Patents by Inventor Alain Vallee

Alain Vallee has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Publication number: 20010041295
    Abstract: The invention concerns an aprotic electrolytic composition located in the separator and in at least one composite electrode containing a powder of an active electrode material, and if necessary an electronic conduction additive of an electrochemical generator. The electrolytic composition comprises a first polymer matrix consisting of a polyether and at least a second polymer matrix, macroscopically separated, and also at least an alkaline salt as well as a polar aprotic solvent: The polymer matrices are capable of being swollen by at least one of the polar aprotic solvents. The solvent or mixture of solvents is unevenly distributed between the polymer matrices. The invention also concerns an electrochemical generator comprising a negative electrode and positive electrode reversible to alkaline ions and a separator with polymer electrolyte, the electrolytic component of which is the composition described above.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 12, 2001
    Publication date: November 15, 2001
    Applicant: HYDRO-QUEBEC
    Inventors: Alain Vallee, Michel Armand, Yves Choquette, Andre Belanger, Michel Gauthier, Michel Perrier, Karim Zaghib, Estelle Potvin, Simon Besner
  • Patent number: 6280882
    Abstract: The invention concerns an aprotic electrolytic composition located in the separator and in at least one composite electrode containing a powder of an active electrode material, and if necessary an electronic conduction additive of an electrochemical generator The electrolytic composition comprises a first polymer matrix consisting of a polyether and at least a second polymer matrix, macroscopically separated, and also at least an alkaline salt as well as a polar aprotic solvent: The polymer matrices are capable of being swollen by at least one of the polar aprotic solvents. The solvent or mixture of solvents is unevenly distributed between the polymer matrices. The invention also concerns an electrochemical generator comprising a negative electrode and positive electrode reversible to alkaline ions and a separator with polymer electrolyte, the electrolytic component of which is the composition described above.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 1998
    Date of Patent: August 28, 2001
    Assignees: Hydro-Quebec, National de la Recherche Scientifique
    Inventors: Alain Vallee, Michel Armand, Yves Choquette, Andre Belanger, Michel Gauthier, Michel Perrier, Karim Zaghib, Estelle Potvin, Simon Besner
  • Patent number: 6063883
    Abstract: A wood article is submitted to a vacuum in an autoclave to remove air that it contains. Then, a solution which contains a water-soluble cross-linkable prepolymer, a polymerization initiator and optionally a wood preservative is introduced into the autoclave. Polymerization to form a polymeric network in the wood article is carried out in an atmosphere which may be substantially free of oxygen, while the optionally present preservative is chemically fixed to the wood. The result is a wood article with a permanently reduced hardness and an increased moisture content at equilibrium.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 1997
    Date of Patent: May 16, 2000
    Assignee: Hydro-Quebec
    Inventors: Andre Besner, Alain Vallee, Jean-Fran.cedilla.ois Labrecque, Roland Gilbert
  • Patent number: 6030421
    Abstract: There is provided a mother-battery containing at least the following films: an anode of metallic lithium or sodium, a polymer electrolyte which is conductive towards the alkaline ions of the anode and also acts as a separator between the electrodes, and a composite cathode consisting of a compound which is reducible to lithium or sodium, an additive of electronic conduction and a polymer electrolyte binder. The mother battery also includes an electronically conductive thin coating on the external face of the anode and, possibly of the cathode, in which the conductive material is chemically inert towards the electrode material and which also serves to establish permanent electrical contacts on the external faces. The laminated mother-battery of larger surface area and at least partially charged is thereafter subjected to a sharp mechanical cutting out to give thin polymer electrolyte batteries with lithium or sodium anode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 1998
    Date of Patent: February 29, 2000
    Assignee: Hydro-Quebec
    Inventors: Michel Gauthier, Ginette Lessard, Guy Vassort, Patrick Bouchard, Alain Vallee, Michel Perrier
  • Patent number: 6008265
    Abstract: An ionic compound comprising at least one group A.sup.+ X.sup.-, comprising:a cationic group A.sup.+ selected from the group consisting of biaryliodonium, arylsulfonium, arylacylsulfonium, diazonium and organometallic cations comprising a transition metal complexed with at least one unsaturated cyclic compound comprising 4-12 carbon atoms, said cationic group being part of a polymer chain; whereinX.sup.- is an imide anion, [FSO.sub.2 NSO.sub.2 R'.sub.F ].sup.- or [R.sub.F CH.sub.2 OSO.sub.2 NSO.sub.2 R'.sub.F ].sup.- or [(R.sub.F).sub.2 CHOSO.sub.2 NSO.sub.2 R'.sub.F ].sup.-, or a methylide anion [FSO.sub.2 C(Q)SO.sub.2 R'.sub.F ].sup.-, or a [R.sub.F CH.sub.2 OSO.sub.2 C(Q)SO.sub.2 R'.sub.F ].sup.- or [(R.sub.F).sub.2 CHOSO.sub.2 C(Q)SO.sub.2 R'.sub.F ].sup.31 .
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 3, 1997
    Date of Patent: December 28, 1999
    Assignees: Hydro-Quebec, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique
    Inventors: Alain Vallee, Michel Armand, Xavier Ollivrin, Christophe Michot
  • Patent number: 6007935
    Abstract: Rechargeable generator consisting of an anode of an alkali metal or a malleable alkali alloy, at least one polymer electrolyte which is conductive with respect to alkali cations and acts as separator, as well as at least one cathode which is reversible to cations of alkali metal and its current collector. The anode comprises a thin metallic sheet, which includes at the surface thereof a passivation film SEI capable of limiting reaction between the metal and the polymer electrolyte and to exchange lithium ions. The polymer electrolyte comprises a homogeneous separator which is capable of transmitting a pressure on the anode to resist against the dendridic strain of the metal of the anode by undergoing a rate of deformation lower than 35% of its thickness.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 1997
    Date of Patent: December 28, 1999
    Assignee: Hydro-Quebec
    Inventors: Michel Gauthier, Andre Belanger, Alain Vallee
  • Patent number: 6008267
    Abstract: Polymer or oligomer ionic compound made of a polycationic part (A.sup.+).sub.p comprising a plurality of onium units and a sufficient number of anions X.sup.- to provide electrical neutrality to the compound, characterized in thatthe onium units are selected from the group consisting of biaryliodonium, arylsulfonium, arylacylsulfonium, diazonium, organometallic cations comprising a transition metal which is complexed by at least one unsaturated cycle comprising 4 to 12 carbon atoms;X.sup.- is an imide anion [R.sub.F SO.sub.2 NSO.sub.2 R'.sub.F ].sup.- or a methylide anion [R.sub.F SO.sub.2 C(Q)SO.sub.2 R'.sub.F ].sup.- in which:1) Q represents:H--, Cl--, F--, Br--or CN--;an alkyl radical having 1 to 30 carbon atoms;an aryl, alkylaryl or arylakyl radical having 6 to 30 carbon atoms;a group R".sub.F or a group R".sub.F SO.sub.2 ;2) R.sub.F and R'.sub.F, as well as R".sub.F possibly when X.sup.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 3, 1997
    Date of Patent: December 28, 1999
    Assignees: Hydro-Quebec, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique
    Inventors: Alain Vallee, Michel Armand, Xavier Ollivrin, Christophe Michot
  • Patent number: 5755985
    Abstract: Polymer electrolyte compositions for lithium electrochemical generators of the LPB type (lithium polymer electrolyte battery), comprising a mixture of polymers wherein one of the components has a high molecular weight, such as those used currently in LPB batteries, and wherein the other component is a low molecular weight polymer resulting in a more efficient and faster multi-dimensional cross-linking by irradiation, so as to give a network which is interpenetrated or not and films of electrolyte being have better mechanical properties and lower thicknesses, while preserving the good properties of adhesion on the electrodes and the choice of the coating techniques.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 11, 1995
    Date of Patent: May 26, 1998
    Assignees: Hydro-Quebec, Dai-Ichi Kogyo Seiyaku Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Alain Vallee, Michel Duval, Fernand Brochu, Michiyuki Kono, Eriko Hayashi, Tsutomu Sada
  • Patent number: 5731096
    Abstract: A wood article is submitted to a vacuum in an autoclave to remove air that it contains. Then, a solution which contains a wood preservative, a water-soluble cross-linkable prepolymer and a polymerization initiator is introduced into the autoclave. Polymerization to form a polymeric network in the wood article is carried out in an atmosphere substantially free of oxygen, while the preservative is chemically fixed to the wood. The result is a wood article with a permanently reduced hardness and an increased moisture content at equilibrium.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 4, 1995
    Date of Patent: March 24, 1998
    Assignee: Hydro-Quebec
    Inventors: Andre Besner, Alain Vallee, Jean-Francois Labrecque, Roland Gilbert