Patents by Inventor Atsushi Hitomi

Atsushi Hitomi 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: 8771898
    Abstract: Described herein are solid oxide fuel cells and manufacturing methods thereof. In certain aspects, the solid oxide fuel cells described herein include a plurality of anodes and a plurality of cathodes in which the anodes and cathodes are alternately stacked on each other and have non-overlapping sections in which the anodes and cathodes do not overlap partially. In certain aspects, the plurality of anodes are electrically connected to a first electrode, and the plurality of cathodes are electrically connected to a second electrode. In certain aspects, a solid electrolyte can be included, for example, between the anode and the cathode. In certain aspects, partitioning sections are disposed between each of the cathodes and the first electrode and between each of the anodes and the second electrode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 1, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 8, 2014
    Assignees: TDK Corporation, Tohoku University
    Inventors: Kei Sugiura, Atsushi Hitomi, Takeshi Urano, Hitoshi Takamura
  • Patent number: 8514539
    Abstract: The present invention is provided with a composite electronic device comprising an inductor element and an ESD protection element formed between two magnetic substrates, wherein the inductor element includes insulation layers made of a resin, and spiral conductors formed on the insulation layers, the ESD protection element includes a base insulation layer, a pair of gap electrodes arranged via gap formed therebetween on the base insulation layer, and an ESD absorbing layer arranged at least between the gap electrodes, and a gap protection layer provided on at least one of the upper side and lower side of the gap, the ESD absorbing layer includes a composite material having an insulation inorganic material and a conductive inorganic material discontinuously dispersed in a matrix of the insulation inorganic material. The gap protection layer is made of resin including magnetic powder and carbon.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 8, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 20, 2013
    Assignee: TDK Corporation
    Inventors: Masao Asakawa, Tomokazu Ito, Makoto Morita, Atsushi Hitomi, Yasuhiro Hirobe, Kensaku Asakura
  • Patent number: 8422188
    Abstract: An ESD protection device that has low capacitance, excellent discharge characteristics, and improved heat resistance and weather resistance is provided. A functional layer 31, which is a composite having a conductive inorganic material 33 discretely dispersed in a matrix of an insulating inorganic material 32, is disposed between electrodes 21 and 22 disposed on an insulating substrate 11 and facing but spaced apart from each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 22, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2013
    Assignee: TDK Corporation
    Inventors: Yasuhiro Hirobe, Kensaku Asakura, Atsushi Hitomi, Takeshi Urano
  • Patent number: 8422190
    Abstract: The present invention is provided with a composite electronic device comprising an inductor element and an ESD protection element formed between two magnetic substrates, wherein the inductor element includes insulation layers made of a resin, and conductor patterns formed on the insulation layers, the ESD protection element includes a base insulation layer, a pair of electrodes arranged via gap formed therebetween on the base insulation layer, and an ESD absorbing layer arranged at least between the electrodes, and the ESD absorbing layer includes a composite material having an insulation inorganic material and a conductive inorganic material discontinuously dispersed in a matrix of the insulation inorganic material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2013
    Assignee: TDK Corporation
    Inventors: Tomokazu Ito, Yasuhiro Hirobe, Atsushi Hitomi, Yuji Terada, Kensaku Asakura, Takeshi Urano
  • Patent number: 8373954
    Abstract: A composite electronic device includes first and second magnetic substrates, and a functional layer sandwiched between these magnetic substrates, and the functional layer is configured by a common-mode filter layer and a ESD protection element layer. An electrostatic capacitance of the ESD protection elements is equal to or lower than 0.35 pF. The common-mode filter layer includes a first spiral conductor formed on an insulation layer, and a second spiral conductor formed on an insulation layer. DC resistance of a common mode filter is equal to or higher than 0.5? and equal to or lower than 5?, and an electrostatic capacitance of the ESD protection elements is equal to or lower than 0.35 pF. A width W and a length L of the first and second spiral conductors satisfy a relational equation expressed by ?(L/W)<(7.6651?fc)/0.1385.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 12, 2013
    Assignee: TDK Corporation
    Inventors: Tomokazu Ito, Yasuhiro Hirobe, Atsushi Hitomi, Yuji Terada, Kensaku Asakura, Takeshi Urano
  • Patent number: 8339237
    Abstract: A multilayer PTC thermistor 100 includes a ceramic body 10 having a plurality of ceramic layers 12 and internal electrodes 14 between adjacent ceramic layers 12, external electrodes 30 on the end faces 10a, 10b of the ceramic body 10, and a glass layer 20 on the surfaces 10c, 10d of the ceramic body 10, the glass layer 20 containing an oxide of at least one element selected from the group consisting of zinc and bismuth as the major component, wherein the alkali oxide content of the glass layer is no greater than 0.8 mass %.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2012
    Assignee: TDK Corporation
    Inventors: Takashi Kajino, Kazuhiko Itoh, Teiichi Tanaka, Atsushi Hitomi, Takashi Ota
  • Patent number: 8320093
    Abstract: The present invention is provided with a composite electronic device comprising an inductor element and an ESD protection element formed between two magnetic substrates, wherein the inductor element includes insulation layers made of a resin, and spiral conductors formed on the insulation layers, the ESD protection element includes a base insulation layer, a pair of gap electrodes arranged via gap formed therebetween on the base insulation layer, and an ESD absorbing layer arranged at least between the gap electrodes, and the ESD absorbing layer includes a composite material having an insulation inorganic material and a conductive inorganic material discontinuously dispersed in a matrix of the insulation inorganic material. The gap of the ESD protection element is provided at exterior of the spiral conductor so as not to be overlapped with the spiral conductor in view of a laminating direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2012
    Assignee: TDK Corporation
    Inventors: Masao Asakawa, Tomokazu Ito, Sho Nakagomi, Atsushi Hitomi, Yasuhiro Hirobe, Kensaku Asakura
  • Patent number: 8243406
    Abstract: The present invention provides an ESD protection device and the like having improved durability against repeated use. An ESD protection device includes a base having an insulating surface, electrodes disposed on the insulating surface and facing but spaced apart from each other, and a functional layer disposed on at least between the electrodes. The electrodes have a multistage structure in which a gap between the electrodes is narrower toward the base.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 14, 2012
    Assignee: TDK Corporation
    Inventors: Kensaku Asakura, Yasuhiro Hirobe, Atsushi Hitomi, Takeshi Urano
  • Patent number: 8199451
    Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide an ESD protection device and the like which offer a reduced discharge starting voltage and improved durability against repeated use. The present invention provides an ESD protection device including a base 2 having an insulating surface 2a, electrodes 3a and 3b disposed on the insulating surface 2a and facing but spaced apart from each other, and a functional layer 4 disposed on at least between the electrodes 3a and 3b, wherein the gap distance ?G between the electrodes 3a and 3b ranges from 0.5 ?m to 10 ?m, and the thickness ?T of each of the electrodes 3a and 3b meets a relationship of ?G/?T=1 to 30.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2012
    Assignee: TDK Corporation
    Inventors: Kensaku Asakura, Yasuhiro Hirobe, Atsushi Hitomi, Takeshi Urano
  • Publication number: 20120056709
    Abstract: A multilayer PTC thermistor 100 includes a ceramic body 10 having a plurality of ceramic layers 12 and internal electrodes 14 between adjacent ceramic layers 12, external electrodes 30 on the end faces 10a, 10b of the ceramic body 10, and a glass layer 20 on the surfaces 10c, 10d of the ceramic body 10, the glass layer 20 containing an oxide of at least one element selected from the group consisting of zinc and bismuth as the major component, wherein the alkali oxide content of the glass layer is no greater than 0.8 mass %.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 30, 2011
    Publication date: March 8, 2012
    Applicant: TDK CORPORATION
    Inventors: Takashi KAJINO, Kazuhiko ITOH, Teiichi TANAKA, Atsushi HITOMI, Takashi OTA
  • Patent number: 8110516
    Abstract: An object is to provide a sintered body having a sufficiently higher polishing rate than a conventional AlTiC sintered body and providing a sufficiently smooth air bearing surface. The sintered body according to the present invention consists of Al2O3 and a compound represented by the chemical formula (1) below: TiCxOy??(1) wherein x+y?1, x>0 and 0.3<y?0.6.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 23, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2012
    Assignee: TDK Corporation
    Inventors: Kei Sugiura, Atsushi Hitomi, Hiroyuki Ono
  • Patent number: 7944337
    Abstract: A stacked PTC thermistor 1 comprises a body 4 obtained by alternating lamination of a semiconductor ceramic layer 2 and an internal electrode 3, and a pair of external electrodes 5a, 5b provided at the edge faces 4a, 4b of the body 4 and electrically connected with the internal electrode 3. The semiconductor ceramic layer 2 is composed of a porous sintered compact containing crystal grains of a barium titanate-based compound, and an alkali metal element is preferentially distributed in at least one of the grain boundaries and voids of the sintered compact.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 11, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 17, 2011
    Assignee: TDK Corporation
    Inventors: Kazuhiko Itoh, Akira Kakinuma, Atsushi Hitomi
  • Publication number: 20110027693
    Abstract: A solid oxide fuel cell includes plural anodes and plural cathodes, which are alternately stacked on each other and have non-overlapping sections where the anodes and the cathodes do not overlap partially. The plural anodes are electrically connected to the first electrode, and the plural cathodes are electrically connected to the second electrode. At least between the anode and the cathode, the solid electrolyte is installed. Partitioning sections are disposed between each of the cathodes and the first electrode, and between each of the anodes and the second electrode.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 1, 2010
    Publication date: February 3, 2011
    Applicants: TDK CORPORATION, TOHOKU UNIVERSITY
    Inventors: Kei SUGIURA, Atsushi HITOMI, Takeshi URANO, Hitoshi TAKAMURA
  • Publication number: 20110007439
    Abstract: The present invention is provided with a composite electronic device comprising an inductor element and an ESD protection element formed between two magnetic substrates, wherein the inductor element includes insulation layers made of a resin, and spiral conductors formed on the insulation layers, the ESD protection element includes a base insulation layer, a pair of gap electrodes arranged via gap formed therebetween on the base insulation layer, and an ESD absorbing layer arranged at least between the gap electrodes, and a gap protection layer provided on at least one of the upper side and lower side of the gap, the ESD absorbing layer includes a composite material having an insulation inorganic material and a conductive inorganic material discontinuously dispersed in a matrix of the insulation inorganic material. The gap protection layer is made of resin including magnetic powder and carbon.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 8, 2010
    Publication date: January 13, 2011
    Inventors: Masao ASAKAWA, Tomokazu Ito, Makoto Morita, Atsushi Hitomi, Yasuhiro Hirobe, Kensaku Asakura
  • Publication number: 20110007438
    Abstract: The present invention is provided with a composite electronic device comprising an inductor element and an ESD protection element formed between two magnetic substrates, wherein the inductor element includes insulation layers made of a resin, and conductor patterns formed on the insulation layers, the ESD protection element includes a base insulation layer, a pair of electrodes arranged via gap formed therebetween on the base insulation layer, and an ESD absorbing layer arranged at least between the electrodes, and the ESD absorbing layer includes a composite material having an insulation inorganic material and a conductive inorganic material discontinuously dispersed in a matrix of the insulation inorganic material.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 29, 2009
    Publication date: January 13, 2011
    Applicant: TDK Corporation
    Inventors: Tomokazu ITO, Yasuhiro Hirobe, Atsushi Hitomi, Yuji Terada, Kensaku Asakura, Takeshi Urano
  • Publication number: 20110002075
    Abstract: The present invention is provided with a composite electronic device comprising an inductor element and an ESD protection element formed between two magnetic substrates, wherein the inductor element includes insulation layers made of a resin, and spiral conductors formed on the insulation layers, the ESD protection element includes a base insulation layer, a pair of gap electrodes arranged via gap formed therebetween on the base insulation layer, and an ESD absorbing layer arranged at least between the gap electrodes, and the ESD absorbing layer includes a composite material having an insulation inorganic material and a conductive inorganic material discontinuously dispersed in a matrix of the insulation inorganic material. The gap of the ESD protection element is provided at exterior of the spiral conductor so as not to be overlapped with the spiral conductor in view of a laminating direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 2, 2010
    Publication date: January 6, 2011
    Inventors: Masao ASAKAWA, Tomokazu ITO, Sho NAKAGOMI, Atsushi HITOMI, Yasuhiro HIROBE, Kensaku ASAKURA
  • Publication number: 20100182724
    Abstract: A composite electronic device includes first and second magnetic substrates, and a functional layer sandwiched between these magnetic substrates, and the functional layer is configured by a common-mode filter layer and a ESD protection element layer. An electrostatic capacitance of the ESD protection elements is equal to or lower than 0.35 pF. The common-mode filter layer includes a first spiral conductor formed on an insulation layer, and a second spiral conductor formed on an insulation layer. DC resistance of a common mode filter is equal to or higher than 0.5? and equal to or lower than 5?, and an electrostatic capacitance of the ESD protection elements is equal to or lower than 0.35 pF. A width W and a length L of the first and second spiral conductors satisfy a relational equation expressed by ?(L/W)<(7.6651?fc)/0.1385.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 22, 2010
    Publication date: July 22, 2010
    Inventors: Tomokazu ITO, Yasuhiro Hirobe, Atsushi Hitomi, Yuji Terada, Kensaku Asakura, Takeshi Urano
  • Publication number: 20100176484
    Abstract: The present invention provides an ESD protection device and the like having improved durability against repeated use. The ESD protection device includes a base 2 having an insulating surface 2a, electrodes 3a and 3b disposed on the insulating surface 2a and facing but spaced apart from each other, and a functional layer 4 disposed on at least between the electrodes 3a and 3b, wherein composite in which particles of a conductive inorganic material 4b having an average particle diameter of 1 to 200 nm are discretely interspersed in a matrix of an insulating inorganic material 4a is adopted as the functional layer 4.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 14, 2010
    Publication date: July 15, 2010
    Applicant: TDK CORPORATION
    Inventors: Kensaku Asakura, Yasuhiro Hirobe, Atsushi Hitomi, Takeshi Urano
  • Publication number: 20100157496
    Abstract: The present invention provides an ESD protection device and the like having improved durability against repeated use. An ESD protection device includes a base having an insulating surface, electrodes disposed on the insulating surface and facing but spaced apart from each other, and a functional layer 4-disposed on at least between the electrodes. The electrodes have a multistage structure in which a gap between the electrodes is narrower toward the base.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 15, 2009
    Publication date: June 24, 2010
    Applicant: TDK CORPORATION
    Inventors: Kensaku Asakura, Yasuhiro Hirobe, Atsushi Hitomi, Takeshi Urano
  • Publication number: 20100157501
    Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide an ESD protection device and the like which offer a reduced discharge starting voltage and improved durability against repeated use. The present invention provides an ESD protection device including a base 2 having an insulating surface 2a, electrodes 3a and 3b disposed on the insulating surface 2a and facing but spaced apart from each other, and a functional layer 4 disposed on at least between the electrodes 3a and 3b, wherein the gap distance ?G between the electrodes 3a and 3b ranges from 0.5 ?m to 10 and the thickness ?T of each of the electrodes 3a and 3b meets a relationship of ?G/?T=1 to 30.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 14, 2009
    Publication date: June 24, 2010
    Applicant: TDK CORPORATION
    Inventors: Kensaku Asakura, Yasuhiro Hirobe, Atsushi Hitomi, Takeshi Urano