Patents by Inventor Kazunori Shibata

Kazunori Shibata has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Publication number: 20240141521
    Abstract: A water electrolysis cell includes an anode-side porous channel, a membrane electrode assembly, a cathode-side porous channel, and a separator disposed on at least any one of a side of the anode-side porous channel opposite to the membrane electrode assembly side and a side of the cathode-side porous channel opposite to the membrane electrode assembly side. The anode-side porous channel, the membrane electrode assembly, and the cathode-side porous channel are provided in this order. The membrane electrode assembly includes an anode catalyst layer, an electrolyte membrane, and a cathode catalyst layer in order from the anode-side porous channel side. An area in a plane direction of the anode-side porous channel is greater than an area in the plane direction of the cathode-side porous channel in a plan view.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 22, 2023
    Publication date: May 2, 2024
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Kazunori SHIBATA, Keisuke FUJITA, Joji YOSHIMURA
  • Publication number: 20230402624
    Abstract: A power generation unit cell includes: a membrane electrode assembly including an electrolyte membrane and catalyst layers located so as to sandwich the electrolyte membrane; a support located so as to surround the membrane electrode assembly; and a pair of separators located so as to sandwich the membrane electrode assembly and the support. The support includes a base material and adhesive layers stacked on both surfaces of the base material. Each of the separators includes a sealing part and a restraining part, in a portion of the separator that is bonded to corresponding one of the adhesive layers of the support. The sealing part is a smooth surface, and the restraining part is a portion with irregularities.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 9, 2023
    Publication date: December 14, 2023
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Kazunori SHIBATA, Hitoshi HAMADA, Kotaro IKEDA
  • Publication number: 20230369613
    Abstract: A fuel cell stack includes a cell stack in which a plurality of unit cells each including a pair of separators is stacked together. The fuel cell stack includes a seal sheet configured to seal between adjacent unit cells. The pair of separators each include a seal line rib on a seal sheet side of the separator, the seal line rib serving as a seal line with the seal sheet. Among two facing separators that are a first facing separator and a second facing separator facing each other while sandwiching the seal sheet between the adjacent unit cells, the first facing separator includes a protruding portion on at least one part of the seal line rib, and the second facing separator includes a recessed portion in the seal line rib that is configured to fit the protruding portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 14, 2023
    Publication date: November 16, 2023
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Kazunori SHIBATA, Hitoshi HAMADA, Takashi KAJIWARA
  • Publication number: 20220367894
    Abstract: A fuel cell comprising a membrane electrode gas diffusion layer assembly, a resin frame, a first separator and a second separator, wherein the resin frame comprises an opening in which the membrane electrode gas diffusion layer assembly can be disposed, and a skeleton surrounding the opening, and wherein the second separator comprises a convexity at four corners of a region which is a part abutting the resin frame and which faces an inner peripheral edge of the skeleton, and the second separator abuts the resin frame in a state that the convexities are engaged with the resin frame, or wherein the second separator comprises an adhesive at the four corners of the region which is the part abutting the resin frame and which faces the inner peripheral edge of the skeleton, and the second separator is attached to the resin frame via the adhesive.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 10, 2022
    Publication date: November 17, 2022
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Kazunori SHIBATA, Hikaru HASEGAWA, Hideo NAKAMURA
  • Patent number: 11471043
    Abstract: A subjective optometry apparatus has a projection optical system including a visual target presenting portion and an optical member to project a target light flux toward a subject eye, and causing the target light flux to be incident on the optical member with a deviation of the incident target light flux from an optical axis of the optical member, a housing accommodating the projection optical system, a presentation window for emitting the target light flux from the inside of the housing to the outside thereof, an eye refractive power measurement unit provided outside the housing, and holding means integrally connecting the housing to the eye refractive power measurement unit to hold the eye refractive power measuring unit. When using the eye refractive power measuring unit, a distance from the presentation window to the eye refractive power measurement unit in an optical path is equal to or less than 180 mm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2022
    Assignee: NIDEK CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Toshihiro Kobayashi, Yukito Hirayama, Ryoji Suzuki, Kazunori Shibata, Daisuke Baba
  • Patent number: 11462748
    Abstract: A method of manufacturing a fuel cell separator, includes: stacking a first separator plate and a second separator plate having first and second protruding portions so that the first and second protruding portions protrude in a direction away from the first separator plate, the first and second protruding portions being adjacent to both sides of a first junction portion to be joined to the first separator plate; pressing the first and second protruding portions toward the first separator plate so that the first junction portion is pressed against the first separator plate; and joining the first junction portion to the first separator plate while the first junction portion is being pressed against the first separator plate, wherein in the pressing, the first junction portion is pressed against the first separator plate by elastic deformation of a first bent portion bent between the first junction portion and the first protruding portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2022
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Kazunori Shibata
  • Patent number: 11251454
    Abstract: A fuel cell includes: a membrane electrode gas diffusion layer assembly in which a membrane electrode assembly is sandwiched by a pair of gas diffusion layers; an insulating member formed into a frame shape, and being in contact with an outer peripheral portion of the membrane electrode gas diffusion layer assembly; and first and second separators sandwiching the membrane electrode gas diffusion layer assembly and the insulating member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 15, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 15, 2022
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Takashi Kajiwara, Kazunori Shibata, Sachio Okada
  • Patent number: 11056703
    Abstract: A manufacturing method of a unit cell of a fuel cell, includes: preparing a membrane-electrode-gas diffusion layer assembly; preparing a frame member; bringing an inner peripheral edge of the frame member into contact with a first gas diffusion layer by pushing a convex surface and by deforming a curved portion, in a state where a surface of the frame member is in contact with a peripheral region through an adhesive bond; and joining the frame member and the membrane-electrode-gas diffusion layer assembly with the adhesive bond, in a state where the inner peripheral edge of the frame member is in contact with the first gas diffusion layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 4, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 6, 2021
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Kazunori Shibata
  • Patent number: 11018363
    Abstract: A fuel cell includes: a membrane-electrode-gas diffusion layer assembly; a separator positioned in one side with respect to the membrane-electrode-gas diffusion layer assembly; a frame member supporting the membrane-electrode-gas diffusion layer assembly and joined to the separator, wherein the frame member includes: a base layer; an adhesive layer having thermoplasticity, having a linear expansion coefficient greater than that of the base layer, and joining the base layer and the separator; and a coating, layer provided on a side, opposite to the adhesive layer, of the base layer, having a liner expansion coefficient greater than that of the base layer, and not containing an adhesive component.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 8, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 25, 2021
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Kazunori Shibata
  • Patent number: 10957917
    Abstract: A manufacturing method of a unit cell of a fuel cell, includes: preparing a frame member made of resin, first adhesive bonds being provided on one surface of the frame member and being separated from each other and each having thermoplasticity; preparing a separator; and joining the frame member and the separator by heating and pressing the frame member and the separator in a state where the one surface of the frame member faces the separator through the first adhesive bonds, so as to melt the first adhesive bonds to be brought into contact with each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 8, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 23, 2021
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Kazunori Shibata
  • Publication number: 20200381759
    Abstract: A fuel cell includes: a membrane electrode gas diffusion layer assembly in which a membrane electrode assembly is sandwiched by a pair of gas diffusion layers; an insulating member formed into a frame shape, and being in contact with an outer peripheral portion of the membrane electrode gas diffusion layer assembly; and first and second separators sandwiching the membrane electrode gas diffusion layer assembly and the insulating member.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 15, 2020
    Publication date: December 3, 2020
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Takashi KAJIWARA, Kazunori SHIBATA, Sachio OKADA
  • Publication number: 20200221943
    Abstract: A subjective optometry apparatus has a projection optical system including a visual target presenting portion and an optical member to project a target light flux toward a subject eye, and causing the target light flux to be incident on the optical member with a deviation of the incident target light flux from an optical axis of the optical member, a housing accommodating the projection optical system, a presentation window for emitting the target light flux from the inside of the housing to the outside thereof, an eye refractive power measurement unit provided outside the housing, and holding means integrally connecting the housing to the eye refractive power measurement unit to hold the eye refractive power measuring unit. When using the eye refractive power measuring unit, a distance from the presentation window to the eye refractive power measurement unit in an optical path is equal to or less than 180 mm.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 6, 2018
    Publication date: July 16, 2020
    Applicant: NIDEK CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Toshihiro KOBAYASHI, Yukito HIRAYAMA, Ryoji SUZUKI, Kazunori SHIBATA, Daisuke BABA
  • Patent number: 10541440
    Abstract: A fuel cell stack includes a plurality of single cells stacked and a manifold. The plurality of single cells each include a first separator including a seal portion surrounding the manifold and including a hollow protrusion and a fluid passage portion allowing the fluid to flow between the manifold and a space on the opposite side of the seal portion from the manifold via the hollow of the seal portion, a second separator disposed on the side opposite to the side on which the seal portion projects, of the first separator, and an electric insulating frame disposed on the opposite side of the second separator from the first separator. The second separator includes a flat-and-bulge portion in a surface facing the seal portion, along an abutment region of the seal portion and the electric insulating frame.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 16, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 21, 2020
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Kazunori Shibata, Takashi Kajiwara, Kohsei Yoshida, Atsushi Ida, Joji Tomiyasu, Koji Fukunaga, Naohiro Hoshikawa
  • Patent number: 10511036
    Abstract: A channel forming body used in a fuel cell module has a gas channel, a water conduit, and a communication path that provides communication between the gas channel and the water conduit. When a ridge is seen in a cross-section perpendicular to a channel extension direction, one of both ends of an external shape of the ridge is shaped so as to be located closer to a center of the ridge than an imaginary surface of the channel assumed to extend in a straight line along the channel extension direction. Portions of the ridge located closer to the center of the ridge are formed opposite from each other at left and right ends of the external shape of the ridge with the communication path interposed therebetween.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 11, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 17, 2019
    Assignees: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA, TOYOTA SHATAI KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Hiroya Nakaji, Kazunori Shibata, Hiroki Okabe, Kousuke Kawajiri, Satoshi Futami, Keiji Hashimoto, Takamasa Kanie
  • Patent number: 10470658
    Abstract: An optometry apparatus includes: an optical characteristic measurement device configured to measure an optical characteristic of right and left subject eyes in a both-eye opened state by projecting a visual target onto the subject eyes; an anterior ocular segment acquisition device configured to acquire anterior ocular segment images of the right and left subject eyes by the optical characteristic measurement device during the measurement of the optical characteristic of the subject eye in the both-eye opened state; and a controller configured to execute: an analysis instruction for performing analysis processing on the anterior ocular segment images acquired by the anterior ocular segment acquisition device to acquire both-eye opened state information; a determination instruction for determining whether the both-eye opened state information acquired by the analysis instruction is favorable or not, to acquire determination information; and an output instruction for outputting the determination information acq
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 12, 2019
    Assignee: NIDEK CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Michihiro Takii, Noriji Kawai, Taeko Horino, Hisashi Ochi, Kazunori Shibata
  • Publication number: 20190237775
    Abstract: A method of manufacturing a fuel cell separator, includes: stacking a first separator plate and a second separator plate having first and second protruding portions so that the first and second protruding portions protrude in a direction away from the first separator plate, the first and second protruding portions being adjacent to both sides of a first junction portion to be joined to the first separator plate; pressing the first and second protruding portions toward the first separator plate so that the first junction portion is pressed against the first separator plate; and joining the first junction portion to the first separator plate while the first junction portion is being pressed against the first separator plate, wherein in the pressing, the first junction portion is pressed against the first separator plate by elastic deformation of a first bent portion bent between the first junction portion and the first protruding portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 27, 2018
    Publication date: August 1, 2019
    Applicant: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Kazunori Shibata
  • Patent number: 10299672
    Abstract: A subjective optometric apparatus includes: a projection optical system that includes a target presenting unit configured to emit a target light flux, the projection optical system being configured to project, onto an examinee's eye, the target light flux emitted from the target presenting unit; a housing configured to accommodate the projection optical system; a presentation window configured to project the target light flux onto the examinee's eye by transmitting the target light flux emitted from the projection optical system and outputting the target light flux from an inside of the housing to an outside of the housing; and an observation unit configured to observe, via the presentation window, a positional relationship between the examinee's eye and an eye refractivity measuring unit configured to change an optical property of the target light flux output from the inside of the housing to the outside of the housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 28, 2019
    Assignee: NIDEK CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Kazunori Shibata, Ryoji Suzuki, Yukito Hirayama, Hidenori Kanda
  • Publication number: 20190109341
    Abstract: A manufacturing method of a unit cell of a fuel cell, includes: preparing a membrane-electrode-gas diffusion layer assembly; preparing a frame member; bringing an inner peripheral edge of the frame member into contact with a first gas diffusion layer by pushing a convex surface and by deforming a curved portion, in a state where a surface of the frame member is in contact with a peripheral region through an adhesive bond; and joining the frame member and the membrane-electrode-gas diffusion layer assembly with the adhesive bond, in a state where the inner peripheral edge of the frame member is in contact with the first gas diffusion layer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 4, 2018
    Publication date: April 11, 2019
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Kazunori SHIBATA
  • Publication number: 20190109336
    Abstract: A manufacturing method of a unit cell of a fuel cell, includes: preparing a frame member made of resin, first adhesive bonds being provided on one surface of the frame member and being separated from each other and each having thermoplasticity; preparing a separator; and joining the frame member and the separator by heating and pressing the frame member and the separator in a state where the one surface of the frame member faces the separator through the first adhesive bonds, so as to melt the first adhesive bonds to be brought into contact with each other.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 8, 2018
    Publication date: April 11, 2019
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Kazunori SHIBATA
  • Publication number: 20190109342
    Abstract: A fuel cell includes: a membrane-electrode-gas diffusion layer assembly; a separator positioned in one side with respect to the membrane-electrode-gas diffusion layer assembly; a frame member supporting the membrane-electrode-gas diffusion layer assembly and joined to the separator, wherein the frame member includes: a base layer; an adhesive layer having thermoplasticity, having a linear expansion coefficient greater than that of the base layer, and joining the base layer and the separator; and a coating, layer provided on a side, opposite to the adhesive layer, of the base layer, having a liner expansion coefficient greater than that of the base layer, and not containing an adhesive component.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 8, 2018
    Publication date: April 11, 2019
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Kazunori SHIBATA