806results about "Primary cell maintainance/servicing" patented technology

In a cordless power tool system, protection methods, circuits and devices are provided to protect against fault conditions within a battery pack that is operatively attached to a power tool or charger, so as to prevent internal or external damage to the battery pack or attached tool or charger. The exemplary methods, circuits and devices address fault conditions such as over-charge, over-discharge, over-current, over-temperature, etc.

A battery pack has a flat battery cell, which includes a flat electric power generating element, at least one armor material for sealing the electric power generating element, and positive and negative tabs (1a, 2a) extending from the electric power generating element to the outside of the armor material through a sealing of the armor material; a circuit board (6) connected to the positive and negative tabs; and a container (16) having two main walls extending along two main surfaces of the flat battery cell. At least a portion of the circuit board is positioned in a space (8) defined by a sealing of the armor material beside the circuit board and the inner surface of the container. At least one of the two main walls of the container is at least partially formed of a metal plate (12a, 14a).

A cordless power tool has a housing which includes a mechanism to couple with a removable battery pack. The battery pack includes one or more battery cells as well as a system to dissipate heat from the battery pack.

The present invention provides a human engineered power and control system for artificial hearts or assist devices configured for ease of use, ruggedness, and high reliability. Battery powered systems of the prior art have required multiple cables and connectors that are subject to failure due to damage or wear. In the present invention, direct connection of the batteries to the control system eliminates multiple cables and connectors used with previous designs. A novel method of connecting batteries to the control system and exchanging batteries without interruption of power is provided in a compact user friendly configuration. The control system may provide periodic reductions in assist device flow to permit the natural ventricle to eject blood through the natural outflow valve, open the valve leaflets to prevent them from adhering together, and achieve sufficient washout to prevent thrombosis. Using either software based control or software independent electronic circuitry, the flow pumped by the artificial heart is reduced for a long enough period of time to permit at least a few beats of the natural heart to generate sufficient pressure to open the outflow valve. In a control system embodiment in which the patient manually adjusts the pump speed to incremental settings for rest and exercise conditions, a pulsatile flow mode is disclosed which provides approximately the same flow at a given incremental setting as the pump produces when running in a constant speed mode at the same setting. As the patient learns which speed setting is best for daily activities, the patient may use the same setting with either a pulsatile or constant pump speed mode.

An electrochemical device has at least one carrier substrate (1) provided with a stack (2) of functional layers, including at least one electrochemically active layer (4), which is capable of reversibly and simultaneously inserting ions and electrons and is arranged between two electroconductive layers. The device can be of the electrochromic type. The functionality of at least one of the functional layers, with the exception of one of the electroconductive layers (3,8), is locally inhibited so as to delimit inactive peripheral or non-peripheral regions in the stack (2).

An electrochemical cell having a current interrupting switch as an internal component of the cell that is thermally responsive and breaks an electrical path within the cell thereby preventing current flow when temperature within the cell is at or above an activating temperature. The switch is reversible and current flow and a closed circuit is re-established when temperature within the cell returns below the activating temperature.

Disclosed herein are battery-powered devices capable of authenticating batteries. In one embodiment, a device comprises: a battery, an excitation source, a photodetector, and an operating system. The device is capable of at least partially being powered by the battery. The excitation source is capable of producing radiation and disposed so that the radiation can contact a surface of the battery. The photodetector is capable of detecting radiation from the battery. The operating system is capable of determining whether or not the battery is an authentic battery for that device.

Provided is a secondary battery of an assemble-type structure, comprising: a cell body including an electrode assembly of cathode / separator / anode sealed therein; and a cap assembly including a protection circuit electrically connected to the cell body so as to control overcharge, overdischarge and overcurrent of the battery and a cap housing covering an upper part of the battery, and being detachably coupled to the cell body. In accordance with the present invention, since the cap assembly including the protection circuit, cap housing and the like is assembled detachably from the cell body and electrically connected to and also can be physically firmly fixed to one another, provided are effects capable of greatly reducing the manufacturing process steps of the battery, and solving all the problems associated with use of battery cases and insert injection molding. Therefore, the present invention can reduce battery production costs and rejection rate, facilitate greater ease of re-working upon occurrence of rejection in particular components and realize more efficient automation of the battery manufacturing process.

An improved gas-diffusion cathode for use in an electrochemical cell comprising an electrically conductive cathode member having a first side communicable with an aqueous electrolyte and a second side communicable with a gaseous medium; and a water-impermeable membrane adjacent said cathode member second side to reduce passage of liquid water between said cathode member and said gaseous medium and having a membrane first side and a membrane second side wherein said membrane first side faces said cathode member and wherein said water-impermeable membrane comprises one or more portions defining one or more openable and closeable apertures the improvement wherein said apertures are associated with one or more integrally-formed resiliently flexible flaps on said membrane first side to effect said opening and closing. The batteries have reduced unwanted water vapour ingress and egress characteristics in its no-load mode.

Disclosed are an apparatus and a method for estimating a state of charge of a battery representing a non-linear characteristic by using a neural network. The apparatus includes a sensing section for detecting current, voltage and a temperature from a battery cell, a neural network performing a neural network algorithm and a learning algorithm based on data of the current, voltage and temperature transmitted thereto from the sensing section and present time data, thereby outputting the SOC of the battery estimated through a final learning algorithm, and a comparator for comparing an output value of the neural network with a predetermined target value and making the neural network iteratively perform the learning algorithm if a difference between the output value of the neural network and the predetermined target value is out of a predetermined limit, thereby update the learning algorithm to generate the final learning algorithm. The state of charge of the battery is precisely estimated through the neural network algorithm.

A lithium ion electrochemical cell having high charge / discharge capacity, long cycle life and exhibiting a reduced first cycle irreversible capacity, is described. The stated benefits are realized by the addition of at least one phosphate additive to an electrolyte comprising an alkali metal salt dissolved in a solvent mixture that includes ethylene carbonate, dimethyl carbonate, ethylmethyl carbonate and diethyl carbonate. The preferred additive is an alkyl phosphate compound.

The present invention relates to an anode material excellent in its charging and discharging characteristics and a secondary battery excellent in its charging and discharging cyclic characteristics. An anode active material is used for a nonaqueous electrolyte secondary battery including an anode having the anode active material, a cathode having a cathode active material and a nonaqueous electrolyte. The capacity of the anode is expressed by the sum of a capacity component obtained when light metal is doped and dedoped in an ionic state and a capacity component obtained when the light metal is deposited and dissolved. The light metal includes an anode base material capable of doping and dedoping the light metal in an ionic state and a fibrous material having an electric conductivity.

A battery and a battery pack comprising a rechargeable battery (2) and a circuit substrate (3) integrated therein by a resin mold package (11) are provided. Resin is filled between the rechargeable battery (2) and the substrate (3) electrically connected thereto, so as to unite them as one battery or battery pack. The rechargeable battery (2) includes an engaging member (26) which functions as an anchor to the resin mold package (11) formed onto the battery, whereby the resin mold package (11) is firmly joined to the rechargeable battery (2). A thermo-sensitive element can be incorporated either on the circuit substrate (3) or within the space filled with resin.

An electrostatic charge storage assembly having capacitor and a discharge regulator is provided. In one embodiment, the electrostatic charge storage assembly further includes an inductive charging circuit operative to charge the capacitor. In another embodiment, the electrostatic charge storage assembly further includes a charge regulator. In a further embodiment, the electrostatic charge storage assembly of the present invention is adapted to be removably inserted within a battery housing of an electronic device. In a further embodiment, the electrostatic charge storage assembly of the present invention is adapted to fit within a housing, said housing being of the same or smaller dimensions of one or more standard or non-standard primary or secondary batteries.

A method, device and system is disclosed for rapidly and safely discharging remaining energy stored in an electrochemical battery 104 in the event of an internal short circuit or other fault. In its best mode of implementation, if a sensor 116 detects one or more parameters such as battery temperature 204 or pressure 206, exceeding a predetermined threshold value 334, the terminals 144 of the battery or cell are intentionally short-circuited external to the battery through a low or near zero resistance load 150 which rapidly drains energy from the battery 104. The rate energy is drained via the external discharge load 150 may be controlled with an electronic circuit 136 responsive to factors such as state of charge and battery temperature. Devices such as piezoelectric and Peltier devices 300, may also be used as emergency energy discharge loads.

Conventional separators had a function that their melting made minute holes inside the separator smaller, leading to cut off of ion conductivity in temperature increase due to unusual conditions such as short circuit. However, there was a problem that, at a temperature higher than a certain degree, not only the minute holes were closed but also the separator itself was melted to cause deformation of the separator such as shrink and generation of holes due to melting and insulation was broken. The present invention has been carried out in order to solve the above problems. The separator for batteries of the present invention comprises a first porous layer (3a) containing a thermoplastic resin as a main component and a second porous layer (3b) laminated on the first porous layer (3a), which has higher heat resistance than that of the first porous layer (3a).

This invention aims to improve the reliability of an electronic control system which drives an actuator on conveyance operation based on an electrical signal to make adjustments such as acceleration / deceleration and movement direction of a conveyance, by achieving a power unit for conveyances having a power source with no need of charge and with little performance deterioration, thereby allowing for practical application of high-performance conveyances. The present invention relates to a power unit for conveyance comprising a main power source and a stand-by power source, which is characterized in that a thermal battery is provided as the stand-by power source, and a conveyance which is provided with an electronic control system and the power unit for conveyance of the present invention, is constituted so that electric power for operating the electronic control system is supplied to the electronic control system from the power unit for conveyances. By employing a thermal battery as the stand-by power source as thus, the stand-by power source does not require to be charged and the long-term reliability of the stand-by power source is also ensured.

A battery unit for a secondary battery that includes a positive electrode plate, a positive electrode tab, a negative electrode plate, a negative electrode tab, a separator, and short circuit preventing units, wherein the short circuit preventing units are formed on corresponding uncoated areas of the positive and negative electrode current collectors where the positive and negative electrode sheets are not formed, each short circuit preventing unit having a corresponding width greater than a width of the corresponding positive and negative electrode current collectors.

A fuse is melted and cut off when an overcurrent flows through the fuse. The fuse has a different thermal expansion coefficient metal laminate obtained by laminating a plurality of different thermal expansion coefficient metal plates. When the fuse is melted and cut off by heat of the overcurrent, a mechanical deforming force is applied to a melting portion of the fuse. The mechanical force is caused by the difference between thermal expansion coefficients of the different thermal expansion coefficient metal plates.

The present invention provides electrochemical cells capable of good electronic performance, particularly high specific energies, useful discharge rate capabilities and good cycle life. Electrochemical cells of the present invention are versatile and include primary and secondary cells useful for a range of important applications including use in portable electronic devices. Electrochemical cells of the present invention also exhibit enhanced safety and stability relative to conventional state of the art primary lithium batteries and lithium ion secondary batteries. For example, electrochemical cells of the present invention include secondary electrochemical cells using anion charge carriers capable of accommodation by positive and negative electrodes comprising anion host materials, which entirely eliminate the need for metallic lithium or dissolved lithium ion in these systems.

A secondary battery includes a container an electrode assembly mounted in the container having a positive electrode, a negative electrode, and a separator interposed between the positive electrode and the negative electrode, and a cap assembly fixed to the container to seal the container. The cap assembly includes a cap plate having a terminal, a current breaker electrically connected to the cap plate; and a vent plate having a safety vent electrically connected to the current breaker, the shape of the vent plate being altered by the internal pressure of the secondary battery to alter the shape of the current breaker, and the current breaker cutting off the current path of the cap assembly.

The invention discloses a dynamic equilibrium management system of a collector-distributed motor battery, comprising a battery sub-observation system (7), a battery equilibrium system (1), a battery management subsystem (12) and a host computer (10). The battery sub-observation system (7) consists of a plurality of monolithic battery sampling molds. The battery management subsystem (12) comprises a battery management ECU with a microcolltroller as the core, a multi-channel communication line (23), a concentration line communication mold and a channel selectivity control mold. The battery equilibrium system (1) consists of a plurality of monolithic battery equilibrium molds (2) and a channel selectivity circuit (3). The dynamic equilibrium management system formed by the invention has compact topological layout and simple structure, which is easy to be transferred, maintained and developed. The invention realized the management method of centralization control and dynamic distributed equilibrium, which has good property of adjustment and control and high reliability.

An electrode assembly is formed by respectively overlaying a sheet cathode 1, a sheet separator 3 and a double-sided sheet anode 8 to form a stacked structure 10, and subjecting the stacked structure to multiple folds, wherein the initial fold comprises folding the cathode in half around the double-sided anode so as to surround the respective upper and lower active anode surfaces thereof. The multiple folds may comprise one or more subsequent parallel folds made with the fold line D-D extending perpendicular to the original length of the stacked structure such that its overall length is halved at each fold. A pouch battery comprising said electrode assembly has improved safety and performance characteristics. The pouch battery construction has especial application to lithium primary batteries.

A microvalve for controlling fluid flow, including a body portion having a plurality of spaced openings formed therein, a shutter located adjacent to and substantially parallel with the body portion having a plurality of spaced openings formed therein, a drive mechanism for causing the shutter to move laterally with respect to the body portion so that the spaced openings of the shutter are brought into and out of alignment with the spaced openings of the body portion, wherein the microvalve is in an open position and a closed position, respectively, and, a latching mechanism for preventing the shutter from moving laterally with respect to the body portion.

The invention discloses a battery pack with thermal conducting adhesives. The battery pack comprises a shell and a plurality of battery units, wherein the shell is provided with a cooling device, the battery units are arranged in the shell, the thermal conducting adhesives with an electric insulation characteristic and a thermal conducting characteristic are arranged outside the battery units and are in contact with the outer surfaces of the battery units.

This invention provides a safe and efficient method of dismantling used lithium ion batteries. More specifically, the plastic cases which protect sealed battery cells are removed from the system in a stable and reliable fashion. Valuable materials such as lithium cobalt oxide, an oxide of a lithium-transition metal compound, aluminum and copper must be separated and recovered. The invention is distinguished by the fact that it entails the following processes. In the crushing process, the batteries are chilled to a temperature of -50° C. or lower. In this state they are repeatedly subjected to vibration and pressure by a number of objects whose rigidity and specific gravity are greater than those of the plastic. In this way the batteries are separated into sealed battery cells and plastic cases. In the heating process, the sealed battery cells separated in the process are heated to a temperature of at least 200° C. in a non-oxidizing atmosphere to separate mainly the organic materials. Finally, in one or more separation processes, the useless materials are removed and the targeted valuable materials are separated in a sequential fashion from the crushed fragments produced in the crushing process.