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: 9513252
    Abstract: In a gas sensor (100), a base end portion (175b) of a second outer wall (175) of an outer protector (171) is connected airtightly to a forward end portion (164c) of a first inner wall (164) of an inner protector (161), and relations of A?B<C<D and (0.6×B)?A are satisfied, wherein A represents the total opening area of a second outer hole (176) of the outer protector (171), B represents the total opening area of a second inner hole (166) of the inner protector (161), C represents the total opening area of a first inner hole (167), and D represents the total opening area of a first outer hole.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 10, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2016
    Assignee: NGK SPARK PLUG CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Tomohisa Fujita, Nobuhiro Inoue, Makoto Kume
  • Publication number: 20160344015
    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: Application
    Filed: May 17, 2016
    Publication date: November 24, 2016
    Inventors: Kai KIMURA, Tatsuya IKENUMA, Nobuhiro INOUE, Teppei OGUNI
  • Patent number: 9490080
    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: September 21, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 8, 2016
    Assignee: SEMICONDUCTOR ENERGY LABORATORY CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Nobuhiro Inoue, Kai Kimura, Sachiko Kataniwa, Ryota Tajima
  • Publication number: 20160315309
    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: Application
    Filed: July 1, 2016
    Publication date: October 27, 2016
    Inventors: Nobuhiro INOUE, Sachiko KATANIWA, Kazutaka KURIKI, Junpei MOMO
  • Publication number: 20160268598
    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: Application
    Filed: May 26, 2016
    Publication date: September 15, 2016
    Inventors: Kazutake KURIKI, Nobuhiro INOUE, Kiyofumi OGINO
  • Patent number: 9413911
    Abstract: A media processing device enables conveying media fed from different paths into a common path in a stable conveyance state to the scanning position of a scanner. A check processing device has a path switching member that selectively bridges a back path for conveying checks and a card path to a downstream path, which is a common path. The path switching member changes position and switches the connected paths in conjunction with movement of a shutter that covers the open part of a nozzle cap used to cap the nozzle face of the inkjet head at the back path.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 28, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2016
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Toshiyuki Sasaki, Nobuhiro Inoue
  • Patent number: 9384904
    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: March 11, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2016
    Assignee: Semiconductor Energy Laboratory Co., LTD.
    Inventors: Nobuhiro Inoue, Sachiko Kataniwa, Kazutaka Kuriki, Junpei Momo
  • Publication number: 20160190576
    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: Application
    Filed: December 17, 2015
    Publication date: June 30, 2016
    Inventors: Hiroyuki MIYAKE, Nobuhiro INOUE, Takuya HIROHASHI, Yuika SATO
  • Patent number: 9362556
    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: November 30, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2016
    Assignee: SEMICONDUCTOR ENERGY LABORATORY CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Kazutaka Kuriki, Nobuhiro Inoue, Kiyofumi Ogino
  • Patent number: 9350044
    Abstract: An object is to improve the cycle performance by improving the reactivity between lithium and a negative electrode active material in the case where an alloy-based material such as silicon is used as the negative electrode active material. A method of manufacturing a lithium secondary battery including a positive electrode including a positive electrode active material into/from which lithium can be inserted/extracted, a negative electrode including a negative electrode active material into/from which lithium can be inserted/extracted, and an electrolyte solution is provided. The method includes the steps of electrochemically inserting lithium into the negative electrode with use of a counter electrode before the lithium secondary battery is assembled, electrochemically extracting part of the lithium inserted into the negative electrode after the insertion, and assembling the lithium secondary after the extraction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 6, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2016
    Assignee: SEMICONDUCTOR ENERGY LABORATORY CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Kazutaka Kuriki, Nobuhiro Inoue, Kai Kimura
  • Publication number: 20160047060
    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: Application
    Filed: October 27, 2015
    Publication date: February 18, 2016
    Inventors: Takuya MIWA, Nobuhiro INOUE, Kuniharu NOMOTO, Junpei MOMO
  • Patent number: 9252419
    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: September 4, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 2, 2016
    Assignee: Semiconductor Energy Laboratory Co., LTD.
    Inventors: Takuya Miwa, Nobuhiro Inoue, Kuniharu Nomoto, Junpei Momo
  • Publication number: 20160020035
    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: Application
    Filed: July 17, 2015
    Publication date: January 21, 2016
    Inventors: Nobuhiro INOUE, Ryota TAJIMA, Kazutaka KURIKI, Mitsuhiro ICHIJO, Yoshikazu HIURA, Mai SUGIKAWA
  • Publication number: 20160012981
    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: September 21, 2015
    Publication date: January 14, 2016
    Inventors: Nobuhiro INOUE, Kai KIMURA, Sachiko KATANIWA, Ryota TAJIMA
  • Publication number: 20150340691
    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: May 18, 2015
    Publication date: November 26, 2015
    Inventors: Nobuhiro INOUE, Kiyofumi OGINO
  • Patent number: 9194724
    Abstract: In a gas sensor (100), a base end portion (175b) of a second outer wall (175) of an outer protector (171) is airtightly connected to a forward end portion (164c) of a first inner wall (164) of an inner protector (161). The outer protector (171) has a taper wall (172) which is located on the axially forward end side of the second outer wall (175). The taper wall (172) has the shape of a tapered tube whose diameter decreases toward the axially forward end side, and has a second outer hole (176), which is a forward end opening. The entire taper wall (172) is disposed on the axially forward end side in relation to the inner bottom wall (162) of the inner protector (161).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 16, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 24, 2015
    Assignee: NGK SPARK PLUG CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Tomohisa Fujita, Nobuhiro Inoue, Makoto Kume
  • Patent number: 9183995
    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: May 21, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 10, 2015
    Assignee: Semiconductor Energy Laboratory Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Nobuhiro Inoue, Kai Kimura, Sachiko Kataniwa, Ryota Tajima
  • Publication number: 20150255828
    Abstract: To provide a lithium-ion secondary battery including a first electrode including a first electrode active substance and a second electrode including a second electrode active substance and a third electrode active substance. The second electrode active substance has higher charge and discharge efficiency than the first electrode active substance. The third electrode active substance has lower charge and discharge efficiency than the second electrode active substance. The product of the capacity of the second electrode active substance and the difference between the charge and discharge efficiency of the second electrode active substance and charge and discharge efficiency of the first electrode active substance is greater than the product of the capacity of the third electrode active substance and the difference between the charge and discharge efficiency of the first electrode active substance and the charge and discharge efficiency of the third electrode active substance.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 3, 2015
    Publication date: September 10, 2015
    Inventors: Junpei MOMO, Nobuhiro INOUE, Takahiro KAWAKAMI, Yohei MOMMA
  • Patent number: 9129754
    Abstract: To provide an electrode for a power storage device, which has high reliability and can be miniaturized. To provide a power storage device including the electrode. In the electrode, a stress-relieving layer which relieves internal stress of an active material layer including a whisker is provided over a current collector. By the stress-relieving layer, deformation of the current collector can be suppressed and the productivity of the power storage device can be increased. In addition, the size of the power storage device can be reduced and the reliability thereof can be increased. Graphene may be formed so as to cover the active material layer including a whisker.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 8, 2015
    Assignee: Semiconductor Energy Laboratory Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kazutaka Kuriki, Mikio Yukawa, Nobuhiro Inoue
  • Publication number: 20150200419
    Abstract: To provide a carbon-based negative electrode material which can be used with an electrolyte containing PC as a main ingredient, a carbon-based negative electrode material having a graphene layer structure is crystalline and has pores. That is, the crystal structure of the carbon-based negative electrode material is distorted more significantly than that of graphite. Accordingly, the carbon-based negative electrode material has a larger interlayer distance between graphenes than graphite. It has been shown that such a negative electrode material can be used for a secondary battery which contains an electrolyte containing PC as a main ingredient.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 26, 2015
    Publication date: July 16, 2015
    Inventors: Nobuhiro INOUE, Junpei MOMO, Hiroatsu TODORIKI, Teppei OGUNI