Rovcal, Inc.

Rayovac Corporation

Spectrum Brands, Inc.

Roval, Inc.

Spectrum Brands, Inc. ( Fka Rayovac Corporation)

Viet H Vu

William C Bushong

Ernest Ndzebet

Paul Cheeseman

Mario Destephen

Michael J Root

Karthik Ramaswami

Erik Mortensen

M Edgar Armacanqui

Andrew John Roszkowski

Marc Syvertsen

Gregory James Davidson

Zhihong Jin

Jon Luecke

David Boone

Deborah Gilbert

Aaron J Rositch

Thomas M Kaufman

Sergey Sazhin

Juergen Scherer

Christopher Pedicini

John D Witzigreuter

Gregory Scott Moy

Jeffrey A Poirier

Miguel E Armacanqui

Stephanie R Curtis

David R Mihara

John A Thompson

Zihong Jin

Cheeseman Paul

Edgar M Armacanqui

William H Bushong

Akshaya Kumar

Sergiy V Sazhin

Jin Zihong

Alkaline electrochemical cells having extended service life and acceptable gassing and corrosion properties are disclosed. An amphoteric surfactant can be incorporated into the gelled anode mixture of an alkaline electrochemical cell, optionally with an organic phosphate ester surfactant or a sulfonic acid type organic surfactant or both. Zinc particles having a defined distribution of particle sizes can also be incorporated into a zinc anode. The electrolyte included, in the anode mixture can have a reduced hydroxide concentration.

Alkaline cell with performance enhancing additives

The present invention relates to a high capacity electrochemical cell having a cathode containing an oxide of copper as an active material, as well as an anode, an electrolyte, and separators for use with the cathodes of the invention in an alkaline electrochemical cell.

Separators for alkaline electrochemical cells

A rechargeable electrochemical cell charger is provided for charging electrochemical cells at high current rates. The charger provides a sufficient force between the charge contacts and the cell terminals to remove nonconductive contaminants when the cell is inserted into the charger, thereby increasing the conductivity at the point of contact. The charger can include an air moving system for the dissipation of heat from the electrochemical cell during charging, and a heat sensor to determine the cell temperature during charging.

Method and apparatus for charging electrochemical cells

The present invention relates to a copper-manganese mixed oxide cathode material, which is suitable for use in a cathode of an electrochemical cell, and which has the formula MnCuO.nHO, wherein the oxidation state of Cu is between about +1 and about +3, the oxidation state of Mn is between about +2 and about +7, x is equal to about 3-y, y is less than about 3, z is calculated or experimentally determined, using means known in the art, based on the values of x and y, as well as the oxidation states of Mn and Cu, and nHO represents the surface and structural water present in the mixed oxide material. The present invention further relates to an electrochemical cell comprising the noted cathode material.

Copper-manganese mixed oxide cathode material for use in alkaline cells having high capacity

The present invention relates to a high capacity electrochemical cell including an anode, a cathode, and a separator disposed between the anode and cathode. The anode is configured to operate in combination with a quantity of an oxide of copper in the cathode. The cell is capable of operating at a discharge voltage greater than 1.05 volts for at least an initial 5% of a cell discharge period at a current density of at least 5 mA/g, and can include a cathode active material that includes an oxide of copper.

Alkaline cells having high capacity

Aspects of the present invention provide a high capacity electrochemical cell having an anode, a cathode, and a separator disposed between the anode and cathode. The cathode includes a mixture having a first component, a second component and a third component. The first component includes a first element, the second component includes a second element, and the third component includes the first element and the second element. The mixture can, for instance, be a mixed metal oxide. The separator is configured to provide suitable ionic transport between the anode and the cathode.

A rechargeable electrochemical cell charging system is provided having a thermistor that engages the negative cell terminal at a location remote from the negative charge contact. The thermistor outputs temperature data to a controller in the charger that determines the rate of cell temperature increase. When the increase reaches a predetermined rate, the charge to the cell is discontinued. The cell can also include an air moving system that circulates cool ambient air through battery compartment to cool the batteries being charged.

Apparatus for regulating charging of electrochemical cells

A rechargeable electrochemical cell charging system is provided having a thermistor that engages the negative cell terminal at a location remote from the negative charge contact. The thermistor outputs temperature data to a controller in the charger that determines the rate of cell temperature increase. When the increase reaches a predetermined predetermined rate, the charge to the cell is discontinued. The cell can also include an air moving system that circulates cool ambient air through battery compartment to cool the batteries being charged.

Method and apparatus for regulating charging of electrochemical cells using cell temperature increase rate

A rechargeable electrochemical cell is provided having a pressure-responsive apparatus for determining a charge termination point. In particular, a reversible pressure-responsive switch may be disposed in a cap at the open end of a rechargeable metal hydride cell. The reversible pressure-responsive switch may also contain a vent system for releasing the cell internal pressure. Alternatively, a rechargeable cell may include a strain gauge disposed in its outer surface whose resistance changes as the outer surface of the battery expands due to internal pressure accumulation during charging. Additionally, a rechargeable cell is used combination with a charging source that can supply constant voltage, constant current, alternating current, or voltage that varies between a minimum threshold and a maximum threshold.

Method and apparatus for regulating charging of electrochemical cells

Alkaline electrochemical cells having extended service life and acceptable gassing and corrosion properties are disclosed. An amphoteric surfactant can be incorporated into the gelled anode mixture of an alkaline electrochemical cell, optionally with an organic phosphate ester surfactant or a sulfonic acid type organic surfactant or both. Zinc particles having a defined distribution of particle sizes can also be incorporated into a zinc anode. The electrolyte included in the anode mixture can have a reduced hydroxide concentration.

A sulfonic acid type organic surfactant is incorporated into the gelled anode mixture of an alkaline electrochemical cell, optionally with an organic phosphate ester surfactant. Zinc fines may also be incorporated into the anode. The electrolyte included in the anode mixture may have a reduced hydroxide concentration. When a cell is provided whose anode mixture includes the two surfactants and zinc fines alone or in combination with a lowered hydroxide concentration in the electrolyte, discharge leakage is reduced and gel gassing is suppressed relative to that of gels lacking both surfactants. Additionally, cell discharge performance is improved relative to that of cells lacking both the zinc fines and lowered hydroxide concentration.

An anode is provided for an electrochemical cell having an ionically conductive additive, such as Laponite&#xae; or any alternative clay suitable to improve the transport of hydroxyl ions into anode during discharge.

Ionically conductive additive for zinc-based anode in alkaline electrochemical cells

Growing community of inventors

Verona, WI, United States of America

Viet H Vu