Patents Issued in April 24, 2018
  • Patent number: 9954223
    Abstract: A method may involve forming a first electrode on a structure, where the first electrode defines an anode of a battery, and where the battery is configured to provide electrical power to a circuit located on the structure. The method may further involve forming a second electrode on the structure, where the second electrode defines a cathode of the battery, and where the second electrode is configured to reduce oxygen. And the method may involve embedding the structure in a polymer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 9, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2018
    Assignee: Verily Life Sciences LLC
    Inventors: Zenghe Liu, Brian Otis, William Biederman
  • Patent number: 9954224
    Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide nickel cobalt manganese composite hydroxide particles having a small particle diameter and a uniform particle size distribution, and a method for producing the same. [Solution] A method for producing a nickel cobalt manganese composite hydroxide by a crystallization reaction is provided. The method includes: a nucleation step of performing nucleation by controlling a pH of an aqueous solution for nucleation including metal compounds containing nickel, cobalt and manganese, and an ammonium ion donor to 12.0 to 14.0 in terms of the pH as measured at a liquid temperature of 25° C. as a standard; and a particle growth step of growing nuclei by controlling a pH of an aqueous solution for particle growth containing nuclei formed in the nucleation step to 10.5 to 12.0 in terms of the pH as measured at a liquid temperature of 25° C. as a standard.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2018
    Assignees: SUMITOMO METAL MINING CO., LTD., TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISH
    Inventors: Hiroyuki Toya, Shin Imaizumi, Kensaku Mori, Atsushi Fukui, Kenji Ikeuchi, Kazuomi Ryoshi, Toshiyuki Osako, Hiroki Nagai
  • Patent number: 9954225
    Abstract: Provided is a positive electrode material for a lithium battery with an atomic ratio expressed by the formula (I) Lia(MxMn2-x)(O4-yZy) for 0.8?a?1.2, 0?x?1 and 0?y?1 in which M is one or more of Li, Na, K, Ca, Mg, Al, Ti, Sc, Ge, V, Cr, Zr, Co, Ni, Zn, Cu, La, Ce, Mn, Hf, Nb, Ta, Mo, W, Ru, Ag, Sn, Pb and Si and Z is one or more of OH, halogens, N, P, S and O, and the primary particles of the positive electrode material have a spheroidal topography. The adjacent (111) family planes of the primary particles are connected by curved surfaces without obvious edges. A preparing method of a positive electrode material for a lithium battery and a lithium battery are also provided. The positive electrode material of the present invention provides a good high-temperature cycling performance and filling capability.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 23, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2018
    Assignees: NINGBO INSTITUTE OF MATERIALS TECHNOLOGY AND ENGINEERING, CHINESE ACADEMY OF SCIENCES, HUBEI WANRUN NEW ENERGY TECHNOLOGY DEVELOPMENT CO. LTD
    Inventors: Yonggao Xia, Zhaoping Liu, Yaletu Saixi
  • Patent number: 9954226
    Abstract: A particulate precursor compound for manufacturing a lithium transition metal (M)-oxide powder usable as an active positive electrode material in lithium-ion batteries, wherein (M) is NixMnyCozAv, A being a dopant, wherein 0.33?x?0.60, 0.20?y?0.33, and 0.20?z?0.33, v?0.05, and x+y+z+v=1, the precursor having a specific surface area PBET in m2/g, a tapped density PTD in g/cm3, a median particle size PD50 in ?m, and wherein (I). PBET PTD * PD ? ? 50 ? 0.021 ( 0.1566 * x ) - 0.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 29, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2018
    Assignees: Umicore, Umicore Korea Ltd.
    Inventors: Liang Zhu, Randy DePalma, Hyo Sun Ahn
  • Patent number: 9954227
    Abstract: The present invention relates to lithium secondary batteries and more specifically to positive electrode materials operating at potentials greater than 2.8 V vs. Li+/Li in nonaqueous electrochemical cells. In particular, the invention relates to crystalline nanometric carbon-free olivine-type LiFePO4 powders with enhanced electrochemical properties. A direct precipitation process is described for preparing crystalline LiFePO4powder, comprising the steps of: —providing a water-based mixture having at a pH between 6 and 10, containing a water-miscible boiling point elevation additive, and Li(I), Fe(II) and P(V) as precursor components; —heating said water-based mixture to a temperature less than or equal to its boiling point at atmospheric pressure, thereby precipitating crystalline LiFePO4 powder. An extremely fine 50 to 200 nm particle size is obtained, with a narrow distribution. The fine particle size accounts for excellent high-drain properties without applying any carbon coating.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 2006
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2018
    Assignee: Umicore
    Inventors: Charles Delacourt, Philippe Poizot, Christian Masquelier
  • Patent number: 9954228
    Abstract: An LFP electrode material is provided which has improved impedance, power during cold cranking, rate capacity retention, charge transfer resistance over the current LFP based cathode materials. The electrode material comprises crystalline primary particles and secondary particles, where the primary particle is formed from a plate-shaped single-phase spheniscidite precursor and a lithium source. The LFP includes an LFP phase behavior where the LFP phase behavior includes an extended solid-solution range.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2018
    Assignee: A123 Systems, LLC
    Inventors: Larry Beck, Jennifer Wilson, Chuanjing Xu, Zhong-You Shi, Maha Hammoud
  • Patent number: 9954229
    Abstract: A device comprising: a lithium sulfur redox flow battery comprising an electrolyte composition comprising: (i) a dissolved Li2Sx electroactive salt, wherein x?4; (ii) a solvent selected from dimethyl sulfoxide, tetrahydrofuran, or a mixture thereof; and (iii) a supporting salt at a concentration of at least 2 M, as measured by moles of supporting salt divided by the volume of the solvent without considering the volume change of the electrolyte after dissolving the supporting salt.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2018
    Assignee: Battelle Memorial Institute
    Inventors: Jie Xiao, Jun Liu, Huilin Pan, Wesley A. Henderson
  • Patent number: 9954230
    Abstract: A current collector for a lithium ion secondary battery, on which an electrode mixture layer is formed, satisfies A?0.10 ?m and 6?(B/A)?15 when assuming that a three-dimensional center plane average roughness SRa of a surface of at least one side of the current collector on which the electrode mixture layer is formed is A and a ratio of an actual surface area of the surface of at least one side of the current collector to a geometric area of the surface of at least one side of the current collector, which is (actual surface area)/(geometric area), is B.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 16, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2018
    Assignee: HITACHI METALS, LTD.
    Inventors: Tatsuya Toyama, Shin Takahashi, Atsushi Okamoto
  • Patent number: 9954231
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a positive electrode for a lithium-air battery and a method for preparing the same, and the positive electrode for a lithium-air battery according to the present disclosure has advantages in that it improves electrical conductivity and mechanical strength of an electrode, and increases loading amounts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2018
    Assignee: LG CHEM, LTD.
    Inventors: Yu Mi Kim, Minchul Jang, Byoungkuk Son, Gi Su Park
  • Patent number: 9954232
    Abstract: Provided is a fuel cell as a fired body including a porous plate-like support substrate having a gas flow path formed therein, and a power generation element part provided on a principal surface of the support substrate, the power generation element part including at least a fuel electrode, a solid electrolyte, and an air electrode laminated in this order. The generation of cracks in the support substrate has a strong correlation with a “surface roughness of a wall surface of a gas flow” of the fuel cell in a state of a reductant. When the surface roughness of the wall surface of the gas flow path is 0.16 to 5.2 in terms of an arithmetic average roughness Ra in a state in which the fuel cell is a reductant that has been subjected to heat treatment in a reducing atmosphere, the generation of the cracks can be suppressed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 2, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2018
    Assignee: NGK Insulators, Ltd.
    Inventors: Taku Okamoto, Makoto Ohmori
  • Patent number: 9954234
    Abstract: A fuel cell system comprises a fuel cell stack, radiator, stack side cooling water passage, radiator side cooling water passage, bypass cooling water passage, deionizer, stack side cooling water pump, and radiator side cooling water pump. The pump are formed from rotary pumps able to change directions and amounts of cooling water discharged by changes of drive speeds. Drive speeds of the pumps are controlled to thereby control an amount of cooling water flowing through the radiator side cooling water passage, an amount of the cooling water flowing through the stack side cooling water passage, and a direction and amount of the cooling water flowing through the bypass cooling water passage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 8, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2018
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Hiromichi Sato, Shigeki Hasegawa, Atsuo Iio
  • Patent number: 9954235
    Abstract: Described herein are articles, systems, and methods relating to fuel cell systems that include anode chambers with variable volumes. The volume of the anode chamber may be relatively small or essentially zero upon start up to prevent influx of contaminants that would have to be purged from the system. As fuel is directed into the anode chamber, the chamber volume increases to accommodate the flow of fuel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2018
    Assignees: INTELLIGENT ENERGY LIMITED, COMMISSARIAT A L'ENERGIE ET AUX ENERGIES ALTERNATIVES
    Inventors: Vincent Faucheux, Antoine Latour, Jessica Thery, Bruno Valon, Gerard F McLean
  • Patent number: 9954236
    Abstract: A humidifier has a stack unit having a plurality of water-vapor-permeable membranes which are arranged parallel one above the other and spaced apart from one another. Two adjacent membranes are connected to one another via fixing elements, wherein a first fixing element acts on the top membrane from above and a second fixing element acts on the bottom membrane from below.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2018
    Assignee: MANN+HUMMEL GmbH
    Inventors: Michael Fasold, Bernd Tippmer, Michael Harenbrock, Heinz Fuchs, Sascha Bauer, Joerg Menssen, Thomas Tschech, Steffen Schuetz
  • Patent number: 9954237
    Abstract: A fuel cell and a fuel cell stack. A cathode (41) of a fuel cell (3) assumes the form of a square plate and is composed of a lower layer (61) on a side toward a solid oxide body (37), and an upper layer (63) which covers the outer surface of the lower layer (61). The lower layer (61) is square in planar shape, and its four side surfaces stand upright in its thickness direction. The upper layer (63) is square in planar shape and has a square main surface (outer surface) (65) which faces outward in its thickness direction, and side surfaces at its four sides. Opposite side surfaces (67) and (69) residing in a flow path extending between an oxidizing gas inlet side and an oxidizing gas outlet side are flat and inclined toward the center of the outer surface (65).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 21, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2018
    Assignee: NGK SPARK PLUG CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Takeshi Ohno, Dai Nishijima
  • Patent number: 9954238
    Abstract: A fuel cell system supplies anode and cathode gases, and generates power through an electrochemical reaction of the gases in accordance with a load. The system includes a compressor that supplies the cathode gas to a fuel cell stack, and a pressure regulator valve that adjusts the pressure of the cathode gas in the fuel cell stack. The system sets a target cathode pressure based on a power generation request to the fuel cell stack, and controls an operation amount of the compressor and an opening degree of a pressure regulator valve based on the target cathode pressure. The temperature of air discharged by the compressor is restricted to an upper temperature limit by restricting the operation amount of the compressor and/or the opening degree of the pressure regulator valve based on two parameters, i.e., the inlet temperature and the torque of the compressor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 14, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2018
    Assignee: NISSAN MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Yosuke Tomita, Hayato Chikugo
  • Patent number: 9954239
    Abstract: There are provided: a solid polymer power generation or electrolysis method that does not require injection of energy from the outside and maintenance of a high temperature, and is capable of converting carbon dioxide to a useful hydrocarbon while producing energy, controlling the production amounts of the hydrocarbons or the like and a ratio sorted by kind of the hydrocarbons, improving utilization efficiency of a product, and simplifying equipment for separation and recovery; and a system for implementing the solid polymer power generation or electrolysis method. Carbon dioxide is supplied to the side of one electrode 111 of a reactor 110 having a membrane electrode assembly 113, hydrogen is supplied to the side of the other electrode 112, and the amounts of the hydrocarbons produced per unit time and the ratio sorted by kind of the hydrocarbons are changed by controlling a power generation voltage of the reactor 110.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2018
    Assignee: JAPAN AEROSPACE EXPLORATION AGENCY
    Inventors: Yoshitsugu Sone, Masato Sakurai, Asuka Shima, Minoru Umeda, Tetsuya Nakabeppu, Ryota Shinozaki, Toru Kinoshita
  • Patent number: 9954240
    Abstract: Disclosed are a 5-(2,6-dioxyphenyl)tetrazole-containing polymer, a method for preparing the same, a membrane containing the same and an electrochemical device, particularly a high temperature polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cell, including the membrane. The membrane containing the 5-(2,6-dioxyphenyl)tetrazole-containing polymer is capable of providing high proton conductivity and exhibiting good mechanical properties, thereby capable of providing superior fuel cell performance. Accordingly, the membrane may be usefully used in an electrochemical device, particularly a fuel cell, more particularly a high temperature polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cell.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 18, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2018
    Assignees: KOREA INSTITUTE OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY, JAGIELLONIAN UNIVERSITY
    Inventors: Dirk Henkensmeier, Jong Hyun Jang, Hyoung-Juhn Kim, Jin Young Kim, Sung Pil Yoon, Jonghee Han, Suk Woo Nam, Ngoc My Hanh Duong, Artur Michalak, Karol Dyduch, Mateusz Brela
  • Patent number: 9954241
    Abstract: A polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cell that includes a positive electrode, a negative electrode, a polyelectrolyte membrane and a solution of reduced graphene oxide and/or graphene oxide functionalized with metallized nanoparticles. The electrodes are coated with a polymer and the polyelectrolyte membrane has a hydrophobic exterior surface that is subjected to ultraviolet/ozone (UV/O3) exposure, which changes the hydrophobic, exterior surface to a hydrophilic exterior surface. The polyelectrolyte membrane is disposed between the positive electrode and the negative electrode and can include a sulfonated tetrafluoroethylene based fluoropolymer-copolymer. The solution forms a coating on the hydrophilic exterior surface of the polymer electrolyte membrane and the positive and negative electrodes. The positive and negative electrodes can be coated with a polymer, preferably polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) that can be subjected to ultraviolet/ozone (UV/O3) exposure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 25, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2018
    Assignee: THE RESEARCH FOUNDATION FOR THE STATE UNIVERSITY OF NEW YORK
    Inventors: Miriam Rafailovich, Rebecca Isseroff, Hongfei Li, Lee Blackburn, Arthur Chen, Andrew Chen, Sneha Chittabathini, Alexandra Tse, Cheng Pan
  • Patent number: 9954242
    Abstract: A membrane-electrode assembly for a fuel cell, the membrane-electrode assembly including an electrolyte membrane; an edge protective layer located at generally an edge of the electrolyte membrane; and a catalytic layer including a plate portion contacting the electrolyte membrane and a protruding portion protruding from the plate portion and contacting the edge protective layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2018
    Assignee: Kolon Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: Hee-Tak Kim, Sung-Yong Cho, Tae-Yoon Kim, Kah-Young Song, Sang-Il Han, Geun-Seok Chai, Myoung-Ki Min
  • Patent number: 9954243
    Abstract: A fuel cell comprising at least two stacked fuel cell boards (22) which each comprise a membrane of substantially gas impervious electrolyte material and at least two electrode pairs wherein the anode and cathode of each said electrode pair are arranged on respective faces of said membrane. An electrode of each pair of electrodes is connected to an electrode of an adjacent pair of electrodes by a through-membrane connection (13) or by an external connection on a Printed Circuit Board, comprising an electrically conductive region of said electrolyte material. A method for forming the through-membrane electrical connections in the electrolyte membrane is also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 29, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2018
    Assignees: Imperial Innovations Limited, UCL Business PLC
    Inventors: Daniel John Leslie Brett, Anthony Robert John Kucernak
  • Patent number: 9954244
    Abstract: An apparatus is provided to stack a fuel cell stack by pressurizing a separating plate component including a membrane-electrode assembly (MEA) sheet component, in which gas diffusion layers are bonded to both surfaces of an MEA, respectively. The apparatus include a component aligning unit connected to a completion end of a component transfer route of a conveyor to align the separating plate component and the MEA sheet component transferred by the conveyor to predetermined positions. A component stacking unit is installed at the component aligning unit side, and is configured to grip the separating plate component and the MEA sheet component and stack the components on a stack guide. A component pressurizing unit is installed at an upper side of a transfer route, through which the stack guide is transferred, and is configured to pressurize the separating plate component and the MEA sheet component stacked on the stack guide.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2018
    Assignee: Hyundai Motor Company
    Inventors: HoKyun Ju, Yoon Jang
  • Patent number: 9954245
    Abstract: A mandrel for use in a battery assembly may include a positive mandrel portion and a negative mandrel portion. Each of the mandrel portions may include a connector element coupling region and an electrode coupling region. The connector element coupling region may be configured to be coupled to a connector element and the electrode coupling region may be configured to be coupled to an electrode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2018
    Assignee: MEDTRONIC, INC.
    Inventors: Jay T. Rassat, Michael J. Nidelkoff, Jeffrey J. Clayton, Seth M. Humphrys, Paul B. Aamodt, Steven J. May
  • Patent number: 9954246
    Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide a liquid electrolyte for a lithium battery in which lowering of reactivity of a Li ion and an electrode active material due to a glyme is suppressed. In the present invention, the above object is achieved by providing a liquid electrolyte for a lithium battery comprising: a glyme represented by general formula: R1—O(CH2CH2O)n—R2 (in which R1 and R2 each independently represent an alkyl group with 4 or less carbon atoms or a fluoroalkyl group with 4 or less carbon atoms, and n is in the range of 2 to 10); a Li amide salt having a Li ion and a sulfonylamide anion; and a fluoride salt represented by XF (in which X represents Li, Na, K, Rb, or Cs).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 23, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2018
    Assignees: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA, KYOTO UNIVERSITY
    Inventors: Hirofumi Nakamoto, Zempachi Ogumi, Takeshi Abe
  • Patent number: 9954247
    Abstract: A cathode mixture, a non-aqueous electrolyte secondary battery, and manufacture method thereof are provided. The cathode mixture for a non-aqueous electrolyte secondary battery includes: a cathode active material having an olivine type crystal structure; and an inorganic oxide which does not contribute to charge and discharge. A particle diameter A of the cathode active material lies within a range from 0.1 ?m or more to 0.5 ?m or less. There is a relation of A>B between the particle diameter A of the cathode active material and a particle diameter B of the inorganic oxide.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2018
    Assignee: Murata Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Takehiko Ishii, Mikio Watanabe
  • Patent number: 9954248
    Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide a solid lithium secondary battery in which occurrence of short-circuit is suppressed during charging. The object is attained by providing a solid lithium secondary battery comprising an anode current collector, a solid electrolyte layer, a cathode active material layer, and a cathode current collector in this order, wherein the solid electrolyte layer is provided on a surface of the anode current collector, the solid electrolyte layer contains a sulfide solid electrolyte particle, a surface shape of the solid electrolyte layer, which faces the anode current collector, is formed in correspondence with a surface shape of the anode current collector, and 10-point average roughness (Rz) of the surface of the anode current collector on a solid electrolyte layer side, and 10-point average roughness (Rz) of a surface of the solid electrolyte layer on an anode current collector side are in a range of 1.8 ?m to 2.5 ?m, respectively.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2018
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Takamasa Ohtomo, Yuki Kato
  • Patent number: 9954249
    Abstract: A polymer electrolyte having improved reliability and safety by increasing thermal stability of a polymer of the polymer electrolyte and crosslinking density of a matrix of the polymer while improving electrode impregnation capability by inducing low viscosity in a pre-gel composition, and a lithium rechargeable battery including the same are disclosed. The polymer electrolyte is a cured product of a polymer electrolyte composition including a lithium salt, a non-aqueous organic solvent, and a pre-gel composition including a first monomer represented by Chemical Formula 1, a second monomer represented by Chemical Formula 2 and a third monomer represented by Chemical Formula 3.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2018
    Assignee: Samsung SDI Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kwangjo Cheong, Yongbeom Lee, Soomi Eo
  • Patent number: 9954250
    Abstract: The present invention aims to a liquid electrolyte for a fluoride ion battery having high stability with respect to a fluoride ion. The present invention attains the object by providing a liquid electrolyte for a fluoride ion battery comprising: a fluoride salt; an alkali metal amide salt having an alkali metal cation and an amide anion; and a glyme represented by general formula: R1—O(CH2CH2O)n—R2 (in which R1 and R2 each independently represent an alkyl group with 4 or less carbon atoms or a fluoroalkyl group with 4 or less carbon atoms, and n is in the range of 2 to 10).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2018
    Assignees: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA, KYOTO UNIVERSITY
    Inventors: Hirofumi Nakamoto, Zempachi Ogumi, Takeshi Abe
  • Patent number: 9954251
    Abstract: Additives to electrolytes that enable the formation of comparatively more robust SEI films on silicon anodes. The SEI films in these embodiments are seen to be more robust in part because the batteries containing these materials have higher coulombic efficiency and longer cycle life than comparable batteries without such additives.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 17, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2018
    Assignee: WILDCAT DISCOVERY TECHNOLOGIES, INC
    Inventors: Gang Cheng, Deidre Strand, Ye Zhu, Marissa Caldwell
  • Patent number: 9954252
    Abstract: To provide a means capable of further improving cycle durability in an electrical device such as a lithium ion secondary battery containing a positive electrode using a solid solution positive electrode active material. An electrical device has a power generating element containing a positive electrode in which a positive electrode active material layer containing a positive electrode active material is formed on a surface of a positive electrode current collector, a negative electrode in which a negative electrode active material layer containing a negative electrode active material is formed on a surface of a negative electrode current collector, and a separator impregnated with an electrolytic solution. The negative electrode active material layer contains a negative electrode active material represented by formula (1). The positive electrode active material layer contains a positive electrode active material (solid solution positive electrode active material) represented by formula (2).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 24, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2018
    Assignee: NISSAN MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Wataru Ogihara, Shinji Yamamoto
  • Patent number: 9954253
    Abstract: Disclosed is an electrolyte comprising (a) a eutectic mixture of an amide compound represented by the following chemical formula 1 or 2 and an ionizable lithium salt; and (b) a nitrile compound. The eutectic mixture and the nitrile compound in the electrolyte contribute to excellent thermal and chemical stability and sufficiently low viscosity and high ion conductivity. The electrolyte can be usefully applied as an electrolyte of electrochemical devices.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 11, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2018
    Assignee: LG CHEM, LTD.
    Inventors: Ji-Won Park, Byoung-Bae Lee, Jae-Seung Oh, Dong-Su Kim, Hyo-Jin Lee, Yeon-Suk Hong
  • Patent number: 9954254
    Abstract: Disclosed are an electrolyte for a lithium secondary battery which includes a non-aqueous solvent and a lithium salt and a lithium secondary battery including the same. The electrolyte includes 1 to 60 wt % of a cyclic carbonate and 40 to 99 wt % of a linear solvent based on a total weight of the non-aqueous solvent.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2018
    Assignee: LG Chem, Ltd.
    Inventors: Jong Ho Jeon, Yoo Seok Kim, Doo Kyung Yang, Shulkee Kim
  • Patent number: 9954255
    Abstract: A measurement fixture for a battery cell is provided when the battery cell is connected to an apparatus. The measurement fixture comprises a chamber, a pressure sensor and an expansion sensor. The chamber defines a sealed space for receiving the battery cell. The pressure sensor is mounted to the chamber to sense a change of pressure in the sealed space due to a volume change of the battery cell to calculate pressure in the battery cell and the volume change of the battery cell non-contactly. The expansion sensor is mounted to the chamber to sense a deformation of the battery cell to calculate a correlation between the pressure in the battery cell and the volume change of the battery cell non-contactly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2018
    Assignee: CHROMA ATE INC.
    Inventor: James E. Hopkins
  • Patent number: 9954256
    Abstract: Provided are a method for welding a battery module and a welded structure, and more particularly, a method for welding a battery module and a welded structure, in which a plurality of battery cells provided with electrode tabs are assembled to form a module and a voltage measurement portion of a voltage measurement means is welded to the electrode tabs so as to secure stability against vibrations and external shocks, thereby increasing reliability of voltage measurement and the voltage measurement portion is welded to the electrode tabs using the same kind of materials so as to facilitate an operation and improve productivity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2018
    Assignee: SK Innovation Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Wook Hyun Kim
  • Patent number: 9954257
    Abstract: A lithium ion indicator material for a lithium ion battery is provided, the material comprising a lithium ion battery material and Li+ profluorophore dispersed within or on the lithium ion battery material, wherein the Li+ profluorophore comprises a 2-(naphtho[2,3-d]oxazol-2-yl)phenolate moiety or a derivative thereof, or a 2-(naphtho[2,3-d]oxazol-2-yl)phenol moiety or a derivative thereof. Lithium ion batteries comprising the lithium ion indicator material are also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2018
    Inventor: Randall Howard Goldsmith
  • Patent number: 9954258
    Abstract: Provided is a method of manufacturing high-purity, high-quality manganese sulfate which can be immediately used for manufacturing a lithium ion secondary battery from manganese sulfate waste liquid of a wasted battery. Since impurities are removed from the manganese sulfate waste liquid by using sulfides causing no secondary contamination in the manganese sulfate waste liquid and the manganese sulfate is manufactured by performing evaporation concentration through heating, the manufacturing method is very environment-friendly and economical. Since the manganese recovering process improving the manufacturing yield of the manganese sulfate and the waste water treatment process capable of recycling the source materials and discharging waste water are integrated, the manufacturing method is very efficient and environment-friendly. The manufacturing method is applied to the recycling industry, and thus, it is possible to obtain effects of preventing environmental pollution and facilitating recycling the resources.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 18, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2018
    Assignee: KANGWON NATIONAL UNIVERSITY University-Industry Cooperation Foundation
    Inventor: Young Jun Song
  • Patent number: 9954259
    Abstract: A method of controlling the battery system of an electric vehicle includes detecting a thermal event in a first battery pack of a plurality of battery packs of the battery system, and at least partially powering down the electric vehicle automatically in response to the detected thermal event. The method may also include initiating a thermal rejection scheme in response to the detected thermal event.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2018
    Assignee: Proterra Inc.
    Inventors: Dustin Grace, Brian Pevear
  • Patent number: 9954260
    Abstract: A battery pack is provided including: a plurality of battery cells arranged in multiple battery cell rows; one or more heat exchange spaces; and a device for providing heat exchange to the battery pack. Further, the device includes a heat conduction medium passage arranged in the heat exchange spaces, such that the heat conduction medium passage surrounds multiple battery cells in each battery cell row. The heat conduction medium passage is provided with at least a first group of channels and a second group of channels, which are in contact with the surface of each battery cell, and a heat conduction medium is provided in the first group of channels and the second group of channels. The heat conduction medium flows in the first group of channels in a direction opposite from the flow of the heat conduction medium in the second group of channels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 10, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2018
    Assignee: THUNDER POWER NEW ENERGY VEHICLE DEVELOPMENT COMPANY LIMITED
    Inventor: Ming-Hui Ho
  • Patent number: 9954261
    Abstract: According to one embodiment, an air battery includes a case, a positive electrode, a negative electrode, a first nonaqueous electrolyte, a second nonaqueous electrolyte, a solid electrolyte layer and a hole. The first nonaqueous electrolyte is permeated into the positive electrode and includes an ionic liquid. The second nonaqueous electrolyte is permeated into the negative electrode and includes an organic solvent. The solid electrolyte layer is provided between the positive electrode and the negative electrode and has lithium ion conductivity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 25, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2018
    Assignee: KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOSHIBA
    Inventors: Takashi Kuboki, Norio Takami
  • Patent number: 9954262
    Abstract: An air secondary battery has a cathode to which an oxygen-containing gas is supplied, an anode containing an active metal material, and an electrolyte interposed between the cathode and the anode. In a discharge process, metal ions are generated from the active metal material, transferred through the electrolyte, and then reacted and bonded with oxygen molecules in the oxygen-containing gas on the cathode. Thus, the oxygen is reduced to generate a metal oxide. The cathode has a trap portion for confining the metal oxide. For example, the cathode has a first cathode layer and a second cathode layer having different average pore diameters. The first cathode layer located adjacent to the electrolyte and having a smaller average pore diameter acts as the trap portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 25, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2018
    Assignees: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD., MASSACHUSETTS INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY
    Inventors: Tetsuya Koido, Akihiro Kushima, Yoshiya Fujiwara, Ju Li
  • Patent number: 9954263
    Abstract: A radio frequency (RF) microelectromechanical system (MEMS) package includes a first mounting substrate, a signal line formed on a top surface of the first mounting substrate, the signal line comprising a MEMS device selectively electrically coupling a first portion of the signal line to a second portion of the signal line, and a ground assembly coupled to the first mounting substrate. The ground assembly includes a second mounting substrate, a ground plane formed on a bottom surface of the second mounting substrate, and at least one electrical interconnect extending through a thickness of the second mounting substrate to contact the ground plane, wherein the ground plane is spaced apart from the signal line.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2018
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Yongjae Lee, Joseph Alfred Iannotti, Christopher Fred Keimel, Christopher James Kapusta
  • Patent number: 9954264
    Abstract: A cavity filter and a RF communication device including the cavity filter are disclosed. The cavity filter includes a cavity body, a cover plate, a resonance rod, a tuning screw, and a supporting member. The cover plate caps the cavity body to form a resonance cavity. The resonance rod is a tube with an opening at one end, where the opening end is combined with the cover plate or the cavity body. The supporting member is mounted to the cover plate or the cavity body to further secure the tuning screw to the resonance rod, and pushes the tuning screw along an axial direction of the resonance rod against the bottom end of the resonance rod, so as to make the resonance rod undergo an elastic deformation and thus adjust the RF parameters of the cavity filter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 12, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2018
    Assignee: SHENZHEN TATFOOK TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Endong Tong, Shiyi Wen
  • Patent number: 9954265
    Abstract: An antenna coupling device is disclosed. The device includes a first isolator that includes an input port and an output port and a first circulator that includes a first port, a second port, and a third port. The first port of the first circulator is coupled with the output port of the first isolator; and the second port of the first circulator is configured for coupling with a first antenna. The device also includes a second isolator that includes an input port and an output port. The input port of the second isolator is coupled with the third port of the first circulator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 24, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2018
    Assignee: ZTE CORPORATION
    Inventors: Ying Shen, Edwin John Nealis, Zhuo Li, Zhiping Feng, Thanh Hung Nguyen
  • Patent number: 9954266
    Abstract: Communication device comprising a stripline circulator and at least a coupling piece. The stripline circulator comprises: magnetic assemblies comprising a first magnetic assembly and a second magnetic assembly, the first magnetic assembly and the second magnetic assembly are opposite to each other so as to generate a magnetic field; and a conductive jointing piece positioned between the first magnetic assembly and the second magnetic assembly, the conductive jointing piece comprises a center conductor which is positioned within outer peripheral edges of the magnetic assemblies and positioned in the magnetic field and at least three line connecting arms which extend outwardly from the center conductor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2018
    Assignee: Molex, LLC
    Inventors: Nikolay Volobuev, Xiaoma Jiang, Wenzhe Ye
  • Patent number: 9954267
    Abstract: A multiplexer structure includes a passive substrate. The multiplexer structure may also include a high band filter on the passive substrate. The high band filter may include a 2D planar spiral inductor(s) on the passive substrate. The multiplexer structure may further include a low band filter on the passive substrate. The low band filter may include a 3D through-substrate inductor and a first capacitor(s) on the passive substrate. The multiplexer structure may also include a through substrate via(s) coupling the high band filter and the low band filter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2018
    Assignee: QUALCOMM Incorporated
    Inventors: Changhan Hobie Yun, Daeik Daniel Kim, Mario Francisco Velez, Chengjie Zuo, David Francis Berdy, Jonghae Kim
  • Patent number: 9954268
    Abstract: A display screen and a portable device are disclosed. The display screen includes a display region and a non-display region surrounding the display region, the display region includes at least one transparent antenna structure, the antenna structure includes an antenna and a capacitor which are located in a same layer, and the capacitor is electrically connected to the antenna. The portable device includes the display screen. The display screen and the portable device simplify the manufacturing process and also reduce the manufacturing difficulty.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2018
    Assignee: BOE Technology Group Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Bin Zou, Jiuxia Yang, Miao Liu, Feng Bai, Hongna Ye, Liyan Wang
  • Patent number: 9954269
    Abstract: A mobile wireless communications device may include a plurality of antennas, a plurality of wireless transceivers, and signal processing circuitry. The device may further include a controller for selectively switching the signal processing circuitry to a desired one of the wireless transceivers, and for selectively switching a desired one of the antennas to the desired one of the wireless transceivers. Moreover, the controller may also be for selectively connecting and disconnecting the at least one other one of the antennas to an unused one of the wireless transceivers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 29, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2018
    Assignee: BLACKBERRY LIMITED
    Inventors: Yihong Qi, Ying Tong Man, Perry Jarmuszewski
  • Patent number: 9954270
    Abstract: A mobile terminal includes: a plurality of antenna inputs; a selecting unit configured to select one of the plurality of antenna inputs; a metal chassis used for holding a panel for display and maintaining mechanical strength of the panel; and a PIFA type antenna having a resonance pattern and a coaxial cable in which a coating removed portion is provided in a part in a manner that an external conductor is exposed, the PIFA type antenna being configured to fix the coating removed portion in a vicinity of an upper end of the metal chassis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 12, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2018
    Assignee: SONY CORPORATION
    Inventor: Takashi Nakayama
  • Patent number: 9954271
    Abstract: A radio-frequency device includes a grounding element, a first antenna including a first parasitic element, a second antenna, a third antenna and a second parasitic element, wherein the grounding element is shared by the first, second and third antennas, the second parasitic element is electrically connected to the grounding element for guiding a first reflected signal from the first antenna to the second parasitic element, and the first parasitic element is electrically connected to the grounding element for guiding a second and third reflected signals from the second and third antennas to the first parasitic element, so as to enhance isolations of the first, second and third antennas.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2018
    Assignee: Wistron NeWeb Corporation
    Inventor: Chia-Hsing Hsieh
  • Patent number: 9954273
    Abstract: An electronic device may be provided with wireless circuitry that includes antennas. An antenna may be formed from metal traces on a dielectric antenna carrier. The antenna carrier may be formed by molding a layer of plastic onto the surface of a foam member. The foam member may have a low dielectric constant to enhance antenna performance and may be formed from a stiff closed cell plastic foam material. Heat and pressure may be used to attach the layer of plastic to the surface of the foam member without adhesive. A laser may be used to selectively expose portions of the plastic layer to laser light. The plastic layer may include additives that sensitize the plastic layer to light exposure. Electroplated metal traces for the antenna may be formed on the exposed portions of the plastic layer while leaving other portions of the plastic layer uncovered with metal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 1, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2018
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Boon W. Shiu, Chun-Lung Chen, Erdinc Irci
  • Patent number: 9954274
    Abstract: An antenna device includes: a case; a board which is encased in the case and receives a signal from an antenna element; and a base for which closes a bottom face of the case. The base is integrally provided with a metal fastening member, and includes a sheet metal part for conducting earth connection between an earth electrode of the board and a vehicle panel, and the sheet metal part is surrounded with resin to be integrally molded therewith.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2018
    Assignee: Yokowo Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Noriyoshi Nakada, Masashi Noda