Patents by Inventor Tomohiko Yokoyama

Tomohiko Yokoyama 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: 11901501
    Abstract: An insulating plate for a secondary battery includes a wound electrode group, an electrolyte, a cylindrical battery case that houses the electrode group and the electrolyte, and a sealing body that seals an opening of the battery case and includes a discharge valve. The insulating plate is disposed between the electrode group and the sealing body and has a disk shape with a thickness T of 0.1 mm or more. The insulating plate has a first hole formed centrally therein and at least one second hole formed around the first hole so as to extend along the outer periphery of the disk shape. The ratio (=T/D) of the thickness T to a diameter D of the insulating plate is 0.016 or less, and the insulating plate has an opening ratio of 36% or less.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 2022
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2024
    Assignees: PANASONIC HOLDINGS CORPORATION, PANASONIC ENERGY CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Takeshi Enomoto, Tomohiko Yokoyama, Yuji Yamagami, Kazutoshi Kohira
  • Publication number: 20230011365
    Abstract: An insulating plate for a secondary battery includes a wound electrode group, an electrolyte, a cylindrical battery case that houses the electrode group and the electrolyte, and a sealing body that seals an opening of the battery case and includes a discharge valve. The insulating plate is disposed between the electrode group and the sealing body and has a disk shape with a thickness T of 0.1 mm or more. The insulating plate has a first hole formed centrally therein and at least one second hole formed around the first hole so as to extend along the outer periphery of the disk shape. The ratio (=T/D) of the thickness T to a diameter D of the insulating plate is 0.016 or less, and the insulating plate has an opening ratio of 36% or less.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 20, 2022
    Publication date: January 12, 2023
    Applicants: PANASONIC HOLDINGS CORPORATION, SANYO Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Takeshi Enomoto, Tomohiko Yokoyama, Yuji Yamagami, Kazutoshi Kohira
  • Publication number: 20220416380
    Abstract: The secondary cell—includes an exterior can, a sealing body closing one end of the exterior can, an electrode group disposed inside the exterior can, and an insulating plate disposed between the sealing body and the electrode group. In the electrode group, a positive electrode and a negative electrode are wound in a spiral shape with a separator interposed between. The insulating plate is shaped as a disc having a lead hole penetrated by a positive electrode lead drawn out from the electrode group, and a center hole penetrating the center part of the insulating plate. The outer edge of the lead hole includes a curve part positioned along an arc that is concentric with respect to the outer circumference of the insulating plate as seen in plan view, and linear parts-positioned along a chord linking the two ends of the arc.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 24, 2020
    Publication date: December 29, 2022
    Applicants: SANYO Electric Co., Ltd., Panasonic Corporation
    Inventors: Shota Koyama, Tomohiko Yokoyama, Ryo Kashimura, Satoru Mihara, Ryota Okimoto
  • Patent number: 11495855
    Abstract: An insulating plate for a secondary battery includes a wound electrode group, an electrolyte, a cylindrical battery case that houses the electrode group and the electrolyte, and a sealing body that seals an opening of the battery case and includes a discharge valve. The insulating plate is disposed between the electrode group and the sealing body and has a disk shape with a thickness T of 0.1 mm or more. The insulating plate has a first hole formed centrally therein and at least one second hole formed around the first hole so as to extend along the outer periphery of the disk shape. The ratio (=T/D) of the thickness T to a diameter D of the insulating plate is 0.016 or less, and the insulating plate has an opening ratio of 36% or less.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 8, 2022
    Assignees: PANASONIC HOLDINGS CORPORATION, SANYO Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Takeshi Enomoto, Tomohiko Yokoyama, Yuji Yamagami, Kazutoshi Kohira
  • Patent number: 11145942
    Abstract: A cylindrical battery according to an embodiment of the present invention includes an electrode body, an electrolyte solution, a tubular exterior can that accommodates the electrode body and the electrolyte solution, and a sealing body that is crimped on an opening portion of the exterior can. The sealing body includes a current interrupt mechanism in which a valve member and a metal plate are joined to each other with an insulating plate that includes a circular hollow portion interposed therebetween. The metal plate includes a thin portion that has a circular shape or a C-shape. The hollow portion and the thin portion are concentric with each other when viewed from a direction perpendicular to the metal plate. D1/D2 is no less than 0.56 and no more than 1 where D1 is the diameter of the thin portion, and D2 is the diameter of the hollow portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 12, 2021
    Assignee: SANYO Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Shin Haraguchi, Kyosuke Miyata, Tomohiko Yokoyama
  • Patent number: 11069916
    Abstract: A cylindrical battery according to an embodiment of the present invention includes an electrode body, an electrolyte solution, a tubular exterior can that has a bottom and that accommodates the electrode body and the electrolyte solution, and a sealing body that seals the exterior can. The sealing body includes a valve member, an insulating plate that includes a hollow portion, and a metal plate that has a first through-hole. The insulating plate is disposed between the valve member and the metal plate. At least one of the valve member and the metal plate includes a projection that projects toward an inside of the hollow portion. The valve member and the metal plate are joined to each other at the projection. The insulating plate has a second through-hole that is formed around the hollow portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 20, 2021
    Assignee: SANYO Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Shin Haraguchi, Kyosuke Miyata, Tomohiko Yokoyama
  • Publication number: 20200313151
    Abstract: A cylindrical battery according to an embodiment of the present invention includes an electrode body, an electrolyte solution, a tubular exterior can that accommodates the electrode body and the electrolyte solution, and a sealing body that is crimped on an opening portion of the exterior can. The sealing body includes a current interrupt mechanism in which a valve member and a metal plate are joined to each other with an insulating plate that includes a circular hollow portion interposed therebetween. The metal plate includes a thin portion that has a circular shape or a C-shape. The hollow portion and the thin portion are concentric with each other when viewed from a direction perpendicular to the metal plate. D1/D2 is no less than 0.56 and no more than 1 where D1 is the diameter of the thin portion, and D2 is the diameter of the hollow portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 14, 2017
    Publication date: October 1, 2020
    Applicant: SANYO Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Shin Haraguchi, Kyosuke Miyata, Tomohiko Yokoyama
  • Publication number: 20200280027
    Abstract: A battery including an upper insulating plate disposed between a sealing body and an electrode group. The upper insulating plate has a lead hole through which a positive electrode lead penetrates and an opening portion provided at a side opposite to the lead hole with respect to a central axis O of the battery orthogonal to the sealing body. The positive electrode lead has a first curved section adjacent to the lead hole and a second curved section provided at a side opposite to the first curved section with respect to the central axis O. When a distance from the central axis O to a portion of the second curved section farthest from the central axis O is represented by L1, and when a distance from the central axis O to a part of the opening portion nearest to the central axis O is represented by L2, L2>L1 is satisfied.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 10, 2018
    Publication date: September 3, 2020
    Applicant: SANYO Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yuji Yamagami, Tomohiko Yokoyama, Kazutoshi Kohira, Shin Haraguchi
  • Patent number: 10615401
    Abstract: A cylindrical battery according to an aspect of the present invention includes an electrode assembly including a positive electrode plate and a negative electrode plate wound together via a separator, an electrolytic solution, a bottomed cylindrical housing can, and a sealing unit fixed by crimping of an open end of the housing can via a gasket. The sealing unit includes a valve member having a circular outline, a metal plate connected to a central portion of the valve member so as to be farther inside the battery than the valve member, and an annular insulating member disposed between an outer peripheral portion of the valve member and an outer peripheral portion of the metal plate. The valve member has a sloping region in which the thickness decreases or increases continuously along the radial direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 7, 2020
    Assignee: SANYO Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Naoto Kunoike, Kyosuke Miyata, Oose Okutani, Kazutoshi Kohira, Tomohiko Yokoyama, Shinya Geshi
  • Patent number: 10601002
    Abstract: A cylindrical battery in an aspect of the present invention includes an electrode body formed by winding a positive electrode plate and a negative electrode plate with a separator interposed therebetween; an electrolyte; a bottomed cylindrical outer can; and a sealing body crimped to an opening of the outer can via a gasket. The sealing body includes a valve body having an annular protrusion part, an insulating member disposed on an inner circumference of the protrusion part of the valve body and having a skirt portion, and a metal plate disposed on an inner circumference of the skirt portion of the insulating member and connected to a center portion of the valve body. The metal plate is crimped with the protrusion part of the valve body via the insulating member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 24, 2020
    Assignee: SANYO Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Shuji Sugimoto, Kyosuke Miyata, Oose Okutani, Kazutoshi Kohira, Tomohiko Yokoyama, Shinya Geshi
  • Patent number: 10541397
    Abstract: A battery includes a bottomed cylindrical case body that accommodates an electrode body and a bottom-portion insulating plate (19) that is disposed between the electrode body and a bottom portion of the case body. The bottom portion of the case body has a gas discharge port that opens when an internal pressure of the battery reaches a predetermined pressure. The bottom-portion insulating plate (19) has a through hole. An aperture ratio, which is a ratio of an area of the through hole with respect to a total area of the insulating plate, is greater than or equal to 10% and less than or equal to 40%. A Young's modulus of the bottom-portion insulating plate at 25° C. is 10 GPa or greater.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 17, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 21, 2020
    Assignee: SANYO Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Masato Fujikawa, Tomohiko Yokoyama, Keisuke Shimizu, Takeshi Enomoto
  • Publication number: 20200020897
    Abstract: An insulating plate for a secondary battery includes a wound electrode group, an electrolyte, a cylindrical battery case that houses the electrode group and the electrolyte, and a sealing body that seals an opening of the battery case and includes a discharge valve. The insulating plate is disposed between the electrode group and the sealing body and has a disk shape with a thickness T of 0.1 mm or more. The insulating plate has a first hole formed centrally therein and at least one second hole formed around the first hole so as to extend along the outer periphery of the disk shape. The ratio (=T/D) of the thickness T to a diameter D of the insulating plate is 0.016 or less, and the insulating plate has an opening ratio of 36% or less.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 25, 2019
    Publication date: January 16, 2020
    Applicants: Panasonic Corporation, SANYO Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Takeshi Enomoto, Tomohiko Yokoyama, Yuji Yamagami, Kazutoshi Kohira
  • Patent number: 10535851
    Abstract: A cylindrical lithium ion battery in which an electrode group formed by winding a positive electrode and a negative electrode is housed in a battery case is disclosed. A sealing plate seals an opening of the battery case. An insulating plate having a plurality of openings is provided on a side of the electrode group closer to the sealing plate. The plurality of openings include a first hole with a largest opening area, and a plurality of second holes with opening areas smaller than the opening area of the first hole. An opening ratio of the first hole is 12% or more and 40% or less; a sum of opening ratios of the second holes is 0.3% or more and 10% or less; and a total opening ratio of all the openings is 20% or more and 50% or less.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 14, 2020
    Assignee: PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Tomohiko Yokoyama, Yoshiyuki Muraoka, Takahiro Fukuoka, Kyosuke Miyata
  • Patent number: 10403872
    Abstract: A cylindrical battery having a sealing unit which includes at least a valve member, a metal plate disposed farther inside the battery than the valve member and having a joint portion connected to the valve member, and an annular insulating member disposed between an outer peripheral portion of the valve member and an outer peripheral portion of the metal plate. The metal plate has a groove-shaped thin portion disposed around the joint portion, and straight portions that have different angles to the normal to the metal plate are disposed on an inner peripheral side and an outer peripheral side of a cross section of the thin portion perpendicular to the longitudinal direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 3, 2019
    Assignee: SANYO Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kazutoshi Kohira, Kyosuke Miyata, Oose Okutani, Shuji Sugimoto, Tomohiko Yokoyama, Shinya Geshi
  • Publication number: 20190103625
    Abstract: A cylindrical battery according to an embodiment of the present invention includes an electrode body, an electrolyte solution, a tubular exterior can that has a bottom and that accommodates the electrode body and the electrolyte solution, and a sealing body that seals the exterior can. The sealing body includes a valve member, an insulating plate that includes a hollow portion, and a metal plate that has a first through-hole. The insulating plate is disposed between the valve member and the metal plate. At least one of the valve member and the metal plate includes a projection that projects toward an inside of the hollow portion. The valve member and the metal plate are joined to each other at the projection. The insulating plate has a second through-hole that is formed around the hollow portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 14, 2017
    Publication date: April 4, 2019
    Applicant: SANYO Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Shin Haraguchi, Kyosuke Miyata, Tomohiko Yokoyama
  • Patent number: 10164228
    Abstract: The battery is sealed by a sealing member including a safety valve for exhausting the gas generated in the battery to the outside of the battery when the pressure in the battery is increased. A part of the sealing member is formed of a member having a melting point lower than that of high-temperature gas generated in the abnormal time and having a ratio of an area of an opening of the battery case to an area of a gas exhaust hole is 3.0×10?5 or more and 9.1×10?3 or less.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2018
    Assignee: SANYO ELECTRIC CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Keisuke Shimizu, Masato Fujikawa, Tomohiko Yokoyama, Kyosuke Miyata, Koki Inoue
  • Publication number: 20180301677
    Abstract: A cylindrical lithium ion battery in which an electrode group formed by winding a positive electrode and a negative electrode is housed in a battery case is disclosed. A sealing plate seals an opening of the battery case. An insulating plate having a plurality of openings is provided on a side of the electrode group closer to the sealing plate. The plurality of openings include a first hole with a largest opening area, and a plurality of second holes with opening areas smaller than the opening area of the first hole. An opening ratio of the first hole is 12% or more and 40% or less; a sum of opening ratios of the second holes is 0.3% or more and 10% or less; and a total opening ratio of all the openings is 20% or more and 50% or less.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 20, 2018
    Publication date: October 18, 2018
    Inventors: Tomohiko YOKOYAMA, Yoshiyuki MURAOKA, Takahiro FUKUOKA, Kyosuke MIYATA
  • Patent number: 10026938
    Abstract: A cylindrical lithium ion battery in which an electrode group formed by winding a positive electrode and a negative electrode is housed in a battery case is disclosed. A sealing plate seals an opening of the battery case. An insulating plate having a plurality of openings is provided on a side of the electrode group closer to the sealing plate. The plurality of openings include a first hole with a largest opening area, and a plurality of second holes with opening areas smaller than the opening area of the first hole. An opening ratio of the first hole is 12% or more and 40% or less; a sum of opening ratios of the second holes is 0.3% or more and 10% or less; and a total opening ratio of all the openings is 20% or more and 50% or less.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 16, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 17, 2018
    Assignee: Panasonic Intellectual Property Management Co, Ltd.
    Inventors: Tomohiko Yokoyama, Yoshiyuki Muraoka, Takahiro Fukuoka, Kyosuke Miyata
  • Publication number: 20180062124
    Abstract: A cylindrical battery having a sealing unit which includes at least a valve member, a metal plate disposed farther inside the battery than the valve member and having a joint portion connected to the valve member, and an annular insulating member disposed between an outer peripheral portion of the valve member and an outer peripheral portion of the metal plate. The metal plate has a groove-shaped thin portion disposed around the joint portion, and straight portions that have different angles to the normal to the metal plate are disposed on an inner peripheral side and an outer peripheral side of a cross section of the thin portion perpendicular to the longitudinal direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 10, 2016
    Publication date: March 1, 2018
    Applicant: SANYO ELECTRIC CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Kazutoshi Kohira, Kyosuke Miyata, Oose Okutani, Shuji Sugimoto, Tomohiko Yokoyama, Shinya Geshi
  • Publication number: 20180053924
    Abstract: The battery is sealed by a sealing member including a safety valve for exhausting the gas generated in the battery to the outside of the battery when the pressure in the battery is increased. A part of the sealing member is formed of a member having a melting point lower than that of high-temperature gas generated in the abnormal time and having a ratio of an area of an opening of the battery case to an area of a gas exhaust hole is 3.0×10?5 or more and 9.1×10?3 or less.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 27, 2017
    Publication date: February 22, 2018
    Inventors: Keisuke SHIMIZU, Masato FUJIKAWA, Tomohiko YOKOYAMA, Kyosuke MIYATA, Koki INOUE