Electric Battery Cell Making Patents (Class 29/623.1)
  • Patent number: 9620767
    Abstract: An electrode active material layer containing an electrode active material and a binder. The binder is distributed in the electrode active material layer such that the amount of the binder increases continuously from an outer surface of the electrode active material layer toward the core. The amount of the binder present in the electrode active material layer per unit thickness is less than 10 in a region extending from a position 90% of the thickness of the electrode active material layer to a position 100% of the thickness of the electrode active material layer from a surface of the electrode active material layer facing the core, with 10 being assigned to the amount of the binder present in the electrode active material layer per unit thickness if the binder is uniformly distributed in the electrode active material layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2017
    Assignee: SANYO ELECTRIC CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Motoki Kinugawa, Kenji Date
  • Patent number: 9620808
    Abstract: An electrolytic coin cell that has been used to study the growth of lithium dendrites by optical observation is described. The cell makes possible observation of the growth of the dendrites in response to various applied conditions, such as applied electrical signals, chemical effects, and temporal effects in a real coin cell geometry.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2017
    Assignee: California Institute of Technology
    Inventor: Asghar Aryanfar
  • Patent number: 9608244
    Abstract: Disclosed herein is a battery module including (a) a battery cell stack including two or more battery cells or unit modules electrically connected to each other in a state in which the battery cells or unit modules are vertically stacked, (b) a first housing to cover the entirety of the end of one side of the battery cell stack and portions of the top and bottom of the battery cell stack and (c) a second housing to cover the entirety of the end of the other side of the battery cell stack and the remainder of the top and bottom of the battery cell stack, wherein the first housing and the second housing are provided with coupling holes formed to couple the first housing and the second housing to each other, the coupling holes being horizontal coupling holes, through which coupling members can be inserted in the lateral direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2017
    Assignee: LG CHEM, LTD.
    Inventors: Yong Shik Shin, Jong Moon Yoon, JaeHun Yang, Jin Kyu Lee, BumHyun Lee, DalMo Kang
  • Patent number: 9595711
    Abstract: A positive electrode active material including: a lithium complex oxide represented by Formula 1; and a carbon coating layer disposed on the lithium complex oxide, wherein, in a C1s XPS spectrum of the positive electrode active material, a peak intensity of a first peak at a binding energy from about 288 eV to about 293 eV is greater than a peak intensity of a second peak at a binding energy from about 283 eV to about 287 eV, and in an O1s X-ray photoelectron spectrum of the positive electrode active material, a peak intensity of a third peak at a binding energy from about 530.5 eV to about 535 eV is greater than a peak intensity of a fourth peak at a binding energy from about 527.5 electron volts to about 530 electron volts, LiaMbM?cM?dOe.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 14, 2017
    Assignee: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: In-hyuk Son, Min-sang Song, In-yong Song, Jae-man Choi
  • Patent number: 9590249
    Abstract: An object is to improve characteristics of a power storage device. The present invention relates to an electricity storage device comprising a current collector and a negative electrode-active material layer formed over the current collector. The negative electrode-active material layer includes a negative electrode comprising a first negative electrode layer in contact with the current collector; a second negative electrode layer in contact with the first negative electrode layer, having a smaller capacitance than the first negative electrode layer and containing one material selected from a nitride of lithium and a transition metal represented by LiaMbNz (M is a transition metal, 0.1?a?2.8, 0.2?b?1 and 0.6?z?1.4), a silicon material, and lithium titanate; a positive electrode that is paired with the negative electrode; and a solid electrolyte interposed between the positive electrode and the negative electrode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 10, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2017
    Assignee: Semiconductor Energy Laboratory Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Tamae Moriwaka, Tatsuya Takahashi
  • Patent number: 9583782
    Abstract: A battery includes a casing and a plurality of cell coils. The casing includes a bottom and a top, the bottom or the top surface of the casing are not symmetrical with each other and the multiple cell coils are placed in the casing and are electrically connected to each other. Each of the cell coils includes a positive node, a negative node and an insulation sheet, and the insulation sheet is between the positive node and the negative node. An outer diameter of the cell coil changes along with the shape of the casing. A manufacture method of a battery is provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 18, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2017
    Assignee: ASUSTeK COMPUTER INC.
    Inventors: Nung-Te Huang, Yu-Cheng Shen
  • Patent number: 9577242
    Abstract: The present disclosure details header flow divider designs and methods of electrolyte distribution. Internal header flow dividers may include multiple flow channels and may be built into flow frames. Flow channels within internal header flow dividers may divide evenly multiple times in order to form multiple flow channel paths and provide a uniform distribution of electrolytes throughout electrode sheets within electrochemical cells. Furthermore, uniform electrolyte distribution across electrode sheets may not only enhance battery performance, but also prevent zinc dendrites that may be formed in electrode sheets. The prevention of zinc dendrite growth in electrode sheets may increase operating lifetime of flow batteries. The disclosed internal header flow dividers may also be included within end caps of electrochemical cells.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 18, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2017
    Assignee: EnSync, Inc.
    Inventor: Nathan Coad
  • Patent number: 9578146
    Abstract: An electronic assembly including a housing, a circuit board, and a battery module is provided. The housing has an accommodating space and at least a portion of the housing is curved surface. The circuit board is disposed in the accommodating space. The battery module is disposed in the accommodating space and stacked on the circuit board, wherein at least a portion of the battery module is located between the housing and the circuit board, and at least a portion of the battery module is bent and corresponded to the curved surface of the housing. An electronic apparatus including the electronic assembly aforementioned is also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 8, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2017
    Assignee: HTC Corporation
    Inventors: Ming-Chieh Peng, San-Chi Ho
  • Patent number: 9577245
    Abstract: Disclosed is a non-aqueous electrolyte secondary cell excellent in capacity retention rate and I-V characteristics after repeated cycles. The secondary cell contains a negative electrode active material containing scaly graphite particles and coated graphite particles. The coated graphite particles contain graphite particles and a coating layer coating the surfaces of the graphite particles. The coating layer contains amorphous carbon particles and an amorphous carbon layer. It is preferable that the negative electrode active material contain 1 to 6% by mass of the scaly graphite particles and that the graphite particles, the amorphous carbon particles, and the amorphous carbon layer be in a mass ratio of 100:?:? where 1???10, 1???10, and ??1.34?.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2017
    Assignee: SANYO Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Shinichi Yamami, Shingo Tode, Toyoki Fujihara, Toshiyuki Nohma
  • Patent number: 9564614
    Abstract: A secondary battery including: an electrode assembly; a case receiving the electrode assembly and including a plurality of stepped sections at an inner side of the case in contact with the electrode assembly; and at least one electrode tab electrically connected with the electrode assembly and withdrawn toward an outside of the case. In the secondary battery, a friction force between the inner side of the case and the electrode assembly is increased due to the plurality of stepped sections, thereby minimizing or reducing movement of the electrode assembly within the case.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2017
    Assignee: Samsung SDI Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Jae-Hyung Kim
  • Patent number: 9559339
    Abstract: A secondary battery includes an electrode assembly having a first electrode plate, a second electrode plate, and a separator between the first electrode plate and the second electrode plate; a first electrode terminal; a first collecting plate having a first region contacting the first electrode plate or the second electrode plate, a second region extending at an angle to the first region, and a first reinforcement part that extends at an angle to both the first region and the second region; a case housing the electrode assembly and the first collecting plate; and a cap assembly sealing the case.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2017
    Assignees: Samsung SDI Co., Ltd., Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Chiyoung Lee, Seokyoon Yoo, Jongseok Moon, Joongheon Kim
  • Patent number: 9559354
    Abstract: A process for forming a surface-treatment layer on an electroactive material includes heating the electroactive material and exposing the electroactive material to a reducing gas to form a surface-treatment layer on the electroactive material, where the surface-treatment layer is a layer of partial reduction of the electroactive material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 25, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2017
    Assignee: UCHICAGO ARGONNE, LLC
    Inventors: Khalil Amine, Ali Abouimrane, Ilias Belharouak
  • Patent number: 9543621
    Abstract: An electrode assembly includes a structure including a first electrode plate and a second electrode plate that are wound together, and a separator between the first electrode plate and the second electrode plate, a first electrode tab that is electrically connected to the first electrode plate, and a second electrode tab that is electrically connected to the second electrode plate. The structure includes a pair of grooves at opposite sides of the structure, the grooves being formed by compression of the structure at the opposite sides in a direction perpendicular to a winding surface. The structure including a first part and a second part that are oppositely located with respect to a reference line connecting the pair of grooves, and the second part is shifted in a first direction such that the second part is partially misaligned with the first part.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 26, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2017
    Assignee: Samsung SDI Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Jeong-Doo Yi, Bong-Kyoung Park, Hye-Jung Lee, Feygenson Naum
  • Patent number: 9543078
    Abstract: According to the invention there is provided a fluidic port (8-9) for a refillable structural composite electrical energy storage device (1), and a method of producing same. The device may be a battery or supercapacitor with first and second electrodes (2,3) which are separated by a separator structure (6), wherein the device contains an electrolyte (4) which may further contain active electrochemical reagents. The fluidic port allows the addition, removal of electrolyte fluids, and venting of any outgassing by products.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2017
    Assignee: BAE SYSTEMS PLC
    Inventors: Martyn John Hucker, Jason Karl Rew, Michael Dunleavy
  • Patent number: 9537167
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a fuel cell having an anode; a cathode opposing the anode; a first electrolyte membrane disposed between the anode and the cathode; a second electrolyte membrane disposed between the anode and the cathode; and an A/C junction electrode disposed between the first electrolyte membrane and the second electrolyte membrane, the A/C junction electrode comprising a first gas diffusion layer; a second gas diffusion layer; a current collector disposed between the first gas diffusion layer and the second gas diffusion layer; a first catalyst layer disposed between the first electrolyte membrane and the first gas diffusion layer; and a second catalyst layer disposed between the second electrolyte membrane and the second gas diffusion layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2017
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Army
    Inventors: Rongzhong Jiang, Dat Tien Tran, Deryn D. Chu
  • Patent number: 9520588
    Abstract: A nonaqueous electrolyte secondary battery includes: an electrode group including a positive electrode plate, a negative electrode plate, and a separator. The positive and negative electrode plates are wound with the separator interposed therebetween. The positive electrode plate includes a first current collector exposed portion where a portion of the positive electrode current collector corresponding to an outermost portion of the electrode group is exposed over a length of greater than or equal to one turn in a winding direction of the electrode group, and a second current collector exposed portion where a portion of the positive electrode current collector corresponding to a middle portion of the electrode group is exposed over a length of greater than or equal to one turn in the winding direction. A positive electrode lead is provided on the second current collector exposed portion so as to be connected to an external electrode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 13, 2016
    Assignee: PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Yasunari Sugita, Kazuki Endo, Tatsuya Ishibashi, Masato Fujikawa
  • Patent number: 9515341
    Abstract: A porous membrane with pores that includes a polymerization product of a polyazole-based material, an electrolyte membrane including the porous membrane with a proton-conductive polymer provided in pores of the porous membrane, methods of manufacturing the porous membrane and the electrolyte membrane, and a fuel cell employing at least one of the porous membrane and the electrolyte membrane.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 14, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2016
    Assignees: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD., SEOUL NATIONAL UNIVERSITY R&DB FOUNDATION
    Inventors: Seong-woo Choi, Jong-chan Lee, Ki-hyun Kim, Sung-kon Kim, Pil-won Heo, Ki-hyun Kim
  • Patent number: 9502733
    Abstract: A secondary battery includes an electrode assembly designed to prevent an internal short circuit. The electrode assembly includes an electrode group formed by stacking and winding a first electrode plate, a separator and a second electrode plate, and a tape is attached to upper and lower parts of an end of the electrode group. An end of the separator is exposed externally, and the tape is attached to upper and lower parts of the end of the separator. Furthermore, a secondary battery having the electrode assembly is provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2016
    Assignee: Samsung SDI Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Suk-Jung Son, Chan-Jung Kim, Yun-Kyung Jo
  • Patent number: 9502710
    Abstract: A battery module includes a hermetically sealed battery cell assembly. The battery cell assembly includes a housing and an electrochemical cell disposed in the housing. The battery cell assembly also includes a first battery terminal coupled to and extending away from the electrochemical cell and extending through a first opening in the housing. The first opening in the housing comprises a flange. The battery cell assembly further includes a sealing ring disposed around the flange to exert a compressive force for hermetically sealing the opening.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 5, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2016
    Assignee: Johnson Controls Technology LLC
    Inventor: Matthew R. Tyler
  • Patent number: 9469554
    Abstract: A bipolar electrode comprises an intermediate layer comprising one or more carbon materials. The bipolar electrode further comprises first and second layers disposed on opposite surfaces of the intermediate layer and configured to act as an anode and a cathode. The first and second layers comprise at least one of one or more electrically conductive carbon materials and one or more conductive polymers. A supercapacitor desalination device and a method for making the bipolar electrode are also presented.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2016
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Liping Zheng, Hai Yang, Wei Cai, Jianyun Liu, Zhigang Deng, Hui Liu, Lin Chen, Xianguo Yu
  • Patent number: 9450268
    Abstract: A production apparatus is equipped with a supply unit which has a cassette member 50 for bearing a predetermined number of positive electrode plates or negative electrode plates, and which batchwise supplies a plurality of positive electrode plates 5 or negative electrode plates 6 placed on the cassette member 50 to respective electrode plate conveying trays 19 of an electrode plate conveying member 20.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 18, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2016
    Assignees: ELIIY POWER CO., LTD., NAGANO AUTOMATION CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Hiroshi Sato, Seiji Yamaura
  • Patent number: 9431653
    Abstract: A process of producing active material for an electrode of an electrochemical cell includes providing lithium-intercalating carbon particles having an average particle size of 1 ?m to 100 ?m as component 1, providing silicon particles having an average particle size of 5 nm to 500 nm as component 2, providing a polymer or polymer precursor which can be pyrolyzed to form amorphous carbon and is selected from the group consisting of epoxy resin, polyurethane resin and polyester resin, as component 3, mixing components 1 to 3 in to a mixture and heat treating the mixture substantially in the absence of atmospheric oxygen at a temperature at which the pyrolyzable polymer or the pyrolyzable polymer precursor decomposes to form amorphous carbon.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2016
    Assignee: Varta Micro Innovation GmbH
    Inventors: Michaela Scharfegger, Harald Kren, Stefan Koller
  • Patent number: 9425478
    Abstract: The stacking apparatus of the present invention includes a separator conveyance unit to convey a separator of predetermined shape in a held state, an electrode conveyance unit to convey a positive electrode of predetermined shape, and a control unit to synchronize the conveying position and conveyance speed of the separator conveyance unit with those of the electrode conveyance unit so that the separator and positive electrode overlap each other at a predetermined position. The stacking apparatus conveys the separator and positive electrode and transfers the separator onto the electrode from a downstream side of the conveying direction while gradually removing the separator from the separator conveyance unit, thereby stacking the separator on the electrode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 6, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2016
    Assignee: NISSAN MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Hiroshi Yuhara, Takahiro Yanagi, Manabu Yamashita
  • Patent number: 9413047
    Abstract: A vehicle traction battery assembly is provided which may include a support structure, a thermal interface component, and a pressure plate. The support structure may include a center bar arrangement and may be configured to support a thermal plate and battery cell array. The thermal interface component may be disposed between the array and plate. The pressure plate may be on an upper face of the array. The assembly may be configured to exert a force against the pressure plate to compress the thermal interface component between the thermal plate and array. The center bar arrangement may include a center bar extending along the array and may be shaped to define a passageway between the upper face and the center bar. The pressure plate may be at least partially disposed within the passageway.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2016
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: David Moschet, Rajaram Subramanian, Sai K. Perumalla, Saravanan Paramasivam, Brian Utley
  • Patent number: 9403301
    Abstract: A method of processing a porous article includes distributing a blended material that includes an electrically conductive material and a binder into a cavity of a mold that is at a temperature below a curing temperature of the binder. The electrically conductive material is formed from particles of the electrically conductive material that have a size distribution such that 10 vol % of the particles are less than 12 micrometers in diameter, 50 vol % of the particles are less than 27 micrometers in diameter, and 90 vol % of the particles are less than 53 micrometers. The blended material is compressed within the cavity under a molding pressure, and the mold is heated to a curing temperature of the binder to form a molded article.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 23, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2016
    Assignee: Audi AG
    Inventors: Michael L. Perry, Paravastu Badrinarayanan, Glenn Michael Allen, Steven W. Gronda
  • Patent number: 9401502
    Abstract: In some example embodiments, a battery described herein includes a plurality of foldable cells, that when folded takes the form of an asymmetric battery that can utilize available space within a portable electronic device and further is configured to present a curved form factor. In some example embodiments, the apparatus includes a first set of cells and a second set of cells. The first set of cells and the second set of cells are disposed on a sheet that is foldable such that the first set of cells and the second set of cells form a folded battery configuration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 11, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 26, 2016
    Assignee: Nokia Technologies Oy
    Inventors: Anton Fahlgren, Nicolas Lylyk, Hai Nguyen
  • Patent number: 9397372
    Abstract: Provided is a sealed battery with improved safety and reliability in which no spark discharge or voltage recovery occurs after a current interrupt mechanism has been actuated. A sealed battery 10 includes a current interrupt mechanism 40: having an inversion plate 50 and a collector 60. The collector 60 and the inversion plate 50 are electrically and mechanically joined in the easily breakable section 61 and the inversion section 51, the easily breakable section 61 is broken and displaced together with the inversion section 51 by the displacement of the inversion section 51, and the electric connection of the collector 60 and the inversion plate 50 is interrupted. The distance between the collector 60 and the easily breakable section 61 after the displacement is within a range of 0.3 mm to 1.5 mm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2016
    Assignees: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha, Sanyo Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Takuichi Arai, Toshihiro Takada, Hiroshi Inukai, Hironori Harada, Akira Kiyama, Ryuta Morishima, Naoya Nakanishi, Yasuhiro Yamauchi, Yoshinori Yokoyama
  • Patent number: 9385395
    Abstract: A continuous prismatic cell stacking system and method is disclosed. The system comprises: (a) devices on the system to supply a separator layer, a cathode layer, and an anode layer; and (b) one cutter on the frame for cathode layer and anode layer; and (c) conveyer system to convey the stacked cell. The conveyer system comprises a rotary disc and a transfer belt. The said rotary disc is round shape, or multi-equilateral shape, or track & field shape.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 13, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2016
    Assignee: MICROVAST, INC.
    Inventor: Yang Wu
  • Patent number: 9385358
    Abstract: Disclosed are a separator for a rechargeable lithium battery including a porous substrate and an adherence porous layer on at least one side of the porous substrate, and including a first fluorovinylidene-hexafluoropropylene copolymer, a second fluorovinylidene-hexafluoropropylene copolymer, and filler particles, and a rechargeable lithium battery including the same.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 25, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2016
    Assignee: Samsung SDI Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Koji Hoshiba, Satoshi Nishikawa
  • Patent number: 9373865
    Abstract: A method produces electrode windings, in which method a strip- or ribbon-like anode and a strip- or ribbon-like cathode are provided and flat collector lugs are formed on at least one longitudinal side of the anode and of the cathode at varying distances and/or contours are cut into the longitudinal sides of the electrodes. The anode and the cathode are wound up together with a strip- or ribbon-like separator to form a winding with the sequence anode/separator/cathode. The method is distinguished, in particular, in that the process of forming collector lugs and/or of cutting contours and the process of winding up overlap with respect to time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 21, 2016
    Assignee: VW-VM Forschungsgesellschaft mbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Konrad Holl, Markus Pompetzki, Robert Sekler, Heiner Stelzig, Stefan Stock
  • Patent number: 9368249
    Abstract: Zn layer 21 or Zn alloy layer, Ni layer 22, and Sn layer 23 or Sn alloy layer are formed on a connecting terminal part 10a of a positive electrode composed of Al by plating. Accordingly, this can solder Cu negative electrode, which is composed of metal that is different species from Al, through Sn layer 23 or Sn alloy layer so that jointing strength of the Al positive electrode and the Cu negative electrode can be enhanced. Further, since the contacting area is increased in comparison with the conventional jointing by the spot-welding or the conventional fastening by a bolt so that the resistance value at the contacting point is reduced, the voltage drop of the energy storage device by contact resistance can be reduced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2016
    Assignee: Senju Metal Industry Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Katsuji Nakamura, Kaichi Tsuruta, Yuji Ozaki, Shigeaki Watarai, Hidenori Takagi, Yutaka Ohori
  • Patent number: 9368770
    Abstract: A cooling system for a battery cell includes a cooling plate and a heat sink. The heat sink has a pair of modules. An end of the cooling plate is constricted between the modules. The modules are placed under a compressive load to secure the cooling plate to the heat sink.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2016
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventor: Axel Heise
  • Patent number: 9362537
    Abstract: An electrochemical cell is presented. The cell includes a housing having an interior surface defining a volume, and an elongated, ion-conducting separator disposed in the volume. The separator usually extends in a vertical direction relative to a base of the housing, so as to define a height dimension of the cell. The separator has a first circumferential surface defining a portion of a first compartment. The cell further includes a shim structure disposed generally parallel to the first circumferential surface of the separator between the interior surface and the first circumferential surface of the separator. The structure includes at least two shims, a first shim and a second shim, that substantially overlap each other. An energy storage device including such an electrochemical cell is also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2016
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Guillermo Daniel Zappi, Mohamed Rahmane, Benjamin Hale Winkler, James Lowe Sudworth, Roger Neil Bull, Charles Dominic Iacovangelo
  • Patent number: 9362563
    Abstract: The present invention provides a highly reliable energy storage device capable of preventing a reaction current from flowing in a carbon nanotube electrode by ionizing a catalyst metal or a substrate metal to cause the metal to flow out to an electrolytic solution. An energy storage device of the present invention includes: at least a pair of electrode bodies that are a cathode and an anode; and an electrolytic solution. At least one of the electrode bodies is configured such that a layer of carbon nanotubes is formed on an electric conductor. A coupling region where one ends of the carbon nanotubes are coupled to and electrically connected to the electric conductor and a non-coupling region where ends of the carbon nanotubes are not coupled to the electric conductor are formed on a surface of the electric conductor. The carbon nanotubes having one ends connected to the coupling region are toppled to cover a surface of the non-coupling region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2016
    Assignee: PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Takuma Asari, Hironori Kumagai, Shigeo Hayashi, Yasuhiro Hashimoto, Takahiro Kawashima
  • Patent number: 9331361
    Abstract: According to the embodiment, there is provided a nonaqueous electrolyte secondary battery comprising a positive electrode; a negative electrode including a negative electrode active material layer; and a nonaqueous electrolyte. The negative electrode active material layer contains carbon dioxide and releases the carbon dioxide in the range of 0.01 ml to 3 ml per 1 g when heated at 400° C. for 1 minute. The nonaqueous electrolyte contains carbon dioxide of 50 ml/L to 1000 ml/L.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 14, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 3, 2016
    Assignee: KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOSHIBA
    Inventors: Shinsuke Matsuno, Hidesato Saruwatari, Dai Yamamoto, Asato Kondo
  • Patent number: 9325031
    Abstract: According to one embodiment, there is provided a battery including a positive electrode, and a negative electrode. The positive electrode contains a lithium-cobalt composite oxide and a lithium-manganese composite oxide. The negative electrode contains a lithium titanium composite oxide. The battery satisfies the following formula (1). In addition, an open circuit voltage (OCV) of the positive electrode when the battery is discharged to 1.8 V at 0.2 C is 3.6 V (Li v.s. Li+) or more. (Qp/Qn)>1.1??(1) Qp is a charge capacity (mAh/m2) of the positive electrode per unit area, and Qn is a charge capacity (mAh/m2) of the negative electrode per unit area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 26, 2016
    Assignee: KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOSHIBA
    Inventors: Yasuaki Murashi, Hidetoshi Watanabe, Koji Takazawa, Yoshinao Tatebayashi
  • Patent number: 9318730
    Abstract: A tray for placing a plurality of pouch-type batteries is provided. The tray includes a frame, at least a drive shaft, a plurality of fixed plates and a plurality of movable plates. The drive shaft is slidably fixed to the frame along a drive axis, where the drive shaft has a positioning device for fixing a relative position of the drive shaft with respect to the frame. The fixed plates are perpendicular to the drive axis, and are arranged in order along the drive axis and fixed within the frame. The movable plates are also perpendicular to the drive axis, and are arranged in order along the drive axis within the frame, and the movable plates are interlaced with the fixed plates. The movable plates are moved together with the drive shaft, and each of the movable plates and each of the fixed plates define a receiving space for receiving the pouch-type battery, and are used for clamping each of the pouch-type batteries.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 8, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 19, 2016
    Assignee: CHROMA ATE INC.
    Inventors: Chiang-Cheng Fan, Lee-Yi Cheng
  • Patent number: 9252399
    Abstract: A battery includes a cell casing that has recessed portion on a major surface of the casing, the recessed portion being substantially planar and bordering a remainder of the major surface at a ridge portion on each of one or two sides of the recessed portion, whereby the recessed portion, the ridge portions, and the remainder of the major surface cooperate under an increase of gauge pressure to cause a plane defined by a boundary between the ridge portions and the remainder of the major surface to move.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 2, 2016
    Assignee: Boston-Power, Inc.
    Inventors: Richard V. Chamberlain, II, Raymond G. Kairawicz, Jan-Roger Linna, Per Onnerud, Yanning Song
  • Patent number: 9246194
    Abstract: Disclosed herein is a folding device to manufacture a stacked/folded type electrode assembly having unit cells sequentially stacked in a state in which a separation film is disposed between the respective unit cells, the folding device including a web supply unit to supply a web having plate-shaped unit cells arranged at the top of a separation film at predetermined intervals, a winding jig to rotate the unit cells while holding a first one of the unit cells of the web so that the unit cells are sequentially stacked in a state in which the separation film is disposed between the respective unit cells, and a Y-axis directional rotary shaft compensation unit to compensate for a position of a rotary shaft of the winding jig in a direction (Y-axis direction) perpendicular to an advancing direction of the web, wherein the Y-axis directional rotary shaft compensation unit periodically changes the position of the rotary shaft in the direction (Y axis) perpendicular to the advancing direction (X axis) of the web to m
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 13, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 26, 2016
    Assignee: LG CHEM, LTD.
    Inventors: Kihong Min, Sung-Min Hwang, Jihoon Cho, Changmin Han, Kihun Song, Sang Hyuck Park, Hansung Lee, Byeong Geun Kim, Jae Hoon You, Byung Taek Yang, Hyeong Kim, Sunghyun Kim
  • Patent number: 9246186
    Abstract: A fabricating method of a unit structure for accomplishing an electrode assembly formed by a stacking method, and an electrochemical cell including the same are disclosed. The fabricating method of the electrode assembly is characterized with fabricating the unit structure by conducting a first process of laminating and forming a bicell having a first electrode/separator/second electrode/separator/first electrode structure, and conducting a second process of laminating first separator/second electrode/second separator one by one on one of the first electrode among two of the first electrodes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 7, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 26, 2016
    Assignee: LG CHEM, LTD.
    Inventors: Dae Geun Ku, Hyuk Su Kim, Jun Woo Huh, Hyang Mok Lee, Chang Bum Ahn
  • Patent number: 9222003
    Abstract: An electrode assembly and a battery are provided. The electrode assembly may be effectively fixed inside a can as a pressure-sensitive adhesive tape attached to an outer circumferential surface of the electrode assembly is formed into a 3D shape by an electrolyte. Thus, the electrode assembly does not move and rotate inside the can due to external vibration or impact and damage of welded regions of a tab or disconnection of inner circuits can be prevented.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 29, 2015
    Assignee: LG CHEM, LTD.
    Inventors: Sung Jong Kim, Byungkyu Jung, Cha-Hun Ku
  • Patent number: 9190664
    Abstract: A cathode active material composition includes a cathode active material, a water-based binder, and a transition metal oxide. A cathode is prepared using the cathode active material composition. A lithium battery includes the cathode. The lithium battery has improved high-rate characteristics and lifespan characteristics by preventing an increase in internal resistance due to the corrosion of an electrode base material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 17, 2015
    Assignee: Samsung SDI Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Jun-Kyu Cha, Seung-Hun Han, Hye-Sun Jeong, Ki-Jun Kim
  • Patent number: 9153843
    Abstract: A negative electrode includes: a negative electrode collector; and a negative electrode active material layer covering at least one principal plane of the negative electrode collector and containing at least a negative electrode active material, wherein the negative electrode active material contained in a region of up to at least 50% of a thickness from the surface of the negative electrode active material layer is covered with a solid electrolyte interface coating, and the solid electrolyte interface coating contains a product with a crosslinked isocyanate group in an isocyanate compound.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 11, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 6, 2015
    Assignee: SONY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Shunsuke Saito, Ichiro Yamada, Atsumichi Kawashima, Tadahiko Kubota
  • Patent number: 9139373
    Abstract: A conveyor is provided with a supply roll, a plurality of movement parts and a first securing device. The supply roll is rotatably arranged and is configured to support a belt-shaped cell material for an electrode or a separator to intermittently feeding out the cell material by rotation of the supply roll. The movement parts are configured to lengthen and shorten a conveying route by conveyably holding the cell material fed out from the supply roll. The first securing device is configured to secure the cell material. The first securing device is provided upstream from the movement parts along a direction in which the cell material is conveyed. The movement parts are further configured to change position so as to shorten the conveying route in a state in which the cell material is secured by the first securing device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 13, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 22, 2015
    Assignees: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd., Automotive Energy Supply Corporation
    Inventors: Hiroshi Kanno, Ryuji Fukada, Keisuke Uekusa, Osamu Tanimoto
  • Patent number: 9130241
    Abstract: Lithium-air cells employing poly(ethyleneoxide) phosphate-based electrolytes may be prepared and exhibit improved charge carrying capacity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 8, 2015
    Assignee: UCHICAGO ARGONNE, LLC
    Inventors: Zonghai Chen, Khalil Amine
  • Patent number: 9065120
    Abstract: Provided are lithium batteries utilizing electrode coatings directly on nanoporous separators, the batteries comprising (a) a separator/cathode assembly, (b) a separator/anode assembly, and (c) an electrolyte, where the batteries comprise alternating layers of the separator/cathode assembly and the separator/anode assembly. Preferably, a portion of the separator/cathode assembly is not in contact with the separator/anode assembly and a portion of the separator/anode assembly is not in contact with the separator/cathode assembly, and electrically conductive edge connections are made through these portions. Also provided are methods of preparing such lithium batteries.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 22, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 23, 2015
    Assignee: Optodot Corporation
    Inventor: Steven A. Carlson
  • Patent number: 9059472
    Abstract: A winder for an electrode assembly of a rechargeable battery for improving space usage is disclosed. The winder includes a plurality of spools supplying a negative electrode member, a positive electrode member, a first separator member, and a second separator member, a mandrel stacking and spirally winding the first separator member, the negative electrode member, the second separator member, and the positive electrode member supplied by the spool, a first frame accommodating a predetermined number of spools from among the plurality of spools and the mandrel, a second frame connected to the first frame and accommodating other spools from among the plurality of spools, a reorienter installed between the first frame and the second frame and reorienting a progressing direction of one of the members, and a position controller controlling a position of the member that passes through the reorienter and progresses towards the mandrel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 16, 2015
    Assignee: Samsung SDI Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hwan Kim, Yi-Hyun Chang, Kyung-Do Park, Jin-Ho So, Soon-Hak Hwang
  • Patent number: 9059484
    Abstract: An electrochemical cell includes an outer casing defining at least a portion of an anode electrode chamber, an ionically conducting separator disposed within the outer casing, an inner surface of the separator defining a cathode electrode chamber, a cathode electrode disposed within the cathode chamber, a conductive current collecting body coupled with the cathode electrode, an alkali metal-containing electrolyte disposed in the cathode electrode chamber, and a sealing body coupled with the outer casing and sealing the anode electrode chamber from an external atmosphere disposed outside of the outer casing. The electrolyte supplies alkali metal through the separator to the anode electrode chamber in response to an electric charge applied to the conductive current collecting body. A first content of a gas component in the anode electrode chamber is in the anode electrode chamber in an amount that is less than an amount of a second content of the gas component in ambient air.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 13, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 16, 2015
    Assignee: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventor: James Lowe Sudworth
  • Patent number: 9054387
    Abstract: Provided is an electric storage battery including a jelly roll type electrode assembly having a mandrel. The mandrel includes a positive portion, a negative portion and a removable portion. In some embodiments, the mandrel is planar having two faces with a groove on each of the positive and negative portions. The grooves can be on the same or different faces of the mandrel. The grooves are dimensioned to accommodate a positive and negative feedthrough pin. The electrodes are wrapped around the mandrel using the removable portion to wind the mandrel. Once wrapped, the removable portion can be detached. The positive portion and the negative portion are left in the electrode assembly insulated from each other. The mandrel allows tighter wrapping of the jelly roll assembly, increasing battery miniaturization and also results in electrode assemblies in which after-placement of tabs does not result in burrs or shorting.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 9, 2015
    Assignee: Medtronic, Inc.
    Inventors: Joseph J. Viavattine, Paul B. Aamodt, Hailiang (Jeff) Zhao
  • Patent number: 9048462
    Abstract: A battery pack assembly and a method of making the same. The method includes using lifters with a cammed conveyor delivery mechanism to facilitate edgewise stacking of generally planar battery cells. The lifter spacing and cam profile are designed in such a way as to orient individual battery cell tabs and cooling fin assemblies to keep them close together but without applying significant forces to the stackable components. Combining conveyor streams allows components to be processed in parallel and sequenced correctly onto a single conveyor. Use of lifter integrated conveyor belt with cams and guides for individual battery cell orientation and sequencing promotes high speed assembly without a need to change component directions. The use of high-speed component delivery high is compatible with allowing more component placement variation, while the edgewise orientation of the components being assembled permits the use of small manufacturing footprints.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 2, 2015
    Assignee: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventor: Raymond D. Turner, III