el Cellulose nanofiber, production method of same and cellulose nanofiber dispersion By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 31 Mar 2015 08:00:00 EDT The cellulose nanofiber production method of the present invention comprises an oxidation treatment step for oxidizing native cellulose in a neutral or acidic reaction solution containing an N-oxyl compound and an oxidizing agent that oxidizes aldehyde groups, and a dispersion step for dispersing the native cellulose in a medium following the oxidation treatment step. According to the production method of the present invention, a cellulose nanofiber is provided that has long fibers and demonstrates high strength. Full Article
el Modified cellulose fibers and cellulose composite thereof By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 31 Mar 2015 08:00:00 EDT An object of the invention is to provide cellulose fibers which can give a cellulose composite that renders high transparency, a reduction in linear expansion coefficient, and a high modulus of elasticity possible. The invention relates to: a process for producing modified cellulose fibers which includes a modification reaction step of reacting cellulose with an aromatic compound in an organic acid to thereby modify the cellulose with an aromatic-ring-containing substituent; cellulose fibers modified with aromatic-ring-containing substituent; a dispersion of the cellulose fibers; and a cellulose fiber composite obtained from the same. Full Article
el Selective tinting method By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 07 Apr 2015 08:00:00 EDT The invention relates to a selective dyeing method used for dyeing a substrate (10), selectively within a first exposed surface portion (S1) of said substrate. For this purpose, the substrate consists of a material (2) that is impervious to a dye with the exception of the first portion of the exposed surface. In particular, the impervious material can form a layer which covers a base portion (3) of the substrate in a second portion (S2) of the exposed surface. The substrate is heated such that the dye (C) penetrates a pervious material (1) which constitutes the first portion of the exposed surface. The method is particularly useful for eliminating light diffused by the walls of a multilayer structure which is supported by means of ocular glass. Full Article
el SR LATCH CIRCUIT WITH SINGLE GATE DELAY By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Thu, 22 Jun 2017 08:00:00 EDT An SR latch circuit with single gate delay is provided. The circuit has an an enable input and an SR latch. There is first input stage having an input for receiving a set input and having an output for producing a first component of the SR latch circuit output, the first input stage having only one transistor that receives the enable input, the first input stage becoming transparent while enabled, the first input stage having a single gate delay between the input of the first input stage and the output of the first input stage. There is a second input stage having an input for receiving a reset input and having an output for producing a second component of the SR latch circuit output, the second input stage having only one transistor that receives the enable input, the second input stage becoming transparent while enabled, the second input stage having a single gate delay between the input of the second input stage and the output of the second input stage. Full Article
el SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR A REDUCED HARMONIC CONTENT TRANSMITTER FOR WIRELESS COMMUNICATION By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Thu, 22 Jun 2017 08:00:00 EDT A system includes a voltage-controlled oscillator (VCO) to generate an output signal based on an input voltage and a multi-stage delay network to receive the output signal from the VCO. Each stage of the delay network produces a phase-shifted output signal. The system includes a multi-stage digital-to-analog converter (DAC) network, where each stage of the DAC network is associated with a corresponding stage of the delay network. Each stage of the DAC network receives the phase-shifted output signal from its corresponding stage of the delay network and generates a weighted output signal based on the received phase-shifted output signal. The DAC network combines the weighted output signal of each stage. A weighting factor for each stage of the DAC network is selected to reduce harmonic content of the combination of weighted output signals. Full Article
el Delay Control Circuit By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Thu, 22 Jun 2017 08:00:00 EDT The present disclosure relates to a delay control circuit arranged for adding delay to a signal. The delay control circuit includes a driver circuit arranged to receive a first signal and to output a second signal. The driver circuit includes a variable load arranged for outputting the second signal by adding delay to the first signal. The delay control circuit also includes a control circuit arranged to receive the first signal and to control the variable load of the driver circuit based on a current state of the first signal and on a control signal indicative of an amount of delay to be added to the first signal in the current state. Full Article
el ELECTRONIC SWITCH, AND CORRESPONDING DEVICE AND METHOD By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Thu, 22 Jun 2017 08:00:00 EDT A high-voltage electronic switch includes first and second transistors defining a current flow path between an input and output of the switch. The transistors have a common point of the current flow path and a common control terminal. A control circuit includes a voltage line receiving a limit operating voltage and first and second branches coupled between the voltage line and the common point and common control terminal, respectively. Further transistors are activated, upon turning-off of the first and second transistors, for coupling the branches to the voltage line. The branches include a parallel connected resistor, diode, and string of diodes with opposite polarities. The diode of the first branch plus string of diodes of the second branch and diode of the second branch plus string of diodes of the first branch provide coupling paths between the voltage line and, respectively, the common point and common control terminal. Full Article
el Power Switch Drivers with Equalizers for Paralleled Switches By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Thu, 22 Jun 2017 08:00:00 EDT Capacitors connected between gate terminals of a plurality of parallel-connected power transistors are charged and discharged in each switching cycle to provide a plurality of power transistor control waveforms from a single gate driver waveform that equalize power losses/temperatures or steady-state currents among the plurality of power transistors. The capacitors are charged to different voltages by diverting current from one transistor driver by disabling another power transistor driver at different respective times in response to measured transient or steady state current or temperature or other operational parameter. Full Article
el CLOCK GENERATION CIRCUIT AND SEMICONDUCTOR APPARATUS AND ELECTRONIC SYSTEM USING THE SAME By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Thu, 22 Jun 2017 08:00:00 EDT A clock generation circuit may include a reference clock generator configured to generate a pair of first reference clocks in an offset code generation mode, a correction code generator configured to generate a reference correction code according to a duty detection signal based on a phase difference between the pair of first reference clocks, and an offset code generator configured to generate an offset code based on the reference correction code and a preset reference code. Full Article
el LOOP FILTER WITH ACTIVE DISCRETE-LEVEL LOOP FILTER CAPACITOR IN A VOLTAGE CONTROLLED OSCILLATOR By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Thu, 22 Jun 2017 08:00:00 EDT A loop filter with an active discrete-level loop filter capacitor can be used in a VCO (such as for CDR). A loop filter capacitor function is simulated by sensing input loop filter current (such as with a current mirror and source follower in the input leg), and forcing back a loop filter (VCO) control voltage. Loop filter voltage control is provided using a VDAC with a discrete-level VDAC feedback voltage, incremented/decremented based on the sensed loop filter current. In one embodiment, the VDAC voltage is provided as the non-inverting input to an amplifier, with the inverting input providing the control voltage, forced to the VDAC feedback voltage. The VDAC feedback voltage can be provided by increment/decrement comparators based on a voltage deviation on a C2 capacitor (from a reference voltage) that receives the sensed loop filter current (effectively multiplying the C2 capacitance to provide a simulated loop filter capacitance). Full Article
el MULTICHANNEL TRANSDUCER DEVICES AND METHODS OF OPERATION THEREOF By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Thu, 29 Jun 2017 08:00:00 EDT The present disclosure is directed to multichannel transducer devices and methods of operation thereof. One example device includes at least two acquisition modules that have different sensitives and a signal processing stage that generates a blended signal representative of a lower gain signal mapped onto a higher gain signal. One example method of operation includes receiving a first signal from a first sensor having a first sensitivity, receiving a second signal from a second sensor having a second sensitivity that is different from the first sensitivity, generating a blended signal by mapping the second signal to the first signal, outputting the first signal while the first signal is below a first threshold and above a second threshold, and outputting the blended signal when the first signal is above the first threshold and when the first signal is below the second threshold. Full Article
el Apparatus for Multiple-Input Power Architecture for Electronic Circuitry and Associated Methods By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Thu, 29 Jun 2017 08:00:00 EDT An apparatus includes an integrated circuit (IC). The IC includes a power controller, which includes a regulator and a controller. The regulator receives a plurality of input voltages and provides a regulated output voltage. The controller controls the regulator to generate the regulated output voltage from the plurality of input voltages. The power controller provides power to a load integrated in the IC from a set of arbitrary input voltages. The set of arbitrary input voltages includes the plurality of input voltages. Full Article
el Electronic Switching Device and System By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Thu, 29 Jun 2017 08:00:00 EDT The present invention is directed to an electronic switch device, the device including a housing assembly including a front cover assembly having a user accessible surface, a back body assembly, terminals configured to be coupled to an AC power source and the load; an antenna assembly including an antenna substrate disposed inside the housing assembly adjacent a portion of the front cover assembly, an antenna being disposed on the antenna substrate having a conductive grid structure; and a circuit assembly disposed inside the housing assembly coupled to the terminals, the circuit assembly comprising a printed circuit board, the printed circuit board including a ground plane, the circuit assembly being electrically connected to the antenna assembly via a conductor, the printed circuit board being separated from the antenna assembly by a predetermined distance, the circuit assembly including a relay switch having at least one solenoid winding connected to the circuit assembly and a set of contacts. Full Article
el CIRCUIT, LOGIC CIRCUIT, PROCESSOR, ELECTRONIC COMPONENT, AND ELECTRONIC DEVICE By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Thu, 29 Jun 2017 08:00:00 EDT A circuit suitable for data backup of a logic circuit is provided. The circuit includes first to fourth nodes, a capacitor, first to third transistors, and first and second circuits. Data can be loaded and stored between the circuit and the logic circuit. The first node is electrically connected to a data output terminal of the logic circuit. The second node is electrically connected to a data input terminal of the logic circuit. The capacitor is electrically connected to the third node. The first transistor controls electrical continuity between the first node and the third node. The second transistor controls electrical continuity between the second node and the third node. The third transistor controls electrical continuity between the second node and the fourth node. The first and second circuits have functions of raising gate voltage of the first transistor and raising gate voltage of the second transistor, respectively. Full Article
el CLOCK SELECTION CIRCUIT AND POWER SUPPLY DEVICE EQUIPPED WITH THE SAME By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Thu, 29 Jun 2017 08:00:00 EDT To provide a clock selection circuit capable of reducing clock omission generated when switching from a state of being synchronized with a first clock to a second clock. The clock selection circuit is equipped with a clock detection circuit which detects a first clock to output a detected signal, a switch which outputs the first clock when the detected signal is at a first level and outputs a second clock when the detected signal is at a second level different from the first level, and a one-shot circuit which outputs a one-shot pulse in response to switching of the detected signal from the first level to the second level. The output of the switch and the output of the one-shot circuit are added to be outputted as an output clock. Full Article
el FINE DELAY STRUCTURE WITH PROGRAMMABLE DELAY RANGES By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Thu, 29 Jun 2017 08:00:00 EDT A circuit includes a first node, a first inverter connected to the first node and a second node. A variable resistive element is connected to the second node and a third node. A first switch is connected to the second node, a first capacitive element is connected in series with the first switch and the third node, a second switch connected to the second node, a second capacitive element is connected in series with the second switch and the third node, and a second inverter is connected to the third node and a fourth node. Full Article
el HALF-BRIDGE CIRCUIT, H-BRIDGE CIRCUIT AND ELECTRONIC SYSTEM By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Thu, 29 Jun 2017 08:00:00 EDT A half-bridge circuit comprises a high supply contact and a low supply contact. A half-bridge output contact is connectable to drive a load and has a high-side between the high supply contact and the half-bridge output contact and a low-side between the half-bridge output contact and the low supply contact. A high-side bidirectional vertical power transistor at the high-side has a source connected to the high supply contact, and a low-side bidirectional vertical power transistor at the low-side, transistor has a source connected to the low supply contact. The high-side bidirectional vertical power transistor and low-side bidirectional vertical power transistor are connected in cascode and share a common drain connected to the half-bridge output contact, and are controllable to alternatingly allow a current flow from the high supply contact to the half-bridge output contact or from the half-bridge output contact to the low supply contact. Full Article
el NONAQUEOUS ELECTROLYTE SECONDARY BATTERY AND BATTERY PACK By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Thu, 29 Jun 2017 08:00:00 EDT A nonaqueous electrolyte secondary battery of the present invention includes a positive electrode containing olivine-structured Fe or a Mn-containing phosphorus compound as a positive electrode active material; a negative electrode containing a titanium-containing metal oxide capable of inserting and extracting lithium ions as a negative electrode active material; a nonwoven fabric separator, which contains an electrically insulating fiber and is bonded to a surface of at least one of the positive electrode and the negative electrode; and a nonaqueous electrolyte. In a thickness direction of the nonwoven fabric separator, a density of the fiber on a side having contact with the positive electrode is high, and a density of the fiber on a side having contact with the negative electrode is low. Full Article
el NONAQUEOUS ELECTROLYTE SECONDARY BATTERY SEPARATOR By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Thu, 29 Jun 2017 08:00:00 EDT The present invention provides a nonaqueous electrolyte secondary battery separator that achieves an excellent rate characteristic by having a tensile creep compliance J satisfying at least one of the following three conditions in a case where stress of 30 MPa is applied for t seconds: (i) when t=300 seconds, J=4.5 GPa−1 to 14.0 GPa−1, (ii) when t=1800 seconds, J=9.0 GPa−1 to 25.0 GPa−1, (iii) when t=600 seconds, J=12.0 GPa−5 to 32.0 GPa−1. Full Article
el POSITIVE ELECTRODE ACTIVE MATERIAL FOR LITHIUM SECONDARY BATTERIES, POSITIVE ELECTRODE FOR LITHIUM SECONDARY BATTERIES, AND LITHIUM SECONDARY BATTERY By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Thu, 29 Jun 2017 08:00:00 EDT The object of the present invention is to provide a positive electrode active material usable for a lithium ion battery capable of high charge/discharge cycle performance and high discharge capacity. The positive electrode active material for a lithium secondary battery has a layered structure and comprises at least nickel, cobalt and manganese. Further, the positive electrode active material satisfies requirements (1) to (3) below: (1) a primary particle size of 0.1 μm to 1 μm, and a 50% cumulative particle size D50 of 1 μm to 10 μm, (2) a ratio (D90/D10) of volume-based 90% cumulative particle size D50 to volume-based 10% cumulative particle size D10 of 2 to 6, and (3) a lithium carbonate content in a residual alkali on particle surfaces of 0.1% by mass to 0.8% by mass as measured by neutralization titration. Full Article
el POSITIVE ELECTRODE FOR NONAQUEOUS ELECTROLYTE SECONDARY BATTERY AND NONAQUEOUS ELECTROLYTE SECONDARY BATTERY By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Thu, 29 Jun 2017 08:00:00 EDT The positive electrode as an embodiment includes a positive electrode current collector mainly composed of aluminum, a positive electrode mixture layer containing a lithium-containing transition metal oxide and disposed above the positive electrode current collector, and a protective layer disposed between the positive electrode current collector and the positive electrode mixture layer. The protective layer contains inorganic particles, an electro-conductive material, and a binding material; is mainly composed of the inorganic particles; and is disposed on the positive electrode current collector to cover the positive electrode current collector in approximately the entire area where the positive electrode mixture layer is disposed and at least a part of the exposed portion of the positive electrode current collector where the positive electrode mixture layer is not disposed on the surface of the positive electrode current collector. Full Article
el POSITIVE ELECTRODE By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Thu, 29 Jun 2017 08:00:00 EDT According to one embodiment, a positive electrode includes a positive electrode layer and a positive electrode current collector. The positive electrode layer includes a positive electrode active material including a first oxide represented by the following formula (α) and/or a second oxide represented by the following formula (β). The positive electrode layer has an intensity ratio falling within a range of 0.25 to 0.7. The ratio is represented by the following formula (1) in an X-ray diffraction pattern obtained by using CuKα radiation for a surface of the positive electrode layer. LixNi1−a−bCoaMnbMcO2 (α) LixNi1−a−cCoaMcO2 (β) I2/I1 (1) Full Article
el POSITIVE ELECTRODE ACTIVE MATERIAL FOR SODIUM SECONDARY BATTERY, AND METHOD FOR PREPARING SAME By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Thu, 29 Jun 2017 08:00:00 EDT The present invention relates to a positive electrode active material for a sodium secondary battery, and a method for preparing the same. The positive electrode active material for the sodium secondary battery according to the present invention is structurally more stable by replacing a part of the transition metal with Li, and accordingly, the thermal stability and life characteristics of the sodium battery including the positive electrode active material are greatly improved. Full Article
el REVERSIBLE FUEL CELL OXYGEN ELECTRODE, REVERSIBLE FUEL CELL INCLUDING THE SAME, AND METHOD FOR PREPARING THE SAME By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Thu, 29 Jun 2017 08:00:00 EDT Disclosed are a reversible fuel cell oxygen electrode in which IrO2 is electrodeposited and formed on a porous carbon material and platinum is applied thereon to form a porous platinum layer, a reversible fuel cell including the same, and a method for preparing the same. According to the corresponding reversible fuel cell oxygen electrode, as the loading amounts of IrO2 and platinum used in the reversible fuel cell oxygen electrode can be lowered, it is possible to exhibit excellent reversible fuel cell performances (excellent fuel cell performance and water electrolysis performance) by improving the mass transport of water and oxygen while being capable of reducing the loading amounts of IrO2 and platinum. Further, it is possible to exhibit a good activity of a catalyst when the present disclosure is applied to a reversible fuel cell oxygen electrode and to reduce corrosion of carbon. Full Article
el ANODE FOR MOLTEN CARBONATE FUEL CELL HAVING IMPROVED CREEP PROPERTY, METHOD FOR PREPARING THE SAME, AND MOLTEN CARBONATE FUEL CELL USING THE ANODE By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Thu, 29 Jun 2017 08:00:00 EDT Disclosed is an anode for a molten carbonate fuel cell (MCFC) having improved creep property by adding an additive for imparting creep resistance to nickel-aluminum alloy and nickel as materials for an anode. Improved sintering property, creep property and increased mechanical strength of a molten carbonate fuel cell may be obtained accordingly. Full Article
el METHOD OF MAKING A PROTON EXCHANGE MEMBRANE USING A GAS DIFFUSION ELECTRODE AS A SUBSTRATE By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Thu, 29 Jun 2017 08:00:00 EDT One embodiment includes a method comprising the steps of providing a first dry catalyst coated gas diffusion media layer, depositing a wet first proton exchange membrane layer over the first catalyst coated gas diffusion media layer to form a first proton exchange membrane layer; providing a second dry catalyst coated gas diffusion media layer; contacting the second dry catalyst coated gas diffusion media layer with the first proton exchange membrane layer; and hot pressing together the first and second dry catalyst coated gas diffusion media layers with the wet proton exchange membrane layer therebetween. Full Article
el CATALYST COMPOSITION FOR ALKALINE ELECTROCHEMICAL ENERGY CONVERSION REACTION AND USE THEREOF By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Thu, 29 Jun 2017 08:00:00 EDT A catalyst composition and a use thereof are provided. The catalyst composition includes a support and at least one RuXMY alloy attached to the surface of the support, wherein M is a transition metal and X≧Y. The catalyst composition is used in an alkaline electrochemical energy conversion reaction, and can improve the energy conversion efficiency for an electrochemical energy conversion device and significantly reduce material costs. Full Article
el ELECTRODE CATALYST FOR FUEL CELLS By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Thu, 29 Jun 2017 08:00:00 EDT A means of inhibiting the occurrence of overvoltage in an electrode catalyst for fuel cells so as to substantially prevent reduction of fuel cell performance includes an anode electrode catalyst for fuel cells, which contains a carbon support having at least one pore having a pore size of 10 nm or less and a pore volume of 1.1 to 8.4 cm3/g and catalyst particles having particle sizes of 3.1 nm or less and supported by the carbon support so that the density of supported catalyst particles is 15% to 40% by mass. Full Article
el SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR PREVENTING CHROMIUM CONTAMINATION OF SOLID OXIDE FUEL CELLS By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Thu, 29 Jun 2017 08:00:00 EDT In some embodiments, a solid oxide fuel system is provided. The solid oxide fuel cell system may include a chromium-getter material. The chromium-getter material may react with chromium to remove chromium species from chromium vapor. The solid oxide fuel cell system may also include an inert substrate. The chromium-getter material may be coated onto the inert substrate. The coated substrate may remove chromium species from chromium vapor before the chromium species can react with a cathode in the solid oxide fuel cell system. Full Article
el SOLID OXIDE FUEL CELL, FUEL CELL STACK DEVICE, FUEL CELL MODULE, AND FUEL CELL APPARATUS By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Thu, 29 Jun 2017 08:00:00 EDT A solid oxide fuel cell having an electric power generating element unit that is configured by sandwiching a solid electrolyte layer between a fuel electrode layer and an oxygen electrode layer with a pore that is present in the solid electrolyte layer and is covered with a sealing material. In addition, a pore that is present in an interconnector, which is electrically connected to the fuel electrode layer or the oxygen electrode layer, is covered with the sealing material. Consequently, the solid oxide fuel cell is capable of easily preventing gas leakage. Full Article
el FUEL CELL UNIT INCLUDING AN EXCHANGEABLE DEIONIZATION DEVICE AND A VEHICLE INCLUDING SUCH A FUEL CELL UNIT By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Thu, 29 Jun 2017 08:00:00 EDT A fuel cell unit having at least one fuel cell, a cooling circuit and a deionization device (10). The deionization device includes a housing (16) and a deionizing agent (11) located therein A vehicle is also provided having such a fuel cell unit. It is provided that the deionization device (10) can be or is connected in a fluid-conveying manner to the cooling circuit (5) with a single connection unit (15) via a flow inlet (13) and a flow outlet (14). Full Article
el HYDROGEN PURGING DEVICE AND METHOD FOR FUEL CELL SYSTEM By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Thu, 29 Jun 2017 08:00:00 EDT A hydrogen purging device for a fuel cell system includes a humidifier that humidifies dry air supplied from an air blower, using moist air discharged from a cathode of a stack and supplies the humidified air to the cathode. A water trap and a hydrogen recirculation blower are sequentially connected to an outlet of an anode, wherein a hydrogen outlet of the water trap and an inlet of the humidifier are connected by a cathode-hydrogen purging line for purging hydrogen to the cathode so that the hydrogen discharged from the anode of the fuel stack is purged to the cathode during idling or during normal driving. Full Article
el FUEL CELL SYSTEM AND CONTROL METHOD FOR FUEL CELL SYSTEM By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Thu, 29 Jun 2017 08:00:00 EDT A fuel cell system for supplying anode gas and cathode gas to a fuel cell and causing the fuel cell to generate power according to a load includes a component that circulates discharged gas of either the anode gas or the cathode gas discharged from the fuel cell to the fuel cell. The fuel cell system includes a power generation control unit that controls a power generation state of the fuel cell on the basis of the load, a freezing prediction unit that predicts the freezing of the component on the basis of a temperature of the fuel cell system. The fuel cell system includes an operation execution unit that executes a warm-up operation without stopping the fuel cell system or after the stop of the fuel cell system in the case of receiving a stop command of the fuel cell system when the freezing of the component is predicted. Full Article
el FLOWING ELECTROLYTE FUEL CELL WITH IMPROVED PERFORMANCE AND STABILITY By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Thu, 29 Jun 2017 08:00:00 EDT A flowing electrolyte fuel cell system design (DHCFC-Flow) is provided. The use of a flowing oxygen-saturated electrolyte in a fuel cell offers a significant enhancement in the cell performance characteristics. The mass transfer and reaction kinetics of the superoxide/peroxide/oxide ion (mobile oxygen ion species) in the fuel cell are enhanced by recirculating an oxidizing gas-saturated electrolyte. Recirculating oxygen-saturated electrolyte through a liquid channel enhances the maximal current observed in a fuel cell. The use of a oxygen saturated electrolyte ensures that the reaction kinetics of the oxygen reduction reaction are fast and the use of convection ameliorates concentration gradients and the diffusion-limited maximum current density. The superoxide ion is generated in situ by the reduction of the oxygen dissolved in the gaseous electrolyte. Also, a dual porosity membrane allows the uniform flow of fuel (e.g., methane) on the fuel side, without allowing phase mixing. The capillary pressure for liquid intrusion into the gas phase and vice versa is quite large, estimated to be 1-10 psi. This makes it easier to control the fluctuations in gas/liquid velocity which might otherwise lead to phase mixing and the loss of fuel cell performance. In one variation, a dual-porosity membrane structure is incorporated in the system to allow uniform flow of fuel and prevent mixing of fuel with a liquid electrolyte. Full Article
el FUEL CELL VEHICLE By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Thu, 29 Jun 2017 08:00:00 EDT A fuel cell vehicle includes a fuel tank, a first detector, a control circuit, and a transmitter. The fuel tank stores fuel gas. The first detector detects information on a state in the fuel tank. The control circuit is configured to receive the information and to generate a signal based on the information. The transmitter includes a transmitter circuit and a response data transmitter circuit. The transmitter circuit is configured to transmit the information to a fuel supply station outside of the fuel cell vehicle according to the signal output from the control circuit. The response data transmitter circuit is configured to transmit response data corresponding to the signal. The control circuit includes a response data receiver circuit to acquire the response data transmitted from the response data transmitter circuit. Full Article
el HYDROGEN GENERATOR AND FUEL CELL SYSTEM AND METHOD By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Thu, 29 Jun 2017 08:00:00 EDT Embodiments of the invention provide a fuel cell system including a fuel cell coupled to a controller configured to route power generated by the fuel cell to at least one peripheral device. Embodiments include a hydrogen generator including a reactor vessel enclosed by a housing. The hydrogen generator is fluidly coupled to the fuel cell and configured to deliver hydrogen to the fuel cell. Embodiments include at least one water harvesting system fluidly coupled to the hydrogen generator and configured to deliver water or water vapor to the hydrogen generator using a controller. Some embodiments include at least one waste heat recovery system used to heat harvested water or water vapor delivered to the hydrogen generator. Some embodiments include a fuel cell system fueling method using the hydrogen generator fluidly coupled to the fuel cell including delivery of captured water or water vapor to the hydrogen generator. Full Article
el FUEL CELL STACK By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Thu, 29 Jun 2017 08:00:00 EDT A fuel cell stack includes a pair of end plates disposed on opposing sides of a fuel cell stacked body in a first direction, a coupling bar that bridges between the end plates, a fastening member that connects the end plates and the coupling bar in the first direction, and a cylindrical knock disposed inside an end plate side mounting hole and a coupling bar side mounting hole of the end plates and the coupling bar in the first direction, and being externally fitted to the fastening member inside the end plate side mounting hole and the coupling bar side mounting hole. A first seal member in close contact with at least an inner circumferential surface of the end plate side mounting hole and the fastening member is disposed in a portion located between the cylindrical knock and the fastening member inside the end plate side mounting hole. Full Article
el LITHIUM BATTERY ELECTROLYTE SOLUTION CONTAINING METHYL (2,2,3,3,-TETRAFLUOROPROPYL) CARBONATE By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Thu, 29 Jun 2017 08:00:00 EDT A battery electrolyte solution contains a lithium salt dissolved in a solvent phase comprising at least 10% by weight of methyl (2,2,3,3-tetrafluoropropyl) carbonate. The solvent phase comprises optionally other solvent materials such as 4-fluoroethylene carbonate and other carbonate solvents. This battery electrolyte is highly stable even when used in batteries in which the cathode material has a high operating potential (such as 4.5V or more) relative to Li/Li+. Batteries containing this electrolyte solution therefore have excellent cycling stability. Full Article
el CERAMIC-POLYMER COMPOSITE ELECTROLYTES FOR LITHIUM POLYMER BATTERIES By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Thu, 29 Jun 2017 08:00:00 EDT Composites of lithium-ion-conducting ceramic and polymeric materials make superior separators and electrolytes for use in lithium batteries. The ceramic material provides a high conductivity pathway for lithium-ions, enhancing the properties of the less conductive polymeric material. The polymeric material provides flexibility, binding, and space-filling properties, mitigating the tendency of rigid ceramic materials to break or delaminate. The interface between the polymer and ceramic can be made to have a low ionic resistance through the use of additives and coatings. Full Article
el POSITIVE ELECTRODE ACTIVE MATERIAL FOR NONAQUEOUS ELECTROLYTE SECONDARY BATTERIES, PRODUCTION METHOD THEREOF, AND NONAQUEOUS ELECTROLYTE SECONDARY BATTERY INCLUDING SAID MATERIAL By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Thu, 29 Jun 2017 08:00:00 EDT Provided is a positive electrode active material that can be used to fabricate a nonaqueous electrolyte secondary battery having excellent output characteristics not only in an environment at normal temperature but also in all temperature environments from extremely low to high temperatures. A positive electrode active material for nonaqueous electrolyte secondary batteries, the positive electrode active material includes a boron compound and lithium-nickel-cobalt-manganese composite oxide of general formula (1) having a layered hexagonal crystal structure. The lithium-nickel-cobalt-manganese composite oxide includes secondary particles composed of agglomerated primary particles. The boron compound is present on at least part of the surface of the primary particles, and contains lithium. Li1+sNixCoyMnzMotMwO2 (1) Full Article
el SOLID ELECTROLYTE AND LITHIUM BATTERY INCLUDING THE SAME By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Thu, 29 Jun 2017 08:00:00 EDT A solid electrolyte for an all-solid secondary battery, the solid electrolyte including: Li, S, P, an M1 element, and an M2 element, wherein the M1 element is at least one element selected from Na, K, Rb, Sc, Fr, and the M2 element is at least one element selected from F, Cl, Br, I, molar amounts of lithium and the M1 element satisfy 0 Full Article
el NON-AQUEOUS ELECTROLYTE SECONDARY CELL By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Thu, 29 Jun 2017 08:00:00 EDT A non-aqueous electrolyte secondary cell includes: a positive electrode including a positive electrode active material which contains as a primary component, a lithium composite oxide in which the rate of nickel to the total number of moles of metal elements other than lithium is 50 percent by mole or more; a negative electrode; and a non-aqueous electrolyte. The non-aqueous electrolyte contains lithium bis(fluorosulfonyl)amide and a fluorinated chain carboxylic acid ester represented by the following formula, R1 and R2 each represent H, F, or CH3-xFx (x represents 1, 2, or 3) and may be equivalent to or different from each other. R3 represents an alkyl group having 1 to 3 carbon atoms and may contain F. Full Article
el ELECTROLYTE SOLUTION COMPRISING SULFUR DIOXIDE-BASED IONIC LIQUID ELECTROLYTE, AND SODIUM-SULFUR DIOXIDE SECONDARY BATTERY HAVING SAME By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Thu, 29 Jun 2017 08:00:00 EDT The described technology relates to an electrolyte solution comprising a sulfur dioxide-based ionic liquid electrolyte, and a sodium-sulfur dioxide (Na—SO2) secondary battery having same, one purpose of the described technology being to enhance the storage characteristics of sulfur dioxide gas in an electrolyte solution. The sodium-sulfur dioxide secondary battery includes a negative electrode which is formed from an inorganic material and which contains sodium. The battery also includes a positive electrode which is formed from a carbon material and a sulfur dioxide-based inorganic electrolyte solution. Here, the electrolyte solution contains a sulfur dioxide-based ionic liquid electrolyte prepared by injecting SO2 gas in an ionic liquid. Full Article
el LITHIUM BATTERY ELECTROLYTE SOLUTION CONTAINING ETHYL (2,2,3,3-TETRAFLUOROPROPYL) CARBONATE By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Thu, 29 Jun 2017 08:00:00 EDT A battery electrolyte solution contains a lithium salt dissolved in a solvent phase comprising at least 10% by weight of ethyl (2,2,3,3-tetrafluoropropyl) carbonate. The solvent phase comprises optionally other solvent materials such as 4-fluoroethylene carbonate and either or both of diethyl carbonate and ethyl methyl carbonate. This battery electrolyte is highly stable even when used in batteries in which the cathode material has a high operating potential (such as 4.5V or more) relative to Li/Li+. Batteries containing this electrolyte solution therefore have excellent cycling stability. Full Article
el LITHIUM BATTERY ELECTROLYTE SOLUTION CONTAINING (2,2-DIFLUOROETHYL) ETHYL CARBONATE By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Thu, 29 Jun 2017 08:00:00 EDT A battery electrolyte solution contains a lithium salt dissolved in a solvent phase comprising at least 10% by weight N of (2,2-difluoroethyl) ethyl carbonate. The solvent phase comprises optionally other solvent materials such as 4-fluoroethylene carbonate and other carbonate solvents. This battery electrolyte is highly stable even when used in batteries in which the cathode material has a high operating potential (such as 4.5V or more) relative to Li/Li+. Batteries containing this electrolyte solution therefore have excellent cycling stability. Full Article
el BATTERY SYSTEM OF AN ELECTRIC VEHICLE By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Thu, 29 Jun 2017 08:00:00 EDT A battery system for an electric vehicle includes a container having a lid and a plurality of battery cells housed in the container. Each battery cell of the plurality of battery cells may include a pair of tabs to electrically connect to the battery cell, a printed circuit board housed in the container, and a pair of contact elements. The printed circuit board may include circuitry adapted to monitor at least one battery cell. And, each contact element may be attached to the printed circuit board and configured to separably contact a tab of the at least one battery cell to electrically connect the at least one battery cell to the printed circuit board. Full Article
el Battery cell having a detection interface By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Thu, 29 Jun 2017 08:00:00 EDT A system and method for a battery cell having an anode and a cathode, and a separator disposed between the anode and the cathode. A conductive layer disposed in the separator facilitates detection of dendrite growth from the anode into the separator, the detection correlative with a reduction in voltage between the anode and the conductive layer. A detection interface component coupled to the conductive layer is configured to facilitate routing of a signal from the conductive layer to a circuit external to the battery cell, the signal indicative of the detection. The battery cell may be part of a battery or battery pack which may be utilized by an electronic device. Full Article
el HOUSING FOR ACCOMMODATION OF A PLURALITY OF BATTERY CELLS HAVING A COOLING DEVICE INTEGRATED IN THE HOUSING By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Thu, 29 Jun 2017 08:00:00 EDT The invention relates to a housing (10) for accommodating a plurality of battery cells (20), in particular lithium-ion battery cells, wherein the housing (10), in particular a plastic housing, comprises a cooling device with an inlet point (30) and an outlet point (40) for an air stream (22) for cooling the battery cells (20). In addition, the housing (10) is designed as a single piece together with the cooling device integrated in the housing (10), and the cooling device additionally has spacers (34; 34a, 34b) for arranging all accommodated battery cells (20) with an intermediate space (23) for guiding air between the battery cells (20), by which means an air channel (25) is provided for the air stream (22) between the battery cells (20). The invention further relates to a battery pack (50) and to a motor vehicle comprising such a battery pack (50). Full Article
el UNIT CELL PACK By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Thu, 29 Jun 2017 08:00:00 EDT A unit cell pack according to the present disclosure includes a first battery module including battery cartridges that are sequentially stacked, a plurality of batteries wherein two batteries are seated on an upper surface of each of the battery cartridges, electrode connection members respectively positioned on both sides of the battery cartridges, and a battery cover covering the battery cartridges, the plurality of batteries, and the electrode connection members; a second battery module being adjacent to the first battery module and including same constituent elements as the first battery module; a battery housing surrounding the first battery module and the second battery module, and including air inflow window covers and air outflow window covers facing each other; and a fan duct disposed on the air outflow window covers of the battery housing, in which the two batteries on the upper surface of each of the battery cartridges are electrically connected in parallel, the battery cartridges are electrically connected in series through the electrode connection members, a lower surface of each of the battery cartridges defines air guide grooves with respect to each other, and the air guide grooves are aligned with the air inflow window covers and the air outflow window covers on one of the first battery module and the second battery module, forming straight air passages. Full Article
el Method for controlling the local characteristics of a non-woven textile and related installation By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 26 Feb 2013 08:00:00 EST A crosslapper receives a card web and folds it into a lap intended to be needle-punched or consolidated by other ways. The web includes zones which are more condensed, having a spectrum of orientation of fibers with a component parallel to the width of the web, alternating with less condensed zones having a longitudinal unidirectional spectrum of orientations. The zones which are less condensed are used to form the edge zones of the lap. The result is that the lap has different respective spectra of orientation which pre-compensate for the unwanted changes produced by the needle-punching or other consolidation which follows. A needle-punched lap is obtained having a uniform MD/CD ratio (relationship between longitudinal and respectively transverse tensile strengths) or having a sought profile of the MD/CD ratio across the width of the lap. Full Article