Patents by Inventor Atsuo Omaru

Atsuo Omaru 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: 20100143774
    Abstract: A rechargeable battery includes an electrode assembly that includes a positive electrode, a negative electrode, a first bipolar electrode between the negative electrode and the positive electrode, and a second bipolar electrode between an outer surface of the electrode assembly and the positive electrode or between a center of the electrode assembly and the negative electrode, wherein the positive electrode, the negative electrode, and the first and second bipolar electrodes are stacked and wound together, and a lead electrically coupled with the electrode assembly. The electrode assembly may include separators between the positive electrode, the negative electrode, and the first and second bipolar electrodes.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 8, 2009
    Publication date: June 10, 2010
    Inventors: Man-Seok Han, Eui-Hwan Song, Jin-Kyu Hong, Jun-Sik Kim, Yong-Chul Park, Kyeu-Yoon Sheem, Nam-Soon Choi, Tae-Keun Kim, Atsuo Omaru, Satoshi Narukawa
  • Patent number: 7659033
    Abstract: A graphite powder suitable for a negative electrode material of a lithium ion secondary battery which assures a high discharging capacity not lower than 320 mAh/g is to be manufactured at a lower cost. Specifically, a graphite powder containing 0.01 to 5.0 wt % of boron and having a looped closure structure at an end of a graphite c-planar layer on the surface of a powder, with the density of the interstitial planar sections between neighboring closure structures being not less than 100/?m and not more than 1500/?m, and with d002 being preferably not larger than 3.3650 ?, is manufactured by (1) heat-treating a carbon material pulverized at an elevated speed before or after carbonization for graphization at temperature exceeding 1500° C. or by (2) heat-treating the carbon material pulverized before or after carbonization at a temperature exceeding 1500° C.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2007
    Date of Patent: February 9, 2010
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Koji Moriguchi, Mitsuhara Yonemura, Kazuhito Kamei, Masaru Abe, Hideya Kaminaka, Noriyuki Negi, Atsuo Omaru, Masayuki Nagamine
  • Patent number: 7658775
    Abstract: A method for making a negative electrode component used in a nonaqueous secondary battery that includes the steps of polishing the surface of the negative electrode component by irradiating the surface with light to produce a negative electrode that includes a carbonaceous material in which the ratio RG=Gs/Gb is at least 4.5, where Gs is the degree of graphitization the carbonaceous material as determined by a surface-enhanced Raman spectrum and Gb is degree of graphitization of the carbonaceous material as determined by a Raman spectrum measured using argon laser light and both Gs and Gb are measured under set parameters.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 12, 2005
    Date of Patent: February 9, 2010
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Kotaro Satori, Akinori Kita, Atsuo Omaru
  • Patent number: 7498101
    Abstract: A nonaqueous electrolyte secondary battery is provided with a positive electrode including a positive-electrode active material, a negative electrode including a negative-electrode active material, and a nonaqueous electrolyte solution. The negative electrode further includes carbon fibers and carbon flakes. The synergistic effects of the improved retention of the electrolyte solution by the carbon fibers and the improved conductivity between the active material particles by the carbon flakes facilitate doping/undoping of lithium in a high-load current mode and increase the capacity of the battery in the high-load current mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 3, 2009
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Akira Yamaguchi, Shinji Hatake, Masayuki Nagamine, Atsuo Omaru
  • Patent number: 7309545
    Abstract: Provided is a battery with a higher capacity and superior charge-discharge cycle characteristics. A cathode contained in a package can and an anode contained in a package cup are laminated with a separator in between. The separator is impregnated with an electrolyte solution formed by dissolving lithium salt in a solvent. The anode comprises a tin-containing material including metallic tin and an intermetallic compound including tin in the same particle. A higher capacity and superior charge-discharge cycles can be obtained by the tin-containing material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 18, 2003
    Date of Patent: December 18, 2007
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Hiroaki Tanizaki, Atsuo Omaru
  • Publication number: 20070218367
    Abstract: A nonaqueous electrolyte secondary battery is provided with a positive electrode including a positive-electrode active material, a negative electrode including a negative-electrode active material, and a nonaqueous electrolyte solution. The negative electrode further includes carbon fibers and carbon flakes. The synergistic effects of the improved retention of the electrolyte solution by the carbon fibers and the improved conductivity between the active material particles by the carbon flakes facilitate doping/undoping of lithium in a high-load current mode and increase the capacity of the battery in the high-load current mode.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 29, 2006
    Publication date: September 20, 2007
    Applicant: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Akira Yamaguchi, Shinji Hatake, Atsuo Omaru, Masayuki Nagamine
  • Patent number: 7261976
    Abstract: The battery comprises a positive electrode which has a positive electrode active material compound layer containing a positive electrode active material formed on a positive electrode current collector; a negative electrode which has at least one negative electrode thin film layer and at least one negative electrode active material compound layer, on a negative electrode current collector, and a non-aqueous electrolyte containing an electrolyte salt. The negative electrode thin film layer contains at least one Group 14 element, and is formed by a thin-film formation technology, and the negative electrode active material compound layer contains a binder and a negative electrode active material, which contains at least any one of Sn, Si, Sn compound, Si compound and carbonaceous material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 16, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 28, 2007
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Satoshi Mizutani, Hiroshi Inoue, Takatomo Nishino, Atsuo Omaru
  • Publication number: 20070154812
    Abstract: A graphite powder suitable for a negative electrode material of a lithium ion secondary battery which assures a high discharging capacity not lower than 320 mAh/g is to be manufactured at a lower cost. Specifically, a graphite powder containing 0.01 to 5.0 wt % of boron and having a looped closure structure at an end of a graphite c-planar layer on the surface of a powder, with the density of the interstitial planar sections between neighboring closure structures being not less than 100/?m and not more than 1500/?m, and with d002 being preferably not larger than 3.3650 ?, is manufactured by (1) heat-treating a carbon material pulverized at an elevated speed before or after carbonization for graphization at temperature exceeding 1500° C. or by (2) heat-treating the carbon material pulverized before or after carbonization at a temperature exceeding 1500° C.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 14, 2007
    Publication date: July 5, 2007
    Applicant: SONY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Koji Moriguchi, Mitsuhara Yonemura, Kazuhito Kamei, Masaru Abe, Hideya Kaminaka, Noriyuki Negi, Atsuo Omaru, Masayuki Nagamine
  • Patent number: 7220518
    Abstract: A secondary battery which exhibits less deterioration of capacity, can maintain high energy densities in high temperature atmospheres, and has high practicality, and an electrolyte used therefor, are provided. The electrolyte contains an anion expressed by (PFaQbRc)?, so degradation of the electrolyte can be prevented. In the formula, Q expresses at least one of CF3, C2F5, and C3F7, and R expresses SO2CF3 and/or SO2C2F5. a, b and c satisfy 1?a?5, 0?b?5, and, 0?c?5, respectively. Furthermore, an anion expressed by N(CnF2n+1SO2)2? is contained, which can further prevent the degradation of the electrolyte. In the formula, n satisfies 1?n?2. Therefore, the capacity recovery rate after storage and heavy load discharge maintenance rate are high even in high temperature atmospheres, and high reliability can be obtained.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 2002
    Date of Patent: May 22, 2007
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Atsuo Omaru, Takao Nirasawa
  • Patent number: 7217476
    Abstract: Disclosed is a battery with a light weight and a high energy density. The battery includes a anode 5, having a layer of an anode active material 9 formed on an anode substrate 8, a cathode 6, including a layer of a cathode active material 14 formed on a cathode substrate 13, and a non-aqueous liquid electrolyte 4. The anode substrate 8 includes an anode resin film 11 containing a polymer and an anode metal layer 12 containing an electrically conductive metal. Since the anode resin film 11 reduces the weight of the anode substrate 8 and the anode metal layer 12 imparts electron conductivity to the anode substrate 8, the battery may be reduced in weight without detracting from battery characteristics to increase the energy density.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 2003
    Date of Patent: May 15, 2007
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventor: Atsuo Omaru
  • Patent number: 7214447
    Abstract: A graphite powder suitable for a negative electrode material of a lithium ion secondary battery which assures a high discharging capacity not lower than 320 mAh/g is to be manufactured at a lower cost. Specifically, a graphite powder containing 0.01 to 5.0 wt % of boron and having a looped closure structure at an end of a graphite c-planar layer on the surface of a powder, with the density of the interstitial planar sections between neighboring closure structures being not less than 100/?m and not more than 1500/?m, and with d002 being preferably not larger than 3.3650 ?, is manufactured by (1) heat-treating a carbon material pulverized at an elevated speed before or after carbonization for graphization at temperature exceeding 1500° C. or by (2) heat-treating the carbon material pulverized before or after carbonization at a temperature exceeding 1500° C.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 16, 2004
    Date of Patent: May 8, 2007
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Koji Moriguchi, Mitsuhara Yonemura, Kazuhito Kamei, Masaru Abe, Hideya Kaminaka, Noriyuki Negi, Atsuo Omaru, Masayuki Nagamine
  • Patent number: 7172837
    Abstract: A nonaqueous electrolyte secondary battery is provided with a positive electrode including a positive-electrode active material, a negative electrode including a negative-electrode active material, and a nonaqueous electrolyte solution. The negative electrode further includes carbon fibers and carbon flakes. The synergistic effects of the improved retention of the electrolyte solution by the carbon fibers and the improved conductivity between the active material particles by the carbon flakes facilitate doping/undoping of lithium in a high-load current mode and increase the capacity of the battery in the high-load current mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 8, 2004
    Date of Patent: February 6, 2007
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Akira Yamaguchi, Shinji Hatake, Atsuo Omaru, Masayuki Nagamine
  • Patent number: 7138207
    Abstract: A non-aqueous electrolyte secondary cell which achieves satisfactory low temperature characteristics and high safety against overcharging in combination. The cell includes a lithium-containing cathode, an anode capable of doping and undoping lithium, a non-aqueous electrolyte and a separator. The separator is made up by a plurality of layers of a porous material or materials presenting micro-sized pores. The layers of the porous material or materials is formed of micro-porous separator materials representing different combinations of the porosity, melting point or material/compositions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 19, 2002
    Date of Patent: November 21, 2006
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Akira Yamaguchi, Atsuo Omaru, Masayuki Nagamine
  • Patent number: 7125630
    Abstract: A non-aqueous electrolyte battery includes an cathode having an cathode mixture layer containing an cathode active material; an anode having an anode mixture layer containing an anode active material which includes a first active material and/or a second active material, where the first active material includes a metal, alloy or compound capable of react with lithium, and the second active material includes a carbonaceous material; and a non-aqueous electrolytic solution. By allowing the anode to contain the first active material in a predetermined amount, and by controlling the packing ratio of the anode mixture layer, the anode is successfully prevented from being degraded due to expansion-and-shrinkage of the anode active material in response to the charge/discharge cycle, and thus degradation of the charge/discharge characteristics of the battery is suppressed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 6, 2003
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2006
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Hiroaki Tanizaki, Atsuo Omaru
  • Publication number: 20060222936
    Abstract: A non-aqueous electrolyte secondary cell which achieves satisfactory low temperature characteristics and high safety against overcharging in combination. The cell includes a lithium-containing cathode, an anode capable of doping and undoping lithium, a non-aqueous electrolyte and a separator. The separator is made up by a plurality of layers of a porous material or materials presenting micro-sized pores. The layers of the porous material or materials is formed of micro-porous separator materials representing different combinations of the porosity, melting point or material/compositions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 2, 2006
    Publication date: October 5, 2006
    Inventors: Akira Yamaguchi, Atsuo Omaru, Masayuki Nagamine
  • Patent number: 7070883
    Abstract: In a non-aqueous electrolyte secondary battery including anode and cathode consisting of material capable of doping/undoping of lithium, and non-aqueous electrolytic solution in which electrolyte is dissolved in non-aqueous solvent, flaky graphite having high crystallinity and high electron conductivity is added as conductive agent into the anode and the cathode. Further, granulated carbon or carbon black having specific material property is added as conductive agent in addition to the flaky graphite. Thus, non-aqueous electrolyte secondary battery having long cycle life time and high reliability can be obtained.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 18, 2003
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2006
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Atsuo Omaru, Naoyuki Nakajima, Masayuki Nagamine
  • Publication number: 20060134523
    Abstract: A graphite powder suitable for a negative electrode material of a lithium ion secondary battery which assures a high discharging capacity not lower than 320 mAh/g is to be manufactured at a lower cost. Specifically, a graphite powder containing 0.01 to 5.0 wt % of boron and having a looped closure structure at an end of a graphite c-planar layer on the surface of a powder, with the density of the interstitial planar sections between neighboring closure structures being not less than 100/?m and not more than 1500/?m, and with d002 being preferably not larger than 3.3650 ?, is manufactured by (1) heat-treating a carbon material pulverized at an elevated speed before or after carbonization for graphization at temperature exceeding 1500° C. or by (2) heat-treating the carbon material pulverized before or after carbonization at a temperature exceeding 1500° C.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 16, 2004
    Publication date: June 22, 2006
    Inventors: Koji Moriguchi, Mitsuharu Yonemura, Kazuhito Kamei, Masaru Abe, Hideya Kaminaka, Noriyuki Negi, Atsuo Omaru, Masayuki Nagamine
  • Patent number: 7045251
    Abstract: Disclosed is a non-aqueous electrolyte secondary battery having an excellent preservation characteristic at a high temperature and charging/discharging cycle characteristic. A rolled body in which a strip-shape positive electrode and negative electrode are rolled with a separator in-between is provided inside a battery can. The positive electrode contains LixMn2?yMayO4 (where, Ma is at least one element selected from the group consisting of metal elements other than Mn, and B) and LiNi1?zMbzO2 (where, Mb is at least one element selected from the group consisting of metal elements other than Ni, and B). By replacing part of Mn and Ni with other elements, the crystal structure can be stabilized. Thereby, the capacity retention ratio after preservation at a high temperature, and a heavy load discharging power under a high electric potential cutoff can be improved.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 25, 2005
    Date of Patent: May 16, 2006
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Hisashi Tsujimoto, Yoshikatsu Yamamoto, Junji Kuyama, Masayuki Nagamine, Atsuo Omaru, Hiroaki Tanizaki
  • Patent number: 7041415
    Abstract: A negative electrode of a nonaqueous secondary battery is formed of a carbonaceous material. The ratio RG=Gs/Gb of the degree of graphitization Gs of the carbonaceous material, determined by a surface-enhanced Raman spectrum, to the degree of graphitization Gb, determined by a Raman spectrum measured using argon laser light, is at least 4.5. Alternatively, the carbonaceous material has a peak in a wavelength range above 1,360 cm?1 in a surface-enhanced Raman spectrum which is measured by the same surface-enhanced Raman spectrum. The deterioration of the nonaqueous secondary battery is suppressed during use in high-temperature environments and high capacity is maintained for long periods.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 12, 2005
    Date of Patent: May 9, 2006
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Kotaro Satori, Akinori Kita, Atsuo Omaru
  • Patent number: 7037623
    Abstract: A negative electrode of a nonaqueous secondary battery is formed of a carbonaceous material. The ratio RG=Gs/Gb of the degree of graphitization Gs of the carbonaceous material, determined by a surface-enhanced Raman spectrum, to the degree of graphitization Gb, determined by a Raman spectrum measured using argon laser light, is at least 4.5. Alternatively, the carbonaceous material has a peak in a wavelength range above 1,360 cm?1 in a surface-enhanced Raman spectrum which is measured by the same surface-enhanced Raman spectrum. The deterioration of the nonaqueous secondary battery is suppressed during use in high-temperature environments and high capacity is maintained for long periods.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 2002
    Date of Patent: May 2, 2006
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Kotaro Satori, Akinori Kita, Atsuo Omaru