Patents Issued in July 1, 2014
  • Patent number: 8765271
    Abstract: A light-emitting element material including an ionic iridium complex in which a 4,4?-bipyrimidine structure is coordinated to iridium is provided. Alternatively, a light-emitting element material including an ionic iridium complex represented by the following structural formula (1) is provided. In addition, a light-emitting element including the light-emitting element material is provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 22, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 1, 2014
    Assignee: Semiconductor Energy Laboratory Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hideko Inoue, Satoshi Seo
  • Patent number: 8765272
    Abstract: A cermet has a hard phase which contains W and nitrogen, and includes at least one selected from a carbide, nitride and carbonitride of a metal having Ti as a main component, and a binder phase having an iron group metal as a main component. A W amount contained in the whole cermet is 5 to 40% by weight, an interfacial phase including a complex carbonitride with a larger W amount than a W amount of the hard phase being present between grains of the hard phase, and when a W amount contained in the interfacial phase based on the whole metal element is represented by Wb (atomic %), and a W amount contained in the hard phase based on the whole metal element is represented by Wh (atomic %), then, an atomic ratio of Wb to Wh (Wb/Wh) is 1.7 or more. The cermet is excellent in fracture resistance and wear resistance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 1, 2014
    Assignee: Tungaloy Corporation
    Inventors: Keitaro Tamura, Daisuke Takesawa, Hiroki Hara, Kozo Kitamura, Yasuro Taniguchi, Koji Hayashi, Akihiro Matsumoto, Sung-Pyo Cho
  • Patent number: 8765273
    Abstract: A data media may generally be configured in accordance with various embodiments with contactingly adjacent first and second heatsink layers that are tuned with a common crystallographic orientation and with different thermal conductivities to provide a predetermined thermal gradient. The data media may further be configured with a recording layer formed with the common crystallographic orientation adjacent the first and second heatsink layers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 17, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 1, 2014
    Assignee: Seagate Technology LLC
    Inventors: Yukiko Kubota, Xiaobin Zhu, Kai-Chieh Chang, Yingguo Peng, Yinfeng Ding, Timothy John Klemmer, Jan-Ulrich Thiele, Ganping Ju, Qihong Wu, Hassib Amini
  • Patent number: 8765274
    Abstract: A secondary battery and a method for making the secondary battery, which are capable of preventing separation between a metal plating layer and a flexible printed circuit board, and improving adhering force between a battery pack and the flexible printed circuit board, through a structure of a metal plating layer and protective layer of the flexible printed circuit board. The secondary battery includes an insulation layer with a first and second surface, a first line pattern layer formed on the first surface of the insulation layer, a first protective layer formed on the insulation layer and the first line pattern layer to define a first opening that exposes a portion of the first line pattern layer, and a first metal plating layer formed in the first opening. The first protective layer contacts the first line pattern layer and a side surface of the first metal plating layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 1, 2014
    Assignee: Samsung SDI Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Woojin Lee
  • Patent number: 8765275
    Abstract: An energy storage device is provided that includes a separator having a first surface and a second surface. The first surface defines at least a portion of a cathodic chamber, and the second surface defines an anodic chamber. The cathodic chamber includes an alkali metal halide that forms an ion that is capable of conducting through the separator. The anodic chamber has a volume that is filled with a consumable fluid. The amount of the consumable fluid is greater than 90 percent by volume of the anodic chamber volume. Furthermore, the consumable fluid is reactive with an ionic species of the alkali metal halide. A method of sealing the energy storage device is also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 7, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 1, 2014
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Sakethraman Mahalingam, Lembit Salasoo, Kenneth Walter Browall, Ajit Wasant Kane, Ashalatha Devarajan
  • Patent number: 8765276
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for these embodiments of the present invention, useful in manufacturing for example, includes a plurality of battery modules serially intercoupled together, each module including a housing with an anode connector and a cathode connector, each housing including a memory for storing a module identifier and wherein an anode connector of a first module is coupled to a cathode connector of a second module; and a processing system, coupled to each the module, for determining a plurality of positional attributes of each the module, one positional attribute associated with each the module of the plurality of modules, the processing system writing an ID into the memory of each particular module responsive to the associated positional attribute for the particular module.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 6, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 1, 2014
    Assignee: Tesla Motors, Inc.
    Inventors: Andrew Baglino, Philip David Cole
  • Patent number: 8765277
    Abstract: Provided is an electrochemical device which is compatible with high-temperature reflow soldering using lead-free solder. An electric double-layer capacitor 10-1 has a structure in which a positive terminal 12 and a negative terminal 13 are led out of a package 14 where an electric storage element 11 is sealed. The entire package 14 and the bases of led-out portions of the positive terminal 12 and the negative terminal 13 are covered by a thermal insulation material layer 16 having a thermal conductivity lower than that of the package 14.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 7, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 1, 2014
    Assignee: Taiyo Yuden Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kazushi Yawata, Motoki Kobayashi, Katsuei Ishida, Naoto Hagiwara
  • Patent number: 8765278
    Abstract: Disclosed herein are embodiments of lithium/air batteries and methods of making and using the same. Certain embodiments are pouch-cell batteries encased within an oxygen-permeable membrane packaging material that is less than 2% of the total battery weight. Some embodiments include a hybrid air electrode comprising carbon and an ion insertion material, wherein the mass ratio of ion insertion material to carbon is 0.2 to 0.8. The air electrode may include hydrophobic, porous fibers. In particular embodiments, the air electrode is soaked with an electrolyte comprising one or more solvents including dimethyl ether, and the dimethyl ether subsequently is evacuated from the soaked electrode. In other embodiments, the electrolyte comprises 10-20% crown ether by weight.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 4, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 1, 2014
    Assignee: Battelle Memorial Institute
    Inventors: Ji-Guang Zhang, Jie Xiao, Wu Xu, Deyu Wang, Ralph E. Williford, Jun Liu
  • Patent number: 8765279
    Abstract: A secondary battery including an electrode assembly, the electrode assembly including a first electrode plate, a separator, and a second electrode plate; a collecting plate electrically connected to the electrode assembly; a case accommodating the electrode assembly and the collecting plate; a cap plate sealing the case; and an electrode terminal passing through the cap plate and electrically connected to the collecting plate, wherein the cap plate includes an injection inlet at a side thereof, the injection inlet includes a blocking member therein, and the blocking member and the injection inlet are covered with a stopper.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 1, 2014
    Assignees: Samsung SDI Co., Ltd., Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Minhyung Guen, Dukjung Kim
  • Patent number: 8765280
    Abstract: A battery pack for use with a battery-driven power tool includes three battery cells in which two out of three are arranged horizontally in parallel to and in alignment with each other in a lower case and the remaining one battery cell is vertically arranged in an upper case. The upper case of the battery pack is inserted, in use, into a battery pack receiving space formed in the grip portion of a power tool. Therefore, the grip portion can be made thin and usability of the power tool is enhanced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 1, 2014
    Assignee: Hitachi Koki Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Takashi Ueda, Haruhisa Fujisawa, Junichi Toukairin, Hiroyuki Hanawa, Keita Saitou
  • Patent number: 8765281
    Abstract: A rechargeable battery includes an electrode assembly having a positive electrode, a negative electrode and a separator separating the positive terminal and the negative terminal. A casing includes a spatial area for receiving and holding the electrode assembly. A heat dissipating body is provided for receiving and holding the casing. A convex part of the heat dissipating body is formed supporting the electrode assembly within the heat dissipating body so that uniform pressure is applied to the entire surface of the rechargeable battery. A battery module may include multiple unit rechargeable batteries. A heat dissipating barrier may be disposed adjacent to each unit rechargeable battery and have a convex part for applying pressure to the unit rechargeable battery.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2006
    Date of Patent: July 1, 2014
    Assignee: Samsung SDI Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Yong-Sam Kim
  • Patent number: 8765282
    Abstract: A battery module includes first, second, and third stacked battery cells, the second battery cell being arranged between the first battery cell and the third battery cell. The battery module further includes a first heat transfer layer arranged between the first battery cell and the second battery cell and a second heat transfer layer arranged between the second battery cell and the third battery cell. The battery module may further include a fluid conduit coupled to the first heat transfer layer and the second heat transfer layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 1, 2014
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventor: Manfred Herrmann
  • Patent number: 8765283
    Abstract: A conductive tab includes a battery connecting part contacting a plurality of secondary batteries, a wire connecting part extended from the battery connecting part and connected to a wire, and at least one bending part formed in the battery connecting part. The bending part is coupled to the secondary battery to guide the positions of the secondary batteries. The conductive tab can be exactly welded at a predetermined position of the secondary battery, and prevents conductive tabs from closely adhering to each other during a welding process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 2, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 1, 2014
    Assignee: Samsung SDI Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Miae Um
  • Patent number: 8765284
    Abstract: A flexible battery includes a first substrate layer with a first cell portion, a second cell portion, and a bridge portion connecting the first and second cell portions. An electrical bridge electrically couples a first electrochemical cell to a second electrochemical cell in series or parallel, and an electrical bridge is flexible and extends across the bridge portion of the first substrate layer. A second substrate layer is connected to the first substrate layer such that both of the first and second electrochemical cells are separately sealed. The flexible battery is configured to be folded over itself along the bridge portion such that the first and second electrochemical cells are arranged in a covering relationship. Optionally, an open gap area is disposed over the bridge portion of the first substrate to facilitate folding the flexible battery over itself along a line extending through the bridge portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 1, 2014
    Assignee: Blue Spark Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: Gary R. Tucholski
  • Patent number: 8765285
    Abstract: A secondary battery module includes a plurality of unit cells; a first barrier located between adjacent ones of the unit cells; a second barrier located between adjacent ones of the unit cells and spaced from the first barrier; and spacers located between the first barrier and the second barrier.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 1, 2014
    Assignees: Samsung SDI Co., Ltd., Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventor: Myungchul Kim
  • Patent number: 8765286
    Abstract: An electrochemical device is disclosed. The device comprises a casing having a recess with an opening on a top face of the recess, a lid configured to block the recess of the casing so that the recess is watertight and airtight, a rechargeable and dischargeable storage element and an electrolytic solution enclosed in the recess, and a separate sheet interposed between the first and second electrode sheets, the separate sheet having a higher liquid absorption section interposed between the first and second electrode sheets, and a lower liquid absorption section continuously connected to the higher liquid absorption section, having a liquid absorption smaller than that of the higher liquid absorption section and extending outwardly with respect to the first and second electrode sheets. The lower liquid absorption section has a thickness greater than that of the higher liquid absorption section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 1, 2014
    Assignee: Taiyo Yuden Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Naoto Hagiwara, Kyotaro Mano
  • Patent number: 8765287
    Abstract: A battery module includes a plurality of battery cells, and at least one barrier adjoining at least one of the battery cells. The barrier includes a plurality of linear members extending in a crosswise direction across the barrier, and a set of the linear members defining a sloping open area in the form of a passage that widens toward one lateral edge of the barrier.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 1, 2014
    Assignees: Samsung SDI Co., Ltd., Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventor: Myung-Chul Kim
  • Patent number: 8765288
    Abstract: An individual cell for a battery comprises an electrode stack disposed within a cell housing and a method for the production thereof. The individual electrodes, preferably electrode foils, are electrically connected to lead vanes, and at least electrodes of different polarity are separated and insulated from each other by a separator preferably a separator foil. Lead vanes of the same polarity are electrically connected to each other to form a pole. The lead vanes of a pole are electrically compressed with each other and/or welded to each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 1, 2014
    Assignee: Daimler AG
    Inventors: Jens Meintschel, Dirk Schroeter
  • Patent number: 8765289
    Abstract: A power supply unit includes: a plurality of batteries each of which has a positive electrode 8 at one end and a negative electrode at the other end; and a bus bar module connecting the batteries in series. The bus bar module includes: a plurality of bus bars each having a pair of connecting parts respectively connected to the electrodes adjacent to each other of the batteries adjacent to each other, and a coupling part coupling the pair of connecting parts to each other; a plurality of terminals each elastically clamping the electrodes and the connecting parts to electrically connect the electrodes to the connecting parts; and a plate to which the bus bars and the terminals are attached. The electrodes are formed in a flat plate shape, and thickness directions of the electrodes which are connected to each other by the bus bar are perpendicular to each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 23, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 1, 2014
    Assignee: Yazaki Corporation
    Inventors: Tomohiro Ikeda, Takao Shoji, Shinichi Yanagihara, Hideki Inoue
  • Patent number: 8765290
    Abstract: A rechargeable battery 100 includes a plurality of electrode assemblies 10; a case 34 housing the electrode assemblies 10; at least one electrode terminal 21, 22, electrically connected to the electrode assemblies 10 by a lead tab 40, 50, the lead tab 50 including a terminal junction part 51; and a prong portion extending from the terminal junction plate, the prong portion comprising a plurality of prongs 53, 54, each of the prongs having a main body 53a electrically connected to one of the electrode assemblies 10 and an angled body 53b bent at one angle from the main body 53a.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 20, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 1, 2014
    Assignees: Samsung SDI Co., Ltd., Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Sang-Won Byun, Yong-Sam Kim, Seok-Yoon Yoo, Young-Bong Choi, Sang-Jin Park
  • Patent number: 8765291
    Abstract: A rechargeable battery having increased output and capacity, and improved reliability and safety. A rechargeable battery includes: an electrode assembly including a first electrode plate including a plurality of first protrusions extending from an end of the electrode assembly and a second electrode plate including a plurality of second protrusions extending from the end of the electrode assembly, at least one of the plurality of first protrusions or the plurality of second protrusions including a planar portion and a curved portion; a case containing the electrode assembly; and a collector plate coupled to the at least one of the plurality of first protrusions or the plurality of second protrusions and covering at least the curved portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 1, 2014
    Assignees: Samsung SDI Co., Ltd., Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventor: Hyoseob Kim
  • Patent number: 8765292
    Abstract: [Problem] There is provided a sealed cell with no possibility of liquid leakage without sacrificing volume energy density. [Measures to solve the problem] The sealing body is characterized as follows: the sealing body for a sealed cell comprises a substantially rectangular-shaped sealing plate having a through hole and/or a thinner portion that is thinner than other portions, and an electrode external terminal attached to the through hole and/or the thinner portion; and the periphery of the sealing body in the vicinity of the terminal plate is thicker than other portions. The thicker portion is 0.1 to 0.4 mm thicker than the other portions, and the width of the thicker portion is preferably 0.1 to 0.5 mm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 24, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 1, 2014
    Assignee: SANYO Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Ryota Okimoto, Hironori Marubayashi
  • Patent number: 8765293
    Abstract: Provided is an electric storage device that can ensure seal in a peripheral area of a portion in a defining wall of a case through which a rivet passes even when a rivet is inserted through the defining wall of the case and the rivet is caulked. The electric storage device includes: an electrode assembly; a case that houses the electrode assembly, the case including a defining wall; and a rivet, wherein a peripheral area of a portion in the defining wall through which the rivet passes has a higher hardness than the remaining area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 1, 2014
    Assignee: GS Yuasa International Ltd.
    Inventors: Hajime Kawamoto, Masakazu Tsutsumi, Jun Nakamura
  • Patent number: 8765294
    Abstract: A main object is to provide an asymmetric type BF3 complex which is useful as a solvent for a liquid electrolyte for electrochemical device, in which the liquid electrolyte has a wide potential window and is particularly excellent in oxidation resistance. To attain the object, an asymmetric type BF3 complex is represented by the following general formula (1): (in the general formula (1), each of R1 and R2 is an alkyl group having 1 to 6 carbon atoms and may be the same or different, and R1 and R2 may be branched or may form a ring).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 21, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 1, 2014
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Masaki Matsui
  • Patent number: 8765295
    Abstract: The electrolyte includes one or more salts and a silane. The silane has a silicon linked to one or more first substituents that each include a poly(alkylene oxide) moiety or a cyclic carbonate moiety. The silane can be linked to four of the first substituents. Alternately, the silane can be linked to the one or more first substituents and one or more second substituents that each exclude both a poly(alkylene oxide) moiety and a cyclic carbonate moiety.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 1, 2014
    Inventors: Robert C. West, Khalil Amine, Zhengcheng Zhang, Qingzheng Wang, Nicholas A. A. Rossi, Sang Young Yoon, Hiroshi Nakahara
  • Patent number: 8765296
    Abstract: Disclosed is an ionic liquid having a low melting point, a low viscosity, and high electrical conductivity. Specifically disclosed is an anion represented by [CF3OCF2CF2BF3]? for use in the production of such ionic liquids.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 1, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 1, 2014
    Assignee: National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology
    Inventors: Hajime Matsumoto, Naohiro Terasawa, Seiji Tsuzuki
  • Patent number: 8765297
    Abstract: An Advanced Graphite, with a lower degree of ordered carbon domains and a surface area greater than ten times that of typical battery grade graphites, is used in negative active material (NAM) of valve-regulated lead-acid (VRLA) type Spiral wound 6V/25 Ah lead-acid batteries. A significant and unexpected cycle life was achieved for the Advanced Graphite mix where the battery was able to cycle beyond 145,000 cycles above the failure voltage of 9V in a non-stop, power-assist cycle-life test. Batteries with Advanced Graphite also showed increased charge acceptance power and discharge power compared to control groups.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 4, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 1, 2014
    Assignee: Exide Technologies
    Inventors: Sudhakar Jagannathan, Melchor Fernandez Garcia
  • Patent number: 8765298
    Abstract: An electrode assembly and a secondary battery having the same are disclosed. The electrode assembly includes a positive electrode plate, a negative electrode plate, and a separator. The positive electrode plate includes a positive electrode active material and a positive electrode tab. The negative electrode plate includes a negative electrode active material and a negative electrode tab. The separator is disposed between the positive electrode plate and the negative electrode plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 6, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 1, 2014
    Assignee: Samsung SDI Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Miyoung Jang, Chanjung Kim, Sukjung Son, Yunkyung Jo
  • Patent number: 8765299
    Abstract: An electrode assembly and a secondary battery including the electrode assembly are disclosed. The electrode assembly includes a first electrode, a second electrode, and a separator disposed between the first and second electrodes. A film is disposed on at least one edge of at least one of the first and second electrodes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 22, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 1, 2014
    Assignee: Samsung SDI Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Jonghwa Lee, Seongil Lee, Sangheon Lee, Ikkyu Kim, Chohee Kang, Youngchang Kim, Eunyoung Jung
  • Patent number: 8765300
    Abstract: Provided is a method of manufacturing a battery having an electrode module including: a positive plate having a cathode collector portion formed by attaching a lead member to a cathode substrate made of a foamed metal plate; and a cathode collector plate welded to the cathode collector portion. The method includes: a pre-welding positive plate forming process of forming a pre-welding positive plate, which is the positive plate before welding, such that the pre-welding positive plate has a projection projecting from a pre-welding cathode collector portion, which is the cathode collector portion before welding; and a welding process of melting a pre-welding cathode collector plate to weld it to the projection. In the pre-welding positive plate forming process, the projection is formed into such a shape that the condition that S?1.3W is satisfied, where W and S represent the width and the circumferential length of the projection, respectively.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 25, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 1, 2014
    Assignees: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha, Primearth EV Energy Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hideo Nakamura, Yoshinori Shibata, Toru Sugiyama, Takahiro Kuhara, Yoshinori Nishio, Takeshi Kotani, Satoshi Yoneyama
  • Patent number: 8765301
    Abstract: One embodiment may include a lithium ion battery, wherein one or more chelating agents may be attached to a battery component.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 1, 2014
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Ion C. Halalay, Timothy J. Fuller, Lijun Zou
  • Patent number: 8765302
    Abstract: A nano graphene-enabled vanadium oxide composite composition for use as a lithium battery cathode active material, wherein the composite composition is formed of one or a plurality of graphene, graphene oxide, or graphene fluoride sheets or platelets and a plurality of nano-particles, nano-rods, nano-wires, nano-sheets, and/or nano-belts of a vanadium oxide with a size smaller than 100 nm (preferably smaller than 20 nm, further preferably smaller than 10 nm, and most preferably smaller than 5 nm), and wherein the graphene, graphene oxide, or graphene fluoride (having a thickness <20 nm, preferably <10 nm, further preferably <5 nm, and being most preferably of single-layer or less than 5 layers) is in an amount of from 0.01% to 50% (preferably <10%) by weight based on the total weight of graphene, graphene oxide or graphene fluoride and the vanadium oxide combined.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 1, 2014
    Assignee: Nanotek Instruments, Inc.
    Inventors: Guorong Chen, Aruna Zhamu, Bor Z. Jang, Zhenning Yu
  • Patent number: 8765303
    Abstract: A lithium-ion cell comprising: (A) a cathode comprising graphene as the cathode active material having a surface area to capture and store lithium thereon and wherein said graphene cathode is meso-porous having a specific surface area greater than 100 m2/g; (B) an anode comprising an anode active material for inserting and extracting lithium, wherein the anode active material is mixed with a conductive additive and/or a resin binder to form a porous electrode structure, or coated onto a current collector in a coating or thin film form; (C) a porous separator disposed between the anode and the cathode; (D) a lithium-containing electrolyte in physical contact with the two electrodes; and (E) a lithium source disposed in at least one of the two electrodes when the cell is made. This new Li-ion cell exhibits an unprecedentedly high energy density.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 2, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 1, 2014
    Assignee: Nanotek Instruments, Inc.
    Inventors: Guorong Chen, Aruna Zhamu, Xiging Wang, Bor Z. Jang, Yanbo Wang, Qing Fang
  • Patent number: 8765304
    Abstract: According to one embodiment, a non-aqueous electrolyte battery includes an outer case, a negative electrode, a positive electrode including a current collector and a positive electrode layer formed on surface of the current collector and opposed to the negative electrode layer, and a non-aqueous electrolyte, wherein the positive electrode layer includes a layered lithium nickel cobalt manganese composite oxide and a lithium cobalt composite oxide, the positive electrode layer has a pore volume with a pore diameter of 0.01 to 1.0 ?m, the pore volume being 0.06 to 0.25 mL per 1 g of a weight of the positive electrode layer, and a pore surface area within the pore volume range is 2.4 to 8 m2/g.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 18, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 1, 2014
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventors: Yoshiyuki Isozaki, Hidesato Saruwatari, Yoshinao Tatebayashi, Takashi Kuboki, Norio Takami
  • Patent number: 8765305
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a cathode active material for a lithium secondary battery and a process for preparing the same. In accordance with the present invention, the cathode active material having a high packing density was designed and synthesized and thus provided is a cathode active material for a lithium secondary battery exhibiting structural stability such as improved characteristics for charge/discharge, service life and high-rate and thermal stability, by modifying surface of the electrode active material with amphoteric or basic compounds capable of neutralizing acid produced around the cathode active material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 2004
    Date of Patent: July 1, 2014
    Assignee: Industry-University Cooperation Foundation, Hanyang University
    Inventors: Yang Kook Sun, Myoung Hun Lee, Yoon Jung Kang, Gil Ho Kim
  • Patent number: 8765306
    Abstract: Improved cycling of high voltage lithium ion batteries is accomplished through the use of a formation step that seems to form a more stable structure for subsequent cycling and through the improved management of the charge-discharge cycling. In particular, the formation charge for the battery can be performed at a lower voltage prior to full activation of the battery through a charge to the specified operational voltage of the battery. With respect to management of the charging and discharging of the battery, it has been discovered that for the lithium rich high voltage compositions of interest that a deeper discharge can preserve the cycling capacity at a greater number of cycles. Battery management can be designed to exploit the improved cycling capacity obtained with deeper discharges of the battery.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 1, 2014
    Assignee: Envia Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Shabab Amiruddin, Subramanian Venkatachalam, Herman A. Lopez, Sujeet Kumar
  • Patent number: 8765307
    Abstract: A stacked nonaqueous electrolyte battery, a method of manufacturing the battery, and a stacking apparatus for the battery are provided. The stacked nonaqueous electrolyte battery includes a plurality of electrode bodies alternately stacked, each of the electrode bodies including an anode and a cathode laminated through a separator. The separator has a raised edge portion leading along an edge portion of one of the anode and the cathode, and the raised edge portions of the plurality of the separators overlap one another.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 18, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 1, 2014
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventor: Takashi Komiya
  • Patent number: 8765308
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a porous membrane containing cellulose fibers, wherein the cellulose fibers contain 5% by weight or more of cellulose fibers with a diameter of 1 ?m or more, relative to the total weight of the cellulose fibers, the mode diameter (maximal frequency) of the pore distribution determined by the mercury penetration method is less than 0.3 ?m, the air resistance per thickness of 10 ?m is from 20 to 600 seconds, and the porous membrane has a volume resistivity of 1500 ?·cm or less determined by alternate current with a frequency of 20 kHz in which the porous membrane is impregnated with 1 mol/LiPF6/propylene carbonate solution. The porous membrane according to the present invention can provide a separator for electrochemical devices with superior properties at a reasonable cost.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 1, 2014
    Assignee: Tokushu Tokai Paper Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yoshiharu Machii, Satoshi Nemoto, Yohta Mori
  • Patent number: 8765309
    Abstract: Disclosed is an electrochemical device comprising a pair of electrodes and provided therebetween, a gelled nonaqueous electrolyte composition containing an electrolyte and a gelling agent having two or more amide groups in the chemical structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 1, 2014
    Assignee: Konica Minolta Holdings, Inc.
    Inventor: Tomoko Takeyama
  • Patent number: 8765310
    Abstract: A nonaqueous electrolytic solution which may suppress the overcharge of a battery and a nonaqueous electrolyte secondary battery using the solution are provided. The overcharge of the battery is suppressed by undergoing the electrolytic polymerization in the solution when the battery is overcharged, and simultaneously more effectively suppressed by increasing the internal resistance of the battery. The nonaqueous electrolytic solution comprises a polymer which undergoes the electrolytic polymerization in the range of 4.3V or more to 5.5V or less at the lithium metal standard voltage, having a repeating unit represented by the formula (1), an electrolytic salt and a nonaqueous solvent. [where, A is a functional group which undergoes the electrolytic polymerization in the range of 4.3V or more to 5.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 1, 2014
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Jinbao Zhao, Norio Iwayasu, Yuuki Okuda, Hidetoshi Honbo
  • Patent number: 8765311
    Abstract: A fuel cell (1) includes an electromotive unit (2) having a membrane electrode assembly (MEA) (12), a fuel storage unit (4) storing a liquid fuel, and a fuel supply mechanism (3) supplying the fuel from the fuel storage unit (4) to a fuel electrode (7) of the membrane electrode assembly (12). The membrane electrode assembly (12) has a gas vent hole (17) provided in a manner to penetrate through at least an electrolyte membrane (11) to let a gas component generated on a side of the fuel electrode (7) escape to a side of an air electrode (10).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 1, 2014
    Assignee: Murata Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hideyuki Oozu, Yukinori Akamoto, Yuuichi Sato, Genta Oomichi, Hirofumi Kan, Daisuke Watanabe, Nobuyasu Negishi, Yuichi Yoshida, Asako Sato
  • Patent number: 8765312
    Abstract: A load variation detecting section determines whether or not the actual load variation falls below a load variation threshold stored in a memory. If a load variation detecting section determines that a specific time period (for example, one minute) has elapsed since the actual load variation fell below a load variation threshold, a power supply section applies same power to reactors for the respective phases. On the other hand, a heat dissipation property calculating section measures temperature-rise rates of the elements for the respective phases, ranks the rates in order from the one having a higher heat dissipation property, and notifies the priority drive phase determining section of the result. A priority drive phase determining section chooses a phase having the highest heat dissipation property as a priority drive phase.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 1, 2014
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yasuhiro Osada, Takahiko Hasegawa
  • Patent number: 8765313
    Abstract: A fuel cell system includes a reformer that generates reformed gas using reforming fuel; a fuel cell that generates electric power using the reformed gas generated by the reformer; and a control device. The control device includes a plurality of different stop control modes for stopping operation of the fuel cell system, and selects a specific stop control mode among the plurality of stop control modes, according to the cause of a malfunction of the fuel cell system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 1, 2014
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Kenji Kurita, Kazumasa Takada, Shiro Yamasaki, Norihiko Toyonaga
  • Patent number: 8765314
    Abstract: A fuel cell system includes a fuel cell; a fuel gas supplying unit supplying the fuel gas into the fuel cell on the anode side thereof; an oxidizing agent gas supplying unit supplying the oxidizing agent gas into the fuel cell on the cathode side thereof; a raw material gas supplying unit supplying the raw material gas into the fuel cell; and a controlling unit controlling the supply of the fuel gas, the oxidizing agent gas and the raw material gas. After switching the output of electric power or the fuel cell off, the fuel gas supplying unit suspends the supply of the fuel gas, the oxidizing agent gas supplying unit suspends the supply of the oxidizing agent gas and the raw material gas supplying unit supplies the raw material gas into the fuel cell to purge the fuel cell on the cathode side.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 24, 2004
    Date of Patent: July 1, 2014
    Assignee: Panasonic Corporation
    Inventors: Yasushi Sugawara, Junji Morita, Makoto Uchida, Takayuki Urata, Shinya Kosako, Takahiro Umeda, Soichi Shibata, Masataka Ozeki, Akinari Nakamura, Yoshikazu Tanaka, Yoichiro Tsuji
  • Patent number: 8765315
    Abstract: Deterioration at the start-up and deterioration during the leaving period are suppressed in a good balance. As a system shutdown process, a controller (30) causes consumption of the air (oxygen) present in an oxidant electrode of a fuel cell stack (1) (oxygen consumption control). Further, after the termination of the oxygen consumption control, the controller (30) performs control to set a medium pressure hydrogen valve (13) and a hydrogen pressure adjustment valve (14) in a closed state. The controller (30) thereby causes hydrogen to be held in a passage located between the medium pressure hydrogen valve (13) and the hydrogen pressure adjustment valve (14). During a system shutdown period, a predetermined amount of hydrogen (medium pressure hydrogen) held in the hydrogen supply passage (L1) at a position between the medium pressure hydrogen valve (13) and the hydrogen pressure adjustment valve (14) can be supplied to the fuel electrode of the fuel cell stack (1) through a bypass passage (L2).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 1, 2014
    Assignee: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Mitsunori Kumada, Ryoichi Shimoi, Hayato Chikugo, Takashi Aoyama
  • Patent number: 8765316
    Abstract: A fuel cell system includes a fuel cell, an operation controller and an air-conditioning mechanism. In response to a heating request for the air-conditioning mechanism during ordinary operation where the fuel cell is operated at an operating point on a current-voltage characteristic curve of the fuel cell, the operation controller compares a heat value-based required current value with an output-based required current value. When the output-based required current value is equal to or greater than the heat value-based required current value, the operation controller causes the fuel cell to be operated at an operating point on the current-voltage characteristic curve. When the output-based required current value is smaller than the heat value-based required current value, the operation controller controls the operating point of the fuel cell to an operating point of lower power generation efficiency than that of the operating point on the current-voltage characteristic curve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 1, 2014
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yoshiaki Naganuma, Hiromi Tanaka, Osamu Yumita, Nobukazu Mizuno, Yuichi Sakajo
  • Patent number: 8765317
    Abstract: A fuel cell system has a fuel cell stack and a controller. The fuel cell stack is formed by stacking cells. The controller executes first cell voltage recovery processing when the cell voltage of a first cell group, placed at each end of the fuel cell stack, is below a first lower limit voltage threshold and executes second cell voltage recovery processing, which is different from the first cell voltage recovery processing, when the cell voltage of a second cell group, placed at substantially the center of the fuel cell stack, is below a second lower limit voltage threshold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 1, 2014
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Yasuhiro Nonobe
  • Patent number: 8765318
    Abstract: An electrochemical cell system is provided having: at least one electrochemical cell stack, each stack having at least one reactant fluid inlet; a pressure transmitter arranged in the at least one reactant fluid inlet of each stack; and a control unit for regulating the electrochemical cell system, the control unit receiving at least one signal value from the pressure transmitter indicative of the reactant fluid pressure. The control unit may compare the at least one signal value with a stored values and generate a leak indication based on the rate of pressure decay within the electrochemical cell system. A method of detecting and indicating a leak is also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 1, 2014
    Assignee: Hydrogenics Corporation
    Inventors: Sonia Quattrociocchi, Rami Michel Abouatallah, Todd Arnold Simpson
  • Patent number: 8765319
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method and a device for operating a fuel cell system (1) having a recirculation blower (11) disposed in a fuel circuit of the fuel cell system (1) by means of which the fuel (BS) exiting the fuel cell system (1) on the anode side is resupplied, said blower being driven by an air-driven drive turbine (12), wherein the air-driven drive turbine (12) is impacted by compressed air (vL).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 28, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 1, 2014
    Assignee: Daimler AG
    Inventors: Gerhard Konrad, Heiner Kunckel
  • Patent number: 8765320
    Abstract: A fuel cell assembly (110, 210) has a plurality of fuel cell component elements (112) extending between a pair of end plates (114, 115) to form a stack (116), and plural reactant gas manifolds (120, 220; 122, 222; 124, 224; 126, 226) mounted externally of and surrounding the stack, in mutual, close sealing relationship to prevent leakage of reactant gas in the manifolds to the environment external to the manifolds. The reactant gas manifolds are configured and positioned to maximize sealing contact with smooth surfaces of the stack and the manifolds. One embodiment is configured for an oxidant reactant manifold (120, 124) to overlie the region where the fuel reactant manifold (122, 126) engages the stack. Another embodiment further subdivides an oxidant reactant manifold to include a liquid flow channel (270, 274), which liquid flow channel overlies the region where the fuel reactant manifold (122, 126) engages the stack.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 26, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 1, 2014
    Assignee: Ballard Power Systems Inc.
    Inventor: Robin J. Guthrie