Patents by Inventor Kouji Hamano

Kouji Hamano 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: 6811928
    Abstract: Conventional batteries are disadvantageous in that a firm outer case must be used to maintain an electrical connection between electrodes, which has been an obstacle to size reduction. Those in which each electrode and a separator are joined with an adhesive resin suffer from conflict between adhesive strength and battery characteristics, particularly ion conductivity and internal resistivity. To solve these problems, it is an object of the invention to reduce resistance between electrodes, i.e., internal resistance of a battery to improve battery characteristics while securing both insulation function against electron conduction and ion conductivity between electrodes and also to maintain adhesive strength enough to firmly join the electrodes thereby to provide a light, compact and thin battery. The internal resistivity can be diminished by joining a positive electrode and a negative electrode with an adhesive resin layer having at least one adhesive resin layer containing a filler.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 1999
    Date of Patent: November 2, 2004
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Denki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Shigeru Aihara, Daigo Takemura, Hisashi Shiota, Jun Aragane, Hiroaki Urushibata, Yasuhiro Yoshida, Kouji Hamano, Michio Murai, Takayuki Inuzuka
  • Patent number: 6755017
    Abstract: A device for purifying exhaust gas of an internal combustion engine which provides improved purifying efficiency even in a lean operating condition without deteriorating the fuel efficiency. The device includes an electrochemical catalyst 5 installed in the exhaust system 3 of the internal combustion engine 1, the electro chemical catalyst 5 containing an electron conducting substance and an ion conducting substance, the oxidizing reaction and the reducing reaction being promoted by the conduction of ions and electrons, thereby to electrochemically purify the exhaust gas G in the exhaust system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 9, 2001
    Date of Patent: June 29, 2004
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Denki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Hideaki Katashiba, Satoshi Wachi, Kenro Mitsuda, Kouji Hamano
  • Patent number: 6723467
    Abstract: Conventional separators had a function that their melting made minute holes inside the separator smaller, leading to cut off of ion conductivity in temperature increase due to unusual conditions such as short circuit. However, there was a problem that, at a temperature higher than a certain degree, not only the minute holes were closed but also the separator itself was melted to cause deformation of the separator such as shrink and generation of holes due to melting and insulation was broken. The present invention has been carried out in order to solve the above problems. The separator for batteries of the present invention comprises a first porous layer (3a) containing a thermoplastic resin as a main component and a second porous layer (3b) laminated on the first porous layer (3a), which has higher heat resistance than that of the first porous layer (3a).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 20, 2004
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Denki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yasuhiro Yoshida, Osamu Hiroi, Kouji Hamano, Daigo Takemura, Sigeru Aihara, Hisashi Shiota, Jun Aragane, Hiroaki Urushibata, Michio Murai, Takayuki Inuzuka
  • Patent number: 6692543
    Abstract: A method for manufacturing a lithium ion secondary battery comprising preparing a positive electrode (3) where a positive electrode active material (7) is joined with a positive electrode collector (6), a negative electrode (5) where a negative electrode active material (9) is joined with a negative electrode collector (10), and a separator (4) for retaining the electrolytes including lithium ions, being arranged between the positive electrode (3) and the negative electrode (5), the process of supplying adhesive solution applied on the separator with a second solvent different from a first solvent after applying the adhesive resin solution, where adhesive resin (11) is dissolved in the above first solvent, to the separator (4), and the process of forming an electrode laminate by sticking the positive electrode (3) and the negative electrode (5) to the separator (4).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 19, 2000
    Date of Patent: February 17, 2004
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Denki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Kouji Hamano, Yasuhiro Yoshida, Michio Murai, Takayuki Inuzuka, Hisashi Shiota, Jun Aragane, Hiroaki Urushibata, Shigeru Aihara, Daigo Takemura
  • Patent number: 6664007
    Abstract: A secondary battery having a positive electrode, a negative electrode, and a separator that is arranged between the two electrodes. A porous adhesive resin layer has through holes and the resin layer is formed between the separator and one of the positive electrode and the negative electrode to bond the separator to the one of positive and negative electrodes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 3, 2001
    Date of Patent: December 16, 2003
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Denki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Kouji Hamano, Yasuhiro Yoshida, Hisashi Shiota, Shou Shiraga, Shigeru Aihara, Michio Murai, Takayuki Inuzuka
  • Patent number: 6653015
    Abstract: A paste-like active material mixture prepared by mixing an active material powder and a particulate material comprising a polymer soluble in a nonaqueous electrolytic solution is applied to, e.g. collectors 1c and 2c to a uniform thickness, and then dried to form positive and negative electrodes 1, 2 containing an active material powder and a particulate polymer. The two electrodes are assembled into an electrode laminate into which the foregoing electrolytic solution is then injected.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 2001
    Date of Patent: November 25, 2003
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Denki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yasuhiro Yoshida, Kouji Hamano, Takayuki Inuzuka, Michio Murai, Hisashi Shiota, Shigeru Aihara, Syo Shiraga
  • Publication number: 20030170536
    Abstract: Conventional batteries are disadvantageous in that a firm outer case must be used to maintain an electrical connection between electrodes, which has been an obstacle to size reduction. Those in which each electrode and a separator are joined with an adhesive resin suffer from conflict between adhesive strength and battery characteristics, particularly ion conductivity and internal resistivity. To solve these problems, it is an object of the invention to reduce resistance between electrodes, i.e., internal resistance of a battery to improve battery characteristics while securing both insulation function against electron conduction and ion conductivity between electrodes and also to maintain adhesive strength enough to firmly join the electrodes thereby to provide a light, compact and thin battery.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 24, 2003
    Publication date: September 11, 2003
    Applicant: MITSUBISHI DENKI KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Shigeru Aihara, Daigo Takemura, Hisashi Shiota, Jun Aragane, Hiroaki Urushibata, Yasuhiro Yoshida, Kouji Hamano, Michio Murai, Takayuki Inuzuka
  • Patent number: 6537705
    Abstract: A secondary lithium ion battery, comprising a plurality of laminates (12) each having a separator (7) holding an electrolytic solution to which a positive electrode (1) and a negative electrode (4)are joined with an adhesive resin layer (8) having a mixed phase composed of an electrolytic solution phase (9), a polymer gel phase (10) containing an electrolytic solution, and a polymer solid phase (11).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 23, 1999
    Date of Patent: March 25, 2003
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Denki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Kouji Hamano, Hisashi Shiota, Yasuhiro Yoshida, Michio Murai, Takayuki Inuzuka, Shigeru Aihara, Sho Shiraga
  • Patent number: 6500579
    Abstract: A fuel cell including a unit cell and a separator panel alternatingly stacked on one another. The unit cell includes an electrolyte membrane sandwiched between a fuel electrode and an oxidant electrode. The separator panel includes parallel fuel flow paths extending from a fluid supply port to a fluid discharge port for supplying fluid fuel to the fuel electrode and parallel oxidant flow paths extending from a fluid supply port to a fluid discharge port for supplying oxidant fluid to the oxidant electrode. At least the oxidant flow paths include groups of parallel flow paths, which extend back and forth within divided regions of the main surface of the separator panel. The oxidant flow paths may include groups of parallel flow paths, positions along the groups of the parallel flow paths at equal distance from the respective fluid supply port being distributed substantially evenly over the main surface of the separator panel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 3, 2000
    Date of Patent: December 31, 2002
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Denki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Hideo Maeda, Hisatoshi Fukumoto, Kouji Hamano, Kenro Mituda
  • Patent number: 6485862
    Abstract: A battery body, which is composed of a laminated body obtained by laminating a cathode and an anode via a separator or a wound body obtained by winding them in a laminated structure and a plurality of leads connected to the cathode and the anode, is contained in a flexible package, and after an electrolyte solution is injected thereinto, an opening of the package is sealed at pressure which is lower than atmospheric pressure and is reduced to not less than vapor pressure of the electrolyte solution so that a thin battery is fabricated. A rise in pressure in the battery due to generation of gas in the battery and volume expansion of the gas can be restrained when the battery is maintained at high temperature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 12, 2001
    Date of Patent: November 26, 2002
    Assignees: Mitsubishi Denki Kabushiki Kaisha, Japan Storage Battery Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Shoji Yoshioka, Hiroaki Urushibata, Hisashi Shiota, Jun Aragane, Makiko Kise, Shigeru Aihara, Daigo Takemura, Takashi Nishimura, Yasuhiro Yoshida, Osamu Hiroi, Kouji Hamano, Hironori Ozaki, Hideo Ichimura, Kenji Kawaguchi, Masaharu Moriyasu, Shinji Nakadeguchi, Michio Murai, Hisashi Tsukamoto
  • Patent number: 6472105
    Abstract: An adhesive for batteries. The adhesive has improved wetting properties, improved adhesive strength and prevents deterioration of battery performance. Secondary batteries can be obtained having an arbitrary shape such as a thin shape with high reliability and high charge and discharge efficiency. The adhesive includes a thermoplastic resin, a solvent capable of dissolving the resin and a neutral and aprotic surfactant. The surfactant includes a polysiloxene skeleton. The adhesive is used in batteries for adhering an active material layer joined to a current collector to a separator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 19, 1999
    Date of Patent: October 29, 2002
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Denki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Michio Murai, Takayuki Inuzuka, Yasuhiro Yoshida, Shigeru Aihara, Daigo Takemura, Hisashi Shiota, Jun Aragane, Hiroaki Urushibata, Kouji Hamano
  • Patent number: 6468698
    Abstract: To provide a practical thin type lithium ion secondary battery having a excellent safety and charge-discharge properties. A lithium ion secondary battery comprising a positive electrode 1, a negative electrode 4, a separator 7 retaining an electrolytic solution, and an adhesive resin layer 8 which connects said positive electrode 1 and negative electrode 4 to said separator 7, characterized in that said adhesive resin layer 8 comprises a polyvinylidene fluoride and an ionically-conducting polymer compound incorporated therein.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 1998
    Date of Patent: October 22, 2002
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Denki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Kouji Hamano, Sei Tsunoda, Yasuhiro Yoshida, Michio Murai, Takayuki Inuzuka, Shigeru Aihara, Hisashi Shiota
  • Patent number: 6458483
    Abstract: A lithium ion secondary battery having an electrode body including a positive electrode made of a positive electrode active material layer joined to a current collector, a negative electrode made of a negative electrode active material layer joined to a current collector, a separator which is disposed between the positive electrode and the negative electrode and retains an electrolytic solution containing lithium ions, and a porous adhesive resin layer which retains the electrolytic solution and joins the separator to at least one of the positive electrode active material layer and to the negative electrode active material layer, the electrode body being sealed into a packaging bag, wherein an adhesive resin film capable of absorbing the electrolytic solution and gelling adheres the electrode body to the packaging bag.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 2000
    Date of Patent: October 1, 2002
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Denki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Kouji Hamano, Osamu Hiroi, Yasuhiro Yoshida, Shoji Yoshioka, Hisashi Shiota, Makiko Kise, Shigeru Aihara, Daigo Takemura, Jun Aragane, Hiroaki Urushibata, Sei Tsunoda
  • Patent number: 6444355
    Abstract: A lithium ion battery comprising a positive electrode 1, a negative electrode 4 and a separator 7 for retaining an electrolyte, characterized in that as an adhesive 8 for bonding said positive electrode 1 to said separator 7 and said negative electrode 4 to said separator 7 there is used a thermosetting adhesive comprising a mixture of at least one organic vinyl compound containing two or more vinyl groups per molecule, a reaction catalyst and a volatile organic solvent.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 23, 1998
    Date of Patent: September 3, 2002
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Denki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Michio Murai, Takayuki Inuzuka, Yasuhiro Yoshida, Kouji Hamano, Hisashi Shiota, Shigeru Aihara, Syo Shiraga
  • Publication number: 20020102456
    Abstract: Conventional batteries are disadvantageous in that a firm outer case must be used to maintain an electrical connection between electrodes, which has been an obstacle to size reduction. Those in which each electrode and a separator are joined with an adhesive resin suffer from conflict between adhesive strength and battery characteristics. To solve these problems, it is an object of the invention to provide a battery which requires no outer case so as to realize reduction in thickness and weight and yet exhibits excellence in both battery characteristics and adhesive strength.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 29, 2002
    Publication date: August 1, 2002
    Applicant: MITSUBISHI DENKI KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Shigeru Aihara, Daigo Takemura, Hisashi Shiota, Jun Aragane, Hiroaki Urushibata, Yasuhiro Yoshida, Kouji Hamano, Michio Murai, Takayuki Inuzuka
  • Publication number: 20020073692
    Abstract: A device for purifying exhaust gas of an internal combustion engine featuring improved purifying efficiency even in a lean operating condition without deteriorating the fuel efficiency. The device comprises an electrochemical catalyst 5 installed in the exhaust system 3 of the internal combustion engine 1, the electrochemical catalyst 5 containing an electron conducting substance and an ion conducting substance, the oxidizing reaction and the reducing reaction being promoted by the conduction of ions and electrons, thereby to electrochemically purify the exhaust gas G in the exhaust system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 9, 2001
    Publication date: June 20, 2002
    Applicant: MITSUBISHI DENKI KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Hideaki Katashiba, Satoshi Wachi, Kenro Mitsuda, Kouji Hamano
  • Patent number: 6387565
    Abstract: Conventional batteries are disadvantageous in that a firm outer case must be used to maintain an electrical connection between electrodes, which has been an obstacle to size reduction. Those in which each electrode and a separator are joined with an adhesive resin suffer from conflict between adhesive strength and battery characteristics. To solve these problems, it is an object of the invention to provide a battery which requires no outer case so as to realize reduction in thickness and weight and yet exhibits excellence in both battery characteristics and adhesive strength. A positive electrode, a negative electrode, and a separator are joined via an adhesive resin layer having at least one adhesive resin layer containing a filler. The adhesive resin layer has pores, which are filled with an electrolytic solution to exhibit sufficient ion conductivity thereby to improve battery characteristics and to retain adhesive strength.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 1999
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2002
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Denki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Shigeru Aihara, Daigo Takemura, Hisashi Shiota, Jun Aragane, Hiroaki Urushibata, Yasuhiro Yoshida, Kouji Hamano, Michio Murai, Takayuki Inuzuka
  • Publication number: 20020055038
    Abstract: Conventional batteries are disadvantageous in that a firm outer case must be used to maintain an electrical connection between electrodes, which has been an obstacle to size reduction. Those in which each electrode and a separator are joined with an adhesive resin suffer from conflict between adhesive strength and battery characteristics, particularly ion conductivity and internal resistivity. To solve these problems, it is an object of the invention to reduce resistance between electrodes, i.e., internal resistance of a battery to improve battery characteristics while securing both insulation function against electron conduction and ion conductivity between electrodes and also to maintain adhesive strength enough to firmly join the electrodes thereby to provide a light, compact and thin battery.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 22, 1999
    Publication date: May 9, 2002
    Inventors: SHIGERU AIHARA, DAIGO TAKEMURA, HISASHI SHIOTA, JUN ARAGANE, HIROAKI URUSHIBATA, YASUHIRO YOSHIDA, KOUJI HAMANO, MICHIO MURAI, TAKAYUKI INUZUKA
  • Publication number: 20020048704
    Abstract: An adhesive for batteries a solution of which has improved wetting properties, which affords improved adhesive strength and prevents deterioration of battery performance, and which can provide secondary batteries having an arbitrary shape, such as a thin shape, with high reliability and high charge and discharge efficiency, and a battery using the same are disclosed. An adhesive comprising a thermoplastic resin, a solvent capable of dissolving the thermoplastic resin, and a neutral and aprotic surface active agent is used as an adhesive for batteries for adhering an active material layer joined to a current collector to a separator, whereby a secondary battery which can take an arbitrary shape, such as a thin shape, with high reliability and high charge and discharge efficiency can be obtained.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 19, 1999
    Publication date: April 25, 2002
    Inventors: MICHIO MURAI, TAKAYUKI INUZUKA, YASUHIRO YOSHIDA, SHIGERU AIHARA, DAIGO TAKEMURA, HISASHI SHIOTA, JUN ARAGANE, HIROAKI URUSHIBATA, KOUJI HAMANO
  • Patent number: 6376125
    Abstract: An object is to provide with good productivity a practical lithium ion secondary battery which secures lightness in weight and safety without using a firm battery case and has reduced internal resistivity. The lithium ion secondary battery comprises a tabular roll type laminated electrode body in which a band-formed positive electrode (3) comprising a positive electrode active material layer (7) and a positive electrode current collector (6) alternates with a band-formed negative electrode (5) comprising a negative electrode active material layer (9) and a negative electrode current collector (10), having therebetween a band-formed rolled separator (4) which holds a lithium ion-containing electrolytic solution, the positive electrode (3) or the negative electrode (5) being adhered with two separators (4) by an adhesive layer (11).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2002
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Denki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Hisashi Shiota, Shigeru Aihara, Daigo Takemura, Jun Aragane, Hiroaki Urushibata, Kouji Hamano, Yasuhiro Yoshida, Takayuki Inuzuka, Michio Murai