Patents by Inventor Kenji Machida

Kenji Machida 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: 11929214
    Abstract: Provided is a hybrid electrolytic capacitor having large capacitance, low ESR, and superior high-frequency characteristics and high-temperature endurance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2024
    Assignee: NIPPON CHEMI-CON CORPORATION
    Inventors: Kazuya Koseki, Kazuhiro Nagahara, Kenji Machida
  • Publication number: 20240013983
    Abstract: The objective of the present disclosure is to improve the electrical conductivity of conductive polymers and to provide an electrolytic capacitor using conductive polymers with high electrical conductivity. The solid electrolytic capacitor uses the conductive polymer in which an index D derived by D=(B+C)/A is 4 or more based on an absorbance A at 585 nm, an absorbance B at 800 nm, and an absorbance C at 1200 nm in a light absorption spectrum of the conductive polymer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 14, 2021
    Publication date: January 11, 2024
    Inventors: Yoshiki KAWAI, Shingo Takeuchi, Kenji Machida
  • Publication number: 20230360862
    Abstract: Provided is an electrode body that exhibits a good cathode side capacitance, and an electrolytic capacitor provided with this electrode body. The electrode body used for a cathode of the electrolytic capacitor has a cathode foil and a carbon layer. The cathode foil is made of a valve acting metal, and an enlarged surface layer is formed on the surface thereof. The carbon layer is formed on the enlarged surface layer. The interface between the enlarged surface layer and the carbon layer has an uneven shape.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 20, 2023
    Publication date: November 9, 2023
    Inventors: Kazuya Koseki, Kazuma Okura, Kazuhiro Nagahara, Kenji Machida
  • Publication number: 20230309478
    Abstract: A culturing device is equipped with an accommodation unit, and a convection generating unit provided in the accommodation unit. In the accommodation unit, microalgae are cultured while the convection generating unit generates convection in the culturing solution in the accommodation unit. During the culturing, a portion of the culturing solution is drawn in through collection pipes by the pump. Thereafter, the culturing solution that was drawn in is discharged from the collection pipes into the culturing solution inside the accommodation unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 29, 2023
    Publication date: October 5, 2023
    Inventors: Minoru Goto, Nozomi Shiobara, Shohei Kinoshita, Mizuho Doi, Kenji Machida, Satoshi Shiozaki
  • Patent number: 11756740
    Abstract: Provided is an electrode body that exhibits a good cathode side capacitance, and an electrolytic capacitor provided with this electrode body. The electrode body used for a cathode of the electrolytic capacitor has a cathode foil and a carbon layer. The cathode foil is made of a valve acting metal, and an enlarged surface layer is formed on the surface thereof. The carbon layer is formed on the enlarged surface layer. The interface between the enlarged surface layer and the carbon layer has an uneven shape.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2023
    Inventors: Kazuya Koseki, Kazuma Okura, Kazuhiro Nagahara, Kenji Machida
  • Publication number: 20230279445
    Abstract: A mixed gas generated in a methane fermentation tank is supplied to culture tanks. In the culture tanks, water as a culture solution is held and algae are cultured. Carbon dioxide contained in the mixed gas preferentially dissolves in water. That is, carbon dioxide is removed from the mixed gas. As a result, a concentration of methane, which is one component of the mixed gas, increases. The mixed gas is re-supplied to another culture tank or the same culture tank.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 27, 2023
    Publication date: September 7, 2023
    Inventors: Minoru Goto, Nozomi Shiobara, Shohei Kinoshita, Mizuho Doi, Kenji Machida, Satoshi Shiozaki
  • Publication number: 20230159884
    Abstract: A culture device by which microalgae can be satisfactorily cultured using a simple structure while suppressing an increase in energy consumption, and a culture method. A main body of this culture device comprises an accommodation part which accommodates contents and to which gas is supplied. The inner wall faces of the accommodation part are joined together to form a joined part which extends along the gas supply direction. A guide part and a circulation part, which are adjacent to each other across the joined part, are each along the extending direction of the joined part and communicated with each other via a guide part inlet and a guide part outlet. A gas supply port enables gas supply toward the guide part.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 24, 2021
    Publication date: May 25, 2023
    Inventors: Minoru Goto, Nozomi Shiobara, Shohei Kinoshita, Mizuho Doi, Kenji Machida
  • Publication number: 20230114259
    Abstract: The present invention can: efficiently and readily produce glucose from microalgae that accumulate starch in their cells; and obtain ethanol. During a preparation step of the glucose production method, microalgae are prepared on which a saccharifying enzyme acts on starch accumulated inside the microalgae cells, without disrupting the cell walls. In a saccharification step, starch inside the cells is saccharified and glucose is generated, by adding a saccharifying enzyme to the microalgae without a disruption treatment. The ethanol production method has a step in which, after the saccharification step, the glucose undergoes alcoholic fermentation and ethanol is generated.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 24, 2021
    Publication date: April 13, 2023
    Inventors: Nozomi Shiobara, Shohei Kinoshita, Mizuho Doi, Kenji Machida, Minoru Goto
  • Publication number: 20230115516
    Abstract: Provided are a culture apparatus and a culture method with which microalgae can be cultured satisfactorily. The culture apparatus includes a plurality of culture tanks and a water storage tank, and cultures microalgae in a culture solution. Each of the plurality of culture tanks has a translucent accommodating portion containing the culture solution and microalgae. The volumes of the accommodating portions of the plurality of culture tanks are different from each other. The water storage tank has a translucent water storage unit for storing a stored water. The plurality of culture tanks are selectively arranged in the water storage unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 24, 2021
    Publication date: April 13, 2023
    Inventors: Shohei Kinoshita, Nozomi Shiobara, Kenji Machida, Minoru Goto, Mizuho Doi
  • Publication number: 20230017930
    Abstract: Provided is a hybrid electrolytic capacitor having large capacitance, low ESR, and superior high-frequency characteristics and high-temperature endurance.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 15, 2020
    Publication date: January 19, 2023
    Applicant: NIPPON CHEMI-CON CORPORATION
    Inventors: Kazuya KOSEKI, Kazuhiro NAGAHARA, Kenji MACHIDA
  • Publication number: 20220356068
    Abstract: A lithium vanadium oxide crystal and usage thereof that can achieve further excellent electrochemical characteristics are provided. New lithium vanadium oxide crystal is a lithium vanadium oxide crystal which is Li3VO4 to which tetravalent metal species M is doped, in which the lithium vanadium oxide crystal is represented by a chemical formula of Li3+1V1?xMxO4 and includes only a single crystal structure with ?-phase as Li3VO4 under a temperature environment including normal temperature, and the tetravalent metal species M is included in a ratio of x?0.2.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 4, 2020
    Publication date: November 10, 2022
    Inventors: Katsuhiko NAOI, Wako NAOl, Etsuro lWAMA, Kenji MACHIDA, Tatsuya KONDO
  • Publication number: 20220312705
    Abstract: In a culturing method, microalgae are cultured in a culturing solution while a gas containing carbon dioxide is supplied to the culturing solution. In an ion concentration acquisition step, an acquired value of a concentration of hydrogen carbonate ions in the culturing solution is obtained. In an ion concentration adjustment step, in the case that the acquired value does not reside within a set concentration range that is set beforehand, at least one of a temperature or a pH of the culturing solution is adjusted, whereby the concentration of hydrogen carbonate ions in the culturing solution is adjusted to reside within the set concentration range.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 28, 2022
    Publication date: October 6, 2022
    Inventors: Minoru Goto, Nozomi Shiobara, Shohei Kinoshita, Fumitomo Takano, Mizuho Doi, Satoshi Shiozaki, Kenji Machida
  • Patent number: 11348738
    Abstract: Provided is an electrolytic capacitor that can reliably exhibit redox capacity due to a conductive polymer layer of a cathode. The electrolytic capacitor includes: a cathode having a conductive substrate and a conductive polymer layer placed on the surface of the conductive substrate; an anode having a substrate composed of a valve metal and a dielectric layer composed of an oxide of the valve metal that is placed on the surface of the substrate, the anode being disposed such that the dielectric layer and the conductive polymer layer of the cathode are opposed to each other across a space; and an ion conductive electrolyte with which the space is filled, the conductive polymer layer of the cathode that is in contact with the ion conductive electrolyte exhibiting a redox capacity due to application of a voltage between the anode and the cathode, wherein the contact resistance between the conductive substrate and the conductive polymer layer in the cathode is 1 ?cm2 or less.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 2, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2022
    Assignee: NIPPON CHEMI-CON CORPORATION
    Inventors: Kazuya Koseki, Kazuhiro Nagahara, Kenji Machida
  • Publication number: 20210202184
    Abstract: Provided is an electrolytic capacitor that can reliably exhibit redox capacity due to a conductive polymer layer of a cathode. The electrolytic capacitor includes: a cathode having a conductive substrate and a conductive polymer layer placed on the surface of the conductive substrate; an anode having a substrate composed of a valve metal and a dielectric layer composed of an oxide of the valve metal that is placed on the surface of the substrate, the anode being disposed such that the dielectric layer and the conductive polymer layer of the cathode are opposed to each other across a space; and an ion conductive electrolyte with which the space is filled, the conductive polymer layer of the cathode that is in contact with the ion conductive electrolyte exhibiting a redox capacity due to application of a voltage between the anode and the cathode, wherein the contact resistance between the conductive substrate and the conductive polymer layer in the cathode is 1 ?cm2 or less.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 2, 2018
    Publication date: July 1, 2021
    Applicant: NIPPON CHEMI-CON CORPORATION
    Inventors: Kazuya KOSEKI, Kazuhiro NAGAHARA, Kenji MACHIDA
  • Publication number: 20210193395
    Abstract: Provided is an electrode body that exhibits a good cathode side capacitance, and an electrolytic capacitor provided with this electrode body. The electrode body used for a cathode of the electrolytic capacitor has a cathode foil and a carbon layer. The cathode foil is made of a valve acting metal, and an enlarged surface layer is formed on the surface thereof. The carbon layer is formed on the enlarged surface layer. The interface between the enlarged surface layer and the carbon layer has an uneven shape.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 7, 2019
    Publication date: June 24, 2021
    Inventors: Kazuya Koseki, Kazuma Okura, Kazuhiro Nagahara, Kenji Machida
  • Patent number: 10854393
    Abstract: Provided is an electrolytic capacitor having a cathode that exhibits a high capacity. The electrolytic capacitor includes: a cathode having a conductive substrate and a conductive polymer layer placed on a surface of the conductive substrate; an anode having a substrate composed of a valve metal and a dielectric layer composed of an oxide of the valve metal that is placed on the surface of the substrate and is so placed that the dielectric layer and the conductive polymer layer of the cathode face each other through a space; and an ion-conductive electrolyte filled in the space, in which the conductive polymer layer of the cathode that is in contact with the ion-conductive electrolyte expresses a redox capacity by applying a voltage between the anode and the cathode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 1, 2020
    Assignee: NIPPON CHEMI-CON CORPORATION
    Inventors: Kazuya Koseki, Kenji Machida
  • Publication number: 20190115160
    Abstract: Provided is an electrolytic capacitor having a cathode that exhibits a high capacity. The electrolytic capacitor includes: a cathode having a conductive substrate and a conductive polymer layer placed on a surface of the conductive substrate; an anode having a substrate composed of a valve metal and a dielectric layer composed of an oxide of the valve metal that is placed on the surface of the substrate and is so placed that the dielectric layer and the conductive polymer layer of the cathode face each other through a space; and an ion-conductive electrolyte filled in the space, in which the conductive polymer layer of the cathode that is in contact with the ion-conductive electrolyte expresses a redox capacity by applying a voltage between the anode and the cathode.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 30, 2017
    Publication date: April 18, 2019
    Applicant: NIPPON CHEMI-CON CORPORATION
    Inventors: Kazuya KOSEKI, Kenji MACHIDA
  • Patent number: 9562293
    Abstract: Disclosed is a polymerization solution for electrolytic polymerization having a small environmental load, having excellent economic efficiency and capable of producing a conductive polymer exhibiting excellent heat resistance. The polymerization solution has: a solvent consisting of 100 to 80% by mass of water and 0 to 20% by mass of an organic solvent; at least one monomer selected from the group consisting of 3,4-disubstituted thiophenes; and at least one organic non-sulfonate supporting electrolyte having an anion with the molecular weight of 200 or more. A conductive polymer film densely filled with polymer particles is obtained by performing electrolytic polymerization using the polymerization solution. A polymer electrode provided with the conductive polymer film exerts excellent heat resistance and the electrochemical activity of the polymer electrode will hardly deteriorate even when being subjected to high temperatures.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 1, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2017
    Assignee: NIPPON CHEMI-CON CORPORATION
    Inventors: Kenji Machida, Sekihiro Takeda, Ryo Muroi, Nozomu Kamiyama, Masashi Ozawa
  • Patent number: 9558891
    Abstract: Disclosed is a polymerization solution for electrolytic polymerization containing borodisalicylic acid and/or a salt thereof as a supporting electrolyte, in which precipitation due to the hydrolysis of borodisalicylate ions is inhibited and which provides a conductive polymer exhibiting excellent heat resistance. The polymerization solution has: a solvent consisting of 100 to 80% by mass of water and 0 to 20% by mass of an organic solvent; at least one monomer having a ?-conjugated double bond; at least one supporting electrolyte selected from the group consisting of borodisalicylic acid and borodisalicylic salts; and at least one stabilizing agent selected from the group consisting of nitrobenzene and nitrobenzene derivatives, and the content of the stabilizing agent content is more than ? mol per 1 mol of the supporting electrolyte. A complex is formed by the stabilizing agent and borodisalicylic acid, and the formation of precipitation due to the hydrolysis of borodisalicylate ions is inhibited.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 1, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2017
    Assignee: NIPPON CHEMI-CON CORPORATION
    Inventors: Kenji Machida, Sekihiro Takeda, Ryo Muroi, Nozomu Kamiyama, Masashi Ozawa
  • Patent number: 9536675
    Abstract: Provided is a polymerization liquid for electropolymerization, which uses a solvent that is mainly composed of water, which is greatly increased in the amount of a monomer contained therein, and which is capable of quickly forming a conductive polymer layer having high conductivity and heat resistance, A polymerization liquid for electropolymerization of the present invention contains: a solvent that is composed of 100-80% by mass of water and 0-20% by mass of an organic solvent; at least one monomer having a pi-conjugated double bond; at least one supporting electrolyte; and at least two nonionic surfactants. The at least two nonionic surfactants are composed of at least one acetylenol surfactant and at least one water-soluble nonionic surfactant other than the acetylenol surfactant. Due to the combination of the two nonionic surfactants, the amount of the monomer emulsified with the solvent can be greatly increased.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2017
    Assignee: NIPPON CHEMI-CON CORPORATION
    Inventors: Kenji Machida, Kenji Tamamitsu, Ryo Muroi