Individual Cells Connected In Repeating Contiguous Layered Units Patents (Class 429/152)
  • Patent number: 7955725
    Abstract: Provided is a package for sodium-sulfur batteries in which the inner temperature can be suitably controlled even when it is installed in the place where temperatures and direction of wind change violently. Specifically, there is provided a package 101 for sodium-sulfur batteries in which air guiding plates 106a, 106b are provided being inclined obliquely and downwardly toward wall faces 109a, 109b between bottom surfaces of module batteries 4a, 4b and wall faces 109a, 109b, and in addition, flow rectifying plates 107a, 107b are provided being inclined obliquely and upwardly toward space 8 from the upper surface of module batteries 4a, 4b.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 29, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2011
    Assignee: NGK Insulators, Ltd.
    Inventors: Yahei Takagi, Mikine Takeyama
  • Patent number: 7955727
    Abstract: Disclosed herein is a battery pack including: a plurality of cylindrical battery cells arranged in a plurality of rows and a plurality of layers; and a partition member for partitioning the battery cells; wherein each the battery cell is larger in diametral size on the positive electrode terminal side than on the negative electrode terminal side; the partition member includes a partition plate, and ribs formed in corners formed between the partition plate and support plates provided to be substantially orthogonal to the partition plate at substantially regular intervals, the ribs being operative to support the battery cells; and the ribs are formed correspondingly to the shape of the battery cell.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 15, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2011
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventor: Masakazu Naito
  • Patent number: 7951483
    Abstract: The present invention provides an assembled battery with reduced weight and high reliability that can achieve improvement of assembling easiness at low cost. An assembled battery is provided with a frame holding a plurality of unit cells 14 having positive polarity at one end and negative polarity at the other end. The frame is composed of two outer frames 2 having the same shape and an inner frame 3. The unit cells 14 constituting an assembled battery 1 are disposed on both sides of the inner frame 3, and one outer frame 2 and the other outer frame 2 are disposed such that the unit cells are sandwiched between the former outer frame 2 and the inner frame 3 and between the latter outer frame 2 and the inner frame 3. The two outer frames 2 are joined to the inner frame 3 through side face coupling portions 23 and vertical coupling portions 24.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2006
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2011
    Assignee: Hitachi Vehicle Energy, Ltd.
    Inventors: Toshiaki Onuki, Takeyuki Goto, Koutarou Ikeda, Tunemi Aiba
  • Patent number: 7951478
    Abstract: A battery pack includes battery modules; battery module stacked members including the stacked battery modules; a battery module group including the battery module stacked members arranged in a plane; and a lower plate arranged to hold the battery module group. The lower plate includes a main body made from a resin, the main body supporting the battery module stacked members arranged in parallel, and including mounting surfaces each of which one of the battery module stacked members is mounted on; and metal frames each inserted and molded in one of the mounting surfaces, the metal frames being arranged in an arrangement direction of the battery module stacked members, and electrically insulated with each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 9, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2011
    Assignee: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Toshifumi Takamatsu
  • Publication number: 20110111281
    Abstract: A method for forming an integrated lithium-ion type battery, including the successive steps of: forming, on a substrate, a stack of a cathode layer made of a material capable of receiving lithium ions, an electrolyte layer, and an anode layer of the battery; forming a short-circuit between the anode and cathode layers; performing a thermal evaporation of lithium; and opening the short-circuit between the anode and cathode layers.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 4, 2010
    Publication date: May 12, 2011
    Applicant: STMicroelectronics (Tours) SAS
    Inventors: Pierre Bouillon, Delphine Guy-Bouyssou
  • Publication number: 20110104536
    Abstract: An energy storage unit, such as a galvanic cell, is composed of a first electrode (10), a second electrode (18) and a separation element (24), which is arranged between the first and the second electrode. Therein, the first and the second electrode (10, 18), respectively, comprise an electrode collector (12, 20) and an active electrode material (14, 22), which is applied onto the respective electrode collector on one side or on both sides. In order to improve the longterm stability, in particular for large format lithium-ion cells, the electrode collector (12, 20) of the first and/or the second electrode (10, 18) is made of a copper material, which is technical-grade oxygen-free having at least approximately 99.9% by weight copper and a specific phosphorous content.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 26, 2008
    Publication date: May 5, 2011
    Inventors: Tim Schaefer, Andreas Gutsch
  • Publication number: 20110076540
    Abstract: A battery pack apparatus has a plurality of battery cell units that are stacked together in generally parallel relation. The battery cell units are configured to define converging air flow spaces therebetween. An air inlet header provides a converging air inlet plenum that is situated adjacent one side of the battery cell units and an air outlet header provides a diverging air outlet plenum that is situated adjacent an opposite side of the battery cell units. A blower or fan forces air into the air inlet plenum. The air flows through the air flow spaces between the battery cell units to cool the battery cell units. The speed of the air increases as it advances through the air inlet plenum and the plurality of air flow spaces.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 30, 2009
    Publication date: March 31, 2011
    Inventors: Jeffrey J. Ronning, Ross K. Brown
  • Patent number: 7914922
    Abstract: A battery pack of a battery includes a plurality of laminated cells that are hermetically sealed by a laminated film, a case for storing the plurality of the laminated cells, a positive electrode terminal and a negative electrode terminal of a battery for connecting the cells in parallel or series for connection to the outside of the case, a lid member for pressing the cells from the uppermost surface of the laminate of the cells stored in the case toward the inner side of the case in the direction opposite to the laminating direction of the cells, and a fixing member for fixing the lid member to the case at a position where a predetermined pressing force is applied.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2011
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventors: Yasushi Sanada, Yoshinao Tatebayashi, Nobuo Shibuya, Shinichiro Kosugi
  • Publication number: 20110070477
    Abstract: A penetrating portion (15P) is provided partially at a location in a positive electrode current collector terminal (15) to which positive electrode lead tabs (11) (electrode plate lead tabs) are joined, to form a current-collector-terminal-absent region (penetrating portion (15P)) and a current-collector-terminal-present region that are aligned in a perpendicular direction (a widthwise direction) to a connection direction of the positive electrode lead tabs (11). Only the plurality of the positive electrode lead tabs (11) are joined at a center weld point (32M) (first joining spot) in the current-collector-terminal-absent region, and the positive electrode lead tabs (11) are joined to the positive electrode current collector terminal 15 at each of left-side and right-side weld points 32L and 32R (second joining spot) in the current-collector-terminal-present region.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 16, 2010
    Publication date: March 24, 2011
    Applicant: SANYO ELECTRIC CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Masayuki Fujiwara, Yoshitaka Shinyashiki, Hitoshi Maeda, Atsuhiro Funahashi
  • Patent number: 7910037
    Abstract: A fuel cell manufacturing method is provided by which an unbroken strip of sheet material is sent through a molding process, an MEA assembly process and a modularization process, and is separated into individual modules in a batch process. In the molding process, separators are sequentially molded on the strip of sheet material, and a separator strip is produced in which the separators are connected together by runners. In the MEA assembly process and the modularization process, MEAs are sequentially assembled on the separator strip in which a series of the separators are connected together by the runners, and a module strip is produced in which a series of the modules are connected together by the runners. In the batch process, the series of modules is separated into the individual modules by cutting and removing the runners from the module strip.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2004
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2011
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yuichi Itoh, Nobuhira Abe, Satoshi Ohnuma
  • Publication number: 20110052964
    Abstract: Disclosed herein is an electrode assembly constructed in a structure in which a plurality of electrochemical cells, formed of full cells having a cathode/separator/anode structure, as basic units, are overlapped, and a continuous separator sheet is disposed between the overlapped electrochemical cells, wherein a unit electrode surrounded by the separator sheet is located at a middle of the overlapped electrochemical cells, which is a winding start point, and the full cells disposed above and below the unit electrode are symmetrical to each other about the unit electrode in the direction of electrodes of the full cells. The electrode assembly is manufactured with high productivity while the electrode assembly exhibits performance and safety equal to those of a conventional stack/folding type electrode assembly.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 12, 2008
    Publication date: March 3, 2011
    Applicant: LG CHEM, LTD.
    Inventors: KiJae Kim, Min Su Kim
  • Patent number: 7897280
    Abstract: Disclosed herein is a sheet-shaped safety kit that is attached to opposite major surfaces of an electrode assembly for secondary batteries. The safety kit includes a group of metal sheets electrically connected to a cathode terminal of the electrode assembly, another group of metal sheets electrically connected to a cathode terminal of the electrode assembly, and an insulation sheet disposed between the two metal sheet groups. The metal sheets of one of the metal sheet groups are interconnected with each other at lower ends of the metal sheets, the lower-end interconnection part interconnecting the lower ends of the metal sheets has a width less than that of the metal sheets, and lower-end corners of the interconnected metal sheets are larger than lower-end corners of the metal sheets that are not interconnected with each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 1, 2011
    Assignee: LG Chem, Ltd.
    Inventors: Hyang Mok Lee, Byungjin Choi, Jun Hwan Jang, Hyung Ku Yun, Chang bum Ahn, Hyun-Chul Jung, JeongSam Son, Dong jun Kim
  • Publication number: 20110039146
    Abstract: A bipolar secondary battery includes a plurality of bipolar electrodes, each including a current collector that has a positive electrode layer on one surface thereof and a negative electrode layer on the opposite surface thereof. A separator is disposed between adjacent two bipolar electrodes such that the positive electrode layer of one bipolar electrode and the negative electrode layer of the adjacent bipolar electrode adjacent are opposed to each other along the length of the separator. The positive electrode layer and the negative electrode layer are formed with protrudent portions disposed at positions offset from each other along a length of the current collector.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 25, 2009
    Publication date: February 17, 2011
    Applicant: NISSAN MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Masanobu Sato, Kenji Hosaka, Hideaki Horie, Yoshio Shimoida, Masanori Aoyagi
  • Patent number: 7887946
    Abstract: A prismatic battery according to one embodiment of the present invention includes a flat electrode group 10 stacked or rolled by mutually positive and negative electrodes with a separator therebetween, a pressing plate 13A, a current collecting body 18A or 18B and a plurality of exposed sections 16, at least one end of the positive and negative electrodes substrates in a width direction being uncoated with a positive or negative electrode mixture. The pressing plate 13A is welded to the exposed sections 16. The pressing plate 13A includes opposing surfaces with a space therebetween provided by folding back a metal plate, and includes a slit 15 along a folded back section at least to one of the opposing surface's side. The exposed sections 16 are inserted into a gap of the pressing plate 13A, and the exposed sections 16 and the pressing plate 13A are welded by a high energy beam from a transverse direction through the slit 15.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 2006
    Date of Patent: February 15, 2011
    Assignee: Sanyo Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yasuhiro Yamauchi, Kenji Nansaka, Naoya Nakanishi, Toshiyuki Nohma
  • Patent number: 7883793
    Abstract: A battery module having battery cell assemblies with alignment-coupling features is provided. The battery module includes a first battery cell assembly having at least first, second, third and fourth alignment-coupling features thereon. The battery module further includes a second battery cell assembly having at least fifth, sixth, seventh, and eighth alignment-coupling features thereon. The fifth, sixth, seventh, and eighth alignment-coupling features of the second battery cell assembly are configured to engage the first, second, third and fourth alignment-coupling features, respectively, of the first battery cell assembly to couple the second battery cell assembly to the first battery cell assembly and to align the second battery cell assembly relative to the first battery cell assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 8, 2011
    Assignee: LG Chem, Ltd.
    Inventors: Mark Niedzwiecki, Heekook Yang, Igor Isayev
  • Publication number: 20110020693
    Abstract: The object of the present invention is to improve the short-term discharge power after the thermal cycles, as the object of the improvement of the characteristics of the lead acid battery. An electrode for a lead acid battery comprising an electrode active material layer comprising a lead containing material, a porous carbon material and a binder, and a current collector, wherein when a weight of lead atom is A and a weight of porous carbon material is B, B/(A+B)×100 satisfies 1.0 to 90%; and said binder is a crystalline polymer having a melting temperature of 40° C. or less or amorphous polymer, is used.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 24, 2009
    Publication date: January 27, 2011
    Applicant: Zeon Corporation
    Inventor: Koji Hoshiba
  • Patent number: 7875378
    Abstract: Disclosed herein is a voltage sensing member constructed in a structure in which linear mounting parts are mounted to supporting parts coupled to the bottom of a battery module, conductive sensing parts are mounted on the mounting parts while the conductive sensing parts are in elastic contact with electrode terminals of battery cells, and the sensing parts are electrically connected to a battery management system (BMS). The voltage sensing member according to the present invention is manufactured by a simple assembly process without using a plurality of members for mechanical coupling and electrical connection. Consequently, the present invention has the effect of reducing the manufacturing costs of the voltage sensing member. Also, the voltage sensing member is maintained in elastic and stable contact when external impact or frequent vibration is applied to the voltage sensing member. Consequently, the present invention has the effect of performing stable voltage sensing operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 25, 2011
    Assignee: LG Chem, Ltd.
    Inventors: Heekook Yang, Juyoung Kim, Jongmoon Yoon
  • Patent number: 7871722
    Abstract: Disclosed herein are an electrode assembly including a plurality of unit cells folded by a continuous separation film wherein the unit cells are arranged on the separation film such that electrode taps of the unit cells face each other, the separation film has openings corresponding to the electrode taps of the unit cells, and the electrode assembly is manufactured by folding the unit cells in the longitudinal (lengthwise) direction of the separation film while the unit cells are disposed such that the electrode taps of the unit cells are inserted into the corresponding openings, and an electrochemical cell, such as a secondary battery, including the same. The electrode assembly according to the present invention is a hybrid type electrode assembly solving the problems of the jelly-roll type electrode assembly and the stacking type electrode assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 10, 2006
    Date of Patent: January 18, 2011
    Assignee: LG Chem, Ltd.
    Inventors: Youngjoon Shin, Min Su Kim, Ji Heon Ryu, Jeong Hee Choi, Seung-Jin Yang
  • Patent number: 7867650
    Abstract: A laminate type battery comprises a substrate, a power generating element which has at least one single cell made by a positive electrode layer, an electrolyte layer and a negative electrode layer which are sandwiched by collecting layers from both sides thereof, and an electric circuit portion having electrode terminals which connect the collecting layers to an external device and circuitries which connect the collecting layers and the electrode terminals. In the battery, the power generating element and the electric circuit portion are formed by stacking a plurality of layers on the substrate, and each of the layers is configured such that the power generating element and the electric circuit portion are formed by stacking the layers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 6, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 11, 2011
    Assignee: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yasunari Hisamitsu, Hideaki Horie, Kouichi Nemoto, Yasuhiko Ohsawa
  • Publication number: 20100323226
    Abstract: A battery pack that includes a holder to accommodate bare cells and a lead plate electrically connected to the holder. The lead plate includes female and male coupling members such that the holder is easily assembled with the lead plate and an error occurring when the holder and the lead plate are coupled with each other may be prevented. The lead plate may not separate from the holder after assembling the holder with the lead plate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 7, 2010
    Publication date: December 23, 2010
    Applicant: SAMSUNG SDI, CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Myungchul KIM
  • Patent number: 7833656
    Abstract: An electrochemical device having an electrode plate assembly. The electrode plate assembly includes (a) at least one first electrode, (b) at least one second electrode, and (c) a separator interposed between the first electrode and the second electrode. The first electrode includes a first current collector sheet and at least one first electrode mixture layer carried thereon. The second electrode includes a second current collector sheet and at least one second electrode mixture layer carried thereon. At least one of the first current collector sheet and the second current collector sheet has a conductive area and an insulating area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 2003
    Date of Patent: November 16, 2010
    Assignee: Panasonic Corporation
    Inventors: Ken Nishimura, Naoto Arai, Toru Oshima, Fumio Daio, Munehisa Ikoma, Norio Saito, Hideo Kaiya
  • Patent number: 7820321
    Abstract: A large stack redox flow battery system provides a solution to the energy storage challenge of many types of renewable energy systems. Independent reaction cells arranged in a cascade configuration are configured according to state of charge conditions expected in each cell. The large stack redox flow battery system can support multi-megawatt implementations suitable for use with power grid applications. Thermal integration with energy generating systems, such as fuel cell, wind and solar systems, further maximize total energy efficiency. The redox flow battery system can also be scaled down to smaller applications, such as a gravity feed system suitable for small and remote site applications.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 6, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 26, 2010
    Assignee: EnerVault Corporation
    Inventors: Craig R. Horne, Kim Kinoshita, Darren B. Hickey
  • Patent number: 7816029
    Abstract: A battery module is provided with a battery cell stack and a module case. The battery cell stack includes a plurality of stacked flat secondary battery cells. The module case includes an inwardly protruding section, a low rigidity section and a high rigidity section. The inwardly protruding section is disposed on at least one of two oppositely facing sides of the module case that faces in a battery cell stacking direction and protruding toward the interior area of the module case to apply pressure to an end surface of the battery cell stack. The low rigidity section elastically supports a periphery of the inwardly protruding section due the low rigidity section having a lower rigidity than the inwardly protruding section. The high rigidity section supports a periphery of the low rigidity section with the high rigidity section having a higher rigidity than low rigidity section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 18, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 19, 2010
    Assignee: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Toshifumi Takamatsu, Tomonori Tazuke
  • Patent number: 7794870
    Abstract: Disclosed herein are a battery having an electrode assembly, which can be charged and discharged, mounted in a plate-shaped battery case, and cathode and anode terminals protruding from opposite ends of the battery case, wherein the electrode terminals are deviated from each other about the vertical central axis on the plane of the battery cell while the electrode terminals are arranged in a symmetrical fashion, the battery case includes an upper case and a lower case, only one of which is provided with a location part for receiving the electrode assembly, and the electrode terminals are deviated toward the upper or lower case which has no location part on the vertical section of the battery cell, and a battery module including the same.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 1, 2006
    Date of Patent: September 14, 2010
    Assignee: LG Chem, Ltd.
    Inventors: KiJae Kim, Jiheon Lee
  • Patent number: 7794875
    Abstract: Disclosed herein is a battery module including two battery cells, each of which has electrode terminals formed at upper and lower ends thereof. The battery module further includes a frame member, to which upper-end sealing parts, lower-end sealing parts, and one-side sealing parts of the battery cells are mounted, a metal sheathing member for covering the outer surfaces of the battery cells while the battery cells are mounted to the frame member, and caps (an upper-end cap and a lower-end cap) mounted to the upper and lower ends of the battery cells, respectively, which are covered by the metal sheathing member. According to the present invention, it is possible to minimize the weight and the size of the battery module while increasing the strength of the battery cells. Also, it is possible to easily mount the detecting means that detects the operation of the battery cells, and it is possible to effectively prevent the occurrence of short circuits during the assembly or the operation of the battery module.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 2006
    Date of Patent: September 14, 2010
    Assignee: LG Chem, Ltd.
    Inventors: Junill Yoon, Seungjae You, Heekook Yang, Jongmoon Yoon, Jisang Yu, John E. Namgoong
  • Publication number: 20100227211
    Abstract: A rechargeable battery and a method of fabricating which includes stacking a plurality of electrode pages having an uncoated portion between portions coated with an active electrode material. The electrode pages are arranged in a stack and an overall current collector is connected at the uncoated portion in order to form an electrode booklet. The overall current collector maintains the arrangement of the electrode pages and electrically connects all of the uncoated portions of the electrode pages. A tilted stack of electrode pages is utilized when a large number of electrodes are desired to result in a battery cell having a vertical orientation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 9, 2009
    Publication date: September 9, 2010
    Inventors: Tsun-Yu Chang, Chun-Chieh Chang, Han Cheng Kuo
  • Patent number: 7776466
    Abstract: Disclosed herein is a structure of layering unit cells for a lithium polymer battery, in which electrode terminals are provided on surfaces of the respective unit cells for the lithium polymer battery, and are alternately layered, thus allowing the unit cells to be connected in series through only a layering operation without an additional connecting device. The battery system includes first and second unit cells each having a pouch and anode and cathode terminals which are connected to a surface of the pouch and are oppositely bent in upward and downward directions. In this case, the cathode terminal of the second unit cell is directly connected to the anode terminal of the first unit cell.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 17, 2010
    Assignee: SK Energy Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Jeon-keun Oh
  • Publication number: 20100203377
    Abstract: The present invention relates to metal foil encapsulation of an electrochemical device. The metal foil encapsulation may also provide contact tabs for the electrochemical device. The present invention may also include a selectively conductive bonding layer between a contact and a cell structure.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 21, 2010
    Publication date: August 12, 2010
    Applicant: Infinite Power Solutions
    Inventors: Shawn W. Snyder, Bernd J. Neudecker, Paul C. Brantner
  • Patent number: 7758999
    Abstract: A secondary battery module comprises at least two battery cells laminated to a designated depth, in which an air guide block is interposed between leveled surfaces of the neighboring battery cells and a fixing block is interposed between protruded surfaces of the neighboring battery cells, the air guide blocks and the fixing blocks are fixed to each other using fasteners, and corresponding electrode terminals of the neighboring battery cells are interconnected in series by conductive and insulating connection members serving as bolts and nuts, thereby being conveniently installed in various industrial facilities and electric vehicles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 10, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 20, 2010
    Assignee: LG Chem, Ltd.
    Inventors: Hyun Suk Choo, Ji Sang Yu
  • Patent number: 7754390
    Abstract: A negative electrode for a nonaqueous electrolytic rechargeable battery capable of storing and discharging lithium ions is manufactured in the steps of forming a lithium metal layer on a carrier substrate by a gas phase method, superimposing the surface of the lithium metal layer formed on the carrier substrate on a negative electrode active material layer formed on a collecting body, storing the lithium metal layer into the negative electrode active material layer in nonaqueous electrolyte, and removing the carrier substrate from the negative electrode active material layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 21, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 13, 2010
    Assignee: Panasonic Corporation
    Inventors: Hideharu Takezawa, Toshitada Sato
  • Patent number: 7727667
    Abstract: A package case is structured by a plurality of substantially identical and flat frames stacked on one another. Flat laminate cells (accumulator cells) are individually accommodated in the frames and stacked on one another, so that the number of flat laminate cells (accumulator cells) can readily be changed simply by increasing/decreasing the number of frames to be stacked to meet energy needs and the like. The accumulator device is segmented using the plurality of flat frames, so that externally applied impacts can readily be dispersed and the impact transmitted to the flat laminate cells (accumulator cells) can be reduced without reinforcing the accumulator device 1 with more than necessary strength.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 2005
    Date of Patent: June 1, 2010
    Assignee: Fuji Jukogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Masato Sakurai
  • Patent number: 7714542
    Abstract: A battery unit having at least two pouch type secondary battery cells and a single safety device serving each cell in the battery unit. Each individual battery or cell body fits into a space within a casing. The battery unit may use one or more casings. The battery cells are arranged such that the terminals of different battery cells are located near the terminals of other battery cells within the unit. These terminals are connected to the safety device. The safety device may be a safety circuit board that is positioned in a space within the battery unit so that the battery unit does not consume any more space than when no safety circuit board is used.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 2003
    Date of Patent: May 11, 2010
    Assignee: Samsung SDI Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hyung-Bok Lee, Byoung-Hyun Kang
  • Patent number: 7700227
    Abstract: A flat secondary battery having a fusion-bonded sealing type laminate film as an armored body tends to be inferior in sealing reliability to a flat secondary battery having a welded sealing type can as an armored body, due to a difference in sealing method between the two batteries. Therefore, there has been a large challenge of finding the way to make the sealing reliability of the laminate film secondary battery closer to that of the can type secondary battery. The sealing reliability is improved by further increasing a sealing force without taking any measure to the existing laminate film secondary battery, in such a manner that the fusion bonding area of the existing laminate film secondary battery is sandwiched from upside and downside to be cramped from outside so as to mechanically add a sealing force from outside to the sealing force of the laminate film itself.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 21, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 20, 2010
    Assignee: NEC Corporation
    Inventor: Hiroshi Kaneta
  • Patent number: 7701729
    Abstract: An electric supplying holder includes a first cover, a second cover, a flexible battery unit and a third cover. The second cover has at least one first contact point. The first cover is disposed at a first side of the second cover. The flexible battery unit has at least one conducting part and is placed between the first cover and the second cover. The first contact point is electrically connected with the conducting part. The third cover is disposed at a second side of the second cover, and a first accommodating space is formed between the second cover and the third cover.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 16, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 20, 2010
    Assignees: Prologium Technology, Co., Ltd, Ming Yu Innovation, Co., Ltd
    Inventor: Szu-Nan Yang
  • Publication number: 20100075217
    Abstract: A positive electrode, a separator, and a negative electrode including an alloy-type negative electrode active material are stacked in this order, to form an electrode unit. Such electrode units are stacked with a separator interposed between each pair of the electrode units, to form a stacked electrode assembly. The stacked electrode assembly is fabricated, and the stacked electrode assembly is pressed during an initial charge and an initial discharge. As a result, a rate of increase of the thickness of the stacked electrode assembly due to a predetermined number of charge and discharge cycles becomes equal to or less than 10%. It is thus possible to obtain a lithium ion secondary battery having high capacity and high output, capable of maintaining battery performance such as charge/discharge cycle characteristics at a high level for a long time, and having long service life.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 9, 2009
    Publication date: March 25, 2010
    Inventors: Taisuke YAMAMOTO, Masaya Ugaji, Katsumi Kashiwagi
  • Patent number: 7682729
    Abstract: A cell binder includes a frame body and a frame body. A storage portion of a electric storage cell are pressed/clamped by the bottom of an accommodating portion of the frame body and the bottom of an accommodating portion of the frame body. Also, a sealing portion of the electric storage cell is accommodated in a gap between the bottom of a fitting concave portion of the frame body 16 and the front end of a projecting portion of the other frame body, in a state of being deflected by bending, and the sealing portion is clamped between an inner wall of the fitting concave portion and an outer wall of the projecting portion, thereby fitting the frame bodies to each other. This makes it possible to reduce the size for clamping the sealing portion and to achieve the downsizing of the entire package. In addition, providing the sealing portion with deflections allows movements of the electric storage cell to be accommodated when vibrations are applied.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 24, 2005
    Date of Patent: March 23, 2010
    Assignee: Fuji Jukogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Masaki Komuro
  • Patent number: 7678497
    Abstract: A battery including: a solid electrolyte film; and a plurality of unit cells formed thereon and connected in parallel. Each of the unit cells consists of: a positive electrode provided on one side of the solid electrolyte film; a negative electrode provided on the other side of the solid electrolyte film at a position opposite to the positive electrode; and a part of the solid electrolyte film sandwiched between the positive electrode and the negative electrode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2004
    Date of Patent: March 16, 2010
    Assignee: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hideaki Horie, Takamitsu Saito, Osamu Shimamura
  • Patent number: 7670718
    Abstract: A Battery Assembly comprises a rack assembly, a plurality of guiding strips, two polar heads, a plurality of lithium batteries and safety units. The guiding strips are connected to the polar heads and are disposed on the rack assembly, respectively. The rack assembly has a containing space for accommodating the lithium batteries, and each lithium battery is connected to the guiding strip by a guiding piece via one safety unit, such that the lithium batteries are connected in parallel, thus providing enough power with a small size. In addition, each safety unit can cut off the broken lithium battery separately, so as to avoid the immediate shut-off of the electric power.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 5, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 2, 2010
    Assignee: Energy Control Limited
    Inventor: Donald P. H. Wu
  • Patent number: 7666543
    Abstract: A battery including unit-cell layers stacked on one another. Each of the unit-cell layers comprises: an array of unit cells; and a frame member which holds the array of unit cells therein. At least one of the frame members is formed to have an inlet for introducing a coolant into the inside of the battery and an outlet for discharging the coolant which has flown through the inside of the battery.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 2005
    Date of Patent: February 23, 2010
    Assignee: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Tatsuya Higashino
  • Patent number: 7666542
    Abstract: The invention is directed towards flat battery for use in a battery pack. The flat battery includes an electrode terminal that conducts to the exterior of the exterior member and connects to the battery elements within the interior region. Electrode terminals of the flat battery are formed using a connection section, and a voltage detection section that connects a voltage detection line to a control device that detects an output voltage. A notch established between the connection section and the voltage detection section mutually separates the connection section and the voltage detection section. Because of a difference in thickness between spacer sections between the connection sections and the voltage detection section, the connection section is moveable in the lamination direction of the flat battery between the spacers, while the voltage detection section is fixed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 2006
    Date of Patent: February 23, 2010
    Assignee: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Toshifumi Takamatsu
  • Patent number: 7659029
    Abstract: A battery module has stacked therein a plurality of flat cells each formed by sealing a power generating element with a package member and deriving to the exterior electrode tabs from the package member and has the electrode tabs of the flat cells connected electrically. The battery module includes electrically insulated spacers adapted to nip the electrode tab from the opposite surface sides of the electrode tab along the stacking direction of the plurality of flat cells. The paired spacers nipping the electrode tab include an engaging member adapted to fasten the electrode tab by being passed through the electrode tab along the stacking direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 25, 2005
    Date of Patent: February 9, 2010
    Assignee: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Masayasu Ota, Ryuichi Amagai, Taisuke Isonaga, Etsuo Oogami
  • Publication number: 20100009250
    Abstract: A secondary battery includes: a battery module including an electrolyte layer in a form of a plate, a positive electrode disposed on a first main surface of the electrolyte layer and containing a positive electrode active material, and a negative electrode disposed on a second main surface of the electrolyte layer and containing a negative electrode active material; and a conductive layer provided between battery modules, the secondary battery having more than one battery module and more than one conductive layer stacked in layers, wherein the positive electrode active material and the negative electrode active material are set in concentration in accordance with a temperature distribution in the secondary battery.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 12, 2007
    Publication date: January 14, 2010
    Inventor: Yoshiyuki Nakamura
  • Publication number: 20090325059
    Abstract: A battery module having battery cell assemblies with alignment-coupling features is provided. The battery module includes a first battery cell assembly having at least first, second, third and fourth alignment-coupling features thereon. The battery module further includes a second battery cell assembly having at least fifth, sixth, seventh, and eighth alignment-coupling features thereon. The fifth, sixth, seventh, and eighth alignment-coupling features of the second battery cell assembly are configured to engage the first, second, third and fourth alignment-coupling features, respectively, of the first battery cell assembly to couple the second battery cell assembly to the first battery cell assembly and to align the second battery cell assembly relative to the first battery cell assembly.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 30, 2008
    Publication date: December 31, 2009
    Applicant: LG CHEM, LTD.
    Inventors: Mark Niedzwiecki, Heekook Yang, Igor Isayev
  • Publication number: 20090325043
    Abstract: Disclosed herein is a middle- or large-sized battery module comprising a plurality of stacked unit cells, each unit module including two or more plate-shaped battery cells electrically connected with each other, each battery cell having electrode terminals formed at opposite sides thereof. The battery module is manufactured by connecting electrode terminals of a pair of unit modules by welding, mounting a sensing unit, including a sensing member, to the welding part and bending the welding part such that the unit modules are stacked, and repeatedly performing the above processes until all the unit cells are stacked.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 4, 2007
    Publication date: December 31, 2009
    Inventors: Junill Yoon, Jongmoon Yoon, Jaesung Ahn, Jong-Yul Ro, Jae Hun Yang
  • Patent number: 7638237
    Abstract: Disclosed herein is a terminal-linking member of a high-output, large-capacity secondary battery module or pack having a plurality of unit cells stacked one on another and electrically connected with each other. The terminal-linking member includes an insulating member mounted between electrode terminals of the neighboring unit cells for accomplishing the electrical insulation between the electrode terminals, the insulating member being coupled to the electrode terminals, and a connecting member coupled to the insulating member for electrically connecting the electrode terminals of the unit cells coupled to the insulating member in series or in parallel with each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 2005
    Date of Patent: December 29, 2009
    Assignee: LG Chem, Ltd.
    Inventors: Jin Woong Ha, Jeeho Kim, HanHo Lee
  • Publication number: 20090297936
    Abstract: There is provided an assembled battery in which a plurality of flat cells having battery containers using a flexible film are vertically stacked by opposing the flat surfaces to each other. The assembled battery has a spacer disposed between the adjacent cells.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 13, 2007
    Publication date: December 3, 2009
    Inventors: Seiji Nemoto, Tomotada Mochizuki, Takeshi Shimozomo, Isao Suzuki, Noriyoshi Munenaga, Minoru Hirata, Takeshi Nakamoto, Shun Ito
  • Patent number: 7611798
    Abstract: A bus bar simultaneously performs electrical connection between unit cells and detection of voltage of the unit cells in a battery module having the same and includes: vertical bent parts formed by bending opposite ends of a strip-shaped bar body in the same direction, the vertical bent parts being provided with coupling grooves or protrusions; and a horizontal bent part formed by bending one of the vertical bent parts toward the bar body such that the horizontal bent part is parallel with the bar body. The electrode terminals of the unit cells are connected to the rear surface of the bar body of the bus bar, whereby the electrical connection between the unit cells is accomplished, and the horizontal bent part of the bus bar is directly connected to a battery management system for monitoring the potential difference and the temperature of the unit cells to control the unit cells.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 17, 2006
    Date of Patent: November 3, 2009
    Assignee: LG Chem, Ltd.
    Inventors: Junill Yoon, Juyoung Kim
  • Publication number: 20090263709
    Abstract: A secondary battery includes collector electrodes, a contact area of the collector electrode in contact with a cathode or a anode, a terminal portion formed in the collector electrode and not in contact with the cathode or anode, and a connecting portion to which a conductive member is connected. As compared with cross-sectional area of the terminal portion forming a first current path between the connecting portion and a first portion of the contact area closest to the connecting portion in the contact area, cross-sectional area of a terminal portion forming a second current path between the connecting portion and a second portion positioned in a region of the periphery of the contact area and extending along the terminal portion, of which length to the connection portion is longer than path length of said current path, is made larger.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 6, 2007
    Publication date: October 22, 2009
    Inventor: Yoshiyuki Nakamura
  • Patent number: 7597994
    Abstract: An outer case (10, 20, 35, 40) for housing a rechargeable battery (1, 31, 41) and a battery circuit therein is composed of an upper case (7, 21, 42) and a lower case (8, 22, 43), each being formed as a half-shell body. The respective bottom faces of the upper case (7, 21, 42) and the lower case (8, 22, 43) are formed of film members (7b, 8b, 32, 34, 42b, 43b), and are integrally formed with resin moldings (7a, 8a, 33, 42c, 43c) forming circumferential side faces.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 2002
    Date of Patent: October 6, 2009
    Assignee: Panasonic Corporation
    Inventors: Katsumi Kozu, Koichi Inaba, Iichiro Mori, Koici Toriyama, Naohiro Hamao, Tadashi Watanabe
  • Publication number: 20090208824
    Abstract: A power source with multiple cells connected in parallel to a common node or power supply point. The individual cells within the power source may also have a dedicated controller for each of the individual cells such that the dedicated controllers are connected on a one to one basis with each of the respective individual cells.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 15, 2008
    Publication date: August 20, 2009
    Applicant: Apple, Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas Charles Greening, William Athas, Steven Charles Michalske