Patents by Inventor Kevin Fok

Kevin Fok 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).

  • Patent number: 7018740
    Abstract: Fuel cell oxygen electrode and instant startup fuel cells employing such oxygen electrode. The oxygen electrode operates through the mechanism of redox couples which uniquely provide multiple degrees of freedom in selecting the operating voltages available for such fuel cells. Such oxygen electrodes provide the fuel cells in which they are used a “buffer” or “charge” of oxidizer available within the oxygen electrode at all times.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 16, 2003
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2006
    Assignee: Texaco Ovonic Fuel Cell LLC
    Inventors: Stanford R. Ovshinsky, Srinivasan Venkatesan, Boyko Aladjov, Subhash K. Dhar, Kevin Fok, Thomas Hopper
  • Publication number: 20050271928
    Abstract: A Proton Exchange Membrane fuel cell including a hydrogen electrode utilizing non-noble metal hydrogen oxidation catalysts, and/or an oxygen electrode utilizing non-noble metal oxygen reduction catalysts. The non-noble metal hydrogen oxidation catalysts and the non-noble metal oxygen reduction catalysts provide for a long catalyst cycle life due to increased stability and poisoning resistance in an acidic environment.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 7, 2004
    Publication date: December 8, 2005
    Inventors: Stanford Ovshinsky, Srinivasan Venkatesan, Hong Wang, Konstantin Petrov, Kevin Fok
  • Patent number: 6926986
    Abstract: A fuel cell utilizing parallel flow of a hydrogen stream, an oxygen stream, and an electrolyte solution with respect to the electrodes, while maintaining mechanical support within the fuel cell. The fuel cell utilizes encapsulated electrodes to maintain a high air flow rate and low pressure throughout the fuel cell. The fuel cell is also designed to maintain mechanical support within the fuel cell while the electrodes expand and contract in response to the absorption of oxygen and hydrogen. Gas is predistributed by the compression plates and electrode plates to supply the electrodes with high concentrations of oxygen from air.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 9, 2002
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2005
    Assignee: Energy Conversion Devices
    Inventors: Stanford R. Ovshinsky, Ana Menjak, Thomas Hopper, Zdravko Menjak, Kevin Fok, Boyko Aladjov, Srinivasan Venkatesan, Subhash K. Dhar
  • Publication number: 20050147884
    Abstract: An active electrode composition comprising a nickel hydroxide material and a pectin. Preferably, the pectin comprises a citrus pectin.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 15, 2004
    Publication date: July 7, 2005
    Inventors: Srinivasan Venkatesan, Boyko Aladjov, Kevin Fok, Thomas Hopper, Stanford Ovshinsky
  • Publication number: 20050042495
    Abstract: A fuel cell utilizing parallel flow of a hydrogen stream, an oxygen stream, and an electrolyte solution with respect to the electrodes, while maintaining mechanical support within the fuel cell. The fuel cell utilizes encapsulated electrodes to maintain a high air flow rate and low pressure throughout the fuel cell. The fuel cell is also designed to maintain mechanical support within the fuel cell while the electrodes expand and contract in response to the absorption of oxygen and hydrogen. Gas is predistributed by the compression plates and electrode plates to supply the electrodes with high concentrations of oxygen from air.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 9, 2002
    Publication date: February 24, 2005
    Inventors: Stanford Ovshinsky, Ana Menjak, Thomas Hopper, Zdravko Menjak, Kevin Fok, Boyko Aladjov, Srinivasan Venkatesan, Subhash Dhar
  • Patent number: 6828057
    Abstract: A fuel cell utilizing parallel flow of a hydrogen stream, an oxygen stream, and an electrolyte solution with respect to the electrodes, while maintaining mechanical support within the fuel cell. The fuel cell utilizes framed electrodes to maintain a high air flow rate and low pressure throughout the fuel cell. The fuel cell is also designed to maintain mechanical support within the fuel cell while the electrodes expand and contract in response to the absorption of oxygen and hydrogen. Gas is predistributed by the compression plates and frames to supply the electrodes with high concentrations of oxygen from air.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 2002
    Date of Patent: December 7, 2004
    Assignee: Energy Conversion Devices, Inc.
    Inventors: Stanford R. Ovshinsky, Ana Menjak, Tom Hopper, Zdravko Menjak, Kevin Fok, Boyko Aladjov, Srinivasan Venkatesan, Subhash K. Dhar
  • Patent number: 6818348
    Abstract: An active electrode composition comprising an active electrode material and a binder where the binder comprises a monosaccharide, a disaccharide, a pectin or a molasses. Preferably, the active electrode material is nickel hydroxide.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 10, 2000
    Date of Patent: November 16, 2004
    Assignee: Ovonic Battery Company, Inc.
    Inventors: Srinivasan Venkatesan, Boyko Aladjov, Kevin Fok, Thomas Hopper, Stanford R. Ovshinsky
  • Patent number: 6783891
    Abstract: Fuel cell oxygen electrode and instant startup fuel cells employing such oxygen electrode. The oxygen electrode operates through the mechanism of redox couples which uniquely provide multiple degrees of freedom in selecting the operating voltages available for such fuel cells. Such oxygen electrodes provide the fuel cells in which they are used a “buffer” or “charge” of oxidizer available within the oxygen electrode at all times.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 16, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 31, 2004
    Assignee: Energy Conversion Devices, Inc.
    Inventors: Stanford R. Ovshinsky, Srinivasan Venkatesan, Boyko Aladjov, Subhash Dhar, Kevin Fok, Thomas Hopper
  • Patent number: 6777125
    Abstract: Fuel cell oxygen electrode and instant startup fuel cells employing such oxygen electrode. The oxygen electrode operates through the mechanism of redox couples which uniquely provide multiple degrees of freedom in selecting the operating voltages available for such fuel cells. Such oxygen electrodes provide the fuel cells in which they are used a “buffer” or “charge” of oxidizer available within the oxygen electrode at all times.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2002
    Date of Patent: August 17, 2004
    Assignee: Energy Conversion Devices, Inc.
    Inventors: Stanford R. Ovhsinsky, Srinivasan Venkatesan, Boyko Aladjov, Subhash Dhar, Kevin Fok, Thomas Hopper
  • Publication number: 20040053109
    Abstract: Fuel cell oxygen electrode and instant startup fuel cells employing such oxygen electrode. The oxygen electrode operates through the mechanism of redox couples which uniquely provide multiple degrees of freedom in selecting the operating voltages available for such fuel cells. Such oxygen electrodes provide the fuel cells in which they are used a “buffer” or “charge” of oxidizer available within the oxygen electrode at all times.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 16, 2003
    Publication date: March 18, 2004
    Inventors: Stanford R. Ovshinsky, Srinivasan Venkatesan, Boyko Aladjov, Subhash K. Dhar, Kevin Fok, Thomas Hopper
  • Patent number: 6703156
    Abstract: Fuel cell oxygen electrode and instant startup fuel cells employing such oxygen electrode. The oxygen electrode operates through the mechanism of redox couples which uniquely provide multiple degrees of freedom in selecting the operating voltages available for such fuel cells. Such oxygen electrodes provide the fuel cells in which they are used a “buffer” or “charge” of oxidizer available within the oxygen electrode at all times.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 4, 2002
    Date of Patent: March 9, 2004
    Assignee: Texaco Ovonic Fuel Cell, LLC
    Inventors: Stanford R. Ovshinsky, Srinivasan Venkatesan, Boyko Aladjov, Subhash K. Dhar, Kevin Fok, Thomas Hopper
  • Publication number: 20030203274
    Abstract: A fuel cell utilizing parallel flow of a hydrogen stream, an oxygen stream, and an electrolyte solution with respect to the electrodes, while maintaining mechanical support within the fuel cell. The fuel cell utilizes framed electrodes to maintain a high air flow rate and low pressure throughout the fuel cell. The fuel cell is also designed to maintain mechanical support within the fuel cell while the electrodes expand and contract in response to the absorption of oxygen and hydrogen. Gas is predistributed by the compression plates and frames to supply the electrodes with high concentrations of oxygen from air.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 29, 2002
    Publication date: October 30, 2003
    Inventors: Stanford R. Ovshinsky, Ana Menjak, Tom Hopper, Zdravko Menjak, Kevin Fok, Boyko Aladjov, Srinivasan Venkatesan, Subhash K. Dhar
  • Patent number: 6613471
    Abstract: A hydrogen storage alloy active material for the anode of Ovonic instant startup/regenerative fuel cells. The active material includes a hydrogen storage alloy material with a water reactive chemical hydride additive, which, upon utilization of the active material in an anode of an alkaline electrolyte fuel cell, gives the anode added benefits, not attainable by using hydrogen storage alloy material alone. These added benefits include 1) precharge of the hydrogen storage material with hydrogen; 2) higher porosity/increased surface area/reduced electrode polarization at high currents; 3) simplified, faster activation of the hydrogen storage alloy; and 4) optionally, enhanced corrosion protection for the hydrogen storage alloy.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2001
    Date of Patent: September 2, 2003
    Assignee: Energy Conversion Devices, Inc.
    Inventors: Stanford R. Ovshinsky, Boyko Aladjov, Srinivasan Venkatesan, Thomas Hopper, Kevin Fok, Subhash Dhar
  • Patent number: 6605375
    Abstract: A method of activating a hydrogen storage alloy electrode. The method comprises the step of applying current cycles to the electrode where each current cycle includes a forward pulse effective to at least partially charge the electrode and a reverse pulse effective to at least partially discharge the electrode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2001
    Date of Patent: August 12, 2003
    Assignee: Ovonic Battery Company, Inc.
    Inventors: Stanford R. Ovshinsky, Boyko Aladjov, Srinivasan Venkatesan, Subhash K. Dhar, Thomas Hopper, Kevin Fok
  • Patent number: 6589686
    Abstract: A method of activating a metal hydride electrode of an alkaline fuel cell. The method comprises the step of applying current cycles to the anode where each current cycle includes a forward current effective to at least partially charge the electrode and a reverse current effective to at least partially discharge the electrode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 8, 2002
    Date of Patent: July 8, 2003
    Assignee: Ovonic Battery Company, Inc.
    Inventors: Stanford R. Ovshinsky, Boyko Aladjov, Srinivasan Venkatesan, Subhash K. Dhar, Thomas Hopper, Kevin Fok
  • Publication number: 20030039879
    Abstract: Fuel cell oxygen electrode and instant startup fuel cells employing such oxygen electrode. The oxygen electrode operates through the mechanism of redox couples which uniquely provide multiple degrees of freedom in selecting the operating voltages available for such fuel cells. Such oxygen electrodes provide the fuel cells in which they are used a “buffer” or “charge” of oxidizer available within the oxygen electrode at all times.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 4, 2002
    Publication date: February 27, 2003
    Inventors: Stanford R. Ovshinsky, Srinivasan Venkatesan, Boyko Aladjov, Subhash K. Dhar, Kevin Fok, Thomas Hopper
  • Patent number: 6503659
    Abstract: A layered hydrogen absorbing alloy electrode for an alkaline electrochemical cell. The layered electrode comprises a outer layer comprising a metal oxide, metal sulfide or mixtures thereof. The outer layer reduces the internal pressure of electrochemical cell.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 13, 1999
    Date of Patent: January 7, 2003
    Assignee: Ovonic Battery Company, Inc.
    Inventors: Stanford R. Ovshinsky, Srinivasan Venkatesan, Boyko Aladjov, Kevin Fok, Thomas J. Hopper, Lynn Taylor
  • Publication number: 20020187394
    Abstract: Fuel cell oxygen electrode and instant startup fuel cells employing such oxygen electrode. The oxygen electrode operates through the mechanism of redox couples which uniquely provide multiple degrees of freedom in selecting the operating voltages available for such fuel cells. Such oxygen electrodes provide the fuel cells in which they are used a “buffer” or “charge” of oxidizer available within the oxygen electrode at all times.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 28, 2002
    Publication date: December 12, 2002
    Inventors: Stanford R. Ovhsinsky, Srinivasan Venkatesan, Boyko Aladjov, Subhash Dhar, Kevin Fok, Thomas Hopper
  • Patent number: 6492057
    Abstract: An alkaline electrochemical cell having a hydrogen absorbing alloy negative electrode. The electrochemical cell comprises an alkaline electrolyte comprising an additive material which reduces cell pressure by decreasing hydrogen gas evolution.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 14, 1999
    Date of Patent: December 10, 2002
    Assignee: Ovonic Battery Company, Inc.
    Inventors: Stanford R. Ovshinsky, Srinivasan Venkatesan, Boyko Alajov, Kevin Fok, Thomas J. Hopper, James L. Strebe
  • Publication number: 20020127466
    Abstract: A method of activating a metal hydride electrode of an alkaline fuel cell. The method comprises the step of applying current cycles to the anode where each current cycle includes a forward current effective to at least partially charge the electrode and a reverse current effective to at least partially discharge the electrode.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 8, 2002
    Publication date: September 12, 2002
    Inventors: Stanford R. Ovshinsky, Boyko Aladjov, Srinivasan Venkatesan, Subhash K. Dhar, Thomas Hopper, Kevin Fok