Patents Issued in February 18, 2014
  • Patent number: 8652655
    Abstract: A compound having Formula I, Formula II, or Formula III: Ar1 may independently be phenylene, substituted phenylene, naphthylene, or substituted naphthylene. Ar2 is the same or different at each occurrence and is an aryl group. M is the same or different at each occurrence and is a conjugated moiety. T1 and T2 are independently the same or different at each occurrence and are conjugated moieties which are connected in a non-planar configuration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 18, 2014
    Assignee: E I du Pont de Nemours and Company
    Inventors: Gary A. Johansson, Eric Maurice Smith, Reid John Chesterfield, Michael Henry Howard, Jr., Kyung-Ho Park, Nora Sabina Radu, Gene M. Rossi, Frederick P. Gentry, Troy C. Gehret, Daniel David Lecloux, Adam Fennimore
  • Patent number: 8652656
    Abstract: Novel aryl silicon and aryl germanium host materials, and in particular host materials containing triphenylene and pyrene fragments, are described. These compounds improve OLED device performance when used as hosts in the emissive layer of the OLED.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 18, 2014
    Assignee: Universal Display Corporation
    Inventors: Lichang Zeng, Alexey Dyatkin, Gregg Kottas
  • Patent number: 8652657
    Abstract: Provided is an organic EL device comprising: an organic EL element including an anode 114, an organic EL layer 116, and a cathode 117; a wiring layer 106 that supplies power to the anode 114; and an organic layer 111 interposed between the anode 114 and the wiring layer 106, wherein the organic layer 111 includes (i) a first organic layer 112 including an azatriphenylene derivative and (ii) a second organic layer 113 including an amine-based compound, the first organic layer 112 being layered on the wiring layer 106, and the second organic layer 113 being layered on the first organic layer 112.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 3, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 18, 2014
    Assignee: Panasonic Corporation
    Inventors: Masaomi Shibata, Kenji Okumoto, Kouhei Koresawa
  • Patent number: 8652658
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for the production of C-plane single crystal sapphire is disclosed. The method and apparatus may use edge defined film-fed growth techniques for the production of single crystal material exhibiting low polycrystallinity and/or low dislocation density.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 2007
    Date of Patent: February 18, 2014
    Assignee: Saint-Gobain Ceramics & Plastics, Inc.
    Inventors: Vitali Tatartchenko, Christopher D. Jones, Steven Anthony Zanella, John W. Locher, Fery Pranadi
  • Patent number: 8652659
    Abstract: A glass substrate for information recording medium, said glass substrate being composed of an aluminosilicate glass containing 60-75% by mass of SiO2, 5-18% by mass of Al2O3, 3-10% by mass of Li2O, 3-15% by mass of Na2O and 0.5-8% by mass of ZrO2 relative to the entire glass components. The glass substrate for information recording medium contains neither As (arsenic) nor Sb (antimony), while containing at least one substance selected from the group consisting of SO3 (sulfurous acid), F (fluorine), Cl (chlorine), Br (bromine) and I (iodine), as a refining agent. The molar ratio of the total amount of the refining agent to the amount of Al2O3 is within the range of 0.02-0.20.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 3, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 18, 2014
    Assignee: Konica Minolta Opto, Inc.
    Inventor: Hideki Kawai
  • Patent number: 8652660
    Abstract: An aspect of the present invention relates to a glass substrate for a magnetic recording medium, which is comprised of glass with a glass transition temperature of equal to or greater than 600° C., an average coefficient of linear expansion at 100 to 300° C. of equal to or greater than 70×10?7/° C., a Young's modulus of equal to or greater than 81 GPa, a specific modulus of elasticity of equal to or greater than 30 MNm/kg, and a fracture toughness value of equal to or greater than 0.9 MPa·m1/2.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 18, 2014
    Assignee: Hoya Corporation
    Inventors: Hideki Isono, Kinobu Osakabe, Katsuyuki Iwata, Mikio Ikenishi, Naomi Matsumoto
  • Patent number: 8652661
    Abstract: A secondary battery with a protection circuit module and a manufacturing method thereof are disclosed. The secondary battery includes a bare cell, and a protection circuit board including a circuit board and a coupling member positioned at least one side in the longitudinal direction of the circuit board to couple the circuit board to the bare cell. The coupling member includes a coupler fixed to the circuit board, and first and second supports respectively extending from the coupler and spaced apart from each other in the longitudinal direction of the circuit board.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 18, 2014
    Assignee: Samsung SDI Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Bongyoung Kim
  • Patent number: 8652662
    Abstract: A battery pack comprising a battery cell coupled to a circuit module and a method of fabricating the same are disclosed. A battery pack comprises a battery cell, a circuit module coupled to the battery cell, wherein the circuit module comprises a top surface, a bottom surface, and terminals on the top surface, a lead plate comprising an extension region extending from the bottom surface of the circuit module to a top region of the battery cell to couple the battery cell to the circuit module, and a cover coupled to the circuit module and the battery cell to expose the terminals to an exterior. The lead plate includes at least a first rib protruding upward from the extension region that contacts a top surface of the battery cell.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 18, 2014
    Assignee: Samsung SDI Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Sangjoo Lee, Sangjin Park, Jongwook Yoon
  • Patent number: 8652663
    Abstract: A secondary battery includes an electrode assembly having a positive electrode tab and a negative electrode tab, a can housing the electrode assembly, a cap assembly sealing a top opening of the can, and a protective circuit module in a space between the cap assembly and the electrode assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 7, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 18, 2014
    Assignee: Samsung SDI Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Wongseong Baek, Heuisang Yoon, Sangjoo Lee
  • Patent number: 8652664
    Abstract: A fuel cell sealing plate taking-out method that may include taking out a sealing plate from a stack of sealing plates one by one while an air layer exists between adjacent sealing plates of the stack of fuel cells. A protrusion may be formed beforehand at one or more surfaces of each sealing plate. Due to the air layer existing between adjacent sealing plates, it may be possible to take out the sealing plate one by one from the stack of sealing plates.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 18, 2014
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Shiro Akiyama, Shigemitsu Nomoto
  • Patent number: 8652665
    Abstract: A fluid regulating system is provided for controlling fluid to a fluid consuming battery having a fluid consuming cell. The fluid regulating system includes a valve and an actuator for opening and closing the valve. The actuator is controlled to open the valve when greater battery electrical output is required and to close the valve when lesser battery electrical output is required to operate a device. A controller controls operation of the actuator to open and close the valve based on a monitored rate of change in electrical output, such as voltage, compared to a rate of change threshold, wherein the valve is opened when the monitored rate of change exceeds the threshold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 18, 2014
    Assignee: Eveready Battery Co. Inc.
    Inventor: Michael J. Brandon, II
  • Patent number: 8652666
    Abstract: A battery module includes a plurality of battery cells aligned in one direction, each battery cell having a vent portion, and a cover covering the vent portions of the battery cells, the cover including a gas outlet at a first end of the cover, and a top surface having a gradually decreasing slope from the first end of the cover to a second end of the cover opposite the first end.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 9, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 18, 2014
    Assignees: Samsung SDI Co., Ltd., ROBERT BOSCH GmbH
    Inventor: Myung-Chul Kim
  • Patent number: 8652667
    Abstract: A battery pack includes a bare cell; a circuit module on the bare cell and electrically connected to the bare cell; a loop antenna attached to the bare cell and electrically connected to the circuit module; and a PTC device on the loop antenna and electrically connected to the circuit module.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 18, 2014
    Assignee: Samsung SDI Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Heongsin Kim, Youngcheol Jang
  • Patent number: 8652668
    Abstract: A secondary battery with improved life characteristics is provided. The secondary battery (lithium-ion secondary battery) has: an electrode assembly including positive electrodes and negative electrodes; and a package container for housing the electrode assembly along with non-aqueous electrolyte liquid. The package container includes a package can for housing the electrode assembly and a sealing plate sealing the opening of the package can. On the sealing plate, an elevated portion is formed that projects toward the electrode assembly and has, on the side opposite from the electrode assembly, a cavity portion for storing refill non-aqueous electrolyte liquid. The elevated portion has a hole for feeding the refill non-aqueous electrolyte liquid stored in the cavity portion toward the electrode assembly. The hole is sealed with a sealing stopper formed of a resin material letting the refill non-aqueous electrolyte liquid leak toward the electrode assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 15, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 18, 2014
    Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yuki Watanabe, Naoto Nishimura, Kazuya Sakashita, Yoshihiro Tsukuda
  • Patent number: 8652669
    Abstract: A lead-acid battery comprising a container having at least one cell chamber and a lid body for covering a top opening of the container. The lid body has on a top surface a recessed portion having therein an annular portion protruding upward and having, in an area of a bottom wall inside the protruding portion, an exhaust hole for exhausting gas from the cell chamber, wherein a guide passage for guiding gas from the exhaust hole to the outside is formed by joining the protruding portion with a joining portion provided on the lid body cover. An annular groove formed between the protruding portion and the vertical wall is covered with an outer periphery of the lid body cover 5 and the guide passage is isolated from the groove.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 4, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 18, 2014
    Assignee: GS Yuasa International Ltd.
    Inventors: Yasuhide Nakayama, Eiji Hojo, Masashi Shiota, Shin Ohsaki, Shinichi Egami
  • Patent number: 8652670
    Abstract: What is provided is a battery system (1) including: a battery side control unit (40) which is generates a battery side information signal having battery information of the battery cells (2); a battery accommodation casing (3) which accommodates the battery cells (2) and the battery side control unit (40); a battery side communication unit (34) which transmits the battery side information signal; a controller side communication unit (32, 33) which generates a synthesized battery side information signal; and a controller side control unit (50) which is electrically connected to the controller side communication unit (32, 33) and generates controlling information corresponding to each battery cell inside the battery accommodation casing (3) based on the battery information and the address information included in the synthesized battery side information signal received from the controller side communication unit (34).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 18, 2014
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Ltd.
    Inventor: Masataka Uchida
  • Patent number: 8652671
    Abstract: A separator for a battery includes a porous polymer film having a first surface and a second surface opposite to the first surface, wherein the first surface has openings distributed thereon communicating with pores of the porous polymer film, and the ratio of the total area of the openings to the area of the first surface is 89% or more and 96% or less. The diameters of the openings may be within the range of 0.8 ?m or more and 40 ?m or less. A region with a predetermined thickness including at least the first surface of the porous polymer film preferably includes at least one selected from the group consisting of polypropylene, and a copolymer of propylene and another copolymerizable monomer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 18, 2014
    Assignee: Panasonic Corporation
    Inventors: Saori Tanizaki, Norihiro Yamamoto, Yasushi Nakagiri, Yasuyuki Shibano
  • Patent number: 8652672
    Abstract: An assembly includes non-load bearing housings, each housing including several cavities. Each cavity includes a stack of freely stacked electrochemical storage cells in the housings. Each electrochemical storage cell includes an anode electrode, a cathode electrode, and a separator located between the anode electrode and the cathode electrode. The assembly is configured such that pressure applied to the assembly is born by the freely stacked electrochemical storage cells.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 1, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 18, 2014
    Assignee: Aquion Energy, Inc.
    Inventors: Jay Whitacre, David Blackwood, Eric Weber, Wenzhou Yang, Eric Sheen, William Campbell, Don Humphreys, Edward Lynch-Bell
  • Patent number: 8652673
    Abstract: A solid electrolyte layer and electrode layers are formed within an electrically insulating frame part, and current collecting plates are held by the electrically insulating frame part. Since the current collecting plates are held by the frame part, the shifting or coming-apart of the current collecting plates can be restrained. In order to cause the current collecting plates to be held by the frame part, a powder of material of the electrode layer is filled in between the frame part and the current collecting plates.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 18, 2014
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Yasushi Tsuchida
  • Patent number: 8652674
    Abstract: A cathode material includes a primary active cathode material and an amount of NiS2. Primary batteries (e.g., thermal batteries) can be provided that contain such a cathode material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 16, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 18, 2014
    Assignee: Eaglepicher Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Geoffrey Swift, Charles Lamb, Jim Ferraro
  • Patent number: 8652675
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a cooling structure of a lithium ion secondary battery system. The cooling structure of a lithium ion secondary battery system according to the present invention provides cooling channels for lithium battery unit cells accommodated by a laterally partitioned arrangement of main frames, each having a heat radiation part and lattice-shaped paths, and partitioning frames, and allows air, blown by a cooling fan, to cool the lithium battery unit cells while passing through the cooling channels and the lattice-shaped paths. Each of the main frames has a pair of passage slots formed in both sides thereof to allow the air blown by the cooling fan to be directly blown to each accommodated lithium battery unit cell, thus forming each secondary cooling channel communicating with the pair of passage slots.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 3, 2007
    Date of Patent: February 18, 2014
    Assignee: SK Energy Co. Ltd.
    Inventors: Jung Sik Yun, Jeon Keun Oh, Yu Rim Do
  • Patent number: 8652676
    Abstract: The assembled battery system according to the present invention includes at least two non-aqueous electrolyte secondary cells, each including a positive electrode that occludes and emits lithium ions, a negative electrode that occludes and emits lithium ions, and a non-aqueous electrolyte comprising an electrolyte dissolved in a non-aqueous solvent, all received in a parallelepiped cell case. These cells are arranged so that each larger area side of an adjacent pair of the parallelepiped cell case faces in parallel one another. A cooling member with a cooling medium flow conduit is provided between each opposing pair of larger area cell case sides, and cooling medium flowing in this conduit directly contacts the sides of the parallelepiped cell cases that define the two opposite sides of the cooling conduit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 16, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 18, 2014
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Katsunori Nishimura, Masao Shimizu, Tadashi Yoshida
  • Patent number: 8652677
    Abstract: A rechargeable battery (1) for hand-guided electromechanical tools, having a plurality of rechargeable battery cells (10) which are electrically connected to one another by means of electrical cell connectors (110), wherein the electrical cell connectors (110) are fixed to a cell connection frame (120), which is provided on one pole side (19) of the rechargeable battery cells (10), for the purpose of simplified mounting of the electrical cell connectors (110) on the rechargeable battery cells (10). Furthermore, an electromechanical tool, in particular a cordless screwdriver, a drill, a circular saw, a jigsaw, a sander, a garden appliance, having a rechargeable battery (1) according to the invention.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 16, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 18, 2014
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventor: Wolf Matthias
  • Patent number: 8652678
    Abstract: Various embodiments are described herein for a system for providing electric power during use. The battery pack system includes at least one cell carrier assembly configured to provide electric current during use. The cell carrier assembly has a substantially planar configuration. The battery pack system further includes a battery pack enclosure for housing the at least one cell carrier assembly. The battery pack enclosure has at least one wall with at least one channel sized to receive an edge of the cell carrier assembly to locate the cell carrier assembly at a location within the battery pack enclosure and provide a thermal pathway during use.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 17, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 18, 2014
    Assignee: Vecture Inc.
    Inventor: Louis Jack Musetti
  • Patent number: 8652679
    Abstract: A rechargeable battery according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention includes: an electrode assembly including a positive electrode, a negative electrode, a separator disposed between the positive and negative electrodes and having an expanded portion protruding to the outside of the positive and negative electrodes; a fixing member including a first support contacting a first outer side of the expanded portion, a second support contacting a second outer side, facing the opposite direction of the first outer side, and a joining portion joining the first and second supports; and a terminal electrically connected with the electrode assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 18, 2014
    Assignee: Samsung SDI Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Jun-Sik Kim, Sung-Soo Kim
  • Patent number: 8652680
    Abstract: A secondary battery includes an electrode assembly including a first electrode plate, a second electrode plate, and a separator between the first electrode plate and the second electrode plate; a first collector electrically connected to the first electrode plate, the first collector including a fuse part; a case accommodating the electrode assembly and the first collector; a cap plate sealing an opening of the case and electrically connected to the first collector, the cap plate including a short circuit hole, the short circuit hole being adjacent to the fuse part; a first short circuit member in the short circuit hole; and a second short circuit member spaced apart from a top surface of the cap plate and electrically connected to the second electrode plate, at least a portion of the second short circuit overlapping the first short circuit member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 11, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 18, 2014
    Assignees: Samsung SDI Co., Ltd., Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Minyeol Han, Jeongwon Oh, Sangwon Byun, Dukjung Kim
  • Patent number: 8652681
    Abstract: Disclosed is a secondary battery, which includes: an electrode assembly; a can receiving the electrode assembly; and an insulation case provided at an upper part of the electrode assembly inside the can, where a stepped part thinner than the can is formed on an inner surface of an upper part of the can. The insulation case can be inserted to the stepped part and the cap plate can be seated on a second stepped part formed at the upper part of the stepped part and can have protrusions that contact the stepped part. The insulation case and cap plate are stably assembled to the can, thereby improving reliability of the process to weld the cap plate to the upper part of the can.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 1, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 18, 2014
    Assignee: Samsung SDI Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Hwail Uh
  • Patent number: 8652682
    Abstract: A battery capable of improving the cycle characteristics is provided. The battery includes a cathode, an anode, and an electrolytic solution. The electrolytic solution is impregnated in a separator provided between the cathode and the anode. The electrolytic solution contains an ionic compound such as (2,2-difluoromalonate oxalate)lithium borate and [bis(3,3,3-trifluoromethyl)glycolate oxalate]lithium borate as an electrolyte salt. In the ionic compound, an anion has an asymmetric structure, and a ligand having an oxygen chelate structure in the anion has a halogen as an element. In the battery, the chemical stability of the electrolytic solution is improved, compared to a battery in which the electrolytic solution contains bis(oxalate)lithium borate or the like as an electrolyte salt.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 2007
    Date of Patent: February 18, 2014
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Masayuki Ihara, Hiroyuki Yamaguchi, Tadahiko Kubota
  • Patent number: 8652683
    Abstract: A high capacity electrode includes a conducting substrate on which a plurality of support filaments are disposed. Each of the support filaments have a length substantially greater than their width and may include, for example, a carbon nano-tube (CNT), a carbon nano-fiber (CNF), and/or a nano-wire (NW). The support filaments are coated with a material, such as silicon, having a greater ion absorbing capacity greater than the neat support filaments. A trunk region of the support filaments proximate to the substrate is optionally kept free of ion absorbing material. This trunk region allows for the expansion of the ion absorbing material without detaching the support filaments form the substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 6, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 18, 2014
    Assignee: Catalyst Power Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: Ronald Anthony Rojeski
  • Patent number: 8652684
    Abstract: The invention proposes a composition comprising: a) a hydrogen-fixing alloy of formula R1-tMgtNis-zMz in which: R represents one or more elements chosen from the group comprising La, Ce, Nd and Pr; M represents one or more elements chosen from the group comprising Mn, Fe, Al, Co, Cu, Zr and Sn; 0.1?t?0.4; 3.0?s?4.3; z?0.5; b) a manganese compound in a proportion such that the mass of manganese represents from 1 to 5.5% of the mass of the alloy, c) an yttrium compound in a proportion such that the mass of yttrium represents from 0.1% to 2% of the mass of the alloy. The invention also relates to an anode comprising the composition according to the invention. The invention also relates to an alkaline electrolyte battery comprising said at least one anode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 6, 2007
    Date of Patent: February 18, 2014
    Assignee: Saft Groupe SA
    Inventors: Patrick Bernard, Bernard Knosp, Michelle Baudry
  • Patent number: 8652685
    Abstract: The invention is a process for making an electrochemical cell with a catalytic electrode including a catalyst made by a solution precipitation process via an oxidation-reduction reaction between water-soluble oxidizing and reducing agents, at least one of which includes manganese. The reaction is carried out at less than 65° C., preferably with little or no heating. The oxidizing agent does not have a cation that is reduced in the reaction, and the reducing agent does not have an anion that is reduced in the reaction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 26, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 18, 2014
    Assignee: Eveready Battery Co., Inc.
    Inventor: Jingdong Guo
  • Patent number: 8652686
    Abstract: A composite solid electrolyte includes a monolithic solid electrolyte base component that is a continuous matrix of an inorganic active metal ion conductor and a filler component used to eliminate through porosity in the solid electrolyte. In this way a solid electrolyte produced by any process that yields residual through porosity can be modified by the incorporation of a filler to form a substantially impervious composite solid electrolyte and eliminate through porosity in the base component. Methods of making the composites are also disclosed. The composites are generally useful in electrochemical cell structures such as battery cells and in particular protected active metal anodes, particularly lithium anodes, that are protected with a protective membrane architecture incorporating the composite solid electrolyte.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 18, 2014
    Assignee: PolyPlus Battery Company
    Inventors: Steven J. Visco, Lutgard C. De Jonghe, Yevgeniy S. Nimon
  • Patent number: 8652687
    Abstract: The present invention provides an electrically conductive electrode comprising particles of an electroactive material and a conductive graphene polymer binder that bonds multiple particles of the electroactive material together, wherein the binder is in an amount of from 0.01% to 90% by weight based on the total electrode weight. Also provided are (a) a precursor solution or suspension to the graphene polymer binder for the electrode; (b) a paste containing electroactive particles and a graphene polymer dispersed in a liquid; (c) a method of producing the electrode from the precursor paste; and (d) an electrochemical cell (a battery or supercapacitor) containing such an electrode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 24, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 18, 2014
    Assignee: Nanotek Instruments, Inc.
    Inventors: Aruna Zhamu, Bor Z. Jang
  • Patent number: 8652688
    Abstract: A silicon-based anode comprises an alginate-containing binder. The many carboxy groups of alginate bind to a surface of silicon, creating strong, rigid hydrogen bonds that withstand battery cycling. The alginate-containing binder provides good performance to the anode by (1) improving the capacity of the anode in comparison to other commercially-available binders, (2) improving Columbonic efficiency during charging and discharging cycles, and (3) improving stability during charging and discharging cycles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 7, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 18, 2014
    Assignees: Clemson University, Georgia Tech Research Corporation
    Inventors: Gleb Yushin, Igor Luzinov, Bogdan Zdyrko, Oleksandr Magazynskyy, Igor Kovalenko
  • Patent number: 8652689
    Abstract: An energy storage device includes a housing having an interior surface defining a volume and a plurality of solid electrolyte elements disposed in the volume. Each solid electrolyte element has a first surface that defines at least a portion of a first, cathodic chamber, and a second surface that defines a second, anodic chamber. A plurality of individual anodic chambers are thus provided, at least one of which is evacuated below atmospheric pressure. A majority of anodic chambers can be spaced from one another in a manner that provides a substantially uniform reaction rate throughout the cathodic chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 18, 2014
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Chandra Sekher Yerramalli, Anil Raj Duggal, Andrew Philip Shapiro, Mohamed Rahmane, Reza Sarrafi-Nour, Gregory John Parker, Alireza Namazifard, Badri Narayan Ramamurthi
  • Patent number: 8652690
    Abstract: Reducing an initial voltage degrades intermediate-load discharge performance. In a lithium primary battery containing iron disulfide as a positive electrode active material, a solvent of a nonaqueous electrolyte contains DIOX and DME as main components, and further contains THF. Moreover, the content of THF is 20 vol. % or lower.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 1, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 18, 2014
    Assignee: Panasonic Corporation
    Inventors: Jun Nunome, Fumio Kato, Toshiyuki Shimizu
  • Patent number: 8652691
    Abstract: A method of making a metal interconnect for an electrolytic cell stack includes oxidizing the metal interconnect prior to providing the oxidized metal interconnect into the electrolytic cell stack. A pre-oxidized metal interconnect for an electrolytic cell stack would not substantially further oxidize upon exposure to a subsequent oxidizing ambient at a temperature of at least 900° C. prior to or after being provided into the electrolytic cell stack.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 16, 2007
    Date of Patent: February 18, 2014
    Assignee: Bloom Energy Corporation
    Inventors: Martin Perry, Matthias Gottmann
  • Patent number: 8652692
    Abstract: Non-aqueous alkali metal (e.g., Li)/oxygen battery cells constructed with a protected anode that minimizes anode degradation and maximizes cathode performance by enabling the use of cathode performance enhancing solvents in the catholyte have negligible self-discharge and high deliverable capacity. In particular, protected lithium-oxygen batteries with non-aqueous catholytes have this improved performance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 22, 2006
    Date of Patent: February 18, 2014
    Assignee: PolyPlus Battery Company
    Inventors: Steven J. Visco, Yevgeniy S. Nimon, Bruce Katz
  • Patent number: 8652693
    Abstract: A reformer including a vaporization part provided with a supply port through which raw fuel is supplied, the supply port being provided at a central section of a tubular container; and reforming parts provided at both sides of the container, each reforming part containing reforming catalyst that reforms the raw fuel that flows into the reforming part from the vaporization part into fuel gas and provided with a fuel-gas supply port through which the fuel gas is discharged.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 18, 2014
    Assignee: KYOCERA Corporation
    Inventors: Mitsuhiro Nakamura, Takashi Ono
  • Patent number: 8652694
    Abstract: A water transfer assembly for use in a fuel cell system having an anode and a cathode, the anode being adapted to receive fuel and to output anode exhaust and the cathode being adapted to receive oxidant gas and to output cathode exhaust, the water transfer assembly comprising a first cooling assembly adapted to receive the cathode exhaust and to quench cool the cathode exhaust to recover a first portion of water including non-volatile contaminants from the cathode exhaust and to output cleansed cathode exhaust and the first water portion, and a second cooling assembly adapted to receive the cleansed cathode exhaust and to recover a second water portion from the cleansed cathode exhaust, the second water portion being suitable for humidifying the fuel supplied to the anode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 18, 2014
    Assignee: FuelCell Energy, Inc.
    Inventors: Fred C. Jahnke, Joseph M. Daly
  • Patent number: 8652695
    Abstract: A fuel cell system is disclosed that includes a heat exchanger having first and second heat exchanger portions arranged in a fluid flow passage. The second heat exchanger portion is arranged downstream from the first heat exchanger portion. The first and second heat exchanger portions include a coolant flow passage and are configured to transfer heat between the fluid flow and coolant flow passages. The first heat exchanger portion includes a first corrosion-resistant material and the second heat exchanger portion includes a second corrosion-resistant material that is less corrosion-resistant than the first corrosion-resistant material. A collector, which includes a tray and/or a mist trap, is configured to collect acid in the first heat exchanger portion from a gas stream in the fluid flow passage. Collected acid can be sprayed into a gas stream upstream from a flow field of the fuel cell.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 13, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 18, 2014
    Assignee: Clearedge Power Corporation
    Inventors: Kazuo Saito, John W. Kowalski, Bryan F. Dufner, Sitaram Ramaswamy
  • Patent number: 8652696
    Abstract: The present invention relates to processes and apparatuses for generating electrical power from certain non-gaseous carbonaceous feedstocks through the integration of catalytic hydromethanation technology with fuel cell technology.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 3, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 18, 2014
    Assignee: Greatpoint Energy, Inc.
    Inventor: Avinash Sirdeshpande
  • Patent number: 8652697
    Abstract: A method of controlling a fuel cell system includes applying alternating current (AC) signals to an individual fuel cell. The AC signals have a plurality of different frequencies. A voltage across the individual fuel cell is determined at each of the plurality of different frequencies. An impedance characteristic of the individual fuel cell is determined based at least in part on the voltage across the individual fuel cell at each of the plurality of different frequencies. The individual fuel cell is controlled based at least in part on the impedance characteristic.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 18, 2014
    Assignee: Bloom Energy Corporation
    Inventors: Matthias Gottmann, Patrick Muhl, Chad Pearson, James Daniel Smith
  • Patent number: 8652698
    Abstract: A fuel cell has multiple cells, the multiple cells including a first cell having a first fuel gas flow path, and a second cell having a second fuel gas flow path and a sensor that measures a specific parameter value relating to a decrease in concentration of fuel gas in the second fuel gas flow path.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 7, 2007
    Date of Patent: February 18, 2014
    Assignees: Nippon Soken, Inc., Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Hisayoshi Ota, Kazuyori Yamada, Masaru Tsunokawa, Manabu Kato, Hiroo Yoshikawa
  • Patent number: 8652699
    Abstract: This fuel cell system is for suppressing a backflow of water from an exhaust pipe outlet that discharges a reactant-off gas, without decreasing the performance and fuel consumption of a fuel cell, the exhaust pipe being configured to switch between a main discharge pipe and a sub discharge pipe by a switching means to discharge the reactant-off gas. The sub discharge pipe includes a rising gradient portion formed to incline upwards above a gradient of the main discharge pipe and a falling gradient portion formed to incline downwards at the downstream of the rising gradient portion. The switching valve switches to allow the reactant-off gas to be discharged from the main discharge pipe if an amount of reactant-off gas to be discharged is equal to or above a threshold value of an amount of discharge, and allow the reactant-off gas to be discharged from the sub discharge pipe if the amount of reactant-off gas to be discharged is below the threshold value of the amount of discharge.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 18, 2014
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Keigo Suematsu, Tomotaka Ishikawa, Yuichi Sakajo
  • Patent number: 8652700
    Abstract: A fuel cell comprises an electrolyte electrode assembly which includes an anode electrode, a cathode electrode, and an electrolyte; a separator which includes a sandwiching portion; a fuel gas channel which is formed at a first surface of the sandwiching portion, and is covered by the anode electrode; fuel gas outlets which are formed around the fuel gas channel; an oxygen-containing gas channel which is formed at a second surface of the sandwiching portion, and is covered by the cathode electrode; and oxygen-containing gas outlets which are formed around the oxygen-containing gas channel, in which the oxygen-containing gas outlets are formed at phases different from phases of the fuel gas outlets in a thickness direction of the separator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 18, 2014
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Tetsuya Ogawa, Ayatoshi Yokokawa
  • Patent number: 8652701
    Abstract: The present invention provides a fuel cell in which an electrolyte electrode assembly having an electrolyte sandwiched between an anode and a cathode is provided between separators, each of the separators including: a sandwiching section which sandwiches an electrolyte electrode assembly and includes a fuel gas channel and a separately provided oxygen-containing gas channel; a bridge which is connected to the sandwiching section and includes a reactant gas supply channel; a reactant gas supply section which is connected to the bridge and includes a reactant gas supply passage; and a connecting section that connects the sandwiching section to the bridge.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 1, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 18, 2014
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Tetsuya Ogawa, Kimiko Fujisawa, Ayatoshi Yokokawa
  • Patent number: 8652702
    Abstract: Fuel cell systems (10) and related methods for limiting fuel cell slippage are provided. A stacked plurality of adjacent fuel cells (14) collectively forming a fuel cell stack (12). The fuel cells each include a pair of first and second plates (30, 30?, 30?; 32, 32?, 32?) at respective opposite ends thereof. A first fuel cell has a first plate (30, 30?, 30?) in engagement with a second plate (32, 32?, 32?) of a second fuel cell adjacent to the first fuel cell. A slip mitigation arrangement (50, 50?, 50?) between at least one of the pairs of the first and second fuel cells comprises first and second seats (62, 62?, 62?; 64, 64?, 64?) recessed in the engagement surfaces of the first and second conductive plates respectively, and a key member (60, 60?, 60?) having opposite ends seated in the first and the second recessed seats such that relative movement between the first and the second fuel cells is limited.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 18, 2014
    Assignee: United Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: David A. Niezelski, Jeffery G. Lake, Robert A. Love, Jason Bennett Blydenburgh
  • Patent number: 8652703
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for manufacturing a metal-oxide-based ceramic, including, in order, the step of inserting, into a flash sintering device, a nanocrystalline powder comprising crystallites and crystallite agglomerates of a ceramic of formula, Zr1-xMxO2, where M is chosen from yttrium, scandium and cerium, or Ce1-xM?xO2, where M? is chosen from gadolinium, scandium, samarium and yttrium, where x lies between 0 and 0.2, the powder having an average crystallite size of between 5 and 50 nm, an average crystallite agglomerate size of between 0.5 and 20 ?m, and a specific surface area of between 20 and 100 m2/g. The invention further includes the step of flash sintering the powder by applying a pressure of between 50 and 150 MPa, at a temperature of between 850° C. and 1400° C., for a time of between 5 and 30 minutes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 16, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 18, 2014
    Assignees: Electricite de France, Universite Paul Sabatier Toulouse III
    Inventors: Mohsine Zahid, Mathilde Rieu, Claude Estournes, Pascal Lenormand, Florence Ansart
  • Patent number: 8652704
    Abstract: The direct alcohol fuel cell of the present invention is a direct alcohol fuel cell comprising an anode 20 having an anode catalyst layer 2, a cathode 30 having a cathode catalyst layer 3, and a solid polymer electrolyte membrane 1 arranged between the anode 20 and cathode 30, the direct alcohol fuel cell generating electricity by supplying the anode 20 with alcohol and water; wherein the cathode catalyst layer 3 contains a metal complex and/or a metal complex fired product formed by firing the metal complex as a catalyst.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2005
    Date of Patent: February 18, 2014
    Assignee: TDK Corporation
    Inventors: Atsushi Sano, Satoshi Maruyama