Patents by Inventor Nobuhiro Inoue

Nobuhiro Inoue 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: 10243214
    Abstract: To increase the conductivity and electric capacity of an electrode which includes active material particles and the like and is used in a battery, a graphene net including 1 to 100 graphene sheets is used instead of a conventionally used conduction auxiliary agent and binder. The graphene net which has a two-dimensional expansion and a three-dimensional structure is more likely to touch active material particles or another conduction auxiliary agent, thereby increasing the conductivity and the bonding strength between active material particles. This graphene net is obtained by mixing graphene oxide and active material particles and then heating the mixture in a vacuum or a reducing atmosphere.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 25, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2019
    Assignee: Semiconductor Energy Laboratory Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hiroatsu Todoriki, Junpei Momo, Teppei Oguni, Nobuhiro Inoue
  • Patent number: 10230095
    Abstract: To provide a power storage device with a high capacity. To provide a power storage device with a high energy density. To provide a highly reliable power storage device. To provide a long-life power storage device. To provide an electrode with a high capacity. To provide an electrode with a high energy density. To provide a highly reliable electrode. To provide a long-life electrode. The power storage device includes a first electrode and a second electrode. The first electrode includes a first current collector and a first active material layer. The first active material layer includes a first active material and a first binder. The first active material is graphite. A separation strength F of the first electrode that is measured when the first active material layer is separated from the first current collector after the first electrode is immersed in a solution at a temperature higher than or equal to 20° C. and lower than or equal to 70° C.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 17, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2019
    Assignee: Semiconductor Energy Laboratory Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kai Kimura, Tatsuya Ikenuma, Nobuhiro Inoue, Teppei Oguni
  • Publication number: 20180331357
    Abstract: A power storage device with high capacity is provided. Alternatively, a power storage device with excellent cycle characteristics is provided. Alternatively, a power storage device with high charge and discharge efficiency is provided. Alternatively, a power storage device with a long lifetime is provided. A negative electrode active material includes a first region and a second region. The first region includes at least one element selected from Si, Mg, Ca, Ga, Al, Ge, Sn, Pb, Sb, Bi, Ag, Zn, Cd, As, Hg, and In. The second region includes oxygen and the same element as the one included in the first region. The crystallite size of the element included in the first region is larger than or equal to 1 nm and smaller than or equal to 10 nm.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 11, 2018
    Publication date: November 15, 2018
    Inventors: Nobuhiro INOUE, Kiyofumi OGINO
  • Patent number: 10128498
    Abstract: A power storage device which has improved performance such as higher discharge capacity and in which deterioration due to peeling or the like of an active material layer is less likely to be caused is provided. In an electrode for the power storage device, phosphorus-doped amorphous silicon is used for the active material layer over a current collector as a material that can be alloyed with lithium, and niobium oxide is deposited over the active material layer as a layer containing niobium. Accordingly, the capacity of the power storage device can be increased and the cycle characteristics and the charge-discharge efficiency can be improved.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 26, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 13, 2018
    Assignee: Semiconductor Energy Laboratory Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kazutaka Kuriki, Nobuhiro Inoue, Kiyofumi Ogino
  • Publication number: 20180309119
    Abstract: A power storage device having high capacitance is provided. A power storage device with excellent cycle characteristics is provided. A power storage device with high charge and discharge efficiency is provided. A power storage device including a negative electrode with low resistance is provided. A negative electrode for the power storage device includes a current collector and an active material layer including a plurality of active material particles over the current collector. The active material particle is silicon, and the size of the silicon particle is greater than or equal to 0.001 ?m and less than or equal to 7 ?m.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 2, 2018
    Publication date: October 25, 2018
    Inventors: Kiyofumi OGINO, Yumiko YONEDA (Former SAITO), Rika YATABE, Nobuhiro INOUE
  • Patent number: 10096428
    Abstract: At least one of an aqueous solution A containing lithium, an aqueous solution B containing iron, manganese, cobalt, or nickel, and an aqueous solution C containing a phosphoric acid includes graphene oxide. The aqueous solution A is dripped into the aqueous solution C, so that a mixed solution E including a precipitate D is prepared. The mixed solution E is dripped into the aqueous solution B, so that a mixed solution G including a precipitate F is prepared. The mixed solution G is subjected to heat treatment in a pressurized atmosphere, so that a mixed solution H is prepared, and the mixed solution H is then filtered. Thus, particles of a compound containing lithium and oxygen which have a small size are obtained.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 9, 2018
    Assignee: Semiconductor Energy Laboratory Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Takuya Miwa, Kuniharu Nomoto, Nobuhiro Inoue
  • Patent number: 10026959
    Abstract: A power storage device with high capacity is provided. Alternatively, a power storage device with excellent cycle characteristics is provided. Alternatively, a power storage device with high charge and discharge efficiency is provided. Alternatively, a power storage device with a long lifetime is provided. A negative electrode active material includes a first region and a second region. The first region includes at least one element selected from Si, Mg, Ca, Ga, Al, Ge, Sn, Pb, Sb, Bi, Ag, Zn, Cd, As, Hg, and In. The second region includes oxygen and the same element as the one included in the first region. The crystallite size of the element included in the first region is larger than or equal to 1 nm and smaller than or equal to 10 nm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 18, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 17, 2018
    Assignee: Semiconductor Energy Laboratory Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Nobuhiro Inoue, Kiyofumi Ogino
  • Publication number: 20180190972
    Abstract: A decomposition reaction of an electrolyte solution and the like caused as a side reaction of charge and discharge is minimized in repeated charge and discharge of a lithium ion battery or a lithium ion capacitor, and thus the lithium ion battery or the lithium ion capacitor can have long-term cycle performance. A negative electrode for a power storage device includes a negative electrode current collector and a negative electrode active material layer which includes a plurality of particles of a negative electrode active material. Each of the particles of the negative electrode active material has an inorganic compound film, containing a first inorganic compound on part of its surface. The negative electrode active material layer has a film in contact with an exposed part of the negative electrode active material and part of the inorganic compound film. The film contains an organic compound and a second inorganic compound.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 28, 2018
    Publication date: July 5, 2018
    Inventors: Nobuhiro INOUE, Kai KIMURA, Sachiko KATANIWA, Ryota TAJIMA
  • Publication number: 20180183037
    Abstract: An object is to suppress electrochemical decomposition of an electrolyte solution and the like at a negative electrode in a lithium ion battery or a lithium ion capacitor; thus, irreversible capacity is reduced, cycle performance is improved, or operating temperature range is extended. A negative electrode for a power storage device including a negative electrode current collector, a negative electrode active material layer which is over the negative electrode current collector and includes a plurality of particles of a negative electrode active material, and a film covering pan of the negative electrode active material. The film has an insulating property and lithium ion conductivity.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 16, 2018
    Publication date: June 28, 2018
    Inventors: Nobuhiro Inoue, Sachiko Kataniwa, Kazutaka Kuriki, Junpei Momo
  • Patent number: 9931870
    Abstract: A printer can suppress paper lifting away from the platen surface even when conveying strong paper (regardless of paper strength) (a printer that can suppress paper uplift from the platen and is not easily affected by the type of paper). A printer 40 in which the platen surface 42a is on the inkjet head 21 side of a plane C through position A where paper 11 is held by a conveyance roller 36, and position B where the paper is held by a discharge roller, has: on the printhead 21 side of the plane C between the platen 42 and conveyance roller 36, at least one entry angle control unit 44 that contacts the paper 11 conveyed toward the platen surface 42a, and controls the entry angle of the paper 11 to the platen surface 42a; and on the printhead 21 side of the plane C between the platen 42 and the discharge roller 37, at least one exit angle control unit 46 that contacts the paper 11 conveyed in the direction away from the platen surface 42a, and controls the exit angle of the paper 11 from the platen surface 42a.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 13, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 3, 2018
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Shuhei Kurotobi, Nobuhiro Inoue
  • Patent number: 9935313
    Abstract: Occlusion and release of lithium ion are likely to one-dimensionally occur in the b-axis direction of a crystal in a lithium-containing composite oxide having an olivine structure. Thus, a positive electrode in which the b-axes of lithium-containing composite oxide single crystals are oriented vertically to a surface of a positive electrode current collector is provided. The lithium-containing composite oxide particles are mixed with graphene oxide and then pressure is applied thereto, whereby the rectangular parallelepiped or substantially rectangular parallelepiped particles are likely to slip. In addition, in the case where the rectangular parallelepiped or substantially rectangular parallelepiped particles whose length in the b-axis direction is shorter than those in the a-axis direction and the c-axis direction are used, when pressure is applied in one direction, the b-axes can be oriented in the one direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 19, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 3, 2018
    Assignee: Semiconductor Energy Laboratory Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Takuya Miwa, Nobuhiro Inoue, Kuniharu Nomoto, Junpei Momo
  • Patent number: 9929408
    Abstract: To inhibit degradation of charge and discharge cycle characteristics of a secondary battery. To suppress generation of defects due to expansion and contraction of an active material in a negative electrode. To inhibit deterioration of an electrode due to changes in its form. An electrode member including a current collector, an active material, and a porous body is used. The porous body is in contact with one surface of the current collector and includes a plurality of spaces. The active material is located in the space in the porous body. The space has a larger size than the active material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2018
    Assignee: Semiconductor Energy Laboratory Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Nobuhiro Inoue, Ryota Tajima, Naoki Kurihara, Junpei Momo
  • Patent number: 9911971
    Abstract: A decomposition reaction of an electrolyte solution and the like caused as a side reaction of charge and discharge is minimized in repeated charge and discharge of a lithium ion battery or a lithium ion capacitor, and thus the lithium ion battery or the lithium ion capacitor can have long-term cycle performance. A negative electrode for a power storage device includes a negative electrode current collector and a negative electrode active material layer which includes a plurality of particles of a negative electrode active material. Each of the particles of the negative electrode active material has an inorganic compound film containing a first inorganic compound on part of its surface. The negative electrode active material layer has a film in contact with an exposed part of the negative electrode active material and part of the inorganic compound film. The film contains an organic compound and a second inorganic compound.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2018
    Assignee: SEMICONDUCTOR ENERGY LABORATORY CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Nobuhiro Inoue, Kai Kimura, Sachiko Kataniwa, Ryota Tajima
  • Patent number: 9899660
    Abstract: An object is to suppress electrochemical decomposition of an electrolyte solution and the like at a negative electrode in a lithium ion battery or a lithium ion capacitor; thus, irreversible capacity is reduced, cycle performance is improved, or operating temperature range is extended. A negative electrode for a power storage device including a negative electrode current collector, a negative electrode active material layer which is over the negative electrode current collector and includes a plurality of particles of a negative electrode active material, and a film covering part of the negative electrode active material. The film has an insulating property and lithium ion conductivity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2018
    Assignee: Semiconductor Energy Laboratory Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Nobuhiro Inoue, Sachiko Kataniwa, Kazutaka Kuriki, Junpei Momo
  • Patent number: 9865871
    Abstract: Silicon oxide which is an oxide containing at least silicon, in which part of silicon is replaced by boron, aluminum, or gallium, is provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2018
    Assignee: Semiconductor Energy Laboratory Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hiroyuki Miyake, Nobuhiro Inoue, Takuya Hirohashi, Yuika Sato
  • Publication number: 20180005761
    Abstract: To improve the reliability of a power storage device. A granular active material including carbon is used, and a net-like structure is formed on part of a surface of the granular active material. In the net-like structure, a carbon atom included in the granular active material is bonded to a silicon atom or a metal atom through an oxygen atom. Formation of the net-like structure suppresses reductive decomposition of an electrolyte solution, leading to a reduction in irreversible capacity. A power storage device using the above active material has high cycle performance and high reliability.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 24, 2017
    Publication date: January 4, 2018
    Inventors: Nobuhiro INOUE, Ryota TAJIMA, Tamae MORIWAKA, Junpei MOMO, Teppei OGUNI, Kai KIMURA, Kazutaka KURIKI, Shunpei YAMAZAKI
  • Patent number: 9852850
    Abstract: A power storage device with high capacity is provided. Alternatively, a power storage device with excellent cycle characteristics is provided. Alternatively, a power storage device with high charge and discharge efficiency is provided. Alternatively, a power storage device with a long lifetime is provided. A negative electrode active material is provided over a negative electrode current collector, and the negative electrode active material layer is formed in such a manner that first layers and second layers are alternately stacked. The first layer includes at least an element selected from Si, Mg, Ca, Ga, Al, Ge, Sn, Pb, Sb, Bi, Ag, Zn, Cd, As, Hg, and In. The second layer includes oxygen and the same element as the one included in the first layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 17, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2017
    Assignee: Semiconductor Energy Laboratory Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Nobuhiro Inoue, Ryota Tajima, Kazutaka Kuriki, Mitsuhiro Ichijo, Yoshikazu Hiura, Mai Sugikawa
  • Publication number: 20170338470
    Abstract: Although a material containing silicon attracts attention as a high-capacity negative electrode active material, it has a problem of having a large irreversible capacity at the initial charge and discharge cycle. As a negative electrode active material, a particle which is a mixture of silicon, lithium metasilicate, and lithium oxide is used. Because lithium metasilicate and lithium oxide are already contained in the particle of the negative electrode active material, a compound containing lithium and oxygen (lithium orthosilicate and lithium metasilicate), which is a cause of the irreversible capacity at the initial charge, is not generated any more. This enables a negative electrode active material with a small irreversible capacity.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 16, 2015
    Publication date: November 23, 2017
    Inventors: Nobuhiro INOUE, Hiroyuki MIYAKE, Yuika SATO
  • Patent number: 9802429
    Abstract: A control method of a media conveyance device enables accurately detecting media slack by a detection mechanism with multiple emitters and multiple photodetectors disposed opposite the emitters. A printer (media conveyance device) has a controller that controls a delivery mechanism, a conveyance mechanism that conveys media, a delivery mechanism, and a conveyance mechanism, and controls conveying roll paper; a first detector including a first emitter and first photodetector; and a second detector including a second emitter and second photodetector. When driving the conveyance mechanism, the controller selectively controls the first emitter and first photodetector to emit, and drives a spindle based on signal output from the first detector when first emitter emits, and signal output from the second detector when second emitter emits.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 11, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 31, 2017
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Masahiro Kawajiri, Nobuhiro Inoue, Norio Horaguchi
  • Patent number: 9806334
    Abstract: Irreversible capacity which causes a decrease in the charge and discharge capacity of a power storage device is reduced, and electrochemical decomposition of an electrolyte solution and the like on a surface of an electrode is inhibited. Further, the cycle characteristics of the power storage device is improved by reducing or inhibiting a decomposition reaction of the electrolyte solution and the like occurring as a side reaction in repeated charging and discharging of the power storage device. A power storage device electrode includes a current collector and an active material layer that is over the current collector and includes a binder and an active material. A coating film is provided on at least part of a surface of the active material. The coating film is spongy.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 31, 2017
    Assignee: SEMICONDUCTOR ENERGY LABORATORY CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Kazutaka Kuriki, Kai Kimura, Nobuhiro Inoue, Ryota Tajima, Tamae Moriwaka, Kiyofumi Ogino