Patents Examined by Tracy Dove
  • Patent number: 9178230
    Abstract: A fuel cell system includes a bipolar plate having a flow field formed therein. The flow field is partially defined by at least two adjacent channel portions separated by a wall portion. The wall portion includes a surface at least partially defining a passageway between the channel portions. The passageway may be sized so as to create a pressure difference between the channel portions. The pressure difference may draw at least a portion of a liquid droplet obstructing one of the channel portions toward and into the passageway.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 9, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 3, 2015
    Assignee: Ford Motor Company
    Inventors: Alireza Pezhman Shirvanian, Shinichi Hirano
  • Patent number: 9142861
    Abstract: A lithium ionic conductor (solid electrolyte) contains lithium (Li), phosphorus (P), boron (B) and sulfur (S) as constituent elements and has a crystal structure that boron (B) is substituted for part of phosphorus (P) in the ? structure of Li3PS4.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 3, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 22, 2015
    Assignee: FUJITSU LIMITED
    Inventors: Kenji Homma, Tamotsu Yamamoto, Tsutomu Tanaka
  • Patent number: 9138691
    Abstract: Copolymers comprising at least one recurrent unit of the following formula (I) are provided: and at least one recurrent unit of the following formula (II): wherein: R1 is an alkylene group; Z is a —PO3R3R4, R3 and R4 representing independently of each other, a hydrogen atom an alkyl group, a cation; X and Y represent, independently of each other, a halogen atom, a perfluorocarbon group.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 22, 2015
    Assignees: COMMISSARIAT A L'ENERGIE ATOMIQUE ET AUX ENERGIES ALTERNATIVES, CENTRE NATIONAL DE LA RECHERCHE SCIENTIFIQUE
    Inventors: Russell Tayouo, Ghislain David, Bruno Ameduri, Stéphanie Roualdes, Hervé Galiano, Jannick Bigarre
  • Patent number: 9142822
    Abstract: A core pack manufacturing apparatus for preventing or substantially preventing an iron from contacting a cell or a protective circuit part in a process of soldering a connection tab of the cell to a connection terminal of the protective circuit part. A core pack manufacturing apparatus for soldering a connection tab connected to a cell to a connection terminal of a protective circuit part includes a cap including a first cover configured to cover the cell, and a second cover extending from a side of the first cover and configured to cover the protective circuit part, the second cover having an opening part configured to expose the connection tab and the connection terminal through the second cover for soldering.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 22, 2015
    Assignee: Samsung SDI Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Jintae Hong, Jaeuk Ryu
  • Patent number: 9120087
    Abstract: The present invention includes a catalyst for a fuel cell which contains a transition element core, and a surface layer that contains at least one selected from the group including platinum, a platinum-transition element alloy, and a combination thereof, and that exists on the surface of the core. The catalyst being prepared without a surfactant.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 2005
    Date of Patent: September 1, 2015
    Assignees: Samsung SDI Co., Ltd., Hasuck Kim
    Inventors: Myoung-Ki Min, Chan-Hee Park, Hye-A Kim, Chan Kwak, Ho-Jin Kweon, Hasuck Kim
  • Patent number: 9123941
    Abstract: Active metal and active metal intercalation electrode structures and battery cells having ionically conductive protective architecture including an active metal (e.g., lithium) conductive impervious layer separated from the electrode (anode) by a porous separator impregnated with a non-aqueous electrolyte (anolyte). This protective architecture prevents the active metal from deleterious reaction with the environment on the other (cathode) side of the impervious layer, which may include aqueous or non-aqueous liquid electrolytes (catholytes) and/or a variety of electrochemically active materials, including liquid, solid and gaseous oxidizers. Safety additives and designs that facilitate manufacture are also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 1, 2015
    Assignee: PolyPlus Battery Company
    Inventors: Steven J. Visco, Bruce D. Katz, Yevgeniy S. Nimon, Lutgard C. De Jonghe
  • Patent number: 9112206
    Abstract: An electric storage apparatus has a plurality of electric storage units placed in line in a first direction, and a spacer forming space between two adjacent ones of the electric storage units, a heat exchange medium for use in temperature adjustment of the electric storage unit being moved in the space in a second direction orthogonal to the first direction. The spacer has a protruding portion on each of two faces forming the space and opposite to each other, the protruding portion protruding toward the inside of the space. The protruding portions provided on the two respective faces are shifted in the second direction from positions where the protruding portions are opposite to each other in the first direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 1, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 18, 2015
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Takashi Murata, Takamasa Suzuki
  • Patent number: 9105902
    Abstract: A device for aiding in the fracture of a vent of an electrochemical cell includes a main body having a first surface and a plurality of lobes extending out from the first surface of the main body such that an open space is provided between adjacent lobes. Each of the plurality of lobes are configured to make contact with the vent during deployment of the vent such that the vent completely separates from a bottom of the electrochemical cell. The open space provided between adjacent lobes is configured to allow gases from inside the electrochemical cell to pass through during deployment of the vent.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 11, 2015
    Assignee: Johnson Controls-SAFT Advanced Power Solutions LLC
    Inventors: Matt Tyler, Jason Fuhr
  • Patent number: 9095845
    Abstract: A catalyst material comprising an electrically conducting support material, a proton-conducting, acid-doped polymer based on a polyazole salt, and a catalytically active material. A process for preparing the catalyst material. A catalyst material prepared by the process of the invention. A catalyst ink comprising the catalyst material of the invention and a solvent. A catalyst-coated membrane (CCM) comprising a polymer electrolyte membrane and also catalytically active layers comprising a catalyst material of the present invention. A gas diffusion electrode (GDE) comprising a gas diffusion layer and a catalytically active layer comprising a catalyst material of the invention. A membrane-electrode assembly (MEA) comprising a polymer electrolyte membrane, catalytically active layers comprising a catalyst material of the invention, and gas diffusion layers. And a fuel cell comprising a membrane-electrode assembly of the present invention.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 4, 2015
    Assignee: BASF SE
    Inventors: Oemer Uensal, Sigmar Brauninger, Claudia Querner, Ekkehard Schwab
  • Patent number: 9099749
    Abstract: Catalysts of the present invention are not corroded in acidic electrolytes or at high potential and have excellent durability and high oxygen reducing ability. The catalyst includes a metal oxycarbonitride containing two metals M selected from the group consisting of tin, indium, platinum, tantalum, zirconium, titanium, copper, iron, tungsten, chromium, molybdenum, hafnium, vanadium, cobalt, cerium, aluminum and nickel, and containing zirconium and/or titanium.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 4, 2015
    Assignee: SHOWA DENKO K.K.
    Inventors: Ryuji Monden, Tadatoshi Kurozumi, Toshikazu Shishikura, Yasuaki Wakizaka
  • Patent number: 9070948
    Abstract: A lithium secondary battery includes a cathode, an anode, a separator interposed between the cathode and the anode, and a non-aqueous electrolytic solution obtained by dissolving lithium salt to a non-aqueous solvent. The separator includes a porous substrate having pores; and a porous coating layer located on at least one surface of the porous substrate and having inorganic particles and a binder polymer, the inorganic particles being connected and fixed to each other by means of the binder polymer, the porous coating layer having pores therein formed by interstitial volumes among the inorganic particles. The non-aqueous solvent is a high-viscous non-aqueous solvent having a viscosity of 1.4 cP or above at 25° C. This lithium secondary battery gives improved safety and excellent charging/discharging characteristics since it has the high-viscous non-aqueous solvent and the separator with good wettability against the solvent.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 30, 2015
    Assignee: LG CHEM, LTD.
    Inventor: Sung-Hoon Yu
  • Patent number: 9059443
    Abstract: There are provided a fuel cell having stable and good power generation characteristics and good safety, a fuel cell system including the fuel cell and an electronic device equipped with the fuel cell. The fuel cell includes at least an electrolyte membrane, an anode formed on one surface of the electrolyte membrane, a cathode formed on the other surface of the electrolyte membrane, a liquid fuel chamber for supplying a liquid fuel to the anode, and a separating layer formed between the anode and the liquid fuel chamber. The separating layer and/or the anode has an exhaust passage that is continuously formed in an in-plane direction to discharge exhaust gas generated at the anode. The separating layer allows the liquid fuel to pass from the liquid fuel chamber to the anode and blocks the movement of gas from the anode to the liquid fuel chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 16, 2015
    Assignee: SHARP KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Tomohisa Yoshie, Norihiro Ochi, Kohtaroh Saitoh, Hironori Kanbara, Yasuyoshi Gotoh
  • Patent number: 9059456
    Abstract: A rechargeable battery and a battery module, the rechargeable battery including an electrode assembly formed by winding a positive electrode and a negative electrode and a separator therebetween; a case accommodating the electrode assembly; a cap plate sealing an opening at one side of the case, the cap plate including a terminal hole therethrough; an electrode terminal in the terminal hole of the cap plate, the electrode terminal extending to an outside from an inside of the case and being connected to the electrode assembly; and a terminal cap including an electrical insulating material, the terminal cap covering the electrode terminal from the outside of the case.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 7, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 16, 2015
    Assignees: SAMSUNG SDI CO., LTD., ROBERT BOSCH GmbH
    Inventor: Sung-Bae Kim
  • Patent number: 9029026
    Abstract: A battery (10) is disclosed having a negative or anodic half cell (12) and a cathodic or positive half cell (13). The positive and negative half cells are encased within a fabric within a non-conductive housing (14). The housing includes holes (18) which allow the passage of ambient air. The anodic material (20) is preferably a transition metal bronze such as Na0.9W0.75Ti0.25O3. The positive half cell is made of a cathodic material (25) in the form of powder which is encased a fabric (26). The cathodic material is preferably Na0.9W0.75P0.25O3.325. The battery also includes an electrical conductor (31) in electrical contact with the positive half cell and the negative half cell. The electrical conductor includes a switch (35) which may be opened and closed to couple the half cells together to produce an electric current through a load (36).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 12, 2015
    Assignee: Omega Energy Systems, LLC
    Inventor: Michael Lee Horovitz
  • Patent number: 9017842
    Abstract: Disclosed herein is a secondary battery pack including a battery cell having an electrode assembly mounted in a battery case together with an electrolyte, the battery case having an open top sealed by a top cap, a protection circuit module having a protection circuit for controlling overcharge, overdischarge, and overcurrent of the battery cell, an insulative mounting member constructed in a structure in which the protection circuit module is loaded at a top of the insulative mounting member, the insulative mounting member being mounted to the top cap of the battery cell, and an insulative cap coupled to an upper end of the battery cell for covering the insulative mounting member in a state in which the protection circuit module is loaded on the insulative mounting member, wherein the top cap is provided with a pair of protrusion-type electrode terminals (a first protrusion-type electrode terminal and a second protrusion-type electrode terminal) connected to a cathode and an anode of the electrode assembly, r
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 28, 2015
    Assignee: LG Chem, Ltd.
    Inventors: Youngsun Park, Jeongsuk Lee, Keunpyo Ahn, Chunyeon Kim, Joung Ho Ha, Masayuki Wakebe
  • Patent number: 9012072
    Abstract: This invention generally relates to electrochemical cells utilizing magnesium anodes, new solutions and intercalation cathodes. The present invention is a new rechargeable magnesium battery based on magnesium metal as an anode material, a modified Chevrel phase as an intercalation cathode for magnesium ions and new electrolyte solution from which magnesium can be deposited reversibly, which have a very wide electrochemical window. The Chevrel phase compound is represented by the formula Mo6S8-YSeY in which y is higher than 0 and lower than 2 or by the formula MXMo6S8 in which M is selected from the group comprising of copper (Cu), nickel (Ni), silver (Ag) and/or any other transition metal; further wherein x is higher than 0 and lower than 2.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 5, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2015
    Assignee: Bar-Ilan University
    Inventors: Doron Aurbach, Elena Levi, Ariel Mitelman, Eli Lancry, Oren Mizrahi, Yosef Gofer, Orit Chasid, Gurukar Shivappa Suresh
  • Patent number: 9012096
    Abstract: The present invention relates to non-aqueous electrolytes having electrode stabilizing additives, stabilized electrodes, and electrochemical devices containing the same. Thus the present invention provides electrolytes containing an alkali metal salt, a polar aprotic solvent, and an electrode stabilizing additive. In certain electrolytes, the alkali metal salt is a bis(chelato)borate and the additives include substituted or unsubstituted linear, branched or cyclic hydrocarbons comprising at least one oxygen atom and at least one aryl, alkenyl or alkynyl group. In other electrolytes, the additives include a substituted aryl compound or a substituted or unsubstituted heteroaryl compound wherein the additive comprises at least one oxygen atom. There are also provided methods of making the electrolytes and batteries employing the electrolytes. The invention also provides for electrode materials.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 24, 2006
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2015
    Assignee: UChicago Argonne, LLC
    Inventors: Khalil Amine, Jun Liu, Donald R. Vissers, Wenquan Lu
  • Patent number: 9005795
    Abstract: A separator includes a planar non-woven fabric substrate having a plurality of pores, and a porous coating layer provided on at least one surface of the non-woven fabric substrate and made of a mixture of a plurality of inorganic particles and a binder polymer, wherein the non-woven fabric substrate is made of superfine fibers having an average thickness of 0.5 to 10 ?m, and wherein, among the pores in the non-woven fabric substrate, pores having a wide diameter of 0.1 to 70 ?m are 50% or above of the entire pores. The above separator having the porous coating layer may generate the generation of leak current without increasing a loading weight of the porous coating layer since the non-woven fabric substrate having a controlled pore side by using superfine fibers of a predetermined thickness is used.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2015
    Assignee: LG Chem, Ltd.
    Inventors: Pil-Kyu Park, Jong-Hun Kim, Jang-Hyuk Hong, Byoung-Jin Shin, In-Chul Kim
  • Patent number: 8999567
    Abstract: A lithium polymer battery comprising an internal sheath, reinforcement members, and an external sheath and a method for manufacturing the same are provided. The lithium polymer battery comprises a pouch-type internal sheath with an electrode assembly positioned therein and a protective circuit module that is attached to the surface thereof to control the charging and discharging processes of the electrode assembly. The battery further comprises reinforcement members that couple with surfaces of the internal sheath and an external sheath for integrally enclosing the internal sheath and the reinforcement members. The external sheath may comprise a tube, a thermally contractible tube, or a melted resin.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 15, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 7, 2015
    Assignee: Samsung SDI Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Hyung Bok Lee
  • Patent number: 8999564
    Abstract: Disclosed is a secondary battery. The secondary battery includes an electrode assembly including a first plate, a second plate, and a separator disposed between the first and second plates, a battery case accommodating the electrode assembly and an electrolyte, a cap assembly sealing an opening formed on one side of the battery case, and a gasket disposed between the cap assembly and the battery case. The battery case includes a crimping part formed on an upper portion of the battery case, and the crimping part is disposed on the gasket. A ratio of a second thickness of the gasket to a first thickness of the gasket is greater than 1.8 and is less than 4.8. The first thickness is a length between an internal surface of the battery case and an outermost edge of the cap assembly, and the second thickness is a length between the internal surface of the battery case and an outermost tip of the crimping part.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 8, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 7, 2015
    Assignee: Samsung SDI Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Ik-Kyu Kim, Seok-Joon Yoon