Patents by Inventor Junji Tani

Junji Tani 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).

  • NiMnGa alloy with a controlled finish point of the reverse transformation and shape memory effect
    Patent number: 6475261
    Abstract: In an NiMnGa alloy represented by the chemical formula of Ni2+XMn1−X Ga, a composition ratio parameter X (mol) is selected within a range of 0.10≦X≦0.30. With this composition, the finish point of the reverse transformation of the martensitic transformation can be selected to a desired temperature within the range between −20° C. and 50° C., while the Curie point is also selected to a desired temperature within the range between 60° C. and 85° C. The alloy has the shape memory effect by the martensitic transformation and the reverse transformation. Furthermore, the alloy is induced with the reverse transformation by application of an external magnetic field at the martensite phase to exhibit the shape recovery.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 1999
    Date of Patent: November 5, 2002
    Inventors: Minoru Matsumoto, Junji Tani, Toshiyuki Takagi, Kiyoshi Yamauchi