Patents by Inventor Akiko Okabe

Akiko Okabe 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: 10305099
    Abstract: Provided is an electrode alloy powder that is useful to obtain a nickel-metal hydride storage battery having a high battery capacity and a reduced self-discharge. The alloy powder is: a mixture including particles of a first hydrogen storage alloy having an AB5-type crystal structure, and particles of at least one second hydrogen storage alloy selected from the group consisting of a hydrogen storage alloy a having an AB2-type crystal structure and a hydrogen storage alloy b having an AB3-type crystal structure, wherein an amount of the first hydrogen storage alloy included in the mixture is greater than 50 mass %.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 7, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 28, 2019
    Assignee: PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Hideaki Ohyama, Akiko Okabe, Fumio Kato
  • Patent number: 9997776
    Abstract: Disclosed is an alloy powder for electrodes for nickel-metal hydride storage batteries having a high battery capacity and being excellent in life characteristics and high-temperature storage characteristics. The alloy powder includes a hydrogen storage alloy containing elements L, M, Ni, Co, and E. L includes La as an essential component. L includes no Nd, or when including Nd, the percentage of Nd in L is less than 5 mass %. The percentage of La in the hydrogen storage alloy is 23 mass % or less. M is Mg, Ca, Sr and/or Ba. A molar ratio ? to a total of L and M is 0.045???0.133. A molar ratio x of Ni to the total of L and M is 3.5?x?4.32, and a molar ratio y of Co is 0.13?y?0.5. The molar ratios x and y, and a molar ratio z of E to the total of L and M satisfy 4.78?x+y+z<5.03.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 19, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2018
    Assignee: Panasonic Intellectual Property Management Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Akiko Okabe, Hideaki Ohyama, Shinichi Sumiyama, Yasushi Nakamura, Kiyoshi Hayashi, Hiroki Takeshima, Fumio Kato
  • Patent number: 9893347
    Abstract: Provided is an alloy powder for an electrode which enables an alkaline storage battery to have both excellent discharge characteristics and excellent life characteristics. The alloy powder includes a hydrogen storage alloy including an element L, Mg, Ni, Al, and an element Ma. The element L is at least one selected from the group consisting of group 3 elements and group 4 elements of the periodic table (excluding Y). The element Ma is at least two selected from the group consisting of Ge, Y, and Sn. A molar proportion x of Mg in a total of the element L and Mg is 0.008?x?0.54. A molar proportion y of Ni, a molar proportion ? of Al, and a molar proportion ? of the element Ma, per the foregoing total is 1.6?y?4, 0.008???0.32, and 0.01???0.12, respectively.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2018
    Assignee: Panasonic Intellectual Property Management Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hideaki Ohyama, Shinichi Sumiyama, Akiko Okabe, Yasushi Nakamura, Kiyoshi Hayashi, Fumio Kato
  • Publication number: 20180034046
    Abstract: A hydrogen-absorbing alloy included in alloy powder for electrodes includes elements L, elements M, Ni, Co, and elements E. L include La as an essential component. L do not include Nd, or, even when L include Nd, the percentage of Nd in L is 5 mass % or less. Furthermore, M include at least Mg, E include at least Mn, and molar ratio ?1 of Mg to the sum total of L and M satisfies 0.000<?1?0.050. Molar ratio x of Ni to the sum total of L and M satisfies 3.50?x?4.32, and molar ratio y of Co to the sum total of L and M satisfies 0.13?y?0.50. Molar ratio x, molar ratio y, and molar ratio z of E satisfy 4.78?x+y+z<5.03, and ratio y/? of molar ratio y to molar ratio ? that is the ratio of Mn to the sum total of L and M satisfies 0.80?y/??1.50.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 12, 2016
    Publication date: February 1, 2018
    Inventors: HIROKI YANAI, AKIKO OKABE, HIDEAKI OHYAMA, HIROYUKI GOTO, SHINICHI SUMIYAMA
  • Patent number: 9755226
    Abstract: There is provided a nickel-metal hydride storage battery with suppression of rise in internal pressure, allowing suppression of alkaline electrolyte leakage even when two or more of the batteries are used. The battery includes: positive and negative electrodes; a separator interposed therebetween; and an alkaline electrolyte. The negative electrode includes: a material mixture layer including hydrogen storage alloy powder capable of electrochemically absorbing and releasing hydrogen; and a water-repellent layer including a first polymer including tetrafluoroethylene as monomer units, formed on the material mixture layer. The separator includes: a primary layer having a non-woven fabric structure of fibers; and a composite layer formed on the primary layer and being in contact with the water-repellent layer. The composite layer includes: fibers in continuity with the non-woven fabric structure; and a second polymer including tetrafluoroethylene as monomer units.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 7, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2017
    Assignee: Panasonic Intellectual Property Management Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Shinichi Sumiyama, Yasushi Nakamura, Akiko Okabe, Fumio Kato
  • Publication number: 20170002442
    Abstract: A hydrogen-absorbing alloy is provided in which an X-ray diffraction image generated by CuK? rays has at least one peak selected from (1) peak Psp1 at 2?=32.25±0.15°, (2) peak Psp2 at 2?=33.55±0.15°, and (3) peak Psp3 at 2?=37.27±0.15°.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 12, 2015
    Publication date: January 5, 2017
    Inventors: HIDEAKI OHYAMA, AKIKO OKABE, FUMIO KATO
  • Publication number: 20160276661
    Abstract: Provided is an electrode alloy powder that is useful to obtain a nickel-metal hydride storage battery having a high battery capacity and a reduced self-discharge. The alloy powder is: a mixture including particles of a first hydrogen storage alloy having an AB5-type crystal structure, and particles of at least one second hydrogen storage alloy selected from the group consisting of a hydrogen storage alloy a having an AB2-type crystal structure and a hydrogen storage alloy b having an AB3-type crystal structure, wherein an amount of the first hydrogen storage alloy included in the mixture is greater than 50 mass %.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 7, 2014
    Publication date: September 22, 2016
    Applicants: PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD., PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Hideaki OHYAMA, Akiko OKABE, Fumio KATO
  • Publication number: 20150280216
    Abstract: There is provided a nickel-metal hydride storage battery with suppression of rise in internal pressure, allowing suppression of alkaline electrolyte leakage even when two or more of the batteries are used. The battery includes: positive and negative electrodes; a separator interposed therebetween; and an alkaline electrolyte. The negative electrode includes: a material mixture layer including hydrogen storage alloy powder capable of electrochemically absorbing and releasing hydrogen; and a water-repellent layer including a first polymer including tetrafluoroethylene as monomer units, formed on the material mixture layer. The separator includes: a primary layer having a non-woven fabric structure of fibers; and a composite layer formed on the primary layer and being in contact with the water-repellent layer. The composite layer includes: fibers in continuity with the non-woven fabric structure; and a second polymer including tetrafluoroethylene as monomer units.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 7, 2013
    Publication date: October 1, 2015
    Applicant: Panasonic Intellectual Property Management Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Shinichi Sumiyama, Yasushi Nakamura, Akiko Okabe, Fumio Kato
  • Publication number: 20150104703
    Abstract: Disclosed is an alloy powder for electrodes for nickel-metal hydride storage batteries having a high battery capacity and being excellent in life characteristics and high-temperature storage characteristics. The alloy powder includes a hydrogen storage alloy containing elements L, M, Ni, Co, and E. L includes La as an essential component. L includes no Nd, or when including Nd, the percentage of Nd in L is less than 5 mass %. The percentage of La in the hydrogen storage alloy is 23 mass % or less. M is Mg, Ca, Sr and/or Ba. A molar ratio ? to a total of L and M is 0.045???0.133. A molar ratio x of Ni to the total of L and M is 3.5?x?4.32, and a molar ratio y of Co is 0.13?y?0.5. The molar ratios x and y, and a molar ratio z of E to the total of L and M satisfy 4.78?x+y+z<5.03.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 19, 2014
    Publication date: April 16, 2015
    Inventors: Akiko Okabe, Hideaki Ohyama, Shinichi Sumiyama, Yasushi Nakamura, Kiyoshi Hayashi, Hiroki Takeshima, Fumio Kato
  • Publication number: 20150010812
    Abstract: Provided is an alloy powder for an electrode which enables an alkaline storage battery to have both excellent discharge characteristics and excellent life characteristics. The alloy powder includes a hydrogen storage alloy including an element L, Mg, Ni, Al, and an element Ma. The element L is at least one selected from the group consisting of group 3 elements and group 4 elements of the periodic table (excluding Y). The element Ma is at least two selected from the group consisting of Ge, Y, and Sn. A molar proportion x of Mg in a total of the element L and Mg is 0.008?x?0.54. A molar proportion y of Ni, a molar proportion ? of Al, and a molar proportion ? of the element Ma, per the foregoing total is 1.6?y?4, 0.008???0.32, and 0.01???0.12, respectively.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 5, 2013
    Publication date: January 8, 2015
    Applicant: PANASONIC CORPORATION
    Inventors: Hideaki Ohyama, Shinichi Sumiyama, Akiko Okabe, Yasushi Nakamura, Kiyoshi Hayashi, Fumio Kato