Patents by Inventor Kazuya Yamasaki

Kazuya Yamasaki 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: 11923550
    Abstract: The preset disclosure provides a catalyst layer that has a small contact resistance with a gas diffusion layer and excellent gas diffusion properties. The catalyst layer for a fuel cell has a uniform thickness and includes fibrous conductive members and catalyst particles. The fibrous conductive members are inclined relative to a surface direction of the catalyst layer, and a lengthwise direction of the fibrous conductive members, on average, matches a first direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 26, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2024
    Assignee: PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Takeshi Minamiura, Hitoshi Ishimoto, Shinichiro Imura, Kazuya Yamasaki, Yukihiro Shimasaki
  • Patent number: 11682770
    Abstract: Disclosed is a catalyst layer for a fuel cell that has good gas diffusion properties in the entire catalyst layer and in which coarsening of catalyst particles can be suppressed. The catalyst layer for a fuel cell includes fibrous conductive members and catalyst particles. The fibrous conductive members are inclined relative to the surface direction of the catalyst layer, and the length L of the fibrous conductive members and the thickness T of the catalyst layer satisfy the relational expression: L/T?3. Each of the catalyst particles includes a core portion and a shell portion that covers the core portion, and contains a component different from that of the core portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 26, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 20, 2023
    Assignee: PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Hitoshi Ishimoto, Kazuya Yamasaki, Shinichiro Imura, Takeshi Minamiura, Yukihiro Shimasaki, Kenichi Ezaki
  • Publication number: 20230070969
    Abstract: A disclosed capacitor element includes: a first electrode; a dielectric layer covering at least a portion of the first electrode; and a second electrode covering at least a portion of the dielectric layer. The second electrode includes a solid electrolyte layer, a conductive carbon layer covering at least a portion of the solid electrolyte layer, and a metal paste layer covering at least a portion of the carbon layer. The carbon layer includes flake carbon particles and spherical carbon particles. A particle diameter of the spherical carbon particles is less than an average major diameter of the flake carbon particles, or greater than or equal to the average major diameter of the flake carbon particles.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 22, 2021
    Publication date: March 9, 2023
    Inventors: Kazuya YAMASAKI, Shinji KONDOU, Hitoshi ISHIMOTO, Yukihiro SHIMASAKI, Yuji MIYACHI, Kohei YAMAGUCHI
  • Patent number: 11569519
    Abstract: A membrane electrode assembly includes an electrolyte membrane, and a pair of electrode layers which sandwich the electrolyte membrane. The pair of electrode layers include a pair of catalyst layers which sandwich the electrolyte membrane, and a pair of gas diffusion layers disposed on the pair of catalyst layers on opposite sides to the electrolyte membrane. At least one catalyst layer contains a fibrous electric conductor, catalyst particles, a particulate electric conductor, and a proton-conductive resin. The at least one catalyst layer has a first region at a distance of 200 nm or less from the fibrous electric conductor, and a second region at a distance of more than 200 nm from the fibrous electric conductor. Pores are present in the first and second regions. A mode diameter M1 of the pores in the first region and a mode diameter M2 of the pores in the second region satisfy M1<M2.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 9, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2023
    Assignee: PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Hitoshi Ishimoto, Kazuya Yamasaki, Motohiro Sakata
  • Publication number: 20220149388
    Abstract: A cathode catalyst layer has two layers: a first catalyst layer on a gas diffusion layer side, and a second catalyst layer on an electrolyte membrane side. The first catalyst layer includes a first particulate conductive member, first catalyst particles, and a first fibrous conductive member, at least part of the first catalyst particles being supported on the first particulate conductive member. The second catalyst layer includes a second particulate conductive member and second catalyst particles, at least part of the second catalyst particles being supported on the second particulate conductive member. A catalyst support density D2 of the second catalyst particles on the second particulate conductive member is greater than a catalyst support density Di of the first catalyst particles on the first particulate conductive member.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 26, 2020
    Publication date: May 12, 2022
    Inventors: Hiroaki SUZUKI, Kazuya YAMASAKI, Hitoshi ISHIMOTO
  • Patent number: 11145873
    Abstract: A membrane electrode assembly includes an electrolyte membrane, and a pair of electrodes sandwiching the electrolyte membrane. The pair of electrodes each include a catalyst layer, and a gas diffusion layer disposed on the catalyst layer on an opposite side to the electrolyte membrane. At least one of the catalyst layers contains first catalyst particles, and second catalyst particles. The first catalyst particles are either platinum particles or platinum alloy particles, or both. The second catalyst particles are core-shell particles having a core part and a shell part, the core part formed of at least one selected from transition metals other than platinum, the shell part covering the core part and formed of at least one of platinum and a platinum alloy. In the catalyst layer, the second catalyst particles are present in a smaller percentage in an electrolyte membrane side than they are in a gas diffusion layer side.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 19, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 12, 2021
    Assignee: PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Kazuya Yamasaki, Hitoshi Ishimoto, Motohiro Sakata
  • Publication number: 20210167400
    Abstract: A membrane electrode assembly includes an electrolyte membrane, and a pair of electrodes sandwiching the electrolyte membrane. The pair of electrodes each include a catalyst layer, and a gas diffusion layer disposed on the catalyst layer on an opposite side to the electrolyte membrane. At least one of the catalyst layers contains first catalyst particles, and second catalyst particles. The first catalyst particles are either platinum particles or platinum alloy particles, or both. The second catalyst particles are core-shell particles having a core part and a shell part, the core part formed of at least one selected from transition metals other than platinum, the shell part covering the core part and formed of at least one of platinum and a platinum alloy. In the catalyst layer, the second catalyst particles are present in a smaller percentage in an electrolyte membrane side than they are in a gas diffusion layer side.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 19, 2018
    Publication date: June 3, 2021
    Inventors: Kazuya YAMASAKI, Hitoshi ISHIMOTO, Motohiro SAKATA
  • Patent number: 11011769
    Abstract: Provided is a fuel cell catalyst layer including: a fibrous carbon material; catalyst particles; a particulate carbon material; and a proton-conductive resin, wherein a region A including at least the fibrous carbon material in a state of an agglomerated body and a region B including at least the catalyst particles, the particulate carbon material, and the proton-conductive resin are formed, the region A being disposed in an island form in the region B.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 5, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 18, 2021
    Assignee: PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Motohiro Sakata, Takeshi Minamiura, Shinichiro Imura, Hitoshi Ishimoto, Kazuya Yamasaki, Chiho Nobumori, Yukihiro Shimasaki, Tsutomu Fujii
  • Publication number: 20210143460
    Abstract: A membrane electrode assembly includes an electrolyte membrane, and a pair of electrode layers which sandwich the electrolyte membrane. The pair of electrode layers include a pair of catalyst layers which sandwich the electrolyte membrane, and a pair of gas diffusion layers disposed on the pair of catalyst layers on opposite sides to the electrolyte membrane. At least one catalyst layer contains a fibrous electric conductor, catalyst particles, a particulate electric conductor, and a proton-conductive resin. The at least one catalyst layer has a first region at a distance of 200 nm or less from the fibrous electric conductor, and a second region at a distance of more than 200 nm from the fibrous electric conductor. Pores are present in the first and second regions. A mode diameter M1 of the pores in the first region and a mode diameter M2 of the pores in the second region satisfy M1<M2.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 9, 2018
    Publication date: May 13, 2021
    Inventors: Hitoshi ISHIMOTO, Kazuya YAMASAKI, Motohiro SAKATA
  • Publication number: 20210075024
    Abstract: The preset disclosure provides a catalyst layer that has a small contact resistance with a gas diffusion layer and excellent gas diffusion properties. The catalyst layer for a fuel cell has a uniform thickness and includes fibrous conductive members and catalyst particles. The fibrous conductive members are inclined relative to a surface direction of the catalyst layer, and a lengthwise direction of the fibrous conductive members, on average, matches a first direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 26, 2018
    Publication date: March 11, 2021
    Inventors: Takeshi MINAMIURA, Hitoshi ISHIMOTO, Shinichiro IMURA, Kazuya YAMASAKI, Yukihiro SHIMASAKI
  • Publication number: 20200335797
    Abstract: Disclosed is a catalyst layer for a fuel cell that has good gas diffusion properties in the entire catalyst layer and in which coarsening of catalyst particles can be suppressed. The catalyst layer for a fuel cell includes fibrous conductive members and catalyst particles. The fibrous conductive members are inclined relative to the surface direction of the catalyst layer, and the length L of the fibrous conductive members and the thickness T of the catalyst layer satisfy the relational expression: L/T?3. Each of the catalyst particles includes a core portion and a shell portion that covers the core portion, and contains a component different from that of the core portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 26, 2018
    Publication date: October 22, 2020
    Inventors: Hitoshi ISHIMOTO, Kazuya YAMASAKI, Shinichiro IMURA, Takeshi MINAMIURA, Yukihiro SHIMASAKI, Kenichi EZAKI
  • Patent number: 10714761
    Abstract: A fuel cell catalyst layer includes a plurality of carbon particles, a plurality of catalyst particles, and at least one plate-shaped carbon member disposed between the plurality of carbon particles. The plurality of catalyst particles are supported on surfaces of the plurality of carbon particles. The plate-shaped carbon member may be replaced with a rod-shaped carbon member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 5, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 14, 2020
    Assignee: Panasonic Intellectual Property Management Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kazuya Yamasaki, Hitoshi Ishimoto, Masashi Shoji, Keiichi Kondou
  • Patent number: 10388966
    Abstract: An electrode catalyst material includes graphite particles and catalyst particles. Each of the graphite particles has a hollow structure that includes an outer shell, and the outer shell has at least one of a through-hole and a recess. Each of the catalyst particles is supported by the at least one of through-hole and recess.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 28, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 20, 2019
    Assignee: Panasonic Intellectual Property Management Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Keiichi Kondou, Kazuya Yamasaki, Hitoshi Ishimoto
  • Publication number: 20190198906
    Abstract: Provided is a fuel cell catalyst layer including: a fibrous carbon material; catalyst particles; a particulate carbon material; and a proton-conductive resin, wherein a region A including at least the fibrous carbon material in a state of an agglomerated body and a region B including at least the catalyst particles, the particulate carbon material, and the proton-conductive resin are formed, the region A being disposed in an island form in the region B.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 5, 2017
    Publication date: June 27, 2019
    Inventors: Motohiro SAKATA, Takeshi MINAMIURA, Shinichiro IMURA, Hitoshi ISHIMOTO, Kazuya YAMASAKI, Chiho NOBUMORI, Yukihiro SHIMASAKI, Tsutomu FUJII
  • Publication number: 20180083291
    Abstract: An electrode catalyst material includes graphite particles and catalyst particles. Each of the graphite particles has a hollow structure that includes an outer shell, and the outer shell has at least one of a through-hole and a recess. Each of the catalyst particles is supported by the at least one of through-hole and recess.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 28, 2017
    Publication date: March 22, 2018
    Inventors: Keiichi Kondou, Kazuya Yamasaki, Hitoshi Ishimoto
  • Publication number: 20170365862
    Abstract: A fuel cell catalyst layer includes a plurality of carbon particles, a plurality of catalyst particles, and at least one plate-shaped carbon member disposed between the plurality of carbon particles. The plurality of catalyst particles are supported on surfaces of the plurality of carbon particles. The plate-shaped carbon member may be replaced with a rod-shaped carbon member.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 5, 2017
    Publication date: December 21, 2017
    Inventors: KAZUYA YAMASAKI, HITOSHI ISHIMOTO, MASASHI SHOJI, KEIICHI KONDOU
  • Patent number: 8126188
    Abstract: A plate material is drawn into the shape of a rectangular dish and the peripheral border of each corner is press worked. A yoke is fabricated which has an outwardly projecting tongue-like flange provided at a position a predetermined distance below the top end surface. A frame made of resin is insert molded in a manner covering the flange. A magnet is secured inside the yoke and a magnetic circuit having magnetic gap is formed. A diaphragm joined with a voice coil is joined with the frame. By making a loudspeaker in this way, the bonding strength between the yoke and the frame is enhanced and a low-profile loudspeaker is achieved. Also, clearance at each corner of the yoke is eliminated, and a loudspeaker that is free from magnetic flux leakage and excellent both in quality and performance is obtained.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 20, 2006
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2012
    Assignee: Panasonic Corporation
    Inventors: Tomoyasu Takase, Mitsutaka Enomoto, Kazuya Yamasaki, Kazutaka Kubo, Masahide Sumiyama
  • Patent number: 8023685
    Abstract: An electroacoustic transducer has a magnetic circuit, a frame combined with the magnetic circuit, a diaphragm combined with a periphery of the frame, a voice coil, a terminal, and a holder covering the frame. The voice coil is combined with the diaphragm and a part of the voice coil is arranged in a magnetic gap of the magnetic circuit. The terminal, made of a metal plate having spring property and electric conductivity, electrically connects an outside circuit and the voice coil utilizing spring pressure generated when the metal plate is bent. The holder forms a stopper for restricting a bend of the metal plate forming the terminal to within a reversible limit of a metallic material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 2005
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2011
    Assignee: Panasonic Corporation
    Inventors: Kazuki Honda, Takanori Fukuyama, Koji Sano, Hiroshi Yano, Takeshi Shimokawatoko, Kazuya Yamasaki, Kazutaka Kubo, Masahide Sumiyama
  • Patent number: 7877856
    Abstract: An edge (29) for supporting a diaphragm assembly (100) with respect to a frame (26) is bonded to the frame (26) along the outer periphery thereof and joined to a diaphragm (27) in a position more peripherally inward than a voice coil (28) along the inner periphery thereof. The edge (29) partly overlaps diaphragm (27). This structure allows downsizing of the speaker, without reducing the sizes of a permanent magnet (21) and the edge (29).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 12, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 1, 2011
    Assignee: Panasonic Corporation
    Inventors: Takanori Fukuyama, Tomoyasu Takase, Koji Sano, Hiroshi Yano, Masanori Nakano, Shigeru Tomoeda, Kazuki Honda, Kazuya Yamasaki, Kazutaka Kubo, Takeshi Shimokawatoko, Mitsutaka Enomoto, Masahide Sumiyama
  • Patent number: 7634102
    Abstract: A loudspeaker includes a magnetic circuit having a magnetic gap, a frame coupled to the magnetic circuit, a voice coil having a first end positioned in the magnetic gap and a second end opposite to the first end, and a diaphragm coupled to the second end of the voice coil and the frame. The voice coil has a center axis provided through the first end and the second end. The diaphragm has a first portion in which the center axis of the voice coil is provided. The first portion of the diaphragm is provided inside the voice coil. The diaphragm further has a second portion outside the voice coil. One of the first portion and the second portion of the diaphragm has a cross section in a plane including the center axis, and the cross section of the one of the first portion and the second portion of the diaphragm has an elliptic-arc shape. This loudspeaker has a small thickness, has a high sound pressure level in a high frequency range, and secures a wide reproduction range in high frequencies.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 22, 2004
    Date of Patent: December 15, 2009
    Assignee: Panasonic Corporation
    Inventors: Tomoyasu Takase, Mitsutaka Enomoto, Kazuya Yamasaki, Kazutaka Kubo, Takeshi Shimokawatoko, Masahide Sumiyama