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: 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
  • Patent number: 9419234
    Abstract: Disclosed is an electrode body for a solar cell, which is capable of being used as a component of both an organic thin-film solar cell and a dye-sensitized solar cell, and has excellent heat resistance. This electrode body for a solar cell is provided with a substrate with a conductive part at least on the surface and a conductive polymer layer located on the conductive part of the substrate, in which the conductive polymer layer includes: a polymer derived from at least one monomer selected from the group consisting of 3,4-disubstituted thiophenes; and an anion as a dopant to the polymer generated from at least one organic non-sulfonate compound having an anion with the molecular weight of 200 or more. Additionally, the density of the conductive polymer layer is in the range of 1.15 to 1.80 g/cm3. The dense conductive polymer layer including the anion as a dopant exhibits excellent heat resistance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2016
    Assignee: NIPPON CHEMI-CON CORPORATION
    Inventors: Kenji Machida, Sekihiro Takeda, Ryo Muroi, Nozomu Kamiyama, Masashi Ozawa
  • Publication number: 20150332858
    Abstract: Provided is a dye-sensitized solar cell which exhibits excellent heat resistance and high photoelectric conversion efficiency. This dye-sensitized solar cell is provided with: a negative electrode having a semiconductor layer with a pigment as a photosensitizer, an electrolyte layer located on the semiconductor layer of the negative electrode having a paired oxidized species and reduced species, and a positive electrode located on the electrolyte layer having a conductive polymer layer that acts as a catalyst to convert the oxidized species into the reduced species. The conductive polymer layer in the positive electrode contains a polymer derived from at least one monomer selected from the group consisting of 3,4-disubstituted thiophenes; and an anion as a dopant to the polymer generated from at least one organic non-sulfonate compound having an anion with the molecular weight of 200 or more. The thickness of the conductive polymer layer is within the range of 100 to 10000 nm.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 26, 2013
    Publication date: November 19, 2015
    Applicant: NIPPON CHEMI-CON CORPORATION
    Inventors: Kenji MACHIDA, Nozomu KAMIYAMA, Shingo TAKEUCHI, Kenji TAMAMITSU
  • Patent number: 9184401
    Abstract: Disclosed is an electrode body for a solar cell, which is capable of being used as a component of both an organic thin-film solar cell and a dye-sensitized solar cell, and has excellent heat resistance. This electrode body for a solar cell is provided with a substrate with a conductive part at least on the surface and a conductive polymer layer located on the conductive part of the substrate, in which the conductive polymer layer includes: a polymer which is obtained by polymerizing a monomer selected from the group consisting of 3,4-disubstituted thiophenes; and an anion as a dopant to the polymer generated from at least one organic non-sulfonate compound having an anion with the molecular weight of 200 or more. Since the anion of the organic non-sulfonate compound is included as a dopant in the conductive polymer layer, the heat resistance of the conductive polymer layer is improved.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 10, 2015
    Assignee: NIPPON CHEMI-CON CORPORATION
    Inventors: Mahito Atobe, Koji Nakabayashi, Kenji Machida, Sekihiro Takeda
  • Publication number: 20150255222
    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: Application
    Filed: August 28, 2013
    Publication date: September 10, 2015
    Applicant: NIPPON CHEMI-CON CORPORATION
    Inventors: Kenji Machida, Kenji Tamamitsu, Ryo Muroi
  • Publication number: 20150187511
    Abstract: Provided is a dye-sensitized solar cell which exhibits excellent heat resistance and high photoelectric conversion efficiency. This dye-sensitized solar cell is provided with: a negative electrode having a semiconductor layer with a pigment as a photosensitizer, an electrolyte layer located on the semiconductor layer of the negative electrode having a paired oxidized species and reduced species, and a positive electrode located on the electrolyte layer having a conductive polymer layer that acts as a catalyst to convert the oxidized species into the reduced species. The conductive polymer layer in the positive electrode contains a polymer derived from at least one monomer selected from the group consisting of 3,4-disubstituted thiophenes; and an anion as a dopant to the polymer generated from at least one organic non-sulfonate compound having an anion with the molecular weight of 200 or more. The thickness of the conductive polymer layer is within the range of 100 to 10000 nm.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 26, 2013
    Publication date: July 2, 2015
    Applicant: NIPPON CHEMI-CON CORPORATION
    Inventors: Kenji Machida, Nozomu Kamiyama, Shingo Takeuchi, Kenji Tamamitsu
  • Patent number: 8927683
    Abstract: Disclosed is a polymerization fluid for electropolymerization which exhibits a reduced environmental burden and excellent economic efficiency and which can yield a conductive polymer film that has high conductivity and that is dense and highly transparent. The polymerization fluid includes at least one monomer selected from the group consisting of 3,4-disubstituted thiophenes which is dispersed as oil drops in surfactant-free water, and the polymerization fluid is transparent.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 1, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 6, 2015
    Assignee: Nippon Chemi-Con Corporation
    Inventors: Mahito Atobe, Koji Nakabayashi, Kenji Machida, Sekihiro Takeda
  • Patent number: 8837114
    Abstract: A solid electrolytic capacitor is impregnated with a conductive polymer dispersion solution comprising sorbitol. In the capacitor, the hydroxyl group of sorbitol acts as the oxygen source necessary for the anodic oxidation of anodic oxide film when voltage is applied to the solid electrolytic capacitor. Consequently, the oxide film is repaired and withstand voltage property is improved, which is thought to be due to the anodic oxidation that repairs the damage on the oxide film. Superior electric capacitance can further be attained by specifying the sorbitol content in the dispersion solution to be at 60-90 wt %.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 16, 2014
    Inventors: Nozomu Kamiyama, Kenji Machida, Atsushi Yoshizawa, Sekihiro Takeda, Kenji Tamamitsu
  • Patent number: 8824120
    Abstract: An electrical double-layer capacitor electrode with excellent capacitance characteristics is obtained together with a manufacturing method therefor. Paper-molded sheet of carbon nanotubes is integrated with etched foil constituting a collector, by means of bumps and indentations formed on the surface of etched foil to prepare an electrical double-layer capacitor electrode. Alternatively, carbon nanotubes grown around core catalyst particles on substrate are integrated with etched foil by means of bumps and indentations formed on the surface of etched foil to prepare an electrical double-layer capacitor electrode. To manufacture these electrodes, this carbon nanotube sheet or substrate with carbon nanotubes grown thereon is laid over bumps and indentations on the surface of etched foil, and the sheet or substrate and the foil are pressed under 0.01 to 100 t/cm2 of pressure to integrate the carbon nanotubes with the etched foil.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 2, 2014
    Assignee: Nippon Chemi-con Corporation
    Inventors: Kenji Machida, Shunzo Suemastu, Kenji Tamamitsu
  • Patent number: 8644003
    Abstract: A process is provided for producing an electrolytic capacitor element that can uniformly form a highly electrically conductive polymer having a nano thickness level on a nano porous anode element substrate and suitable for use in high-capacitance electrolytic capacitors used in emergency power supplies and backup power supplies in electronic equipment. An oxide film and an electrically conductive polymer film are formed by pulsed constant current electrolysis of a monomer for an electrically conductive polymer and a nanoporous valve action metal in an electrolysis solution comprising an ionic liquid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 2006
    Date of Patent: February 4, 2014
    Assignee: National University Corporation, Tokyo University of Agriculture and Technology
    Inventors: Katsuhiko Naoi, Kenji Machida
  • Publication number: 20140022701
    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: Application
    Filed: March 1, 2012
    Publication date: January 23, 2014
    Applicant: NIPPON CHEMI-CON CORPORATION
    Inventors: Kenji Machida, Sekihiro Takeda, Ryo Muroi, Nozomu Kamiyama, Masashi Ozawa
  • Publication number: 20140016248
    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 g-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: Application
    Filed: March 1, 2012
    Publication date: January 16, 2014
    Applicant: NIPPON CHEMI-CON CORPORATION
    Inventors: Kenji Machida, Sekihiro Takeda, Ryo Muroi, Nozomu Kamiyama, Masashi Ozawa
  • Publication number: 20140014167
    Abstract: Disclosed is an electrode body for a solar cell, which is capable of being used as a component of both an organic thin-film solar cell and a dye-sensitized solar cell, and has excellent heat resistance. This electrode body for a solar cell is provided with a substrate with a conductive part at least on the surface and a conductive polymer layer located on the conductive part of the substrate, in which the conductive polymer layer includes: a polymer derived from at least one monomer selected from the group consisting of 3,4-disubstituted thiophenes; and an anion as a dopant to the polymer generated from at least one organic non-sulfonate compound having an anion with the molecular weight of 200 or more. Additionally, the density of the conductive polymer layer is in the range of 1.15 to 1.80 g/cm3. The dense conductive polymer layer including the anion as a dopant exhibits excellent heat resistance.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 31, 2012
    Publication date: January 16, 2014
    Applicant: NIPPON CHEMI-CON CORPORATION
    Inventors: Kenji Machida, Sekihiro Takeda, Ryo Muroi, Nozomu Kamiyama, Masashi Ozawa
  • Publication number: 20140014168
    Abstract: Disclosed is an electrode body for a solar cell, which is capable of being used as a component of both an organic thin-film solar cell and a dye-sensitized solar cell, and has excellent heat resistance. This electrode body for a solar cell is provided with a substrate with a conductive part at least on the surface and a conductive polymer layer located on the conductive part of the substrate, in which the conductive polymer layer includes: a polymer which is obtained by polymerizing a monomer selected from the group consisting of 3,4-disubstituted thiophenes; and an anion as a dopant to the polymer generated from at least one organic non-sulfonate compound having an anion with the molecular weight of 200 or more. Since the anion of the organic non-sulfonate compound is included as a dopant in the conductive polymer layer, the heat resistance of the conductive polymer layer is improved.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 31, 2012
    Publication date: January 16, 2014
    Applicant: NIPPON CHEMI-CON CORPORATION
    Inventors: Mahito Atobe, Koji Nakabayashi, Kenji Machida, Sekihiro Takeda
  • Patent number: 8427811
    Abstract: An electrical double-layer capacitor electrode with excellent capacitance characteristics is obtained together with a manufacturing method therefor. Paper-molded sheet 2 of carbon nanotubes is integrated with etched foil 1 constituting a collector, by means of bumps and indentations 1a formed on the surface of etched foil 1 to prepare an electrical double-layer capacitor electrode. Alternatively, carbon nanotubes 4 grown around core catalyst particles on substrate 3 are integrated with etched foil 1 by means of bumps and indentations 1a formed on the surface of etched foil 1 to prepare an electrical double-layer capacitor electrode. To manufacture these electrodes, this carbon nanotube sheet 2 or substrate 3 with carbon nanotubes grown thereon is laid over bumps and indentations 1a on the surface of etched foil 1, and the sheet or substrate and the foil are pressed under 0.01 to 100 t/cm2 of pressure to integrate the carbon nanotubes with the etched foil.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2013
    Assignee: Nippon Chemi-Con Corporation
    Inventors: Kenji Machida, Shunzo Suematsu, Kenji Tamamitsu
  • Publication number: 20130070393
    Abstract: A solid electrolytic capacitor is impregnated with a conductive polymer dispersion solution comprising sorbitol. In the capacitor, the hydroxyl group of sorbitol acts as the oxygen source necessary for the anodic oxidation of anodic oxide film when voltage is applied to the solid electrolytic capacitor. Consequently, the oxide film is repaired and withstand voltage property is improved, which is thought to be due to the anodic oxidation that repairs the damage on the oxide film. Superior electric capacitance can further be attained by specifying the sorbitol content in the dispersion solution to be at 60-90 wt %.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 29, 2011
    Publication date: March 21, 2013
    Inventors: Nozomu Kamiyama, Kenji Machida, Atsushi Yoshizawa, Sekihiro Takeda, Kenji Tamamitsu
  • Publication number: 20130037411
    Abstract: Disclosed is a polymerization fluid for electropolymerization which exhibits a reduced environmental burden and excellent economic efficiency and which can yield a conductive polymer film that has high conductivity and that is dense and highly transparent. The polymerization fluid includes at least one monomer selected from the group consisting of 3,4-disubstituted thiophenes which is dispersed as oil drops in surfactant-free water, and the polymerization fluid is transparent.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 1, 2011
    Publication date: February 14, 2013
    Applicant: NIPPON CHEMI-CON CORPORATION
    Inventors: Mahito Atobe, Koji Nakabayashi, Kenji Machida, Sekihiro Takeda
  • Publication number: 20100259867
    Abstract: An electrical double-layer capacitor electrode with excellent capacitance characteristics is obtained together with a manufacturing method therefor. Paper-molded sheet 2 of carbon nanotubes is integrated with etched foil 1 constituting a collector, by means of bumps and indentations 1a formed on the surface of etched foil 1 to prepare an electrical double-layer capacitor electrode. Alternatively, carbon nanotubes 4 grown around core catalyst particles on substrate 3 are integrated with etched foil 1 by means of bumps and indentations 1a formed on the surface of etched foil 1 to prepare an electrical double-layer capacitor electrode. To manufacture these electrodes, this carbon nanotube sheet 2 or substrate 3 with carbon nanotubes grown thereon is laid over bumps and indentations la on the surface of etched foil 1, and the sheet or substrate and the foil are pressed under 0.01 to 100 t/cm2 of pressure to integrate the carbon nanotubes with the etched foil.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 29, 2008
    Publication date: October 14, 2010
    Inventors: Kenji Machida, Shunzo Suematsu, Kenji Tamamitsu
  • Publication number: 20090296317
    Abstract: A process is provided for producing an electrolytic capacitor element that can uniformly form a highly electrically conductive polymer having a nano thickness level on a nano porous anode element substrate and suitable for use in high-capacitance electrolytic capacitors used in emergency power supplies and backup power supplies in electronic equipment. An oxide film and an electrically conductive polymer film are formed by pulsed constant current electrolysis of a monomer for an electrically conductive polymer and a nanoporous valve action metal in an electrolysis solution comprising an ionic liquid.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 2, 2006
    Publication date: December 3, 2009
    Inventors: Katsuhiko Naoi, Kenji Machida
  • Patent number: 6859342
    Abstract: A magnetic head device having excellent sliding contact between its slider surface and magnetic tape at the time of scanning is provided. This magnetic head device has a base member, a thin-film magnetic head formed in contact with the base member and accommodated in a non-magnetic layer with the top end of a magnetic gap being exposed, and an auxiliary member which sandwiches the non-magnetic layer between the auxiliary member and the base member. On the top ends of the base member, the non-magnetic layer, and the auxiliary member, a slider surface on which magnetic tape slides is formed in the aligning direction of the base member, the non-magnetic layer, and the auxiliary member, or in a direction inclined at a predetermined angle to the aligning direction. Accordingly, the non-magnetic layer can be made thin, and the area of the non-magnetic layer on the slider surface is small.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 16, 2000
    Date of Patent: February 22, 2005
    Assignees: Mitsumi Electric Co., Ltd., Nippon Hoso Kyokai
    Inventors: Yasuhiko Shinjo, Morio Kondo, Akira Nakamura, Toshihiro Uehara, Naoto Hayashi, Kazutoshi Mutou, Kenji Machida, Junji Numazawa