Patents Issued in August 21, 2007
  • Patent number: 7258915
    Abstract: Covert flakes having one or more symbols and/or a selected shape are used in a composition, such as ink or paint, to provide a covert security feature to an object. In some embodiments the composition includes base pigment, and the covert flakes are covert pigment flakes that match the visual characteristics of the base pigment. In another embodiment, clear covert flakes are mixed in the carrier with base pigment. In another embodiment, clear covert flakes are mixed in a varnish base to provide a clear composition that can be applied over an existing security feature or elsewhere. The composition is used to print a field on the object, such as a stock certificate or bank note, for example. The covert flakes are not readily detectable by causal observation under visible light. In one embodiment, illuminating the covert security feature with ultraviolet light causes a covert flake to fluoresce and allows the observer to identify the location of the covert flake so that cover indicia may be observed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 14, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2007
    Assignee: JDS Uniphase Corporation
    Inventors: Alberto Argoitia, Paul G. Coombs, Charles T. Markantes, Paul T. Kohlmann
  • Patent number: 7258916
    Abstract: A fluid container and method for inhibiting the growth of microbes in liquid nutrient in a container, the container having an interior surface having a metal-ion sequestering agent for removing a designated metal ion from the liquid nutrient for inhibiting growth of microbes in the liquid nutrient.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 8, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2007
    Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
    Inventors: David L. Patton, Joseph F. Bringley, Richard W. Wien, John M. Pochan, Yannick J. F. Lerat
  • Patent number: 7258917
    Abstract: The invention describes a method of curing a polymerizable material containing ethylenically unsaturated bonds at a temperature of 60° C. or less, comprising the steps of (a) providing a curative comprising an effective amount of a light-stable isomer of a 2,4,5-triarylimidazolyl dimer, such as bilophine; (b) activating said curative by application of an activator selected from the group consisting of solvent and friction; and (c) combining the activated curative with the polymerizable material. Articles comprising an adhesive having a detackified surface, such as adhesive bandages, a detackifying solution, a two-part adhesive system, and a fastening system are also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 5, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2007
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: William L. Stebbings, Kevin D. Landgrebe, Dale C. Perry
  • Patent number: 7258918
    Abstract: An adhesive film including a reactive adhesive capable of curing by heating or light irradiation and a polyphthalide represented by the formula I: wherein R represents a divalent aromatic hydrocarbon group or a divalent heteroring-containing aromatic group, R1 represents an alkyl group, a Fluorinated alkyl group, an alkoxy group or a halogen atom, where the number of R1 is 0 to 4, X represents O or N—R3, provided that R3 represents one of the following groups, Y represents SO2 or CO and n represents a number of repeating units in the polymer. The adhesive film can be used to connect, e.g., electrodes of a semiconductor chip to electrodes of a wiring board. The polyphthalide can be used to surface-treat, e.g., electrodes of a wiring board.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 16, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2007
    Assignee: Hitachi Chemical Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Isao Tsukagoshi, Yasushi Gotou, Masami Yusa, Yasuo Miyadera
  • Patent number: 7258919
    Abstract: The purpose of the present invention is to provide an acrylic pressure sensitive adhesive and a pressure sensitive adhesive tape preferable to be used for adhesion and fixation of members to be used in closed space of such as a vehicle, a housing where odors become a problem; or in the side of electronic appliances where volatile gases become a problem and also relates to a vehicular air conditioner unit produced by using them. The present invention relates to an acrylic pressure sensitive adhesive, which has 500 ppm or lower of volatile component concentration A calculated by the following equation (1), when the acrylic pressure sensitive adhesive is heated at 90° C. for 30 minutes: volatile component concentration A (ppm)=volatile component content X (?g)/pressure sensitive adhesive weight Z (g) before heating ??(1) in the equation (1), the volatile component content X is an amount measured by conversion into toluene.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 4, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2007
    Assignees: Sekisui Chemical Co., Ltd., Denso Corporation
    Inventors: Tetsuji Kamine, Tomoki Toda, Mikihiko Horioka, Kazuhisa Uchiyama, Masahiro Ito, Yasushi Okamoto
  • Patent number: 7258920
    Abstract: A pre-fiber composition is disclosed herein that includes: a) a first fiber constituent having a first melting point; b) a second fiber constituent having a second melting point; and c) a gelling agent that solvates at least one of the first fiber constituent or the second fiber constituent, wherein the gelling agent significantly reduces co-polymerization of either of the constituents in the composition. A fiber is also disclosed herein that includes: a) at least two amide-based polymers, each having a melting point, wherein the melting point of one amide-based polymer is dissimilar to the melting point of a second amide-based polymer; and b) a gelling agent that is compatible with at least one of the amide-based polymers, wherein the fiber comprises two differentiatable melting points that are substantially similar to the melting points of each of the amide-based polymers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 18, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2007
    Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
    Inventors: John B. Boyle, James A. Kweeder, Dale A. Hangey, Samir Abdalla
  • Patent number: 7258921
    Abstract: A composite particle that can be easily converted to cured particle or half cured particle by the use of carbodiimide resin without changing of the configuration of matrix particle of, for example a thermoplastic resin, excelling in mechanical and functional characteristics by virtue of the reaction capability inherently possessed by a carbodiimide group. In particular, a composite particle comprising matrix particle (A) having a functional group capable of reacting with a carbodiimide group and carbodiimide resin (B), characterized in that the functional group of the matrix particle (A) couples with the carbodiimide group of the carbodiimide resin (B) and that the composite particle is provided with an outer shell layer of carbodiimide resin (B) having an average thickness diameter (L), defined by the following formula [1], ranging from 0.01 to 20 ?m: L=(L2?L1)/2 [1] wherein L1 represents the average diameter of matrix particle, and L2 represents the average diameter of composite particle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 7, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2007
    Assignee: Nisshinbo Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: Toshifumi Hashiba, Kazutoshi Hayakawa, Satomi Kudo, Kaori Satoh, Takaya Sato, Hiroshi Yoshida
  • Patent number: 7258922
    Abstract: A method for treating a marker material includes combining at least one treatment for a marker material, a foaming agent and a solvent to form a marker composition, foaming the marker composition to form a foamed marker composition, and applying the foamed marker composition to a marker material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2007
    Assignee: THI International, Inc.
    Inventors: Anthony Hesse, Paul Kittle
  • Patent number: 7258923
    Abstract: Disclosed herein is a multilayered sheet comprising a core layer comprising a thermoplastic polymer and an IR absorbing additive; a first cap layer comprising a thermoplastic polymer and an electromagnetic radiation absorbing additive; wherein a surface of the first cap layer is disposed upon and in intimate contact with a surface of the core layer. Disclosed herein too is a method for manufacturing a multilayered sheet comprising melt blending a composition comprising a thermoplastic polymer and an IR absorbing additive to produce a core layer; melt blending a composition comprising a thermoplastic polymer and an ultraviolet radiation absorber to produce a first cap layer; combining the core layer with the first cap layer in such a manner that the cap layer is disposed upon and in intimate contact with a surface of the core layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2007
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Jos van den Bogerd, Estelle Cheret, Josephus Hubertus Cornelius Maria Dekkers, Rein Mollerus Faber, Jan Willem Goedmakers, Christianus J. J. Maas
  • Patent number: 7258924
    Abstract: Thin films exhibiting second-order nonlinear optical (NLO) properties, as well as materials and methods for producing such films, are provided. The films are formed by depositing, on a substrate, alternate layers of a polyelectrolyte and a low molecular weight chromophore. The chromophore contains an electrophilic group that reacts with a previously deposited polyelectrolyte, and ionizable groups which present absorption sites for the next polyelectrolyte layer. The films find application in, for example, electro-optic modulators and frequency doubling devices.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2005
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2007
    Assignee: Virginia Tech Intellectual Properties, Inc.
    Inventors: Kevin Van Cott, James R. Heflin, Jr., Harry Gibson, Richey M. Davis
  • Patent number: 7258925
    Abstract: Paint applicator having improved cleanability and paint-carrying capacity wherein the paint-carrying surface is coated or treated with a fluoroacrylate polymer or copolymer, a fluorourethane polymer or copolymer, or a mixture thereof, and a method for treating such paint applicators are disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 11, 2004
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2007
    Assignee: E.I. du Pont de Nemours and Company
    Inventors: Justine Gabrielle Franchina, Peter Michael Murphy, Aaron Frank Self, Richard Wayne Thompson
  • Patent number: 7258926
    Abstract: A suspension having a powder of RBC (rice bran ceramics) suspended in a liquid resin is used as a solid lubricant. The solid lubricant preferably has an RBC proportion of 22 to 74% by weight. The RBC preferably has a mean particle diameter not exceeding 5 ?m. An acrylsilicone resin is preferably used as the liquid resin used as the binder. The solid lubricant is applied onto the sliding surface of a sliding member made of a metal, any of various resins, etc. to form a dry film thereon.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 17, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2007
    Assignee: Juki Corporation
    Inventor: Masanori Shinozaki
  • Patent number: 7258927
    Abstract: Articles are provided including a base substrate having a layer of an oriented material thereon, and, a layer of hafnium oxide upon the layer of an oriented material. The layer of hafnium oxide can further include a secondary oxide such as cerium oxide, yttrium oxide, lanthanum oxide, scandium oxide, calcium oxide and magnesium oxide. Such articles can further include thin films of high temperature superconductive oxides such as YBCO upon the layer of hafnium oxide or layer of hafnium oxide and secondary oxide.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 2004
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2007
    Assignee: Los Alamos National Security, LLC
    Inventors: Stephen R. Foltyn, Quanxi Jia, Paul N. Arendt
  • Patent number: 7258928
    Abstract: A laminated conductor includes a metallic substrate having a surface, a biaxially textured buffer layer supported by the surface of the metallic substrate, the biaxially textured buffer layer comprising Y2O3 and a dopant for blocking cation diffusion through the Y2O3, and a biaxially textured conductor layer supported by the biaxially textured buffer layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 2005
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2007
    Assignees: UT-Battelle, LLC, American Superconductor
    Inventors: Mariappan Parans Paranthaman, Urs Schoop, Amit Goyal, Cornelis Leo Hans Thieme, Darren T. Verebelyi, Martin W. Rupich
  • Patent number: 7258929
    Abstract: The gas-barrier multi-layer structure of the present invention comprises at least one gas-barrier layer A and at lease one thermoplastic resin layer B. The gas-barrier layer A comprises a crystallizable polyamide resin which is produced by the polycondensation of a diamine component mainly comprising m-xylylenediamine with a dicarboxylic acid component comprising a C4-C20 ?,?-linear aliphatic dicarboxylic acid and isophthalic acid in a specific proportion so as to have a particular crystallization behavior. The gas-barrier multi-layer structure is excellent in the fabricability such as deep drawing ability and can be fabricated into a highly transparent shaped article with less discoloration and malodor generation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 10, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2007
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Gas Chemical Company, Inc.
    Inventors: Tomomichi Kanda, Akira Mori
  • Patent number: 7258930
    Abstract: An oxygen scavenger film includes a layer including an oxygen scavenger, and a layer including a cyclic olefin copolymer. An oxygen scavenger film includes a layer including a blend of an oxygen scavenger, and a cyclic olefin copolymer. A method of triggering an oxygen scavenger film includes providing an oxygen scavenger film including a layer including an oxygen scavenger, and a layer including a cyclic olefin copolymer; and subjecting the oxygen scavenger film to a dosage of actinic radiation effective to trigger the oxygen scavenger. A method of triggering an oxygen scavenger film includes providing an oxygen scavenger film including a layer including a blend of an oxygen scavenger and a cyclic olefin copolymer; and subjecting the oxygen scavenger film to a dosage of actinic radiation effective to trigger the oxygen scavenger.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 2005
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2007
    Assignee: Cryovac, Inc.
    Inventors: Janet W Rivett, Drew V. Speer
  • Patent number: 7258931
    Abstract: Semiconductor wafers utilize asymmetric edge profiles (EP) to facilitate higher yield semiconductor device processing. These edge profiles are configured to reduce the volume of thin film residues that may form on a top surface of a semiconductor wafer at locations adjacent a peripheral edge thereof. These edges profiles are also configured to inhibit redeposition of residue particulates on the top surfaces of the wafers during semiconductor processing steps. Such steps may include surface cleaning and rinsing steps that may include passing a cleaning or rinsing solution across a wafer or batch of wafers that are held by a cartridge and submerged in the solution.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2007
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Gi-Jung Kim, Woo-Serk Kim, Sang-Mun Chon, Tae-Yeol Heo
  • Patent number: 7258932
    Abstract: A polymeric fluorescent substance exhibiting visible fluorescence in the solid state, having polystyrene reduced number average molecular weight of 1×103 to 1×108, and comprising one or more repeating units of following formula (1), wherein Ar1 and Ar2 each independently represent an arylene group or the like; Ar3 represents an aryl group or the like having one or more substituents of formula (2) as nuclear substitution; X represents —CR1?CR2— or —C?C—; and n is 0 or 1, —Y—Ar4 ??(2) wherein Ar4 represents an aryl group or the like; and Y represents —CR3?CR4— or —C?C—. The triarylamine type polymeric fluorescent substance is excellent in quantum yield of fluorescence and in light emitting efficiency when made into a device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 12, 2002
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2007
    Assignee: Sumitomo Chemical Company, Limited
    Inventors: Takanobu Noguchi, Shuji Doi
  • Patent number: 7258933
    Abstract: A coated cutting tool member exhibiting not only a superior wear resistance during a high speed cutting operation in which a significant amount of heat is generated, but also exhibit a superior shipping resistance even when such a cutting operation is performed under severe conditions, such as with a large depth of cut or a large feed. In the coated cutting tool member, a hard coating layer of one of nitride compound and carbonitride compound containing Ti and Al is formed using a physical vapor deposition method at an average thickness of 1 to 10 ?m, and the hard coating layer includes Zr at an atomic ratio of 0.002 to 0.1, and at least one of Y and Ce at an atomic ratio of 0.0005 to 0.05 in a coexistence state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2007
    Assignees: Mitsubishi Materials Corporation, Mitsubishi Materials Kobe Tools Corporation
    Inventors: Hidemitsu Takaoka, Eiji Nakamura
  • Patent number: 7258934
    Abstract: Method and arrangement for providing a ceramic thermal barrier coating, TBC, deposited and attached directly to a metallic substrate (2), or an intermediate bond coating (3) deposited on such a substrate (2). The TBC includes at least two layers, wherein a first, inner TBC layer, that is directly attached to the substrate (2) or bond coating (3), presents a different microstructure than a second, outer TBC layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2007
    Assignee: Volvo Aero Corporation
    Inventors: Jan Wigren, Mats-Olov Hansson
  • Patent number: 7258935
    Abstract: A magnetic recording medium having a magnetic layer with a single-layered structure applicable to a linear system is provided. The magnetic recording medium includes an elongated nonmagnetic support and a single-layered magnetic layer having an orthorhombic structure formed on a main surface of the nonmagnetic support by a vacuum thin film deposition technique, and an Hcmax/Hx0 ratio is not greater than 1.2, where Hcmax is a maximum value of a coercive force of the magnetic layer which acts in a plane perpendicular to the magnetic layer and containing a longitudinal direction of the magnetic recording medium, and Hc0 is a coercive force of the magnetic layer which acts in the longitudinal direction of the magnetic recording medium.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 15, 2004
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2007
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventor: Kazunari Motohashi
  • Patent number: 7258936
    Abstract: This invention relates to controlling a load-following solid oxide fuel cell system such that the fuel cells in the system are operating within an acceptable electrochemical reaction efficiency. The system has a controller that is programmed to detect a load change on a fuel cell stack, and when the load decreases, reduces the fuel flow rate to the stack or deactivates one or more fuel cells in the stack such that the stack operates within an acceptable electrochemical reaction efficiency range corresponding to the decreased load; and when the load increases, the controller increases the fuel flow rate to the stack or activates fuel cells in the stack such that the stack operates within the acceptable electrochemical reaction efficiency range.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 2004
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2007
    Assignee: Alberta Research Council, Inc.
    Inventors: Rong Zheng, Hongsang Rho, Luis Yamarte, Gary J. Kovacik, Partha Sarkar
  • Patent number: 7258937
    Abstract: A method of regulating a relative humidity of a gas supplied to a cathode side of a fuel cell stack includes controlling a flow of feedback gas from the cathode side to a compressor to adjust the relative humidity of the gas. Injected water into the compressor is vaporized in the compressor to further adjust the relative humidity of the gas. The gas is discharged at a pressure that is sufficient for use in the fuel cell stack. Water is injected into the compressor. Vaporizing is achieved using heat generated through compression. A compression pressure of the compressor is adjusted based on a quantity of the water to vaporize the water therein.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 21, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2007
    Assignee: General Motors Corporation
    Inventors: Volker Formanski, Thomas Herbig
  • Patent number: 7258938
    Abstract: A polymer electrolyte fuel cell includes a housing provided with an anode-side supply inlet for supplying a material for fuel, an anode and a cathode accommodated in the housing to sandwich a polymer electrolyte membrane, and a layer containing a biochemical catalyst which decomposes the material for fuel to generate fuel, the layer being formed between the anode-side supply inlet and the anode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 2002
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2007
    Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Noriyuki Yamamoto, Nobuo Katoh, Hideaki Yukawa
  • Patent number: 7258939
    Abstract: An integrated cooling system for a fuel cell vehicle according to this invention comprises a fuel gas flow field for supplying fuel gas to a fuel cell stack and exhausting the fuel gas from the fuel cell stack through a fuel gas accumulator, and an air flow field for supplying air to a fuel cell stack and exhausting the air from the fuel cell stack through an air accumulator, wherein at least one cooling pipe of the cooling system comprises a plurality of heat-dissipation pins on a circumferential surface thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2007
    Assignee: Hyundai Motor Company
    Inventor: Lim Ho Jeong
  • Patent number: 7258940
    Abstract: A zinc/air button cell, wherein the cell has a single casing, namely, the anode can. A substantially flat metal support disk is employed, to close the open end of the anode can, thus eliminating the need for the conventional cathode can. The metal support disk is locked in place within the open end of the anode can with insulating sealing material therebetween. The sealing material abuts a greater portion of the inside surface of the anode can than the outside surface of said can. A layer of cathode material comprising a manganese oxide, underlies the metal support disk. The cathode is locked in place against the metal support disk. The open end of the anode can is crimped axially and radially over the metal support disk with insulating sealing material therebetween. A tight seal results and the cell capacity is increased, since the cathode can has been eliminated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 2005
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2007
    Assignee: The Gillette Company
    Inventor: Derek R. Bobowick
  • Patent number: 7258941
    Abstract: A polyelectrolyte for a solid polymeric fuel cell comprising an aromatic polyether sulfone block copolymer comprising a hydrophilic segment containing sulfonic acid groups and a hydrophobic segment having no sulfonic acid group at a hydrophilic segment weight fraction W2 to hydrophobic segment weight fraction W1 ratio falling within a range of 0.6<W2/W1<2.0. The polyelectrolyte for a solid polymeric fuel cell is inexpensive and durable, and its proton conductivity is less influenced by humidity and temperature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 7, 2002
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2007
    Assignee: UBE Industries, Ltd.
    Inventors: Tetsuji Hirano, Masayuki Kinouchi, Chizuyo Maeda, legal representative, Daisuke Maeda, legal representative, Megumi Maeda, legal representative, Mitsuo Maeda, deceased
  • Patent number: 7258942
    Abstract: A mica based compressive seal has been developed exhibiting superior thermal cycle stability when compared to other compressive seals known in the art. The seal is composed of compliant glass or metal interlayers and a sealing (gasket) member layer composed of mica that is infiltrated with a glass forming material, which effectively reduces leaks within the seal. The compressive seal shows approximately a 100-fold reduction in leak rates compared with previously developed hybrid seals after from 10 to about 40 thermal cycles under a compressive stress of from 50 psi to 100 psi at temperatures in the range from 600° C. to about 850° C.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 4, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2007
    Assignee: Battelle Memorial Institute
    Inventors: Yeong-Shyung Chou, Jeffry W. Stevenson
  • Patent number: 7258943
    Abstract: A fuel cell of the invention has unified a processing circuit processing a cell voltage output signal of a fuel cell stack and a connector connecting an circuit unit with terminals provided extending from separators of the fuel cell, thereby having abolished connection points (in which harnesses are attached and detached) of an electrical circuit unit with the connector. So, for connection, reliability can be improved, and downsizing is possible. Moreover, with a casing enclosing the connector and electrical circuit unit, the fuel cell can be made compact and the processing circuit can be surely protected thanks to being shielded from surroundings, thereby handling as a unit being able to be facilitated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 3, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2007
    Assignee: Honda Giken Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Toshiaki Ariyoshi, Masahiko Sato, Ken Takahashi, Yuya Sato, Daisuke Wachi
  • Patent number: 7258944
    Abstract: A fuel cell includes separators and electrolyte electrode assemblies in a first area between the separators. Each separator includes a first plate and a second plate stacked together to form a second area between the first plate and the second plate. The second area is divided by an outer ridge into a fuel gas channel, and an oxygen-containing gas channel. The fuel gas channel formed in one separator is connected to a fuel gas flow passage in the first area through fuel gas inlets for supplying a fuel gas to anodes. The oxygen-containing gas channel in the other separators is connected to an oxygen-containing gas flow passage in the first area through oxygen-containing gas inlets for supplying an oxygen-containing gas to cathodes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2007
    Assignee: Honda Giken Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Tadashi Tsunoda
  • Patent number: 7258945
    Abstract: A fuel cell power plant includes a fuel cell having a membrane electrode assembly (MEA), disposed between an anode support plate and a cathode support plate, the anode and/or cathode support plates include a hydrophilic substrate layer having a predetermined pore size. The pressure of the reactant gas streams is greater than the pressure of the coolant stream, such that a greater percentage of the pores within the hydrophilic substrate layer contain reactant gas rather than water. Any water that forms on the cathode side of the MEA will migrate through the cathode support plate and away from the MEA. Controlling the pressure also ensures that the coolant water will continually migrate from the coolant stream toward the anode side of the MEA, thereby preventing the membrane from becoming dry. Proper pore size and a pressure differential between coolant and reactants improves the electrical efficiency of the fuel cell.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 26, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2007
    Assignee: UTC Power Corporation
    Inventors: Timothy A. Bekkedahl, Lawrence J. Bregoli, Ned E. Cipollini, Timothy W. Patterson, Marianne Pemberton, Jonathan Puhalski, Carl A. Reiser, Richard D. Sawyer, Margaret M. Steinbugler, Jung S. Yi
  • Patent number: 7258946
    Abstract: Fuel cells and fuel cell systems that include at least one non-aqueous electrolyte. Fuel cells according to the present disclosure may include an anode region that is adapted to receive an anode feed stream containing chemically bound hydrogen and which liberates protons at an anode of the fuel cell, a cathode region that is adapted to receive a stream containing oxygen, and an electrolytic barrier that separates the anode and cathode regions and which contains a non-aqueous electrolyte. The non-aqueous electrolyte is preferably acidic or basic. The electrolyte may have an acid ionization constant (Ka) greater than 5×10?6 at 25° C. if the non-aqueous electrolyte is an acid and a base ionization constant (Kb) greater than 5×10?6 at 25° C. if the non-aqueous electrolyte is a base. The fuel cell has an operating temperature of less than 300° C., and may operate at temperatures above, at, and below 100° C.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2007
    Assignee: IdaTech, LLC
    Inventor: David J. Edlund
  • Patent number: 7258947
    Abstract: The present invention provides electrolyte that can suppress reduction of battery efficiencies and capacities with increased cycles of charge/discharge of the battery, a method for producing the same, and a redox flow battery using the same electrolyte. The redox flow battery uses the electrolyte having a NH4 content of not more than 20 ppm and a relation of Si concentration (ppm)×electrolyte quantity (m3)/electrode area (m2) of less than 5 ppm·m3/m2. By limiting a quantity of contaminants in the electrolyte, a clogging of carbon electrodes to cause reduction of the battery performances with increased charge/discharge operations can be suppressed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2002
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2007
    Assignees: Sumitomo Electric Industries, Ltd., The Kansai Electric Power Co., Inc.
    Inventors: Michiru Kubata, Hiroyuki Nakaishi, Nobuyuki Tokuda
  • Patent number: 7258948
    Abstract: To provide a non-aqueous electrolyte secondary battery adapted to prevent an internal short circuit between an positive electrode and a negative electrode caused by the penetration of electrically conductive micro particles through a separator, which occurs when winding up electrodes, and manufacturing methods of an electrode used therein, whereby the non-aqueous electrolyte secondary battery having a coiled electrode assembly is formed through the multilayer winding of an positive electrode 90 having a metallic collector 76 coated with an positive electrode mixture 78 composed of an positive electrode active material that occludes and liberates lithium ions, a negative electrode 86 having a metallic collector 82 coated with a negative electrode mixture 84, composed of a negative electrode active material that occludes and liberates lithium ions, and a separator 72 interposed between the positive electrode and the negative electrode, wherein the positive electrode 90 has an insulating layer 100 formed by mean
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 20, 2004
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2007
    Assignee: Sanyo Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yoshikumi Miyamoto, Jun Okazaki, Ryuji Ohshita, Hitoshi Tanaka, Yoshinobu Okumura
  • Patent number: 7258949
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a bipolar battery, especially a NiMH battery, having: a sealed housing, a negative end terminal, a positive end terminal, and at least one biplate assembly comprising a biplate, a positive and a negative electrode. A separator is arranged between each negative and positive electrode forming a battery cell, said separator includes an electrolyte. An inner barrier of a hydrophobic material is arranged around at least one electrode, whereby said inner barrier prevents an electrolyte path from one cell to another cell, and a frame is present to provide predetermined cell spacing between each biplate and/or biplate and end terminal. The frame is attached in such a way to each biplate to permit ambient gas to pass between adjacent cells, thereby creating a common gas space for all cells in the battery. The invention also relates to a method for manufacturing a bipolar battery.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 9, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2007
    Assignee: Nilar International AB
    Inventors: Lars Frederiksson, Neil H. Puester
  • Patent number: 7258950
    Abstract: An electrode having a current collector and, formed thereon, a thin film comprising an active material, characterized in that a thin alloy film (such as Sn—Co) comprising a metal which can form an alloy with lithium (such as Sn) and a metal which can not form an alloy with lithium (such as Co) is formed on a current collector such as a copper foil. It is preferred that the above metal which can form an alloy with lithium and the above metal which can not form an alloy with lithium can not form an intermetallic compound with each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 2001
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2007
    Assignee: Sanyo Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Noriyuki Tamura, Shiori Nakamizo, Daizo Jito, Ryuji Ohshita, Masahisa Fujimoto, Shin Fujitani, Maruo Kamino
  • Patent number: 7258951
    Abstract: A lithium secondary battery exhibiting good mechanical properties and using a thin negative current collector is provided. The lithium secondary battery includes a positive electrode formed by coating lithium metal oxides on a positive current collector and a negative electrode formed by coating carbonaceous materials or SnO2 on a negative current collector. The negative current collector is made of a Cu-based alloy foil with a thickness of 20 ?m or less and the Cu-based alloy foil includes at least one material selected from the group consisting of nickel, titanium, magnesium, tin, zinc, boron, chromium, manganese, silicone, cobalt, iron, vanadium, aluminum, zirconium, niobium, phosphorous, bismuth, lead, silver and misch metal. The lithium secondary battery further includes a separator interposed between the positive and negative electrodes and an electrolyte into which the positive and negative electrodes and the separator are immersed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 2000
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2007
    Assignee: Samsung SDI Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Il-Ki Woo, Sang-Won Lee, Jung-Joon Park, Young-Bae Roh, Kwang-Sik Kim
  • Patent number: 7258952
    Abstract: A lithium polymer secondary battery comprising a negative electrode, a positive electrode and an electrolyte layer between both electrodes, wherein the negative electrode and the positive electrode each has a solid electrolyte prepared by incorporating an organic electrolytic solution into a polymer, the polymer is obtained by solidifying a precursor solution containing vinylene carbonate and a content of vinylene carbonate in the precursor solution for the positive electrode is smaller than that in the precursor solution for the negative electrode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 18, 2002
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2007
    Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Motoaki Nishijima, Naoto Torata, Naoto Nishimura
  • Patent number: 7258953
    Abstract: A layered test pattern for measuring registration and critical dimension (CD) for multi-layer semiconductor integrated circuits is disclosed. A first layer includes a first pattern having vertical and horizontal portions. A second layer is formed over the first layer and includes a second pattern having vertical and horizontal portions having nominal vertical and horizontal phase shifts with respect to the vertical and horizontal portions, respectively, of the first pattern. The vertical and horizontal portions include periodically repeating vertical lines and horizontal lines, respectively. The nominal phase shifts may be half of the period of the vertical and horizontal lines. A scatterometry tool measures the width of the lines and the phase shift of the first pattern relative to the second pattern. The width of the lines corresponds to CD, whereas the difference between the measured phase shift and the nominal phase shift indicates variation in registration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 2005
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2007
    Assignee: LSI Corporation
    Inventors: Phong Thanh Do, Kirk Rolofson, David Sturdevant
  • Patent number: 7258954
    Abstract: Methods of fabricating a photomask, methods of treating a chemically amplified resist-coated photomask blank, a photomask blank resulting from the methods, and systems for fabricating a photomask are provided. The method is useful for recovering the exposure sensitivity of a chemically amplified resist disposed on a photomask blank from a post-coat delay effect.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 3, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2007
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventor: Baorui Yang
  • Patent number: 7258955
    Abstract: A high-quality color filter substrate is manufactured simply and at low cost by using a color filter substrate manufacturing method of applying a coloring liquid to a substrate surface of a translucent substrate so as to form at least colored layer, including: contacting step of causing a coloring liquid supplied from a coloring liquid supplying section to bring into contact with areas showing lyophilic property to the coloring liquid and areas showing lyophobic property to the coloring liquid, both of the areas being formed on the substrate surface; and applying step of, after the contacting step, causing relative movement between the coloring liquid supplying section and the translucent substrate while continuously supplying a coloring liquid from the coloring liquid supplying section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 2004
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2007
    Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Satoru Kishimoto, Keiichi Tanaka
  • Patent number: 7258956
    Abstract: The present invention discloses printing plates comprising a substrate and a radiation-absorptive layer, wherein the radiation-absorptive layer comprises at least one modified pigment product. The modified pigment product comprises a pigment having attached at least one organic group and at least one amphiphilic counterion. Methods of imaging printing plates are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2001
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2007
    Assignee: Cabot Corporation
    Inventors: Collin P. Galloway, James A. Belmont, Rosa Casado-Portilla
  • Patent number: 7258957
    Abstract: A method for aligning an exposure mask, comprises: using a plurality of hologram masks, on which alignment marks are formed,; aligning position of the hologram masks toward an object, which is exposed and on which alignment marks are also formed, a plurality of times by using both alignment marks, wherein a first straight line connects a first area on the object to be exposed for a pattern exposure with the alignment mark for aligning with a holographic mask that is used in an exposure onto the first area and a second straight line connects the other area, adjacent to the first area, on the object to be exposed for a pattern exposure with the other alignment mark for aligning with a holographic mask that is used in an exposure onto the another area, and the first straight line and the second straight line are intersected each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2005
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2007
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventor: Chiharu Iriguchi
  • Patent number: 7258958
    Abstract: An organic photoconductor, comprises a conductive base, a charge generating lager and a charge transport layer, wherein the charge generating lager and the charge transport layer are provided in this order on the conductive base, wherein when a curve is drawn by plotting integrated-values of a detected current in terms of time in measurement of transient photocurrent by TOF (time of flight) measurement with an electric field intensity of 10V/?m , crossing angle ? of two tangent lines tangent to the curve is 15° to 45°; and the charge transport lager has a film thickness of 20 to 35 ?m.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 2004
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2007
    Assignee: Konica Minolta Business Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Akihiko Itami, Kazuhisa Shida
  • Patent number: 7258959
    Abstract: The object of the present invention is to provide a developer having a sharp charge amount distribution and bringing out high-quality image without substantially smearing a charging unit, developing units, a photoconductor, and an intermediate transferring member by the developer, namely, a developer capable of providing an appropriate image density and exhibiting extremely little background smear even when used over a long period of time and repeatedly used for a number of sheets of paper as well as to provide an image forming apparatus for electrophotography using the developer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2005
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2007
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Shinya Nakayama, Satoshi Mochizuki, Yasuaki Iwamoto, Yasuo Asahina, Kazuhiko Umemura, Hideki Sugiura, Hisashi Nakajima, Tomoyuki Ichikawa, Tomoko Utsumi, Koichi Sakata, Akihiro Kotsugai, Osamu Uchinokura, Masayuki Ishii
  • Patent number: 7258960
    Abstract: An apparatus for producing toner for developing an electrostatic latent image, is provided with an inlet section to receive a slurry containing toner particles, impure fine particles having a specific gravity smaller than that of the toner particles and aqueous medium; a centrifugal concentrating device for applying centrifugal force to the slurry and having a precipitating plate with which the toner particles are precipitated from the slurry and an accommodating section to accommodate a concentrated slurry containing the precipitated toner particles, and an outlet section to deliver impure fine particles and aqueous medium.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2007
    Assignee: Konica Corporation
    Inventors: Akira Ohira, Masafumi Uchida, Yoshiki Nishimori, Shoichiro Ishibashi
  • Patent number: 7258961
    Abstract: A positive planographic printing plate precursor includes a support having disposed thereon a lower thermosensitive layer containing a water-insoluble but alkali-soluble polymer compound and an upper thermosensitive layer containing a water-insoluble but alkali-soluble polymer compound, with alkali-solubility increasing under heat, wherein (i) both the upper thermosensitive layer and the lower thermosensitive layer contain an IR absorbing dye, with the ratio of the IR absorbing dye concentration in the upper thermosensitive layer to the IR absorbing dye concentration in the lower thermosensitive layer is 1.6 to 10.0, and/or (ii) the upper thermosensitive layer and the lower thermosensitive layer contain different IR absorbing dyes, and/or (iii) at least one of the upper thermosensitive layer and the lower thermosensitive layer contains an IR absorbent having, in one molecule, at least two chromophoric groups that absorb IR light, with the chromophoric groups bonding to each other via a covalent bond.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2007
    Assignee: Fujifilm Corporation
    Inventors: Akio Oda, Hideo Miyake, Tomoyoshi Mitsumoto, Takeshi Serikawa, Ikuo Kawauchi, Ippei Nakamura
  • Patent number: 7258962
    Abstract: A positive-tone radiation-sensitive resin composition comprising: (A) a carbazole derivative shown by the following formula (1), (B) a photoacid generator containing a sulfonimide compound and an iodonium salt compound as essential components, and (C) an acid-dissociable group-containing resin which is insoluble or scarcely soluble in alkali, but becomes soluble in alkali when the acid-dissociable group dissociates is disclosed. wherein R1 and R2 are individually halogen atom, methyl, cyano, or nitro group, X is a C1-20 organic group, and h and i are 0-4. The resin composition is useful as a chemically amplified positive-tone resist excelling in focal depth allowance, sensitivity, resolution, pattern profile, and PED stability.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 2005
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2007
    Assignee: JSR Corporation
    Inventors: Tomoki Nagai, Takayuki Tsuji
  • Patent number: 7258963
    Abstract: In a photosensitive resin, a photoresist composition having the photosensitive resin, and a method of forming a photoresist pattern by using the photoresist, the photosensitive resin includes a blocking group substituted for an acid. The photosensitive resin has a weight-average molecular weight of from about 6,000 up to about 8,000. The photosensitive resin has a blocking ratio of from about 5% up to about 40%.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 17, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2007
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Youn-Kyung Wang, Kyoung-Mi Kim, Young-Ho Kim, Jae-Hyun Kim
  • Patent number: 7258964
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a polymerizable coating composition suitable for the manufacture of printing plates, which may be developable on-press. The coating composition comprises (i) a polymerizable compound and (ii) a polymeric binder comprising polyethylene oxide segments, wherein the polymeric binder is selected from the group consisting of at least one graft copolymer comprising a main chain polymer and polyethylene oxide side chains, a block copolymer having at least one polyethylene oxide block and at least one non-polyethylene oxide block, and a combination thereof. The invention is also directed to an imageable element comprising a substrate and the polymerizable coating composition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2005
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2007
    Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
    Inventors: Jianbing Huang, Heidi M. Munnelly, Shashikant Saraiya, S. Peter Pappas