| Patent Number |
Title Of Patent |
Date Issued |
| D397670 |
Battery pack for a portable electronic device |
September 1, 1998 |
|
| 6660418 |
Electrical device with removable enclosure for electrochemical cell |
December 9, 2003 |
| A battery powered device providing in combination (1) a cell pack that includes one or more isolation passageways (diffusion tubes) positioned to protect metal-air cells of the battery pack from the ambient air when no air mover is active to force air to the cells and the passageway or |
| 6475658 |
Air manager systems for batteries utilizing a diaphragm or bellows |
November 5, 2002 |
| Air managers for metal-air batteries are described, utilizing a diaphragm or bellows to move air in and out of one or more air openings or to move air from an inlet to an outlet. The diaphragm or bellows may be reciprocated by a linear actuator, such as an electromagnetic oscillator, |
| 6464215 |
Vibration damping mount for a metal-air battery or the like |
October 15, 2002 |
| A device for damping vibration in mounting vibration-prone devices, such as fans or other devices with moving parts. A fan may be mounted at the center of a spiral spring to prevent transmission of vibrations including sounds from the fan to a surrounding structure, such as a cell phone |
| 6461765 |
Metal-air cell housing with improved peripheral seal design |
October 8, 2002 |
| A metal-air cell housing structure provides a generally L-shaped peripheral grid comprising an upper leg ultrasonically welded to the top edge of a peripheral wall of a lower housing section, and a downwardly extending leg positioned to hold an air electrode against the central panel of |
| 6444609 |
Manganese-based oxygen reduction catalyst, metal-air electrode including said catalyst and metho |
September 3, 2002 |
| A manganese based catalyst for use in a metal-air electrochemical cell wherein the catalyst is made by a sol-gel process. The sol-gel process creates catalyst particles that are submicron and easily distributed throughout the active layer of the electrode. |
| 6436564 |
Air mover for a battery utilizing a variable volume enclosure |
August 20, 2002 |
| The metal-air battery includes an air mover mechanism located in the cathode plenum space of one or more metal-air cells. The air mover is an enclosure isolating the air cathode, with a mechanism for expanding and contracting the volume of the enclosure to move air in and out of the |
| 6428931 |
Methods for making oxygen reduction catalyst using micelle encapsulation and metal-air electrode |
August 6, 2002 |
| A manganese based catalyst for use in a metal-air electrochemical cell wherein the catalyst is made by a micelle process and a method of producing the catalyst. An electrode comprising said catalyst and method of producing the electrode. The micelle encapsulation process creates cata |
| 6365296 |
Convective air manager for metal-air battery |
April 2, 2002 |
| An orientation independent metal-air power source utilizing convective airflow for enhancing power output for powering a load. A battery housing for enclosing at least one metal-air cell has an air cavity at each end. Between the two cavities is an elongated central passageway. The cavit |
| 6350537 |
Load responsive air door for an electrochemical cell |
February 26, 2002 |
| A metal-air cell having a cell casing, an air electrode positioned within the cell casing, and means for providing air to the air electrode when a predetermined load is placed on the cell and for substantially isolating the air electrode when the load is not placed on the cell. |
| 6346341 |
Air delivery system with volume-changeable plenum for metal-air battery |
February 12, 2002 |
| A ventilation system for a metal-air battery is disclosed. The metal-air battery has one or more air cathodes, one or more air pathways from the air cathode to a reactive gas source, a closure member associated with each of the air pathways to selectively prevent the flow of gas through |
| 6342314 |
Geometry change diffusion tube for metal-air batteries |
January 29, 2002 |
| A ventilation system for metal-air battery cells having collapsible isolation passageways for controlling ambient airflow to the oxygen electrode of the metal-air battery. The ventilation system has at least one inlet isolation passageway and at least one outlet isolation passageway. |
| 6322913 |
Air manager control using cell load characteristics as auto-reference |
November 27, 2001 |
| A metal-air battery with an air moving device controller to determine when a load is present on the battery and the extent of that load is described. The air moving device controller allows the operation of the air moving device for the battery to be responsive to the load. Advantageousl |
| 6291090 |
Method for making metal-air electrode with water soluble catalyst precursors |
September 18, 2001 |
| A bifunctional air electrode for a rechargeable metal-air cell is made with water soluble oxygen reduction and oxygen evolution catalyst precursors. The resulting air electrode exhibits greater power output than a conventional air electrode. |
| 6274261 |
Cylindrical metal-air battery with a cylindrical peripheral air cathode |
August 14, 2001 |
| A cylindrical metal-air cell has a cylindrical housing, an axially extending cylindrical air cathode adjacent an interior surface of the housing, and a plurality of elongate plenums defined between the oxygen electrode and the interior surface of the housing. Isolating passageway are |
| 6265094 |
Anode can for a metal-air cell |
July 24, 2001 |
| A metal-air cell with an anode container. The anode container is made from a reactive metal. The metal-air cell also has an absorbent layer with a first side and a second side. An electrolyte is substantially trapped within the absorbent layer. The first side of the absorbent layer is |
| 6242121 |
Primary metal-power source and ventilation system for the same |
June 5, 2001 |
| A primary metal-air power source containing one or more metal-air cells incorporating an air manager in a power source housing of the power source. The power source provides intermittent use at high power levels over a long lifetime while demonstrating a high utilization of the metal, |
| 6235418 |
Uniform shell for a metal-air battery stack |
May 22, 2001 |
| An improved metal-air battery having a metal-air cell stack positioned within a substantially uniform shell. The metal-air cell stack includes an isolating passageway and a substantially oxygen-permeable, water impermeable shell. |
| 6221530 |
Mercury-free zinc anode for electromechanical cell and method for making same |
April 24, 2001 |
| An anode for use in an electrochemical cell comprises a plate of non-particulate, mercury-free zinc metal and a coating of indium metal on at least a portion of the zinc plate surface. The anode is particularly useful in a rechargeable metal-air cell. The elimination of mercury enhan |
| 6168877 |
Air-managing system for metal-air battery using resealable septum |
January 2, 2001 |
| An air-managing system for metal-air battery includes resealable septum and one or more hollow needles. The septum separates air pathway into two segments. One segment is from air cathodes of the battery to the septum and the other is from the septum to the outside air. The needles provi |
| 6127060 |
Recharge catalyst with thin film low corrosion coating, metal-air electrode including said catal |
October 3, 2000 |
| A catalyst composition for use in a rechargeable metal-air electrochemical cell comprises an oxygen evolution catalyst coated with a thin film deposition of a binder and an electrically conductive particulate material which is not corroded during charge. This catalyst is useful to make a |
| 6106962 |
Air manager control using cell voltage as auto-reference |
August 22, 2000 |
| An air manager system for a metal-air battery. The system includes a housing for enclosing at least one metal-air cell with an air electrode. The housing also has at least one air inlet opening, at least one air outlet opening, and a fan positioned to force air through the openings w |
| 6087029 |
Water recovery using a bi-directional air exchanger for a metal-air battery |
July 11, 2000 |
| A bi-directional air exchanger for a metal-air battery having a housing. The air exchanger includes an ambient air passageway for a first flow of air in a first direction, a battery exhaust passageway for a second flow of air in a second direction, and one or more membranes. The ambient |
| 6069107 |
Recharge catalyst with thin film carbon coating, metal-air electrode including said catalyst and |
May 30, 2000 |
| A catalyst composition for use in a rechargeable metal-air electrochemical cell comprises an oxygen evolution catalyst coated with a thin film deposition of carbon. This catalyst is useful to make an air electrode which produces more power in a metal-air cell then a metal-air cell having |
| 6068944 |
Air distributors for metal-air cells |
May 30, 2000 |
| A ventilation system for one or more metal-air cells includes a distributor for uniformly distributing oxygen between oxygen electrodes in response to operation of an air moving device. The distributor may be further operative, or associated with one or more restrictive passageways that |
| 6051328 |
Method and apparatus for joining metal-air cells |
April 18, 2000 |
| Provided are metal-air cells for connecting to one another to form a battery stack. Two or more of the cells are joined by heat or chemical fusing to create the battery stack. Each of the metal-air cells have a case with an exterior surface and an interior surface that defines a cham |
| 6049141 |
Device and a method allowing multiple batteries to share a common load |
April 11, 2000 |
| The present invention provides a battery system, a device, and a method to allow multiple batteries with varying capacities and power capabilities to drive a common load. Furthermore, the present invention provides a method for adjusting the output current of one or more of the batteries |
| 5993999 |
Multi-layer current collector |
November 30, 1999 |
| A current collector for an electrode with two halves. The current collector has a first layer positioned on the first half of the electrode, a second layer positioned on the second half of said electrode, and a third layer positioned between the first and the second halves of the electro |
| 5985475 |
Membrane for selective transport of oxygen over water vapor and metal-air electrochemical cell i |
November 16, 1999 |
| A permeable membrane comprising a gas permeable substrate film and a layer of a polymeric perfluoro compound on the substrate exhibits selective transport of oxygen over water vapor and a metal-air electrochemical cell comprising such a membrane has enhanced control over its water conten |
| 5920179 |
System and method for balancing charge cycles for batteries or multiple-cell battery packs |
July 6, 1999 |
| A charging system and method are disclosed that provide balanced charge cycles for batteries or multiple-cell battery packs by using a controller, a charging source gate, multiple adjustable shunting devices and multiple charge monitors. During a virgin charge cycle, the controller adjus |
| 5919582 |
Diffusion controlled air vent and recirculation air manager for a metal-air battery |
July 6, 1999 |
| A ventilation system for a metal-air battery having a housing for enclosing at least one metal-air cell. The housing has at least one air inlet opening and at least one air outlet opening. A fan is positioned to force air into the air inlet opening and out of the air outlet opening when |
| 5891589 |
Method and apparatus for joining metal-air cells |
April 6, 1999 |
| Provided are metal-air cells that each include a plurality of protruding connector members and a plurality of protruding mechanical stops. Two or more of the cells are joined to create a battery stack. Two cells are joined by heating connector members of the cells, and then forcing the |
| 5888664 |
Metal-air battery with a reactant air pathway |
March 30, 1999 |
| A metal-air battery pack is disclosed for external assembly to a portable electronic device with a battery compartment. The battery pack electrically connects to the electronic device through an existing connector of the device that is located in the battery compartment of the device |
| 5733677 |
Metal-air electrochemical cell with oxygen reservoir |
March 31, 1998 |
| A metal-air electrochemical cell comprising an oxygen reservoir disposed in an air plenum adjacent the air cathode. The oxygen reservoir includes an oxygen binding compound characterized in that the oxygen binding compound reversibly binds oxygen and releases oxygen into the air in the a |
| 5721064 |
Air manager system for reducing gas concentrations in a metal-air battery |
February 24, 1998 |
| A rechargeable metal-air battery having a housing, an air flow path, and at least one metal-air cell positioned within the housing. An air movement device communicates with the housing. The metal-air cell generates oxygen and hydrogen during cell charging. The air movement device creates |
| 5691074 |
Diffusion controlled air vent for a metal-air battery |
November 25, 1997 |
| A ventilation system for a metal-air battery having a housing for enclosing at least one metal-air cell. The housing has at least one air inlet opening and at least one air outlet opening. A fan is positioned to force air into the air inlet opening and out of the air outlet opening when |
| 5641588 |
Portable battery with a retrofitting projection and wrist rest for use externally of an electron |
June 24, 1997 |
| A metal-air battery pack is disclosed for external assembly to a portable electronic device with a battery compartment. The battery pack electrically connects to the electronic device through an existing connector of the device that is located in the battery compartment of the device |
| 5639568 |
Split anode for a dual air electrode cell |
June 17, 1997 |
| A dual air electrode metal-air cell having a casing with an upper cathode mask wall, a lower cathode mask wall, and a side wall; an anode assembly having a layer of anode material positioned above and below an anode collector and means, that may be a membrane or a solid foil current |
| 5569551 |
Dual air elecrtrode cell |
October 29, 1996 |
| A dual air electrode metal-air cell having a casing including an upper cathode mask wall, a lower cathode mask wall, and a plurality of side walls; a metal anode with at least upper and lower sides covered with separator materials; an upper air cathode positioned between the upper ca |
| 5567172 |
Universal strain relief device for connectors |
October 22, 1996 |
| A protective system for multi-part connections that prevents unintended disconnection, is inexpensive, and can be used regardless of the shape of the connectors which form the connection. The protective system allows interchanging of component connectors without compromising the protecti |
| 5563004 |
Rechargeable metal-air electrochemical cell with hydrogen recombination and end-of-charge indica |
October 8, 1996 |
| A rechargeable metal-air electrochemical cell comprising a hydrogen-oxygen recombination electrode recombines hydrogen produced at the anode with oxygen to replenish the supply of water in the cell. The cell comprises an oxygen gas-permeable, liquid water-impermeable air cathode disposed |
| 5560999 |
Air manager system for recirculating reactant air in a metal-air battery |
October 1, 1996 |
| An air manager is disclosed which recirculates reactant air in a battery and exchanges only a minimal amount of recirculated air for ambient air that is necessary to maintain a sufficient oxygen concentration in the battery. In the air manager, the reactant air is recirculated in a defin |
| 5532086 |
Anode assembly with thin metal current collector and electrochemical cell comprising an anode su |
July 2, 1996 |
| An anode for use in an electrochemical cell comprising a current collector layer having a thickness less than about 10 mils, and desirably less than about 4 mils, and a rigid support extending adjacent one side of the current collector layer so that the current collector layer is sandwic |
| 5506067 |
Rechargeable electrochemical cell and cell case therefor with vent for use in internal recombina |
April 9, 1996 |
| A case for a rechargeable electrochemical cell comprises a vent disposed in the case interior, the vent including an oxygen/hydrogen recombination catalyst for catalyzing the recombination of the hydrogen produced by the cell during the recharge mode with oxygen in the case interior to f |
| 5486429 |
Diffusion vent for a rechargeable metal-air cell |
January 23, 1996 |
| The present invention provides a system for venting gas from within a case housing a metal-air cell having a cathode and an anode with a separator positioned therebetween. The cell has at least one gas vent on the anode side of the separator that extends from the interior surface of the |
| 5362577 |
Diffusion vent for a rechargeable metal-air cell |
November 8, 1994 |
| A vent system for exhausting gas generated within a battery case is provided. The vent system exhausts gas from the battery case while maintaining the hermetic seal of the case. The vent system provides a small gas exit hole that is sufficiently small to prevent electrolyte leakage a |
| 5356729 |
Diffusion controlled air manager for metal-air battery |
October 18, 1994 |
| An air manager system is disclosed which maintains a more stable water vapor and carbon dioxide equilibrium across the air cathode of a metal-air cell while still providing new oxygen needed for operation of the cell at desired power levels. Oxygen is preferentially drawn in through one |
| 5354625 |
Metal-air power supply and air-manager system, and metal-air cell for use therein |
October 11, 1994 |
| A metal-air power supply which provides improved control over air flow is provided. The reactant air and cooling air inlets are separate from one another and isolated from the exhausted reactant and cooling portions of the air flow. The reactant air flow is limited to a volumetric flow r |
| 5328777 |
Cathode cover for metal-air cell |
July 12, 1994 |
| A cathode cover for a metal-air cell of the type having an air cathode positioned along an external surface of a cell case provides for improved control over exposure of the air cathode to air. The cathode cover allows a sufficient amount of air to the air cathode for an adequate product |
| 5306579 |
Bifunctional metal-air electrode |
April 26, 1994 |
| A bifunctional air-electrode for use in electrochemical energy cells discharges a satisfactory current on the first discharge cycle and operates for a relatively large number of charge-discharge cycles without gas forming between the electrolyte side of the air electrode and the elec |
