Patents by Inventor Beth Sommers

Beth Sommers 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).

  • Nickel Hydroxide electrode material with improved microstructure and method for making the same
    Patent number: 7294434
    Abstract: Nickel hydroxide material comprising particles with a microstructure including crystallites of less than 103 ? as measured in the 101 direction by x-ray diffraction. A method of making positive electrode material for use in an alkaline rechargeable electrochemical cell comprising forming a metal ion solution and increasing the pH to precipitate positive electrode material with a crystallite structure of 120 ? or less in the 101 direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2002
    Date of Patent: November 13, 2007
    Assignee: Ovonic Battery Company, Inc.
    Inventors: Cristian Fierro, Michael A. Fetcenko, Kwo Young, Stanford R. Ovshinsky, Beth Sommers, Craig Harrison
  • Composite positive electrode material and method for making same
    Patent number: 6569566
    Abstract: A method for making a composite positive electrode material for use in electrochemical cells. The composite material comprises a particle of positive electrode material and a nucleating particle at least partially embedded within the interior of the particle of positive electrode material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 2000
    Date of Patent: May 27, 2003
    Assignee: Ovonic Battery Company, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael A. Fetcenko, Christian Fierro, Stanford R. Ovshinsky, Beth Sommers, Benjamin Reichman, Kwo Young, William Mays
  • Composite positive electrode material and method for making same
    Patent number: 6548209
    Abstract: A composite positive electrode material for use in electrochemical cells. The composite material includes a particle of positive electrode material and a nucleating particle at least partially embedded within the interior of the particle of positive electrode material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 2000
    Date of Patent: April 15, 2003
    Assignee: Ovonic Battery Company, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael A. Fetcenko, Christian Fierro, Stanford R. Ovshinsky, Beth Sommers, Benjamin Reichman, Kwo Young, William Mays
  • Nickel hydroxide electrode material with improved microstructure and method for making the same
    Publication number: 20030035996
    Abstract: Nickel hydroxide material comprising particles with a microstructure including crystallites of less than 103 Å as measured in the 101 direction by x-ray diffraction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 30, 2002
    Publication date: February 20, 2003
    Inventors: Cristian Fierro, Michael A. Fetcenko, Kwo Young, Stanford R. Ovshinsky, Beth Sommers, Craig Harrison
  • Composite positive electrode material and method for making same
    Publication number: 20020146505
    Abstract: A method for making a composite positive electrode material for use in electrochemical cells. The composite material comprises a particle of positive electrode material and a nucleating particle at least partially embedded within the interior of the particle of positive electrode material.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 30, 2000
    Publication date: October 10, 2002
    Inventors: Michael A. Fetcenko, Christian Fierro, Stanford R. Ovshinsky, Beth Sommers, Benjamin Reichman, Kwo Young, William Mays
  • Nickel hydroxide positive electrode material exhibiting improved conductivity and engineered activation energy
    Patent number: 6447953
    Abstract: High capacity, long cycle life positive electrode modified nickel hydroxide material for use in an alkaline rechargeable electrochemical cell at least one modifier and has modified activation energy, chemical potential and electrical conductivity. Particle size, particle size distribution, electrical conductivity have been controlled by introducing modifier elements throughout the bulk of the active material and by controlling process parameters.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 11, 2000
    Date of Patent: September 10, 2002
    Assignee: Ovonic Battery Company, Inc.
    Inventors: Cristian Fierro, Michael A. Fetcenko, Kwo Young, Stanford R. Ovshinsky, Beth Sommers, Craig Harrison
  • Method of making a nickel hydroxide material
    Patent number: 6444363
    Abstract: A process for making a positive battery electrode material using a secondary metal. The secondary metal is preferably treated using an non-electrolytic process and formed into an active, positive battery electrode material by a precipitation reaction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 2000
    Date of Patent: September 3, 2002
    Assignee: Ovonic Battery Company, Inc.
    Inventors: Gabriel E. Benet, Charles T. Walker, Cristian Fierro, Michael A. Fetcenko, Beth Sommers, Avram Zallen
  • Method of making a nickel hydroxide material
    Patent number: 6432580
    Abstract: A process for making a nickel hydroxide material without the necessity of a preamine reactor. The process includes the steps of providing a metal and forming the metal into an active positive electrode material. The process for making a nickel hydroxide material may also include one or more blending steps. The step for forming may include concurrently combining the metal with ammonium ions and hydroxide ions. The step for forming may also include a continuously stirred precipitation reaction of metal ions. In a preferred aspect of the process hereof, the metal may be a secondary nickel source, such as a spent or virgin electrolyte solution from a nickel electrorefining process, nickel electroless plating process or nickel electroplating process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 2000
    Date of Patent: August 13, 2002
    Assignee: Ovonic Battery Company, Inc.
    Inventors: Cristian Fierro, Michael A. Fetcenko, Beth Sommers, Avram Zallen
  • Nickel hydroxide electrode material and method for making the same
    Patent number: 6416903
    Abstract: A nickel hydroxide particle having a first active nickel hydroxide material and a second active nickel hydroxide material disposed about the first material, wherein the second active nickel hydroxide material has a mass at least 10% of the total particle mass. In a preferred embodiment of the invention the first active material and the second active material have a compositional difference of 1 to 25.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 18, 2000
    Date of Patent: July 9, 2002
    Assignee: Ovonic Battery Company, Inc.
    Inventors: Cristian Fierro, Michael A. Fetcenko, Stanford R. Ovshinsky, Dennis A. Corrigan, Beth Sommers, Avram Zallen
  • Composite positive electrode material and method for making same
    Patent number: 6348285
    Abstract: A method for making a composite positive electrode material for use in electrochemical cells. The composite material includes a particle of positive electrode material and a conductive material at least partially embedded within the interior of the particle of positive electrode material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 2000
    Date of Patent: February 19, 2002
    Assignee: Ovonic Battery Company, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael A. Fetcenko, Christian Fierro, Stanford R. Ovshinsky, Beth Sommers, Benjamin Reichman, Kwo Young, William Mays
  • Composite positive electrode material and method for making same
    Publication number: 20010023040
    Abstract: A composite positive electrode material for use in electrochemical cells. The composite material includes a particle of positive electrode material and a nucleating particle at least partially embedded within the interior of the particle of positive electrode material.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 30, 2000
    Publication date: September 20, 2001
    Inventors: Michael A. Fetcenko, Christian Fierro, Stanford R. Ovshinsky, Beth Sommers, Benjamin Reichman, Kwo Young, William Mays
  • Composite positive electrode material and method for making same
    Publication number: 20010019799
    Abstract: A method for making a composite positive electrode material for use in electrochemical cells. The composite material includes a particle of positive electrode material and a conductive material at least partially embedded within the interior of the particle of positive electrode material.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 30, 2000
    Publication date: September 6, 2001
    Inventors: Michael A. Fetcenko, Christian Fierro, Stanford R. Ovshinsky, Beth Sommers, Benjamin Reichman, Kwo Young, William Mays
  • Nickel hydroxide positive electrode material exhibiting improved conductivity and engineered activation energy
    Patent number: 6228535
    Abstract: High capacity, long cycle life positive electrode modified nickel hydroxide material for use in an alkaline rechargeable electrochemical cell at least one modifier and has modified activation energy, chemical potential and electrical conductivity. Particle size, particle size distribution, electrical conductivity have been controlled by introducing modifier elements throughout the bulk of the active material and by controlling process parameters.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 17, 1998
    Date of Patent: May 8, 2001
    Assignee: Ovonic Battery Company, Inc.
    Inventors: Cristian Fierro, Michael A. Fetcenko, Kwo Young, Stanford R. Ovshinsky, Beth Sommers, Craig Harrison
  • Composite positive electrode material and method for making same
    Patent number: 6177213
    Abstract: A composite positive electrode material for use in electrochemical cells. The composite material may comprise a particle of positive electrode material, and a conductive material at least partially embedded within the particle of positive electrode material. The material may comprise a particle of positive electrode material, and a nucleating particle at least partially embedded therein.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 17, 1998
    Date of Patent: January 23, 2001
    Assignee: Energy Conversion Devices, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael A. Fetcenko, Christian Fierro, Stanford R. Ovshinsky, Beth Sommers, Benjamin Reichman, Kwo Young, William Mays