Patents by Inventor Nicholas P. Irish
Nicholas P. Irish 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).
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Patent number: 11688843Abstract: A method of making a calendered electrode for a battery cell comprises introducing a coated electrode having a first surface extending thereover. The coated electrode has a predetermined density of active materials for ion transport. The method further comprises selectively modifying the coated electrode by patterning the first surface to define a patterned electrode having a first portion and a second portion. After the step of selectively modifying, the method further comprises compressing the patterned electrode by calendering the first surface to provide the first portion having a first density of active materials and the second portion having a second density of active materials. The second density is greater than the first density to define the calendered electrode having a spatial variation of active material density.Type: GrantFiled: August 31, 2020Date of Patent: June 27, 2023Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLCInventors: Erik D. Huemiller, Nicholas P. Irish, Ryan C. Sekol, Dmitriy Bruder, Shaomao Xu, Jin Liu
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Publication number: 20230027323Abstract: Aspects of the disclosure include an electrode coating having a spatially varied porosity and a method of forming the same by using a porous current collector. An exemplary method can include forming a porous current collector having a bulk material and a plurality of voids. The porous current collector can be coated, infused, or otherwise saturated with an electrode coating having an active electrode material. The porous current collector and the electrode coating can be compressed in a calendering process to define the electrode film. The distribution of the plurality of voids in the porous current collector provides for regions of different calendering pressures during the calendering process. The regions of different calendering pressures leads to regions of higher and lower porosity in the resultant electrode film. In other words, an electrode film having a spatially varied porosity.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 20, 2021Publication date: January 26, 2023Inventors: Shaomao Xu, Ryan Curtis Sekol, Jin Liu, Erik Damon Huemiller, Nicholas P. Irish, Dmitriy Bruder
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Publication number: 20220069273Abstract: A method of making a calendered electrode for a battery cell comprises introducing a coated electrode having a first surface extending thereover. The coated electrode has a predetermined density of active materials for ion transport. The method further comprises selectively modifying the coated electrode by patterning the first surface to define a patterned electrode having a first portion and a second portion. After the step of selectively modifying, the method further comprises compressing the patterned electrode by calendering the first surface to provide the first portion having a first density of active materials and the second portion having a second density of active materials. The second density is greater than the first density to define the calendered electrode having a spatial variation of active material density.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 31, 2020Publication date: March 3, 2022Inventors: Erik D. Huemiller, Nicholas P. Irish, Ryan C. Sekol, Dmitrity Bruder, Shaomao Xu, Jin Liu
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Publication number: 20220069312Abstract: A method to create variable densities within battery electrodes for motor vehicles includes one more of the following: providing a current collector; applying a first layer of active electrode material on a first surface of the current collector; and calendaring the first layer of active electrode material with a first textured roller to create a textured geometry on the surface on the first layer of active electrode material, a density gradient of the first layer of active electrode material being proportional to the textured geometry.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 26, 2020Publication date: March 3, 2022Inventors: Nicholas P. Irish, Ryan C. Sekol, Dmitriy Bruder
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Patent number: 10626834Abstract: A vehicle component includes a surface that is configured to contact a fuel containing ethanol and zinc ions. A sacrificial carbon layer is disposed on the surface. The sacrificial carbon layer has a thickness of greater than or equal to about 250 nm to less than or equal to about 5 ?m. The sacrificial carbon layer includes carbon that is configured to complex and solubilize ZnO deposited on the surface, wherein the ZnO forms from the zinc ions carried by the fuel.Type: GrantFiled: April 27, 2017Date of Patent: April 21, 2020Assignee: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLCInventors: Zhongyi Liu, Michael P. Balogh, Nicholas P. Irish, Matthew T. Hamilton
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Patent number: 10573976Abstract: A functionalized adhesive and systems and methods employing the same are disclosed. The functionalized adhesive is configured to form an adhesive joint between a first substrate and a second substrate. The functionalized adhesive comprises a neat adhesive selected to have a bonding strength above a predetermined bonding threshold and a filler selectively dispersed within the neat adhesive. The filler is selected to modify electrical properties of the neat adhesive such that the functionalized adhesive is electrically conductive with a tailored resistivity and such that a resistance of the adhesive joint is greater than a resistance of the first substrate and the second substrate.Type: GrantFiled: March 6, 2018Date of Patent: February 25, 2020Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLCInventors: Bradley A. Newcomb, Xiaosong Huang, Ryan Gergely, Sean R. Wagner, Chaitanya Sankavaram, Nicholas P. Irish, Louis G. Hector, Jr.
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Publication number: 20190280397Abstract: A functionalized adhesive and systems and methods employing the same are disclosed. The functionalized adhesive is configured to form an adhesive joint between a first substrate and a second substrate. The functionalized adhesive comprises a neat adhesive selected to have a bonding strength above a predetermined bonding threshold and a filler selectively dispersed within the neat adhesive. The filler is selected to modify electrical properties of the neat adhesive such that the functionalized adhesive is electrically conductive with a tailored resistivity and such that a resistance of the adhesive joint is greater than a resistance of the first substrate and the second substrate.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 6, 2018Publication date: September 12, 2019Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLCInventors: Bradley A. Newcomb, Xiaosong Huang, Ryan Gergely, Sean R. Wagner, Chaitanya Sankavaram, Nicholas P. Irish, Louis G. Hector, JR.
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Patent number: 9903851Abstract: A vehicle includes a thermal harvesting device that is positioned adjacent a heat-generating vehicle system. The thermal harvesting device generates electricity based on a temperature differential in order to power a sensor and a wireless transmitter.Type: GrantFiled: July 29, 2015Date of Patent: February 27, 2018Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLCInventors: Nicholas P. Irish, James R. Salvador, William L. Villaire
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Patent number: 9837659Abstract: Methods for pre-lithiating negative electrodes for lithium-ion electrochemical cells (e.g., batteries) are provided. The methods include disposing a lithium metal source comprising a layer of lithium metal adjacent to a surface of a pre-fabricated negative electrode. The lithium metal source and electrode are heated (e.g., to a temperature of ?about 100° C.) to transfer a quantity of lithium to the pre-fabricated negative electrode. This lithiation process adds excess active lithium capacity that enables replacement of irreversibly lost lithium during cell formation and cell aging, thus leading to increased battery capacity and improved battery life. The methods may be batch or continuous.Type: GrantFiled: November 9, 2015Date of Patent: December 5, 2017Assignee: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLCInventors: Michael P. Balogh, Nicholas P. Irish, Nicole D. Ellison
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Publication number: 20170321645Abstract: A vehicle component includes a surface that is configured to contact a fuel containing ethanol and zinc ions. A sacrificial carbon layer is disposed on the surface. The sacrificial carbon layer has a thickness of greater than or equal to about 250 nm to less than or equal to about 5 ?m. The sacrificial carbon layer includes carbon that is configured to complex and solubilize ZnO deposited on the surface, wherein the ZnO forms from the zinc ions carried by the fuel.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 27, 2017Publication date: November 9, 2017Inventors: Zhongyi Liu, Michael P. Balogh, Nicholas P. Irish, Matthew T. Hamilton
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Publication number: 20170282859Abstract: Systems and methods disclosed herein include providing an on-sale vehicle, receiving an access request for the on-sale vehicle from a buyer, approving the access request, transmitting at least one authentication key, confirming an identity of the buyer, initiating a test drive, monitoring the test drive, and completing a transaction upon conclusion of the test drive including revoking the at least one authentication key in response to the buyer not purchasing the on-sale vehicle or revoking an authentication key of a prior titleholder in response to the buyer purchasing the on-sale vehicle.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 21, 2017Publication date: October 5, 2017Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLCInventors: Donald K. Grimm, Paul H. Pebbles, Robert Miles, Ramie Phillips, III, Travis J. Ryan, Xi Ju, Pavan K. Namineni, Christopher L. Oesterling, Anil Bika, Nicholas P. Irish, John A. Cafeo, James Lemieux
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Patent number: 9775252Abstract: A method of soldering a shape memory alloy (SMA) element to a component includes positioning a tinned end of the SMA element with respect to a surface of the component, and then directly soldering the tinned end to the surface using solder material having a low liquidus temperature of 500° F. or less when an oxide layer is not present on the SMA element. The end may be soldered using lead-based solder material at a higher temperature when an oxide layer is present. The end may be tinned with flux material containing phosphoric acid or tin fluoride prior to soldering the SMA element. The SMA element may be submersed in an acid bath to remove the oxide layer. The solder material may contain tin and silver, antimony, or zinc, or other materials sufficient for achieving the low liquidus temperature. Heat penetrating the SMA element is controlled to protect shape memory abilities.Type: GrantFiled: November 3, 2015Date of Patent: September 26, 2017Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLCInventors: Nicholas W Pinto, IV, Nancy L. Johnson, Nicholas P. Irish, Michael P. Balogh, Daad B Haddad
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Publication number: 20170127532Abstract: A method of soldering a shape memory alloy (SMA) element to a component includes positioning a tinned end of the SMA element with respect to a surface of the component, and then directly soldering the tinned end to the surface using solder material having a low liquidus temperature of 500° F. or less when an oxide layer is not present on the SMA element. The end may be soldered using lead-based solder material at a higher temperature when an oxide layer is present. The end may be tinned with flux material containing phosphoric acid or tin fluoride prior to soldering the SMA element. The SMA element may be submersed in an acid bath to remove the oxide layer. The solder material may contain tin and silver, antimony, or zinc, or other materials sufficient for achieving the low liquidus temperature. Heat penetrating the SMA element is controlled to protect shape memory abilities.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 3, 2015Publication date: May 4, 2017Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLCInventors: Nicholas W. Pinto, IV, Nancy L. Johnson, Nicholas P. Irish, Michael P. Balogh, Daad B. Haddad
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Publication number: 20160181594Abstract: Methods for pre-lithiating negative electrodes for lithium-ion electrochemical cells (e.g., batteries) are provided. The methods include disposing a lithium metal source comprising a layer of lithium metal adjacent to a surface of a pre-fabricated negative electrode. The lithium metal source and electrode are heated (e.g., to a temperature of ?about 100° C.) to transfer a quantity of lithium to the pre-fabricated negative electrode. This lithiation process adds excess active lithium capacity that enables replacement of irreversibly lost lithium during cell formation and cell aging, thus leading to increased battery capacity and improved battery life. The methods may be batch or continuous.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 9, 2015Publication date: June 23, 2016Applicant: GM Global Technology Operations, LLCInventors: Michael P. Balogh, Nicholas P. Irish, Nicole D. Ellison
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Publication number: 20160031394Abstract: A vehicle includes a thermal harvesting device that is positioned adjacent a heat-generating vehicle system. The thermal harvesting device generates electricity based on a temperature differential in order to power a sensor and a wireless transmitter.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 29, 2015Publication date: February 4, 2016Inventors: NICHOLAS P. IRISH, JAMES R. SALVADOR, WILLIAM L. VILLAIRE
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Publication number: 20140242452Abstract: A lithium-ion cell has a positive electrode comprising at least one active material comprising a lithium transition metal compound in a binder comprising at least one binder material with functional groups selected from alkali and alkaline earth salts of acid groups and hydroxyl groups, amine groups, isocyanate groups, urethane groups, urea groups, amide groups, and combinations of these; a negative electrode comprising metallic lithium or a lithium host material with appropriately low operation voltage vs. metallic lithium; a nonaqueous solution of a lithium salt; and an electrically nonconductive, ion-pervious separator positioned between the electrodes.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 27, 2013Publication date: August 28, 2014Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLCInventors: Nicholas P. W. Pieczonka, Junghyun Kim, Zicheng Li, Timothy J. Fuller, Nicholas P. Irish, Bob R. Powell, JR., Ion C. Halalay
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Patent number: 8778562Abstract: A method of depositing a thin gold coating on bipolar plate substrates for use in fuel cells includes depositing a gold coating onto at least one surface of the bipolar plate substrate followed by annealing the gold coating at a temperature between about 200° C. to 500° C. The annealed gold coating has a reduced porosity in comparison with a coating which has not been annealed, and provides improved corrosion resistance to the underlying metal comprising the bipolar plate.Type: GrantFiled: June 11, 2012Date of Patent: July 15, 2014Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLCInventors: Michael P. Balogh, Gayatri Vyas Dadheech, Nicholas P. Irish, Misle M. Tessema, Daniel P. Miller, Mahmoud H. Abd Elhamid
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Publication number: 20130330654Abstract: A method of depositing a thin gold coating on bipolar plate substrates for use in fuel cells includes depositing a gold coating onto at least one surface of the bipolar plate substrate followed by annealing the gold coating at a temperature between about 200° C. to 500° C. The annealed gold coating has a reduced porosity in comparison with a coating which has not been annealed, and provides improved corrosion resistance to the underlying metal comprising the bipolar plate.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 11, 2012Publication date: December 12, 2013Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLCInventors: Michael P. Balogh, Gayatri Vyas Dadheech, Nicholas P. Irish, Misle M. Tessema, Daniel P. Miller, Mahmoud H. Abd Elhamid