Patents Issued in March 8, 2016
  • Patent number: 9281496
    Abstract: A display device packaging method comprises steps of: providing a first substrate including a display region and a non-display region that surrounds the display region; providing an adhesive material which is disposed on the first substrate and formed into a closed curve surrounding the display region, wherein the closed curve has a start zone and an end zone connected to the start zone; providing a light-blocking element at least covering the end zone; providing a heating source radiating to the light-blocking element and moving the heating source to the start zone of the adhesive material; and scanning the adhesive material from the start zone to the end zone along the closed curve by the heating source. A display device is also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 19, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2016
    Assignee: InnoLux Corporation
    Inventors: Hao-Jung Huang, Tun-Huang Lin, Hao-Yu Chou, Chi-Hsin Lee
  • Patent number: 9281497
    Abstract: It is known that a light-emitting element utilizing organic EL deteriorates due to moisture. Therefore, a sealing technique to prevent moisture permeation is important. A light-emitting device including a light-emitting element utilizing organic EL is manufactured over a support substrate having flexibility and a high heat dissipation property (e.g., stainless steel or duralumin), and the light-emitting device is sealed with a stack body having moisture impermeability and a high light-transmitting property or with glass having moisture impermeability and a high light-transmitting property and having a thickness greater than or equal to 20 ?m and less than or equal to 100 ?m.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 7, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2016
    Assignee: SEMICONDUCTOR ENERGY LABORATORY CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Shunpei Yamazaki, Takaaki Nagata
  • Patent number: 9281498
    Abstract: An organic EL device that efficiently extracts light includes an organic EL element formed by laminating a first electrode layer, functional layer, and second electrode layer on a substrate and a sealing member sealing the organic EL element. The organic EL device has a first electrode communicating part electrically connected to the first electrode layer at one side of the substrate and a second electrode communicating part electrically connected to the second electrode layer at the other side of the substrate. The organic EL device has first cross grooves crossing the organic EL element from the second electrode layer located at the one side to the second electrode layer that is located at the other side. The first cross groove is formed by removing the first electrode layer, functional layer, and second electrode layer. The sealing member and the substrate are connected outside of the first cross grooves.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2016
    Assignee: KANEKA CORPORATION
    Inventors: Akira Nishikawa, Shigeru Ayukawa, Hideo Yamagishi
  • Patent number: 9281499
    Abstract: An organic light emitting diode display device comprises: first and second substrates facing and spaced apart from each other; a gate line and a data line on the first substrate, the gate line and the data line crossing each other to define a plurality of pixel regions; at least one thin film transistor coupled to the gate line and the data line; a light emitting diode coupled to the at least one thin film transistor, the light emitting diode including a first electrode, an emitting layer and a second electrode; and a passivation layer on the light emitting diode, the passivation layer having a smaller area than the second electrode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 22, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2016
    Assignee: LG Display Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Young-Hoon Shin, Myung-Seop Kim, Jun-Ho Lee
  • Patent number: 9281500
    Abstract: An organic light emitting film package structure includes an organic light emitting unit and a film structure covering the organic light emitting unit. The film structure includes a first film as a bottom layer, a second film as a top layer, and a transition layer disposed between the first second films. The first film is SiX or SiXY, the second film is SiY or SiXY, and the transition layer includes multiple SiXnYm layers. The first and second films have different materials. A difference in atomic ratio of X or Y between two adjacent SiXnYm layers in the transition layer is greater than a difference in atomic ratio of X or Y between the first film and its adjacent SiXnYm layer or a difference in atomic ratio of X or Y between the second film and its adjacent SiXnYm. The value of m and n ranges from 0 to 1, inclusive.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2016
    Assignees: Shanghai Tianma AM-OLED Co., Ltd., Tianma Micro-Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yiping Gong, Zaifeng Xie
  • Patent number: 9281501
    Abstract: The present invention provides a light extraction film including a micro-lens array film and at least one optical film. The micro-lens array film has a first surface and a second surface opposite to each other, and has a plurality of micro-lenses disposed on the first surface. The optical film covers the first surface, and the optical film includes a plurality of optical particles and a thin film layer. The optical particles are disposed in the thin film layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2016
    Assignee: AU Optronics Corp.
    Inventor: Chung-Chia Chen
  • Patent number: 9281502
    Abstract: The invention concerns a new flexible or rigid packaging for an electrochemical accumulator (A). It is made from at least one polyaryletherketone (PAEK) sheet, notably a polyetheretherketone (PEEK™) sheet. According to a preferred embodiment, a polyaryletherketone (PAEK) sheet (6.1, 6.2, 6.3, 61) incorporates within it at least one metal stud (40, 50) constituting one of the poles of the accumulator. The main application sought is the packaging of lithium-ion accumulators.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2016
    Assignee: Commissariat à l'énergie atomique et aux énergies alternatives
    Inventors: Nelly Giroud, Helene Rouault, Sebastien Solan
  • Patent number: 9281504
    Abstract: A non-contact input apparatus for computer peripheral includes an induction module and a pointing module. The induction module includes an electric supply coil and an induction element, and the pointing module includes an energy coil and a non-linear element. The electric supply coil is used to send a first oscillation signal. The energy coil receives the first oscillation signal. The non-linear element converts the first oscillation signal to be a second oscillation signal having multiple higher harmonics. The induction element generates a control signal based on the second oscillation signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2016
    Assignee: Getac Technology Corporation
    Inventor: Po-Tsun Chao
  • Patent number: 9281505
    Abstract: A battery mounting structure for a vehicle includes a battery frame upper fabricated of fiber-reinforced resin, a battery frame lower fabricated of fiber-reinforced resin, and an intermediate member fabricated of fiber-reinforced resin. A battery that is disposed at a vehicle body lower side of a floor panel is attached at the battery frame upper. With the battery frame upper the battery frame lower structures a closed cross section structure. The intermediate member is interposed between the battery frame upper and the battery frame lower. The intermediate member is provided with a plural number of upper end portions that abut against or are disposed close to a lower face of the battery frame upper and a plural number of lower end portions that abut against or are disposed close to an upper face of the battery frame lower.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2016
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Yasuyuki Hihara, Hiroaki Iwamoto
  • Patent number: 9281506
    Abstract: A battery has a casing holding plural cells and a mesh wrapped around the cells to contain pieces of an exploding cell within the casing. To prevent overpressurization of the casing from the gas emitted by an exploding cell, a pressure relief feature is provided that allows gas to pass through battery casing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2016
    Assignee: Lenovo (Singapore) Pte. Ltd.
    Inventors: Joseph Anthony Holung, Tin-Lup Wong, Bouziane Yebka
  • Patent number: 9281507
    Abstract: A battery includes a case having a lid. A feed-through assembly provides an electrical connection through the lid. Feed-through insulation is disposed over the feed-through assembly. An insulation layer is disposed over the inner surface of the lid and the feed-through assembly. The insulation layer comprises an aperture configured to accommodate the feed-through assembly and to form a compression joint with the feed-through insulation disposed over the feed-through assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2016
    Assignee: Pacesetter, Inc.
    Inventors: Russell Bruch, Joseph Beauvais
  • Patent number: 9281508
    Abstract: An object of the invention is to provide a separator for a nonaqueous secondary battery, which has good adhesion to electrodes and is also capable of ensuring sufficient ion permeability even after attachment to electrodes. The separator for a nonaqueous secondary battery of the invention includes a porous substrate and an adhesive porous layer that is formed on at least one side of the porous substrate and contains a polyvinylidene-fluoride-based resin. The separator for a nonaqueous secondary battery is characterized in that the adhesive porous layer has a crystal size of 1 to 13 nm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2016
    Assignee: TEIJIN LIMITED
    Inventor: Satoshi Nishikawa
  • Patent number: 9281509
    Abstract: The present invention provides a separator for a non-aqueous secondary battery, the separator including: a polyolefin microporous membrane having a degree of crystallinity of from 60 to 85% and a tie molecular volume fraction of from 0.7 to 1.7%; and a heat resistant porous layer containing a heat resistant resin and provided on one side or both sides of the polyolefin microporous membrane.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 17, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2016
    Assignee: TEIJIN LIMITED
    Inventors: Hiroki Sano, Satoshi Nishikawa, Takashi Yoshitomi
  • Patent number: 9281511
    Abstract: The battery cell have a first and a second current collector, wherein the first current collector is connected to part of both of, part of any one of, or the whole of any one of a pair of positive-electrode layer stack sections of an electrode assembly, the second current collector is connected to part of both of, part of any one of, or the whole of any one of a pair of negative-electrode layer stack sections, and a connecting location between the first current collector and the positive-electrode layer stack sections and a connecting location between the second current collector and the negative-electrode layer stack sections are set so as to be asymmetrical to each other with respect to a second virtual plane.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 18, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2016
    Assignee: GS Yuasa International Ltd.
    Inventor: Takeshi Sasaki
  • Patent number: 9281512
    Abstract: A method for producing an aqueous electrode paste includes charging a powder made of an active material and a thickener and an aqueous solvent inside of a two-shaft kneader, and, using the two-shaft kneader, thickly kneading the powder and the aqueous solvent to generate a mixture; and charging a misty aqueous solvent having an average liquid droplet diameter of 1 ?m or more and an average particle diameter (D50) of the thickener or less inside of the two-shaft kneader by spraying, and using the two-shaft kneader, diluting the mixture with the charged aqueous solvent.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2016
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Tomoyuki Uezono
  • Patent number: 9281513
    Abstract: A lithium-ion secondary battery (100A) has a negative electrode current collector (241A) and a negative electrode active material layer (243A) formed on the negative electrode current collector (241A). The negative electrode active material layer (243A) contains a graphite material and a binder. The negative electrode active material layer (243A) has a first region (A1) neighboring the negative electrode current collector (241A), and the first region (A1) contains natural graphite in a weight ratio of equal to or greater than 80% of the graphite material. The negative electrode active material layer (243A) has a second region (A2) neighboring a surface thereof, and the second region (A2) contains artificial graphite in a weight ratio of equal to or greater than 80% of the graphite material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2016
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Koji Takahata
  • Patent number: 9281514
    Abstract: A method of forming a lithium-ion battery by spinning and a battery formed thereby are disclosed. The spinning may include electrospinning A first anode layer may be spun, followed by a first separator layer, a first cathode layer, and a second separator layer. Each layer may be spun directly onto the previously spun layer to provide a battery that does not include metal current collectors. The anode and/or cathode layers may include polyacrylonitrile (PAN) fibers. To render the anode and cathode layers conductive, they may be carbonized using a heat source (e.g., a laser). The disclosed method may allow for the incorporation of high capacity materials, such as sulfur and/or silicon, in the electrode active materials.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2016
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Kevin James Rhodes, James A. Adams
  • Patent number: 9281515
    Abstract: A lithium-ion battery is provided and related methods. The lithium-ion battery includes an electrode comprising an Olivine flake-like structure and an electrode comprising a plurality of coated carbon nanofibers. The Olivine flake-like structures form clusters through which the lithium ions are transported while reducing initial cycle irreversibility. The electrode comprising the coated carbon nanofibers additionally reduce initial cycle irreversibility by controlling expansion of the substrate forming the electrode comprising the coated carbon nanofibers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2016
    Inventor: Gholam-Abbas Nazri
  • Patent number: 9281516
    Abstract: A cathode material of a lithium ion secondary battery is provided, which includes a cathode active material and a glassy material coating on a surface of the cathode active material. The glassy material is capable of selectively allowing lithium ions to pass therethrough. The lithium ion secondary battery using the cathode material has the long cycle life and the high safety performance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 4, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2016
    Assignee: MICROVAST POWER SYSTEMS CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Xiao-Ping Zhou
  • Patent number: 9281517
    Abstract: An anode includes an anode double side coating section; a first anode single-side coating section; and an anode double side non-coating section, the anode double side non-coating section, the first anode single-side coating section, and the anode double side coating section are provided in this order from a first end on the side of spiral winding start of the anode, and in an anode, (“Area density of an anode mixture layer on the first main surface side of the first anode single-side coating section”)/(“Area density of the anode mixture layer on the first main surface side of sections other than the first anode single-side coating section”) is equal to or more than about 1.2.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 6, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2016
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Tadashi Matsushita, Koji Morita, Hisashi Tsujimoto, Takashi Ono, Takehiko Ishii
  • Patent number: 9281518
    Abstract: Methods for synthesizing metal nanoparticles and the nanoparticles so produced are provided. The methods include addition of surfactant to a novel reagent complex between zero-valent metal and a hydride. The nanoparticles produced by the method include oxide-free, zero-valent tin nanoparticles useful in fabricating a battery electrode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2016
    Assignee: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc.
    Inventors: Nikhilendra Singh, Michael Paul Rowe
  • Patent number: 9281519
    Abstract: Provided is a lithium ion positive electrode active material for a secondary battery that can realize a high operating voltage and a high capacity while suppressing capacity drop with cycles by using a low-cost material. A positive electrode active material for a secondary battery, which is a lithium manganese composite oxide represented by the following general formula (I) Lia(MxMn2?x?yYy)(O4?wZw)??(I) wherein in the formula (I), 0.5?x?1.2, 0<y?0.3, 0?a?1.2, and 0<w?1; M contains at least Fe and may further contain at least one selected from the group consisting of Ni, Cr and Cu other than Fe; Y is at least one selected from the group consisting of Li, Be, B, Na, Mg, Al, K, Ca, Ti and Si; and Z is at least one of F and Cl.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 25, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2016
    Assignee: NEC ENERGY DEVICES, LTD.
    Inventors: Makiko Uehara, Takehiro Noguchi
  • Patent number: 9281520
    Abstract: A paste suitable for a negative plate of a lead-acid battery comprises at least (a) a lead-based active material and an expander mixture comprising (b) carbon, (c) barium sulfate and (d) a lignosulfonate, wherein at least part of at least two of said components (a) to (d) are present in the paste as composite particles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2016
    Assignee: Cabot Corporation
    Inventors: Paolina Atanassova, Yipeng Sun, Berislav Blizanac, Toivo Kodos, Mark J. Hampden-Smith, Miodrag Oljaca
  • Patent number: 9281521
    Abstract: A graphite negative material for a lithium-ion battery includes a number of graphite layers parallel to each other. A number of channels are through the graphite layers. And the channels are capable of allowing lithium ions to pass therethrough freely. A method for preparing the graphite negative material and a lithium-ion battery including the graphite negative material are also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 12, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2016
    Assignee: MICROVAST POWER SYSTEMS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Zhuoqun Zheng, Tianshu Deng, Yunhua Nie, Xiaoping Zhou
  • Patent number: 9281522
    Abstract: A mixed oxide containing a) a mixed-substituted lithium manganese spinel in which some of the manganese lattice sites are occupied by lithium ions and b) a boron-oxygen compound. Furthermore, a process for its preparation and the use of the mixed oxide as electrode material for lithium ion batteries.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2016
    Assignee: Johnson Matthey PLC
    Inventors: Christian Vogler, Gerhard Nuspl, Margret Wohlfahrt-Mehrens, Peter Axmann, Gisela Arnold
  • Patent number: 9281523
    Abstract: A long-life battery whose properties do not deteriorate after charge-discharges cycles is provided. A non-aqueous electrolyte secondary battery includes a cathode, an anode, and a non-aqueous electrolytic solution containing an electrolyte. At least one of the cathode and the anode includes a binder. The binder includes a layer having electron conductivity on a surface thereof. The binder improves the contact property between particles of the active materials of the battery and the conductivity in the electrode without impairing the binding property of the binder. Preferably, the binder includes a metal on the surface thereof and the metal does not form an alloy with lithium to further improve the lifetime of the battery.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 18, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2016
    Assignee: HITACHI, LTD.
    Inventors: Etsuko Nishimura, Toshio Abe, Chieko Araki, Katsunori Nishimura, Takaaki Suzuki
  • Patent number: 9281524
    Abstract: The invention provides a metal air battery with improved discharge characteristics compared to conventional ones. This is achieved by a metal air battery including a positive electrode layer, a negative electrode layer, and an electrolyte layer positioned between the positive electrode layer and the negative electrode layer, wherein the positive electrode layer includes an electroconductive material, a binder, and a SiO2 particle, and wherein the SiO2 particle has a specific surface area of 16.7 m2/g or less.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2016
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yutaka Hirose, Sanae Okazaki, Fuminori Mizuno
  • Patent number: 9281525
    Abstract: The present invention refers to the conversion of gaseous or gasifiable fuels with high methane content, such as natural gas, biogas, synthesis gas or gas originated from various industrial process rejects, with or without prior desulfurization and elimination of other contaminants, in a solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC), with special anodes, based on mixed oxides or metal oxides with a perovskite type structure, either or not nano structured, into light hydrocarbons, primarily ethylene and ethane.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2016
    Assignees: OXITENO S.A. INDUSTRIA E COMERCIO, INSTITUTO ALBERTO LUIZ COIMBRA DE POSGRADUACAO E PESQUISA DE ENGENHARIA-COPPE/UFRJ
    Inventors: Paulo Emilio Valadão De Miranda, Luis Guilherme Desá, Taísa Eva Fuziger Gutierres, Selma Aparecida Venâncio, Isabela Caldeira Leite Leocádio, Maria Auxiliadora Scaramelo Baldanza, Martin Schmal, Valéria Perfeito Vicentini
  • Patent number: 9281526
    Abstract: This invention provides batteries with improved calendar and cycle lifetimes. A rechargeable battery comprises an additional electrode that includes active ions, such as lithium ions. Cell capacity of the battery can be increased by supplying these active ions to the anode or the cathode. In some variations, this invention provides a lithium-ion battery comprising an anode, a cathode, an electrolyte, and an additional lithium-containing electrode, wherein the additional lithium-containing electrode is capable of supplying lithium ions to the anode or the cathode in the presence of an electrical current.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2016
    Assignee: HRL Laboratories, LLC
    Inventors: Ping Liu, John Wang, Souren Soukiazian
  • Patent number: 9281527
    Abstract: The present invention includes a fuel cell system having an interconnect that reduces or eliminates diffusion (leakage) of fuel and oxidant by providing an increased densification, by forming the interconnect as a ceramic/metal composite.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2016
    Assignee: LG Fuel Cell Systems Inc.
    Inventors: Zhien Liu, Richard Goettler, Philip Mark Delaforce
  • Patent number: 9281528
    Abstract: A fuel cell includes: an electrolyte membrane; a first reactive gas channel that is provided on a first surface side of the electrolyte membrane; a second reactive gas channel that is provided on a second surface side of the electrolyte membrane; and a coolant channel. The coolant channel is configured such that a flow direction of the first reactive gas flowing in the first reactive gas channel is opposite to a flow direction of the second reactive gas flowing in the second reactive gas channel, and a downstream portion of the flow of at least one of the first and second reactive gases, in a plane of the electrolyte membrane, is cooled from the central portion within the plane.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2016
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Sogo Goto, Satoshi Futami, Kazunori Shibata
  • Patent number: 9281529
    Abstract: A unitized electrode assembly (10; 110; 210; 310; 410) for a fuel cell includes, in addition to an anode catalyst layer (54; 254) and a cathode catalyst layer (56; 256), a polymer electrolyte membrane (52) having an acid functional group normally including H+ ions and an edge seal (66; 166; 266, 366, 466) containing alkali metal ions in a form, concentration, and/or location for delivery and dispersion into the membrane. The edge seal of the unitized electrode assembly is proximate, and typically contacts, the peripheral edge region (68) of the membrane in ion-transfer relation therewith, and alkali metal ions leach into the membrane during fuel cell operation to provide a desired ion exchange in the membrane.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2016
    Assignee: Audi AG
    Inventors: Jesse M. Marzullo, Laura Roen Stolar
  • Patent number: 9281530
    Abstract: An assembly of a fuel cell for an electroportable device and of a connection adapter for connecting the fuel cell and a fuel reservoir, the adapter being arranged for receiving a member for supplying the cell and an ejection nosepiece of the reservoir, the adapter comprising a valve arranged for being actuated by the ejection nosepiece of the reservoir and switched from a plugging condition, before connection, to a fuel transmission condition, after connection. Thanks to the invention, the fuel cell is permanently maintained under fuel supply.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2016
    Assignee: SOCIETE DE PROSPECTION ET D'INVENTIONS TECHNIQUES SPIT
    Inventor: Christian Ricordi
  • Patent number: 9281531
    Abstract: The present teachings relate to an electrochemical system including an electrochemical device and multiple independent circuits which permit independent control of the reaction rates at different sections of the electrochemical device. The electrochemical device can be a fuel cell or an electrolyzer, and can include a common electrode in electrical communication with two or more independent circuits. The present teachings also relate to operating methods of the electrochemical system described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 8, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2016
    Assignee: CP SOFC IP, LLC
    Inventors: Caine Finnerty, Yanhai Du, Jun Cai
  • Patent number: 9281532
    Abstract: A system and method for operating a fuel cell stack of a fuel cell system in a vehicle when an error in cathode air flow rate is detected. The system and method include estimating a cathode air flow rate and detecting an error in the estimated cathode air flow rate. The system and method also include utilizing high frequency resistance measurements from a high frequency resistance sensor to control a relative humidity of the fuel cell stack when the error in the estimated cathode air flow rate has been detected.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2016
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Derek R. Lebzelter, Loren Devries, Todd K. Preston, Joseph Mussro, John P. Nolan
  • Patent number: 9281533
    Abstract: To achieve smooth drawing of air into a fuel cell, the air-flow resistance of an exhaust passage is reduced and intrusion of water into an exhaust duct is prevented. In the present invention, in an exhaust device of a fuel cell vehicle, an exhaust chamber is attached to a lower surface of the front hood, the exhaust duct extends upward in a vertical direction from a rear portion of a fuel cell case, an exhaust port at an upper end of the exhaust duct opens to an interior of the exhaust chamber, a penetrating hole through which the inside of the exhaust chamber communicates with the outside space, is formed in the front hood in a portion in front of the exhaust port in a vehicle front and rear direction, the penetrating hole is covered with a cover, and an opening portion opening toward a rear side of the vehicle and being positioned above and away from an upper surface of the front hood, is formed in the cover.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 29, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2016
    Assignee: SUZUKI MOTOR CORPORATION
    Inventors: Naoki Ozawa, Shiro Matsumoto, Kengo Ikeya
  • Patent number: 9281534
    Abstract: A fuel cell (1) includes a stacked body of a membrane electrode assembly (3) and of separators (2). Then, the membrane electrode assembly (3) and the separators (2) are formed into a substantially rectangular shape, the separators (2) include flow passages. Moreover, an aspect ratio R as a ratio (flow passage length/flow passage width) of a flow passage length with respect to a flow passage width is 0.01 or more to less than 2. Furthermore, a horizontal direction equivalent diameter D (mm) of the flow passages satisfies Expression (1): D=B×(R×Acat)1/3??Expression (1) where Acat is a catalyst area (cm2) of the membrane electrode assembly (3), and B is a constant of 0.005 or more to 0.2 or less.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2016
    Assignee: NISSAN MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Takuya Hasegawa, Ryuji Fujieda
  • Patent number: 9281535
    Abstract: A method for operating an electronic system with a dongle is provided. In some embodiments, the method includes receiving system information from system components. The method further comprises continuing or ceasing to operate the electronic system based upon the system information; and writing system information to the dongle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 12, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2016
    Assignee: IMERGY POWER SYSTEMS, INC.
    Inventor: Gopalakrishnan R. Parakulam
  • Patent number: 9281536
    Abstract: A fuel cell including at least one of a hydrophilic interlayer and a flow field treated to impart hydrophilic properties is disclosed, wherein the hydrophilic interlayer and the treated flow field militate against water accumulation in ultrathin electrodes of the fuel cell, particularly for cool-start operating conditions (i.e. about 0° C. to about 60° C.).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2016
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Anusorn Kongkanand, Eric L. Thompson, Frederick T. Wagner
  • Patent number: 9281537
    Abstract: A thin film electrode is fabricated from a non-metallic, non-conductive porous support structure having pores with micrometer-range diameters. The support may include a polymer film. A first surface of the support is metalized, and the pores are partially metallized to create metal tubes having a thickness within a range of 50 to 150 nanometers, in contact with the metal layer. An active material is disposed within metalized portions of the pores. An electrolyte is disposed within non-metalized portions of the pores. Active materials may be selected to create an anode and a cathode. Non-metalized surfaces of the anode and cathode may be contacted to one another to form a battery cell, with the non-metalized electrolyte-containing portions of the anode facing the electrolyte-containing portions of the cathode pores. A battery cell may be fabricated as, for example, a nickel-zinc battery cell.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 22, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2016
    Assignee: The Johns Hopkins University
    Inventors: Rengaswamy Srinivasan, Jeffrey P. Maranchi, Lance M. Baird, Ryan M. Deacon, Arthur S. Francomacaro, Paul J. Biermann, Craig B. Leese, Gary E. Peck
  • Patent number: 9281538
    Abstract: Disclosed is a thin battery including an electrode assembly in sheet form and a housing for accommodating the electrode assembly. The electrode assembly includes a positive electrode, a negative electrode, and an electrolyte layer interposed therebetween. A lubricating material with a lubricating effect is interposed between an inner surface of the housing and the electrode assembly, and is, for example, an inert gas. The inert gas includes, for example, at least one of nitrogen and argon. It is preferable that the lubricating material is present, at least, between end surfaces of the electrode assembly on both sides in the thickness direction thereof and two main flat surfaces of the inner surface of the housing which face the end surfaces, respectively.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2016
    Assignee: PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Tomohiro Ueda
  • Patent number: 9281539
    Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide a highly efficient electrical storage device that uses a fiber positive electrode and a fiber negative electrode and in which lithium ion is used as an intercalating species, and to provide a method of fabricating the electrical storage device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 13, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2016
    Assignee: KAWASAKAI JUKOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Kazuo Tsutsumi, Kazuya Nishimura, Tomoaki Takasaki, Masateru Nakoji, Tetsuo Sakai, Jinhan Yao, Makoto Saito, Takashi Mukai
  • Patent number: 9281540
    Abstract: A lithium-ion battery comprises a positive electrode, a negative electrode, an electrolyte system and an ion-selective conducting layer disposed between the positive electrode and the negative electrode. The ion-selective conducting layer consists of high polymers and an inorganic lithium salt having lithium-ion conductivity, or consists of the inorganic lithium salt. The inorganic lithium salt includes LimMnOx, wherein the values of the m and n ensure the LimMnOx an electrically neutral compound, M is selected from at least one of B, P, Si, Se, Zr, W, Ti, Te, Ta, Al and As. The lithium-ion battery has a conduction layer having preference-selective conductivity for the lithium ions and disposed between the positive electrode and the negative electrode. The selective-conduction layer has improved mobility for lithium ions. Metal ions generated from the oxidized metal current collector at the negative electrode due to the over-charging of the battery can be blocked.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2016
    Assignee: MICROVAST POWER SYSTEMS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Xiang Li, Jie Tang, Qingjin Sun, Sheng Xu, Jianhai Luo
  • Patent number: 9281541
    Abstract: An object is to provide a nonaqueous electrolyte and a nonaqueous-electrolyte secondary battery which have excellent discharge load characteristics and are excellent in high-temperature storability, cycle characteristics, high capacity, continuous-charge characteristics, storability, gas evolution inhibition during continuous charge, high-current-density charge/discharge characteristics, discharge load characteristics, etc. The object has been accomplished with a nonaqueous electrolyte which comprises: a monofluorophosphate and/or a difluorophosphate; and further a compound having a specific chemical structure or specific properties.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 4, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2016
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Chemical Corporation
    Inventors: Hiroyuki Tokuda, Takashi Fujii, Minoru Kotato, Masahiro Takehara, Masamichi Onuki, Youichi Ohashi, Shinichi Kinoshita
  • Patent number: 9281542
    Abstract: An electricity storage device includes an electrode assembly configured such that first and second electrodes are layered. The electrode assembly includes two tab groups in each of which tabs of the first electrodes or the second electrodes having the same polarity are bundled. Each tab group and a conductive member are welded with each other by a welding portion. The welding portion has a mixed portion configured by mixing at least one of a metal that forms metal foils and a metal that forms the conductive member with a dissimilar metal that is different from the metal of the metal foils and has a higher electric resistivity than that of the metal of the metal foils.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2016
    Assignee: KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOYOTA JIDOSHOKKI
    Inventors: Motoaki Okuda, Atsushi Minagata, Hidaka Yamada
  • Patent number: 9281543
    Abstract: A square lithium secondary battery includes a wound body in which a collective sheet in which a positive electrode sheet and a negative electrode sheet overlap each other with a first separator interposed therebetween is wound while a second separator is put inside the collective sheet. An active material mixture layer on one or both surfaces of at least one of the positive electrode sheet and the negative electrode sheet includes a region with a plurality of openings and a region with no opening. At least a bent portion of the collective sheet is covered with the region with the plurality of openings.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2016
    Assignee: SEMICONDUCTOR ENERGY LABORATORY CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Kunio Hosoya, Kunio Kimura
  • Patent number: 9281544
    Abstract: A battery pack test system is provided. The system includes a battery charging device that monitors an output voltage level of the vehicle battery pack. The system further includes a switch electrically coupled between an igniter and a voltage source. The system further includes a first video camera that generates a first plurality of images of an interior of the vehicle battery pack. The switch has a closed operational state at a first time in response to the output voltage level of a battery cell in the vehicle battery pack being greater than a threshold voltage level, to induce the igniter to generate a spark to generate a fire within an interior region of the vehicle battery pack.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2016
    Assignee: LG Chem, Ltd.
    Inventors: Chris Csicsay, Mohamed Alamgir, Lori Reinke
  • Patent number: 9281545
    Abstract: A method of controlling discharge in a battery pack, including: measuring an ambient temperature of a battery cell and a voltage of the battery cell; a first discharge processing of discharging the battery cell until the voltage of the battery cell becomes a second voltage lower than a first voltage when the ambient temperature is higher than a first predetermined temperature and the voltage of the battery cell is higher than the first voltage; and a second discharge processing of discharging the battery cell until the voltage of the electrical battery cell becomes a fourth voltage lower than a third voltage when the ambient temperature is lower than the first predetermined temperature and the voltage of the battery cell is higher than the third voltage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2016
    Assignee: SONY CORPORATION
    Inventor: Tsuyoshi Nomura
  • Patent number: 9281546
    Abstract: Disclosed herein is a battery pack case in which a battery module having a plurality of stacked battery cells or unit modules (‘unit cells’) is mounted, wherein the battery pack case is provided at the upper part and the lower part thereof with a coolant inlet port and a coolant outlet port, respectively, which are directed in opposite directions such that a coolant to cool the unit cells can flow from one side to the other side of the battery module in a direction perpendicular to a cell stacking direction, the battery pack case is further provided with a flow space (‘coolant introduction part’) extending from the coolant inlet port to the battery module and another flow space (‘coolant discharge part’) extending from the battery module to the coolant outlet port, and the flow channel width of the coolant introduction part and/or the flow channel width of the coolant discharge part is greater than that of each of the unit cells, thereby achieving uniform distribution of the coolant.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 7, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2016
    Assignee: LG CHEM, LTD.
    Inventors: Chae Ho Chung, Ye Hoon Im, Jin Kyu Lee, BumHyun Lee
  • Patent number: 9281547
    Abstract: A modular thermal management system for a battery in an electric vehicle is provided. The thermal management system includes a battery module having a plurality of module ports for conducting heat exchange fluid to regulate temperature in a traction battery. The thermal management system also includes a manifold having a plurality of connector ports corresponding to the plurality of module. A retention feature is located on the manifold or the battery module for securing the manifold to the battery module to ensure the connector ports remain fluidly sealed to the module ports.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2016
    Assignee: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Patrick Daniel Maguire, Bhaskara Boddakayala