Patents by Inventor Toshihiro Matsumoto

Toshihiro Matsumoto 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: 8084163
    Abstract: A fuel cell comprising: a membrane electrolyte assembly having a polymer electrolyte membrane and a pair of catalyst electrodes, namely an air electrode and a fuel electrode sandwiching the polymer electrolyte membrane; a pair of separators, namely an air electrode separator and a fuel electrode separator sandwiching the membrane electrolyte assembly; two or more oxidizing gas channels running in a certain direction for the purpose of supplying an oxidizing gas to the air electrode; and two or more linear fuel gas channels arranged parallel to the certain direction for the purpose of supplying a fuel gas to the fuel electrode. Large gaps and small gaps are provided alternately between adjacent two oxidizing gas channels along the certain direction, and the fuel gas channels do not overlap portions of the oxidizing gas channels, that are parallel to the fuel gas channels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2011
    Assignee: Panasonic Corporation
    Inventors: Takashi Nakagawa, Toshihiro Matsumoto, Shinsuke Takeguchi, Miyuki Yoshimoto
  • Patent number: 8084165
    Abstract: An MEA having an MEA body part 5C; a frame 6 made of a plate-like thermoplastic resin; and gaskets 7 formed on opposed surfaces of the frame 6 so as to hold the frame 6 between. The gaskets 7 each have an annular portion 7A that is annularly formed so as to extend along the inner periphery of the frame 6 and elongated portions 7B1 to 7B8 that extend from the annular portion 7A and come into contact with the side faces of an associated electrode layer 5C after passing over the inner periphery of the frame 6 and a peripheral region 5D of a polymer electrolyte membrane.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2011
    Assignee: Panasonic Corporation
    Inventors: Hiroki Kusakabe, Kazuhito Hatoh, Toshihiro Matsumoto, Norihiko Kawabata, Hiroaki Matsuoka, Tomohiro Kijima
  • Publication number: 20110311898
    Abstract: A method for producing an electrode-membrane-frame assembly according to the present invention includes arranging a previously molded first molded body on a circumferential region of first catalyst layer close to first gas diffusion layer, arranging a previously molded second molded body on a circumferential region of second catalyst layer close to second gas diffusion layer, and forming a third molded body by injection molding so as to integrally connect the first molded body and the second molded body and not to be directly in contact with an inner side region of second main surface of a polymer electrolyte membrane positioned on an inner side of an outer edge part of the second molded body when viewed from a thickness direction of the polymer electrolyte membrane, whereby a frame having the first, second, and the third molded body is formed. Thus, the polymer electrolyte membrane can be prevented from deteriorating.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 27, 2010
    Publication date: December 22, 2011
    Inventors: Masaki Yamauchi, Yoichiro Tsuji, Atusi Murata, Takashi Morimoto, Toshihiro Matsumoto
  • Patent number: 8076017
    Abstract: Disclosed is a fuel cell stack which includes: a cell assembly formed of stacked unit cells, each composed of a membrane electrolyte assembly and separators which sandwich the membrane electrolyte assembly; a pair of collector plates A and B which sandwiches the cell assembly; a pair of end plates A and B which sandwiches the cell assembly and the collector plates; and an elastic member disposed between end plate A and collector plate A, wherein end plate A has a convexed portion and a concaved portion on a surface facing collector plate A, and the concaved portion of end plate A holds therein the elastic member, and a bottom surface of the concaved portion includes a second convexed portion and a second concaved portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 13, 2011
    Assignee: Panasonic Corporation
    Inventors: Toshihiro Matsumoto, Yoshiki Nagao, Hiroki Kusakabe, Norihiko Kawabata, Kenji Arai
  • Patent number: 8068130
    Abstract: An active matrix type display panel, used as a display-use panel, has pixel patterns each having aperture sections. The aperture sections are set to have a width satisfying the following inequality, 0<(minimum width of the aperture sections in the pixel)/(maximum width of the aperture sections in the pixel)?0.037, or 0.130?(minimum width of the aperture sections in the pixel)/(maximum width of the aperture sections in the pixel)<1.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 4, 2004
    Date of Patent: November 29, 2011
    Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Sunao Aoki, Tatsuji Saitoh, Kenji Fujita, Toshihiro Matsumoto
  • Patent number: 8053140
    Abstract: Provided is a fuel cell comprising a membrane electrode assembly, a pair of separators that sandwich the membrane electrode assembly therebetween, and a gas inlet distribution part that connects a reactive gas supply manifold hole and a reactive gas flow channel, wherein the gas inlet distribution part comprises n (n is an integer of 2 or more) distribution ribs that divide the gas inlet distribution part into a plurality of spaces, and each have a long axis perpendicular to the long axis of the linear gas flow channel and have two or more slits parallel to the long axis of the linear gas flow channel, when among the ribs, a distribution rib closest to the reactive gas supply manifold hole is defined as a first distribution rib, a distribution rib closest to the reactive gas flow channel is defined as an n-th distribution rib, and among the spaces, a space on the reactive gas supply manifold hole side from the first distribution rib is defined as a diffusion space, the cross-sectional area of the diffusion sp
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 8, 2011
    Assignee: Panasonic Corporation
    Inventors: Takashi Nakagawa, Toshihiro Matsumoto, Miyuki Yoshimoto, Kenji Arai
  • Publication number: 20110269002
    Abstract: a formed article having two or more separate accommodating cavities; an electrode group that is formed by rolling up a laminate and is accommodated in each of the accommodating cavities, the laminate composed of a cathode and an anode, each having a current collector and mixture layers disposed on the current collector, and a separator sandwiched between the cathode and the anode; and electrolytic solution accommodated in each of the accommodating cavities, wherein the electrolytic solution, and the anode or the cathode contact the formed article.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 15, 2010
    Publication date: November 3, 2011
    Applicant: PANASONIC CORPORATION
    Inventors: Yoshio Kanata, Toshihiro Matsumoto
  • Patent number: 8045099
    Abstract: This invention provides a liquid crystal display device which can contribute to the stabilization of alignment of a liquid crystal and can improve the response speed. The liquid crystal display device comprises a pair of substrates and a liquid crystal layer held between the substrates. At least one of the pair of substrates has a polymer on its surface in contact with the liquid crystal layer. The surface shape of the polymer is in a substantially saw form as viewed from the cross-sectional direction of the substrate. The inclination azimuth of the inclination surface of the polymer is substantially the same as the liquid crystal alignment upon the application of the voltage. Preferably, the surface of the polymer has an approximately wedge shape as viewed from the vertical direction of the substrate, and the azimuth of the apex is approximately opposite to the liquid crystal alignment upon the application of the voltage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 16, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2011
    Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Kunihiro Tashiro, Takahiro Sasaki, Toshihiro Matsumoto
  • Publication number: 20110212381
    Abstract: A fuel cell comprising: a membrane electrolyte assembly having a polymer electrolyte membrane and a pair of catalyst electrodes, namely an air electrode and a fuel electrode sandwiching the polymer electrolyte membrane; a pair of separators, namely an air electrode separator and a fuel electrode separator sandwiching the membrane electrolyte assembly; two or more oxidizing gas channels running in a certain direction for the purpose of supplying an oxidizing gas to the air electrode; and two or more linear fuel gas channels arranged parallel to the certain direction for the purpose of supplying a fuel gas to the fuel electrode. Large gaps and small gaps are provided alternately between adjacent two oxidizing gas channels along the certain direction, and the fuel gas channels do not overlap portions of the oxidizing gas channels, that are parallel to the fuel gas channels.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 30, 2009
    Publication date: September 1, 2011
    Applicant: PANASONIC CORPORATION
    Inventors: Takashi Nakagawa, Toshihiro Matsumoto, Shinsuke Takeguchi, Miyuki Yoshimoto
  • Publication number: 20110207018
    Abstract: A polymer electrolyte fuel cell includes a membrane electrode assembly including a polymer electrolyte membrane and a pair of catalyst electrodes sandwiching the polymer electrolyte membrane; a pair of separators sandwiching the membrane electrode assembly, the separators each including linear reaction gas channels defined by linear channel ribs, a reaction gas supply manifold hole, and a reaction gas discharge manifold hole; and an inlet gas distribution section for connecting the reaction gas supply manifold hole and the reaction gas channels, wherein the inlet gas distribution section includes n (where n is an integer of 2 or more) distribution ribs for partitioning the inlet gas distribution section into a plurality of spaces, the distribution ribs each having a longitudinal axis perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the linear reaction gas channels, the distribution ribs each having two or more slits provided therein, the slits being in parallel to the longitudinal axis of the linear reaction channels,
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 9, 2010
    Publication date: August 25, 2011
    Applicant: PANASONIC CORPORATION
    Inventors: Takashi Nakagawa, Toshihiro Matsumoto, Miyuki Yoshimoto, Kenji Arai
  • Publication number: 20110199568
    Abstract: The present invention provides a liquid crystal display device which can suppress generation of an afterimage.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 22, 2009
    Publication date: August 18, 2011
    Inventors: Katsuhiko Morishita, Toshihiro Matsumoto, Tsuyoshi Okazaki
  • Patent number: 7998636
    Abstract: A fuel cell stack comprising: a cell stack body having stacked single cells and a manifold for supplying or discharging a fluid to the stacked single cells, the single cell including a membrane electrode assembly and a separator sandwiching the membrane electrode assembly; an end plate stacked onto the cell stack body and having a through-hole along the stacking direction of the cell stack body; and a fluid tube body inserted detachably into the through-hole so as to pass through the end plate, the fluid tube body being connected to the manifold, wherein a part of the outer surface of the fluid tube body opposite to the inner surface of the through-hole is separated from the inner surface of the through-hole.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2011
    Assignee: Panasonic Corporation
    Inventors: Toshihiro Matsumoto, Yoko Yamamoto, Takashi Morimoto, Mitsuo Yoshimura, Kenji Arai, Yoshiki Nagao
  • Patent number: 7977014
    Abstract: In a manufacturing method for an electrode-membrane-frame assembly in a fuel cell, a first frame member and an electrolyte membrane member are arranged in a first mold for injection molding such that the edge of the electrolyte membrane member is arranged on the first frame member, a second mold is arranged to form a resin flow passage for forming a second frame member which is in contact with the first frame member by interposing the electrolyte membrane member, and a part of the edge of the electrolyte membrane member is pressed and fixed to the first frame member by a presser member mounted on the second mold and a molding resin material is injected into the resin flow passage to form a second frame member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 18, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2011
    Assignee: Panasonic Corporation
    Inventors: Takashi Morimoto, Hiroki Kusakabe, Toshihiro Matsumoto, Norihiko Kawabata, Mitsuo Yoshimura
  • Patent number: 7978298
    Abstract: In a liquid crystal display device which presents display by forming liquid crystal domains that take radially-inclined orientation, persisting display unevenness is prevented from occurring when the panel surface is pressed, thus realizing high-quality displaying. A liquid crystal display device according to the present invention includes a first substrate, a second substrate provided so as to oppose the first substrate, and a vertical-alignment type liquid crystal layer provided therebetween. The liquid crystal display device according to the present invention further includes wall-like structures regularly arranged on the liquid crystal layer side of the first substrate, such that, when a predetermined voltage is applied, the liquid crystal layer forms at least one liquid crystal domain that takes a radially-inclined orientation state in a region substantially surrounded by the wall-like structures.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 20, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2011
    Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Masaaki Saitoh, Toshihiro Matsumoto, Tsuyoshi Okazaki, Kazuyoshi Fujioka, Katsuya Ogawa, Tohru Sonoda
  • Publication number: 20110165490
    Abstract: In a manufacturing method for an electrode-membrane-frame assembly in a fuel cell, a first frame member and an electrolyte membrane member are arranged in a first mold for injection molding such that the edge of the electrolyte membrane member is arranged on the first frame member, a second mold is arranged to form a resin flow passage for forming a second frame member which is in contact with the first frame member by interposing the electrolyte membrane member, and a part of the edge of the electrolyte membrane member is pressed and fixed to the first frame member by a presser member mounted on the second mold and a molding resin material is injected into the resin flow passage to form a second frame member.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 18, 2011
    Publication date: July 7, 2011
    Inventors: Takashi MORIMOTO, Hiroki KUSAKABE, Toshihiro MATSUMOTO, Norihiko KAWABATA, Mitsuo YOSHIMURA
  • Publication number: 20110139348
    Abstract: According to the present invention, a method for manufacturing a prepreg sheet includes steps of (A) forming a resin layer 61 on a surface of a supporter 3, (B) winding a reinforcing yarn 10 around the resin layer 61, and (C) embedding at least a part of the reinforcing yarn 10 in the resin layer 61. Preferably, in step (C), the surface of the supporter 3 is relatively moved towards the reinforcing yarn 10.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 15, 2011
    Publication date: June 16, 2011
    Applicant: KYOCERA CORPORATION
    Inventors: Masaaki HARAZONO, Toshihiro MATSUMOTO
  • Publication number: 20110134348
    Abstract: The present invention provides a TBA-mode transflective liquid crystal display device in which components such as a multigap structure and a quarter-wave plate can be omitted.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 30, 2009
    Publication date: June 9, 2011
    Inventors: Katsuhiko Morishita, Toshihiro Matsumoto, Tsuyoshi Okazaki, Hajime Imai
  • Publication number: 20110128458
    Abstract: The present invention provides a TBA-mode liquid crystal display device that is capable of reflective display and transmissive display without using a multigap structure. The liquid crystal display device of the present invention includes a first substrate and a second substrate disposed opposite each other and a liquid crystal layer interposed between the first substrate and the second substrate, and has, in a pixel area, a reflective area where reflective display is performed and a transmissive area where transmissive display is performed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 30, 2009
    Publication date: June 2, 2011
    Inventors: Katsuhiko Morishita, Toshihiro Matsumoto, Tsuyoshi Okazaki, Hajime Imai
  • Patent number: 7951447
    Abstract: According to the present invention, a method for manufacturing a prepreg sheet includes steps of (A) forming a resin layer 61 on a surface of a supporter 3, (B) winding a reinforcing yarn 10 around the resin layer 61, and (C) embedding at least a part of the reinforcing yarn 10 in the resin layer 61. Preferably, in step (C), the surface of the supporter 3 is relatively moved towards the reinforcing yarn 10.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2011
    Assignee: Kyocera Corporation
    Inventors: Masaaki Harazono, Toshihiro Matsumoto
  • Patent number: 7931999
    Abstract: In a manufacturing method for an electrode-membrane-frame assembly in a fuel cell, a first frame member and an electrolyte membrane member are arranged in a first mold for injection molding such that the edge of the electrolyte membrane member is arranged on the first frame member, a second mold is arranged to form a resin flow passage for forming a second frame member which is in contact with the first frame member by interposing the electrolyte membrane member, and a part of the edge of the electrolyte membrane member is pressed and fixed to the first frame member by a presser member mounted on the second mold and a molding resin material is injected into the resin flow passage to form a second frame member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 26, 2011
    Assignee: Panasonic Corporation
    Inventors: Takashi Morimoto, Hiroki Kusakabe, Toshihiro Matsumoto, Norihiko Kawabata, Mitsuo Yoshimura