013
    Assignee: NEC Corporation
    Inventors: Masatomo Mizuta, Shunji Noda
  • Electrochemical energy storage device with high capacity and high power using conductive polymer composite
    Patent number: 8377590
    Abstract: Disclosed are composite particles comprising: (a) conductive polymer particles; and (b) conductive inorganic nanoparticles having a higher conductivity as compared to the conductive polymer, wherein the conductive inorganic nanoparticles are distributed onto the surface of the conductive polymer particles and/or inside the conductive polymer particles. An electrode comprising the composite particles and an electrochemical device including the electrode are also disclosed. When the composite particles comprising a conductive polymer and conductive inorganic nanoparticles uniformly distributed in the conductive polymer are used for forming an electrode, the amount of electrode active material contributing to the capacity of an electrochemical device increases. Thus, the electrochemical device can provide high capacity and improved lifespan characteristics.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 4, 2007
    Date of Patent: February 19, 2013
    Assignee: LG Chem, Ltd.
    Inventors: Jong-Hyeok Park, Sang-Young Lee, Ok Joo Lee
  • Arrangement structure of gaseous fuel filling port for motorcycle
    Patent number: 8377608
    Abstract: A fuel filling port is inclined at a predetermined angle in a vertical direction such that a filling nozzle is inserted slantwise from above when a body is supported in an upright posture by a center stand to prevent a motorcycle from falling over even if a filling nozzle is pressingly inserted into the fuel filling port.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 21, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 19, 2013
    Assignee: Suzuki Motor Corporation
    Inventors: Tohru Eguchi, Kazuyuki Hirota
  • Fuel cell device and method of operating the same
    Patent number: 8367261
    Abstract: Fuel cell device comprising a fuel cell assembly with at least one polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cell and a fuel delivery means for providing a fuel flow. The device is provided with means for pre burning adapted to burn fuel entering the fuel cell assembly during the start up phase until the fuel flow is increased to a predetermined level and/or the oxygen concentration is decreased to a predetermined level. A method of operating the assembly comprises the steps of initiating the start up phase by causing the fuel delivery means to deliver a fuel flow, whereby a means for pre burning burns off fuel entering the fuel cell assembly, monitoring the fuel flow and/or the oxygen concentration and when the fuel flow is increased to a predetermined level and/or the oxygen concentration is decreased to a predetermined.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2013
    Assignee: MYFC AB
    Inventor: Anders Lundblad
  • Cathode active material for lithium secondary batteries with high safety, method of preparing the same and lithium secondary batteries comprising the same
    Patent number: 8367247
    Abstract: A cathode active material for a lithium secondary battery includes a lithium metal oxide secondary particle core formed by agglomerating lithium metal oxide primary particles; and a shell formed by coating the secondary particle core with barium titanate and metal oxide. This cathode active material allows making a lithium secondary battery having improved safety, particularly in thermal stability and overcharging characteristics.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 11, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2013
    Assignees: Daejung EM Co., Ltd., Kokam Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Seong-Bae Kim, Woo-Seong Kim, Yoon-Jeong Heo, Sung-Tae Ko, Ji-Jun Hong
  • Remedial start method in a fuel cell
    Patent number: 8367260
    Abstract: A remedial method for starting a fuel cell system is described. The method includes determining if the remedial method is required; providing air to an exhaust of a fuel cell stack; setting a hydrogen flow rate to an anode side of the fuel cell stack; providing a predetermined volume of hydrogen to the anode side of the fuel cell at the hydrogen flow rate; providing a predetermined volume of air to a cathode side of the fuel cell stack after the predetermined volume of hydrogen has been provided to the anode side while continuing to provide air to the exhaust of the fuel cell stack and hydrogen to the anode side of the fuel cell stack; determining if a stack voltage is stable after the predetermined volume of air has been provided to the cathode side; and closing the anode outlet valve after the stack voltage is stable.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 8, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2013
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Seth E. Lerner, Akbar Chowdhury, Steven G. Goebel
  • Fuel cell system and its control method
    Patent number: 8361667
    Abstract: Disclosed is a fuel cell system including a fuel cell which generates a power, and control means for decreasing the amount of a reactant gas to be supplied to the fuel cell to an amount smaller than that during normal power generation to realize low-efficiency power generation of the fuel cell. The control means sets the voltage lower limit value of the fuel cell so that the amount of an anode gas (pumping hydrogen) to be formed in a cathode of the fuel cell during the low-efficiency power generation is a predetermined amount or less.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 3, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 29, 2013
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Hiroyuki Imanishi, Kota Manabe, Tomoya Ogawa, Yoshiaki Naganuma
  • Nanowire-based membrane electrode assemblies for fuel cells
    Patent number: 8357475
    Abstract: The present invention discloses nanowires for use in a fuel cell comprising a metal catalyst deposited on a surface of the nanowires. A membrane electrode assembly for a fuel cell is disclosed which generally comprises a proton exchange membrane, an anode electrode, and a cathode electrode, wherein at least one or more of the anode electrode and cathode electrode comprise an interconnected network of the catalyst supported nanowires. Methods are also disclosed for preparing a membrane electrode assembly and fuel cell based upon an interconnected network of nanowires.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 22, 2013
    Assignee: Nanosys, Inc.
    Inventors: Chunming Niu, Calvin Y. H. Chow, Stephen A. Empedocles, J. Wallace Parce
  • Low magnetic interference battery and mobile communication device
    Patent number: 8357460
    Abstract: A communication device, and battery there for, are provided. In at least one of the battery and the communication device is provided a magnetic shield portion for routing magnetic flux away from the receiver when the radio is in operation. The magnetic shield portion can be incorporated into at least one of the battery and the communication device. When the battery is inserted into mobile communications devicemobile communication device, the magnetic shield portion is located substantially between a battery portion, in the battery, and the receiver.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 14, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 22, 2013
    Assignee: Research In Motion Limited
    Inventors: Andre John Van Schyndel, Larry Edward Hawker, Mallikarjun Boda, Jonathan Quinn Brubacher
  • Lithium ion battery failure mitigation
    Patent number: 8349478
    Abstract: A method of mitigating battery cell failure is provided. In one embodiment, the method includes providing a coupling between a battery pack and an internal combustion engine exhaust system, the coupling comprising: a duct positioned between the battery pack and the internal combustion engine exhaust system, the duct including at least one one-way valve positioned to allow battery cell exhaust to pass from the battery cell to the internal combustion engine exhaust system; detecting a thermal event; activating a fan, an air pump, or both in response to the thermal event to force the battery cell exhaust through the coupling; and treating the battery cell exhaust in the internal combustion engine exhaust system. Battery failure mitigation systems are also described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 8, 2013
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Adam T. Timmons, Chang H. Kim
  • Electrode assembly and secondary battery having the same
    Patent number: 8343641
    Abstract: A secondary battery includes an electrode assembly having a first electrode plate, second electrode plate and separator between the first electrode plate and the second electrode plate wound such that the separator defines an inner circumference of the electrode assembly. A can is provided for receiving the electrode assembly through a can opening and a cap assembly is provided for covering the can opening. An electrically conductive plate is on the inner circumference of the electrode assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 1, 2013
    Assignee: Samsung SDI Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Sooyeon Maeng, Jinha Jun
  • Fuel cell system
    Patent number: 8343680
    Abstract: A shutoff value provided on the entrance side and exit side of a fuel cell system has a diaphragm. A valve closing-side pressure chamber is provided on the upper face side of the diaphragm, and a valve opening-side pressure chamber is provided on the lower face side of the diaphragm. With the valve closing-side pressure chamber of the shutoff valve pressurized, the pressure in the chamber is maintained by ViS, Vic, and ViO in an electrically non-conducted state. Also, the pressure in the valve opening-side pressure chamber of the shutoff valve is maintained released. By this, force acting in the direction of closing a valving element acts on it through the diaphragm, maintaining the shutoff valve closed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 1, 2013
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yasuhiro Osada, Tetsuya Bono, Masahiro Takeshita
  • Negative electrode active material for nonaqueous electrolyte battery, nonaqueous electrolyte battery, battery pack, and vehicle
    Patent number: 8338029
    Abstract: A negative electrode active material contains a metal-displaced lithium-titanium oxide of a ramsdellite structure expressed by the formula Li(16/7)?xTi(24/7)?yMyO8 (where M is at least one metal element selected from the group consisting of Nb, Ta, Mo, and W, and x and y are respectively numbers in the range of 0<x<16/7 and 0<y<24/7).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 3, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2012
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventors: Yasuhiro Harada, Norio Takami, Hiroki Inagaki, Tomokazu Morita