Patents by Inventor Eric S. Kolb

Eric S. Kolb 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: 6228531
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to an electrode, and associated fabrication process, for use in an electrochemical cell. The electrode has an active material comprising a transition metal oxide. A lithium salt having an organic component is associated with the surface of the transition metal oxide so as to increase compatibility with an associated electrolyte. In another embodiment, a lithium salt of saccharin may be adsorbed onto the surface of the transition metal oxide.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 2, 1998
    Date of Patent: May 8, 2001
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Chemical Corporation
    Inventors: Eric S. Kolb, Martin Van Buren, Denis G. Fauteux
  • Patent number: 6225008
    Abstract: A process for fabricating an electrode for use in an electrochemical cell comprising the steps of: a) associating a current collector with an active material having a surface; b) applying an overlayment material to a substrate; c) associating the overlayment material with at least a portion of the surface of the active material; d) at least alternatively partially curing the active material; and e) removing the substrate and, in turn transferring at least a portion of the overlayment material to at least a portion of the active material. The electrode produced is used in an electrochemical cell comprising a current collector, an electrode active material having a surface, and an overlayment material associated with at least a portion of the active material. The electrode further includes means for increasing compatability of the electrode with an associated electrolyte.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 1998
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2001
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Chemical Corporation
    Inventors: Eric S. Kolb, Denis G. Fauteux
  • Patent number: 6221525
    Abstract: An electrochemical cell comprising a first electrode and a second electrode, an electrolyte, and a dopant associated with the electrolyte, wherein the dopant comprises a reservoir for controllably releasing salt into the electrolyte. The dopant further comprises means for controllably regulating internal pressure of the electrochemical cell as well as means for substantially precluding dendrite formation within the electrochemical cell.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 28, 1999
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2001
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Chemical Corporation
    Inventors: Eric S. Kolb, Denis G. Fauteux
  • Patent number: 6168878
    Abstract: An electrochemical cell, and an associated process, wherein the cell includes a controlled electrode surface comprising an electrode with a metallic current collector having a surface, an electrolyte and a reduced additive. The invention further includes a passivating layer at the interface between the metallic current collector and the electrolyte. The passivating layer includes the reduced additive. This passivating layer substantially precludes contact between electrolyte solvent and surface of the metallic current collector to, in turn, substantially prevent gas formation within the cell, which would otherwise result from decomposition of the solvent upon contact with the surface of the metallic current collector. Also, the reduced additive will likewise be substantially precluded from generating a gas upon its decomposition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 1998
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2001
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Chemical Corporation
    Inventors: Denis G. Fauteux, Martin Van Buren, Eric S. Kolb
  • Patent number: 6110638
    Abstract: A process for generation of acid uses a medium comprising a first acid-generating component capable of generating a first acid, and a secondary acid generator, this secondary acid generator being capable of thermal decomposition to form a secondary acid, the thermal decomposition of the secondary acid generator being catalyzed by the first acid. At least part of the medium is exposed to so as to cause formation of the first acid from the first acid-generating component; and the medium is then heated to cause, in the exposed part of the medium, acid-catalyzed thermal decomposition of the secondary acid generator and formation of the secondary acid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 27, 1996
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2000
    Assignee: Polaroid Corporation
    Inventors: Roger A. Boggs, Jurgen M. Grasshoff, Eric S. Kolb, John L. Marshall, Richard A. Minns, Socorro M. Ramos, Stephen G. Stroud, Stephen J. Telfer, Haixin Yang
  • Patent number: 6080282
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to both an electrolyte solution for use as a gel electrolyte in an electrolytic cell, and a process for making both the electrolyte gel and the electrolytic cell. The electrolyte solution comprises a polymerizable electrolyte material and a reinforcement polymer. The reinforcement polymer preferably consists of at least poly(methyl methacrylate), while the polymerizable electrolyte material comprises at least a solvent, a monomer, a polymerization initiator, and an ionic conductor. The use of a reinforcement polymer increases the homogeneity and thus the coatability of the electrolytic solution, while also improving the mechanical properties of the cured electrolyte gel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 22, 1998
    Date of Patent: June 27, 2000
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Chemical Corporation
    Inventors: Eric S. Kolb, Martin Van Buren, Marina Sherman
  • Patent number: 6045937
    Abstract: An electrochemical cell, and an associated process, wherein the cell includes a controlled electrode surface comprising an electrode with a carbonaceous surface, an electrolyte and a reduced additive. The reduced additive is formulated from an additive which is either soluble or insoluble in the solvated electrolyte prior to reduction. The invention further includes a passivating layer at the carbonaceous electrode/electrolyte interface. The passivating layer includes the additive and/or the reduced additive. This passivating layer substantially precludes contact between electrolyte solvent and the carbonaceous surface of the electrode to, in turn, substantially prevent gas formation within the cell, which would otherwise result from decomposition of the solvent upon contact with the carbonaceous surface. Also, the additive and/or the reduced additive will likewise be substantially precluded from generating a gas upon its decomposition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 1998
    Date of Patent: April 4, 2000
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Chemical Corporation
    Inventors: Eric S. Kolb, Martin Van Buren, Denis G. Fauteux
  • Patent number: 5968683
    Abstract: An electrode for use in an electrolytic cell, and, an electrolytic process, wherein the electrode includes an electrode active material having at least one partially inorganically fluoridated surface to, in turn, increase at least one of stability, capacity, and rate capacity of the electrode. The fluoridation can be carried out by atmospherically controlled plasma treatment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 1998
    Date of Patent: October 19, 1999
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Chemical Corporation
    Inventor: Eric S. Kolb
  • Patent number: 5916516
    Abstract: An electrode for use in an electrolytic cell, and, an electrolytic process, wherein the electrode includes an electrode active material having at least one partially inorganically fluoridated surface to, in turn, increase at least one of stability, capacity, and rate capacity of the electrode. The fluoridation can be carried out by atmospherically controlled plasma treatment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 18, 1998
    Date of Patent: June 29, 1999
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Chemical Corporation
    Inventor: Eric S. Kolb
  • Patent number: 5914213
    Abstract: A process for generation of acid uses a medium comprising a first acid-generating component capable of generating a first acid, and a secondary acid generator, this secondary acid generator being capable of thermal decomposition to form a secondary acid, the thermal decomposition of the secondary acid generator being catalyzed by the first acid. At least part of the medium is exposed to so as to cause formation of the first acid from the first acid-generating component; and the medium is then heated to cause, in the exposed part of the medium, acid-catalyzed thermal decomposition of the secondary acid generator and formation of the secondary acid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 6, 1997
    Date of Patent: June 22, 1999
    Assignee: Polaroid Corporation
    Inventors: Jurgen M. Grasshoff, John L. Marshall, Richard A. Minns, Socorro M. Ramos, Stephen G. Stroud, Stephen J. Telfer, Haixin Yang, Roger A. Boggs, Eric S. Kolb
  • Patent number: 5759721
    Abstract: A holographic recording medium comprises an acid generator capable of producing an acid upon exposure to actinic radiation; a binder; and at least one monomer or oligomer capable of undergoing cationic polymerization initiated by the acid produced from the acid generator. This recording medium is not subject to the disadvantages (for example, oxygen sensitivity) associated with radical-polymerized prior art holographic recording media.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 1, 1996
    Date of Patent: June 2, 1998
    Assignee: Polaroid Corporation
    Inventors: Pradeep K. Dhal, Michael G. Horner, Richard T. Ingwall, Eric S. Kolb, Parag G. Mehta, Richard A. Minns, Howard G. Schild, David A. Waldman
  • Patent number: 5609970
    Abstract: An electroluminescent device comprises first and second electrodes, a layer of an electroluminescent polymer disposed between the electrodes; and a hole injection layer disposed between the first electrode and the layer of electro-luminescent polymer. The hole injection layer is formed from a polymer having a main chain and a plurality of sidechains each attached at one of its ends to the main chain, at least some of the sidechains containing an electron-donating substituent such that the oxidation potential of the polymer is less positive than about +1.6 V, and is desirably in the range of about +0.4 to about +0.8 V. Preferred electron-donating groups are di- and triphenylamino groups.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 12, 1995
    Date of Patent: March 11, 1997
    Assignee: Polaroid Corporation
    Inventors: Eric S. Kolb, Parag G. Mehta
  • Patent number: 5571626
    Abstract: Electroluminescent devices have, as the active layer, a polymer having a chain comprising a plurality of electroluminescent groupings, adjacent pairs of the electroluminescent groupings being connected via two benzene rings linked to each other only by a single covalent bond, at least one of the benzene rings bearing, at a position ortho to the covalent bond, a substituent of sufficient size that the length of the bond connecting the two benzene rings is not less than 1.495 Angstroms. Preferred electroluminescent groupings comprise a chain of three or more para-phenylene groups connected to one another by amide, carboxy, ester, urea, urethane or vinyl groups. The polymers have a fixed conjugation length with predictable electroluminescent properties.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 1994
    Date of Patent: November 5, 1996
    Assignee: Polaroid Corporation
    Inventors: William J. Cumming, Russell A. Gaudiana, Richard T. Ingwall, Eric S. Kolb, Cheryl P. Petersen
  • Patent number: 5424268
    Abstract: An imaging process uses an imaging medium comprising a polymer having a plurality of first groups. This polymer is imagewise contacted with an imaging reagent comprising a plurality of second groups, thus causing, in the areas of the medium exposed to the imaging reagent, the second groups to react with the first groups and form a colored material, and thereby forming an image on the imaging medium. One of the first and second groups comprises a benzotriazinone or benzothiatriazine-4,4-dioxide benzotriazinone moiety and the other comprises a naphthol or a pyrazalone moiety.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 13, 1994
    Date of Patent: June 13, 1995
    Assignee: Polaroid Corporation
    Inventors: Agota F. Fehervari, Russell A. Gaudiana, Eric S. Kolb, Parag G. Mehta, Lloyd D. Taylor, John C. Warner
  • Patent number: 5414069
    Abstract: An electroluminescent polymer comprises a main chain and a plurality of side chains, each of the side chains comprising an electroluminescent group and a flexible spacer connecting the electroluminescent group to the main chain, the spacers and the main chain being such that the electroluminescent groups are not conjugated with one another. The nature of the main chain and the spacer groups can be varied to enhance solubility, film-forming ability and other characteristics of the polymer, without significantly changing the electroluminescent properties of the polymer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 1, 1993
    Date of Patent: May 9, 1995
    Assignee: Polaroid Corporation
    Inventors: William J. Cumming, Russell A. Gaudiana, Richard T. Ingwall, Eric S. Kolb, Parag G. Mehta, Richard A. Minns
  • Patent number: 5376456
    Abstract: Electroluminescent devices have, as the active layer, a polymer having a chain comprising a plurality of electroluminescent groupings, adjacent pairs of the electroluminescent groupings being connected via two benzene rings linked by only a single covalent bond, at least one of the benzene rings bearing, at a position ortho to the covalent bond, a substituent of sufficient size that the two benzene rings are essentially not conjugated with each other. Preferred electroluminescent groupings comprise a chain of three or more para-phenylene groups connected to one another by amide, carboxy, ester, urea, urethane or vinyl groups. The polymers have a fixed conjugation length with predictable electroluminescent properties.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 13, 1993
    Date of Patent: December 27, 1994
    Assignee: Polaroid Corporation
    Inventors: William J. Cumming, Russell A. Gaudiana, Richard T. Ingwall, Eric S. Kolb, Cheryl P. Petersen