Patents by Inventor Viet Vu

Viet Vu 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: 8623553
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates generally to a high capacity cathode material suitable for use in a non-aqueous electrochemical cell that comprises a mixture of at least three different cathode materials, and more specifically a mixture of fluorinated carbon, an oxide of copper and an oxide of manganese. The present disclosure additionally relates to a non-aqueous electrochemical cell comprising such a cathode material and, in particular, to such a non-aqueous electrochemical cell that can deliver a higher capacity than a conventional cell, and/or that possesses an improved end-of-life indication.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 7, 2014
    Assignee: Eaglepicher Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Dong Zhang, Ernest Ndzebet, Min Qi Yang, Viet Vu, Umamaheswari Janakiraman, Mario Destephen
  • Publication number: 20130295435
    Abstract: A battery housing is comprised of a unitary, seamless base member having a generally planar, quadrilateral bottom face with a side wall extending therefrom. The length dimension of the bottom face is at least twice the height of the side wall. The base member has an open top face. The housing includes a cover which closes the open top face and is engageable with the side wall of the base. An electrically resistive sealing gasket is configured to contact the cover member and the side wall so as to provide a fluid-tight seal. The components are mechanically interlocked by crimping or hemming. The housing is specifically configured to accommodate stacking of individual batteries into power assemblies, and the geometry of the housing optimizes thermal management. Further disclosed are batteries and battery assemblies including the housing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 2, 2011
    Publication date: November 7, 2013
    Applicant: A123 SYSTEMS, INC.
    Inventor: Viet Vu
  • Patent number: 8427098
    Abstract: This disclosure generally relates to stabilizing energy provided by an energy source, and more particularly to systems and methods for using multiple types of energy storage devices to selectively capture and provide energy. An energy source provides energy, and the energy storage devices selectively capture energy provided by the energy source in excess of an immediate energy requirement of a load and selectively provide energy when the immediate energy requirement of the load exceeds the energy provided by the energy source.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 1, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2013
    Assignee: Eaglepicher Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Randy Moore, Ron Nowlin, Viet Vu, Michael Parrot, Jeff Dermott, Gregory Miller, Kevin E. Ames, Charles W. Huddleston
  • Patent number: 8252461
    Abstract: An improved cathode suitable for lithium-sulfur batteries, a battery including the cathode, and a battery including a separator containing inorganic fillers are disclosed. The cathode includes sulfur and a metal oxide and optionally includes an additional polymeric material. The metal oxide reduces dissolution of sulfur at the cathode and reduces sulfur-containing deposits on the battery anode, thereby providing a battery with relatively high energy density and good partial discharge performance. The separator also reduces unwanted diffusion of sulfur species.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 28, 2012
    Assignee: Eaglepicher Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Viet Vu, Ramanathan Thillaiyan, Mai Sayarath, Ernest Mdzebet, Umamaheswari Viswanathan
  • Publication number: 20100318234
    Abstract: This disclosure generally relates to stabilizing energy provided by an energy source, and more particularly to systems and methods for using multiple types of energy storage devices to selectively capture and provide energy. An energy source provides energy, and the energy storage devices selectively capture energy provided by the energy source in excess of an immediate energy requirement of a load and selectively provide energy when the immediate energy requirement of the load exceeds the energy provided by the energy source.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 1, 2010
    Publication date: December 16, 2010
    Applicant: EAGLEPICHER TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Randy Moore, Ron Nowlin, Viet Vu Carl, Michael Parrot, Jeff Dermott, Gregory Miller
  • Publication number: 20100308765
    Abstract: This disclosure generally relates to stabilizing energy provided by an energy source, and more particularly to systems and methods for using multiple types of energy storage devices to selectively capture and provide energy. An energy source provides energy, and the energy storage devices selectively capture energy provided by the energy source in excess of an immediate energy requirement of a load and selectively provide energy when the immediate energy requirement of the load exceeds the energy provided by the energy source.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 1, 2010
    Publication date: December 9, 2010
    Applicant: EAGLEPICHER TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Randy Moore, Ron Nowlin, Viet Vu, Michael Parrot, Jeff Dermott, Gregory Miller
  • Publication number: 20100310907
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates generally to indicating an end of life condition of an electrochemical device, and more particularly to systems and methods for sensing and determining an end of life condition in a cell comprising a high capacity cathode material suitable for use in a non-aqueous electrochemical cell. The high capacity cathode material has an amorphous or semi-crystalline form of copper manganese oxide, and optionally fluorinated carbon. The present disclosure additionally relates to transmitting the determined end of life condition to a user or monitoring device of the cell.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 5, 2010
    Publication date: December 9, 2010
    Applicant: EAGLEPICHER TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Greg Miller, William Studyvin, Michael Parrot, John C. Pugsley, Ernest Ndzebet, Min Qi Yang, Viet Vu, Umamahaswari Viswanathan, Jeremy Chi-Han Chang, Ramanathan Thillaiyan, Dong Zhang, Mario Destephen, Umamaheswari Janakiraman
  • Publication number: 20100310908
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates generally to a high capacity cathode material suitable for use in a non-aqueous electrochemical cell that comprises a mixture of at least three different cathode materials, and more specifically a mixture of fluorinated carbon, an oxide of copper and an oxide of manganese. The present disclosure additionally relates to a non-aqueous electrochemical cell comprising such a cathode material and, in particular, to such a non-aqueous electrochemical cell that can deliver a higher capacity than a conventional cell, and/or that possesses an improved end-of-life indication.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 17, 2010
    Publication date: December 9, 2010
    Applicant: EAGLEPICHER TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Dong Zhang, Ernest Ndzebet, Min Qi Yang, Viet Vu, Umamaheswari Janakiraman, Mario Destephen
  • Publication number: 20100221616
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates generally to a high capacity cathode material suitable for use in a non-aqueous electrochemical cell that comprises copper manganese oxide, which may be in amorphous or semi-crystalline form, and optionally fluorinated carbon. The present disclosure additionally relates to a non-aqueous electrochemical cell comprising such a cathode material and, in particular, to such a non-aqueous electrochemical cell that can deliver a higher capacity than conventional cell.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 9, 2009
    Publication date: September 2, 2010
    Applicant: EAGLEPICHER TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Jeremy Chi-Han Chang, Ernest Ndzebet, Viet Vu, Min Qi Yang, Umamaheswari Janakiraman, Ramanathan Thillaiyan, Dong Zhang, Mario Destephen
  • Publication number: 20090226809
    Abstract: An improved cathode suitable for lithium-sulfur batteries, a battery including the cathode, and a battery including a separator containing inorganic fillers are disclosed. The cathode includes sulfur and a metal oxide and optionally includes an additional polymeric material. The metal oxide reduces dissolution of sulfur at the cathode and reduces sulfur-containing deposits on the battery anode, thereby providing a battery with relatively high energy density and good partial discharge performance. The separator also reduces unwanted diffusion of sulfur species.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 2, 2009
    Publication date: September 10, 2009
    Applicant: EAGLEPICHER TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Viet Vu, Ramanathan Thillaiyan, Mai Sayarath, Ernest Mdzebet, Umamaheswari Viswanathan
  • Publication number: 20090081501
    Abstract: The present disclosure generally relates to an on-demand hydrogen gas generation device, suitable for use in a fuel cell, which utilizes water electrolysis, and more particularly galvanic cell corrosion, and/or a chemical hydride reaction, to produce hydrogen gas. The present disclosure additionally relates to such a device that comprises a switching mechanism that has an electrical current passing therethrough and that repeatedly and reversibly moves between a first position and a second position when exposed to pressure differential resulting from hydrogen gas generation, in order to (1) alter the rate at which hydrogen gas is generated, such that hydrogen gas is generated on an as-needed basis for a fuel cell connected thereto, and/or (2) ensure a substantially constant flow of hydrogen gas is released therefrom.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 22, 2008
    Publication date: March 26, 2009
    Applicant: ROVCAL, INC.
    Inventors: Viet Vu, Zhihong Jin, Juergen Scherer, Joseph L. Passaniti, Gregory J. Davidson, Craig Rom, Mario DeStephen, Jon Luecke, Erik Mortensen, Jamie L. Ostroha, Karthik Ramaswami, Tony Rubsam, William C. Bushong
  • Publication number: 20090078568
    Abstract: The present disclosure generally relates to an on-demand hydrogen gas generation device, suitable for use in a fuel cell, which utilizes water electrolysis, and more particularly galvanic cell corrosion, and/or a chemical hydride reaction, to produce hydrogen gas. The present disclosure additionally relates to such a device that comprises a switching mechanism that has an electrical current passing therethrough and that repeatedly and reversibly moves between a first position and a second position when exposed to pressure differential resulting from hydrogen gas generation, in order to (1) alter the rate at which hydrogen gas is generated, such that hydrogen gas is generated on an as-needed basis for a fuel cell connected thereto, and/or (2) ensure a substantially constant flow of hydrogen gas is released therefrom.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 22, 2008
    Publication date: March 26, 2009
    Applicant: ROVCAL, INC.
    Inventors: Karthik Ramaswami, Zhihong Jin, Erik Mortensen, Gregory J. Davidson, Mario DeStephen, Joseph L. Passaniti, Jon Luecke, Jamie L. Ostroha, Tony Rubsam, Juergen Scherer, Viet Vu, William C. Bushong
  • Publication number: 20090081497
    Abstract: The present disclosure generally relates to an on-demand hydrogen gas generation device, suitable for use in a fuel cell, which utilizes water electrolysis, and more particularly galvanic cell corrosion, and/or a chemical hydride reaction, to produce hydrogen gas. The present disclosure additionally relates to such a device that comprises a switching mechanism that has an electrical current passing therethrough and that repeatedly and reversibly moves between a first position and a second position when exposed to pressure differential resulting from hydrogen gas generation, in order to (1) alter the rate at which hydrogen gas is generated, such that hydrogen gas is generated on an as-needed basis for a fuel cell connected thereto, and/or (2) ensure a substantially constant flow of hydrogen gas is released therefrom.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 22, 2008
    Publication date: March 26, 2009
    Applicant: Rovcal, Inc
    Inventors: Viet Vu, Zhihong Jin, Juergen Scherer, Joseph L. Passaniti, Gregory J. Davidson, Craig Rom, Mario DeStephen, Jon Luecke, Erik Mortensen, Jamie L. Ostroha, Karthik Ramaswami, Tony Rubsam, William C. Bushong
  • Publication number: 20090042072
    Abstract: The present disclosure generally relates to an on-demand hydrogen gas generation device, suitable for use in a fuel cell, which utilizes water electrolysis, and more particularly galvanic cell corrosion, and/or a chemical hydride reaction, to produce hydrogen gas. The present disclosure additionally relates to such a device that comprises a switching mechanism that has an electrical current passing therethrough and that repeatedly and reversibly moves between a first position and a second position when exposed to pressure differential resulting from hydrogen gas generation, in order to (1) alter the rate at which hydrogen gas is generated, such that hydrogen gas is generated on an as-needed basis for a fuel cell connected thereto, and/or (2) ensure a substantially constant flow of hydrogen gas is released therefrom.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 22, 2008
    Publication date: February 12, 2009
    Applicant: Rovcal, Inc.
    Inventors: Viet Vu, Gregory J. Davidson, Craig Rom, William C. Bushong
  • Publication number: 20080090138
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a copper-manganese mixed oxide cathode material, which is suitable for use in a cathode of an electrochemical cell, and which has the formula MnxCuyOz,.nH2O, wherein the oxidation state of Cu is between about +1 and about +3, the oxidation state of Mn is between about +2 and about +7, x is equal to about 3?y, y is less than about 3, z is calculated or experimentally determined, using means known in the art, based on the values of x and y, as well as the oxidation states of Mn and Cu, and nH2O represents the surface and structural water present in the mixed oxide material. The present invention further relates to an electrochemical cell comprising an anode, a cathode, and a separator disposed between the anode and cathode, and an electrolyte in fluid communication with the anode, the cathode and the separator, wherein the cathode comprises the noted cathode material.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 23, 2007
    Publication date: April 17, 2008
    Applicant: ROVCAL, INC.
    Inventors: Viet Vu, Ernest Ndzebet, Akshaya Padhi, Deborah Gilbert, William Bushong, Karthik Ramaswami, Juergen Scherer
  • Publication number: 20070257016
    Abstract: The present disclosure generally relates to a device for dispensing a volatile active material that may be direct current (DC) (batteries, fuel cells, solar cells, and the like) powered or chemically powered. More particularly, the present disclosure relates to a battery operated insect repellant device that is easily portable and is capable of providing a sufficient vaporous stream of a volatile insecticide and/or other active agent, to protect a user. The battery operated insect repellant device is configured to operate at high efficiency such that a high percentage of battery energy input into the device is converted to heat used to volatilize the insecticide or other active agent.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 1, 2007
    Publication date: November 8, 2007
    Applicant: ROVCAL, INC.
    Inventors: Zhihong Jin, William Bushong, Gregory Davidson, Joseph Passaniti, Karthik Ramaswami, Viet Vu
  • Publication number: 20070248880
    Abstract: Alkaline electrochemical cells having extended service life and acceptable gassing and corrosion properties are disclosed. An amphoteric surfactant can be incorporated into the gelled anode mixture of an alkaline electrochemical cell, optionally with an organic phosphate ester surfactant or a sulfonic acid type organic surfactant or both. Zinc particles having a defined distribution of particle sizes can also be incorporated into a zinc anode. The electrolyte included, in the anode mixture can have a reduced hydroxide concentration.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 24, 2007
    Publication date: October 25, 2007
    Applicant: ROVCAL, INC.
    Inventors: Ernest Ndzebet, Mario Destephen, William Bushong, M. Armacanqui, Andrew Roszkowski, Viet Vu
  • Publication number: 20070211571
    Abstract: A cathode for an air recovery alkaline battery is disclosed. The cathode contains at least about 60% by weight MnO2 and at least about 2% by weight of a hydrophobic polymer; the MnO2 consists essentially of electrochemically synthesized MnO2.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 8, 2007
    Publication date: September 13, 2007
    Inventors: Alexander Kaplan, Thomas Kelly, Viet Vu
  • Publication number: 20060257728
    Abstract: The present invention relates to an electrochemical cell comprising an anode, a cathode, and a separator disposed between the anode and cathode. More particularly, the present invention relates to an electrochemical cell comprising, among other things, a separator impregnated with, and/or coated with a layer of, a clay and/or a metal sulfide additive. The present invention additionally or alternatively relates to an electrochemical cell which comprises, among other things, a self-supporting or free-standing thin film separator. The present invention additionally or alternatively relates to an electrochemical cell which comprises, among other things, a separator, wherein at least a portion thereof is covered by an adhesive material that is bonded to the container or a sealing assembly of the cell.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 15, 2006
    Publication date: November 16, 2006
    Applicant: Rovcal, Inc.
    Inventors: Erik Mortensen, Zhihong Jin, Viet Vu, William Bushong, Karathik Ramaswami, Kevin Kren, Gregory Davidson
  • Publication number: 20060183020
    Abstract: In an electrochemical cell a container houses a cathode, an anode, a separator between the cathode and the anode, a negative current collector and a sealing assembly for sealing a terminal end of the separator extending outward from between the cathode and the anode. The sealing assembly seals the terminal end of the separator between a first sealing member in sealing relationship with the first face of the separator terminal end and a second sealing member in sealing relationship with the second face of the separator terminal end. In another embodiment, the sealing assembly seals the terminal end of the separator between the sealing assembly in sealing relationship with the first face of the separator terminal end and at least one of the cathode, the anode and the container in sealing relationship with the second face of the separator terminal end.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 15, 2005
    Publication date: August 17, 2006
    Applicant: Rovcal, Inc.
    Inventors: Gregory Davidson, Viet Vu, Tom Kaufman, Karthik Ramaswami