Viet VuQuincy, MA

6342317, Jan 29, 2002

Jul 21, 1999

09/358578

Bhupendra K. Patel - Mansfield MA
Gary M. Searle - Norfolk MA
John D. Sillesky - Franklin MA
Gary T. Viveiros - Tiverton RI
Viet H. Vu - Medway MA
Douglas Woodnorth - Needham MA

The Gillette Company - Boston MA

H01M 204

429176, 429206, 429209, 429224, 429229

A battery includes a housing, a first electrode, and a non-cylindrical second electrode within the first electrode.

6410187, Jun 25, 2002

Sep 9, 1999

09/393043

Weifang Luo - Norwood MA
Bhupendra K. Patel - Mansfield MA
Alexander B. Shelekhin - Acton MA
John D. Sillesky - Franklin MA
Viet H. Vu - Medway MA
Douglas Woodnorth - Needham MA

The Gillette Company - Boston MA

H01M 406

429206, 429164, 429165, 429209, 429246

A primary alkaline battery includes a housing, a cathode within the housing, an anode within the housing, and a separator electrically separating the anode and the cathode. The battery has a substantial (S/V) value.

6261717, Jul 17, 2001

May 28, 1999

9/322832

Weifang Luo - Norwood MA
Bhupendra K. Patel - Mansfield MA
Alexander B. Shelekhin - Acton MA
Gary T. Viveiros - Tiverton RI
Viet H. Vu - Medway MA
Douglas Woodnorth - Needham MA

The Gillette Company - Boston MA

H01M 402

429164

A battery includes a cylindrical housing, a first electrode, a second electrode, and a separator. The second electrode includes a plurality of cavities within the first electrode.

5998051, Dec 7, 1999

Nov 6, 1997

8/965248

Jeffrey Poirier - Bedford MA
Paul Cheeseman - Holliston MA
Michael McDermott - East Weymouth MA
Jane A. Blasi - Acton MA
Reynald Cantave - Bridgewater MA
Jeffrey Hewes - Holliston MA
Yelena Kouznetsova - Sharon MA
Bhupendra Patel - Mansfield MA
Alex Kaplan - Providence RI
Viet Vu - Medway MA
William T. McHugh - Westwood MA
Lucien P. Fontaine - Lincoln RI
Robert J. Pinault - Canton MA

Duracell Inc. - Bethel CT

H01M 1034
H01M 1050
H01M 1400

429 7

A current interrupt assembly for electrochemical cells is disclosed. The current interrupter assembly may be a self-contained, sealed unit which may be separately inserted into the cell during cell construction. Several current interrupt assemblies may be inserted in the cell. The current interrupter assembly has particular utility for thin rechargeable cells and when inserted in the cell forms a portion of the electrical pathway between a cell electrode and corresponding terminal. The current interrupt mechanism comprises a thin thermally responsive member preferably comprising a disk of a shape memory metal alloy having a curved surface. The current interrupt mechanism may include a heat producing electrical resistance means, preferably a Zener diode in proximity to the thermally responsive member. When cell temperature exceeds a predetermined value the disk deflects to cause a break in the electrical pathway within the assembly. The assembly may include therein a flexible electrically conductive member which forms a part of the electrical pathway within the assembly and which is physically responsive to deflection of the thermally responsive member.

6083639, Jul 4, 2000

Aug 22, 1997

8/916627

William T. McHugh - Westwood MA
Viet H. Vu - Milford MA
Lucien P. Fontaine - Lincoln RI
Jane A. Blasi - Acton MA
Reynald Cantave - Bridgewater MA

Duracell Inc. - Bethel CT

H01M 1050
H01M 1034

429 62

A current interrupt assembly for electrochemical cells is disclosed. The current interrupter assembly may be a self-contained, sealed unit which may be separately inserted into the cell during cell construction. Several current interrupt assemblies may be inserted in the cell. The current interrupter assembly has particular utility for thin rechargeable cells and when inserted in the cell forms a portion of the electrical pathway between a cell electrode and corresponding terminal. The current interrupt mechanism comprises a thin thermally responsive member preferably comprising a disk of a shape memory metal alloy having a curved surface. When cell temperature exceeds a predetermined value the disk deflects to cause a break in the electrical pathway within the assembly. The assembly may include therein a flexible electrically conductive member which forms a part of the electrical pathway within the assembly and which is physically responsive to deflection of the thermally responsive member. The assembly may also include a pressure actuated diaphragm which may form a portion of the assembly housing.

5958088, Sep 28, 1999

Mar 4, 1998

9/034483

Viet H. Vu - Medway MA
Alexander Kaplan - Providence RI
William T. McHugh - Westwood MA

Duracell, Inc. - Bethel CT

H01M 200
H01M 204
H01M 208
H01M 600

296231

An electrochemical cell is disclosed, having a sealed prismatic housing with two opposing, internal side surfaces defining therebetween an internal cavity having width and length. One of the side surfaces defines a convex arc, and the other of the side surfaces has a center portion opposing the convex arc of the one side surface, and features extending toward the one side surface and straddling the convex arc. An electrode stack is contained within the internal cavity of the housing, having positive and negative electrode sheets arranged in face-to-face relation. The electrode stack is arranged between the side surfaces of the housing such that the stack is retained between the one side surface and the extending features of the other side surface, and deflected to follow the convex arc to maintain contact pressure between the positive and negative electrode sheets. The stack is thus stretched across an inwardly crowned surface of the housing. The invention can, by maintaining good intersheet contact pressure within the stack, provide good overall active material utilization (for high cell capacity) and can help to inhibit housing distension of cells with broad sides.

6037071, Mar 14, 2000

Nov 6, 1997

8/965494

Jeffrey Poirier - Bedford MA
Paul Cheeseman - Holliston MA
Michael McDermott - East Weymouth MA
Jane A. Blasi - Acton MA
Reynald Cantave - Bridgewater MA
Jeffrey Hewes - Holliston MA
Yelena Kouznetsova - Sharon MA
Bhupendra Patel - Mansfield MA
Alex Kaplan - Providence RI
Viet Vu - Medway MA
William T. McHugh - Westwood MA
Lucien P. Fontaine - Lincoln RI
Robert J. Pinault - Canton MA

Duracell Inc - Bethel CT

H01M 212

429 7

A current interrupt mechanism for electrochemical cells is disclosed. A thermally activated current interrupt mechanism is integrated into an end cap assembly for an electrochemical cell. The thermally responsive mechanism preferably includes a free floating bimetallic disk or shape memory alloy member which deforms when exposed to elevated temperature causing a break in an electrical pathway within the end cap assembly. This prevents current from flowing through the cell and effectively shuts down an operating cell. The thermally responsive mechanism may include a heat producing electrical resistance means, preferably a Zener diode, to enhance thermal sensitivity. The end cap assembly may include a pressure responsive mechanism which ruptures when there is extreme gas pressure buildup. Gas is allowed to escape from the cell interior to the external environment through a series of vent apertures within the end cap assembly.