Patents by Inventor Bin Zou

Bin Zou 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: 7352558
    Abstract: An inexpensive and reliable dry process based capacitor and method for making a self-supporting dry electrode film for use therein is disclosed. Also disclosed is an exemplary process for manufacturing an electrode for use in an energy storage device product, the process comprising: supplying dry carbon particles; supplying dry binder; dry mixing the dry carbon particles and dry binder; and dry fibrillizing the dry binder to create a matrix within which to support the dry carbon particles as dry material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 2, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 1, 2008
    Assignee: Maxwell Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Linda Zhong, Xiaomei Xi, Porter Mitchell, Bin Zou
  • Publication number: 20080016664
    Abstract: Electrodes of a double-layer capacitor are designed so that sub-capacitors formed at each electrode are stressed substantially equally at the rated voltage of the double-layer capacitor. In an exemplary embodiment, each electrode includes a current collector and an active electrode layer, such as a layer of activated carbon. The electrodes are held apart by a porous separator, and the assembly is immersed in an electrolyte. The thicknesses of the active electrode layers differ, resulting in asymmetrical construction of the capacitor. Different thicknesses cause the sub-capacitors to have different capacitances. When voltage is applied to the double-layer capacitor, the voltage is divided unequally between the unequal sub-capacitors. Properly selected thicknesses allow the voltages at the sub-capacitors to stress equally each sub-capacitor. The rated voltage of the double-layer capacitor can then be increased without overstressing the sub-capacitors.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 22, 2007
    Publication date: January 24, 2008
    Applicant: MAXWELL TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
    Inventors: Porter Mitchell, Xiaomei Xi, Linda Zhong, Bin Zou
  • Patent number: 7317609
    Abstract: Active electrode material, such as fibrillized blend of activated carbon, polymer, and conductive carbon, is pretreated by immersion in a sealing coating. After the active electrode material is dried, the coating seals micropores of the activated carbon or another porous material, thus preventing exposure of water molecules or other impurities trapped in the micropores to outside agents. At the same time, the sealing coating does not seal most mesapores of the porous material, allowing exposure of the mesapores' surface area to the outside agents. The pretreated active electrode material is used for making electrodes or electrode assemblies of electrical energy storage devices. For example, the electrodes may be immersed in an electrolyte to construct electrochemical double layer capacitors. Pretreatment with the sealing coating reduces the number of water molecules interacting with the electrolyte, enhancing the breakdown voltage of the capacitors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 2006
    Date of Patent: January 8, 2008
    Assignee: Maxwell Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Linda Zhong, Xiaomei Xi, Bin Zou
  • Patent number: 7295423
    Abstract: A dry process based capacitor and method for making a self-supporting dry adhesive electrode film for use therein is disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 2, 2004
    Date of Patent: November 13, 2007
    Assignee: Maxwell Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Porter Mitchell, Xiaomei Xi, Linda Zhong, Bin Zou
  • Publication number: 20070190424
    Abstract: A dry process based energy storage product and method for making is disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 14, 2005
    Publication date: August 16, 2007
    Applicant: Maxwell Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Porter Mitchell, Linda Zhong, Xiaomei Xi, Bin Zou
  • Publication number: 20070184522
    Abstract: The invention provides a polypeptide that attenuates the activation of Fas, TNFR1, or both. The polypeptide can be used to treat conditions associated with dysregulation of the cell death or inflammatory pathway and can be formulated into pharmaceutical compositions for medical or veterinary use.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 25, 2005
    Publication date: August 9, 2007
    Applicant: University of Pittsburgh of the Commonwealth System of Higher Education
    Inventors: Abdolreza Zarnegar, Marie DeFrances, Chun-Bin Zou
  • Patent number: 7227737
    Abstract: Electrodes of a double-layer capacitor are designed so that sub-capacitors formed at each electrode are stressed substantially equally at the rated voltage of the double-layer capacitor. In an exemplary embodiment, each electrode includes a current collector and an active electrode layer, such as a layer of activated carbon. The electrodes are held apart by a porous separator, and the assembly is immersed in an electrolyte. The thicknesses of the active electrode layers differ, resulting in asymmetrical construction of the capacitor. Different thicknesses cause the sub-capacitors to have different capacitances. When voltage is applied to the double-layer capacitor, the voltage is divided unequally between the unequal sub-capacitors. Properly selected thicknesses allow the voltages at the sub-capacitors to stress equally each sub-capacitor. The rated voltage of the double-layer capacitor can then be increased without overstressing the sub-capacitors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 2004
    Date of Patent: June 5, 2007
    Assignee: Maxwell Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Porter Mitchell, Xiaomei Xi, Linda Zhong, Bin Zou
  • Publication number: 20070122698
    Abstract: Dry process based energy storage device structures and methods for using a dry adhesive therein are disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 14, 2005
    Publication date: May 31, 2007
    Applicant: Maxwell Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Porter Mitchell, Xiaomei Xi, Linda Zhong, Bin Zou
  • Publication number: 20070081299
    Abstract: Active electrode material, such as fibrillized blend of activated carbon, polymer, and conductive carbon, is pretreated by immersion in a sealing coating. After the active electrode material is dried, the coating seals micropores of the activated carbon or another porous material, thus preventing exposure of water molecules or other impurities trapped in the micropores to outside agents. At the same time, the sealing coating does not seal most mesapores of the porous material, allowing exposure of the mesapores' surface area to the outside agents. The pretreated active electrode material is used for making electrodes or electrode assemblies of electrical energy storage devices. For example, the electrodes may be immersed in an electrolyte to construct electrochemical double layer capacitors. Pretreatment with the sealing coating reduces the number of water molecules interacting with the electrolyte, enhancing the breakdown voltage of the capacitors.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 11, 2006
    Publication date: April 12, 2007
    Applicant: MAXWELL TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
    Inventors: Linda Zhong, Xiaomei Xi, Bin Zou
  • Patent number: 7147674
    Abstract: Active electrode material, such as fibrillized blend of activated carbon, polymer, and conductive carbon, is pretreated by immersion in a sealing coating. After the active electrode material is dried, the coating seals micropores of the activated carbon or another porous material, thus preventing exposure of water molecules or other impurities trapped in the micropores to outside agents. At the same time, the sealing coating does not seal most mesapores of the porous material, allowing exposure of the mesapores' surface area to the outside agents. The pretreated active electrode material is used for making electrodes or electrode assemblies of electrical energy storage devices. For example, the electrodes may be immersed in an electrolyte to construct electrochemical double layer capacitors. Pretreatment with the sealing coating reduces the number of water molecules interacting with the electrolyte, enhancing the breakdown voltage of the capacitors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 2005
    Date of Patent: December 12, 2006
    Assignee: Maxwell Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Linda Zhong, Xiaomei Xi, Bin Zou
  • Publication number: 20060246343
    Abstract: A dry particle packaging system and method for making is disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 14, 2005
    Publication date: November 2, 2006
    Applicant: Maxwell Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Porter Mitchell, Xiaomei Xi, Bin Zou, Linda Zhong
  • Publication number: 20060148112
    Abstract: Electrodes of a double-layer capacitor are designed so that sub-capacitors formed at each electrode are stressed substantially equally at the rated voltage of the double-layer capacitor. In an exemplary embodiment, each electrode includes a current collector and an active electrode layer, such as a layer of activated carbon. The electrodes are held apart by a porous separator, and the assembly is immersed in an electrolyte. The thicknesses of the active electrode layers differ, resulting in asymmetrical construction of the capacitor. Different thicknesses cause the sub-capacitors to have different capacitances. When voltage is applied to the double-layer capacitor, the voltage is divided unequally between the unequal sub-capacitors. Properly selected thicknesses allow the voltages at the sub-capacitors to stress equally each sub-capacitor. The rated voltage of the double-layer capacitor can then be increased without overstressing the sub-capacitors.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 27, 2004
    Publication date: July 6, 2006
    Inventors: Porter Mitchell, Xiaomei Xi, Linda Zhong, Bin Zou
  • Publication number: 20060147712
    Abstract: A dry process based capacitor and method for making a self-supporting dry adhesive electrode film for use therein is disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 2, 2004
    Publication date: July 6, 2006
    Applicant: Maxwell Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Porter Mitchell, Xiaomei Xi, Linda Zhong, Bin Zou
  • Publication number: 20060137158
    Abstract: A dry process based energy storage product and method for making is disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 14, 2005
    Publication date: June 29, 2006
    Applicant: Maxwell Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Bin Zou, Linda Zhong, Porter Mitchell, Xiaomei Xi
  • Publication number: 20060133013
    Abstract: Dry process based energy storage device structures and methods for using a dry adhesive therein are disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 2, 2004
    Publication date: June 22, 2006
    Applicant: Maxwell Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Xiaomei Xi, Porter Mitchell, Linda Zhong, Bin Zou
  • Publication number: 20060133012
    Abstract: An inexpensive and reliable dry process based capacitor and method for making a self-supporting dry electrode film for use therein is disclosed. Also disclosed in an exemplary process for manufacturing an electrode for use in an energy storage device product, the process comprising: supplying dry carbon particles; supplying dry binder; dry mixing the dry carbon particles and dry binder; and dry fibrillizing the dry binder to create a matrix within which to support the dry carbon particles as dry material.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 2, 2004
    Publication date: June 22, 2006
    Applicant: Maxwell Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Linda Zhong, Xiaomei Xi, Porter Mitchell, Bin Zou
  • Publication number: 20050266298
    Abstract: A dry process-based electro-chemical device and method for making a self-supporting dry electrode film for use therein is disclosed. Cost effective manufacture of electrochemical devices such as batteries, capacitors, and fuel cells is enabled.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 2, 2004
    Publication date: December 1, 2005
    Applicant: Maxwell Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Porter Mitchell, Xiaomei Xi, Linda Zhong, Bin Zou
  • Publication number: 20050250011
    Abstract: A dry process-based particle packaging method and system is disclosed where a matrix of dry fibrillized binder is formed so as to support one or more type of particle. Reliable and inexpensive products, including films, sheets, electrodes, batteries, capacitors, fuel cells, and/or medical devices can be thus manufactured.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 27, 2005
    Publication date: November 10, 2005
    Inventors: Porter Mitchell, Xiaomei Xi, Linda Zhong, Bin Zou
  • Publication number: 20040087128
    Abstract: The disclosed invention relates to materials and processes for creating particle-enhanced bumps on electrical contact surfaces through stencil or screen printing processes. The materials are mixtures of conductive ink, conductive paste, or conductive adhesive and conductive hard particles (104). The process involves depositing the mixture (108) onto electrical contact surfaces by stencil printing, screen printing, or other dispensing techniques (110). In another embodiment, the ink, paste, or adhesive is first stenciled or screen printed and the particles are then applied on top of the ink, paste, or adhesive deposit. Once cured (114), the deposition provides a hard, electrical contact bump on the contact surface with a rough, conductive, sandpaper-like surface that can be easily connected to an opposing contact surface without any further surface preparation of either surface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 24, 2003
    Publication date: May 6, 2004
    Inventors: Herbert J Neuhaus, Bin Zou
  • Patent number: 6630203
    Abstract: The present invention provides a unique method for the electroless co-deposition of metal and hard particles on an electrical contact surface to provide electrical, thermal, and mechanical connections between the particle enhanced contact surface and an opposing contact surface, and to enhance the thermal and electrical conductivity between the contact surfaces and their corresponding substrates. The innovative method is able to uniformly deposit metal and particles of any shape, and with a wide range of density and sizes, on contact surfaces, and can be adjusted to provide any desired surface area coverage in desirable deposition patterns. The co-deposited contact surface can, for example, be easily joined to another surface of any type by nonconductive adhesive, resulting in a connection that is mechanically robust, chemically inert, and inherently electrically conductive.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 2001
    Date of Patent: October 7, 2003
    Assignee: NanoPierce Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert J. Bahn, Fred A. Blum, Herbert J. Neuhaus, Bin Zou