Patents by Inventor Shosaku Yamanaka

Shosaku Yamanaka 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).

  • Publication number: 20040109940
    Abstract: A method of independently producing a negative electrode for a lithium secondary cell having thin films of lithium and a sulfide-based inorganic solid electrolyte begins with a negative electrode base material and an inorganic solid electrolyte source material being removed from closed containers in a chamber space, which is substantially inactive to lithium and insulated from air. The materials are transferred into an adjacent thin film deposition system without being exposed to the air. In the system, the source material is used to form a thin film of an inorganic solid electrolyte on the base material, to make the electrode. The electrode is transferred, without being exposed to the air, into a chamber space, which is substantially inactive to lithium, where the electrode is placed into a closed container. Thus, a negative electrode can be produced without being degraded by air.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 1, 2003
    Publication date: June 10, 2004
    Applicant: Sumitomo Electric Industries, Ltd.
    Inventors: Hirokazu Kugai, Nobuhiro Ota, Shosaku Yamanaka
  • Patent number: 6713216
    Abstract: A member having a lithium metal thin film is provided, which is extremely thin, uniform, and not degraded by air. The member includes a substrate and a thin lithium metal film formed on the substrate by a vapor deposition method. The thin film typically has a thickness of 0.1 &mgr;m to 20 &mgr;m. The substrate is typically made of a metal, an alloy, a metal oxide, or carbon. The substrate typically has a thickness of 1 &mgr;m to 100 &mgr;m. The member is used as an electrode member for a lithium cell.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 18, 2001
    Date of Patent: March 30, 2004
    Assignee: Sumitomo Electric Industries, Ltd.
    Inventors: Hirokazu Kugai, Nobuhiro Ota, Shosaku Yamanaka
  • Patent number: 6699619
    Abstract: A lithium-secondary-battery negative electrode having a protective layer to prevent the surface deterioration of the inorganic solid electrolytic layer. The negative electrode comprises metallic lithium or a lithium-containing metal, a first inorganic solid electrolytic layer (thickness: a) formed on the metal, and a second inorganic solid electrolytic layer (thickness: b) formed on the first inorganic solid electrolytic layer. The thickness ratio b/a is specified to be more than 0.5.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 20, 2001
    Date of Patent: March 2, 2004
    Assignee: Sumitomo Electric Industries, Ltd.
    Inventors: Hirokazu Kugai, Nobuhiro Ota, Shosaku Yamanaka
  • Patent number: 6656233
    Abstract: A method of independently producing a negative electrode for a lithium secondary cell having thin films of lithium and a sulfide-based inorganic solid electrolyte begins with a negative electrode base material and an inorganic solid electrolyte source material being removed from closed containers in a chamber space, which is substantially inactive to lithium and insulated from air. The materials are transferred into an adjacent thin film deposition system without being exposed to the air. In the system, the source material is used to form a thin film of an inorganic solid electrolyte on the base material, to make the electrode. The electrode is transferred, without being exposed to the air, into a chamber space, which is substantially inactive to lithium, where the electrode is placed into a closed container. Thus, a negative electrode can be produced without being degraded by air.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 18, 2001
    Date of Patent: December 2, 2003
    Assignee: Sumitomo Electric Industries, Ltd.
    Inventors: Hirokazu Kugai, Nobuhiro Ota, Shosaku Yamanaka
  • Patent number: 6365300
    Abstract: A lithium secondary battery that can suppress short circuits caused by the generation of dendrites from the negative electrode, that has high energy density, and that is excellent in charge and discharge-cycle performance. The lithium secondary battery comprises an electrolytic layer, a positive electrode, and a negative electrode that is made of a lithium-containing material. The electrolytic layer is made of an inorganic solid electrolyte. The positive electrode contains an organic high polymer. It is desirable that the electrolytic layer contain at least one type selected from the group consisting of oxygen, sulfur, nitrogen, sulfide, and oxynitride. It is also desirable that the organic electrolysis solution contained in the positive electrode have a lithium ion-conductivity lower than that of the inorganic solid electrolyte constituting the electrolytic layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 2000
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2002
    Assignee: Sumitomo Electric Industries, Ltd.
    Inventors: Nobuhiro Ota, Shosaku Yamanaka
  • Publication number: 20020036131
    Abstract: A method of producing a negative electrode for a lithium secondary cell having thin films of lithium and a sulfide-based inorganic solid electrolyte is provided. In the method, are used a negative electrode base material and an inorganic solid electrolyte source material respectively placed in closed containers. The base material has a surface of lithium metal. The base material and the source material are respectively taken out from the closed containers in a chamber space, which is substantially inactive to lithium and which is insulated from air and provided adjacent to a thin film deposition system. The base material and the source material are transferred into the thin film deposition system without being exposed to the air. In system, the source material is used and a thin film of an inorganic solid electrolyte is formed on the base material. The base material having the thin film is transferred, without being exposed to the air, into a chamber space, which is substantially inactive to lithium.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 18, 2001
    Publication date: March 28, 2002
    Inventors: Hirokazu Kugai, Nobuhiro Ota, Shosaku Yamanaka
  • Publication number: 20020028383
    Abstract: A member having a lithium metal thin film is provided, which is extremely thin, uniform, and not degraded by air. The member includes a substrate and a thin lithium metal film formed on the substrate by a vapor deposition method. The thin film typically has a thickness of 0.1 &mgr;m to 20 &mgr;m. The substrate is typically made of a metal, an alloy, a metal oxide, or carbon. The substrate typically has a thickness of 1 &mgr;m to 100 &mgr;m. The member is used as an electrode member for a lithium cell.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 18, 2001
    Publication date: March 7, 2002
    Inventors: Hirokazu Kugai, Nobuhiro Ota, Shosaku Yamanaka
  • Publication number: 20020022389
    Abstract: A conductor of the present invention has a conductive DLC film formed on a conductive base. A conductive DLC film is formed on a conductive base and is supported by a conical spring electrode to be in contact with the conductive DLC film. Thus, a conductor is obtained which has good wear resistance and oxidation resistance and which is suitable for bringing conductive parts into contact.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 12, 2001
    Publication date: February 21, 2002
    Inventors: Takeshi Hikata, Nobuyuki Okuda, Koichi Sogabe, Shosaku Yamanaka
  • Publication number: 20020018939
    Abstract: A lithium-secondary-battery negative electrode having a protective layer to prevent the surface deterioration of the inorganic solid electrolytic layer. The negative electrode comprises metallic lithium or a lithium-containing metal, a first inorganic solid electrolytic layer (thickness: a) formed on the metal, and a second inorganic solid electrolytic layer (thickness: b) formed on the first inorganic solid electrolytic layer. The thickness ratio b/a is specified to be more than 0.5.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 20, 2001
    Publication date: February 14, 2002
    Applicant: Sumitomo Electric Industries., Ltd
    Inventors: Hirokazu Kugai, Nobuhiro Ota, Shosaku Yamanaka
  • Publication number: 20020006512
    Abstract: An electrode for plating of one example of a corrosion-resistant conductive member of the present invention includes a base formed of stainless steel or the like, a first conductive film of an electrochemically noble material formed on the base, and a second conductive film of an electrochemically base material formed on the first conductive film. The second conductive film is of a material containing carbon. Thus, a corrosion-resistant conductive member is provided which has good corrosion resistance and which can be inexpensively manufactured.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 2, 2001
    Publication date: January 17, 2002
    Inventors: Takeshi Hikata, Nobuyuki Okuda, Takashi Uemura, Koichi Sogabe, Shosaku Yamanaka
  • Patent number: 6103319
    Abstract: A battery electrode substrate which is constituted of a porous metallic body structure having communicating pores at a porosity of at least 90% and an Fe/Ni multilayer structure wherein the skeletal portion of the porous metallic body is composed mainly of Fe and has an Ni covering layer on the surface thereof while pores communicating with the inside and outside of Fe skeletal portion exist in the Fe skeletal portion and the inside of the pores is covered with Ni. The electrode substrate is produced by applying an iron oxide powder of at most 20 .mu.m in an average particle size on a porous resin core body; heat treating the core to remove an organic resin component while simultaneously sintering Fe to obtain a porous Fe body; and then covering the Fe skeletal portion with Ni by electroplating. In this process, the iron oxide can be used in combination with carbon powder. Further, a nickel porous sintered body can also be produced using nickel oxide in place of iron oxide.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 18, 1998
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2000
    Assignees: Sumitomo Electric Industries, Ltd., Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Keizo Harada, Kenichi Watanabe, Shosaku Yamanaka, Kiyoshi Hayashi, Nobuyasu Morishita, Hiroki Takeshima, Hideo Kaiya, Munehisa Ikoma
  • Patent number: 6071650
    Abstract: A battery electrode substrate which is constituted of a porous metallic body structure having communicating pores at a porosity of at least 90% and an Fe/Ni multilayer structure wherein the skeletal portion of the porous metallic body is composed mainly of Fe and has an Ni covering layer on the surface thereof while pores communicating with the inside and outside of Fe skeletal portion exist in the Fe skeletal portion and the inside of the pores is covered with Ni. The electrode substrate is produced by applying an iron oxide powder of at most 20 .mu.m in an average particle size on a porous resin core body; heat treating the core to remove an organic resin component while simultaneously sintering Fe to obtain a porous Fe body; and then covering the Fe skeletal portion with Ni by electroplating. In this process, the iron oxide can be used in combination with carbon powder. Further, a nickel porous sintered body can also be produced using nickel oxide in place of iron oxide.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 18, 1998
    Date of Patent: June 6, 2000
    Assignees: Sumitomo Electric Industries, Ltd., Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Keizo Harada, Kenichi Watanabe, Shosaku Yamanaka
  • Patent number: 6020089
    Abstract: An electrode plate for a battery is constructed from a porous metal body having at least one low-porosity part selectively arranged therein. A porous resin core is coated with a paste having a metal component, passed through rolls provided with at least one recess to thereby form at least one low-porosity part and sintered. The resultant electrode plate for battery is not only ensured with respect to strength and capable of improving battery performance but also advantageous in that it is available at lowered cost and free from apprehension of supply of raw materials.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 1995
    Date of Patent: February 1, 2000
    Assignee: Sumitomo Electric Industries, Ltd.
    Inventors: Keizo Harada, Masayuki Ishii, Kenichi Watanabe, Shosaku Yamanaka
  • Patent number: 5968685
    Abstract: A battery electrode substrate which is constituted of a porous metallic body structure having communicating pores at a porosity of at least 90% and an Fe/Ni multilayer structure wherein the skeletal portion of the porous metallic body is composed mainly of Fe and has an Ni covering layer on the surface thereof while pores communicating with the inside and outside of Fe skeletal portion exist in the Fe skeletal portion and the inside of the pores is covered with Ni. The electrode substrate is produced by applying an iron oxide powder of at most 20 .mu.m in an average particle size on a porous resin core body; heat treating the core to remove an organic resin component while simultaneously sintering Fe to obtain a porous Fe body; and then covering the Fe skeletal portion with Ni by electroplating. In this process, the iron oxide can be used in combination with carbon powder. Further, a nickel porous sintered body can also be produced using nickel oxide in place of iron oxide.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 18, 1998
    Date of Patent: October 19, 1999
    Assignees: Sumitomo Electric Industries, Ltd., Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Keizo Harada, Kenichi Watanabe, Shosaku Yamanaka, Kiyoshi Hayashi, Nobuyasu Morishita, Hiroki Takeshima, Hideo Kaiya, Munehisa Ikoma
  • Patent number: 5965298
    Abstract: An electrode plate for a battery is constructed from a porous metal body having at least one low-porosity part selectively arranged therein. A porous resin core is coated with a paste having a metal component, passed through rolls provided with at least one recess to thereby form at least one low-porosity part and sintered. The resultant electrode plate for battery is not only ensured with respect to strength and capable of improving battery performance but also advantageous in that it is available at lowered cost and free from apprehension of supply of raw materials.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 1997
    Date of Patent: October 12, 1999
    Assignee: Sumitomo Electric Industries, Ltd.
    Inventors: Keizo Harada, Masayuki Ishii, Kenichi Watanabe, Shosaku Yamanaka
  • Patent number: 5888658
    Abstract: A battery electrode substrate which is constituted of a porous metallic body structure having communicating pores at a porosity of at least 90% and an Fe/Ni multilayer structure wherein the skeletal portion of the porous metallic body is composed mainly of Fe and has an Ni covering layer on the surface thereof while pores communicating with the inside and outside of Fe skeletal portion exist in the Fe skeletal portion and the inside of the pores is covered with Ni. The electrode substrate is produced by applying an iron oxide powder of at most 20 .mu.m in an average particle size on a porous resin core body; heat treating the core to remove an organic resin component while simultaneously sintering Fe to obtain a porous Fe body; and then covering the Fe skeletal portion with Ni by electroplating. In this process, the iron oxide can be used in combination with carbon powder. Further, a nickel porous sintered body can also be produced using nickel oxide in place of iron oxide.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 1998
    Date of Patent: March 30, 1999
    Assignees: Sumitomo Electric Industries, Ltd., Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Keizo Harada, Kenichi Watanabe, Shosaku Yamanaka, Kiyoshi Hayashi, Nobuyasu Morishita, Hiroki Takeshima, Hideo Kaiya, Munehisa Ikoma
  • Patent number: 5851599
    Abstract: A battery electrode substrate which is constituted of a porous metallic body structure having communicating pores at a porosity of at least 90% and an Fe/Ni multilayer structure wherein the skeletal portion of the porous metallic body is composed mainly of Fe and has an Ni covering layer on the surface thereof while pores communicating with the inside and outside of Fe skeletal portion exist in the Fe skeletal portion and the inside of the pores is covered with Ni. The electrode substrate is produced by applying an iron oxide powder of at most 20 .mu.m in an average particle size on a porous resin core body; heat treating the core to remove an organic resin component while simultaneously sintering Fe to obtain a porous Fe body; and then covering the Fe skeletal portion with Ni by electroplating. In this process, the iron oxide can be used in combination with carbon powder. Further, a nickel porous sintered body can also be produced using nickel oxide in place of iron oxide.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 1996
    Date of Patent: December 22, 1998
    Assignees: Sumitomo Electric Industries Co., Ltd., Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Keizo Harada, Kenichi Watanabe, Shosaku Yamanaka, Kiyoshi Hayashi, Nobuyasu Morishita, Hiroki Takeshima, Hideo Kaiya, Munehisa Ikoma
  • Patent number: 5733684
    Abstract: An electrode substrate, for a battery, as a support for an active material used in a collector for a battery, comprising a metallic porous structure possessing interconnecting pores with a porosity of not less than 90% and a number of pores per cm of not less than 10 and having an Fe/Ni two-layer structure wherein Fe constitutes the interior of a skeleton of a porous body constituting the porous structure with the surface portion of the skeleton coated with Ni. Preferably, Fe constituting the interior of the skeleton has a purity of not less than 98% by weight, and the thickness of the nickel coating layer having an Fe content of not more than 10% by weight is 0.1 to 10 .mu.m. The ratio of thickness of the Fe-diffused layer to the thickness of the Ni coating layer is regulated to not more than 0.65 by forming a metallic porous body of Fe using a porous resin as a substrate, plating the metallic porous body with Ni, heat treating the plated body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 23, 1996
    Date of Patent: March 31, 1998
    Assignee: Sumitomo Electric Industries, Ltd.
    Inventors: Keizo Harada, Kenichi Watanabe, Shosaku Yamanaka
  • Patent number: 5672411
    Abstract: An insulating board having a substrate, and an insulating film of silicon oxide formed on the surface of the substrate by vapor phase deposition. In forming the film, the forming conditions are controlled so that the film is formed in an overhang or conformal shape at initial stage and then in a flow shape. Thereby, both good adhesion and excellent insulation properties are achieved.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 1994
    Date of Patent: September 30, 1997
    Assignee: Sumitomo Electric Industries, Ltd.
    Inventors: Keizo Harada, Kenichi Watanabe, Shosaku Yamanaka
  • Patent number: 5643834
    Abstract: A process for manufacturing a plastic package type semiconductor device composed of a rolled metal substrate made of copper or copper alloy and an insulating film formed on the surface of the substrate. The film may be a single-layer film made of silicon oxynitride or a composite film formed by laminating a silicon oxide layer and a silicon oxynitride layer (or a silicon nitride layer). A semiconductor element is mounted on the film or on the exposed surface of the substrate. Other passive elements are provided on the film. After connecting these elements with bonding wires, the entire device is sealed in a resin molding. This device is thus free of cracks due to difference in thermal expansion between the film and the substrate, or peeling due to moisture absorption.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 25, 1995
    Date of Patent: July 1, 1997
    Assignee: Sumitomo Electric Industries, Ltd.
    Inventors: Keizo Harada, Takao Maeda, Takatoshi Takikawa, Shunsuke Ban, Shosaku Yamanaka