Patents by Inventor Xugang Zhang

Xugang Zhang 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: 20190273232
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides a battery pack including a housing, wherein the housing has a bottom portion and side walls extending upward around a periphery of the bottom portion; an upper portion opening is formed at top ends of the side walls extending upward; an upper cover is mounted on the upper portion opening of the housing; and the battery pack comprises: multiple flat battery cells; and a first end plate and a second end plate, wherein when the multiple battery cells are sequentially arranged and mounted into the housing from the upper portion opening, the first end plate and the second end plate are located at two end sides of the sequentially arranged multiple battery cells to laterally fix the sequentially arranged multiple battery cells. The two end plates may absorb deformation of the battery cell while expanding.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 9, 2017
    Publication date: September 5, 2019
    Inventors: Yingyao Fu, Binbin Fan, Chang Liu, Martin Wiegmann, Joerg Birkholz, Marco Jensen, Xugang Zhang, Jennifer L. Czarnecki
  • Patent number: 10347898
    Abstract: The present disclosure includes a battery module having a plurality of battery cells disposed in a housing. Each of the plurality of battery cells has a positive terminal, a negative terminal, an overcharge protection assembly, and a casing having an electrically conductive material. The overcharge protection assembly includes a vent, a first spring component, a second spring component, and an insulative component. The first spring component is coupled to the positive terminal, the second spring component is coupled to the negative terminal, the insulative component is between the first spring component and a conductive piece and between the second spring component and the conductive piece, and the vent is configured to drive the insulative component from between the first and second spring components and the conductive piece, such that the first and second spring components contact the conductive piece, when a pressure in the casing exceeds a threshold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 9, 2019
    Assignee: CPS Technology Holdings LLC
    Inventors: Xugang Zhang, Jonathan P. Lobert, Jason D. Fuhr, David R. Boone
  • Publication number: 20190165355
    Abstract: A prismatic lithium ion battery cell includes a packaging having a cover. A power assembly disposed within the packaging has a first (e.g., negative) side and a second (e.g., positive) side. A terminal pad is electrically coupled to the first side, while the cover is electrically coupled to the second side, of the power assembly. The cover includes a spiral disk feature disposed below the terminal pad and a reversal disk disposed below the spiral disk feature. The reversal disk is configured to deflect upwards to displace the spiral disk feature to contact the terminal pad in response to a pressure within the packaging being greater than a first predefined pressure threshold, forming an external short-circuit between the first and second sides of the power assembly. Subsequently, a portion of the power assembly fails in response to the external short-circuit and interrupts current flow within the power assembly.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 1, 2017
    Publication date: May 30, 2019
    Inventor: Xugang ZHANG
  • Publication number: 20190157652
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a battery module having a housing and a stack of battery cells disposed in a receptacle area of the housing, where each battery cell has a top having a battery cell terminal and a bottom, where the top of the battery cells face outwardly away from the receptacle area. The battery module includes an integrated sensing and bus bar subassembly positioned against the stack of battery cells and has a carrier, a bus bar integrated onto the carrier, and a biasing member integrated onto the carrier. The bus bar electrically couples battery cells in an electrical arrangement, and the biasing member is between the top of each battery cell and the carrier, where the biasing member has a first material, more compliant than a second material of the carrier, and the biasing member biases the stack of battery cells inwardly toward the housing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 29, 2019
    Publication date: May 23, 2019
    Inventors: Robert J. Mack, Richard M. DeKeuster, Jennifer L. Czarnecki, Ken Nakayama, Matthew R. Tyler, Christopher M. Bonin, Xugang Zhang, Dale B. Trester, Jason D. Fuhr
  • Patent number: 10199695
    Abstract: A battery module includes a battery module housing, a heat exchanger including a plurality of fins disposed in the housing, a first lithium ion battery cell and a second lithium ion battery cell disposed within the battery module housing. The first lithium ion battery cell and the second lithium ion battery cell are separated by a fin of the plurality of fins. The module includes a temperature sensing component coupled to the fin separating the first and second battery cells. Filler material is disposed within the housing and between the battery cells and the fins to mechanically restrain the battery cells within the battery module housing. The filler materials conduct thermal energy between the battery cells and the fin. The filler material covers a free end of the fin and the temperature sensing component. The temperature sensing component is coupled to a conductor extending out of the filler material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 21, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2019
    Assignee: Johnson Controls Technology Company
    Inventors: Jonathan P. Lobert, Matthew R. Tyler, Xugang Zhang
  • Patent number: 10199631
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a battery module having a housing and a stack of battery cells disposed in a receptacle area of the housing, where each battery cell has a top having a battery cell terminal and a bottom, where the top of the battery cells face outwardly away from the receptacle area. The battery module includes an integrated sensing and bus bar subassembly positioned against the stack of battery cells and has a carrier, a bus bar integrated onto the carrier, and a biasing member integrated onto the carrier. The bus bar electrically couples battery cells in an electrical arrangement, and the biasing member is between the top of each battery cell and the carrier, where the biasing member has a first material, more compliant than a second material of the carrier, and the biasing member biases the stack of battery cells inwardly toward the housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2019
    Assignee: Johnson Controls Technology Company
    Inventors: Robert J. Mack, Richard M. DeKeuster, Jennifer L. Czarnecki, Ken Nakayama, Matthew R. Tyler, Christopher M. Bonin, Xugang Zhang, Dale B. Trester, Jason D. Fuhr
  • Publication number: 20180375085
    Abstract: The present disclosure includes a lithium-ion battery module that has a housing and a plurality of lithium-ion battery cells disposed in the housing. Each of the plurality of lithium-ion battery cells includes a first terminal with a first polarity, a second terminal with a second polarity opposite to the first polarity, an overcharge protection assembly, and a casing electrically coupled to the first terminal such that the casing has the first polarity, where the casing has an electrically conductive material. The lithium-ion battery module also includes a vent of the overcharge protection assembly electrically coupled to the casing and a conductive component of the overcharge protection assembly electrically coupled to the second terminal, and the vent is configured to contact the conductive component to cause a short circuit and to vent a gas from the casing into the housing when a pressure in the casing reaches a threshold value.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 25, 2018
    Publication date: December 27, 2018
    Inventors: Xugang Zhang, Jason D. Fuhr, Peter A. Selthafner, David R. Boone
  • Publication number: 20180190968
    Abstract: The present disclosure includes a battery module having a plurality of battery cells disposed in a housing. Each of the plurality of battery cells has a positive terminal, a negative terminal, an overcharge protection assembly, and a casing having an electrically conductive material. The overcharge protection assembly includes a vent, a first spring component, a second spring component, and an insulative component. The first spring component is coupled to the positive terminal, the second spring component is coupled to the negative terminal, the insulative component is between the first spring component and a conductive piece and between the second spring component and the conductive piece, and the vent is configured to drive the insulative component from between the first and second spring components and the conductive piece, such that the first and second spring components contact the conductive piece, when a pressure in the casing exceeds a threshold.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 28, 2018
    Publication date: July 5, 2018
    Inventors: Xugang Zhang, Jonathan P. Lobert, Jason D. Fuhr, David R. Boone
  • Patent number: 10008710
    Abstract: A lithium-ion battery module has a housing and a plurality of lithium-ion battery cells disposed in the housing. Each of the plurality of lithium-ion battery cells includes a first terminal with a first polarity, a second terminal with a second polarity opposite to the first polarity, an overcharge protection assembly, and a casing electrically coupled to the first terminal such that the casing has the first polarity, where the casing has an electrically conductive material. The lithium-ion battery module also includes a vent of the overcharge protection assembly electrically coupled to the casing and a conductive component of the overcharge protection assembly electrically coupled to the second terminal, and the vent is configured to contact the conductive component to cause a short circuit and to vent a gas from the casing into the housing when a pressure in the casing reaches a threshold value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 8, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 26, 2018
    Assignee: Johnson Controls Technology Company
    Inventors: Xugang Zhang, Jason D. Fuhr, Peter A. Selthafner, David R. Boone
  • Patent number: 9985271
    Abstract: The present disclosure includes a battery module having a plurality of battery cells disposed in a housing. Each of the plurality of battery cells has a positive terminal, a negative terminal, an overcharge protection assembly, and a casing having an electrically conductive material. The overcharge protection assembly includes a vent, a first spring component, a second spring component, and an insulative component. The first spring component is coupled to the positive terminal, the second spring component is coupled to the negative terminal, the insulative component is between the first spring component and a conductive piece and between the second spring component and the conductive piece, and the vent is configured to drive the insulative component from between the first and second spring components and the conductive piece, such that the first and second spring components contact the conductive piece, when a pressure in the casing exceeds a threshold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 29, 2018
    Assignee: Johnson Controls Technology Company
    Inventors: Xugang Zhang, Jonathan P. Lobert, Jason D. Fuhr, David R. Boone
  • Publication number: 20160301046
    Abstract: The present disclosure includes a battery module having a housing with a first end (having a cell receptacle region) and a second end opposite to the first end. The battery module includes a stack of electrochemical cells inserted through the cell receptacle region of the housing, disposed between the first end and the second end of the housing, and having terminal ends of all the electrochemical cells of the stack aligned in a planar area. The battery module includes a bus bar carrier disposed over the stack of electrochemical cells and within the cell receptacle region of the housing. The bus bar carrier includes bus bars disposed thereon that interface with the terminal ends. The battery module includes a layer of thermal epoxy disposed between the second end of the housing and a bottom side of the stack of electrochemical cells.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 31, 2015
    Publication date: October 13, 2016
    Inventors: Matthew R. Tyler, Xugang Zhang, Richard M. DeKeuster, Christopher M. Bonin, Dale B. Trester
  • Publication number: 20160301117
    Abstract: A battery module includes a housing having an opening and an electrochemical cell disposed in the housing. The electrochemical cell includes a first cell surface having electrode terminals and an second cell surface substantially opposite the first cell surface. The battery module also includes a heat sink integral with the housing and disposed substantially opposite the opening of the housing and a thermally conductive adhesive bonded to the second cell surface and a heat sink surface that is facing the second cell surface. The thermally conductive adhesive includes a bonding shear strength and bonding tensile strength between the electrochemical cell and the heat sink of between approximately 5 megaPascals (MPa) and 50 MPa.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 31, 2015
    Publication date: October 13, 2016
    Inventors: Matthew R. Tyler, Xugang Zhang
  • Publication number: 20160197320
    Abstract: The present disclosure includes a battery module having a group of electrically interconnected electrochemical cells, a battery module terminal configured to be coupled to a load for powering the load, and an electrical path extending between the group of electrically interconnected electrochemical cells and the battery module terminal, where the electrical path includes a bus bar bridge. The battery module also includes a housing, where the group of electrically interconnected electrochemical cells is disposed within the housing, and the housing includes a pair of extensions positioned along sides of the bus bar bridge and configured to retain the bus bar bridge and to block movement of the bus bar bridge in at least one direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 5, 2015
    Publication date: July 7, 2016
    Inventors: Robert J. Mack, Richard M. DeKeuster, Jennifer L. Czarnecki, Ken Nakayama, Matthew R. Tyler, Christopher M. Bonin, Xugang Zhang, Dale B. Trester, Jason D. Fuhr
  • Publication number: 20160197331
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a battery module having a housing and a stack of battery cells disposed in a receptacle area of the housing, where each battery cell has a top having a battery cell terminal and a bottom, where the top of the battery cells face outwardly away from the receptacle area. The battery module includes an integrated sensing and bus bar subassembly positioned against the stack of battery cells and has a carrier, a bus bar integrated onto the carrier, and a biasing member integrated onto the carrier. The bus bar electrically couples battery cells in an electrical arrangement, and the biasing member is between the top of each battery cell and the carrier, where the biasing member has a first material, more compliant than a second material of the carrier, and the biasing member biases the stack of battery cells inwardly toward the housing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 31, 2015
    Publication date: July 7, 2016
    Inventors: Robert J. Mack, Richard M. DeKeuster, Jennifer L. Czarnecki, Ken Nakayama, Matthew R. Tyler, Christopher M. Bonin, Xugang Zhang, Dale B. Trester, Jason D. Fuhr
  • Patent number: 9331314
    Abstract: An electrochemical cell includes a housing and a lid coupled to the housing. The electrochemical cell also includes a first member conductively coupled to the housing and configured to act as a first terminal for the electrochemical cell. The electrochemical cell further includes a second member electrically insulated from the lid and configured to act as a second terminal for the electrochemical cell. A first portion of the second member extends through the lid and a second portion of the second member extends in a direction generally perpendicular to the first portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 19, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 3, 2016
    Assignee: Johnson Controls—SAFT Advanced Power Solutions LLC
    Inventors: Jason Fuhr, Xugang Zhang, Gary P. Houchin-Miller, Dale B. Trester
  • Publication number: 20160049703
    Abstract: A battery module includes a battery module housing, a heat exchanger including a plurality of fins disposed in the housing, a first lithium ion battery cell and a second lithium ion battery cell disposed within the battery module housing. The first lithium ion battery cell and the second lithium ion battery cell are separated by a fin of the plurality of fins. The module includes a temperature sensing component coupled to the fin separating the first and second battery cells. Filler material is disposed within the housing and between the battery cells and the fins to mechanically restrain the battery cells within the battery module housing. The filler materials conduct thermal energy between the battery cells and the fin. The filler material covers a free end of the fin and the temperature sensing component. The temperature sensing component is coupled to a conductor extending out of the filler material.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 21, 2015
    Publication date: February 18, 2016
    Inventors: Jonathan P. Lobert, Matthew R. Tyler, Xugang Zhang
  • Publication number: 20160036032
    Abstract: The present disclosure includes a battery module having a plurality of battery cells disposed in a housing. Each of the plurality of battery cells has a positive terminal, a negative terminal, an overcharge protection assembly, and a casing having an electrically conductive material. The overcharge protection assembly includes a vent, a first spring component, a second spring component, and an insulative component. The first spring component is coupled to the positive terminal, the second spring component is coupled to the negative terminal, the insulative component is between the first spring component and a conductive piece and between the second spring component and the conductive piece, and the vent is configured to drive the insulative component from between the first and second spring components and the conductive piece, such that the first and second spring components contact the conductive piece, when a pressure in the casing exceeds a threshold.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 24, 2015
    Publication date: February 4, 2016
    Inventors: Xugang Zhang, Jonathan P. Lobert, Jason D. Fuhr, David R. Boone
  • Publication number: 20160036033
    Abstract: The present disclosure includes a lithium-ion battery module that has a housing and a plurality of lithium-ion battery cells disposed in the housing. Each of the plurality of lithium-ion battery cells includes a first terminal with a first polarity, a second terminal with a second polarity opposite to the first polarity, an overcharge protection assembly, and a casing electrically coupled to the first terminal such that the casing has the first polarity, where the casing has an electrically conductive material. The lithium-ion battery module also includes a vent of the overcharge protection assembly electrically coupled to the casing and a conductive component of the overcharge protection assembly electrically coupled to the second terminal, and the vent is configured to contact the conductive component to cause a short circuit and to vent a gas from the casing into the housing when a pressure in the casing reaches a threshold value.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 8, 2015
    Publication date: February 4, 2016
    Inventors: Xugang Zhang, Jason D. Fuhr, Peter A. Selthafner, David R. Boone
  • Patent number: 9147865
    Abstract: A battery module includes a hermetically sealed battery cell assembly. The battery cell assembly includes a housing and an electrochemical cell disposed in the housing, wherein the housing includes a fill hole configured to receive electrolyte into the battery cell assembly. The battery cell assembly also includes a seal disposed over the fill hole and ultrasonically welded to an annular portion of the housing around the fill hole.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 5, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 29, 2015
    Assignee: Johnson Controls Technology LLC
    Inventors: Jason D. Fuhr, Xugang Zhang
  • Publication number: 20150188198
    Abstract: A battery module includes a housing. The battery module also includes a cell stack disposed in the housing and including a battery cell. The battery module also includes a force gauge in mechanical communication with the cell stack and configured to measure a force generated by a swelling of the cell stack. The battery module also includes a control module configured to receive data indicative of the force and to estimate a remaining usable life of the battery module based on the data.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 19, 2014
    Publication date: July 2, 2015
    Inventors: Frederic C. Bonhomme, Xugang Zhang, David R. Boone