Patents by Inventor Kohtaro Kimishima

Kohtaro Kimishima 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: 9147868
    Abstract: The invention relates to a microporous membrane having a relatively low heat shrinkage values along planar axes of the membrane. The invention also relates to a battery separator formed by such microporous membrane, and a battery comprising such a separator. Another aspect of the invention relates to a method for making the multi-layer, microporous polyolefin membrane, a method for making a battery using such a membrane as a separator, and a method for using such a battery.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 29, 2015
    Assignee: Toray Battery Separator Film Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Takeshi Ishihara, Kohtaro Kimishima
  • Publication number: 20140315065
    Abstract: A battery separator includes a microporous polyolefin membrane and a modifying porous layer laminated on at least one surface of the microporous polyolefin membrane, wherein the microporous polyolefin membrane comprises a polyethylene resin, and the modifying porous layer is laminated on at least one surface of the microporous polyolefin membrane having (a) a shutdown temperature of 135° C. or lower, (b) a rate of air resistance change of 1×104 sec/100 cc/° C. or more, and (c) a transverse shrinkage rate at 130° C. of 20% or less.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 24, 2013
    Publication date: October 23, 2014
    Applicant: Toray Battery Separator Film Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Naoki Mizuno, Kohtaro Kimishima, Ken Shimizu
  • Patent number: 8507124
    Abstract: The invention relates to a multi-layer, microporous membrane having appropriate permeability, pin puncture strength, shutdown temperature, shutdown speed, meltdown temperature, and thickness uniformity. The invention also relates to a battery separator formed by such multi-layer, microporous membrane, and a battery comprising such a separator. Another aspect of the invention relates to a method for making the multi-layer, microporous polyolefin membrane, a method for making a battery using such a membrane as a separator, and a method for using such a battery.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 13, 2013
    Assignee: Toray Battery Separator Film Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Koichi Kono, Kohtaro Kimishima, Hiroyuki Ozaki, Patrick Brant, Jeffrey L. Brinen, Zerong Lin
  • Patent number: 8394306
    Abstract: A method for producing a thermoplastic resin micro-porous film wherein a thermoplastic resin and a solvent (A) are melted and kneaded together to prepare a solution, the solution is extruded and cooled to prepare a formed product in a gel state, and the residual solvent (A) is removed from the formed product, characterized in that in the step of removing the solvent (A) use is made of a non-aqueous solvent (B) which is compatible with the solvent (A) and not compatible with the thermoplastic resin, and has a boiling point of 100° or higher and a flashing point of 0° or higher. The use of the non-aqueous solvent (B) provides a production method which allows the removal of a solvent with good efficiency and also with the reduction of a fear of environmental pollution and catching fire.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2001
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2013
    Assignee: Toray Battery Separator Film Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Mitsuhiro Nishida, Kohtaro Kimishima, Sadakatsu Suzuki
  • Publication number: 20130034777
    Abstract: A method of manufacturing a microporous polymeric membrane including: heat-setting the microporous polymeric membrane in at least a first stage and a final stage, the first stage being upstream of the final stage and a temperature of the first stage being at least 15° C. cooler than a temperature of the final stage.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 2, 2012
    Publication date: February 7, 2013
    Applicant: Toray Battery Separator Film Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kotaro Takita, Kohtaro Kimishima, Norimitsu Kaimai
  • Patent number: 8012622
    Abstract: The invention relates to a multi-layer, microporous polyolefin membrane having appropriate permeability, pin puncture strength, shutdown temperature, shutdown speed, meltdown temperature, and thickness uniformity. The invention also relates to a battery separator formed by such multi-layer, microporous membrane, and a battery comprising such a separator. Another aspect of the invention relates to a method for making the multi-layer, microporous polyolefin membrane, a method for making a battery using such a membrane as a separator, and a method for using such a battery.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2011
    Assignee: Toray Tonen Specialty Separator Godo Kaisha
    Inventors: Koichi Kono, Kohtaro Kimishima, Hiroyuki Ozaki, Patrick Brant, Jeffrey L. Brinen, Zerong Lin
  • Patent number: 8008417
    Abstract: Disclosed herein is a polymer composition, its manufacture and use, said composition may comprise greater than about 90 mole % propylene monomer, and having a unique combination of properties, including one or more of the following: a heat of fusion of more than about 108 J/g, a melting point of 165° C. or higher, a Melt Flow Rate so low that it is essentially not measurable and a molecular weight of greater than about 1.5×106. Further disclosed herein are blends or mixtures of the present novel polymer composition and products, such as, for example, microporous film structures and the like comprising same.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2011
    Assignee: Toray Tonen Specialty Separator Godo Kaisha
    Inventors: Patrick Brant, Jeffrey L. Brinen, Zerong Lin, Koichi Kono, Kohtaro Kimishima, Hiroyuki Ozaki
  • Patent number: 7981536
    Abstract: Disclosed herein is multi-layer, microporous polyolefin membrane comprising a first porous layer comprising primarily a polyethylene, and a second porous layer comprising a polyethylene resin and polypropylene, the polypropylene having a weight-average molecular weight of 6×105 or more and a heat of fusion (measured by a differential scanning calorimeter) of 90 J/g or more, a fraction of the polypropylene having a molecular weight of 5×104 or less being 5% or less by mass.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2006
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2011
    Assignee: Toray Tonen Specialty Separator Godo Kaisha
    Inventors: Koichi Kono, Kohtaro Kimishima, Hiroyuki Ozaki, Patrick Brant, Jeffrey L. Brinen, Zerong Lin
  • Publication number: 20110086276
    Abstract: Disclosed herein is a polymer composition, its manufacture and use, said composition may comprise greater than about 90 mole % propylene monomer, and having a unique combination of properties, including one or more of the following: a heat of fusion of more than about 108 J/g, a melting point of 165° C. or higher, a Melt Flow Rate so low that it is essentially not measurable and a molecular weight of greater than about 1.5×106. Further disclosed herein are blends or mixtures of the present novel polymer composition and products, such as, for example, microporous film structures and the like comprising same.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 8, 2010
    Publication date: April 14, 2011
    Inventors: Patrick Brant, Jeffrey L. Brinen, Zerong Lin, Koichi Kono, Kohtaro Kimishima, Hiroyuki Ozaki
  • Patent number: 7872086
    Abstract: Disclosed herein is a polymer composition, its manufacture and use, said composition may comprise greater than about 90 mole % propylene monomer, and having a unique combination of properties, including one or more of the following: a heat of fusion of more than about 108 J/g, a melting point of 165° C. or higher, a Melt Flow Rate so low that it is essentially not measurable and a molecular weight of greater than about 1.5×106. Further disclosed herein are blends or mixtures of the present novel polymer composition and products, such as, for example, microporous film structures and the like comprising same.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 17, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 18, 2011
    Assignee: Tonen Chemical Corporation
    Inventors: Patrick Brant, Jeffrey L. Brinen, Zerong Lin, Koichi Kono, Kohtaro Kimishima, Hiroyuki Ozaki
  • Publication number: 20110003178
    Abstract: The invention relates to a microporous membrane having a relatively low heat shrinkage values along planar axes of the membrane. The invention also relates to a battery separator formed by such microporous membrane, and a battery comprising such a separator. Another aspect of the invention relates to a method for making the multi-layer, microporous polyolefin membrane, a method for making a battery using such a membrane as a separator, and a method for using such a battery.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 17, 2008
    Publication date: January 6, 2011
    Inventors: Takeshi Ishihara, Kohtaro Kimishima
  • Publication number: 20100297491
    Abstract: The invention relates to microporous polymeric membrane having a good balance of rupture temperature and air permeability. The invention also relates to a battery separator formed by such a microporous membrane, and a battery comprising such a separator. Another aspect of the invention relates to a method for making the microporous polymeric membrane, a method for making a battery using such a membrane as a separator, and a method for using such a battery.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 17, 2008
    Publication date: November 25, 2010
    Inventors: Takeshi Ishihara, Kohtaro Kimishima
  • Patent number: 7807287
    Abstract: Disclosed herein is a multi-layer, microporous polyolefin membrane comprising a first porous layer of a polyethylene, and a second porous layer comprising a polyethylene, and polypropylene having a weight-average molecular weight of 6×105 or more and a fraction having a molecular weight of 1.8×106 or more being 10% or more by mass.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2006
    Date of Patent: October 5, 2010
    Assignee: Tonen Chemical Corporation
    Inventors: Koichi Kono, Kohtaro Kimishima, Hiroyuki Ozaki, Patrick Brant, Jeffrey L. Brinen, Zerong Lin
  • Publication number: 20090226813
    Abstract: A microporous polymeric membrane having excellent properties for use as a battery separator is provided. The membrane is produced by heat-setting the microporous polymeric membrane in at least a first stage and a final stage, the first stage being upstream of the final stage and the temperature of the first stage being at least 15° C. cooler than the temperature of the final stage.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 7, 2008
    Publication date: September 10, 2009
    Inventors: Kotaro Takita, Kohtaro Kimishima, Norimitsu Kaimai
  • Publication number: 20090226814
    Abstract: A microporous polymeric membrane having excellent properties for use as a battery separator is provided. The membrane is produced by heat-setting the microporous polymeric membrane in at least a first stage and a final stage, the first stage being upstream of the final stage and the temperature of the first stage being at least 15° C. cooler than the temperature of the final stage.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 7, 2008
    Publication date: September 10, 2009
    Inventors: Kotaro Takita, Kohtaro Kimishima, Norimitsu Kaimai
  • Publication number: 20090186279
    Abstract: Disclosed herein is a polymer composition, its manufacture and use, said composition may comprise greater than about 90 mole % propylene monomer, and having a unique combination of properties, including one or more of the following: a heat of fusion of more than about 108 J/g, a melting point of 165° C. or higher, a Melt Flow Rate so low that it is essentially not measurable and a molecular weight of greater than about 1.5×106. Further disclosed herein are blends or mixtures of the present novel polymer composition and products, such as, for example, microporous film structures and the like comprising same.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 17, 2008
    Publication date: July 23, 2009
    Inventors: Patrick Brant, Jeffrey L. Brinen, Zerong Lin, Koichi Kono, Kohtaro Kimishima, Hiroyuki Ozaki
  • Publication number: 20090123828
    Abstract: The invention relates to a multi-layer, microporous membrane having appropriate permeability, pin puncture strength, shutdown temperature, shutdown speed, meltdown temperature, and thickness uniformity. The invention also relates to a battery separator formed by such multi-layer, microporous membrane, and a battery comprising such a separator. Another aspect of the invention relates to a method for making the multi-layer, microporous polyolefin membrane, a method for making a battery using such a membrane as a separator, and a method for using such a battery.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 14, 2007
    Publication date: May 14, 2009
    Inventors: Koichi Kono, Kohtaro Kimishima, Hiroyuki Ozaki, Patrick Brant, Jeffrey L. Brinen, Zerong Lin
  • Publication number: 20090123827
    Abstract: The invention relates to a multi-layer, microporous polyolefin membrane having appropriate permeability, pin puncture strength, shutdown temperature, shutdown speed, meltdown temperature, and thickness uniformity. The invention also relates to a battery separator formed by such multi-layer, microporous membrane, and a battery comprising such a separator. Another aspect of the invention relates to a method for making the multi-layer, microporous polyolefin membrane, a method for making a battery using such a membrane as a separator, and a method for using such a battery.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 14, 2007
    Publication date: May 14, 2009
    Inventors: Koichi Kono, Kohtaro Kimishima, Hiroyuik Ozaki, Patrick Brant, Jeffrey L. Brinen, Zerong Lin
  • Publication number: 20080057389
    Abstract: Disclosed herein is multi-layer, microporous polyolefin membrane comprising a first porous layer comprising primarily a polyethylene, and a second porous layer comprising a polyethylene resin and polypropylene, the polypropylene having a weight-average molecular weight of 6×105 or more and a heat of fusion (measured by a differential scanning calorimeter) of 90 J/g or more, a fraction of the polypropylene having a molecular weight of 5×104 or less being 5% or less by mass.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 31, 2006
    Publication date: March 6, 2008
    Inventors: Koichi Kono, Kohtaro Kimishima, Hiroyuki Ozaki, Patrick Brant, Jeffrey L. Brinen, Zerong Lin
  • Publication number: 20080057388
    Abstract: Disclosed herein is a multi-layer, microporous polyolefin membrane comprising a first porous layer of a polyethylene, and a second porous layer comprising a polyethylene, and polypropylene having a weight-average molecular weight of 6×105 or more and a fraction having a molecular weight of 1.8×106 or more being 10% or more by mass.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 31, 2006
    Publication date: March 6, 2008
    Inventors: Koichi Kono, Kohtaro Kimishima, Hiroyuki Ozaki, Patrick Brant, Jeffrey L. Brinen, Zerong Lin