Patents by Inventor Masaya Ugaji

Masaya Ugaji 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).

  • Patent number: 7781101
    Abstract: An electrode for a non-aqueous electrolyte secondary battery 6 according to the present invention includes: a current collector 3; a first active material layer 2 formed on the current collector 3; and a second active material layer 5 provided on the first active material layer 2, the second active material layer 5 including a plurality of active material particles 4. The plurality of active material particles 4 is mainly of a chemical composition represented as SiOx (0?x<1.2). The first active material layer 2 is mainly of a chemical composition represented as SiOy (1.0?y<2.0, y>x). The area in which the first active material layer 2 is in contact with the plurality of active material particles 4 is smaller than the area in which the current collector 3 is in contact with the first active material layer 2.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 13, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 24, 2010
    Assignee: Panasonic Corporation
    Inventors: Sadayuki Okazaki, Kazuyoshi Honda, Masaya Ugaji
  • Publication number: 20100203387
    Abstract: An electrode for a lithium secondary battery 100 includes a current collector 11 having a plurality of bumps 12 on a surface thereof and an active material layer 15 including an active material member 14 formed on each of the plurality of bumps 12. The plurality of bumps 12 are regularly arrayed at an interval from one another on the surface of the current collector 11; a growth direction S of the active material members 14 is tilted with respect to the normal direction D of the current collector 11; voids 16 are formed between adjoining active material members 14; a proportion which the voids 16 account for in the active material layer 14 along any arbitrary direction is 5% or more on a plane which is parallel to the surface of the current collector 11; and tensile strength of the current collector 11 per 1 ?m of height of the active material members 14 is no less than 0.3 N/mm and no more than 1 N/mm.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 6, 2008
    Publication date: August 12, 2010
    Inventors: Taisuke Yamamoto, Shuji Ito, Masaya Ugaji, Katsumi Kashiwagi
  • Publication number: 20100190060
    Abstract: Having a current collector having a concave portion and a convex portion at least on one side, and a columnar body formed on the convex portion of the current collector, the columnar body contains an active material for inserting and extracting lithium ions bonding at least with oxygen, and the oxygen content ratio of the active material of the columnar body becomes smaller as going away from the interface of the current collector.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 29, 2008
    Publication date: July 29, 2010
    Applicant: PANASONIC CORPORATION
    Inventors: Masaya Ugaji, Keisuke Ohara, Kazuhiro Watanabe
  • Publication number: 20100156351
    Abstract: According to a deterioration detecting method for rechargeable lithium batteries, battery voltages of a rechargeable lithium battery before and after the completion of charging or discharging are measured. An evaluation value is calculated based on the measured battery voltages. This evaluation value is compared with a reference value of the rechargeable lithium battery stored in advance. A deterioration level of the rechargeable lithium battery is estimated based on this comparison result. In addition, further deterioration can be suppressed by controlling charging and discharging of the rechargeable lithium battery based on the estimated deterioration level.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 9, 2008
    Publication date: June 24, 2010
    Inventors: Masaya Ugaji, Takayuki Shirane, Kaoru Inoue
  • Publication number: 20100151320
    Abstract: A negative electrode for nonaqueous electrolyte secondary battery capable of reversible occlusion and release of lithium ions, comprising current collector (11) provided on at least one major surface thereof with depressed portion (12) and protrudent portion (13) and, superimposed on the protrudent portion (13) of the current collector (11), columnar body (15) composed of a laminate of n (n?2) layers of columnar body portions (16a,16b,16c) containing elements whose content ratio sequentially changes in the longitudinal direction of the current collector (11), wherein odd-numbered layers and even-numbered layers of the columnar body portions (16a,16b,16c) are different from each other in the direction of change of element content ratio.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 21, 2007
    Publication date: June 17, 2010
    Inventors: Masaya Ugaji, Masaki Hasegawa, Taisuke Yamamoto, Keisuke Ohara
  • Publication number: 20100151330
    Abstract: A negative electrode for a non-aqueous electrolyte secondary battery, which reversibly inserts/extracts lithium ions includes a current collector (11) in which a concave portion (12) and a convex portion (13) are formed at least one surface thereof; and a columnar body (15) which is formed by laminating n (n?2) stages of columnar body portions which are obliquely erected on the convex portion (13) of the current collector (11) and in which a content ratio of elements sequentially vary in a longitudinal direction of the current collector (11), and has a configuration in which variation directions of content ratios of elements of odd-numbered stages of columnar body portions and even-numbered stages of columnar body portions are different from each other. At least three surfaces (13a, 13b, 13c) of the convex portion (13) in a section of the longitudinal direction are covered by the columnar body portions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 7, 2007
    Publication date: June 17, 2010
    Inventors: Masaya Ugaji, Masaki Hasegawa, Taisuke Yamamoto, Keisuke Ohara
  • Patent number: 7736811
    Abstract: A solid electrolyte of the present invention is represented by a general formula: LiaPbMcOdNe, where M is at least one element selected from the group consisting of Si, B, Ge, Al, C, Ga and S, and a, b, c, d and e respectively satisfy a=0.62 to 4.98, b=0.01 to 0.99, c=0.01 to 0.99, d=1.070 to 3.985, e=0.01 to 0.50, and b+c=1.0. The solid electrolyte hardly deteriorates in a wet atmosphere.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 2004
    Date of Patent: June 15, 2010
    Assignee: Panasonic Corporation
    Inventors: Masaya Ugaji, Shinji Mino, Yasuyuki Shibano, Shuji Ito
  • Publication number: 20100129711
    Abstract: This invention provides a negative electrode and a non-aqueous electrolyte secondary battery including the negative electrode. The negative electrode includes a Li-absorbing element as a negative electrode active material, is free from deformation, separation of the negative electrode active material layer from the negative electrode current collector, and deposition of lithium on the negative electrode current collector, and is excellent in cycle characteristic, large-current discharge characteristic, and low-temperature discharge characteristic. The negative electrode of this invention includes: a current collector having depressions and protrusions on a surface in the thickness direction thereof; and a negative electrode active material layer that includes a plurality of columns containing a negative electrode active material that absorbs and releases lithium ions, the columns being grown outwardly from the surface of the current collector.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 22, 2007
    Publication date: May 27, 2010
    Inventors: Katsumi Kashiwagi, Kazuyoshi Honda, Masaki Hasegawa, Masaya Ugaji, Yasutaka Kogetsu, Shuji Ito
  • Publication number: 20100119948
    Abstract: A negative electrode for a lithium secondary battery according to the present invention includes a current collector 12, and an active material layer 14 formed on the current collector 12. The active material layer 14 includes a plurality of negative-electrode active material members 16 disposed on the current collector 12. Each negative-electrode active material member 16 is oxide, including a first region 18 of a relatively high oxygen concentration and a plurality of second regions 20 having an oxygen concentration which is lower than that of the first region 18. The first region 18 extends from a bottom face of each negative-electrode active material member 16 in a direction away from the surface of the current collector. The plurality of second regions 20 are alternately disposed on both sides of the first region 18.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 11, 2008
    Publication date: May 13, 2010
    Inventors: Masaki Hasegawa, Masaya Ugaji, Keisuke Ohara, Hitoshi Matsumoto
  • Publication number: 20100099029
    Abstract: Disclosed is a lithium ion secondary battery including: a positive electrode including a positive electrode active material layer containing a positive electrode active material, and a positive electrode current collector; a negative electrode including a thin film negative electrode active material layer containing an alloy-based negative electrode active material, and a negative electrode current collector; a separator interposed between the positive electrode and the negative electrode; and an ion-permeable resin layer formed on a surface of the thin film negative electrode active material layer. In this lithium ion secondary battery, despite the use of the alloy-based negative electrode active material, the deterioration in battery performance such as cycle characteristics and output characteristics is prevented.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 14, 2009
    Publication date: April 22, 2010
    Inventors: Masahiro Kinoshita, Masaya Ugaji
  • Publication number: 20100075217
    Abstract: A positive electrode, a separator, and a negative electrode including an alloy-type negative electrode active material are stacked in this order, to form an electrode unit. Such electrode units are stacked with a separator interposed between each pair of the electrode units, to form a stacked electrode assembly. The stacked electrode assembly is fabricated, and the stacked electrode assembly is pressed during an initial charge and an initial discharge. As a result, a rate of increase of the thickness of the stacked electrode assembly due to a predetermined number of charge and discharge cycles becomes equal to or less than 10%. It is thus possible to obtain a lithium ion secondary battery having high capacity and high output, capable of maintaining battery performance such as charge/discharge cycle characteristics at a high level for a long time, and having long service life.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 9, 2009
    Publication date: March 25, 2010
    Inventors: Taisuke YAMAMOTO, Masaya Ugaji, Katsumi Kashiwagi
  • Patent number: 7638236
    Abstract: A positive electrode for a lithium ion battery has a conductive collector, a positive electrode active material layer being contact with the collector, and a cover layer disposed on at least part of the surface of the positive electrode active material layer. The positive electrode active material layer has a compound containing at least one kind selected from a group of cobalt, nickel, and manganese as a component. The cover layer is made of a compound with lithium ion conductivity that is expressed by general formula LixPTyOz or LiaMObNc and has high moisture resistance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 2005
    Date of Patent: December 29, 2009
    Assignee: Panasonic Corporation
    Inventors: Masaya Ugaji, Shinji Mino, Yasuyuki Shibano, Shuji Ito
  • Publication number: 20090317721
    Abstract: A non-aqueous electrolyte secondary battery has at least negative electrode, a positive electrode, and a separator between the positive electrode and negative electrode. Negative electrode has columnar first negative electrode active materials that are discretely formed on the outer peripheral surface of negative electrode current collector in the winding direction and can reversibly insert and extract lithium ions, and columnar second negative electrode active materials discretely formed on the inner peripheral surface. The positive electrode has positive electrode mixture layers containing a positive electrode active material capable of reversibly inserting and extracting lithium ions, on both surfaces of a positive electrode current collector. The difference between the porosity generated between first negative electrode active materials in negative electrode and that generated between the second negative electrode active materials in winding is set within 1.1%.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 31, 2007
    Publication date: December 24, 2009
    Inventors: Takayuki Shirane, Kaoru Inoue, Masaya Ugaji
  • Publication number: 20090311601
    Abstract: In the negative electrode of the present invention, the negative electrode current collector includes a substrate and a plurality of protrusions, and the protrusions are formed on the surface of the substrate. The negative electrode active material layer includes a columnar active material layer and a stacked active material layer containing an alloy-based negative electrode active material. The columnar active material layer includes one or more columns that extend outwardly from the surface of the protrusions. The stacked active material layer is formed by stacking a thin film in a zigzag manner on the substrate surface between the protrusions. By using this negative electrode, negative electrode deformation, and separation of the negative electrode active material layer from the negative electrode current collector are suppressed, and a lithium ion secondary battery that has excellent charge and discharge cycle performance and output performance can be obtained.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 9, 2009
    Publication date: December 17, 2009
    Inventors: Katsumi Kashiwagi, Masaya Ugaji
  • Patent number: 7632607
    Abstract: A negative electrode for a battery has a collector, active material layer, and inorganic compound layer. The active material layer is formed on the collector. The inorganic compound layer is formed on the surface of the active material layer. The inorganic compound layer is expressed by general formula LixPTyOz or LixMOyNz. The compound composing the inorganic compound layer has lithium ion conductivity and excels in moisture resistance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 2005
    Date of Patent: December 15, 2009
    Assignee: Panasonic Corporation
    Inventors: Masaya Ugaji, Shinji Mino, Yasuyuki Shibano, Shuji Ito
  • Publication number: 20090274951
    Abstract: A nonaqueous electrolyte secondary battery includes an electrode group in which a positive electrode plate including a positive electrode active material formed on a positive electrode current collector and a negative electrode plate including a negative electrode active material formed on a negative electrode current collector are wound with a separator interposed therebetween, and a tensile elongation rate of the positive electrode plate is larger than a tensile elongation rate of the negative electrode plate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 23, 2009
    Publication date: November 5, 2009
    Inventors: Masahiro Kinoshita, Masaya Ugaji, Yoshiyuki Muraoka
  • Publication number: 20090202906
    Abstract: A negative electrode of a lithium secondary battery has a negative electrode active material including at least one element of silicon and tin. Capacities of the positive electrode and the negative electrode of the lithium secondary battery are set as follows. In a completely charged state of the lithium secondary battery charged by a predetermined charging method, the positive electrode active material and the negative electrode active material are in a first partially charged state, respectively. In a completely discharged state of the lithium secondary battery discharged by a predetermined discharging method, the negative electrode active material is in a second partially charged state.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 10, 2008
    Publication date: August 13, 2009
    Applicant: Panasonic Corporation
    Inventors: Masaya Ugaji, Kaoru Inoue, Takayuki Shirane
  • Publication number: 20090176158
    Abstract: A negative electrode for a lithium secondary battery of the present invention includes a current collector and a negative electrode active material layer carried on the current collector. The negative electrode active material layer includes a plurality of columnar particles. The current collector has a surface including a depression and a plurality of projected regions defined by the depression. The projected regions carry the columnar particles. Further, the present invention relates to a lithium secondary battery using the foregoing negative electrode. According to the present invention, it is possible to provide a high-capacity negative electrode excellent mainly in cycle characteristics for a lithium secondary battery, and a lithium secondary battery including the same.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 2, 2007
    Publication date: July 9, 2009
    Inventors: Masaya Ugaji, Masaki Hasegawa, Taisuke Yamamoto, Keisuke Ohara, Yasutaka Kogetsu, Takuhiro Nishimura
  • Publication number: 20090117462
    Abstract: An electrode for a non-aqueous electrolyte secondary battery 6 according to the present invention includes: a current collector 3; a first active material layer 2 formed on the current collector 3; and a second active material layer 5 provided on the first active material layer 2, the second active material layer 5 including a plurality of active material particles 4. The plurality of active material particles 4 is mainly of a chemical composition represented as SiOx(0?x<1.2). The first active material layer 2 is mainly of a chemical composition represented as SiOy(1.0?y<2.0, y>x). The area in which the first active material layer 2 is in contact with the plurality of active material particles 4 is smaller than the area in which the current collector 3 is in contact with the first active material layer 2.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 12, 2007
    Publication date: May 7, 2009
    Inventors: Sadayuki Okazaki, Kazuyoshi Honda, Masaya Ugaji
  • Publication number: 20090104528
    Abstract: An electrode for a lithium secondary battery including a sheet-like current collector and an active material layer carried on the current collector. The active material layer is capable of absorbing and desorbing lithium, and the active material layer includes a plurality of columnar particles having at least one bend. An angle ?1 formed by a growth direction of the columnar particles from a bottom to a first bend of the columnar particles, and a direction normal to the current collector is preferably 10° or more and less than 90°. When ?n+1 is an angle formed by a growth direction of the columnar particles from an n-th bend counted from a bottom of the columnar particles to an (n+1)-th bend, and the direction normal to the current collector, and n is an integer of 1 or more, ?n+1 is preferably 0° or more and less than 90°.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 7, 2006
    Publication date: April 23, 2009
    Inventors: Keiichi Takahashi, Masaya Ugaji, Yusutaka Kogetsu, Shinji Mino, Nobuaki Nagao, Masaki Hasegawa