# US 7,609,029 B2 · Battery, assembled battery unit, vehicle equipped with battery, and battery voltage adjusting method > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 7,609,029 B2 - Document ID: US7609029B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 11/683,626 - Filed: 2007-03-08 - Published: 2007-09-13 - Granted: 2009-10-27 - Earliest claimed: 2006-03-09 - Assignees: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd. - Inventors: Oasamu Shimamura; Kenji Hosaka; Takuya Kinoshita; Takaaki Abe; Hedeaki Horie - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US7609029B2 ## CPC - H01M 10/4207: {for several batteries or cells simultaneously or sequentially} - H01M 10/0418: {with bipolar electrodes} - H01M 10/425: {Structural combination with electronic components, e.g. electronic circuits integrated to the outside of the casing (printed circuits H05K1/00)} - H01M 10/441: {for several batteries or cells simultaneously or sequentially} - H01M 50/211: adapted for pouch cells - H01M 10/0525: Rocking-chair batteries, i.e. batteries with lithium insertion or intercalation in both electrodes; Lithium-ion batteries - H01M 2220/20: Batteries in motive systems, e.g. vehicle, ship, plane - Y02E 60/10: Energy storage using batteries - Y02P 70/50: Manufacturing or production processes characterised by the final manufactured product - H01M: PROCESSES OR MEANS, e.g. BATTERIES, FOR THE DIRECT CONVERSION OF CHEMICAL ENERGY INTO ELECTRICAL ENERGY - Y02E: REDUCTION OF GREENHOUSE GAS [GHG] EMISSIONS, RELATED TO ENERGY GENERATION, TRANSMISSION OR DISTRIBUTION - Y02P: CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION TECHNOLOGIES IN THE PRODUCTION OR PROCESSING OF GOODS ## Abstract A battery is basically provided with an electricity generating element and a discharging section. The electricity generating element has a plurality of electric cells connected in series. The discharging section constantly discharges electricity from each of the electric cells at a prescribed discharge rate so that a voltage in each of the electric cells is lower than a voltage corresponding to a prescribed depth of discharge. The battery is especially useful in a power supply component of a vehicle. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A battery comprising: an electricity generating element including a plurality of electric cells connected in series; and a discharging section configured and arranged to constantly discharge electricity from each of the electric cells at a constant discharge rate so that a voltage in each of the electric cells is lower than a voltage corresponding to when a depth of discharge exceeds 100%. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The battery as recited in claim 1, wherein the electricity generating element further includes a plurality of bipolar electrodes with each of the bipolar electrodes including a collector, a positive electrode layer formed on a first surface of the collector and a negative electrode layer formed on a second surface that is opposite from the first surface of the collector, and a plurality of electrolyte layers with each of the electrolyte layers being interposed between an adjacent pair of the bipolar electrodes so that the positive electrode layer of one of the bipolar electrodes, the negative electrode layer of an adjacent one of the bipolar electrodes and the electrolyte layer disposed between the positive electrode layer and the negative electrode layer form one of the electric cells of the electricity generating element. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The battery as recited in claim 2, wherein the collector is made from a material that does not elute when a current flows therethrough at a voltage that is below a lower limit of a range of use of the battery. ### Claim 4 (depends on 2) The battery as recited in claim 2, wherein the collector is made of stainless steel. ### Claim 5 (depends on 2) The battery as recited in claim 2, further comprising an outer packaging member tightly sealing the bipolar electrodes, the electrolyte layers and the discharging section. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The battery as recited in claim 1, wherein the discharging section is configured and arranged to discharge electricity at the constant discharge rate that is equal to or less than 0.25 C. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) An assembled battery unit including a plurality of the batteries as recited in claim 1, wherein the plurality of the batteries are connected in either series or in parallel. ### Claim 8 An assembled battery unit comprising: a plurality of secondary batteries connected in series; and a discharging section configured and arranged to constantly discharge electricity from each of the secondary batteries at a constant discharge rate so that a voltage of each of the secondary batteries is lower than a voltage corresponding to when a depth of discharge exceeds 100%. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The assembled battery unit as recited in claim 8, wherein the discharging section is configured and arranged to discharge electricity at the constant discharge rate that is equal to or less than 0.25 C. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) A vehicle including the battery as recited in claim 1, wherein the vehicle has a power supply component that includes the battery. ### Claim 11 (depends on 8) A vehicle including the assembled battery unit as recited in claim 8, wherein the vehicle has a power supply component that includes the assembled battery unit. ### Claim 12 A battery voltage adjusting method comprising: providing a plurality of battery elements connected in series; and constantly discharging electricity from each of the battery elements at a constant discharge rate so that a voltage of each of the battery elements is lower than a voltage corresponding to when a depth of discharge exceeds 100%. ### Claim 13 A battery comprising: electricity generating means for generating electricity using a plurality of battery elements connected in series; and discharging means for constantly discharging electricity from each of the battery elements at a constant discharge rate so that a voltage in each of the battery elements is lower than a voltage corresponding to when a depth of discharge exceeds 100%.