Patents by Inventor Makihiro Otohata

Makihiro Otohata 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: 8062780
    Abstract: Battery element 2 is sandwiched between and surrounded by casing films 4, 5 each having a thermo-fusing resin layer, and is sealed by thermally fused region 6 formed by thermally fusing around the overall periphery. Cross-link structure portion 13 is formed in part of thermally fused region 6 by cross-linking casing film 5, and gas release chamber 12 is formed with its leading end positioned in cross-link structure portion 13. Gas release chamber 12 is a portion which is surrounded by thermally fused region 6 along its periphery, and in which casing films 4, 5 are not thermally fused. Tube 14 which is open at both ends is connected to gas release chamber 12, while sandwiched between casing films 4, 5, with its leading end positioned in gas release chamber 12.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 2006
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2011
    Assignees: NEC Corporation, Fuji Jukogyo Kabushiki Kasha
    Inventors: Hiroshi Yageta, Makihiro Otohata, Masatomo Mizuta, Takeshi Kanai
  • Publication number: 20110143176
    Abstract: A film-packed battery includes a battery element and a packing film which houses the battery element and includes a main heat-sealed portion which is formed around the battery element, and a projecting heat-sealed portion which projects from the main heat-sealed portion toward the battery element, and a gas releasing portion formed in the projecting heat-sealed portion and the main heat-sealed portion adjacent to the projecting heat-sealed portion, wherein a distal end of the gas releasing portion reaches the projecting heat-sealed portion and the gas releasing portion connects external air with a heat-sealed interface of the packing film.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 16, 2011
    Publication date: June 16, 2011
    Applicant: NEC Corporation
    Inventors: Makihiro Otohata, Nobuaki Yoshioka
  • Patent number: 7931982
    Abstract: A film-covered battery 1 includes battery element 6 and laminate films 3 and 4 for sealing battery element 6. Laminate films 3 and 4 are realized by laminating a heat-seal resin layer and a metal foil layer and seal battery element 6 by arranging the films on either side of battery element 6 with the heat-seal resin layers disposed on the inside and then heat-sealing at sealing areas 3a and 4a on the outer peripheries of the films. The areas of the laminate films 3 and 4 other than sealing areas 3a and 4a are electron beam irradiation areas 3b and 4b that are irradiated by an electron beam. Cross-linked structures are formed in the heat-seal resin layers of electron beam irradiation areas 3b and 4b by irradiation by an electron beam.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 26, 2011
    Assignee: NEC Corporation
    Inventors: Makihiro Otohata, Hiroshi Yageta
  • Patent number: 7901806
    Abstract: In a film-packed battery which stores a battery element (9) with packing films (8a, 8b) and sealed by heat-sealing heat-sealed surfaces of the packing films around the battery element, a heat-sealed portion (6) projecting toward a battery element is provided at part of a heat-sealed portion (5), and a gas releasing portion (7) is formed close to the projecting heat-sealed portion. A pressure safety valve for safely releasing a gas to the outside when the gas is generated in the battery is provided without lowering the reliability of the battery.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 16, 2003
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2011
    Assignee: NEC Corporation
    Inventors: Makihiro Otohata, Nobuaki Yoshioka
  • Patent number: 7736801
    Abstract: The occurrence of micro-crack is prevented at the root of a thermally sealed area of casing materials even if a thick electric device element is sealed. Film covered battery 10 has cell element 13 to which leads 12a, 12b are connected, and casing films 11 for sealing cell element 13 with leads 12a, 12b extended therefrom. Casing films 11 are thermally sealed along the periphery to seal cell element 13. Thermally sealed area 13 of casing films 11 is positioned between both surfaces of cell element 13 in the thickness direction of cell element 13. On a side of casing films 11 from which leads 12a, 12b are not extended, close contact zone 15, in which casing films 11 are not thermally sealed to each other but are in close contact with each other, is formed continuously to a space which receives cell element 13. Close contact zone 15 has a length of one-half or more of the distance from one end to the other end of an inner edge of thermally sealed area 14.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 2005
    Date of Patent: June 15, 2010
    Assignee: NEC Corporation
    Inventors: Hiroshi Yageta, Makihiro Otohata
  • Publication number: 20100112436
    Abstract: A packaged battery, an assembled battery, and a film-covered battery, which can prevent a dangerous state involving a high-pressure gas filled in the film-covered battery while ensuring a sealing reliability, are provided. The Packaged battery includes film-covered battery 1 including a battery element and exterior films forming a sealed space housing the battery element, and holding member 10 holding film-covered battery 1. The sealed space includes a housing section housing the battery element, and a pocket communicating with the housing section to expand when the pressure in the sealed space increases. The pocket includes a safety valve which activates when the pocket expands. Holding member 10 includes an opening and a cavity fitting the housing section therein. When the housing section is fitted into the cavity, at least part of the pocket and the safety valve protrude to the outside of the holding member from the opening.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 9, 2008
    Publication date: May 6, 2010
    Applicant: NEC Corporation
    Inventors: Masatomo Mizuta, Kazuaki Utsumi, Makihiro Otohata, Hiroshi Yageta
  • Patent number: 7604894
    Abstract: A film covered battery has a battery element, a positive and a negative lead terminal connected to the battery element, and a casing for sealing the lead terminals and the battery element together with an electrolytic solution, with portions of the lead terminals extending therefrom. The casing has a buffer in at least a portion thereof for accumulating a gas generated within the casing through deformation of the casing. The buffer is formed continuously with a region for accommodating the battery element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 17, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 20, 2009
    Assignee: NEC Corporation
    Inventors: Hiroshi Yageta, Makihiro Otohata
  • Patent number: 7579111
    Abstract: A film-covered electric device has an electric device element and casing films. The casing films include a sealing area formed by thermally fusing the facing surfaces of the casing films together around the periphery of the electric device element, an electric device element receiving part encapsulating the electric device element inside the sealing area, and unfused portions formed in the shape of cove communicating with the electric device element receiving part. The casing films further include a stress concentrating portion touching the unfused portions for concentrating thereon the peeling stress of the casing films generated at the sealing area by the expansion of the electric device element receiving part, and a pressure releasing part is formed in the stress concentrating portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 25, 2009
    Assignee: NEC Corporation
    Inventors: Masatomo Mizuta, Hiroshi Yageta, Makihiro Otohata, Kiyokazu Oikawa, Toshihiko Mankyu
  • Publication number: 20090081542
    Abstract: Battery element 2 is sandwiched between and surrounded by casing films 4, 5 each having a thermo-fusing resin layer, and is sealed by thermally fused region 6 formed by thermally fusing around the overall periphery. Cross-link structure portion 13 is formed in part of thermally fused region 6 by cross-linking casing film 5, and gas release chamber 12 is formed with its leading end positioned in cross-link structure portion 13. Gas release chamber 12 is a portion which is surrounded by thermally fused region 6 along its periphery, and in which casing films 4, 5 are not thermally fused. Tube 14 which is open at both ends is connected to gas release chamber 12, while sandwiched between casing films 4, 5, with its leading end positioned in gas release chamber 12.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 10, 2006
    Publication date: March 26, 2009
    Applicants: NEC Corporation, Fuji Jukogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Hiroshi Yageta, Makihiro Otohata, Masatomo Mizuta, Takeshi Kanai
  • Patent number: 7498099
    Abstract: A film covered battery has a battery element, a casing for sealing the battery element, and lead terminals connected to a positive electrode and a negative electrode, respectively, of the battery element, and extending from the casing. The casing is flexible, and is comprised of two halves for sealably sandwiching the battery element on both sides in the thickness direction thereof. One of the halves of the casing, sandwiching the battery element, is formed with a recess for receiving the battery element. The lead terminals are each connected to the battery element at a position inside of both surfaces of the battery element in the thickness direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 2004
    Date of Patent: March 3, 2009
    Assignee: NEC Corporation
    Inventors: Makihiro Otohata, Hiroshi Yageta
  • Patent number: 7468220
    Abstract: A film covered battery has a battery element, a positive and a negative lead terminal connected to the battery element, and a casing for sealing the lead terminals and the battery element together with an electrolytic solution, with portions of the lead terminals extending therefrom. The casing has a buffer in at least a portion thereof for accumulating a gas generated within the casing through deformation of the casing. The buffer is formed continuously with a region for accommodating the battery element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 2004
    Date of Patent: December 23, 2008
    Assignee: NEC Corporation
    Inventors: Hiroshi Yageta, Makihiro Otohata
  • Publication number: 20080233468
    Abstract: A releasing pressure and a pressure releasing position, when enclosing films are expanded by gas produced at an abnormal time, are easily and positively configured. A film-enclosed battery (1) has a battery element (2) and two enclosing films (4, 5) for sealing the battery element (2). The enclosing films (4, 5) include heat-sealable resin layers and air-impermeable layers, and the heat-sealable resin layers and air-impermeable layers, and the heat-sealable resin layers that are face each other hold the battery element (2) and seal the battery element (2) when their peripheral edges are thermally fused. A cross-linking structure (8) formed by cross-linking heat-sealable resin layer is formed in one of the enclosing films (4, 5) so that a region in part of a heat-sealed area (6) has a position exposed to a battery element housing unit and another portion in contact with outside air.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 5, 2005
    Publication date: September 25, 2008
    Applicant: NEC CORPORATION
    Inventors: Makihiro Otohata, Hiroshi Yageta
  • Patent number: 7410724
    Abstract: A battery is fabricated on the basis of at least one of the following four concepts, i.e., lead terminals passing through a package not lower than the uppermost surface of an electrolyte cell, lead terminals projecting from a package in directions opposite to each other, a film package with a crushed portion expandable for accumulating gas and sheets of gas barrier sealant for keeping the boundaries between component parts of a package sealed; the seal is hardly broken so that the battery is durable and highly reliable.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 19, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 12, 2008
    Assignee: NEC Corporation
    Inventors: Hiroshi Yageta, Makihiro Otohata, Nobuaki Yoshioka
  • Publication number: 20080090143
    Abstract: A film covered battery has a battery element, a positive and a negative lead terminal connected to the battery element, and a casing for sealing the lead terminals and the battery element together with an electrolytic solution, with portions of the lead terminals extending therefrom. The casing has a buffer in at least a portion thereof for accumulating a gas generated within the casing through deformation of the casing. The buffer is formed continuously with a region for accommodating the battery element.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 17, 2007
    Publication date: April 17, 2008
    Applicant: NEC LAMILION ENERGY, LTD.
    Inventors: Hiroshi YAGETA, Makihiro OTOHATA
  • Publication number: 20080008936
    Abstract: A film-covered electric device has an electric device element and casing films. The casing films include a sealing area formed by thermally fusing the facing surfaces of the casing films together around the periphery of the electric device element, an electric device element receiving part encapsulating the electric device element inside the sealing area, and unfused portions formed in the shape of cove communicating with the electric device element receiving part. The casing films further include a stress concentrating portion touching the unfused portions for concentrating thereon the peeling stress of the casing films generated at the sealing area by the expansion of the electric device element receiving part, and a pressure releasing part is formed in the stress concentrating portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 31, 2007
    Publication date: January 10, 2008
    Applicant: NEC LAMILION ENERGY, LTD.
    Inventors: Masatomo Mizuta, Hiroshi Yageta, Makihiro Otohata, Kiyokazu Oikawa, Toshihiko Mankyu
  • Patent number: 7267906
    Abstract: A film-covered electric device has an electric device element and casing films. The casing films include a sealing area formed by thermally fusing the facing surfaces of the casing films together around the periphery of the electric device element, an electric device element receiving part encapsulating the electric device element inside the sealing area, and unfused portions formed in the shape of cove communicating with the electric device element receiving part. The casing films further include a stress concentrating portion touching the unfused portions for concentrating thereon the peeling stress of the casing films generated at the sealing area by the expansion of the electric device element receiving part, and a pressure releasing part is formed in the stress concentrating portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 14, 2005
    Date of Patent: September 11, 2007
    Assignee: NEC Corporation
    Inventors: Masatomo Mizuta, Hiroshi Yageta, Makihiro Otohata, Kiyokazu Oikawa, Toshihiko Mankyu
  • Publication number: 20070009795
    Abstract: A joint section where covering films 2a, 2b of film-covered battery 1 are heat-sealed together is formed with flat surface 6? having thickness t1 and groove 6 having thickness t2. Groove 6 serves to reduce the projection area of film-covered battery 1 by folding side 2c toward receiving section 2a1 with groove 6 serving as an edge, and groove 6 is made thinner than flat surface 6? by ? t=t1?t2. Therefore, the length of covering films 2a, 2b produced on outer side 6a is shortened as compared with the case of folding the portion that has thickness t1.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 30, 2004
    Publication date: January 11, 2007
    Inventors: Makihiro Otohata, Hiroshi Yageta
  • Publication number: 20060257732
    Abstract: A battery is fabricated on the basis of at least one of the following four concepts, i.e., lead terminals passing through a package not lower than the uppermost surface of an electrolyte cell, lead terminals projecting from a package in directions opposite to each other, a film package with a crushed portion expandable for accumulating gas and sheets of gas barrier sealant for keeping the boundaries between component parts of a package sealed; the seal is hardly broken so that the battery is durable and highly reliable.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 19, 2006
    Publication date: November 16, 2006
    Applicant: NEC CORPORATION
    Inventors: Hiroshi Yageta, Makihiro Otohata, Nobuaki Yoshioka
  • Publication number: 20060210872
    Abstract: The occurrence of micro-crack is prevented at the root of a thermally sealed area of casing materials even if a thick electric device element is sealed. Film covered battery 10 has cell element 13 to which leads 12a, 12b are connected, and casing films 11 for sealing cell element 13 with leads 12a, 12b extended therefrom. Casing films 11 are thermally sealed along the periphery to seal cell element 13. Thermally sealed area 13 of casing films 11 is positioned between both surfaces of cell element 13 in the thickness direction of cell element 13. On a side of casing films 11 from which leads 12a, 12b are not extended, close contact zone 15, in which casing films 11 are not thermally sealed to each other but are in close contact with each other, is formed continuously to a space which receives cell element 13. Close contact zone 15 has a length of one-half or more of the distance from one end to the other end of an inner edge of thermally sealed area 14.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 10, 2005
    Publication date: September 21, 2006
    Inventors: Hiroshi Yageta, Makihiro Otohata
  • Patent number: 7105248
    Abstract: A battery is fabricated on the basis of at least one of the following four concepts, i.e., lead terminals passing through a package not lower than the uppermost surface of an electrolyte cell, lead terminals projecting from a package in directions opposite to each other, a film package with a crushed portion expandable for accumulating gas and sheets of gas barrier sealant for keeping the boundaries between component parts of a package sealed; the seal is hardly broken so that the battery is durable and highly reliable.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 4, 2002
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2006
    Assignee: NEC Corporation
    Inventors: Hiroshi Yageta, Makihiro Otohata, Nobuaki Yoshioka