Patents by Inventor Shinji Hamada

Shinji Hamada 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: 20060269839
    Abstract: A cell includes an electrode plate group which is formed by laminating a positive electrode plate and a negative electrode plate with a separator interposed between them, and includes leads protruding toward directions opposite to each other from one side of the positive electrode plate and the negative electrode plate. Collectors are joined to the leads on both sides of the electrode plate group, and include connection protrusions formed so as to protrude outside. A bag-shape battery case containing the electrode plate group is joined to the collectors such that only the connection protrusions of the collectors are protruded outside the bag-shaped battery case. A battery module is constituted by placing a plurality of the cells, connected together, into a prismatic battery case.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 7, 2006
    Publication date: November 30, 2006
    Applicants: Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd., Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Takashi Asahina, Shinsuke Fukuda, Shinji Hamada, Toyohiko Eto, Masato Onishi
  • Publication number: 20060246348
    Abstract: The battery pack uses a restraining tool capable of secure restraint despite relatively low rigidity to achieve weight and cost reductions. The battery pack is formed of a plurality of parallel arranged battery modules (2), each consisting of a plurality of cells (5) electrically connected in series and coupled together in one piece with gaps (8) formed therebetween (5, 5), each cell being formed of elements for electromotive force encased in a prismatic case. The restraining tool includes connecting members (4) extending through the gaps (8) at both ends of the parallel arranged battery modules (2) and between two given cells (5, 5).
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 21, 2004
    Publication date: November 2, 2006
    Applicants: MATSUSHITA ELECTRIC INDUSTRIAL CO., LTD., TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Shinji Hamada, Takashi Asahina, Yoshitaka Sunagawa, Toyohiko Eto
  • Patent number: 7090945
    Abstract: A cell includes an electrode plate group which is formed by laminating a positive electrode plate and a negative electrode plate with a separator interposed between them, and includes leads protruding toward directions opposite to each other from one side of the positive electrode plate and the negative electrode plate, collectors which are joined to the leads on both sides of the electrode plate group, and include connection protrusions formed so as to protrude outside, and a bag-shape battery case containing the electrode plate group joined to the collectors such that only the connection protrusions of the collectors are protruded outside. A battery module is constituted by placing a plurality of the cells in a prismatic battery case while the connection protrusions of the collectors of the cells are connected with each other, thereby making the current-carrying path between the electrode plate groups straight and short and increasing the output.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 6, 2002
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2006
    Assignees: Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd., Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Takashi Asahina, Shinsuke Fukuda, Shinji Hamada, Toyohiko Eto, Masato Onishi
  • Publication number: 20060166087
    Abstract: A secondary battery comprises a case body member of a rectangular parallelepiped shape having a plurality of housing parts each accommodating each of a plurality of electrode plate groups, and a cover member that closes an insertion opening of the case body member, through which each electrode plate group is inserted in each housing part. The case body member is made integrally of resin by injection molding. The battery case is compartmentalized into the cover member and the case body member in a direction of depth (a direction of minimum dimension) which is the smallest in dimension among a direction of width, a direction of height, and a direction of depth, which are perpendicular to one another.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 18, 2006
    Publication date: July 27, 2006
    Inventors: Yoshiaki Ogata, Shinji Hamada, Toyohiko Eto
  • Publication number: 20060127754
    Abstract: A battery pack in which adjoining battery modules are electrically connected is provided with higher reliability of connection and at lower cost than before. A battery pack comprises a plurality of battery modules each including a plurality of sealed batteries. Of the battery modules, a first connecting cell of a first battery module and a second connecting cell of a second battery module are disposed each other in adjoining relation. An external positive terminal of the first connecting cell, serving as a positive electrode, and a second side surface of the second connecting cell, serving as a negative electrode, are electrically connected with each other by a connecting member having extended parts and a plate-like part.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 13, 2005
    Publication date: June 15, 2006
    Inventors: Shinji Hamada, Toyohiko Eto
  • Patent number: 7022432
    Abstract: A prismatic sealed battery module includes: a prismatic battery case; an electrode plate group constituted by alternately layering positive and negative electrode plates with a separator arranged therebetween; and an electrolyte. The positive or negative electrode plates protruding from each end face of the electrode plate group are bonded to a collector member. A metal connector is fixed to the central part of the collector member facing the inner surface of the side end wall of the battery case. The collector member is connected, at the metal connector, to an external terminal using an externally connecting bolt.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 6, 2002
    Date of Patent: April 4, 2006
    Assignees: Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd., Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Takashi Asahina, Shinji Hamada, Shinsuke Fukuda, Toyohiko Eto
  • Publication number: 20060057461
    Abstract: A sealed battery (100) includes a power generation element (120), a battery case (110), and an external positive terminal (150) fixed to a first case wall (110a). Case side faces (110c, 110d) serve as external negative electrode portions providing an electrical connection to a negative electrode of the power generation element (120). The external positive terminal (150) has extended joint portions (155) extending in a direction perpendicular to the first case wall (110a). The extended joint portions (155) are laid to overlap from outside with and connected to the external negative electrode portions when the external positive terminal (150) of the sealed battery (100) is brought into contact with a second case wall (110b) of another sealed battery (100).
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 14, 2005
    Publication date: March 16, 2006
    Inventors: Shinji Hamada, Takashi Asahina, Toyohiko Eto
  • Publication number: 20060049799
    Abstract: A battery pack 100 has plural battery modules 110 each of which constituted with plural unit cells 120 arranged in a row. Furthermore, a spacer 130 intervenes between adjoining battery modules 110 to constitute a cooling passage 160 which makes cooling medium flow and cools down the unit cells 120. The spacer 130 is designed to flow the cooling medium in a row direction of unit cell cases 121 integrated in a battery module 110. The spacer 130 is structured such that touch area of the cooling medium and the unit cell cases 121 becomes lager as going from inlet side to outlet side of the cooling passage 160 with respect to each of the plural battery modules 110.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 6, 2005
    Publication date: March 9, 2006
    Inventors: Shinji Hamada, Toyohiko Eto, Yoshiaki Ogata
  • Patent number: 6982131
    Abstract: On the opposite end walls of a flat, prismatic battery case of a battery module where electrode terminals are attached, protruding components are formed such as to protrude further than the electrode terminals. Terminal holes are formed in the end walls in which the electrode terminals are fitted, and the thickness of the end walls of the integral battery case in the vicinity of the terminal holes is not the same on both sides of each of the terminal holes. Also, one or a plurality of vertical and horizontal ribs are formed on the end walls between the electrode terminals and the protruding components. Further, a sealing structure is included for a battery.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 6, 2000
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2006
    Assignees: Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd., Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Shinji Hamada, Izumi Yamamura, Noriyuki Fujioka, Shuhei Marukawa, Toyohiko Eto, Keiji Shukuya, Yoshiaki Ogata
  • Publication number: 20050278941
    Abstract: Packing according to the invention includes a cylinder portion which extends in a direction of an axis, and in which a diameter of a portion in one end side is increased when the packing is fitted to an object. The cylinder portion includes a fold portion which has a tortuous periphery in a cross section orthogonal to the direction of the axis.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 8, 2005
    Publication date: December 22, 2005
    Inventors: Shinji Hamada, Toyohiko Eto
  • Publication number: 20050214638
    Abstract: A prismatic battery module includes a prismatic battery case having a plurality of prismatic cell cases connected to one another through separation walls, a planar electroconductive connector forming part of the separation wall between the cell cases, an electrode plate group arranged in each cell case, and an electrolyte placed in each cell case. Lead portions of positive electrode plates and negative electrode plates of the electrode plate group are directly connected to the electroconductive connector. The prismatic battery module requires fewer connection points and provides shorter electrical communication paths, thereby reducing internal resistance.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 20, 2005
    Publication date: September 29, 2005
    Applicants: Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd., Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Takashi Asahina, Shinji Hamada, Toyohiko Eto, Shinsuke Fukuda
  • Patent number: 6946219
    Abstract: A sealed prismatic battery having a battery case made of a plurality of prismatic cell cases coupled together via partition walls, electrode plate groups, and collectors bonded to lead portions on both sides of the electrode plate groups. In at least one side wall of the battery case is formed openings at locations corresponding to the partition walls such as to open to the cell cases on both sides of the partition walls. Pairs of conductive connection plates are connected to each other through the partition walls and formed with connection pieces that face the openings. The collectors are connected together via the conductive connection plates, i.e., they are connected to the connection pieces after the electrode plate groups are encased in the cell cases, and the openings are sealed by sealing plates in a manner that separates the cell cases.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 17, 2003
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2005
    Assignees: Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd., Toyoda Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Shinji Hamada, Toyohiko Eto, Takashi Asahina
  • Patent number: 6939642
    Abstract: A prismatic battery module includes a prismatic battery case having a plurality of prismatic cell cases connected to one another through separation walls, a planar electroconductive connector forming part of the separation wall between the cell cases, an electrode plate group arranged in each cell case, and an electrolyte placed in each cell case. Lead portions of positive electrode plates and negative electrode plates of the electrode plate group are directly connected to the electroconductive connector. The prismatic battery module requires fewer connection points and provides shorter electrical communication paths, thereby reducing internal resistance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2001
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2005
    Assignees: Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd., Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Takashi Asahina, Shinji Hamada, Toyohiko Eto, Shinsuke Fukuda
  • Patent number: 6924060
    Abstract: In a prismatic sealed battery module which includes a plurality of electrode plate groups, collectors joined to leads on both sides of the electrode plate group, and a prismatic battery case for storing the plurality of electrode plate groups, a connected-electrode-plate-group body is constituted by connecting the plurality of electrode groups with collectors interposed between them. A sheet covering both side surfaces and a bottom surface of the peripheral surfaces of the connected-electrode-plate-group body is provided. After gaps between the sheet and outer edges of the collectors are sealed, the connected-electrode-plate-group body is placed in the prismatic battery case. Thereby, the current-carrying paths between the electrode plate groups are short and straight, resulting in reduced internal resistance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 6, 2002
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2005
    Assignees: Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd., Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Shinji Hamada, Takashi Asahina, Toyohiko Eto
  • Patent number: 6914414
    Abstract: In a battery pack including a plurality of prismatic rechargeable batteries arranged in parallel with ventilation spaces being provided therebetween, the battery pack is constituted so that cooling air is downwardly sent from above the battery pack through the ventilation spaces. In accordance with a temperature detected with a temperature detection sensor attached to the lower end of the rechargeable battery, a blower fan is controlled by a control section. Moreover, a sensor placement concave, which is separated from a space inside a battery case through a thin partition wall, is provided on a bottom wall of the battery case of the rechargeable battery. The temperature detection sensor is placed in the sensor placement concave so as to be pressed against the partition wall.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 2003
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2005
    Assignees: Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd., Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Shinji Hamada, Takashi Asahina, Toyohiko Eto, Ko Watanabe
  • Patent number: 6893771
    Abstract: A battery assembly includes a plurality of battery modules electrically connected together, each battery module acting as a secondary battery and including an electrode group, an electrolyte, a container for housing the electrode group and the electrolyte, and a safety valve operating in accordance with the internal pressure of the container. The working pressure of each safety valve is set so that the safety valve of at least one battery module is opened when the at least one battery module has its maximum internal pressure or less during the charge equalization. It is possible to provide a battery assembly that can improve the reliability of the container strength by keeping the working pressure of each safety valve lower than the pressure that the container resists even under elevated temperature conditions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 25, 2001
    Date of Patent: May 17, 2005
    Assignees: Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd., Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Naoto Arai, Shinji Hamada, Munehisa Ikoma, Masayoshi Iwase, Tomokazu Yamauchi
  • Patent number: 6890683
    Abstract: A sealed prismatic battery includes an electrode plate group having positive and negative electrode plates stacked upon one another with a separator interposed therebetween, collectors each connected to a lead portion on either side of the electrode plate group and having one or more connection bosses formed in a middle part thereof, and a battery case, generally rectangular in shape, for accommodating the electrode plate group connected with the collectors. The battery case has a through-hole for the connection boss of the collector to penetrate therethrough via a rubber seal. A battery module includes a plurality of the sealed prismatic batteries, the connection bosses of which are connected to each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 2003
    Date of Patent: May 10, 2005
    Assignees: Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd., Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Takashi Asahina, Shinji Hamada, Toyohiko Eto
  • Patent number: 6833010
    Abstract: A prismatic battery module employs a prismatic battery case having a single space formed by connecting a plurality of prismatic cell cases in series. Collectors are connected to the lead portions on both sides of the electrode plate group, and adjacent collectors of associated electrode plate groups are connected to each other by using an electroconductive adhesive. The electrode plate groups connected in series are disposed in the prismatic battery case. Thereafter, a sealing material is applied to each space between each of the outer peripheries of the adjacent collectors and the wall surface of the prismatic battery case to partition the plurality of cell cases from one another.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2001
    Date of Patent: December 21, 2004
    Assignees: Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd., Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Takashi Asahina, Shinji Hamada, Toyohiko Eto, Toshiyuki Sekimori
  • Publication number: 20040248002
    Abstract: A sealed battery includes a metal case which functions as a connection terminal of one polarity and an electrode post which is mounted to the case in an insulated manner and functions as a connection terminal of the other polarity. A sealing section with electrical insulation properties is disposed between the electrode post formed from a hollow cylinder with one closed end and an electrode post through-hole provided in the case. A compression deformation section is produced by deforming the closed end of the electrode post radially outward, for compressing and sealing the sealing section, and for securing the electrode post to the case.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 8, 2004
    Publication date: December 9, 2004
    Applicants: Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd., Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Takashi Asahina, Shinji Hamada, Toyohiko Eto, Shinichi Yuasa
  • Patent number: 6821673
    Abstract: In each of the cells that constitute an battery module, a plurality of positive electrode plates and negative electrode plates are layered parallel to the long lateral walls of prismatic cell cases with intervening separators therebetween, wherein lateral edge portions of the positive electrode plates protrude beyond the negative electrode plates on one side, and lateral edge portions of the negative electrode plates protrude beyond the group of positive electrode plates on the opposite side, the protruding portions forming lead portions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 12, 2000
    Date of Patent: November 23, 2004
    Assignees: Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd., Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Shinji Hamada, Hiroshi Inoue, Akihiro Taniguchi, Nobuyasu Morishita, Noriyuki Fujioka, Munehisa Ikoma, Yoshiaki Ogata