Patents Examined by Tracy M. Dove
  • Battery pack
    Patent number: 10950835
    Abstract: The present invention provides a battery pack in which a plurality of unit cells and one or a plurality of spacers are alternately arranged in a predetermined arrangement direction and a load is applied in the arrangement direction. The unit cell includes an electrode body having a reaction section, and a battery case having long side surfaces. The spacer includes, on a surface facing the unit cell, a first pressing portion that presses a part of the reaction section. The first pressing portion is configured to press each of the center portion and a pair of end portions of the reaction section in a width direction over the entire length in a vertical direction, and not to press a lower region, which is ? of the reaction section from the lower end in the vertical direction, over a length of ½ or more in the width direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 16, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 16, 2021
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Keiichiro Kobayashi, Ryo Kanada, Masahiko Ushizawa
  • Negative electrode active material particle, negative electrode, lithium-ion secondary battery, and production method of negative electrode active material particle
    Patent number: 10944098
    Abstract: A negative electrode active material particle includes natural graphite and a coating. The surface of the natural graphite is coated with the coating. The coating contains low crystalline carbon and fluorine. The low crystalline carbon has lower crystallinity than the natural graphite and a structure in which carbon hexagonal net planes are layered in a portion of the low crystalline carbon. The peak of CF2 bonds is detected by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy of the negative electrode active material particle, and the fluorine concentration of the surface of the negative electrode active material particle is 10 atm % or more and 20 atm % or less.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 19, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 9, 2021
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Kazuhisa Takeda, Keisuke Ohara
  • Fuel cell system
    Patent number: 10938042
    Abstract: A fuel cell system includes: a fuel cell including an anode gas flow channel and a cathode gas flow channel and generating electricity from a hydrogen-containing anode gas of the anode gas flow channel and an oxygen-containing cathode gas of the cathode gas flow channel; an anode off-gas emission path through which an anode off-gas emitted from the anode gas flow channel flows; and a cathode off-gas emission path through which a cathode off-gas emitted from the cathode gas flow channel flows. After stoppage of generation of electricity by the fuel cell, gas purging is performed in which at least a part of the cathode off-gas emission path is purged with a hydrogen-containing gas having passed through a junction where the anode off-gas emission path and the cathode off-gas emission path meet each other. The hydrogen-containing gas contains at least either the anode gas or the anode off-gas.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 2, 2021
    Assignee: PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Akinori Yukimasa, Yoshito Usuki, Miki Abe
  • Stainless steel sheet for fuel cell separators, and production method therefor
    Patent number: 10930940
    Abstract: A stainless steel sheet for fuel cell separators comprises: a predetermined chemical composition; and Cr-containing fine precipitates at a steel sheet surface, wherein an average equivalent circular diameter of the fine precipitates is 20 nm or more and 500 nm or less, and a number of the fine precipitates existing per 1 ?m2 at the steel sheet surface is three or more.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 23, 2021
    Assignee: JFE STEEL CORPORATION
    Inventors: Takayoshi Yano, Shin Ishikawa
  • Electrolyte composition containing methyl 2-methyl-1,3-dioxolane-2-carboxylate, and electrochemical cells comprising the same
    Patent number: 10930974
    Abstract: An electrolyte composition and an electrochemical cell including the electrolyte composition are disclosed, including: at least one aprotic organic solvent; at least one conducting salt; methyl-2-methyl-1,3-dioxolane-2-carboxylate; and optionally one or more additives. A use of methyl-2-methyl-1,3-dioxolane-2-carboxylate in an electrolyte composition for electrochemical cells is disclosed. An electrochemical cell is also disclosed, in which the electrochemical cell is a lithium battery.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 23, 2021
    Assignee: Gotion, Inc.
    Inventor: Rene Schmitz
  • Method of manufacturing battery electrode and electrode manufacturing apparatus
    Patent number: 10930919
    Abstract: A method of manufacturing an electrode, comprising the steps of: forming a first layer by intermittently applying a layer to a current collecting foil with thickness of 40 ?m or more and 300 ?m or less; and forming a second layer, wherein the second layer is formed both on a region where the first layer has been formed on the current collecting foil and an exposed region where the current collecting foil is exposed without being formed the first layer; wherein in the step of forming of second layer, providing a gap of 40 ?m or more between a applying part of application apparatus and the current collecting foil, based on a positional information of the first layer, from during applying a layer to the exposed region to during applying a layer to the first layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 23, 2021
    Assignee: NEC CORPORATION
    Inventor: Makihiro Otohata
  • Multifunctional ion pouch battery cell frame
    Patent number: 10930978
    Abstract: A lithium ion pouch battery cell includes a rigid frame forming a skeleton of the cell and defining an aperture, an anode, a separator, and a cathode disposed within the aperture. The anode and cathode each include a current collector with an exposed tab portion, and a pair of terminals, integrated into the frame, each having an exterior portion and an interior portion bonded to one of the current collectors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 23, 2021
    Assignee: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Andrew Robert Drews, Brian Joseph Robert, Mohan Karulkar
  • Positive-electrode active material for lithium secondary battery, positive electrode for lithium secondary battery, and lithium secondary battery
    Patent number: 10923719
    Abstract: A positive-electrode active material for a lithium secondary battery includes: a secondary particle in which a plurality of primary particles of a lithium composite metal oxide are aggregated, in which the secondary particle has a void formed therein, and a through-hole that connects the void to a surface of the secondary particle, and satisfies predetermined requirements (i) to (iii).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 16, 2021
    Assignees: SUMITOMO CHEMICAL COMPANY, LIMITED, TANAKA CHEMICAL CORPORATION
    Inventors: Jun-ichi Kageura, Ryota Kobayashi
  • Lithium metal—seawater battery cells having protected lithium electrodes
    Patent number: 10916753
    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 electrochemically active materials, including liquid, solid and gaseous oxidizers. Safety additives and designs that facilitate manufacture are also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 25, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 9, 2021
    Assignee: PolyPlus Battery Company
    Inventors: Steven J. Visco, Bruce D. Katz, Yevgeniy S. Nimon, Lutgard C. De Jonghe
  • Method for producing all-solid-state lithium ion secondary battery
    Patent number: 10910666
    Abstract: Disclosed is a method for producing an all-solid-state lithium ion secondary battery being excellent in cycle characteristics. The production method may be a method for producing an all-solid-state lithium ion secondary battery, wherein the method comprises an anode mixture forming step of obtaining an anode mixture by drying a raw material for an anode mixture, which contains an anode active material, a solid electrolyte and an electroconductive material; and wherein, for the anode mixture after being dried in the anode mixture forming step, a voidage V of the inside of the anode mixture calculated by the following formula (1) is 43% or more and 54% or less: V=100?(D1/D0)×100??Formula (1).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 11, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 2, 2021
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Norihiro Ose, Hajime Hasegawa, Mitsutoshi Otaki, Yusuke Kintsu
  • Protective coating for lithium-containing electrode and methods of making the same
    Patent number: 10903478
    Abstract: A lithium-containing electrode with a protective coating and lithium-containing electrochemical cells including the same are provided herein. The protective coating has a first layer including a first fluoropolymeric matrix and Li—F compounds and a second layer including a second fluoropolymeric matrix. Methods of preparing the protective coating on the lithium-containing electrode by applying a first fluoropolymer and/or a first fluoropolymer precursor and a second fluoropolymer and/or a second fluoropolymer precursor are also provided herein.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 6, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 26, 2021
    Assignee: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventor: Xingcheng Xiao
  • Nonaqueous electrolyte secondary battery
    Patent number: 10892513
    Abstract: One aspect of the present invention provides a nonaqueous electrolyte secondary battery including a sulfur-containing positive electrode, a negative electrode, a cation exchange resin layer interposed between the positive electrode and the negative electrode, a positive electrode electrolyte, and a negative electrode electrolyte. The positive electrode electrolyte contains lithium polysulfide, and a sulfur equivalent concentration of the positive electrode electrolyte is higher than the sulfur equivalent concentration of the negative electrode electrolyte. Another aspect of the present invention provides a nonaqueous electrolyte secondary battery including a sulfur-containing positive electrode, a negative electrode, a cation exchange resin layer interposed between the positive electrode and the negative electrode, and a nonaqueous electrolyte.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 12, 2021
    Assignee: GS Yuasa International Ltd.
    Inventors: Kaname Nakajima, Heisuke Nishikawa, Shuji Hitomi
  • Electrolyte for rechargeable electrochemical cell
    Patent number: 10892524
    Abstract: The present invention provides an aqueous electrolyte for use in rechargeable zinc-halide storage batteries that possesses improved stability and durability and improves zinc-halide battery performance (e.g., energy efficiency, Coulombic efficiency, and/or the like). One aspect of the present invention provides an electrolyte for use in a secondary zinc bromine electrochemical cell comprising from about 30 wt % to about 40 wt % of ZnBr2 by weight of the electrolyte; from about 5 wt % to about 15 wt % of KBr; from about 5 wt % to about 15 wt % of KCl; and one or more quaternary ammonium agents, wherein the electrolyte comprises from about 0.5 wt % to about 10 wt % of the one or more quaternary ammonium agents.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 12, 2021
    Assignee: Eos Energy Storage, LLC
    Inventors: George W. Adamson, Sara S. Bowers, Francis W. Richey
  • Electric vehicle battery cell with sense tabs
    Patent number: 10886576
    Abstract: A battery includes a first battery cell including an endplate current collector cathode, an endplate current collector anode, a plurality of battery cell components between the endplate current collector cathode and the endplate current collector anode, each battery cell component including a cathode, a separator, an anode and a bipolar current collector, and at least one sense tab connected to and extending from one of the bipolar current collectors between the endplate current collector cathode and the endplate current collector anode. A second battery cell is connected in parallel to the first battery cell via the endplate current collector cathode and the endplate current collector anode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 12, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 5, 2021
    Assignees: VOLKSWAGEN AG, AUDI AG, Dr. ING. H.C.F. PORSCHE AG
    Inventors: Mirko Herrmann, Angela Speidel
  • Electrode for lithium-ion secondary battery and manufacturing method thereof, and lithium-ion secondary battery
    Patent number: 10873072
    Abstract: A highly reliable electrode for a lithium-ion secondary battery is provided. A highly reliable lithium-ion secondary battery is also provided using the electrode for a lithium-ion secondary battery. The electrode for a lithium-ion secondary battery includes a current collector and an active material layer. The active material layer includes an active material, graphene, and polyimide. The active material includes a plurality of nanowires each of which grows with a silicon particle used as a nucleus and extends in one direction into a fine needle. The graphene includes a region in contact with the plurality of nanowires, and polyimide includes a region in contact with the graphene. The lithium-ion secondary battery uses the electrode as a negative electrode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 22, 2020
    Assignee: Semiconductor Energy Laboratory Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Kiyofumi Ogino
  • Composite electrode materials with improved structure
    Patent number: 10873078
    Abstract: The invention discloses a composite electrode materials with improved structure. The composite electrode materials of this invention includes at least one active material. The active material is coated an artificial passive film on its surface to effectively prevent or reduce the contact of the electrolyte and the active material to avoid unnecessary consumption of Li-ions. Also, there have a middle layer and an outer layer outside of the artificial passive film. Both of the middle layer and the outer layer are composed of the deformable electrolyte and the undeformable electrolyte, but with different concentration ratios. Therefore, the better ion-conduction is achieved with reduced charge-transfer resistance and reduced usage amount of organic solvent.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 22, 2020
    Assignees: PROLOGIUM TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD., Prologium Holding Inc.
    Inventor: Szu-Nan Yang
  • Protection circuit board capable of easily checking welded state between electrode terminal and connection part thereof and secondary battery pack comprising the same
    Patent number: 10862173
    Abstract: A protection circuit board includes a printed circuit board having a circuit is printed on a board formed from an electrically insulating material and two or more connection components disposed on at least one surface of the printed circuit board and are coupled to an electrode terminal of a secondary battery. Additionally, at least one inspection slot having a shape recessed within the connection component and extending to a portion that the electrode terminal of the secondary battery is coupled thereto and is defined in the connection component.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 8, 2020
    Assignee: LG CHEM, LTD.
    Inventors: Jin Oh Yang, Young Su Son, Suk Jin Song, Jae Young Jang
  • Film structure for a battery for providing on a round body
    Patent number: 10854889
    Abstract: A film structure for a battery for providing on a round body includes a carrier film, having a first section and a second section following the first section and a third section following the second section. The film structure has a first layer sequence of several layers, having a first electrode layer for forming an anode or a cathode, and a second layer sequence of several layers, having a second electrode layer for forming an anode or cathode different from the first electrode layer. The first and the second layer sequences are arranged on different sections of the carrier film in such a way that the first and the second layer sequences come in contact with each other and the film battery is thereby activated only once a body is labeled.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 1, 2020
    Assignee: Schreiner Group GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventor: Peter Seidl
  • Battery pack
    Patent number: 10854862
    Abstract: The present invention provides a battery pack in which a plurality of unit cells and one or a plurality of spacers are alternately arranged in a predetermined arrangement direction and a load is applied in the arrangement direction. The unit cell includes an electrode body having a reaction section, and a battery case having long side surfaces. The spacer includes, on a surface facing the unit cell, a first pressing portion that presses a part of the reaction section. The first pressing portion is configured to press each of the center portion and a pair of end portions of the reaction section in a width direction over the entire length in a vertical direction, and not to press a lower region, which is ? of the reaction section from the lower end in the vertical direction, over a length of ½ or more in the width direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 16, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 1, 2020
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Keiichiro Kobayashi, Ryo Kanada, Masahiko Ushizawa
  • Battery pack including tray stopper for preventing spring back of pack cover
    Patent number: 10847764
    Abstract: Disclosed is a battery pack, which includes at least one battery module and electric parts electrically connected to the at least one battery module, a tray configured to support the at least one battery module and the electric parts at an upper surface thereof, and a pack cover having a rim that faces a rim of the tray, the pack cover being coupled to the tray to cover the battery module and the electric parts, wherein the tray includes a tray stopper provided at the rim of the tray and bent upwards to support the rim of the pack cover from an outer side toward an inner side.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 11, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 24, 2020
    Assignee: LG Chem, Ltd.
    Inventors: Tae-Hyuck Kim, Yu-Na Kwon, Sung-Gon Kim, Tae-Hwan Roh