John Michael Koch

US Patent:

6740448, May 25, 2004

Filed:

May 16, 2001

Appl. No.:

09/859164

Inventors:

Michael A. Fetcenko - Rochester Hills MI
Kwo Young - Troy MI
Stanford R. Ovshinsky - Bloomfield Hills MI
Benjamin Reichman - West Bloomfield MI
John Koch - Brighton MI
William Mays - Livonia MI

Assignee:

Ovonic Battery Company, Inc. - Troy MI

International Classification:

H01M 438

US Classification:

4292181, 420588, 148428

Abstract:

A modified TiâVâZrâNiâMnâCr electrochemical hydrogen storage alloy which has at least one of the following characteristics: 1) an increased charge/discharge rate capability over that the base TiâVâZrâNiâMnâCr electrochemical hydrogen storage alloy; 2) a formation cycling requirement which is reduced to one tenth that of the base TiâVâZrâNiâMnâCr electrochemical hydrogen storage alloy; or 3) an oxide surface layer having a higher electrochemical hydrogen storage catalytic activity than the base TiâVâZrâNiâMnâCr electrochemical hydrogen storage alloy. The electrochemical hydrogen storage alloy includes an oxide surface having metallic particles dispersed therein, wherein the particles are from 10-40 Angstroms in size.

US Patent:

6830725, Dec 14, 2004

Filed:

Apr 1, 2003

Appl. No.:

10/405008

Inventors:

Michael A. Fetcenko - Rochester MI
Stanford R. Ovshinsky - Bloomfield Hills MI
Kwo Young - Troy MI
Benjamin Reichman - West Bloomfield MI
Taihei Ouchi - Rochester MI
John Koch - Brighton MI
William Mays - Commerce MI

Assignee:

Texaco Ovonic Battery Systems, LLC - Troy MI

International Classification:

C22C 3000

US Classification:

420580, 420900, 4292181, 429220, 429221, 429223, 429226

Abstract:

Electrochemical and thermal hydrogen storage alloy compositions that provide superior performance, including an electrochemical hydrogen storage alloy that provides superior low temperature discharge characteristics. The alloy compositions include microstructures in the interface region that are highly porous and that include catalytic metallic particles. The microstructures include a large volume fraction of voids having spherical or channel-like shapes and are sufficiently open structurally to facilitate greater mobility of reactive species within the microstructure and in the vicinity of catalytic metallic particles. Greater accessibility to reactive sites accordingly results. The greater mobility of reactive species and/or the greater density of catalytic particles lead to faster kinetics and improved performance (e. g. higher power), especially at low operating temperatures. The microstructures may be formed through inclusion of a microstructure tuning element in the alloy composition, through control of processing conditions and/or through inclusion of etching steps in the post-formation processing of hydrogen storage alloys.

US Patent:

7261970, Aug 28, 2007

Filed:

Jul 8, 2004

Appl. No.:

10/887434

Inventors:

Kwo Young - Troy MI, US
Cristian Fierro - Northville MI, US
Benjamin Reichman - West Bloomfield MI, US
Michael A. Fetcenko - Rochester MI, US
John Koch - West Bloomfield MI, US
Avram Zallen - West Bloomfield MI, US

Assignee:

Ovonic Battery Company Inc. - Rochester Hills MI

International Classification:

H01M 4/58
H01M 4/62

US Classification:

429 60, 429217, 4292182, 429223

Abstract:

The present invention relates to rechargeable nickel metal hydride batteries and methods for making the same. More particularly, the present invention relates to rechargeable nickel metal hydride batteries having a precharge in the negative electrode sufficient for oxidation prevention in the negative electrode. The present invention discloses a nickel metal hydride battery, wherein the precharge of the negative electrode may be supplied by a variety of sources. The positive active material of the positive electrode may have positive active particles, such as nickel hydroxide, having a precursor coating that incorporates cobalt material capable of forming a conductive network. Sources other than cobalt-containing materials in the positive electrode include hydrogen gas provided directly to the negative active material, nickel aluminum mixed with the negative active material, the etching of the negative active material with an alkaline solution and borohydride chemically charging the negative active material. Preferably, a majority of the precharge of the negative electrode is supplied by sources other than cobalt-containing materials in the positive electrode.

US Patent:

20010003997, Jun 21, 2001

Filed:

Dec 18, 2000

Appl. No.:

09/739919

Inventors:

Michael Fetcenko - Rochester Hills MI, US
Kwo Young - Troy MI, US
Stanford Ovshinsky - Bloomfield Hills MI, US
Benjamin Reichman - West Bloomfield MI, US
John Koch - Brighton MI, US
William Mays - Livonia MI, US

International Classification:

B22F007/04
B32B015/02

US Classification:

148/442000, 420/900000, 420/588000, 428/559000

Abstract:

A modified Ti—V—Zr—Ni—Mn—Cr electrochemical hydrogen storage alloy which has at least one of the following characteristics: 1) an increased charge/discharge rate capability over that the base Ti—V—Zr—Ni—Mn—Cr electrochemical hydrogen storage alloy; 2) a formation cycling requirement which is reduced to one tenth that of the base Ti—V—Zr—Ni—Mn—Cr electrochemical hydrogen storage alloy; or 3) an oxide surface layer having a higher electrochemical hydrogen storage catalytic activity than the base Ti—V—Zr—Ni—Mn—Cr electrochemical hydrogen storage alloy.

US Patent:

20050051244, Mar 10, 2005

Filed:

May 21, 2004

Appl. No.:

10/851374

Inventors:

Michael Fetcenko - Rochester Hills MI, US
Kwo Young - Troy MI, US
Stanford Ovshinsky - Bloomfield Hills MI, US
Benjamin Reichman - West Bloomfield MI, US
John Koch - Brighton MI, US
William Mays - Livonia MI, US

International Classification:

C22C030/00

US Classification:

148442000, 420900000

Abstract:

An electrochemical hydrogen storage alloy including an oxide surface having metallic catalytic particles distributed throughout, wherein said metallic catalytic particles have an average particle size of 10-40 Angstroms in size.

US Patent:

20050064278, Mar 24, 2005

Filed:

Sep 19, 2003

Appl. No.:

10/666089

Inventors:

Michael Fetcenko - Rochester MI, US
John Koch - Brighton MI, US
Benjamin Reichman - West Bloomfield MI, US

International Classification:

H01M010/50

US Classification:

429050000, 429062000

Abstract:

A method of starting a nickel metal hydride battery in cold weather. The method includes the step of discharging the battery through a short circuit.

US Patent:

20130202965, Aug 8, 2013

Filed:

Feb 7, 2012

Appl. No.:

13/367917

Inventors:

John M. Koch - Brighton MI, US
Cristian Fierro - Northville MI, US

Assignee:

Ovonic Battery Company, Inc. - Rochester Hills MI

International Classification:

H01M 4/52
H01M 4/04

US Classification:

429223, 4271266, 252513, 2525212, 2525211

Abstract:

An alkaline, rechargeable electrochemical cell includes a pasted electrode structure in which a composition comprising a paste matrix component includes cobalt in an amount greater than 6 weight percent ranging up to 14 weight percent. The matrix may also include a rare earth such as yttrium. The composition further includes particles of nickel hydroxide dispersed in the matrix, and these particles include cobalt levels ranging from greater than 8 atomic percent up to 15 atomic percent. Cells incorporating these materials have good charging efficiency at elevated temperatures.

US Patent:

62707191, Aug 7, 2001

Filed:

Apr 12, 1999

Appl. No.:

9/290633

Inventors:

Michael A. Fetcenko - Rochester Hills MI
Kwo Young - Troy MI
Stanford R. Ovshinsky - Bloomfield Hills MI
Benjamin Reichman - West Bloomfield MI
John Koch - Brighton MI
William Mays - Livonia MI

Assignee:

Ovonic Battery Company, Inc. - Troy MI

International Classification:

C22C 3000

US Classification:

420588

Abstract:

A modified Ti--V--Zr--Ni--Mn--Cr electrochemical hydrogen storage alloy which has at least one of the following characteristics: 1) an increased charge/discharge rate capability over that the base Ti--V--Zr--Ni--Mn--Cr electrochemical hydrogen storage alloy; 2) a formation cycling requirement which is reduced to one tenth that of the base Ti--V--Zr--Ni--Mn--Cr electrochemical hydrogen storage alloy; or 3) an oxide surface layer having a higher electrochemical hydrogen storage catalytic activity than the base Ti--V--Zr--Ni--Mn--Cr electrochemical hydrogen storage alloy.