Battery Engineering, Inc.

Gte Laboratories Incorporated

Pacesetter, Inc.

P. R. Mallory Co.

Other

Gte Products Corporation

Aerovox

Nikola Marincic

James Epstein

Luka Rabadjija

Franz Goebel

John W Harrell

Per Bro

Martin Hudis

Robert C McDonald

Anthony Lombardi

Mulk Arora

Robert H Kelsey

Robert Hutchinson

Ronald Merz

Claude L&eacute;tourneau

Philip F Kane

Radek Fuksa

A capacitor having an electrochemical cathode electrode, an electrolytic anode electrode, and a substantially non-aqueous electrolyte disposed between the cathode and anode electrodes. The cathode includes a metal and a finely divided material, i.e. a conducting material with a very high ratio of surface area to volume. The anode includes an oxide forming metal and a corresponding metal oxide. The substantially non-aqueous electrolyte is in contact with the finely divided material forming a double layer electrochemical cathode capacitor. The cathode provides the foundation for interleaving a plurality of anodes with a plurality of cathodes. Insulating layers separate the interleaved anodes from the cathodes.

Non-symmetric capacitor

There is disclosed a battery system to be used in downhole application. The battery system provides energy to operate the measurement devices associated with drilling. The system includes a plurality of cells, each comprising an electrically insulating mandrel which is shaped to fit over an inner tube, and a combination of an anode, a cathode and a solid polymer electrolyte, all disposed over the mandrel. The individual cells are mounted end to end and are interlocked together to prevent rotation of the cells relative to one another. The cells are electrically connected together and they are all mounted between an inner and an outer tube.

High temperature solid state hollow cylindrical battery including a plurality of solid polymer electrolyte cell

The electrode structure includes a cathode, anode and polymeric separator, wound into an oval configuration having a length and width equal to interior dimensions of the rectangular housing. The oval shape is achieved by winding a long, flat electrode structure around a mandrel. The length of the electrode structure is chosen based upon the size of the mandrel, the interior dimensions of the housing, and the width of the electrode structure, such that, after winding, the resulting oval structure snugly fits within the rectangular housing leaving no remaining spaces, other than in corners of the housing. A leaf spring is provided between a free end of the electrode structure and an interior wall of the housing for ensuring that the electrode structure remains tightly wound. Appropriate electrical contacts are provided to the anode and cathode of the electrode structure. The housing is flooded with a non-aqueous electrolyte, sealed, then employed for powering an implantable medical device for implantation within a human or animal.

Electrode structure for electrochemical cell having a rectangular housing

The electrochemical cell includes an electrode structure having an aluminum current collector in combination with an active cathode material containing polycarbon monofluoride. The electrode structure also includes a polymeric separator and a lithium anode. The electrode structure is spiral wound and mounted within a cylindrical housing formed of conventional stainless steel. Care is taken to ensure that the aluminum foil isolates the polycarbon monoflouride of the cathode material from the stainless steel of the housing. The cylindrical housing is flooded with a non-aqueous electrolyte solution. The resulting cell is employed within an implantable medical device. In an alternative embodiment, electrode structures employing the aluminum current collector and the polycarbon monoflouride active cathode material are formed as rectangular plates and are mounted in parallel within a rectangular housing. In another alternative embodiment, the aluminum current collector is employed within a button cell.

Aluminum current collector for an electrochemical cell having a solid

An expanded screen current collector is provided with side edges coined inwardly to prevent sharp tines formed along the side edges from damaging adjacent components within the electrochemical cell. The expanded screen current collector is formed by cutting a thin flat sheet of current collector material, such as titanium or stainless steel, to have a height somewhat greater than a height required for use within the electrochemical cell. The current collector material is cut and expanded, then the side edges are coined inwardly by an amount sufficient to reduce the height of the resulting expanded screen current collector to a height appropriate for use within the electrochemical cell. An active cathode material, such as polycarbonmonoflouride, is coated onto side surfaces of the expanded screen current collector. An electrode structure employing the expanded screen current collector having the coined edges is also described. The improved expanded screen current collector is employed within an electrochemical cell adapted for use within an implantable device.

Current collector having coined side edges for use in an electrochemical

A cathode material is fabricated using two binder compounds, polyethylene oxide and acrylic resin, which react during processing to achieve enhanced bonding. The cathode material is formed by dissolving acrylonitril resin within the acetonitrile solvent. Polyethylene oxide powder is added yielding a homogenous solution. A powder mix containing a carbon material, such as high surface area carbon powder, and an active cathode compound, such as polycarbon monoflouride, is added to the binder mixture to produce a slurry. In one embodiment, the slurry is heated to evaporate the solvents, yielding a thin flexible cathode material for mounting to an expanded screen current collector. In an alternative embodiment, the slurry is spread directly onto a foil current collector. The solvents thereafter evaporate from the slurry yielding excellent mechanical and electrical coupling between the active cathode compound and the current collector. The resulting cathode structure and a lithium anode structure are mounted to opposing sides of a polymeric separator for use within an electrochemical cell of an implantable medical device.

Cathode material for use in an electrochemical cell and method for

Method for the reactive dehydration of manganese dioxide. Dehydration is achieved by contact with a fluid desiccant (dehydrating agent) which reacts with water bound to manganese dioxide. Preferably, a gaseous product or a low boiling point liquid which easily produces vapors is formed. The manganese dioxide is then removed from the fluid desiccant and any adhering dessicant fluid and volatile reaction products are removed from the manganese dioxide under vacuum. Especially preferred for use as the dehydrating agent is thionyl chloride. The present invention is particularly suitable for dehydrating manganese dioxide to be used as electrodes in lithium batteries.

Method for dehydrating manganese dioxide

A strip of electrode material is extended across a through-hole in a supporting surface and pushed through the hole into a container of an electrochemical cell. The strip assumes a generally U-shaped appearance as it is pushed through the hole by a mandril. The mandril preferably includes an elastomeric head which expands radially outward upon pressing contact with the interior base wall of the container so as to press the trailing legs of the U-shaped material outward against the interior container wall.

Method and apparatus for inserting electrodes into the container of an

An electrochemical cell of the type characterized by an essentially constant operating voltage essentially independent of the degree of cell discharge is disclosed, which in its output voltage exhibits one or more step changes of predetermined and fully adjustable magnitudes at any predetermined point or points during the life of the cell. This enables timely replacement of the cell under non-critical circumstances, and also can be used to indicate state of discharge of the cell. In essence, the anode of the cell comprises a plurality of anode elements which become depleted at mutually different degrees of cell discharge. As each anode element becomes depleted, the internal resistance of the cell increases to cause a drop in the operating voltage of the cell as the remaining active anode elements are required to supply the required current.

Electrochemical cell with adjustable step-like output voltage

In accordance with the invention, a novel electrochemical cell and a method for making same is provided which is particularly suitable for use in a battery of the type employing one or more cells. One feature of the cell includes a sealed non-metallic pouch of thin flexible material which forms a cell adaptable to varying battery configurations as well as cell shapes. A second feature of the cell includes a novel feedthrough arrangement wherein a pair of electrically conductive members are located on respective sides of an interjacent through-hole formed in the housing material. The pair of electrically conductive members are coupled through the through-hole to form the feedthrough. An electrode of anode material is electrically coupled to the internally located member of one feedthrough pair. An electrode of cathode material is electrically coupled to the internally located member of the other feedthrough. The cell further includes electrically insulative porous material for separating the electrodes, as well as a volume of electrolyte electrochemically coupling the electrodes.

Electrochemical cell

A method for treating carbon-containing cathodes of a primary electrochemical cell for the purpose of reducing the gas pressure in the cell during open circuit and during discharge of the cell. The method of the invention includes purging the carbon-containing cathodes of the cell with sulfur dioxide or thionyl chloride gas to displace water and insoluble gases (oxygen and nitrogen, and argon or helium) entrapped within the carbon of the carbon-containing cathodes. The purge gas is soluble in an electrolytic solution including liquid thionyl chloride as is employed to activate the cell for use in discharge.

Method for reducing gas pressure in an electrochemical cell

A lithium/thionyl chloride electrochemical cell, particularly suitable for use in surgically implanted devices, is disclosed which exhibits a step change in its output voltage sufficiently prior to full cell discharge to enable the timely replacement of the cell under non-critical circumstances.

Step cell

A 'ball and socket' seal arrangement for an electrochemical cell is disclosed wherein a ball of insulating material is captively retained in a socket formed by a portion of the cell cover in cooperation with a retaining member. The cell feedthrough passes through the socket and the insulating ball. After assembly of the components, the sockets are compressed, thereby forcing the insulator ball to conform to the inner surface of the socket to make an effective seal.

Seal for electrochemical cell

An ultra-thin hermetically sealed button-type electrochemical cell is disclosed comprising a pair of mating metallic housing members, at least one of which is generally dish shaped to define an enclosed space therebetween. A peripheral opening defining a fill port is formed in one of the housing members, preferably at the junction formed by the mating surfaces. The interfacing surfaces of the cell housing members are welded together subsequent to the insertion of the internal cell components and prior to the addition of the electrolyte to form a hermetic seal. The electrolyte may then be added and the fill port hermetically sealed by welding. Owing to its relatively small size, the fill port may be quickly sealed so that the heat generated during the weld process is insufficient to volatilize the electrolyte. One of the housing members has a facial hole containing a glass-to-metal seal through which an electrically conductive metal terminal structure extends and located such that the heat of welding may be dissipated by the housing members without adversely affecting the glass-to-metal seal.

Hermetically sealed button-type electrochemical cell and method for

A carbon cathode structure is described comprising an aggregate of discrete, porous, semi-rigid carbon conglomerates which are impressed from both sides onto a screen-like substrate for physical support thereby. The substrate additionally functions as a current collector by uniformly and electrically contacting the interior of the resulting structure. Electrolyte-conducting channels formed between adjacent conglomerates of the thick, porous cathode structure serve to maximize the cell rate capability and cell discharge capacity.

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Winchester, MA, United States of America

Nikola Marincic