Complete Cells Patents (Class 429/156)
  • Publication number: 20130171506
    Abstract: The invention relates to an energy storage apparatus and also to a method for producing an energy storage apparatus with two or a plurality of energy storage cells (14), with each storage cell comprising at least one electrode stack and/or electrode coil and two or a plurality of shell-like containers (10), each shell-like container (10) comprising one base surface (11), one shell wall (12) and an opening (13) located opposite the base surface (11), wherein one energy storage cell (14) is arranged in each of the shell-like containers (10). To simplify the structure or the production, the shell-like containers (10) are arranged next to one another in a row or stacked one above the other such that, in particular for each pair of shell-like containers (10), a first shell-like container (10), in which an energy storage cell (14) is arranged, is inserted with its base surface (11) into a second shell-like container (10), in which an energy storage cell (14) is arranged.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 3, 2013
    Publication date: July 4, 2013
    Applicant: LI-TEC BATTERY GMBH
    Inventor: Li-Tec Battery GmbH
  • Publication number: 20130171505
    Abstract: A method for manufacturing a battery shell of an electronic device includes providing a first metal component, providing a plastic casing, joining the first metal component to the plastic casing together, providing a battery pack, the battery pack including a main body and a connection part, disposing the battery pack on the first metal component, and fixing the connection part on the plastic casing. The thickness of the first metal component is A, the thickness of the plastic casing is B. The thickness of said plastic casing satisfies 0.4 mm?B?0.8 mm, and the total thickness of the first metal component and the plastic casing satisfies 0.8 mm?A+B?1.6 mm. The connection part is disposed on a side of the main body.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 19, 2012
    Publication date: July 4, 2013
    Applicant: GETAC TECHNOLOGY CORPORATION
    Inventor: Getac Technology Corporation
  • Patent number: 8470470
    Abstract: Provided are a battery pack manufacturing method, which can prevent a drawback where some of the used secondary batteries constituting a battery pack prematurely come to an end and which can suppress the enlargement of the temporary voltage difference between a used secondary battery at a charging/discharging time (especially in a low-temperature circumstance), and a battery pack. The battery pack manufacturing method includes an acquiring step of acquiring the individual internal resistances of used secondary batteries collected from the market, a selection step of selecting a plurality of the used secondary batteries having the internal resistances close to each other from a group of the used secondary batteries whose internal resistances have been acquired, and an assembling step of combining the used secondary batteries selected, to constitute the battery pack.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 9, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 25, 2013
    Assignee: Panasonic EV Energy Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Motoyoshi Okumura, Katsunori Maegawa
  • Publication number: 20130143100
    Abstract: The invention relates to a cell phone battery pack and a method of providing backup battery power to a cell phone. The cell phone battery pack is configured to be positioned within a cell phone. The battery pack includes a first battery, a second battery and a means to allow switching between the first battery and the second battery for powering the cell phone. The first battery and the second battery may differ in one or both of size and capacity.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 30, 2013
    Publication date: June 6, 2013
    Inventors: Gary Bennis, Elizabeth Lang, Hannah Bennis
  • Publication number: 20130136964
    Abstract: An electrochemical cell is provided including, but not limited to, a can, an output terminal for outputting current generated within the can, an electrode assembly connected with the output terminal and which comprises a positive electrode and a negative electrode, electrolyte within the can, and a safety device provided within the can. The safety device is configured to interrupt or reduce electric current passing from the electrode assembly to the output terminal when temperature inside the can exceeds a predetermined temperature.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 28, 2012
    Publication date: May 30, 2013
    Applicant: JOHNSON CONTROLS TECHNOLOGY COMPANY
    Inventors: Feng Li, Xugang Zhang
  • Publication number: 20130122348
    Abstract: According to one embodiment, a battery electrode includes an active material layer and a current collector is provided. The active material layer contains particles of a monoclinic ?-type titanium complex oxide and particles of a lithium titanate having a spinel structure. When a particle size frequency distribution of particles contained in the active material layer is measured by the laser diffraction and scattering method, a first peak P1 appears in a range of 0.3 ?m to 3 ?m and a second peak P2 appears in a range of 5 ?m to 20 ?m in the frequency distribution diagram. The ratio FP1/FP2 of the frequency FP1 of the first peak P1 to the frequency FP2 of the second peak P2 is 0.4 to 2.3.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 16, 2012
    Publication date: May 16, 2013
    Inventors: Mitsuru ISHIBASHI, Takuya Iwasaki, Kazuhiro Yasuda, Keigo Hoshina, Yorikazu Yoshida, Hiroki Inagaki, Norio Takami
  • Publication number: 20130122349
    Abstract: According to one embodiment, an electrode includes a current collector, an active material-containing layer, a first peak, a second peak and a pore volume. The active material-containing layer contains an active material having a lithium absorption potential of 0.4 V (vs. Li/Li+) or more. The first peak has a mode diameter of 0.01 to 0.1 ?m in a diameter distribution of pores detected by mercury porosimetry. The second peak has a mode diameter of 0.2 ?m (exclusive) to 1 ?m (inclusive) in the diameter distribution of pores. The pore volume detected by the mercury porosimetry is within a range of 0.1 to 0.3 mL per gram of a weight of the electrode excluding a weight of the current collector.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 16, 2012
    Publication date: May 16, 2013
    Inventors: Takuya IWASAKI, Hiroki Inagaki, Kazuhiro Yasuda, Keigo Hoshina, Mitsuru Ishibashi, Yorikazu Yoshida, Norio Takami
  • Patent number: 8440938
    Abstract: Double pole battery comprising three electrochemical cells stacked along a longitudinal axis, each cell consisting of an anode, a cathode and an electrolyte placed between the anode and the cathode, a current collector plate electrically connecting an anode of a cell and a cathode of an adjacent cell, a current collector plate on the anode of a cell located at a first longitudinal end of the stack, a current collector plate on the cathode located at a second longitudinal end of the stack, an electrolyte-proof lateral wall surrounding each cell between each pair of successive collector plates, wherein the lateral walls of two adjacent cells are offset transversely one relative to the other relative to the longitudinal axis, in such a way they are not superposed one on the other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2013
    Assignee: Commissariat a l'Energie Atomique
    Inventors: Marianne Chami, Sébastien Martinet, Djamel Mourzagh
  • Publication number: 20130115493
    Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed for battery cells with positive polarity rigid containers. In accordance with disclosed embodiments, the cell may include a container and a lid piece that couple together to form a rectangular prismatic geometry. An electrode assembly having positive and negative coils may be disposed within the cell, and the positive coil may be conductively coupled to the cell. In this way, the cell (e.g., both the lid and the container) may be positively polarized. Further, the electrode assembly may incorporate a jelly-roll or a stacked structure. In one embodiment, the lid piece may include a vent that opens in response to pressure in the cell surpassing an established threshold. The lid may further include a positive terminal, negative terminal, and a method for filling the cell with electrolyte. Another embodiment may provide a battery module include multiple cells with positive polarity rigid containers.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 24, 2012
    Publication date: May 9, 2013
    Applicant: JOHNSON CONTROLS TECHNOLOGY LLC
    Inventor: Johnson Controls Technology LLC
  • Publication number: 20130108906
    Abstract: The disclosed embodiments provide a battery cell. The battery cell includes a set of layers forming a non-rectangular shape, wherein the set of layers comprises a cathode with an active coating, a separator, and an anode with an active coating. The battery cell also includes a first conductive tab coupled to the cathode and a second conductive tab coupled to the anode. The layers are enclosed in a flexible pouch, and the first and second conductive tabs are extended through seals in the pouch to provide terminals for the battery cell. Furthermore, the non-rectangular shape is created by removing material from one or more of the layers.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 28, 2011
    Publication date: May 2, 2013
    Applicant: APPLE INC.
    Inventors: Ramesh C. Bhardwaj, John Raff, Stephen R. McClure, Erik L. Wang, Taisup Hwang
  • Publication number: 20130108908
    Abstract: A power supply apparatus includes: a plurality of battery cells each having a flat rectangular parallelepiped outer can, the battery cells provided so that wide surfaces of the outer cans are opposed to each other; a separator provided between the battery cells; and a fastener fastening the battery cells and the separator with the battery cells under application of pressure. The wide surface of the outer can includes a circumference portion at a circumference of the wide surface and a central portion in a center of the wide surface. The separator includes an insulating portion insulating the adjacent battery cells and a pressing portion formed at a position corresponding to the central portion of the wide surface for pressing the central portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 23, 2012
    Publication date: May 2, 2013
    Applicant: Sanyo Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Sanyo Electric Co., Ltd.
  • Patent number: 8426056
    Abstract: A power supply device, which is simply assembled and in which a cell assembly and a measuring section are freely inserted and detached, is provided. A power supply device 1 includes a cell assembly 2, a plurality of first bus bars 51, a plate 3 to which the plurality of bus bars 51 are attached. The plate is overlapped on the cell assembly 2. The cell assembly 2 has a plurality of cells 21 respectively including positive electrodes 23 at one ends and negative electrodes 24 at the other ends. The first bus bars 51 connect the positive electrodes 23 of the one cells 21 to the negative electrodes 24 of the other cells 21 of the cell assembly 2 which are mutually adjacent when the plate 3 is overlapped or overlaid on the cell assembly 2.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 17, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2013
    Assignees: Yazaki Corporation, Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Tomohiro Ikeda, Takao Shoji, Shinichi Yanagihara, Yoshiaki Ichikawa, Shigeyuki Ogasawara, Kazuhisa Meguro, Yasuyoshi Fukao, Junta Katayama
  • Patent number: 8426055
    Abstract: An apparatus for storing energy may include: a plurality of nanowire cells electrically connected to each other; and a storage for storing electrical energy generated from the nanowire cells. Each of the plurality of nanowire cells may include: first and second electrodes disposed at an interval; and a nanowire, which is disposed between the first and the second electrodes and made of a piezoelectric material. The plurality of nanowire cells may be electrically connected, so that voltage or current may be increased. Therefore, wireless recharging of the storage connected to the nanowire cells with electrical energy may be enabled.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2013
    Assignees: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd., Kumoh National Institute of Technology
    Inventors: Dukhyun Choi, Sang Yoon Lee, Jaeyoung Choi, Hansu Kim, Sangwoo Kim
  • Patent number: 8426050
    Abstract: A battery module having a cooling manifold is provided. The battery module includes a plurality of battery cell assemblies having a plurality of heat exchangers. The battery module further includes the cooling manifold operably coupled to the plurality of battery cell assemblies. The cooling manifold has a manifold portion and a cover plate. The manifold portion has a peripheral wall, a rear wall coupled to the peripheral wall, and a flow diverter. The peripheral wall has a top portion with an inlet aperture extending therethrough. The rear wall has a plurality of outlet apertures extending therethrough. The cover plate is coupled to the peripheral wall opposite to the rear wall. The flow diverter extends from the rear wall and is disposed below the inlet aperture.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2013
    Assignee: LG Chem, Ltd.
    Inventors: William Koetting, Josh Payne
  • Publication number: 20130095368
    Abstract: An energy storage cell has a cell body with an areal expansion in an extension plane, with four side faces bounding a circumference of the area of extent and having each two of the side faces parallel to one another. A conductor electrode and a second electrode are disposed on one of the side faces symmetrically in the direction of the circumference of the extension plane relative to a center of the corresponding side face. A line from a contact point between an inward facing edge of the electrodes to a center point of the extension plane encloses an angle ? of 10°<?<36° with the corresponding side face. The center of the side face and/or a contact point of an outward facing edge of the electrodes forms an angle ? about the center point of the extension plane of 8°<?<45° with the corresponding side face with said center.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 13, 2011
    Publication date: April 18, 2013
    Applicant: CONTINENTAL AUTOMOTIVE GMBH
    Inventors: Peter Birke, Michael Schiemann, Olaf Böse, Hans-Georg Schweiger, Michael Keller
  • Patent number: 8415040
    Abstract: A secondary battery module including a plurality of battery cells, a temperature sensor disposed on a surface of at least one of the battery cells, a conducting wire connected to the temperature sensor, a module frame coupled to the battery cells, fixing the battery cells in a position and having a wire hole through which the conducting wire passes, and a sealing member surrounding the conducting wire and coupled to the wire hole, sealing the wire hole.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2013
    Assignees: Samsung SDI Co., Ltd., Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventor: Jihyoung Yoon
  • Patent number: 8409749
    Abstract: A battery unit comprises a battery case, and a plurality of battery modules stored and held in the battery case. The battery case includes a bottom wall and a partition. The plurality of battery modules are mounted on the bottom wall. The partition is provided and erected on the bottom wall. The partition separates the battery modules adjacent in a second direction traversing a first direction. The first direction is oriented from a first end of the battery case at which an inlet is formed to a second end at which an outlet is formed. The partition extends along a plane where the battery modules face each other in the second direction along the battery modules. The partition is inclined in the extending direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2013
    Assignees: Mitsubishi Jidosha Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha, Mitsubishi Jidosha Engineering Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Haruchika Nishino, Takeshi Ibuki, Seiichi Takasaki
  • Patent number: 8409755
    Abstract: According to one embodiment, an active material for batteries includes monoclinic ?-type titanium composite oxide containing at least one element selected from the group consisting of V, Nb, Ta, Al, Ga, and In, the at least one element being contained in an amount of 0.03 wt % or more and 3 wt % or less.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 25, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2013
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventors: Hiroki Inagaki, Keigo Hoshina, Yasuhiro Harada, Yuki Otani, Norio Takami
  • Patent number: 8409751
    Abstract: This electrochemical device includes a first frame, a second frame, and a laminated electrochemical element having a housing encasing an element. Outer edges of the housing are sandwiched between the first frame and the second frame. Hook members are provided on one of the first frame and the second frame, and indentations engaging the hook members are provided on the other one of the frames, thereby fixing the relative positional relationship between the first frame and the second frame.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2013
    Assignee: TDK Corporation
    Inventor: Daisuke Suto
  • Publication number: 20130078490
    Abstract: According to one embodiment, a negative electrode active material for a non-aqueous electrolyte secondary battery cell includes a composite. The composite includes a carbonaceous material, a silicon oxide dispersed in the carbonaceous material, and a silicon dispersed in the silicon oxide. A half-value width of a diffraction peak of a Si (220) plane in powder X-ray diffraction measurement of the composite is in a range of 1.5° to 8.0°. A mean size of a silicon oxide phase is in a range of 50 nm to 1,000 nm. A value of (a standard deviation)/(the mean size) is equal to or less than 1.0 where the standard deviation of a size distribution of the silicon oxide phase is defined by (d84%?d16%)/2.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 27, 2012
    Publication date: March 28, 2013
    Applicant: KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOSHIBA
    Inventors: Tomokazu MORITA, Norio Takami, Takashi Kuboki
  • Publication number: 20130078499
    Abstract: Technologies are generally described for electrochemical cells and batteries containing electrochemical cells. An electrochemical cell may incorporate two types of conducting polymers each located at an electrode, a cation, a polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon radical anion that contacts one of the conducting polymers, and an electrolyte. The polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon radical anion may be a covalent substituent of one of the conducting polymers or may be in noncovalent contact with one of the conducting polymers. The polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon radical anion may permit the use of cations other than lithium, e.g. an alkali metal cation such as sodium or alkali earth metal cation such as calcium. Such an electrochemical cell may provide alternative batteries to existing lithium ion batteries, permitting the use of cations that may be more abundant, more easily extracted, or more sustainable compared to known lithium supplies.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 23, 2011
    Publication date: March 28, 2013
    Applicant: Empire Technology Development, LLC
    Inventor: Vincenzo Casasanta
  • Patent number: 8404375
    Abstract: An electrical battery includes a plurality of electrical energy generating elements formed by at least one electrochemical cell that is packaged in a flexible sealed envelope, and a system for the mechanical and thermal conditioning of the elements. The conditioning system forms a structural body made from thermally conductive material. The body has two longitudinal members and a plurality of cross-members connecting the longitudinal members so as to form between the cross-members housings in which respectively a generating element is disposed. The body includes a circulation path for a thermal conditioning fluid. The path has two channels, respectively upstream and downstream, that are formed respectively in a longitudinal member and passages formed in each of the cross-members. The passages are in fluid communication on each side with respectively the upstream channel and the downstream channel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 8, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2013
    Assignee: Dow Kokam France SAS
    Inventor: Fabien Gaben
  • Publication number: 20130071696
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a pouch-type lithium secondary battery comprising: an electrode assembly which includes an anode, a separator, and a cathode; and a pouch which has a groove for accommodating the electrode assembly and an edge of which the upper and lower parts are formed in a flange type by being bonded around the groove, wherein in at least a part of the edge that is formed in the flange type, an end of the edge is covered by a flame retardant and heat resistant resin composition wherein a flame retardant material and a heat resistant material are mixed to a thermoplastic resin or a thermosetting resin, thereby improving safety.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 18, 2010
    Publication date: March 21, 2013
    Applicant: EIG LTD.
    Inventors: Chi-Su Kim, Heon-Young Lee, Myung-Hun Cho, Seog-Bum Kang
  • Publication number: 20130057220
    Abstract: An electrochemical energy storage system including at least a first type of electrochemical cell and a second type of electrochemical cell. The first type of electrochemical cell and the second type of electrochemical cell have different geometries. Also methods of making and using the electrochemical energy storage system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 29, 2012
    Publication date: March 7, 2013
    Applicant: Aquion Energy, Inc.
    Inventor: Jay Whitacre
  • Publication number: 20130059172
    Abstract: A vehicle propulsion system comprising a plurality of solid state rechargeable battery cells configured to power a drivetrain. In accordance with once aspect of the invention, a transportation system that is powered at least in part by electricity stored in the form of rechargeable electrochemical cells. According to an embodiment of the present invention, these cells are combined in series and in parallel to form a pack that is regulated by charge and discharge control circuits that are programmed with algorithms to monitor state of charge, battery lifetime, and battery health.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 10, 2012
    Publication date: March 7, 2013
    Applicant: Sakti3, Inc.
    Inventor: Sakti3, Inc.
  • Publication number: 20130059184
    Abstract: According to one embodiment, a non-aqueous electrolyte battery includes an electrode group. The electrode group includes a positive electrode and a negative electrode. At least one of the positive electrode or the negative electrode has a first electrode part and a second electrode part. The first electrode part includes a first metal substrate and an active material-containing part. The second electrode part includes a second metal substrate and an active material-containing part. The first metal substrate has a tensile strength larger than a tensile strength of the second metal substrate. A part of the first electrode part is provided more outside of the electrode group than a part of the second electrode group.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 29, 2012
    Publication date: March 7, 2013
    Inventors: Tetsuya SASAKAWA, Takashi Kishi, Takuya Iwasaki, Hiroki Inagaki, Norio Takami
  • Publication number: 20130059180
    Abstract: A battery pack includes a plurality of battery modules including at least a first group of the battery modules and a second group of the battery modules, a first coolant flow pathway through the battery modules of the first group and the second group, a second coolant flow pathway along an exterior of the battery modules of the first group, and a converging coolant flow pathway connected with the first coolant flow pathway, the converging coolant flow pathway being disposed downstream of the first group of the battery modules, the converging coolant flow pathway joining the second coolant flow pathway with the first coolant flow pathway.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 6, 2011
    Publication date: March 7, 2013
    Inventors: Seung-Woo YANG, In-Hwan Cha
  • Publication number: 20130059194
    Abstract: A secondary battery includes: a cathode; an anode; and an electrolytic solution. The electrolytic solution includes an unsaturated six-membered ring ester carbonate represented by Formula (1) described below, or an unsaturated six-membered ring ester carbonate represented by Formula (2) described below, or both, where each of W, X, and Y is one of >C?CR1R2 and >CR3R4; each of R1 to R4 is a hydrogen group or the like; arbitrary two or more of R1 to R4 are allowed to be bonded with each other; and one or more of W, X, and Y are >C?CR1R2, where Z is one of >C?CR7R8 and >CR9R10; each of R5 to R10 is a hydrogen group or the like; and arbitrary two or more of R5 to R10 are allowed to be bonded with each other.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 20, 2012
    Publication date: March 7, 2013
    Applicant: SONY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Masayuki Ihara, Tadahiko Kubota
  • Publication number: 20130059193
    Abstract: An electrochemical cell including at least one nitrogen-containing compound is disclosed. The at least one nitrogen-containing compound may form part of or be included in: an anode structure, a cathode structure, an electrolyte and/or a separator of the electrochemical cell. Also disclosed is a battery including the electrochemical cell.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 7, 2011
    Publication date: March 7, 2013
    Applicant: SION POWER CORPORATION
    Inventors: Chariclea Scordilis-Kelley, Joseph Kubicki, Shuguang Cao, Yuriy V. Mikhaylik
  • Publication number: 20130052510
    Abstract: To improve cycling characteristics by evening out the battery reaction across different areas of a laminated electrode assembly in a non-aqueous electrolyte secondary-cell battery where the laminated electrode assembly, having tape applied to a top layer, an end face, and a bottom layer thereof, is contained in an outer casing, the tape applied to the periphery of the laminated electrode assembly, configured from a stacked plurality of interleaved separators, cathode plates, and anode plates, extends in the stacking direction across the top layer, end face, and bottom layer of the laminated electrode assembly. Each piece of tape is formed of a base material that is one of styrene-butadiene rubber, styrene rubber, or butadiene rubber.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 27, 2012
    Publication date: February 28, 2013
    Applicant: SANYO ELECTRIC CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Shinya Miyazaki, Naoko Tsunomura
  • Patent number: 8383262
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a lithium secondary battery comprising a battery cell formed by stacking a plurality of full cells having a structure of cathode/separator/anode or bicells having a structure of cathode(anode)/separator/anode(cathode)/separator/cathode (anode), as a unit electrode assembly, wherein (i) a cathode active material or (ii) an anode active material or (iii) a cathode active material and an anode active material in two or more unit electrode assemblies are configured to have a different composition to induce a voltage difference and separate electrode terminals are installed in a battery case according to the voltage difference to thereby simultaneously provide two or more voltages by a single battery.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 4, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 26, 2013
    Assignee: LG Chem, Ltd.
    Inventors: Hey Woong Park, Seungtaek Hong, Ra Young Hwang, Jisang Yu, John E. Namgoong
  • Patent number: 8377581
    Abstract: A battery system is provided for a vehicle. The battery system includes, but is not limited to, comprising: a heat transfer loop, a battery cell, a thermoelectric semiconductor device coupled to the battery cell and the heat transfer loop, a variable voltage source coupled to the thermoelectric semiconductor device, and a temperature sensor coupled to the battery cell. A controller is coupled to the variable voltage source and the temperature sensor and also configured to receive a signal indicative of a temperature of the battery cell from the temperature sensor and adjust a voltage of the variable voltage source applied to the thermoelectric semiconductor device based at least in part on an evaluation of the temperature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 19, 2013
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Alastair Gordon Anderson, Marc Reischmann, Manfred Herrmann, Erik Heil, Michael Kueffe
  • Publication number: 20130040187
    Abstract: A nonaqueous electrolyte battery includes a negative electrode including a current collector and a negative electrode active material having a Li ion insertion potential not lower than 0.4V (vs. Li/Li+). The negative electrode has a porous structure. A pore diameter distribution of the negative electrode as determined by a mercury porosimetry, which includes a first peak having a mode diameter of 0.01 to 0.2 ?m, and a second peak having a mode diameter of 0.003 to 0.02 ?m. A volume of pores having a diameter of 0.01 to 0.2 ?m as determined by the mercury porosimetry is 0.05 to 0.5 mL per gram of the negative electrode excluding the weight of the current collector. A volume of pores having a diameter of 0.003 to 0.02 ?m as determined by the mercury porosimetry is 0.0001 to 0.02 mL per gram of the negative electrode excluding the weight of the current collector.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 17, 2012
    Publication date: February 14, 2013
    Inventors: Hiroki Inagaki, Norio Takami
  • Patent number: 8373973
    Abstract: A capacitor includes a main body, a first seat, and a second seat. The main body includes a first end surface and a second end surface opposite to the first end surface. Two first pins extend upward from the first end surface. Two second pins extend downward from the second end surface. The first pins electrically connect the second pins. The first seat includes a first substrate and two first pads, the first seat is positioned on the second end surface of the main body and the first pads are electrically connected to the second pins. The second seat includes a second substrate and two second pads, the second seat is positioned on the first end surface of the main body and the second pads are electrically connected to the first pins.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 12, 2013
    Assignee: Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Chun-An Lai
  • Publication number: 20130034753
    Abstract: A storage battery module is provided in which, even in a case where the storage battery module is formed by integrally assembling a plurality of secondary batteries, the secondary batteries can be compactly assembled while non-uniformity in battery temperature distribution is prevented, and wiring connection work is facilitated. Using a secondary battery RB (RB1 to RB4) including a battery can 10 that houses an electrode group 1 and rectanglar shape two secondary batteries are juxtaposed in parallel, they are spaced by a predetermined distance from each other, and with respect to these juxtaposed secondary batteries as one unit, in a direction in which units of these are stacked, these units are shifted in orientation by 90° from each other, and thus a storage battery module (M1 to M8) having a configuration in which a plurality of secondary batteries are stacked in parallel crosses is obtained.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 3, 2012
    Publication date: February 7, 2013
    Inventors: Yoshihiro Tsukuda, Satoshi Okano
  • Publication number: 20130015702
    Abstract: Disclosed are a method for adequately sorting used secondary batteries; a rebuilt battery pack that incorporates the used batteries sorted by the sorting method and have identical characteristics; a vehicle and a battery operated device which use the rebuilt battery pack; and a method for manufacturing a rebuilt battery pack which employs used batteries having identical characteristics. The method for sorting used secondary batteries includes a resistance measurement step for measuring the battery resistance of a battery the characteristics of which show a bathtub curve with respect to the period of use. The method further includes a resistance distinguishing step for distinguishing whether the battery resistance of the battery is greater or less than a period threshold value for identifying to which one of the following periods the battery belongs: an initial-stage high-resistance period, and end-stage high-resistance period, and a middle-stage low-resistance period.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 31, 2010
    Publication date: January 17, 2013
    Inventor: Masanori Ito
  • Publication number: 20130017434
    Abstract: A non-aqueous electrolyte secondary battery negative electrode having a negative electrode compound layer formed on a current collector, in which the negative electrode compound layer is constituted by a lower negative electrode compound layer and an upper negative electrode compound layer, the lower negative electrode compound layer is formed on the current collector, the upper negative electrode compound layer is formed on the lower negative electrode compound layer, the lower negative electrode compound layer includes a negative electrode active material, the upper negative electrode compound layer includes a conducting material and a binder, and a conducting aid and the binder are locally present on the surface side of the upper negative electrode compound layer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 11, 2012
    Publication date: January 17, 2013
    Applicant: HITACHI, LTD.
    Inventors: Masao Shimizu, Katsunori Nishimura
  • Patent number: 8349485
    Abstract: A modular battery includes a housing, a first planar battery cell having a first planar electrode surface, a second planar battery cell having a second planar electrode surface, and an interconnector disposed between the first planar surface and the second planar surface and electrically connecting the first and second planar electrode surfaces, side peripheries of the interconnector, the first and second planar battery cells being electrically insulated from the housing. A method is also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 8, 2013
    Assignee: Lightening Energy
    Inventors: Duncan Culver, Christopher K. Dyer, Michael L. Epstein
  • Patent number: 8329326
    Abstract: An electrochemical device 1A has first and second electrode pads 5a and 5b on the upper surfaces 11 of protrusions 3a and 3b, and has first and second electrode pads 7a and 7b on the lower surfaces 13 of the protrusions 3a and 3b. First and second foil electrode terminals 261a and 261b of an electrochemical element 251 are electrically connected to the first and second electrode pads 5a and 5b, respectively. First and second foil electrode terminals 262a and 262b of an electrochemical element 252 are electrically connected to the first and second electrode pads 7a and 7b, respectively.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 11, 2012
    Assignee: TDK Corporation
    Inventor: Daisuke Suto
  • Publication number: 20120308873
    Abstract: A secondary battery apparatus including a housing, a plurality of battery cells housed in the housing, and adhesive agent which adheres to the battery cells. In the secondary battery apparatus, the housing includes an inner surface facing the battery cells, the battery cells each has an outer can whose main component is metal, and the housing includes resin as a main component of its constituent element.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 29, 2012
    Publication date: December 6, 2012
    Inventors: Masahiro Sekino, Hidenori Miyamoto, Takashi Enomoto, Yoichi Sakate, Mitsuhiro Hoshino, Masafumi Ebisawa, Satoshi Wada, Masakatsu Kasai
  • Publication number: 20120308867
    Abstract: A flowing electrolyte reservoir system for a flowing electrolyte battery. The system comprises an outer electrolyte tank and an inner electrolyte tank placed under a battery cell stack. The inner tank is transversely positioned between opposite corners of the outer electrolyte tank, and beneath opposite corners of the battery cell stack.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 17, 2010
    Publication date: December 6, 2012
    Applicant: REDFLOW PTY LTD.
    Inventor: Alexander Rudolf Winter
  • Publication number: 20120270093
    Abstract: According to one embodiment, a non-aqueous electrolyte battery includes an outer case, a negative electrode, a positive electrode including a current collector and a positive electrode layer formed on surface of the current collector and opposed to the negative electrode layer, and a non-aqueous electrolyte, wherein the positive electrode layer includes a layered lithium nickel cobalt manganese composite oxide and a lithium cobalt composite oxide, the positive electrode layer has a pore volume with a pore diameter of 0.01 to 1.0 ?m, the pore volume being 0.06 to 0.25 mL per 1 g of a weight of the positive electrode layer, and a pore surface area within the pore volume range is 2.4 to 8 m2/g.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 29, 2012
    Publication date: October 25, 2012
    Inventors: Yoshiyuki ISOZAKI, Hidesato SARUWATARI, Yoshinao TATEBAYASHI, Takashi KUBOKI, Norio TAKAMI
  • Publication number: 20120270092
    Abstract: An object is to provide a high-capacity lithium ion secondary battery enhanced in safety against overcharging by adding an overcharge retardant additive, which is highly responsive to excessive voltage application, to a nonaqueous electrolytic solution. A lithium ion secondary battery comprising: a separator, positive and negative electrodes arranged with the separator interposed therebetween and reversibly storing/releasing lithium ions, and an organic electrolytic solution having an electrolyte containing the lithium ions dissolved therein, wherein the organic electrolytic solution contains an aromatic compound represented by a general formula (1) below: where R1 represents an alkyl group and R2 to R5 each independently represent any one of hydrogen, a halogen group, an alkyl group, an aryl group, an alkoxy group and a tertiary amine group; and a concentration of the aromatic compound is 0.1 mol/L or less.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 13, 2012
    Publication date: October 25, 2012
    Inventors: Hidetoshi Honbou, Masayoshi Kanno, Masanori Yoshikawa
  • Publication number: 20120270094
    Abstract: A storage device for electrical energy with a plurality of flat storage cells for the storage and the discharge of electrical energy with opposing flat-shaped conductors, spacer elements for maintaining a predetermined space between the storage cells and a clamping means for the clamping of the cells into a stack. The spacer elements have pressure surface areas, wherein the conductors of the cells, each are clamped between the pressure surface areas of two spacer elements by the clamping means by means of force closure. In the area of opposing pressure surface areas of a spacer element, either a contacting element for establishing an electrical connection between the opposing pressure surface areas or an insulating structure is provided. The spacer elements are provided such, that the compressions between the pressure surface areas with an insulating structure and between the pressure surface areas with a contacting element, are ajusted to each other.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 15, 2010
    Publication date: October 25, 2012
    Applicant: LI-TEC BATTERY GMBH
    Inventors: Claus-Rupert Hohenthanner, Jens Meintschel, Torsten Schmidt, Claudia Brasse
  • Publication number: 20120268073
    Abstract: A nonaqueous electrolyte battery provided with a rolled electrode assembly, in which a positive electrode including a positive electrode active material layer disposed on a positive electrode collector formed from metal foil and a negative electrode including a negative electrode active material layer disposed on a negative electrode collector formed from metal foil are stacked with a separator therebetween and are rolled, and an electrolyte, wherein at least one of the positive electrode collector and the negative electrode collector has a compressed pattern portion which is disposed as a part of the metal foil and which has a thickness smaller than that of the other portion through compression, and the compressed pattern portion from one end parallel to the rolling direction of the metal foil to the other end opposite to the one end is not disposed continuously in the direction orthogonal to the rolling direction of the metal foil.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 5, 2012
    Publication date: October 25, 2012
    Applicant: SONY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Tokuhiro Morioka, Hitoshi Watanabe, Kaoru Abe, Akihisa Sakamoto, Takakazu Hirose, Kenichi Kawase
  • Patent number: 8293391
    Abstract: A battery (100) includes a flat wound electrode body (10) that is obtained by winding a first electrode sheet (20) and a second electrode sheet (30) in a flat shape via separator sheets (40a, 40b). The first electrode sheet (20) is disposed in the flat wound electrode body (10) so as to be wound on the outer peripheral side with respect to the second electrode sheet (30). The first electrode sheet (20) is wound so as to enfold a winding end portion (38) of the second electrode sheet (30). A winding end portion (28) of the first electrode sheet (20) is disposed so as to pass either of the straight portions (12a, 12b) or rounded portions (14a, 14b) where the winding end portion (38) of the second electrode sheet (30) is disposed and reach the next straight portion (12a, 12b) or pass through the next straight portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 23, 2012
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Satomi Kawase
  • Publication number: 20120263998
    Abstract: This invention relates to positive electrode materials for electrochemical cells and batteries. It relates, in particular, to electrode precursor materials comprising manganese ions and to methods for fabricating lithium-metal-oxide electrode materials and structures using the precursor materials, notably for lithium cells and batteries. More specifically, the invention relates to lithium-metal-oxide electrode materials with layered-type structures, spinel-type structures, combinations thereof and modifications thereof, notably those with imperfections, such as stacking faults and dislocations. The invention extends to include lithium-metal-oxide electrode materials with modified surfaces to protect the electrode materials from highly oxidizing potentials in the cells and from other undesirable effects, such as electrolyte oxidation, oxygen loss and/or dissolution.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 5, 2012
    Publication date: October 18, 2012
    Applicant: UCHICAGO ARGONNE, LLC
    Inventors: Michael M. THACKERAY, Sun-Ho KANG, Mahalingam BALASUBRAMANIAN, Jason CROY
  • Publication number: 20120263999
    Abstract: A lithium-ion rechargeable battery module having a plurality of lithium-ion battery cells, arranged that battery cells located at an high temperature portion of the module are electrically connected in parallel with battery cells located at a low temperature portion of the module. The battery cells at the high temperature portion have a higher electric resistance at 20° C. and a better high-temperature storage characteristic at 50° C. than those of the battery cells located at the low temperature portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 10, 2012
    Publication date: October 18, 2012
    Inventors: Akira GUNJI, Shin TAKAHASHI, Hiroshi IWASAWA, Shin YAMAUCHI, Takefumi OKUMURA
  • Publication number: 20120263986
    Abstract: A battery management system includes one or more lithium ion cells in electrical connection, each said cell comprising: first and second working electrodes and one or more reference electrodes, each reference electrode electronically isolated from the working electrodes and having a separate tab or current collector exiting the cell and providing an additional terminal for electrical measurement; and a battery management system comprising a battery state-of-charge monitor, said monitor being operable for receiving information relating to the potential difference of the working electrodes and the potential of one or more of the working electrodes versus the reference electrode.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 17, 2012
    Publication date: October 18, 2012
    Applicant: A123 SYSTEMS, INC.
    Inventors: Ricardo FULOP, Yet-Ming CHIANG, Karen E. THOMAS-ALYEA, William H. GARDNER
  • Publication number: 20120263983
    Abstract: A battery module includes an outer case having a receiving space defined therein, an inner case having a cavity defined therein, the inner case being in the receiving space of the outer case, a plurality of unit battery packs in the cavity of the inner case, and an elastic buffer between the inner case and the outer case.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 6, 2012
    Publication date: October 18, 2012
    Inventors: Jong-Wook YOON, Jeong-Deok Byun