Patents by Inventor Koichiro Aotani

Koichiro Aotani 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: 11710863
    Abstract: In a recovery control method for a secondary battery that includes a positive electrode containing a positive electrode active material, a solid electrolyte, and a negative electrode containing a negative electrode active material containing at least a lithium metal or a lithium alloy, and is fastened from an outside, the recovery control method includes: measuring cell resistance of the secondary battery; calculating a recovery limit resistance value indicating an upper limit value of resistance that ensures recovering the secondary battery from a depth of charge/discharge of the secondary battery, a cell temperature of the secondary battery, and a pressure applied to the secondary battery; and inhibiting charging/discharging the secondary battery and executing recovery control that recovers the secondary battery when a resistance value of the cell resistance is equal to or less than the recovery limit resistance value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 25, 2023
    Assignees: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd., Renault S.A.S.
    Inventors: Anna Hirowatari, Toshikazu Kotaka, Koichiro Aotani
  • Publication number: 20230198033
    Abstract: In a recovery control method for a secondary battery that includes a positive electrode containing a positive electrode active material, a solid electrolyte, and a negative electrode containing a negative electrode active material containing at least a lithium metal or a lithium alloy, and is fastened from an outside, the recovery control method includes: measuring cell resistance of the secondary battery; calculating a recovery limit resistance value indicating an upper limit value of resistance that ensures recovering the secondary battery from a depth of charge/discharge of the secondary battery, a cell temperature of the secondary battery, and a pressure applied to the secondary battery; and inhibiting charging/discharging the secondary battery and executing recovery control that recovers the secondary battery when a resistance value of the cell resistance is equal to or less than the recovery limit resistance value.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 20, 2020
    Publication date: June 22, 2023
    Inventors: Anna Hirowatari, Toshikazu Kotaka, Koichiro Aotani
  • Patent number: 10033047
    Abstract: A method for manufacturing a metal gas diffusion layer made of a metal porous body, the method includes forming a conductive layer of carbon film layer on the metal porous body, and forming a water-repellent layer on the metal porous body formed with the conductive layer. The forming a water-repellent layer includes coating a solution containing a fluorine resin which constitutes the water-repellent layer and a volatile component which does not constitute the water-repellent layer on the metal porous body, and heat-treating the metal porous body coated with the solution at or above a temperature at which a component which contains the volatile component and which does not constitute the water-repellent layer contained in the solution and less than a temperature at which an electrical resistance of the conductive layer is increased and electron conductivity is deteriorated to thereby form the water-repellent layer composed of the fluorine resin.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 24, 2018
    Assignee: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Koichiro Aotani
  • Publication number: 20160149227
    Abstract: A method for manufacturing a metal gas diffusion layer made of a metal porous body, the method includes forming a conductive layer of carbon film layer on the metal porous body, and forming a water-repellent layer on the metal porous body formed with the conductive layer. The forming a water-repellent layer includes coating a solution containing a fluorine resin which constitutes the water-repellent layer and a volatile component which does not constitute the water-repellent layer on the metal porous body, and heat-treating the metal porous body coated with the solution at or above a temperature at which a component which contains the volatile component and which does not constitute the water-repellent layer contained in the solution and less than a temperature at which an electrical resistance of the conductive layer is increased and electron conductivity is deteriorated to thereby form the water-repellent layer composed of the fluorine resin.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 22, 2014
    Publication date: May 26, 2016
    Inventor: Koichiro AOTANI
  • Patent number: 8003276
    Abstract: A membrane electrode assembly for a fuel cell of the present invention includes an electrolyte membrane (100); and a pair of electrode catalyst layers (110) provided on both surfaces of the electrolyte membrane. Furthermore, in the present invention, a plurality of hydrophilic groups exist along a substantially continuous concentration gradient from a surface of one of the electrode catalyst layers opposite to a surface thereof in contact with the electrolyte membrane to a surface of the other electrode catalyst layer opposite to a surface thereof in contact with the electrolyte membrane in a thickness direction of the electrolyte membrane (100) and the electrode catalyst layers (110). This makes it possible to provide a membrane electrode assembly with water management performed not only in the surfaces but also in the entire assembly in the thickness direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2011
    Assignee: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Koichiro Aotani
  • Publication number: 20090053577
    Abstract: A membrane electrode assembly for a fuel cell of the present invention includes an electrolyte membrane (100); and a pair of electrode catalyst layers (110) provided on both surfaces of the electrolyte membrane. Furthermore, in the present invention, a plurality of hydrophilic groups exist along a substantially continuous concentration gradient from a surface of one of the electrode catalyst layers opposite to a surface thereof in contact with the electrolyte membrane to a surface of the other electrode catalyst layer opposite to a surface thereof in contact with the electrolyte membrane in a thickness direction of the electrolyte membrane (100) and the electrode catalyst layers (110). This makes it possible to provide a membrane electrode assembly with water management performed not only in the surfaces but also in the entire assembly in the thickness direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 7, 2006
    Publication date: February 26, 2009
    Inventor: Koichiro Aotani