Patents by Inventor Soichiro Kawakami

Soichiro Kawakami 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: 20080248398
    Abstract: An ion conductor structural body having a high ion conductivity and excellent mechanical strength, principally comprising is provided. This ion conductor structural body includes (a) a polymer matrix; (b) a solvent capable of functioning as a plasticizer; and (c) an electrolyte. The polymer matrix (a) includes a polymer chain having at least a segment represented by the following general formula (1): wherein R1 and R2 are, respectively, H or an alkyl group of 2 or less carbon atoms, A is a group having at least a polyether group, and R3 is a group having at least an alkyl group of more than 6 carbon atoms. The main chain portion of the polymer chain and the side chain portion of the segment have an orientation property.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 13, 2008
    Publication date: October 9, 2008
    Applicant: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Tomoya Yamamoto, Soichiro Kawakami, Toshifumi Akasaka
  • Patent number: 7425285
    Abstract: There are provided an electrode material for a lithium secondary battery which comprises alloy particles comprising silicon as a major component and having an average particle diameter of 0.02 ?m to 5 ?m, wherein the size of a crystallite of the alloy is not less than 2 nm but no more than 500 nm and an intermetallic compound containing at least tin is dispersed in a silicon phase and an electrode material for a lithium secondary battery which comprises alloy particles comprising silicon as a major component and having an average particle diameter of 0.02 ?m to 5 ?m, wherein the size of a crystallite of the alloy is not less than 2 nm but no more than 500 nm and an at least one intermetallic compound containing at least one element selected from the group consisting of aluminum, zinc, indium, antimony, bismuth and lead is dispersed in a silicon phase.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 1, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 16, 2008
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Masaya Asao, Soichiro Kawakami, Takao Ogura
  • Patent number: 7402361
    Abstract: An ion conductor structural body having a high ion conductivity and excellent mechanical strength, principally comprising is provided. This ion conductor structural body includes (a) a polymer matrix; (b) a solvent capable of functioning as a plasticizer; and (c) an electrolyte. The polymer matrix (a) includes a polymer chain having at least a segment represented by the following general formula (1): wherein R1 and R2 are, respectively, H or an alkyl group of 2 or less carbon atoms, A is a group having at least a polyether group, and R3 is a group having at least an alkyl group of more than 6 carbon atoms. The main chain portion of the polymer chain and the side chain portion of the segment have an orientation property. The polymer matrix has a cross-linked structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 4, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 22, 2008
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Tomoya Yamamoto, Soichiro Kawakami, Toshifumi Akasaka
  • Patent number: 7399703
    Abstract: A process for patterning a nanocarbon material includes a step of forming a nanocarbon layer on a substrate; a step of forming a first metal layer on the nanocarbon layer to pattern the first metal layer, the first metal layer containing at least one selected from the group consisting of zinc, tin, indium, aluminum, and titanium; and a step of etching the nanocarbon layer with oxygen plasma using the first metal layer as a positive pattern. Also, a method for manufacturing a semiconductor device including a semiconductor layer containing a nanocarbon material includes a step of patterning a nanocarbon material by the above process; and, a semiconductor device containing a nanocarbon material includes a semiconductor layer including a nanocarbon sub-layer patterned by the process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 27, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 15, 2008
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Soichiro Kawakami
  • Patent number: 7388383
    Abstract: A detecting method for detecting internal resistance of an inspective rechargeable battery when said inspective rechargeable battery is charged by the constant current-constant voltage charging regime, said detecting method comprising at least a step (a) wherein an accumulated, charged electricity quantity of said inspective rechargeable battery in the constant voltage charging mode is obtained and a step (b) wherein said charged electricity quantity of said inspective rechargeable battery obtained in the constant voltage charging mode in said step (a) is referred to previously acquired data of a normal rechargeable battery, which corresponds to said inspective rechargeable battery, with respect to relationships of charged electricity quantities Qcv thereof versus internal resistances thereof when increased or decreased or their increased or decreased magnitudes in the constant voltage charging mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 24, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 17, 2008
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Soichiro Kawakami, Yasusaburo Degura
  • Publication number: 20080131782
    Abstract: An electrode material for a lithium secondary battery which includes particles each having a central portion and a surface portion covering the surface of the central portion. A distance from a center to an outermost surface of the particle is occupied 80 to 99% by the central portion and 1 to 20% by the surface portion. The central portion includes LiM1-aDaO2 having an ?-NaFeO2 structure, and the surface portion includes LiM1-bEbO2 having an ?-NaFeO2 structure. (M is C or Ni; D is a transition metal element or Al replacing a part of Co or Ni as M; E is a metal element replacing a part of Co or Ni as M; and M is not the same as D or E.) The following relationships are satisfied in the central portion, in terms of atomic ratio: D/(M+D+E)<0.05 and E/(M+D+E)<0.05.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 21, 2004
    Publication date: June 5, 2008
    Applicant: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Kazunari Hagiwara, Soichiro Kawakami, Katsuhiko Inoue, Nobuyuki Suzuki
  • Patent number: 7378041
    Abstract: There are provided an electrode material for a lithium secondary battery which comprises alloy particles comprising silicon as a major component and having an average particle diameter of 0.02 ?m to 5 ?m, wherein the size of a crystallite of the alloy is not less than 2 nm but no more than 500 nm and an intermetallic compound containing at least tin is dispersed in a silicon phase and an electrode material for a lithium secondary battery which comprises alloy particles comprising silicon as a major component and having an average particle diameter of 0.02 ?m to 5 ?m, wherein the size of a crystallite of the alloy is not less than 2 nm but no more than 500 nm and an at least one intermetallic compound containing at least one element selected from the group consisting of aluminum, zinc, indium, antimony, bismuth and lead is dispersed in a silicon phase.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2004
    Date of Patent: May 27, 2008
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Masaya Asao, Soichiro Kawakami, Takao Ogura
  • Patent number: 7378189
    Abstract: The present invention provides: an electrode material for a lithium secondary battery containing lithium boron mixed oxide having a monoclinic LiBO2 structure and represented by a chemical formula LiB1-xDxO2-yEy (wherein, D represents a substitution element of boron B, E represents a substitution element of oxygen O, 0<x<0.5, and 0?y<0.1); an electrode structure employing the electrode material; and a lithium secondary battery having the electrode structure. Accordingly, the present invention provides: an electrode material for a lithium secondary battery having a voltage of 3.0 V (vs. Li/Li+) or more, a usable capacity exceeding 200 mAh/g, and a high energy density; an electrode structure employing the electrode material; and a lithium second battery having the electrode structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 2004
    Date of Patent: May 27, 2008
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Kazunari Hagiwara, Soichiro Kawakami, Nobuyuki Suzuki
  • Publication number: 20080090152
    Abstract: An electrode material for a rechargeable lithium battery, characterized in that said electrode material comprises a fine powder of a silicon-based material whose principal component is silicon element, said fine powder having an average particle size (R) in a range of 0.1 ?m?R<0.5 ?m. An electrode structural body for a rechargeable lithium battery, having an electrode material layer comprising said silicon-based material fine powder. A rechargeable lithium battery whose anode comprising said electrode structural body.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 4, 2007
    Publication date: April 17, 2008
    Applicant: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Takeshi Kosuzu, Soichiro Kawakami, Masaya Asao, Hidetoshi Tsuzuki, Takao Ogura, Naoya Kobayashi
  • Patent number: 7316792
    Abstract: An electrode material for a rechargeable lithium battery, characterized in that said electrode material comprises a fine powder of a silicon-based material whose principal component is silicon element, said fine powder having an average particle size (R) in a range of 0.1 ?m?R<0.5 ?m. An electrode structural body for a rechargeable lithium battery, having an electrode material layer comprising said silicon-based material fine powder. A rechargeable lithium battery whose anode comprising said electrode structural body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 21, 2006
    Date of Patent: January 8, 2008
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Takeshi Kosuzu, Soichiro Kawakami, Masaya Asao, Hidetoshi Tsuzuki, Takao Ogura, Naoya Kobayashi
  • Publication number: 20080003503
    Abstract: A powder material which can electrochemically store and release lithium ions rapidly in a large amount is provided. In addition, an electrode structure for an energy storage device which can provide a high energy density and a high power density and has a long life, and an energy storage device using the electrode structure are provided. In a powder material which can electrochemically store and release lithium ions, the surface of particles of one of silicon metal and tin metal and an alloy of any thereof is coated by an oxide including a transition metal element selected from the group consisting of W, Ti, Mo, Nb, and V as a main component. The electrode structure includes the powder material. The battery device includes a negative electrode having the electrode structure, a lithium ion conductor, and a positive electrode, and utilizes an oxidation reaction of lithium and a reduction reaction of lithium ion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 11, 2007
    Publication date: January 3, 2008
    Applicant: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Soichiro Kawakami, Hidetoshi Tsuzuki, Toshiaki Aiba, Rie Ueno, Masatoshi Watanabe
  • Publication number: 20070218356
    Abstract: There is provided a lithium secondary battery with a negative electrode which comprises a negative electrode active material layer comprising alloy particles comprising silicon and tin and having an average particle diameter of 0.05 to 2 ?m as an active material, and a negative electrode current collector, wherein the negative electrode active material layer has a storage capacity of 1,000 to 2,200 mAh/g and a density of 0.9 to 1.5 g/cm3 and which thereby has a high capacity and a good cycle-characteristic. Thus, a lithium secondary battery having a high capacity and a long life and so designed as to exhibit these characteristics at the same time is provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 14, 2007
    Publication date: September 20, 2007
    Applicant: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Naoya Kawamura, Soichiro Kawakami
  • Patent number: 7270795
    Abstract: A method for producing nano-carbon materials, having a step wherein a starting material comprising one or more kinds of compounds selected from the group consisting saturated hydrocarbons, unsaturated hydrocarbons, saturated cyclic hydrocarbons, and alcohols whose atomic ratio of the component carbon to the component oxygen is more than 2.0 and a catalyst are together treated at a temperature in a range of from 100 to 800° C. while being compressed at a pressure in a range of from 0.2 to 60 MPa.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 2004
    Date of Patent: September 18, 2007
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Soichiro Kawakami, Katsuhiko Inoue, Hitomi Sano, Nobuyuki Suzuki
  • Publication number: 20070200101
    Abstract: There are provided an electrode material for a lithium secondary battery which comprises alloy particles comprising silicon as a major component and having an average particle diameter of 0.02 ?m to 5 ?m, wherein the size of a crystallite of the alloy is not less than 2 nm but no more than 500 nm and an intermetallic compound containing at least tin is dispersed in a silicon phase and an electrode material for a lithium secondary battery which comprises alloy particles comprising silicon as a major component and having an average particle diameter of 0.02 ?m to 5 ?m, wherein the size of a crystallite of the alloy is not less than 2 nm but no more than 500 nm and an at least one intermetallic compound containing at least one element selected from the group consisting of aluminum, zinc, indium, antimony, bismuth and lead is dispersed in a silicon phase.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 1, 2007
    Publication date: August 30, 2007
    Applicant: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Masaya Asao, Soichiro Kawakami, Takao Ogura
  • Publication number: 20070184351
    Abstract: An ion conductor structural body having a high ion conductivity and excellent mechanical strength, principally comprising is provided. This ion conductor structural body includes (a) a polymer matrix; (b) a solvent capable of functioning as a plasticizer; and (c) an electrolyte. The polymer matrix (a) includes a polymer chain having at least a segment represented by the following general formula (1): wherein R1 and R2 are, respectively, H or an alkyl group of 2 or less carbon atoms, A is a group having at least a polyether group, and R3 is a group having at least an alkyl group of more than 6 carbon atoms. The main chain portion of the polymer chain and the side chain portion of the segment have an orientation property.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 4, 2007
    Publication date: August 9, 2007
    Applicant: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Tomoya Yamamoto, Soichiro Kawakami, Toshifumi Akasaka
  • Publication number: 20070180688
    Abstract: A secondary battery exhibiting a long cycle life and comprising a negative pole activating material made of lithium or zinc is provided. The battery at least having a negative pole made of lithium or zinc serving as the negative pole activating material, an electrolyte (electrolytic solution), a separator, a positive pole made of a positive pole activating material, a collecting electrode and a battery case, wherein at least the surface of the negative pole is covered with a film having a structure which allows ions relating to the battery reactions to pass through. Since growth of dendrites of lithium or zinc at the time of charge can be prevented, short circuiting between the negative pole and the positive pole can be prevented. Therefore, the charge/discharge cycle life can significantly be lengthened.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 27, 2007
    Publication date: August 9, 2007
    Applicant: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Soichiro Kawakami, Shinya Mishina, Naoya Kobayashi
  • Patent number: 7235333
    Abstract: An ion conductor structural body having a high ion conductivity and an excellent mechanical strength, principally comprising is provided. This ion conductor structural body includes (a) a polymer matrix; (b) a solvent capable of functioning as a plasticizer; and (c) an electrolyte. The polymer matrix (a) includes a polymer chain having at least a segment represented by the following general formula (1), a main chain portion of said polymer chain and a side chain portion of said segment have an orientation property, and said polymer matrix has a crosslinked structure: wherein R1 and R2 are, respectively, H or an alkyl group of 2 or less carbon atoms, A is a group having at least a polyether group, and R3 is a group having at least an alkyl group of more than 6 carbon atoms.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 2005
    Date of Patent: June 26, 2007
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Tomoya Yamamoto, Soichiro Kawakami, Toshifumi Akasaka
  • Publication number: 20070120554
    Abstract: A detecting method for detecting internal resistance of an inspective rechargeable battery when said inspective rechargeable battery is charged by the constant current-constant voltage charging regime, said detecting method comprising at least a step (a) wherein an accumulated, charged electricity quantity of said inspective rechargeable battery in the constant voltage charging mode is obtained and a step (b) wherein said charged electricity quantity of said inspective rechargeable battery obtained in the constant voltage charging mode in said step (a) is referred to previously acquired data of a normal rechargeable battery, which corresponds to said inspective rechargeable battery, with respect to relationships of charged electricity quantities Qcv thereof versus internal resistances thereof when increased or decreased or their increased or decreased magnitudes in the constant voltage charging mode.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 24, 2007
    Publication date: May 31, 2007
    Applicant: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Soichiro Kawakami, Yasusaburo Degura
  • Patent number: 7190171
    Abstract: A detecting method for detecting internal resistance of an inspective rechargeable battery when said inspective rechargeable battery is charged by the constant current-constant voltage charging regime, said detecting method comprising at least a step (a) wherein an accumulated, charged electricity quantity of said inspective rechargeable battery in the constant voltage charging mode is obtained and a step (b) wherein said charged electricity quantity of said inspective rechargeable battery obtained in the constant voltage charging mode in said step (a) is referred to previously acquired data of a normal rechargeable battery, which corresponds to said inspective rechargeable battery, with respect to relationships of charged electricity quantities Qcv thereof versus internal resistances thereof when increased or decreased or their increased or decreased magnitudes in the constant voltage charging mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 10, 2003
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2007
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Soichiro Kawakami, Yasusaburo Degura
  • Patent number: 7183018
    Abstract: An electrode material for an anode of a rechargeable lithium battery, containing a particulate comprising an amorphous Sn.A.X alloy with a substantially non-stoichiometric ratio composition. For said formula Sn.A.X, A indicates at least one kind of an element selected from a group consisting of transition metal elements, X indicates at least one kind of an element selected from a group consisting of O, F, N, Mg, Ba, Sr, Ca, La, Ce, Si, Ge, C, P, B, Pb, Bi, Sb, Al, Ga, In, Tl, Zn, Be, Pr, Nd, Sm, Eu, Gd, Tb, Dy, Ho, Er, Tm, Yb, Lu, As, Se, Te, Li and S, where the element X is not always necessary to be contained. The content of the constituent element Sn of the amorphous Sn.A.X alloy is Sn/(Sn+A+X)=20 to 80 atomic %.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 13, 2005
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2007
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Soichiro Kawakami, Masaya Asao