Patents by Inventor Minjuan Zhang
Minjuan Zhang 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).
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Patent number: 8322636Abstract: A process for producing particles from a thin film is provided. The process includes grinding the thin film using granules that afford for the particles to maintain a structure and/or one or more properties of the thin film. In addition, the process provides for a high recovery percentage of the source material.Type: GrantFiled: December 15, 2010Date of Patent: December 4, 2012Assignees: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc., Toyota Motor CorporationInventors: Songtao Wu, Hongfei Jia, Debasish Banerjee, Minjuan Zhang, Masahiko Ishii
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Patent number: 8323391Abstract: A paint composition is disclosed, the paint having a binder and an omnidirectional structural color pigment dispersed throughout the binder. The omnidirectional structural color pigment can be made from a plurality of flakes that have a multilayer structure, the pigment and the paint having a reflection band of less than 200 nanometers when viewed from angles between 0 to 45 degrees.Type: GrantFiled: December 21, 2010Date of Patent: December 4, 2012Assignee: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc.Inventors: Debasish Banerjee, Songtao Wu, Minjuan Zhang, Masahiko Ishii
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Patent number: 8324295Abstract: Protein-polymer compositions and processes for their production are provided where the compositions have improved resistance to ultraviolet light induced weathering and associated loss of enzyme activity. The incorporation of both a sterically hindered amine and an ultraviolet light absorber at a concentration of at least 5% by weight produces a curable or cured composition with UV stabilized enzyme activity that can be used as a bioactive coating with improved stain removal properties.Type: GrantFiled: February 10, 2011Date of Patent: December 4, 2012Assignees: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc., Toyota Motor CorporationInventors: Hongfei Jia, Songtao Wu, Masahiko Ishii, Minjuan Zhang
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Publication number: 20120298924Abstract: A process for manufacturing a thermoelectric material having a plurality of grains and grain boundaries. The process includes determining a material composition to be investigated for the thermoelectric material and then determining a range of values of grain size and/or grain boundary barrier height obtainable for the material composition using current state of the art manufacturing techniques. Thereafter, a range of figure of merit values for the material composition is determined as a function of the range of values of grain size and/or grain boundary barrier height. And finally, a thermoelectric material having the determined material composition and an average grain size and grain boundary barrier height corresponding to the maximum range of figure of merit values is manufactured.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 27, 2011Publication date: November 29, 2012Applicant: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc.Inventors: Debasish Banerjee, Minjuan Zhang, Takuji Kita
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Publication number: 20120301946Abstract: A substrate or coating is provided that includes a protease with enzymatic activity toward a component of a biological stain. Also provided is a process for facilitating the removal of a biological stain is provided wherein an inventive substrate or coating including a protease is capable of enzymatically degrading of one or more components of the biological stain to facilitate biological stain removal from the substrate or said coating.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 6, 2012Publication date: November 29, 2012Applicants: Toyota Motor Corporation, Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc.Inventors: Songtao Wu, Hongfei Jia, Masahiko Ishii, Minjuan Zhang
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Publication number: 20120298928Abstract: A thermoelectric material is provided. The material can be a grain boundary modified nanocomposite that has a plurality of bismuth antimony telluride matrix grains and a plurality of zinc oxide nanoparticles within the plurality of bismuth antimony telluride matrix grains. In addition, the material has zinc antimony modified grain boundaries between the plurality of bismuth antimony telluride matrix grains.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 13, 2012Publication date: November 29, 2012Applicant: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc.Inventors: Michael Paul Rowe, Li Qin Zhou, Minjuan Zhang, Debasish Banerjee
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Publication number: 20120276617Abstract: Temporary active coatings that are stabilized against inactivation by weathering are provided including a base associated with a chemically modified enzyme, and, optionally a first polyoxyethylene present in the base and independent of the enzyme. The coatings are optionally overlayered onto a substrate to form an active coating facilitating the removal of organic stains or organic material from food, insects, or the environment.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 29, 2011Publication date: November 1, 2012Applicants: TOYOTA MOTOR CORPORATION, TOYOTA MOTOR ENGINEERING & MANUFACTURING NORTH AMERICA, INC.Inventors: HONGFEI JIA, SONGTAO WU, MASAHIKO ISHII, MINJUAN ZHANG
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Publication number: 20120256333Abstract: A process for manufacturing stand-alone multilayer thin films is provided. The process includes providing a substrate, depositing a sacrificial layer onto the substrate and the depositing multilayer thin film onto the sacrificial layer. Thereafter, the substrate, sacrificial layer and thin film structure are exposed to chemical solutions. The chemical solution selectively reacts with the sacrificial layer to remove the sacrificial layer, thereby affording for an intact multilayer stand-alone thin film to separate from the substrate. The color and optical properties of the multilayer thin film are not affected by the removal of the sacrificial layer.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 20, 2012Publication date: October 11, 2012Applicants: Toyota Motor Corporation, Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc.Inventors: Ayse Hancer-Ademuwagun, Songtao Wu, Debasish Banerjee, Minjuan Zhang, Masahiko Ishii
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Patent number: 8283076Abstract: A microbial fuel cell is provided according to embodiments of the present invention including electricigenic microbes containing at least about 0.075 milligrams of protein per square centimeter of the anode surface area. In particular embodiments, the electricigenic microbes are disposed on the anode such that at least about 90% of the portion of the anode surface area has a layer of electricigenic microbes, the layer greater than about 1 micron in thickness. This thickness is indicative of the layer including at least a first stratum of electricigenic microbes in direct contact with the anode and a second stratum of electricigenic microbes in direct contact with the first stratum such that the second stratum is in indirect contact with the anode.Type: GrantFiled: May 18, 2007Date of Patent: October 9, 2012Assignees: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc., University of MassachusettsInventors: Derek R. Lovley, Kelly P. Nevin, Minjuan Zhang, Hongfei Jia
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Publication number: 20120252090Abstract: A process for stabilizing a bioactive composition includes forming hydrogel matrix pores around protein molecules and reducing a water content within the hydrogel matrix pores while keeping the protein molecules biologically active.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 18, 2012Publication date: October 4, 2012Applicants: Regents of the University of Minnesota, Toyota Motor Corporation, Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc.Inventors: Ping Wang, Songtao Wu, Hongfei Jia, Masahiko Ishii, Xiaodong Tong, Minjuan Zhang
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Patent number: 8257784Abstract: In one embodiment, a method for identifying an article of manufacture may include: producing a plurality of multilayer photonic structures, wherein each of the plurality of multilayer photonic structures has a unique intensity profile; incorporating one of the plurality of multilayer photonic structures that produces the unique intensity profile into a coating; and generating an electronic code corresponding to the unique intensity profile of one of the plurality of multilayer photonic structures.Type: GrantFiled: August 10, 2010Date of Patent: September 4, 2012Assignee: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc.Inventors: Benjamin Alan Grayson, Debasish Benerjee, Minjuan Zhang, Yasuo Uehara, Masahiko Ishii
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Patent number: 8252571Abstract: Processes for preparation of a protein-polymer composite material are provided according to embodiments of the present invention which include providing an admixture of a polymer resin, a surfactant and a non-aqueous organic solvent. An aqueous solution containing bioactive proteins and substantially free of surfactant is mixed with the admixture. The emulsion is mixed with a crosslinker to produce a curable composition. The curable composition is cured, thereby producing the protein-polymer composite material.Type: GrantFiled: May 1, 2009Date of Patent: August 28, 2012Assignees: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc., Toyota Motor Corporation, Regents of the University of MinnesotaInventors: Ping Wang, Songtao Wu, Hongfei Jia, Masahiko Ishii, Xiaodong Tong, Minjuan Zhang
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Publication number: 20120208923Abstract: Protein-polymer compositions and processes for their production are provided where the compositions have improved resistance to ultraviolet light induced weathering and associated loss of enzyme activity. The incorporation of both a sterically hindered amine and an ultraviolet light absorber at a concentration of at least 5% by weight produces a curable or cured composition with UV stabilized enzyme activity that can be used as a bioactive coating with improved stain removal properties.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 10, 2011Publication date: August 16, 2012Applicants: Toyota Motor Corporation, Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc.Inventors: Hongfei Jia, Songtao Wu, Masahiko Ishii, Minjuan Zhang
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Patent number: 8222015Abstract: A bioactive composition includes a hydrogel matrix. At least one protein is immobilized in the hydrogel matrix. The digestive protein has a half-life at least 1000 times longer than the half-life of a free digestive protein counterpart.Type: GrantFiled: May 9, 2008Date of Patent: July 17, 2012Assignees: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc., Toyota Motor Corporation, Regents of the University of MinnesotaInventors: Ping Wang, Songtao Wu, Hongfei Jia, Masahiko Ishii, Xiaodong Tong, Minjuan Zhang
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Publication number: 20120153527Abstract: A process for manufacturing stand-alone thin films is provided. The process includes providing a substrate, depositing a carbon-containing sacrificial layer onto the substrate and the depositing a thin film onto the carbon-containing sacrificial layer. Thereafter, the substrate, carbon-containing sacrificial layer and thin film structure are exposed to oxygen at an elevated temperature. The oxygen reacts with the carbon-containing sacrificial layer to produce carbon dioxide and remove carbon from the sacrificial layer, thereby generally burning away the sacrificial layer and affording for an intact stand-alone thin film to separate from the substrate.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 21, 2010Publication date: June 21, 2012Applicant: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc.Inventors: Debasish Banerjee, Songtao Wu, Minjuan Zhang, Masahiko Ishii
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Publication number: 20120153056Abstract: A process for producing particles from a thin film is provided. The process includes grinding the thin film using granules that afford for the particles to maintain a structure and/or one or more properties of the thin film. In addition, the process provides for a high recovery percentage of the source material.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 15, 2010Publication date: June 21, 2012Applicant: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc.Inventors: Songtao Wu, Hongfei Jia, Debasish Banerjee, Minjuan Zhang
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Patent number: 8196823Abstract: In one embodiment, the optical lock system may include an electronic control unit, a lock housing including a lock chamber, and an optical key including a multilayer photonic structure. The multilayer photonic structure may produce a unique intensity profile and includes a plurality of coating layers of high index dielectric material and a plurality of coating layers of low index dielectric. A light source may transmit a reference light to the multilayer photonic structure when the optical key is disposed within the lock chamber. A photo detector may receive an interaction light from the multilayer photonic structure and may transmit the unique intensity profile to the electronic control unit which may execute machine readable instructions to: compare the unique intensity profile to an electronic master; and cause the lock actuator to transition from a first state to a second state when the unique intensity profile corresponds to the electronic master.Type: GrantFiled: August 10, 2010Date of Patent: June 12, 2012Assignee: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc.Inventors: Benjamin Alan Grayson, Debasish Benerjee, Minjuan Zhang, Yasuo Uehara, Masahiko Ishii
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Publication number: 20120093802Abstract: A bioactive composition includes a porous hydrogel matrix. At least one protein is immobilized in the porous hydrogel matrix forming a hydrogel protein composite that is stable in an organic solvent. A process for stabilizing a bioactive composition includes the steps of: forming hydrogel matrix pores around protein molecules and reducing a water content within the hydrogel matrix pores forming a hydrogel protein composite that is stable in an organic solvent.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 13, 2010Publication date: April 19, 2012Applicant: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc.Inventors: Ping Wang, Songtao Wu, Hongfei Jia, Masahiko Ishii, Minjuan Zhang
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Publication number: 20120036905Abstract: In one embodiment, the optical lock system may include an electronic control unit, a lock housing including a lock chamber, and an optical key including a multilayer photonic structure. The multilayer photonic structure may produce a unique intensity profile and includes a plurality of coating layers of high index dielectric material and a plurality of coating layers of low index dielectric. A light source may transmit a reference light to the multilayer photonic structure when the optical key is disposed within the lock chamber. A photo detector may receive an interaction light from the multilayer photonic structure and may transmit the unique intensity profile to the electronic control unit which may execute machine readable instructions to: compare the unique intensity profile to an electronic master; and cause the lock actuator to transition from a first state to a second state when the unique intensity profile corresponds to the electronic master.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 10, 2010Publication date: February 16, 2012Applicants: Toyota Motor Corporation, Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc.Inventors: Benjamin Alan Grayson, Debasish Banerjee, Minjuan Zhang, Yasuo Uehara, Masahiko Ishii
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Publication number: 20120040091Abstract: In one embodiment, a method for identifying an article of manufacture may include: producing a plurality of multilayer photonic structures, wherein each of the plurality of multilayer photonic structures has a unique intensity profile; incorporating one of the plurality of multilayer photonic structures that produces the unique intensity profile into a coating; and generating an electronic code corresponding to the unique intensity profile of one of the plurality of multilayer photonic structures.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 10, 2010Publication date: February 16, 2012Applicants: TOYOTA MOTOR CORPORATION, Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc.Inventors: Benjamin Alan Grayson, Debasish Benerjee, Minjuan Zhang, Yasuo Uehara, Masahiko Ishii