Plural Cells Patents (Class 429/149)
  • Patent number: 7291420
    Abstract: A heat exchanger structure for a plurality of electrochemical storage cells has at least one duct component through which thermal control medium flows. The duct component has two material strips which are arranged parallel to one another and between which a heat exchanger duct is formed. The material strips have shaped portions adapted to the storage cells. The heat exchanger structure is useable, for example, for a motor vehicle battery.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2001
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2007
    Assignee: DaimlerChrysler AG
    Inventors: Otmar Bitsche, Johann German
  • Publication number: 20070210760
    Abstract: A battery is basically provided with an electricity generating element and a discharging section. The electricity generating element has a plurality of electric cells connected in series. The discharging section constantly discharges electricity from each of the electric cells at a prescribed discharge rate so that a voltage in each of the electric cells is lower than a voltage corresponding to a prescribed depth of discharge. The battery is especially useful in a power supply component of a vehicle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 8, 2007
    Publication date: September 13, 2007
    Applicant: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Oasamu SHIMAMURA, Kenji Hosaka, Takuya Kinoshita, Takaaki Abe, Hideaki Horie
  • Patent number: 7264901
    Abstract: A monoblock battery case and a monoblock battery. The monoblock battery case comprises a first and a second container each having partitions that divide the containers into cell compartments. The first container is attached to and co-operates with the second container to form one or more coolant channels disposed between the first and second containers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 2001
    Date of Patent: September 4, 2007
    Assignee: Ovonic Battery Company, Inc.
    Inventors: Philippe Gow, Anthony Osgood, Subhash K. Dhar, Dennis A. Corrigan, Stanford R. Ovshinsky
  • Patent number: 7264903
    Abstract: A battery cell having significantly improved capacity utilization at high discharge rates while maintaining much of the energy content and other feature advantages of typical cylindrical or prismatic alkaline cells, by implementing a novel cell construction that produces increased surface area between the anode and cathode. The cell comprises an inner electrode encapsulated by a separator and disposed within the interior space of the housing. The inner electrode comprises a substantially flat material in a folded configuration and formed such that an outer extent of the inner electrode is generally conforming to a contour defined by the interior surface of the cell housing. An outer electrode is disposed within the interior space of the housing such that it is in ionic communication with the inner electrode and in electrical communication with the first terminal of the cell housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 18, 2004
    Date of Patent: September 4, 2007
    Assignee: Rechargeable Battery Corporation
    Inventors: Brendan Coffey, Charles Sesock, Lawrence Tinker
  • Publication number: 20070166574
    Abstract: A hybrid power supply unit, comprises a high-capacity nonaqueous electrolyte battery group and a high-power nonaqueous electrolyte battery group different in discharge characteristics connected to each other in parallel. The high-capacity nonaqueous electrolyte battery group has a 0.2 C discharge capacity per cell greater than that of the high-power nonaqueous electrolyte battery group, and the high-power nonaqueous electrolyte battery group has a rate of 5 C discharge capacity per cell to 0.2 C discharge capacity per cell (5 C discharge capacity/0.2 C discharge capacity) greater than that of the high-capacity nonaqueous electrolyte battery group.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 16, 2007
    Publication date: July 19, 2007
    Inventors: Takuya Nakashima, Tadao Kimura, Gota Asano
  • Publication number: 20070166610
    Abstract: A non-aqueous electrolyte battery has a positive electrode, a negative electrode, and a non-aqueous electrolyte. The positive electrode has a high-capacity positive electrode portion with a plate area per capacity of smaller than 200 cm2/Ah, and a high-power positive electrode portion with a plate area per capacity of 200 cm2/Ah or larger. The non-aqueous electrolyte battery is advantageous in providing a battery, with use of a single kind of non-aqueous electrolyte battery, which simultaneously satisfies the requirements on high-capacity characteristics capable of performing a long-term continuous discharge, and on high-power characteristics capable of performing a pulse discharge at a large current, without using a hybrid power supply unit which has multiple kinds of batteries and requires a complex control system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 16, 2007
    Publication date: July 19, 2007
    Inventors: Takuya Nakashima, Masatoshi Nagayama, Yoshiyuki Muraoka
  • Patent number: 7223494
    Abstract: Contact of terminals of a component to be loaded on a device and terminals on the device are avoided, even if the component is similar to, but differs from, a component intended to be loaded on that device. A discriminating tab is provided in the vicinity of the component terminals and a blocking portion is provided in the vicinity of the device terminals. The discriminating tab and blocking portion are relatively positioned to provide concave and convex interference or engagement with each other, either to block connection of the component terminal with the device terminal because of interference if the component is not permitted to be loaded on the device, or to permit connection of the component terminal with the device terminal because of engagement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 2002
    Date of Patent: May 29, 2007
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Toshio Takeshita, Nobuhito Ebine, Yoshiyuki Katsuno, Kei Tashiro
  • Patent number: 7198866
    Abstract: A plurality of single cells 10a to 10d, each being packaged by laminate films 12 and 13, are attached onto one surface of a flexible printed circuit board 20, in a state of being interconnected in series to each other, by the use of a double faced tape. Single cells 10a? to 10d? are attached in a similar way onto the other surface of the flexible printed circuit board 20. Each group of the cells on the both surfaces of the flexible printed circuit board 20 are interconnected in parallel. Voltage detection lines 30a to 30e are wired on the flexible printed circuit board 20. Positive and negative electrode tabs 14 and 15 of the respective single cells are connected to the respectively corresponding voltage detection lines 30a to 30e through connection terminals 31a to 31e provided on the flexible printed circuit board 20.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 2003
    Date of Patent: April 3, 2007
    Assignee: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Takeshi Miyamoto, Yuji Nakada
  • Patent number: 7150935
    Abstract: In a battery pack including rechargeable batteries arranged in parallel, a cooling medium path for allowing a cooling medium to horizontally flow be formed between the rechargeable batteries. A cooling medium delivery device for delivering the cooling medium to the cooling medium path is provided so as to reduce a height of the battery pack including a cooling device. The cooling medium delivery device is constituted by a pair of cooling medium introduction ducts provided on both right and left sides of the battery pack, each having delivery ports for delivering the cooling medium alternately in horizontally opposed directions to each of the cooling medium paths, and a cooling medium compression transport device for supplying the cooling medium to both of the cooling medium introduction ducts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 12, 2003
    Date of Patent: December 19, 2006
    Assignees: Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd, Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Shinji Hamada, Toyohiko Eto
  • Patent number: 7147972
    Abstract: A composition for prolonging battery life by reducing water loss and the degradation of properties due to dendritic precipitation, is refreshingly added to a battery electrolyte. By the refreshment of the composition, battery cycle life is substantially increased while degradation of the internal battery components is substantially reduced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 2003
    Date of Patent: December 12, 2006
    Inventors: Johan C Fitter, Robert T Morris, Jr., Richard E Belmont, John T. C. Kan
  • Patent number: 7147963
    Abstract: A plurality of cells (1a to 1j) are abutted against each other and electrically connected on the short sides of rectangular battery housings (2), and binding plates (14, 14) disposed on both long sides are tied together with binding bands (13) to integrally link the cells (1a to 1j). Because the heat radiation conditions are equalized among the cells (1a to 1j), there is an extremely small temperature differential between the cells, charging efficiency, which varies with temperature conditions, is consistent, and there is no variance in battery capacity, so none of the cells are over-discharged, and battery life is extended.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 2004
    Date of Patent: December 12, 2006
    Assignees: Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd., Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Shinya Kimoto, Mitsugu Takaki, Kenji Kimura, Toshinobu Yokoyama, Shinsuke Fukuda, Yasuhiro Takahashi, Toshihiro Katsuta, Kieko Asakawa
  • Patent number: 7141331
    Abstract: A battery pack includes a housing (3) having a plurality of cooling opening (2a, 2b) formed therein, and at least one separation wall (5) formed of a plurality of current cells (4) arranged flow-tight adjacent to each other, with the at least one separation wall (5) being arranged between at least two cooling openings (2a, 2b) and projecting flow-tight into an interior at the housing (3) at the side of the openings, so that the separation wall (5) is cooled by an air stream flowing therearound.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 2003
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2006
    Assignee: Hilt Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Bernd Ziegler, Rainer Ontl
  • Patent number: 7138205
    Abstract: A battery comprises at least four cells each comprising a bath in the shape of a rectangular parallelepiped having a width direction dimension greater than a thickness direction dimension, and a power generation element, the power generation element being contained in the bath, the thickness direction sides of the cells facing each other, and the width direction sides of the cells being arranged side by side. A coolant for cooling the cells is allowed to flow along the width direction sides of the cells.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2002
    Date of Patent: November 21, 2006
    Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kazunari Ando, Akitoshi Hiramatsu, Kenji Kimura
  • Patent number: 7125628
    Abstract: A battery pack comprises a plurality of rectangular shaped batteries, wherein each of the plurality of rectangular shaped batteries is formed into a thin rectangular-parallelepiped shape, and wherein the plurality of rectangular shaped batteries are stacked side-by-side in a thickness direction, and a pair of pressurizing plates, wherein one of the pressurizing plates is located at each end of the stacked rectangular shaped batteries oriented in the thickness direction, wherein the pressurizing plates are elastically pushed against each other to pressurize the plurality rectangular shaped batteries.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 16, 2002
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2006
    Assignees: Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd., Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Shuhei Marukawa, Ko Watanabe, Toyohiko Etoh, Keiji Shukuya, Shogo Yoneda
  • Patent number: 7108940
    Abstract: A battery mechanism is disclosed. The battery mechanism in one embodiment includes battery assemblies, a switching mechanism, and an actuating mechanism. The battery assemblies are removably mounted to the switching mechanism. The switching mechanism has a non-energized position in which the battery assemblies are electrically disconnected from the switching mechanism. The switching mechanism also has an energized position in which the battery assemblies are electrically connected to the switching mechanism. The actuating mechanism is connected to the switching mechanism, and switches the switching mechanism between the non-energized and the energized positions. The actuating mechanism preferably is activated remotely, improving personnel safety. The number and make-up of the battery assemblies may be varied to provide for different voltages.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 16, 2003
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2006
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Navy
    Inventors: Joseph F. Sharrow, Kurt W. Solomon, Frank E. Peterkin, Jack S. Bernardes, Brian J. Hankla
  • Patent number: 7073897
    Abstract: The present invention provides a portable ink jet recording apparatus of mobile type in which the user does not pay attention to reservation of an electric power required for driving the recording apparatus. A detachable and exchangeable supplies container containing a recording material, recording fluid and fuel for a fuel cell is provided, and a hybrid cell comprised of a compact fuel cell and a secondary cell is used as a power supply system so that, when the ink jet recording apparatus is not driven, an electric power generated by the fuel cell is stored in the secondary cell.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 2003
    Date of Patent: July 11, 2006
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Toru Kubokawa
  • Patent number: 7074518
    Abstract: An electrochemical battery comprises a casing (1) presenting a surface of revolution about an axis, having at least one air inlet opening (4) and at least one air outlet opening (5), and housing firstly in a central portion (6), fan means (7), and secondly around the periphery of the central portion, secondary electrochemical cells (8) arranged in such a manner as to deliver selected electrical characteristics. The air flow generated by the axial fan means (7) between the air inlet opening (4) and the air outlet opening (5) sweep over the cells (8), thereby regulating their temperature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 22, 2003
    Date of Patent: July 11, 2006
    Assignee: Saft Finance S.AR.L.
    Inventors: Nicolas Vigier, Stéphane Besse
  • Patent number: 7074519
    Abstract: This invention provides a new design and fabrication for a three-dimensional crossbar architecture embedding a sub-micron or nanometer sized hole (called a molehole) in each cross-region. Each molehole is an electrochemical cell consisting of two or more sectional surfaces separated by a non-conductor (e.g. a dialectric layer and solid electrolyte). When used in electrochemical molecular memory device (EMMD), the architecture provides unique features such as a nano-scale electroactive surface, no interaction between memory elements, and easier miniaturization and integration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 2001
    Date of Patent: July 11, 2006
    Assignee: The Regents of the University of California
    Inventors: Werner G. Kuhr, David F. Bocian, Zhiming Liu, Amir Yasseri
  • Patent number: 7018731
    Abstract: A battery assembly (E) comprises firstly a battery (B) having at least one module (1-i) constituted by at least two secondary electrochemical cells (2-j) connected in series, and secondly control apparatus comprising control means (4) for acting at the end of charging the battery (B) to determine the number of cells (1-i) that are in working condition in each module (2-j) and then for determining a threshold voltage value for each module (1-i) as a function of said number, and finally for acting at the end of discharge of the battery (B) to compare an end-of-discharge voltage measured across the terminals of each module (1-i) with the corresponding threshold voltage as previously determined so as to interrupt operation of the battery (B) when at least one measured end-of-discharge voltage (VFD-i) is less than the corresponding value determined for the threshold voltage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 2003
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2006
    Assignee: Alcatel
    Inventor: Serge Maloize
  • Patent number: 7014948
    Abstract: The present invention provides a electrochemical element, wherein a multi-component composite film comprising a) polymer support layer film and b) a porous gellable polymer layer which is formed on either or both sides of the support layer film of a), wherein the support layer film of a) and the gellable polymer layer of b) are unified with each other without an interface between them.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 2002
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2006
    Assignee: LG Chem, Ltd.
    Inventors: Seung-Jin Lee, Hyang-Mok Lee, Soon-Ho Ahn, Jin-Yeon Cho, Hyun-Hang Yong, Hyung-Keun Lee, Sang-Young Lee, Heon-Sik Song, Byeong-In Ahn, Soon-Yong Park, You-Jin Kyung
  • Patent number: 6998190
    Abstract: A small battery and an electric double layer capacitor exhibit adequate cell voltage and capacitor withstand voltage. Specifically, the battery or electric double layer capacitor includes basic cells having a pair of electrodes oppositely laminated via the separator, and an electrolyte are packaged in a resin sheet package. The basic cells are laminated in series via a sheet current collector. The sheet current collector extends to an edge of the resin sheet package around the periphery of the basic cells laminated on both sides of the current collector. The sheet current collector is glued or fused to the resin sheet in its edge. The adjacent basic cells via the sheet current collector are fluid-tightly separated within the resin sheet package.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 17, 2003
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2006
    Assignee: NEC TOKIN Corporation
    Inventors: Tomoki Nobuta, Toshihiko Nishiyama, Hiroyuki Kamisuki, Gaku Harada, Masato Kurosaki, Yuji Nakagawa, Masaya Mitani
  • Patent number: 6972164
    Abstract: A lithium secondary battery for use in electric vehicle, includes: a battery case, and an electricity-generating body including a positive electrode, a negative electrode, and a separator, the positive and the negative electrode being wound or laminated via the separator so that the positive electrode and negative electrode are not brought into direct contact with each other. Each single battery has a ratio (X/E) of battery output X (W) and battery energy E (Wh), of 2 to 36 or a product (R×E) of battery internal resistance R (m?) and battery energy E (Wh), of 50 to 900 (m?·Wh). The lithium secondary battery is used in an electric vehicle as combined batteries formed by connecting a required number of the single batteries in series.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 5, 2002
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2005
    Assignee: NGK Insulators, Ltd.
    Inventors: Hiroshi Nemoto, Kenshin Kitoh
  • Patent number: 6972154
    Abstract: We have developed a method of anodic bonding which directs cations to a location within a bonding structure which is away from critical bonding surfaces. This prevents the formation of compounds comprising the cations at the critical bonding surfaces. The anodic bonding electrode contacts are made in a manner which concentrates the cations and compounds thereof in a portion of the bonded structure which can be removed, or cleaned to remove the compounds from the structure. A device formed from the bonded structure contains minimal, if any, of the cation-comprising compounds which weaken bond strength within the structure. In the alternative, the cations and compounds thereof are directed to a portion of the bonding structure which does not affect the function of a device which includes the bonded structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 2002
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2005
    Assignee: Applied Materials, Inc.
    Inventor: Harald S. Gross
  • Patent number: 6969567
    Abstract: A rechargeable multi-cell battery including a plurality of electrochemical cells. Each of the cells includes a gas port that allows passage of cell gases into and out of the cell but prevent passage of cell electrolyte out of the cell. The gas port may be a gas permeable membrane. The multi-cell batter may be a bipolar battery.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 6, 2000
    Date of Patent: November 29, 2005
    Assignee: Texaco Ovonic Battery Systems, LLC
    Inventors: Lin R. Higley, Marshall D. Muller, Dennis A. Corrigan
  • Patent number: 6953638
    Abstract: A fluid-cooled battery pack system can maintain the variation in battery temperature in a battery pack within the permissible temperature range even when the variation in the gaps between battery modules is considered. A plurality of battery modules are each provided with a plurality of convex portions and concave portions on the sides thereof, where the connections to other battery modules are made. When the battery modules are connected by bringing the opposite convex portions into contact with each other, coolant flow paths, through which a coolant flows, are formed. The target width of the coolant flow paths is set so that the variation in temperature relative to the target temperature of each battery module is maintained within a predetermined range when the coolant flows through the coolant flow paths; the variation in temperature is caused by a fabrication tolerance relative to the target width of the coolant flow paths between the battery modules.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2001
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2005
    Assignees: Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd., Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Kiwamu Inui, Toyohiko Etoh
  • Patent number: 6933076
    Abstract: A battery pack includes a plurality of cells (2) stacked on top of one another in tiers; a heat collecting plate (4, 7) made of a wave-like metal sheet and interposed between tiers of the cells so as to make contact with outer peripheral surfaces of upper and lower tiers of the cells alternately; a heat pipe (10) having its heating portion (10a) fitted into a fitting groove (8, 9) formed in the heat collecting plate; a pack case (1) for accommodating the cells, the heat collecting plate, and the heat pipe; and a heat dissipating member (3) attached to the pack case so as to close an opening of the pack case and having on its inner-surface side a concavely-formed receiving groove (11) into which a heat dissipating portion (10b) of the heat pipe is fitted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 16, 2001
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2005
    Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hironori Ura, Hiroki Takeshima, Ryoichi Hamasaki, Osamu Aoya, Takehiro Chinen
  • Patent number: 6924060
    Abstract: In a prismatic sealed battery module which includes a plurality of electrode plate groups, collectors joined to leads on both sides of the electrode plate group, and a prismatic battery case for storing the plurality of electrode plate groups, a connected-electrode-plate-group body is constituted by connecting the plurality of electrode groups with collectors interposed between them. A sheet covering both side surfaces and a bottom surface of the peripheral surfaces of the connected-electrode-plate-group body is provided. After gaps between the sheet and outer edges of the collectors are sealed, the connected-electrode-plate-group body is placed in the prismatic battery case. Thereby, the current-carrying paths between the electrode plate groups are short and straight, resulting in reduced internal resistance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 6, 2002
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2005
    Assignees: Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd., Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Shinji Hamada, Takashi Asahina, Toyohiko Eto
  • Patent number: 6905797
    Abstract: A multicell assembly for a redox flow electrolyzer is constituted by alternately stacking pre-assembled elements, typically an electrode subassembly including porous mat electrodes on opposite faces of a conductive plate and a permionic membrane subassembly. Pressure drops in circulating the electrolyte solutions through respective cell compartments, in contact with fluid permeable three-dimensional electrodes in the form of porous mats, are reduced while enhancing evenness of electrolyte refreshing over the whole geometrical cell-area, by defining cooperatively interleaved flow channels in the porous mat electrode. Two interleaved orders of parallel flow channels are defined. All the parallel spaced channels of each order extend from a common orthogonal base channel formed along the respective inlet or outlet side of the electrolyte flow chamber, and terminate short of reaching the base channel of the other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 2002
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2005
    Assignee: Squirrel Holdings Ltd.
    Inventors: Barry M. Broman, Andrea Zocchi
  • Patent number: 6881514
    Abstract: An electrochemical element with improved energy density is provided. The electrochemical element has electrochemical cells which are multiply stacked. The electrochemical cell is stacked with the full cell or bicell as a basic unit and a separator film is interposed between the adjoining portion of the cells. The electrochemical element is easy to manufacture, has a structure which uses the space available efficiently, and can maximize the content of the active electrode material so that a highly integrated battery can be implemented.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 8, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 19, 2005
    Assignee: LG Chemical Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Soon-Ho Ahn, Hyang-Mok Lee, Seung-Jin Lee, Tae-Hyung Kim, Hyung-Keun Lee
  • Patent number: 6858345
    Abstract: A high power bipolar battery, such as a high power lithium polymer battery is provided. The bipolar battery includes a plurality of multiple cell assemblies. The plurality of multiple cell assemblies is connected in series to form the high power bipolar battery. Each of the plurality of multiple cell assemblies includes a rigid core with a bipolar cell stack of multiple cells wound together around the rigid core to produce a large active cell area. The wound bipolar cell stack includes a positive battery connection and a negative battery connection. A container surrounds the bipolar cell stack. A positive terminal carried by the container is connected to the positive battery connection. A negative terminal carried by the container is spaced apart from the positive terminal and connected to the negative battery connection. A state-of-charge connector carried by the container is spaced apart from the positive and negative terminals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 9, 2002
    Date of Patent: February 22, 2005
    Assignee: The University of Chicago
    Inventors: Khalil Amine, Paul A. Nelson
  • Patent number: 6852440
    Abstract: The invention relates to a PEM fuel cell which has a new type of edge structure, in which a reservoir of water is formed in a minute gap between membrane and edge seal, which considerably improves the utilization time of a polymer electrolyte membrane, in particular with dry process gases.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 1999
    Date of Patent: February 8, 2005
    Assignee: Axiva GmbH
    Inventor: Harald Bönsel
  • Patent number: 6849357
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a battery using a case of which the section of the lower part containing an electric element is square or hexagonal and the section of the upper part containing a sealing plate is circular or elliptic. By virtue of the shape of the lower part the space efficiency of the battery pack is enhanced and by virtue of the shape of the upper part the productivity of the battery is improved. Further, preferably, the corners of the lower part of the case are rounded or chamferred, whereby the temperature rise in the battery pack is suppressed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 28, 2000
    Date of Patent: February 1, 2005
    Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hideki Kasahara, Masumi Katsumoto, Masaharu Miyahisa, Yoshihiro Boki
  • Publication number: 20040265684
    Abstract: A modular electrochemical cell system is provided. The system includes N+X individual electrochemical cell modules. N modules of the system are typically sufficient to provide an electrical discharge output or receive an electrical recharge input. A control system is also provided for detecting the condition of each module and determining the best N modules to provide the function needed for optimal performance during recharge or discharge. The control system may also control switching of the N+X modules. One or more of the extra X modules excluded from the control system determination are available for maintenance or refueling without interruption of the operation of the remaining N modules.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 10, 2004
    Publication date: December 30, 2004
    Inventors: Sadeg M. Faris, Tsepin Tsai
  • Publication number: 20040258981
    Abstract: A liquid holding and dispensing means in the form of outside surface walls having a thickness (3), surrounding an internal cavity. The internal cavity is connected with the outside surfaces by multiple orifices (1). The outside surface is made up of equally sized, equally spaced, multiple sided surfaces FIG. 2. Which can be but not limited to, triangular or pentagonal shapes. This enables said cells to nest closely together inside a container, yielding high volumetric densities for said cells. Complete filling and draining of said cell is accomplished by always having at least one orifice (1) of said cell at the high and low points, regardless of the orientation of the said cell. A further feature on the inside of said cell is drainage slopes (3) which prevent pooling of any liquids. Liquid runs off the walls, being channeled along the interconnecting surface grooves to the lowest orifice.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 20, 2003
    Publication date: December 23, 2004
    Inventor: John Reville Westmoreland
  • Patent number: 6830846
    Abstract: A unique discontinuous cathode sheet structure is incorporated within thin-film electrochemical halfcells and full cells. A thin-film electrochemical cell structure includes a cathode sheet layer comprising a series of discontinuous cathode sheets. In a monoface configuration, each of the cathode sheets includes one cathode layer in contact with a current collector layer. In a biface configuration, each of the cathode sheets includes a pair of cathode layers each contacting a current collector layer. A gap is defined between adjacent ones of the cathode sheets. A solid electrolyte layer contacts a surface of one or both cathode layers, depending on the configuration, and extends across the gaps defined between the adjacent cathode sheets. The cathode sheets may be arranged in a number of rows to define a matrix of the cathode sheets.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 2001
    Date of Patent: December 14, 2004
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: David C. Kramlich, Alan P. Miller
  • Publication number: 20040247994
    Abstract: An assembled battery device in the present invention comprises a plurality of single cells which is placed with a predetermined space between each other, and an element for detecting swelling which is set in the predetermined space between the single cells and operates in accordance with transform by swelling. According to this, when a single cell swells and then transforms, resulting from being overcharged, the element for detecting swelling is activated in accordance with such transform by swelling and detects the state of overcharging.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 7, 2004
    Publication date: December 9, 2004
    Inventors: Hideki Masuda, Hiroshi Tasai, Koichi Nishiyama
  • Patent number: 6827811
    Abstract: Assembling electrochemical cell components using a bonding agent comprising aligning components of the electrochemical cell, applying a bonding agent between the components to bond the components together, placing the components within a container that is essentially a pliable bag, and drawing a vacuum within the bag, wherein the bag conforms to the shape of the components from the pressure outside the bag, thereby holding the components securely in place. The vacuum is passively maintained until the adhesive has cured and the components are securely bonded. The bonding agent used to bond the components of the electrochemical cell may be distributed to the bonding surface from distribution channels in the components. To prevent contamination with bonding agent, some areas may be treated to produce regions of preferred adhesive distribution and protected regions. Treatments may include polishing, etching, coating and providing protective grooves between the bonding surfaces and the protected regions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 7, 2002
    Date of Patent: December 7, 2004
    Assignee: Lynntech, Inc.
    Inventors: Craig C. Andrews, Oliver J. Murphy
  • Publication number: 20040241540
    Abstract: When producing an electrode for use in a three-dimensional battery, an active material is combined with at least one of a separator, a dividing wall, and a current collector for simultaneous formation. Both the dividing wall and the current collector are planar or are so formed as to have projected portions in needle, plate, wave, particle, or the like form. Both the dividing wall and the current collector may be provided with a cooling structure. As an additional current collector, an ion permeable current collector, which has voids therein, permits passage of ions, and exhibits electrical conductive properties, is provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 16, 2004
    Publication date: December 2, 2004
    Inventors: Kazuo Tsutsumi, Kazuya Nishimura, Susumu Mitsuda, Takahito Tanigawa
  • Publication number: 20040229112
    Abstract: A battery mechanism is disclosed. The battery mechanism in one embodiment includes battery assemblies, a switching mechanism, and an actuating mechanism. The battery assemblies are removably mounted to the switching mechanism. The switching mechanism has a non-energized position in which the battery assemblies are electrically disconnected from the switching mechanism. The switching mechanism also has an energized position in which the battery assemblies are electrically connected to the switching mechanism. The actuating mechanism is connected to the switching mechanism, and switches the switching mechanism between the non-energized and the energized positions. The actuating mechanism preferably is activated remotely, improving personnel safety. The number and make-up of the battery assemblies may be varied to provide for different voltages.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 16, 2003
    Publication date: November 18, 2004
    Inventors: Joseph F. Sharrow, Kurt W. Solomon, Frank E. Petterkin, Jack S. Bernardes, Brian J. Hankla
  • Patent number: 6818343
    Abstract: A plurality of cells (1a to 1j) are abutted against each other and electrically connected on the short sides of rectangular battery housings (2), and binding plates (14, 14) disposed on both long sides are tied together with binding bands (13) to integrally link the cells (1a to 1j). Because the heat radiation conditions are equalized among the cells (1a to 1j), there is an extremely small temperature differential between the cells, charging efficiency, which varies with temperature conditions, is consistent, and there is no variance in battery capacity, so none of the cells are over-discharged, and battery life is extended.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 2001
    Date of Patent: November 16, 2004
    Assignees: Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd., Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Shinya Kimoto, Mitsugu Takaki, Kenji Kimura, Toshinobu Yokoyama, Shinsuke Fukuda, Yasuhiro Takahashi, Toshihiro Katsuta, Kieko Asakawa
  • Publication number: 20040224223
    Abstract: A battery comprises a plurality of connected, thin cells mounted in a band of a watch. Each cell is (or a unit of cells are) disposed in one of a plurality of links of a watchband of the watch or either one of two snapping members at ends of the watchband. The invention is also applicable in wrist antennas, mobile phones, or digital cameras.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 7, 2003
    Publication date: November 11, 2004
    Inventors: Huei-Hsin Sun, Yu-Yu Chuang
  • Patent number: 6811921
    Abstract: A battery pack comprises: a battery unit (12) including a plurality of batteries (1) arranged flatly and electrically connected with one another by either series or parallel connection, or a combination thereof; a pair of heat transfer plates (8a, 8b) made of a material exhibiting excellent thermal conductivity and arranged in parallel to a surface where the battery unit (12) is arranged, of which one makes surface contact with a top-surface side of each of the batteries (1) of the battery unit (12), and the other makes surface contact with a back-surface side of each of the batteries (1) of the battery unit (12); and a housing (2) made of a material exhibiting excellent thermal conductivity, the housing accommodating the battery unit (12) and the pair of heat transfer plates (8a, 8b) and making surface contact with the pair of heat transfer plates (8a, 8b).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 2001
    Date of Patent: November 2, 2004
    Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yoshitaka Dansui, Hideki Kasahara
  • Patent number: 6811903
    Abstract: A rechargeable electrochemical cell system is provided. The system includes a plurality of cells, wherein each cell is comprised of a first electrode, a second electrode, and a third electrode electrically isolated from the second electrode. The cell system may be discharged upon application of a load across a discharge circuit, which is formed from the first electrodes and the second electrodes. The cell may be recharged upon application of a voltage across a recharging circuit, which is formed of at least one of the first electrodes and at least one of the third electrodes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 6, 2001
    Date of Patent: November 2, 2004
    Assignee: Evlonyx, Inc.
    Inventors: Aditi Vartak, Tsepin Tsai
  • Publication number: 20040214138
    Abstract: A light polymerization device for polymerization of a polymerizable material includes a hand-held device having a multi-branch electrical supply receptacle or a multi-prong electrical supply plug for the connection of the hand-held device with the storage battery assembly or with a connection module, which, in particular, makes available a releasably connectable electrical supply connection as well as a data bus port or interface. A base station comprises a single receptacle or several receptacles for the receipt of the storage battery assembly. The base station can comprise an electrical supply plug connection via which the base station is supplied with electrical energy, especially electrical energy supplied via a power pack.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 6, 2003
    Publication date: October 28, 2004
    Applicant: Ivoclar Vivadent AG
    Inventors: Bruno Senn, Wolfgang Plank
  • Publication number: 20040209161
    Abstract: A power generating system is described including a plurality of electrochemical cells. The cells are generally arranged in sections that are selectively activated individually or in combination to produce power from selected cell sections. A method of generating power is also described. A first group of one or more electrochemical cells of an array of cells are selectively activated based on requirement of an associated load. The system switches to a second group of one or more electrochemical cells of the array when the first group is discharged.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 23, 2004
    Publication date: October 21, 2004
    Inventors: Donald Dubac, Michael Glover, Haresh P. Kamath
  • Publication number: 20040209162
    Abstract: A flat elongated alkaline battery comprising an outer metal housing and plurality of individual alkaline cells housed therein. The outer housing has at least a major surface which is a flat polygon. Preferably the outer metal housing is a cuboid. The individual cells comprise an anode slab comprising zinc, cathode slab, comprising manganese dioxide and separator therebetween. Each cell is formed by stacking the anode, separator, and cathode body to body. Each cell has at least one surface which is polygonal. The individual cells are preferably aligned in a row edge to edge to form a pack of cells having the same thickness as the thickness of an individual cell. The pack of cells are inserted into a common hydrogen permeable plastic container and encased therein. The cells encased in the plastic container are housed within the interior of the metal outer casing. The cells are electrically connected in parallel to the battery positive and negative terminals.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 12, 2004
    Publication date: October 21, 2004
    Inventors: Alexander Shelekhin, Steven J. Specht, Robert S. Ferrin, Derek R. Bobowick
  • Publication number: 20040209164
    Abstract: In order to enable the safer use of an assembly of multiple cells comprising: a plurality of unit cells; an outer container for housing the unit cells; a terminal plate for sealing an upper opening of the outer container; and a positive output terminal and a negative output terminal formed on the same face of the terminal plate, at least the side face of the negative output terminal is covered by a protective tube having an electrical insulation property.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 10, 2003
    Publication date: October 21, 2004
    Inventors: Seiji Wada, Susumu Kato, Yasushi Sumihiro, Kenji Yamamoto, Yuji Mototani, Ryohei Ashihara
  • Publication number: 20040197647
    Abstract: Electrode plate assemblies (41a, 41b, 41c) forming independent elements for electromotive force each contained in a partition member (46) are series-connected and accommodated in a battery case (45). Each element is constructed as a nickel-metal hydride rechargeable battery cell and has an electromotive force of 1.2V, and so the battery connected in series has an output voltage of 3.6V and can be applied to general purpose uses.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 26, 2004
    Publication date: October 7, 2004
    Inventors: Shinji Murashige, Tetsuo Nanno, Yoichi Izumi, Munehisa Ikoma
  • Patent number: 6797427
    Abstract: A battery for use in various temperature environments includes a plurality of cells arranged in a close packing arrangement and a sleeve that is disposed around the cells. The sleeve is constructed from a material that acts as an insulator at relatively low temperatures and that acts as a conductor at relatively high temperatures.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 9, 2001
    Date of Patent: September 28, 2004
    Assignee: Motorola, Inc.
    Inventors: Hossein Maleki, Anaba Anani, Ganesh Venugopal
  • Publication number: 20040185334
    Abstract: In order to enhance reliability of a battery against bending or twisting in particular, at least one cell group comprising 4 unit cells is formed on a flexible substrate. The cell group has a rectangular shape, and is divided into the 4 unit cells by strip-shaped portions arranged along 2 diagonal lines of the rectangle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 18, 2004
    Publication date: September 23, 2004
    Applicant: MATSUSHITA ELECTRIC INDUSTRIAL CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Kazuya Iwamoto