Patents Examined by Wyatt McConnell
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Patent number: 9899658Abstract: A high current fuse with a short time constant is provided for use in an electric vehicle. The fuse is designed to exhibit thermal characteristics that are similar if not substantially identical to those of the wire bond interconnects used in the vehicle's battery pack. As a result, the system does not go into an overheat protection condition when the system is subjected to repetitive high current cycles, such as those common during aggressive and/or spirited driving.Type: GrantFiled: November 13, 2015Date of Patent: February 20, 2018Assignee: ATIEVA, INC.Inventors: Richard J. Biskup, Jean-Philippe Gauthier
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Patent number: 9893341Abstract: A device for connecting tabs of battery cells includes an isolation board defining a first through slot seated on the surfaces of the battery cells from which the tabs extending out; a metal plate mounted on a surface of the isolation board afar from the battery cells, the metal plate defining a second through slot corresponding to the first through slot of the isolation board; and a metal conductive plate secured to the metal plate. The tabs of the battery cells extending through the first through slot and the second through slot are bent and seated on a surface of the metal plate afar from the isolation board, and the metal conductive plate is detachably fastened to the metal plate so that the tabs of the battery cells are securely sandwiched between the metal plate and the metal conductive plate.Type: GrantFiled: March 18, 2015Date of Patent: February 13, 2018Assignee: CONTEMPORARY AMPEREX TECHNOLOGY LIMITEDInventors: Yajie Chen, Weibo Zou, Yangang Yang
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Patent number: 9882230Abstract: A fuel cell stack has a multiplicity of individual cells, which each include an anode flow field, a membrane electrode arrangement, and a cathode flow field. Each flow field has a media inlet and channels for carrying the media. The anode flow fields and/or the cathode flow fields have the media inlet on their upward-facing side when used as intended, and are open on their downward-facing side when used as intended.Type: GrantFiled: October 9, 2013Date of Patent: January 30, 2018Assignee: Daimler AGInventors: Philipp Hausmann, Matthias Jesse, Cosimo Mazzotta
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Patent number: 9865858Abstract: A lithium ion secondary battery according to an embodiment of this disclosure includes: a positive electrode mixture layer provided on a main plane of a positive electrode current collector; a negative electrode mixture layer provided on a main plane of a negative electrode current collector; and an insulator covering a region of a part of a surface of a gradually-decreasing portion included in the positive electrode mixture layer. The portion has thickness gradually decreasing toward a terminal of the positive electrode mixture layer; the surface of the portion has a tangent line in contact with the surface in at least two contact points, and has a depressed part between any adjacent two contact points on the tangent line; and an end of the insulator is positioned between the contact points closest to and farthest from the terminal of the positive electrode mixture layer along the tangent line.Type: GrantFiled: December 14, 2015Date of Patent: January 9, 2018Assignee: AUTOMOTIVE ENERGY SUPPLY CORPORATIONInventors: Tsutomu Oshima, Shinichiro Sakaguchi
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Patent number: 9853295Abstract: The present invention inexpensively provides an electrode material for a fuel electrode, the electrode material having CO2 resistance and being capable of forming a fuel cell having high electricity generation performance. An electrode material for a fuel electrode, the electrode material constituting a fuel electrode of a fuel cell including a proton-conductive solid electrolyte layer, includes a perovskite-type solid electrolyte component and a nickel (Ni) catalyst component, in which the solid electrolyte component includes a barium component, a zirconium component, a cerium component, and a yttrium component, and the mixture ratio of the zirconium component to the cerium component in the solid electrolyte component is set to be 1:7 to 7:1 in terms of molar ratio.Type: GrantFiled: August 5, 2014Date of Patent: December 26, 2017Assignee: SUMITOMO ELECTRIC INDUSTRIES, LTD.Inventors: Takahiro Higashino, Masatoshi Majima, Naho Mizuhara, Chihiro Hiraiwa
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Patent number: 9831497Abstract: A lithium-ion secondary battery (100A) includes a positive electrode current collector (221A) and a positive electrode active material layer (223A) retained on the positive electrode current collector (221A). The positive electrode active material layer (223A) contains positive electrode active material particles, a conductive agent, and a binder. The positive electrode active material particles (610A) each include a shell portion (612) made of primary particles (800) of a layered lithium-transition metal oxide, a hollow portion (614) formed inside the shell portion (612), and a through-hole (616) penetrating through the shell portion (612). The primary particles (800) of the lithium-transition metal oxide have a major axis length of less than or equal to 0.8 ?m in average of the positive electrode active material layer (223A).Type: GrantFiled: December 30, 2016Date of Patent: November 28, 2017Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki KaishaInventor: Hiroki Nagai
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Patent number: 9831503Abstract: Dual use gas diffusion-gas evolution electrodes containing diamond-like carbon are described, which can act as gas diffusion electrodes during discharge, and gas evolution electrodes during recharge. Electrodes of the disclosed materials are electrochemically robust, inhibit multi-step reactions, and have high, isotropic thermal conductivity. The disclosed electrodes can be used as air electrodes of rechargeable metal-air batteries.Type: GrantFiled: November 25, 2015Date of Patent: November 28, 2017Assignee: COULOMBIC, INC.Inventor: David Andrew Sopchak
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Patent number: 9825292Abstract: A process for producing lithium titanate which includes the steps of synthesizing a lithium titanate hydrate intermediate via aqueous chemical processing, and thermally treating the lithium titanate hydrate intermediate to produce the lithium titanate. The lithium titanate hydrate is preferably (Li1.81H0.19)Ti2O<<2H2O. The lithium titanate is preferably Li4Ti5O12 (LTO). Synthesizing the lithium titanate hydrate intermediate may include mixing a titanium-containing compound with a lithium-containing compound in a solvent to produce a lithium-titanium precursor mixture. Preferably the titanium-containing compound includes titanium tetrachloride TiCl4. Also, a lithium titanate obtained according to the process and a lithium battery including the lithium titanate.Type: GrantFiled: October 10, 2013Date of Patent: November 21, 2017Assignees: HYDRO-QUEBEC, MCGILL UNIVERSITYInventors: George Demopoulos, Hsien-Chieh Chiu, Karim Zaghib, Abdelbast Guerfi
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Patent number: 9819052Abstract: A secondary battery capable of safely improving a battery performance is provided. An electrolyte with which a separator 13 is impregnated contains an alkyl sulfone and a low-polar solvent (a solvent having a relative permittivity of 20 or less) together with an aluminum salt. The alkyl sulfone facilitates the redox reaction of aluminum, and further reduces the reactivity of the electrolyte. Additionally, the low-polar solvent suppresses the block of the redox reaction of aluminum. In charge and discharge, it becomes easy to electrochemically efficiently precipitate and dissolve aluminum, and further to inhibit the corrosion of a metallic exterior package member or the like.Type: GrantFiled: April 9, 2010Date of Patent: November 14, 2017Assignee: SONY CORPORATIONInventors: Yui Senda, Kenta Yamamoto, Yuri Nakayama, Reina Ito
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Patent number: 9818991Abstract: Provided is a secondary battery, which can improve a coupling force between a case and a cap plate and can improve stability of the secondary battery, by forming a coupling protrusion on a side surface of the cap plate and forming a coupling groove corresponding to the coupling protrusion on an inner surface of the case. The secondary battery includes an electrode assembly, a case accommodating the electrode assembly, and a cap plate coupled to an opening of the case. A coupling protrusion protruding toward an inner surface of the case is formed on a side surface of the cap plate, and a coupling groove corresponding to the coupling protrusion is formed on the inner surface of the case.Type: GrantFiled: December 10, 2015Date of Patent: November 14, 2017Assignee: Samsung SDI Co., Ltd.Inventor: Jaeil Seong
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Patent number: 9812727Abstract: Disclosed are systems for the electrocatalytic reduction of oxygen, having redox mediator/redox catalyst pairs and an electrolyte solution in contact with an electrode. The redox mediator is included in the electrolyte solution, and the redox catalyst may be included in the electrolyte solution, or alternatively, may be in contact with the electrolyte solution. In one form a cobalt redox catalyst is used with a quinone redox mediator. In another form a nitrogen oxide redox catalyst is used with a nitroxyl type redox mediator. The systems can be used in electrochemical cells wherein neither the anode nor the cathode comprise an expensive metal such as platinum.Type: GrantFiled: June 8, 2017Date of Patent: November 7, 2017Assignee: WISCONSIN ALUMNI RESEARCH FOUNDATIONInventors: Shannon S. Stahl, James B. Gerken, Colin W. Anson
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Patent number: 9812738Abstract: Disclosed is a battery comprising a cathode, an anode and an electrolyte; the cathode comprises a cathode material, the cathode material comprises a cathode active material which is capable of reversibly intercalating and deintercalating a first metal ions; the electrolyte comprises at least a solvent capable of dissolving solute, the solute being ionized to a second metal ions that can be reduced to a metallic state during a charge cycle and be oxidized from the metallic state to the second metal ions during a discharge cycle and the first metal ions that can deintercalate from the cathode active material during the charge cycle and intercalate into the cathode active material during the discharge cycle; and the anode and/or the electrolyte further comprise an additive which is a bismuth compound. The gas production amount could be effectively reduced when the battery is being used.Type: GrantFiled: December 28, 2015Date of Patent: November 7, 2017Assignees: POSITEC POWER TOOLS (SUZHOU) CO., LTD.Inventors: Yang Liu, Pu Chen, Jing Yan
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Patent number: 9806313Abstract: A coated method for the preparation of a separator comprising multiple layers of glass or glass and ceramic particles for use in an electrochemical cell, an electrochemical cell comprising such a separator and the use of such an electrochemical cell. The method comprises the steps of providing a mixture of an organic polymeric material, glass or glass and ceramic particles and at least one solvent, and preparing a multilayer by phase inversion.Type: GrantFiled: June 6, 2014Date of Patent: October 31, 2017Assignee: Leclanche'Inventors: Pierre Blanc, Hilmi Buqa
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Patent number: 9806304Abstract: Provided is a secondary battery, which can prevent a protective circuit board and an electrode terminal from colliding with each other by providing a gasket including a support unit protruding from a top surface of a cap plate to be higher than the electrode terminal. The secondary battery includes an electrode assembly, a case accommodating the electrode assembly, a cap plate coupled to an opening of the case, an electrode terminal electrically connected to the electrode assembly and upwardly protruding through a terminal throughhole of the cap plate, and a gasket interposed between the cap plate and the electrode terminal and electrically insulating the cap plate and the electrode terminal from each other. The gasket includes a support unit protruding from the cap plate to be higher than the electrode terminal.Type: GrantFiled: December 9, 2015Date of Patent: October 31, 2017Assignee: Samsung SDI Co., Ltd.Inventor: Jaeil Seong
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Patent number: 9799917Abstract: This invention relates to a waterborne fluoropolymer composition useful for the fabrication of Li-ion-Battery (LIB) electrodes. The fluoropolymer composition contains an organic carbonate compound, which is more environmentally friendly than other fugitive adhesion promoters currently used in waterborne fluoropolymer binders. An especially useful organic carbonate compound is ethylene carbonate (EC) and vinylene carbonate (VC), which are solids at room temperature, and other carbonates which are liquid at room temperature such as propylene carbonate, methyl carbonate and ethyl carbonate. The composition of the invention is low cost, environmentally friendly, safer, and has enhanced performance compared to current compositions.Type: GrantFiled: January 18, 2016Date of Patent: October 24, 2017Assignee: Arkema Inc.Inventors: Ramin Amin-Sanayei, Scott R. Gaboury
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Patent number: 9799901Abstract: There is provided a control method of a flow regulating valve of an oxidizing gas in a fuel cell. In a load disconnected state that the fuel cell is electrically disconnected from a load, the control method gradually opens the flow regulating valve that is configured to supply the oxidizing gas to a cathode of the fuel cell by a predetermined valve opening each time from a full-close position or gradually closes the flow regulating valve by a predetermined valve opening each time from a full-open position, so as to gradually change a supply amount of the oxidizing gas introduced to the cathode and cause hydrogen transmitted from an anode to the cathode in the fuel cell to be oxidized.Type: GrantFiled: November 13, 2015Date of Patent: October 24, 2017Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Tomio Yamanaka, Mitsuhiro Nada, Hiroyuki Suzuki
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Patent number: 9793541Abstract: The specification relates to a composite particle for storing lithium. The composite particle is used in an electrochemical cell. The composite particle includes a metal oxide on the surface of the composite particle, a major dimension that is approximately less than or equal to 40 microns and a formula of MM?Z, wherein M is from the group of Si and Sn, M? is from a group of Mn, Mg, Al, Mo, Bronze, Be, Ti, Cu, Ce, Li, Fe, Ni, Zn, Co, Zr, K, and Na, and Z is from the group of O, Cl, P, C, S, H, and F.Type: GrantFiled: September 21, 2016Date of Patent: October 17, 2017Inventor: Shailesh Upreti
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Patent number: 9786938Abstract: A fuel cell system according to the present invention comprises: a fuel cell including a membrane-electrode assembly in which electrodes, each having a catalyst layer, are arranged on both surfaces of a polymer electrolyte membrane; and a control apparatus that performs performance recovery processing for the catalyst layer by decreasing an output voltage of the fuel cell to a predetermined voltage, wherein the control apparatus predicts a timing of an output increase request being made to the fuel cell and determines the necessity and content of the performance recovery processing based on a result of the prediction.Type: GrantFiled: March 1, 2012Date of Patent: October 10, 2017Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventors: Masaaki Matsusue, Kotaro Ikeda
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Patent number: 9786889Abstract: Provided is an electrode assembly of a secondary battery, including: a first electrode unit and a second electrode unit; a separation membrane interposed between the first electrode unit and the second electrode unit; and a first coating unit having an insulating member which is made of a metal oxide material and is coated along front and rear edge portions of the first electrode unit.Type: GrantFiled: September 5, 2013Date of Patent: October 10, 2017Assignee: SK INNOVATION CO., LTD.Inventor: Min Seong Kim
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Patent number: 9786946Abstract: A solid-state battery comprising a stack including at least one unit cell including a positive electrode layer including a positive electrode active material, a negative electrode layer including a negative electrode active material, and a solid electrolyte layer laminated between the positive and negative electrode layers, and an outer covering accommodating the stack, wherein the solid-state battery further including a pressure receiving member provided on at least a part of a periphery of the outer covering, and wherein the pressure receiving member has a thickness of less than a total thickness of the stack and the outer covering in a stacking direction of the unit cell.Type: GrantFiled: March 18, 2015Date of Patent: October 10, 2017Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventors: Tomoharu Sasaoka, Norihiro Ose, Hajime Hasegawa, Kazuhito Kato, Kengo Haga, Daichi Kosaka