Patents by Inventor Masatsugu KAWAKAMI

Masatsugu KAWAKAMI 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: 20240113347
    Abstract: A battery system that avoids an over discharge with a simple sensor element is provided. The battery system comprises: a battery pack including a plurality of battery cells connected in series, a monitoring unit that monitors a condition of the battery pack, and a control unit that controls a discharge of the battery pack. The control unit calculates capacity condition A of the battery pack at a first discharge cutoff voltage based on the total voltage and the total current, estimates capacity condition B of the battery pack at the first discharge cutoff voltage based on the total current and the temperature, determines an occurrence of an over discharge based on the capacity condition A and the capacity condition B, changes the first discharge cutoff voltage to a second discharge cutoff voltage that is higher than the first discharge cutoff voltage, when the occurrence of the over discharge is determined.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 14, 2023
    Publication date: April 4, 2024
    Inventors: Masatsugu KAWAKAMI, Yasumasa OGUMA
  • Patent number: 11881567
    Abstract: A battery system avoids an over discharge with a simple sensor element is provided. The battery system comprises: a battery pack including a plurality of battery cells connected in series, a monitoring unit that monitors a condition of the battery pack, and a control unit that controls a discharge of the battery pack. The control unit calculates capacity condition A of the battery pack at a first discharge cutoff voltage based on the total voltage and the total current, estimates capacity condition B of the battery pack at the first discharge cutoff voltage based on the total current and the temperature, determines an occurrence of an over discharge based on the capacity condition A and the capacity condition B, changes the first discharge cutoff voltage to a second discharge cutoff voltage that is higher than the first discharge cutoff voltage, when the occurrence of the over discharge is determined.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 25, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 23, 2024
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Masatsugu Kawakami, Yasumasa Oguma
  • Publication number: 20230266397
    Abstract: A main object of the present disclosure is to provide a battery system capable of avoiding an over charge with a simple sensor element.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 2, 2023
    Publication date: August 24, 2023
    Inventor: Masatsugu KAWAKAMI
  • Patent number: 11680988
    Abstract: A battery system capable of avoiding an over charge with a simple sensor element comprises: a battery module including a battery pack A including a plurality of battery cells connected in series, and a battery pack B including a plurality of battery cells connected in series, connected in parallel, a monitoring unit configured to monitor a condition of the battery module, and a control unit configured to control at least a charge of the battery module. The monitoring unit includes: a first current sensor configured to measure a total current IA of the battery pack A, and a second current sensor configured to measure a total current IB of the battery pack B. The control unit calculates a determining value based on the total current IA and determines an occurrence of an over charge based on the determining value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 2021
    Date of Patent: June 20, 2023
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Masatsugu Kawakami
  • Publication number: 20220367906
    Abstract: An all solid state battery including: a battery cell; a first current collecting member; a second current collecting member; and an outer package. The battery cell contains a sulfide solid electrolyte; the outer package includes a first outer package member arranged on a first surface side of the battery cell, and a second outer package member arranged on a second surface side of the battery cell; a resin layer A is arranged in, at least one position of, a position between the first outer package member and the first current collecting member, and a position between the second outer package member and the second current collecting member; a resin layer B is arranged in a side surface part of the battery cell; and each of the resin layer A and the resin layer B contains an adhesive resin.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 5, 2022
    Publication date: November 17, 2022
    Applicant: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Takuya Matsuyama, Masatsugu Kawakami, Tetsuya Waseda
  • Publication number: 20220320492
    Abstract: Provided is a cathode for an all-solid-state lithium-sulfur battery that makes the discharge capacity improved. The cathode for an all-solid-state lithium-sulfur battery includes: a cathode mixture containing sulfur, a carbon nanotube, P2S5, and an Li2S—P2S5 based solid electrolyte, wherein the sulfur, the carbon nanotube, and the P2S5 form a composite, and the cathode mixture contains higher than 0 wt % and lower than 20 wt % of the carbon nanotube.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 15, 2022
    Publication date: October 6, 2022
    Inventor: Masatsugu Kawakami
  • Patent number: 11417911
    Abstract: The invention provides a laminated all-solid-state battery that can increase volumetric energy density and maintain the shape of the all-solid-state battery, as well as a method for producing the laminated all-solid-state battery. The all-solid-state battery comprises a battery stack having two or more unit cells and an exterior film sealing the battery stack, wherein the battery stack has a hexahedron shape formed by a top surface and bottom surface in the stacking direction and first, second, third and fourth side walls, the exterior film is a single film covering the battery stack from the top surface and bottom surface in a manner covering the fourth side wall, and condition (i) is satisfied when collector tabs protrude from the first or third side wall or condition (ii) is satisfied when collector tabs protrude from the second side wall, as well as a method for producing the all-solid-state battery.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2022
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Masatsugu Kawakami, Yasumasa Oguma, Hiroshi Tsuno, Hiroaki Nishino
  • Patent number: 11329322
    Abstract: A battery module is provided whereby loss of productivity can be minimized even when producing multiple exterior body parts for different battery module sizes. The battery module of the disclosure has an exterior body and an all-solid-state battery stack encapsulated in the exterior body. The exterior body has a tubular body and a pair of covers. The tubular body has flanges at both open ends. The flanges at both ends of the tubular body and the outer edge sections of the pair of covers are each joined forming joints, with the exterior body being sealed by the joints. The all-solid-state battery stack has one or multiple constituent unit cells. The direction of stacking of each of the layers of the constituent unit cell is in the axial direction of the tubular body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 12, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 10, 2022
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Yasumasa Oguma, Masatsugu Kawakami
  • Publication number: 20210389382
    Abstract: A main object of the present disclosure is to provide a battery system capable of avoiding an over charge with a simple sensor element.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 21, 2021
    Publication date: December 16, 2021
    Inventor: Masatsugu KAWAKAMI
  • Publication number: 20210391603
    Abstract: A main object of the present disclosure is to provide a battery system capable of avoiding an over discharge with a simple sensor element.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 25, 2021
    Publication date: December 16, 2021
    Inventors: Masatsugu KAWAKAMI, Yasumasa OGUMA
  • Patent number: 11139468
    Abstract: Disclosed is a cathode active material that can lower sintering temperature, the cathode active mated al including a particle of a lithium containing composite oxide having a layered rock-salt crystalline phase, wherein the layered rock-salt crystalline phase is partially deficient in lithium, a percentage of deficient lithium in the layered rock-salt crystalline phase in a surface portion of the particle is higher than that in the layered rock-salt crystalline phase inside the particle, and the particle includes two phases that are different in lattice constant as the layered rock-salt crystalline phase.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 5, 2021
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Masatsugu Kawakami, Shingo Ohta
  • Patent number: 10950862
    Abstract: A method for producing a cathode that can lower a sintering temperature is provided. The method comprises: acid-treating particles of a lithium containing composite oxide that has a layered rock-salt structure; obtaining a mixture by mixing the acid-treated particles with a lithium salt whose melting point is lower than that of the lithium containing composite oxide; and heating and sintering the mixture.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 16, 2021
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Masatsugu Kawakami, Shingo Ohta
  • Patent number: 10950832
    Abstract: [Object] To provide a battery module that can prevent the breakage of batteries due to the expansion or contraction of the batteries when charging and discharging the batteries. [Solution To Problem] A battery module includes a plurality of stacked batteries and a restraint part for restraining the plurality of batteries. The restraint part is composed of a pair of end plates arranged at either end in the stacking direction of the plurality of batteries and tension bands for connecting the pair of end plates and constraining the plurality of batteries in a pressurized state. The tension bands include elastically deformable concave-convex parts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 16, 2021
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Masatsugu Kawakami, Hidetoshi Okada, Yasumasa Oguma
  • Patent number: 10720636
    Abstract: A sintered electrode having a large cathode capacity is obtained. A method for producing a sintered electrode which uses a lithium containing composite oxide as a cathode active material, and lithium lanthanum zirconate as an oxide solid electrolyte comprises: mixing at least the lithium containing composite oxide and a hydroxide, to obtain a cathode mixture; mixing at least the lithium lanthanum zirconate and a lithium salt that has a melting point lower than the lithium lanthanum zirconate, to obtain a solid electrolyte mixture; laminating the cathode mixture and the solid electrolyte mixture, to obtain a laminate; and heating the laminate, to sinter at least the solid electrolyte mixture.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 12, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 21, 2020
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Masatsugu Kawakami, Shingo Ohta
  • Publication number: 20200185779
    Abstract: The invention provides a laminated all-solid-state battery that can increase volumetric energy density and maintain the shape of the all-solid-state battery, as well as a method for producing the laminated all-solid-state battery. The all-solid-state battery comprises a battery stack having two or more unit cells and an exterior film sealing the battery stack, wherein the battery stack has a hexahedron shape formed by a top surface and bottom surface in the stacking direction and first, second, third and fourth side walls, the exterior film is a single film covering the battery stack from the top surface and bottom surface in a manner covering the fourth side wall, and condition (i) is satisfied when collector tabs protrude from the first or third side wall or condition (ii) is satisfied when collector tabs protrude from the second side wall, as well as a method for producing the all-solid-state battery.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 4, 2019
    Publication date: June 11, 2020
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Masatsugu KAWAKAMI, Yasumasa OGUMA, Hiroshi TSUNO, Hiroaki NISHINO
  • Publication number: 20200112062
    Abstract: A battery module is provided whereby loss of productivity can be minimized even when producing multiple exterior body parts for different battery module sizes. The battery module of the disclosure has an exterior body and an all-solid-state battery stack encapsulated in the exterior body. The exterior body has a tubular body and a pair of covers. The tubular body has flanges at both open ends. The flanges at both ends of the tubular body and the outer edge sections of the pair of covers are each joined forming joints, with the exterior body being sealed by the joints. The all-solid-state battery stack has one or multiple constituent unit cells. The direction of stacking of each of the layers of the constituent unit cell is in the axial direction of the tubular body.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 12, 2019
    Publication date: April 9, 2020
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Yasumasa OGUMA, Masatsugu KAWAKAMI
  • Publication number: 20190198830
    Abstract: [Object] To provide a battery module that can prevent the breakage of batteries due to the expansion or contraction of the batteries when charging and discharging the batteries. [Solution To Problem] A battery module includes a plurality of stacked batteries and a restraint part for restraining the plurality of batteries. The restraint part is composed of a pair of end plates arranged at either end in the stacking direction of the plurality of batteries and tension bands for connecting the pair of end plates and constraining the plurality of batteries in a pressurized state. The tension bands include elastically deformable concave-convex parts.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 12, 2018
    Publication date: June 27, 2019
    Inventors: Masatsugu KAWAKAMI, Hidetoshi OKADA, Yasumasa OGUMA
  • Patent number: 10270135
    Abstract: An all-solid-state battery that makes it possible to improve the cycling properties is provided. The all-solid-state battery includes an anode; a cathode; a solid electrolyte layer that is arranged between the anode and the cathode; an anode collector that is connected to the anode; and a cathode collector that is connected to the cathode. In the all-solid-state battery, a metal layer is arranged between the anode and the anode collector and/or between the cathode and the cathode collector, and metal that does not undergo an electrochemical reaction with metal ions under a potential environment where an active material stores and releases the metal ions, and whose percent elongation is no less than 22% is used for the metal layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2019
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Hisatsugu Yamasaki, Yuki Kato, Takamasa Ohtomo, Masatsugu Kawakami
  • Publication number: 20190103603
    Abstract: Disclosed is a cathode active material that can lower sintering temperature, the cathode active mated al including a particle of a lithium containing composite oxide having a layered rock-salt crystalline phase, wherein the layered rock-salt crystalline phase is partially deficient in lithium, a percentage of deficient lithium in the layered rock-salt crystalline phase in a surface portion of the particle is higher than that in the layered rock-salt crystalline phase inside the particle, and the particle includes two phases that are different in lattice constant as the layered rock-salt crystalline phase.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 11, 2018
    Publication date: April 4, 2019
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Masatsugu KAWAKAMI, Shingo OHTA
  • Publication number: 20180277827
    Abstract: A sintered electrode having a large cathode capacity is obtained. A method for producing a sintered electrode which uses a lithium containing composite oxide as a cathode active material, and lithium lanthanum zirconate as an oxide solid electrolyte comprises: mixing at least the lithium containing composite oxide and a hydroxide, to obtain a cathode mixture; mixing at least the lithium lanthanum zirconate and a lithium salt that has a melting point lower than the lithium lanthanum zirconate, to obtain a solid electrolyte mixture; laminating the cathode mixture and the solid electrolyte mixture, to obtain a laminate; and heating the laminate, to sinter at least the solid electrolyte mixture.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 12, 2018
    Publication date: September 27, 2018
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Masatsugu KAWAKAMI, Shingo OHTA