Patents by Inventor Richard M. Mank

Richard M. Mank 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: 10847846
    Abstract: Methods and systems for detecting and compensating for expansion of rechargeable batteries over time. An expansion detector may be coupled to or positioned proximate a rechargeable battery to monitor for expansion thereof. After expansion exceeding a selected threshold is detected, the expansion detector may report the expansion to an associated processing unit. The processing unit may undertake to arrest further rechargeable battery expansion by modifying or changing one or more characteristics of charging and/or discharging circuitry coupled to the rechargeable battery. For example, the processing unit may charge the rechargeable battery at a lower rate or with reduced voltage after detecting expansion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 24, 2020
    Assignee: APPLE INC.
    Inventors: Daniel W. Jarvis, David M. DeMuro, Hongli Dai, Julian Malinski, Julien Marcil, Meng Chi Lee, Richard Hung Minh Dinh, Rishabh Bhargava, Steven D. Sterz, Richard M. Mank, Soundarajan Manthiri, Vijayasekaran Boovaragavan
  • Patent number: 10749155
    Abstract: A battery cell compartment is formed with the device enclosure of an electronic device. Bare cell stacks are placed within the cell compartment. The resulting battery powers the electronic device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 16, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 18, 2020
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Bookeun Oh, Richard M. Mank
  • Publication number: 20200243826
    Abstract: Cell stacks are presented that include binders for wet and dry lamination processes. The cell stacks, when laminated, produce battery cells (or portions thereof). The cell stacks include a cathode having a cathode active material disposed on a cathode current collector. The cell stacks also include an anode having an anode active material disposed on an anode current collector. The anode is oriented towards the cathode such that the anode active material faces the cathode active material. A separator is disposed between the cathode active material and the anode active material and comprising a binder comprising a PVdF-HFP copolymer. In certain instances, an electrolyte fluid is in contact with the separator. Methods of laminating the cell stacks are also presented.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 13, 2020
    Publication date: July 30, 2020
    Inventors: Mikyong Yoo, Richard M. Mank, Bookeun Oh
  • Patent number: 10727492
    Abstract: Exemplary energy storage devices, battery cells, and batteries of the present technology may include a cathode active material disposed on a cathode current collector. The devices may also include an anode active material disposed on an anode current collector. At least one current collector of the cathode current collector or the anode current collector may include a continuous layer of a carbon-containing material positioned between the current collector and the active material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 28, 2020
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Vijayasekaran Boovaragavan, Richard M. Mank
  • Patent number: 10665840
    Abstract: Cell stacks are presented that include binders for wet and dry lamination processes. The cell stacks, when laminated, produce battery cells (or portions thereof). The cell stacks include a cathode having a cathode active material disposed on a cathode current collector. The cell stacks also include an anode having an anode active material disposed on an anode current collector. The anode is oriented towards the cathode such that the anode active material faces the cathode active material. A separator is disposed between the cathode active material and the anode active material and comprising a binder comprising a PVdF-HFP copolymer. In certain instances, an electrolyte fluid is in contact with the separator. Methods of laminating the cell stacks are also presented.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 26, 2020
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Mikyong Yoo, Richard M. Mank, Bookeun Oh
  • Publication number: 20200161635
    Abstract: An anode active material comprises a silicon-carbon secondary particle comprising a composite having an exterior conformal carbon coating and formed of type I primary particles. Each type I primary particle comprises a core particle of interconnected silicon, the interconnected silicon formed of nano-sized silicon particles each connected to at least one other particle, inner pores internal to the core particle and defined by the interconnected silicon, an internal carbon coating on internal wall surfaces of the inner pores and a conformal carbon coating on the core particle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 18, 2019
    Publication date: May 21, 2020
    Inventors: Zuqin Liu, Richard M. Mank, Hyea Kim, Hongli Dai, Sunho Kang, Ji-Guang Zhang, Ran Yi, Qiuyan Li, Xiaolin Li, Wu Xu, Rajankumar L. Patel, Hyung-Seok Lim, Chongmin Wang, Langli Luo, Yang He
  • Patent number: 10468900
    Abstract: The disclosed embodiments provide a system that manages use of a battery corresponding to a high-voltage lithium-polymer battery in a portable electronic device. During operation, the system monitors a cycle number of the battery during use of the battery with the portable electronic device, wherein the cycle number corresponds to a number of charge-discharge cycles of the battery. If the cycle number exceeds one or more cycle number thresholds, the system modifies a charging technique for the battery to manage swelling in the battery and use of the battery with the portable electronic device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 5, 2019
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Hongli Dai, Richard M. Mank
  • Publication number: 20190312300
    Abstract: Energy storage devices, battery cells, and batteries may include a battery cell component that may be or include a ceramic layer produced by methods including admixing a ceramic with a water-soluble dispersant to form a first mixture. The methods may include admixing an organic polymeric dispersant with the first mixture to form a second mixture. The methods may include admixing a binder with the second mixture to form a slurry. The methods may also include depositing the slurry on a substrate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 10, 2018
    Publication date: October 10, 2019
    Applicant: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Lin Ma, Mikyong Yoo, Richard M. Mank
  • Publication number: 20190305354
    Abstract: The disclosed embodiments provide a battery cell which includes a set of jelly rolls enclosed in a pouch. Each jelly roll includes layers which are wound together, including a cathode with an active coating, a separator, and an anode with an active coating. The battery cell also includes a first set of conductive tabs and a second set of conductive tabs. Each of the first set of conductive tabs is coupled to the cathode of one of the jelly rolls, and each of the second set of conductive tabs is coupled to the anode of one of the jelly rolls. At least one of the first set and one of the second set of conductive tabs extend through seals in the pouch to provide terminals for the battery cell.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 17, 2019
    Publication date: October 3, 2019
    Inventors: Ramesh C. Bhardwaj, Taisup Hwang, Richard M. Mank
  • Patent number: 10367224
    Abstract: The disclosed embodiments provide a battery cell which includes a set of jelly rolls enclosed in a pouch. Each jelly roll includes layers which are wound together, including a cathode with an active coating, a separator, and an anode with an active coating. The battery cell also includes a first set of conductive tabs and a second set of conductive tabs. Each of the first set of conductive tabs is coupled to the cathode of one of the jelly rolls, and each of the second set of conductive tabs is coupled to the anode of one of the jelly rolls. At least one of the first set and one of the second set of conductive tabs extend through seals in the pouch to provide terminals for the battery cell.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 30, 2019
    Assignee: Apple Inc. Cupertino
    Inventors: Ramesh C. Bhardwaj, Taisup Hwang, Richard M. Mank
  • Publication number: 20190221810
    Abstract: Cell stacks are presented that include binders for wet and dry lamination processes. The cell stacks, when laminated, produce battery cells (or portions thereof). The cell stacks include a cathode having a cathode active material disposed on a cathode current collector. The cell stacks also include an anode having an anode active material disposed on an anode current collector. The anode is oriented towards the cathode such that the anode active material faces the cathode active material. A separator is disposed between the cathode active material and the anode active material and comprising a binder comprising a PVdF-HFP copolymer. In certain instances, an electrolyte fluid is in contact with the separator. Methods of laminating the cell stacks are also presented.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 28, 2018
    Publication date: July 18, 2019
    Inventors: Mikyong Yoo, Richard M. Mank, Bookeun Oh
  • Publication number: 20190148692
    Abstract: Energy storage devices, battery cells, and batteries may include a battery cell component produced by methods including depositing a first separator layer over an electrode material, where the first separator layer includes a ceramic material. The methods may include depositing a second separator layer over the first separator layer, where the second separator layer includes an adhesive material. The methods may also include drying the second separator layer to form the battery cell component.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 28, 2018
    Publication date: May 16, 2019
    Applicant: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Mikyong Yoo, Richard M. Mank
  • Patent number: 10217977
    Abstract: The disclosed embodiments provide a battery pack for use with a portable electronic device. The battery pack includes a first set of cells with different capacities electrically coupled in a parallel configuration. Cells within the first set of cells may also have different thicknesses and/or dimensions. The first set of cells is arranged within the battery pack to facilitate efficient use of space within a portable electronic device. For example, the first set of cells may be arranged to accommodate components in the portable electronic device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 26, 2019
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Ramesh C. Bhardwaj, Taisup Hwang, Richard M. Mank
  • Publication number: 20190044178
    Abstract: Energy storage devices, battery cells, and batteries may include a cathode including a cathode current collector having a cathode active material disposed thereon. The devices may include an anode including an anode current collector having an anode active material disposed thereon. The devices may also include a separator positioned between the cathode active material and the anode active material. The separator may include a polymeric base, an intermediate layer, and an adhesive layer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 18, 2018
    Publication date: February 7, 2019
    Applicant: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Mikyong Yoo, Richard M. Mank
  • Patent number: 10141600
    Abstract: A battery assembly can be formed on a base layer provided on a substrate, with a thin film battery stack including an anode layer, a cathode layer, and an electrolyte layer between the anode and cathode layers. The thin film battery stack can be attached to a pattern film layer with holes for electrical connection to the anode and cathode layers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2018
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Lili Huang, Richard M Mank
  • Publication number: 20180309155
    Abstract: A battery assembly can be formed on a base layer provided on a substrate, with a thin film battery stack including an anode layer, a cathode layer, and an electrolyte layer between the anode and cathode layers. The thin film battery stack can be attached to a pattern film layer with holes for electrical connection to the anode and cathode layers.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 23, 2018
    Publication date: October 25, 2018
    Inventors: Lili Huang, Richard M. Mank
  • Patent number: 10074838
    Abstract: Cell stacks are presented that include binders for wet and dry lamination processes. The cell stacks, when laminated, produce battery cells (or portions thereof). The cell stacks include a cathode having a cathode active material disposed on a cathode current collector. The cell stacks also include an anode having an anode active material disposed on an anode current collector. The anode is oriented towards the cathode such that the anode active material faces the cathode active material. A separator is disposed between the cathode active material and the anode active material and comprising a binder comprising a PVdF-HFP copolymer. In certain instances, an electrolyte fluid is in contact with the separator. Methods of laminating the cell stacks are also presented.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 9, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 11, 2018
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Mikyong Yoo, Richard M. Mank, Bookeun Oh
  • Publication number: 20180159183
    Abstract: Methods and systems for detecting and compensating for expansion of rechargeable batteries over time. An expansion detector may be coupled to or positioned proximate a rechargeable battery to monitor for expansion thereof. After expansion exceeding a selected threshold is detected, the expansion detector may report the expansion to an associated processing unit. The processing unit may undertake to arrest further rechargeable battery expansion by modifying or changing one or more characteristics of charging and/or discharging circuitry coupled to the rechargeable battery. For example, the processing unit may charge the rechargeable battery at a lower rate or with reduced voltage after detecting expansion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 25, 2018
    Publication date: June 7, 2018
    Inventors: Daniel W. Jarvis, David M. DeMuro, Hongli Dai, Julian Malinski, Julien Marcil, Meng Chi Lee, Richard Hung Minh Dinh, Rishabh Bhargava, Steven D. Sterz, Richard M. Mank, Soundarajan Manthiri, Vijayasekaran Boovaragavan
  • Publication number: 20180151907
    Abstract: The disclosed embodiments provide a battery cell which includes a set of jelly rolls enclosed in a pouch. Each jelly roll includes layers which are wound together, including a cathode with an active coating, a separator, and an anode with an active coating. The battery cell also includes a first set of conductive tabs and a second set of conductive tabs. Each of the first set of conductive tabs is coupled to the cathode of one of the jelly rolls, and each of the second set of conductive tabs is coupled to the anode of one of the jelly rolls. At least one of the first set and one of the second set of conductive tabs extend through seals in the pouch to provide terminals for the battery cell.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 29, 2018
    Publication date: May 31, 2018
    Inventors: Ramesh C. Bhardwaj, Taisup Hwang, Richard M. Mank
  • Publication number: 20180109129
    Abstract: The disclosed embodiments provide a system that manages use of a battery corresponding to a high-voltage lithium-polymer battery in a portable electronic device. During operation, the system monitors a cycle number of the battery during use of the battery with the portable electronic device, wherein the cycle number corresponds to a number of charge-discharge cycles of the battery. If the cycle number exceeds one or more cycle number thresholds, the system modifies a charging technique for the battery to manage swelling in the battery and use of the battery with the portable electronic device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 12, 2017
    Publication date: April 19, 2018
    Inventors: Hongli Dai, Richard M. Mank