Patents by Inventor Shunsuke Yasui

Shunsuke Yasui 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: 20120231317
    Abstract: A battery module 100 includes a plurality of cells 10, wherein a cooling unit 20 in which a coolant is sealed is disposed in the vicinity of the cells 10, the coolant is liquid adjusted to have a viscosity within the range of 2 Pa·s to 350 Pa·s, and the cooling unit 20 includes an unsealable portion 23 which is partially unsealed to release the coolant when at least one of the cells 10 abnormally generates heat.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 20, 2011
    Publication date: September 13, 2012
    Inventors: Keisuke Shimizu, Tomohiko Yokoyama, Masato Fujikawa, Shunsuke Yasui, Daisuke Kishii
  • Publication number: 20120164490
    Abstract: The case 20 housing a plurality of cells 100 is divided, by a circuit board 30 provided at the same sides of the cells 100, into a housing space 50 housing the cells 100 and an exhaust duct 60 for releasing a gas from the vents 8a of the cells 100 to outside the case 20. The vents 8a of the cells 100 communicate with the exhaust duct 60 through openings 30a formed in the flat plate 30. The exhaust duct 60 is divided into a first space 61 and a second space 62 by a partition 40 provided between the flat plate 30 and an external plate 21 of the case 20. The first space 61 communicates with the second space 62 through holes 40a formed in the partition 40.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 21, 2010
    Publication date: June 28, 2012
    Inventors: Toshiki Itoi, Shunsuke Yasui, Hiroshi Takasaki
  • Publication number: 20120148895
    Abstract: A cooling unit 20 is provided in the vicinity of a cell 10, and includes a sealed portion 22 formed by sealing a sheet 21. An easy-to-open portion 24 is provided in part of the sealed portion 22, and the easy-to-open portion 24 is opened when the cell 10 abnormally generates heat.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 22, 2011
    Publication date: June 14, 2012
    Inventors: Masato Fujikawa, Tomohiko Yokoyama, Keisuke Shimizu, Shunsuke Yasui, Daisuke Kishii
  • Patent number: 8197962
    Abstract: In an assembled battery (2), batteries (3) are arranged in such a manner that sealing plates (13) for sealing openings of battery cases (10) face the same direction. Terminal (10) of first electrodes of the batteries (3) are connected to a first electrode connecting pieces (33) arranged near the sealing plates (13), and terminal (13) of second electrodes of the batteries (3) are connected to a second electrode connecting pieces (27) arranged near the sealing plates (13). The first electrode connecting pieces (33) are connected in parallel with each other, and the second electrode connecting pieces (27) are connected in parallel with each other. The first electrode connecting pieces (33) and the second electrode connecting pieces (27) are stacked on the sealing plates (13) with an insulating member (32) interposed therebetween.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2012
    Assignee: Panasonic Corporation
    Inventors: Toshiki Itoi, Shunsuke Yasui, Hiroshi Takasaki
  • Publication number: 20120141857
    Abstract: A battery module (300) including a unit cell and a temperature regulator (25, 26, 27, 28) for regulating the temperature of the unit cell (100) is constructed by connecting a plurality of the unit cells (100) in parallel to form an assembled battery (200), and then connecting a plurality of the assembled batteries (200) in series. The temperature regulator is located so as to regulate the temperature of at least one unit cell in each of the assembled batteries, whereby at least one of the unit cells connected in series can start to discharge. Accordingly, a current sufficient to start a vehicle or the like can be discharged early with reduced power consumption.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 2, 2011
    Publication date: June 7, 2012
    Inventors: Takuya Nakashima, Shunsuke Yasui
  • Publication number: 20120100401
    Abstract: A battery pack includes a plurality of battery modules including a plurality of cells 100 aligned and accommodated in a case, wherein a battery assembly 200 in which the plurality of cells 100 are aligned in a row is used as a unit, and the multiple ones of the battery assembly 200 are aligned in each battery module. The battery modules are a first battery module 300 in which the plurality of battery assemblies 200 are aligned in parallel and second battery modules 400A, 400B in which the plurality of battery assemblies 200 are aligned in series, and the first battery module 300 and the second battery modules 400A, 400B are combined with each other to form the battery pack.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 11, 2010
    Publication date: April 26, 2012
    Inventors: Shunsuke Yasui, Toshihiko Kurosaki, Toshiki Itoi
  • Patent number: 8110302
    Abstract: Provided is a battery pack in which the production of heat due to passage of current in a connector for connecting secondary batteries in parallel is made uniform to increase service life and reduce maintenance costs. A positive terminal connector 14 comprises a connector 14 with through-holes 18. The connector 14 is divided into two regions: a distant region which is distant from the portion connected to an external terminal; and a close region which is close to the connection portion and has the same area as the distant region. The connector 14 is formed so that the open area ratio of the distant region is greater than that of the close region. Thus, the electrical resistance of the close region can be made smaller than that of the distant region. Therefore, the production of heat due to passage of current in the close region can be suppressed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2012
    Assignee: Panasonic Corporation
    Inventors: Takuya Nakashima, Shunsuke Yasui
  • Publication number: 20120021260
    Abstract: The battery module includes a plurality of cells serving as cylindrical secondary batteries; and a temperature regulator configured to regulate a temperature of the cells, wherein the cells are aligned with their side surfaces adjacent to each other, all the cells are electrically connected to each other in series, the temperature regulator includes a heat transferring member, and a heat dissipation member, the heat transferring member includes a plurality of insertion portions inserted into space surrounded by the side surfaces of the plurality of cells, and a base portion facing lower surfaces of the cells, at least a part of the heat transferring member which faces the cells is made of an electrically insulative substance, and the cells connected to each other in series are isolated from each other by the heat transferring member in a liquid-tight manner at the side surfaces and bottom surfaces of the cells.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 11, 2010
    Publication date: January 26, 2012
    Applicant: PANASONIC CORPORATION
    Inventors: Shunsuke Yasui, Toshiki Itoi, Daisuke Kishii, Shinya Geshi, Yuji Otake
  • Patent number: 8062785
    Abstract: In a battery module including a plurality of batteries 40 stored in a housing, each of the batteries 40 includes an electrode portion 16 protruding from a battery case 5, a base 30A is arranged on a side of the electrode portions 16 so that the base 30A is in contact with the battery cases 5, and the electrode portions 16 are inserted in through holes 36 provided in the base 30A. Connection portions 320 connected to the electrode portions 16 are formed on upper surfaces of the electrode portions 16. A connection terminal 32 for connecting the batteries 40 in parallel is formed in a region on the base 30A in which the connection terminal 32 does not cover the through holes 36. The connection terminal 32 is connected to the connection portions 320 by fusible links 320A straddling the through holes 36.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 13, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2011
    Assignee: Panasonic Corporation
    Inventors: Daisuke Kishii, Naohisa Morimoto, Shunsuke Yasui, Toshiki Itoi, Shinya Geshi
  • Publication number: 20110274951
    Abstract: A battery module includes a battery unit, a housing, a lid, and a heat-absorbing member. The battery unit includes two or more battery cells. The housing includes a storage part having an open end on at least one surface, and the storage part stores the battery unit. The lid has an opened part, and covers the open end of the housing. The heat-absorbing member is provided in contact with each side surface of each battery unit, and encloses heat-absorbing agent made of liquid or gel fluid.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 23, 2010
    Publication date: November 10, 2011
    Inventors: Shunsuke Yasui, Takuya Nakashima
  • Publication number: 20110250487
    Abstract: Provided is a battery pack in which the production of heat due to passage of current in a connector for connecting secondary batteries in parallel is made uniform to increase service life and reduce maintenance costs. A positive terminal connector 14 comprises a connector 14 with through-holes 18. The connector 14 is divided into two regions: a distant region which is distant from the portion connected to an external terminal; and a close region which is close to the connection portion and has the same area as the distant region. The connector 14 is formed so that the open area ratio of the distant region is greater than that of the close region. Thus, the electrical resistance of the close region can be made smaller than that of the distant region. Therefore, the production of heat due to passage of current in the close region can be suppressed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 29, 2010
    Publication date: October 13, 2011
    Inventors: Takuya Nakashima, Shunsuke Yasui
  • Publication number: 20110212348
    Abstract: A battery module 100 includes a plurality of batteries aligned and accommodated in a housing 20, wherein each batteries has an opening portion 17 at an electrode portion 16 of the battery to release gas generated in the battery outside the battery, the housing 20 is partitioned by a circuit board 30 disposed in contact with battery cases 5 around the electrode portions 16 of the batteries into a storage portion 54 in which the batteries are stored, and an exhaust chamber 24 via which the gas released from the opening portion 17 of the electrode portion 16 is exhausted outside the housing 20, the electrode portions 16 of the batteries are connected to a connector 32 on the circuit board 30, and the opening portions 17 of the electrode portions 16 are in communication with the exhaust chamber 24 via through holes 36 in the circuit board 30.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 9, 2010
    Publication date: September 1, 2011
    Applicant: PANASONIC CORPORATION
    Inventors: Shunsuke Yasui, Hiroshi Takasaki, Toshiki Itoi, Shinya Gesgu, Daisuke Kishii
  • Publication number: 20110206970
    Abstract: The temperature adjusting unit (5) is made of a resin-molded article in which a first flat portion (73), a second flat portion (75), and a side wall portion (77) are integrally formed. A holding portion (81) and a flow path (85) are separated by the side wall portion (77). Each cell (21) is held in close contact with the holding portion (81) separated by the side wall portion (77).
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 19, 2010
    Publication date: August 25, 2011
    Inventors: Toshiki Itoi, Shunsuke Yasui, Hiroshi Takasaki
  • Publication number: 20110200856
    Abstract: The battery module includes: a plurality of batteries; a housing 50 in which the plurality of batteries are aligned and stored; and a cooling pipe 70 provided along the plurality of batteries in the housing 50, the cooling pipe 70 being filled with a cooling medium, wherein the cooling pipe 70 is made of a material which melts when the temperature of the battery reaches or exceeds a predetermined temperature.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 9, 2010
    Publication date: August 18, 2011
    Inventors: Shunsuke Yasui, Hiroshi Takasaki, Takuya Nakashima
  • Publication number: 20110195284
    Abstract: The battery module includes a plurality of battery units, a housing, a wiring board, and a lid. The battery unit is composed of one or more battery cells each having a vent mechanism. At least one surface of the housing is an open end. The housing has a plurality of storage parts partitioned by one or more partition walls. Each battery unit is stored in each storage part. The wiring board covers the open end of the housing, is disposed at the vent mechanism side of the cell, and has connection terminals connected to the battery units. The lid covers the open end of the housing and the wiring board, and has an open part. Through holes are provided on the wiring board in positions facing the battery units and in a different region from that of the connection terminals.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 10, 2009
    Publication date: August 11, 2011
    Inventors: Shunsuke Yasui, Takuya Nakashima, Yasushi Hirakawa, Jun Asakura
  • Publication number: 20110177365
    Abstract: A battery connection member 25 configured to connect a plurality of batteries 29 in parallel includes a main conductive path portion 25a and a plurality of connection terminals 25b each configured to connect the main conductive path portion 25a to one of electrodes of each battery 29. The connection terminals 25b include fuse portions 25c configured to be blown when a current equal to or higher than a predetermined value flows. When the plurality of batteries 29 are connected in parallel by the battery connection member 25, the fuse portions 25c are arranged in space between the main conductive path portion 25 and the batteries 29.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 9, 2010
    Publication date: July 21, 2011
    Inventors: Shunsuke Yasui, Hiroshi Takasaki, Toshiki Itoi
  • Publication number: 20110171504
    Abstract: A battery (3) includes a battery case (10) having an opening sealed with a sealing plate (13). The sealing plate (13) has a protrusion (13a) extending in a direction toward the outside of the battery case (10), and a ring-shaped insulator (32) is provided on an outer circumferential surface of the protrusion (13a). An inner circumferential portion (32e) of the insulator (32) is in contact with the outer circumferential surface (13b) of the protrusion (13a), and an outer circumferential portion (32d) of the insulator (32) is extended to be positioned on an opening end (10a) of the battery case (10).
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 9, 2010
    Publication date: July 14, 2011
    Inventors: Shunsuke Yasui, Toshiki Itoi, Daisuke Kishii, Shinya Geshi
  • Publication number: 20110171515
    Abstract: In an assembled battery (2), batteries (3) are arranged in such a manner that sealing plates (13) for sealing openings of battery cases (10) face the same direction. Terminal (10) of first electrodes of the batteries (3) are connected to a first electrode connecting pieces (33) arranged near the sealing plates (13), and terminal (13) of second electrodes of the batteries (3) are connected to a second electrode connecting pieces (27) arranged near the sealing plates (13). The first electrode connecting pieces (33) are connected in parallel with each other, and the second electrode connecting pieces (27) are connected in parallel with each other. The first electrode connecting pieces (33) and the second electrode connecting pieces (27) are stacked on the sealing plates (13) with an insulating member (32) interposed therebetween.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 28, 2010
    Publication date: July 14, 2011
    Inventors: Toshiki Itoi, Shunsuke Yasui, Hiroshi Takasaki
  • Publication number: 20110171505
    Abstract: In a battery module including a plurality of batteries 40 stored in a housing, each of the batteries 40 includes an electrode portion 16 protruding from a battery case 5, a base 30A is arranged on a side of the electrode portions 16 so that the base 30A is in contact with the battery cases 5, and the electrode portions 16 are inserted in through holes 36 provided in the base 30A. Connection portions 320 connected to the electrode portions 16 are formed on upper surfaces of the electrode portions 16. A connection terminal 32 for connecting the batteries 40 in parallel is formed in a region on the base 30A in which the connection terminal 32 does not cover the through holes 36. The connection terminal 32 is connected to the connection portions 320 by fusible links 320A straddling the through holes 36.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 13, 2010
    Publication date: July 14, 2011
    Inventors: Daisuke Kishll, Naohisa Morimoto, Shunsuke Yasui, Toshiki Itoi, Shinya Geshi
  • Publication number: 20110005781
    Abstract: A power apparatus of the present invention includes a main body case, a plurality of power supply elements provided inside the main body case, and a fire-extinguishing agent tank facing each of the plurality of power supply elements. An opening part for sensing heat of the power supply elements and substantially opening the fire-extinguishing agent tank is provided between the power supply elements and the fire-extinguishing agent tank facing the power supply elements, thus enabling the size to be reduced.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 6, 2009
    Publication date: January 13, 2011
    Applicant: PANASONIC CORPORATION
    Inventors: Shunsuke Yasui, Yasushi Hirakawa