Patents Assigned to International Frontier Technology Laboratory, Inc.
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Publication number: 20240102187Abstract: To provide an oxygen and hydrogen production technology that is novel, convenient, and environmentally suitable, and decomposes water at a high rate. Based on the finding that an aromatic amine polymer acts as an oxidation catalyst that generates oxygen from water and a polyarylenevinylene acts as a reduction catalyst that generates hydrogen from water, oxygen and hydrogen are generated at a high rate by applying a slight overpotential relative to an equilibrium potential because these catalysts operate at a very low overpotential. Further, irradiation of the water-oxidation?oxygen-generation catalyst with light including solar light increases a production rate of oxygen and hydrogen. The aromatic amine polymer and the polyarylenevinylene are both aromatic polymers, are low cost, and have considerably high durability in water over a wide pH range and in addition, they may have hydrophilicity or hydrophobicity, interface area, and shape suited for electrode catalysts.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 20, 2022Publication date: March 28, 2024Applicant: International Frontier Technology Laboratory, Inc.Inventors: Hiroyuki NISHIDE, Kouki OKA
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Patent number: 11569212Abstract: Aspects of the disclosure relate to a semiconductor device power management system including a semiconductor device of a set of semiconductor devices provided on a substrate, wherein the semiconductor device includes an independent power supply unit.Type: GrantFiled: November 9, 2017Date of Patent: January 31, 2023Assignee: INTERNATIONAL FRONTIER TECHNOLOGY LABORATORY, INC.Inventors: Nobuaki Komatsu, Tomoko Ito
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Publication number: 20220363538Abstract: Irradiating a film of a thiophene polymer that is a pure organic compound with light allows the thiophene polymer film to act as a light absorber and catalyst that produces hydrogen peroxide from water and water-dissolved air (oxygen) at extremely high efficiency, and this film can work in alkaline water in which a film of a general-purpose inexpensive water-oxidizing catalyst, which is used as a counter electrode, is active. Provided is an environmentally compatible and simple method for producing hydrogen peroxide at extremely high efficiency, including combining a film of a catalyst for light absorption and oxygen reduction that consists of a thiophene polymer with a catalyst for water oxidation, immersing the combination in alkaline water, and irradiating the light-absorbing oxygen reduction catalyst film with light.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 22, 2020Publication date: November 17, 2022Applicant: INTERNATIONAL FRONTIER TECHNOLOGY LABORATORY, INC.Inventors: Hiroyuki NISHIDE, Kouki OKA, Bjorn WINTHER-JENSEN
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Publication number: 20200279694Abstract: The purpose of the present invention is to improve power generation efficiency of a photovoltaic element. In a tandem-type photovoltaic element that comprises titanium dioxide and silicon dioxide, silicon dioxide particles that constitute a first photovoltaic layer 24 composed of silicon dioxide are thinly dispersed on a charge exchange layer 23 that is composed of Pt and has a roughness on the surface and on a first conductive film 22 that is composed of FTO and also has a roughness on the surface. Due to this configuration, a photovoltaic element with high power generation efficiency can be obtained.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 29, 2020Publication date: September 3, 2020Applicant: INTERNATIONAL FRONTIER TECHNOLOGY LABORATORY, INC.Inventors: Nobuaki KOMATSU, Tomoko ITO
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Publication number: 20190006121Abstract: The purpose of the present invention is to improve power generation efficiency of a photovoltaic element. In a tandem-type photovoltaic element that comprises titanium dioxide and silicon dioxide, silicon dioxide particles that constitute a first photovoltaic layer 24 composed of silicon dioxide are thinly dispersed on a charge exchange layer 23 that is composed of Pt and has a roughness on the surface and on a first conductive film 22 that is composed of FTO and also has a roughness on the surface. Due to this configuration, a photovoltaic element with high power generation efficiency can be obtained.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 27, 2016Publication date: January 3, 2019Applicant: INTERNATIONAL FRONTIER TECHNOLOGY LABORATORY, INC.Inventors: Nobuaki Komatsu, Tomoko Ito
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Patent number: 10121601Abstract: A method of generating electricity utilizing silicon oxide is provided. The method includes irradiating a light to a photocell comprising a photovoltaic material which consists essentially of silicon oxide in a manner that causes the silicon oxide to generate the electricity in response to the irradiation of light, and correcting the electricity from the photovoltaic material.Type: GrantFiled: August 14, 2015Date of Patent: November 6, 2018Assignee: INTERNATIONAL FRONTIER TECHNOLOGY LABORATORY, INC.Inventors: Nobuaki Komatsu, Tomoko Ito, Hiroki Nagai
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Publication number: 20180261397Abstract: A silicon dioxide solar cell includes first and second substrates having electrical conductivity, the first and second substrates being arranged so that conductive surfaces of the first and second substrates are facing each other, the first substrate being a transparent substrate on a light incident side to which a light is irradiated; a silicon dioxide layer consisting essentially of silicon dioxide particles which is formed on an electrode disposed on the second substrate such that the silicon dioxide layer has a photovoltaic ability absorbing an infrared light; and an electrolyte disposed between said first and second substrate. The space between the silicon dioxide layer and the first substrate on the light incident side is filled with the electrolyte, and the silicon dioxide solar cell is configured to generate electricity from the silicon dioxide particles of the silicon dioxide layer and output the electricity via the electrode.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 7, 2018Publication date: September 13, 2018Applicant: INTERNATIONAL FRONTIER TECHNOLOGY LABORATORY, INC.Inventors: Nobuaki Komatsu, Tomoko Ito, Hiroki Nagai
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Publication number: 20180019067Abstract: A silicon dioxide solar cell includes first and second substrates having electrical conductivity, the first and second substrates being arranged so that conductive surfaces of the first and second substrates are facing each other, the first substrate being a transparent substrate on a light incident side to which a light is irradiated; a silicon dioxide layer consisting essentially of silicon dioxide particles which is formed on an electrode disposed on the second substrate such that the silicon dioxide layer has a photovoltaic ability absorbing an infrared light; and an electrolyte disposed between said first and second substrate. The space between the silicon dioxide layer and the first substrate on the light incident side is filled with the electrolyte, and the silicon dioxide solar cell is configured to generate electricity from the silicon dioxide particles of the silicon dioxide layer and output the electricity via the electrode.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 27, 2017Publication date: January 18, 2018Applicant: INTERNATIONAL FRONTIER TECHNOLOGY LABORATORY, INC.Inventors: Nobuaki Komatsu, Tomoko Ito, Hiroki Nagai
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Publication number: 20160293340Abstract: In order to increase the generation efficiency of a silicon dioxide solar cell, two conductive substrates are arranged so that the conductive surfaces thereof face each other, at least one of the substrates is disposed upon the substrate facing the light entry-side substrate, and an electrolyte is filled between the silicon dioxide particles compact and the light entry-side substrate. Silicon dioxide solar cells having this configuration exhibit a significantly increased short circuit current and open circuit voltage in comparison to solar cells in which the silicon dioxide and the electrolyte are mixed. This configuration can further be improved by disposing a titanium dioxide solar cell or a dye-sensitized titanium dioxide solar cell upon the light entry-side substrate to further increase the short circuit current and the open circuit voltage.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 7, 2016Publication date: October 6, 2016Applicant: INTERNATIONAL FRONTIER TECHNOLOGY LABORATORY, INC.Inventors: Nobuaki Komatsu, Tomoko Ito, Hiroki Nagai, Shin-ichiro Nanjo
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Patent number: 9384902Abstract: In order to increase the generation efficiency of a silicon dioxide solar cell, two conductive substrates are arranged so that the conductive surfaces thereof face each other, at least one of the substrates is disposed upon the substrate facing the light entry-side substrate, and an electrolyte is filled between the silicon dioxide particles compact and the light entry-side substrate. Silicon dioxide solar cells having this configuration exhibit a significantly increased short circuit current and open circuit voltage in comparison to solar cells in which the silicon dioxide and the electrolyte are mixed. This configuration can further be improved by disposing a titanium dioxide solar cell or a dye-sensitized titanium dioxide solar cell upon the light entry-side substrate to further increase the short circuit current and the open circuit voltage.Type: GrantFiled: March 12, 2012Date of Patent: July 5, 2016Assignee: INTERNATIONAL FRONTIER TECHNOLOGY LABORATORY, INC.Inventors: Nobuaki Komatsu, Tomoko Ito, Hiroki Nagai, Shin-ichiro Nanjo
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Patent number: 9202328Abstract: Authentication verifying for an object to be certified is carried out. An authentication verifying chip in which authentication verifying information is stored is mounted non-removably on a certificate. A confirmation chip in which the authentication verifying information is encrypted by a crypt key of a certificate issuer and is stored is mounted non-removably on the object to be certified. When verifying the authenticity of the object to be certified, the encrypted authentication verifying information in the confirmation chip is decrypted by the crypt key of the certificate issuer, and it is compared to the authentication verifying information in the authentication verifying chip.Type: GrantFiled: November 18, 2008Date of Patent: December 1, 2015Assignee: INTERNATIONAL FRONTIER TECHNOLOGY LABORATORY, INC.Inventors: Nobuaki Komatsu, Shin-ichiro Nanjo, Tomoko Ito
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Publication number: 20140196786Abstract: In order to obtain a composite glass plate which shields infrared light and/or ultraviolet light, two glass substrates on which transparent conductive layers are formed respectively are disposed with the transparent conductive layers thereof facing each other. Infrared light is shielded and electric power is generated by using one glass substrate as a light incident side electrode, disposing a silicon dioxide particle layer thereon, and filling a colorless electrolyte between the two glass substrates. Further, ultraviolet light is also shielded by disposing a titanium dioxide layer on the other glass substrate. This composite glass plate is used as a window glass plate to shield only infrared light and/or ultraviolet light and transmit only visible light.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 6, 2012Publication date: July 17, 2014Applicant: INTERNATIONAL FRONTIER TECHNOLOGY LABORATORY, INC.Inventors: Nobuaki Komatsu, Tomoko Ito, Katsuhiko Shirai, Shin-ichiro Nanjo
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Publication number: 20140190558Abstract: A solar cell is configured by: arranging two glass substrates, each of which is provided with a transparent conductive layer, so that the transparent conductive layers face each other; disposing a titanium dioxide layer on one glass substrate; disposing silicon dioxide particles on the other glass substrate; and filling the space between the two glass substrates with an electrolyte. The glass substrate on which light does not enter may alternatively be a metal plate. A sensitizing dye such as a ruthenium complex may be absorbed onto the titanium dioxide layer or the silicon dioxide layer. Since the titanium dioxide layer generates electric power by means of ultraviolet light incident thereon and the silicon dioxide layer generates electric power by means of visible light and infrared light incident thereon, the generation efficiency of the solar cell is increased.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 14, 2012Publication date: July 10, 2014Applicant: INTERNATIONAL FRONTIER TECHNOLOGY LABORATORY, INC.Inventors: Nobuaki Komatsu, Tomoko Ito, Tadao Ochiai, Shin-ichiro Nanjo
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Publication number: 20140060630Abstract: In order to increase the generation efficiency of a silicon dioxide solar cell, two conductive substrates are arranged so that the conductive surfaces thereof face each other, at least one of the substrates is disposed upon the substrate facing the light entry-side substrate, and an electrolyte is filled between the silicon dioxide particles compact and the light entry-side substrate. Silicon dioxide solar cells having this configuration exhibit a significantly increased short circuit current and open circuit voltage in comparison to solar cells in which the silicon dioxide and the electrolyte are mixed. This configuration can further be improved by disposing a titanium dioxide solar cell or a dye-sensitized titanium dioxide solar cell upon the light entry-side substrate to further increase the short circuit current and the open circuit voltage.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 12, 2012Publication date: March 6, 2014Applicant: INTERNATIONAL FRONTIER TECHNOLOGY LABORATORY, INC.Inventors: Nobuaki Komatsu, Tomoko Ito, Hiroki Nagai, Shin-ichiro Nanjo
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Publication number: 20130336846Abstract: Provided is an inexpensive material having a photocatalytic action. A photocatalyst is obtained by halogenation-treating glass fibers containing silicon dioxide in its components. Fused quartz, soda-lime glass, non-alkali glass, and borosilicate glass may be used for the glass. Hydrofluoric acid, hydrochloric acid and hydrobromic acid may be used for the halogen acid, and hydrofluoric acid is most desirable. The glass can be particulate, fibrous or sheet form material. The glass exhibits a photocatalytic action even with visible light other than ultraviolet light, and also water repellent effect. The glass according to the invention is capable of decomposing organic substances, and therefore, it is used for window glass in buildings or in transportation such as automobiles, when formed in a plate shape, and for a filter in an air intake/exhaust apparatus, when formed in fibrous shape.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 15, 2011Publication date: December 19, 2013Applicant: INTERNATIONAL FRONTIER TECHNOLOGY LABORATORY, INC.Inventors: Nobuaki Komatsu, Tomoko Ito, Hiroki Nagai, Shin-ichiro Nanjo
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Patent number: 8408470Abstract: A structure of a subject such as a card, a bank note, or a stock certificate easily faked and needing authenticity validation and a method for judging the authenticity of the subject. An authenticity validation chip having structural color developers irregularly arranged is attached to a card. An optical sensor detects the arrangement of the structural color developers to individually recognize the card or judge its authenticity. To validate the authenticity, when or after the card is taken in, the information in the authenticity validation chip provided on the card is read. Each of the structural color developers is a transparent resin flake or a transparent resin thin layer. The information is read two-dimensionally with a camera, and the authenticity of the authenticity validation chip is judged by observing the distributed state of the structural color developers. Alternatively, the information can be read linearly.Type: GrantFiled: May 14, 2008Date of Patent: April 2, 2013Assignee: International Frontier Technology Laboratory, Inc.Inventors: Nobuaki Komatsu, Shin-ichiro Nanjo
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Patent number: 8397987Abstract: A card authentication is performed. An authentication chip for performing authentication by a copy-disabled hologram chip is attached to a card and when or after the card is introduced into a handling device, the authentication chip information is read to perform authentication. Read may be performed in a planar shape but a linear shape can reduce the processing load. An arbitrary straight line or a curved line may be used as a read line shape by modifying the read position in association with the card movement when the card is placed to be read. When the card introduced to a terminal device is an unauthorized one, the card is ejected or an alarm is issued when the card is introduced inside.Type: GrantFiled: November 17, 2011Date of Patent: March 19, 2013Assignee: International Frontier Technology Laboratory, Inc.Inventor: Shin-ichiro Nanjo
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Publication number: 20120241684Abstract: Provided is a photoelectric conversion material which is obtained through easy processing from a substance containing silicon oxide, which is inexpensive, imposes no burden on the environment, and is stable, as a component. Also provided are a photocell and a secondary photocell both using this material. Any of synthetic quartz, fused quartz glass, soda-lime glass, non-alkali glass, and borosilicate glass, which are compositions containing silicon oxide, is pulverized, immersed in an aqueous solution of halogen acid, washed with water, and dried. The resultant material is deposited on an electrode plate and this electrode plate is placed in water where an appropriate electrolyte is mixed. This electrode plate is electrically connected to an opposite electrode, and is used as a photoelectrode by irradiated with light.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 21, 2010Publication date: September 27, 2012Applicant: INTERNATIONAL FRONTIER TECHNOLOGY LABORATORY, INC.Inventors: Nobuaki Komatsu, Tomoko Ito, Shin-ichiro Nanjo, Hiroki Nagai
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Patent number: 8235286Abstract: It is possible to prevent use of a forged card. An authentication chip describing information which cannot be copied or difficult to be copied is attached to a card and a card processing device includes a card authentication processing device. The information described in the authentication chip is degitized and encrypted to obtain encrypted data, which is described on an authentication certifying chip. The authentication certifying chip is attached to the card. The authentication certifying chip checks the validity of the authentication chip. Before a specific operation such as entry of a password is started, it is judged whether the card is true so as to exclude a forged card.Type: GrantFiled: December 19, 2006Date of Patent: August 7, 2012Assignee: International Frontier Technology Laboratory, Inc.Inventors: Nobuaki Komatsu, Shin-ichiro Nanjo
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Publication number: 20120125999Abstract: To acquire a keycard, the creation of whose clone is impossible, and a keycard-lock that is locked/unlocked by the keycard. Key information constituted by randomly disposed metal granules, fiber pieces, a hologram chip, fluorescent substance granules, radioactive substance granules, or iridescent material, which is obtained by chance, is provided to a card. By inserting the keycard into the keycard-lock, and storing data based on the key information of the keycard in the keycard-lock, the keycard is registered in the keycard-lock. The data is encrypted by using a crypt key stored in the keycard-lock. By comparing the data of keycard inserted into the keycard-lock and the data obtained by decrypting the encrypted data registered in the keycard-lock, the keycard-lock is locked/unlocked. In addition, data based on the information of the keycard is encrypted and stored in a self-certifying keycard information chip installed in the keycard.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 28, 2010Publication date: May 24, 2012Applicant: INTERNATIONAL FRONTIER TECHNOLOGY LABORATORY, INC.Inventors: Nobuaki Komatsu, Shin-ichiro Nanjo