Patents Issued in July 8, 2008
  • Patent number: 7396589
    Abstract: Magnetic nanoparticles are applicable in imaging, diagnosis, therapy, and biomaterial separation. The magnetic nanoparticles comprise a core represented as FexMavZy and a shell of an inner-transition element Mb or the compound thereof, wherein Ma is an inner-transition element, Z is an element of the group Vla, x is greater or equal to 0, and v, y are positive numbers. The surface of the shell is optionally modified by liposome, polymer, aliphatic compound, aromatic compound or combinations thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 8, 2008
    Assignee: Industrial Technology Research Institute
    Inventors: Hui-Ju Cho, Sheng-Ming Shih, Yuh-Jiuan Achuan Lin, Hong-Dun Lin, Kang-Ping Lin
  • Patent number: 7396590
    Abstract: Polymers, and particularly conventional commodity bulk polymers, are modified to have a surface activity of interest using a surface modifying polymer that includes a moiety that favors migration to the surface of the bulk polymer together with a moiety provides the activity of interest (e.g., biocidal, wettability modifying (hydrophobic or hydrophilic), resistance to radiant energy, providing a functional group for functionalizing the surface, etc.). The surface modifying polymer is combined with the bulk polymer, and, due to the presence of the moiety that favors migration, concentrates primarily on the surface of the bulk polymer such that the moiety that provides the activity of interest is located primarily on the surface of the bulk polymeric article which is produced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 2004
    Date of Patent: July 8, 2008
    Assignee: Virginia Commonwealth University
    Inventor: Kenneth Joseph Wynne
  • Patent number: 7396591
    Abstract: In a wiring substrate having a metal wiring pattern that is formed on a substrate and includes a contact portion for providing connection to an external element, an organic thin film containing silane is formed to cover the metal wiring pattern and the contact portion is electrically connected to the external element through the organic thing film. Unlike conventional wiring substrates in which a contact portion is uncovered by ripping open or cutting away a protective resin film formed on the contact portion, the wiring substrate can be electrically connected with an external element having a low contact pressure, for example.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 16, 2006
    Date of Patent: July 8, 2008
    Assignee: Japan Aviation Electronics Industry Limited
    Inventors: Takuya Miyashita, Masafumi Okada, Kenji Matsumoto
  • Patent number: 7396592
    Abstract: The invention relates to a composite target in the form of a bar made of ceramic powders and designed to be evaporated under an electron beam, the target comprising zirconia and at least one zirconia stabilizer. In characteristic manner, said target is wherein said zirconia stabilizer is at a molar content lying in the range 2% to 30% and wherein said zirconia is formed by more than 90% of a monoclinic phase. The invention is applicable to fabricating a ceramic thermal barrier of low thermal conductivity and high thermomechanical strength formed by evaporation under an electron beam.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 8, 2008
    Assignees: Snecma, Snecma Services
    Inventors: Bertrand Saint-Ramond, Andre Malie, Christophe Chaput, Isabelle Porte, Cyrille Delage
  • Patent number: 7396593
    Abstract: Tissue products are described that have been topically treated with a chemical additive, such as a softener. The softener may be, for instance, a polysiloxane. The polysiloxane is topically applied to a tissue sheet, such as a single ply sheet, so as to form a Z-directional gradient in the sheet. Particular, most of the polysiloxane remains on the surface of the tissue product as opposed to migrating to the center of the sheet. In this manner, tissue sheets are formed with improved softness at lower levels of polysiloxane and without the need for applying any surfactants to the sheet. A system for applying chemical additives to tissue sheets is also described. The system includes a chemical additive applicator, such as a meltblown die that emits the chemical additive through a plurality of orifices. In one embodiment, the system includes a device for periodically cleaning the orifices during application of the chemical additive.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 19, 2003
    Date of Patent: July 8, 2008
    Assignee: Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc.
    Inventors: Kou-Chang Liu, Tom G. Shannon, Peter J. Allen, Geof Carlow, Mike Goulet, Paul Burden, Greg Aykens, Joe Capizzi, Thomas Hunt, Diane Linskens, Roger Wendler, John Wnek
  • Patent number: 7396594
    Abstract: The present invention provides a process for providing on the surface of a substrate an adherent phorphorous acid-based coating layer, the method comprising contacting said surface with a carrier conveying a coating composition comprising an acid selected from the group consisting of phosphoroic acids, organo-phosphoric acids, phosphonic acids, and mixtures thereof, at a sufficient temperature and for a sufficient time to bond at least a portion of the acid in the compositon to the oxide surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 2004
    Date of Patent: July 8, 2008
    Assignee: The Trustees of Princeton University
    Inventors: Jeffrey Schwartz, Michael J. Avaltroni, Michael P. Danahy, Brett M. Silverman
  • Patent number: 7396595
    Abstract: A soft metal and a decorative article of wristwatch are produced by forming, on the surface of a soft metal article (2), a hard layer (3, 13) containing zirconium and molybdenum, or containing zirconium, molybdenum and further an additive element constituted of at least one or more elements selected from niobium, tantalum, and titanium. It is preferable that the content of molybdenum constituting the hard layer (3, 13) is about 30 to 75 wt %, or that the content of molybdenum is about 25 to 65 wt % and the total content of the additive elements is about 25 wt % or less.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2002
    Date of Patent: July 8, 2008
    Assignee: Citizen Holdings Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yoshitsugu Shibuya, Junji Satoh, Shizue Ito
  • Patent number: 7396596
    Abstract: A coated article, which has (i) at least one electrically non-conductive base layer, (ii) at least one layer of copper and/or a copper alloy, and (iii) a layer which contains at least one electrically conductive polymer. The article is characterized in that the copper or copper alloy layer (ii) is positioned between the base layer (i) and the layer (iii) containing the conductive polymer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 8, 2008
    Assignee: Ormecon GmbH
    Inventor: Bernhard Wessling
  • Patent number: 7396597
    Abstract: A stainless steel pipe includes a base metal containing 20-35 mass % of Cr, and a Cr-depleted zone is formed in the surface region of the pipe. The Cr concentration in the Cr-depleted zone is at least 10%, and the thickness of the Cr-depleted zone is at most 20 micrometers. A Cr-based oxide scale layer having a Cr content of at least 50% and a thickness of 0.1-15 micrometers may be provided on the outer side of the Cr-depleted zone. An Si-based oxide scale layer with an Si content of at least 50% may be provided between the Cr-based oxide scale layer and the Cr-depleted zone. The pipe is particularly suitable for use in petroleum refineries or petrochemical plants, such as for use as a pipe of a cracking furnace of an ethylene plant.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 16, 2004
    Date of Patent: July 8, 2008
    Assignee: Sumitomo Metal Industries, Ltd.
    Inventors: Yoshitaka Nishiyama, Yoshimi Yamadera
  • Patent number: 7396598
    Abstract: A polymer light emitting material, wherein the material has a light emitting mechanism based on transition from an excited triplet state to a ground state or transition through an excited triplet state to a ground state of an electron energy level, and the material comprises a nonionic light emitting part which constitutes a part of the polymer or is bound to the polymer. The polymer light emitting material exhibits high light emission efficiency above 5%, which is the limit of external quantum efficiency of fluorescence and can be designed so as to have a large area and hence are suitable for mass production of organic light emitting devices.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 2002
    Date of Patent: July 8, 2008
    Assignee: Showa Denko K.K.
    Inventors: Masataka Takeuchi, Shuichi Naijo, Naoko Ito, Koro Shirane, Takeshi Igarashi, Yoshiaki Takahashi, Motoaki Kamachi
  • Patent number: 7396599
    Abstract: A binuclear organometallic complex enabling highly efficient phospholuminescence and an organic electroluminescent device using the same. The binuclear organometallic complex, which can be suitably used to form an organic layer of an organic electroluminescent device, produces luminescence in the wavelength range of 430-650 nm, and induces white electroluminescence when combined with green and red luminescent materials.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2004
    Date of Patent: July 8, 2008
    Assignee: Samsung SDI Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yi-Yeol Lyu, Lyong-Sun Pu, Das Rupasree Ragini, Seok Chang, Young-Hun Byun, Eun-Sil Han, Hae-Jung Son, Jong-Hyoup Lee, Tae-Yong Noh
  • Patent number: 7396600
    Abstract: A battery pack including a molded resin portion, which holds a part of or the entire battery, and an externally exposed output terminal. The battery pack further includes an insulating block, which is provided with a breaker mechanism for cutting-off current flow when an over-current flows. The insulating block is held by being inserted in the molded resin portion. The insulating block holds the output terminal on its surface. The output terminal held by the insulating block is held at a prescribed position so as to be externally exposed from the molded resin portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2004
    Date of Patent: July 8, 2008
    Assignee: Sanyo Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Atsushi Watanabe, Mikitaka Tamai, Hiroki Teraoka, Masatsugu Naka
  • Patent number: 7396601
    Abstract: A fuel cell comprises an electrode plate having a flow field formed therein and a proton exchange membrane. A compressible permeable diffusion media is disposed adjacent the electrode plate. The diffusion media is compressed against the electrode plate so that a portion of the media intrudes into the flow field. A fuel cell stack can be made by compressing a plurality these fuel cells together. The fuel cell stack is compressed so that the diffusion media in each fuel cell is compressed against the adjacent electrode plate with a portion of the media intruding into the flow field in the adjacent electrode plate. The compression of the fuel cell stack can be adjusted so that a magnitude of intrusion of the diffusion media into the flow channels is adjusted and a pressure drop of a predetermined magnitude occurs across the fuel cell stack at a desired operational state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 14, 2003
    Date of Patent: July 8, 2008
    Assignee: General Motors Corporation
    Inventors: Daryl Chapman, Jeff A Rock
  • Patent number: 7396602
    Abstract: An electrochemical generator consisting of an alternation of membrane fuel cells and cooling cells with internal circulation of liquid water is described. The fuel cells are fed in at least one of the two compartments, anodic or cathodic, with dry gas, which is humidified through the passage of water coming from the adjacent cooling cell through a metal porous separating wall. The permeated liquid water contributes to the withdrawal of the heat of reaction by evaporating at least in part inside the fuel cells.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2003
    Date of Patent: July 8, 2008
    Assignee: Nuvera Fuel Cells Europe S.R.L.
    Inventor: Antonino Toro
  • Patent number: 7396603
    Abstract: An integrated power production system including a fossil fuel power plant for processing fossil based fuel such as coal or natural gas arranged in tandem with a carbonate fuel cell having an anode and a cathode section. The flue gas of the power plant serves exclusively as the inlet gas for the cathode section of the fuel cell. Anode exhaust gas leaving the anode section of the fuel cell is subjected to processing including sequestration of the carbon dioxide in the exhaust gas.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 2004
    Date of Patent: July 8, 2008
    Assignee: FuelCell Energy, Inc.
    Inventors: Mohammad Farooque, Fred C. Jahnke
  • Patent number: 7396604
    Abstract: A fuel cell system including a turbomachine compressor that delivers charge air to the cathode side of a fuel cell module. A bi-directional mass flow meter measures the airflow through the compressor, and provides an indication of a reverse airflow through the compressor for surge protection. A controller receives a signal from the mass flow meter indicative of the reverse flow. The controller controls a motor driving the compressor and a back pressure valve at the cathode exhaust of the fuel cell module to control the pressure in the fuel cell module to remove the surge condition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 2003
    Date of Patent: July 8, 2008
    Assignee: General Motors Corporation
    Inventor: Joseph D. Rainville
  • Patent number: 7396605
    Abstract: An electrochemical fuel cell system adapted for maintaining the efficient production of electrical power. The system comprises a fuel supply containing a hydrogen rich gaseous fuel for delivery to a fuel cell. A fuel supply conduit connects the fuel supply and the fuel cell for delivering a fuel stream of the hydrogen rich gaseous fuel to the fuel cell. An impurity sensor is carried by the fuel supply conduit for detecting impurities in the fuel stream prior to the impurities entering the fuel cell. A heating mechanism is provided in communication with the impurity sensor being operatively associated with the fuel cell for changing the temperature of the fuel cell. The heating mechanism raises the temperature of the fuel cell from a normal operating temperature to an elevated operating temperature when the impurity sensor detects impurities in the fuel stream to prevent the impurities from interfering with fuel cell efficiency.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 2003
    Date of Patent: July 8, 2008
    Inventors: John W. Van Zee, Woo-kum Lee, Mahesh Murthy
  • Patent number: 7396606
    Abstract: A fuel-cell evaluation equipment includes a gas passageway for supplying gas to a fuel cell and a thermostat adapted to accommodate the fuel cell, wherein the gas passageway includes a first temperature regulator adapted to regulate the temperature of gas and a humidity regulator adapted to regulate the humidity of the gas. A thermostatic chamber of the thermostat regulates an inner temperature in the chamber according to a test condition. The thermostatic chamber is provided with a second temperature regulator into which gas flowing in the gas passageway flows. The gas flowing in the gas passageway is supplied to the fuel cell after heat exchange by the second temperature regulator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 25, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 8, 2008
    Assignee: Espec Corp.
    Inventors: Hideki Tanaka, Kimio Yoshizumi, Hitoshi Ando, Akira Mizugaki, Hiroshi Okuda, Akira Ueda
  • Patent number: 7396607
    Abstract: The invention provides a manufacturing process for MEA that enables sufficient bond strength among an electrolyte membrane and electrode substrates even when the electrolyte membrane comprises a heat-resistant material such as an aromatic polymer. The process comprises pressure bonding an electrolyte membrane with catalyzed electrode substrates to form a membrane-electrode assembly, wherein a good solvent for the electrolyte membrane is applied to at least one of facing surfaces of the opposed electrode substrate and the electrolyte membrane prior to the pressure bonding. The electrolyte membrane may comprise a sulfonated aromatic polymer. The good solvent for the electrolyte membrane may be an aprotic dipolar solvent.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 9, 2004
    Date of Patent: July 8, 2008
    Assignees: JSR Corporation, Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Fusazumi Masaka, Kiyonori Kita, Yuichiro Hama, Masaru Iguchi, Naoki Mitsuta, Junichi Yano
  • Patent number: 7396608
    Abstract: Provided is a polymer electrolyte containing a block copolymer comprising one or more blocks having sulfonic acid groups and one or more blocks having substantially no sulfonic acid group, and at least one block among all blocks is a block having aromatic rings in the main chain thereof, and a method for producing the same. The polymer electrolyte is suitable for a proton conductive film of a fuel cell due to excellent water resistance and heat resistance, and high proton conductivity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 26, 2004
    Date of Patent: July 8, 2008
    Assignee: Sumitomo Chemical Company, Limited
    Inventors: Atsushi Terahara, Katsuhiko Iwasaki, Takashi Ikeda
  • Patent number: 7396609
    Abstract: A power generation cell includes a membrane electrode assembly and first and second metal separators sandwiching the membrane electrode assembly. The first metal separator is a thin metal plate. A first seal member is formed integrally around the outer end of the first metal separator. A portion defining an orifice is provided in an outer marginal region of the first metal separator. The thickness H1 of the first seal member in the area covering the portion defining the orifice is larger than the thickness of the H2 of the first seal member in the area covering other portions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 8, 2008
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Narutoshi Sugita, Daisuke Okonogi, Mikihiko Kimura, Shuhei Goto
  • Patent number: 7396610
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a membrane electrode assembly wherein each gas diffusion substrate comprises a porous electrically conductive gasket member is located on the first and second planar faces of a peripheral portion of the sheet material. The electrocatalyst layers are not present adjacent to the gasket members and the edge of the membrane is sandwiched between the gasket members. The invention further relates to integrated cell assemblies and fuel cell stacks comprising membrane electrode assemblies according to the invention.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 14, 2002
    Date of Patent: July 8, 2008
    Assignee: Johnson Matthey Public Limited Company
    Inventors: Christopher James Barnett, John Malcolm Gascoyne, Graham Alan Hards, Thomas Robertson Ralph
  • Patent number: 7396611
    Abstract: Fuel cell catalyst layers, and related systems and methods are disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2003
    Date of Patent: July 8, 2008
    Assignee: Plug Power Inc.
    Inventors: Zhiqiang Xu, Zhigang Qi, Arthur Kaufman
  • Patent number: 7396612
    Abstract: A lithium ion secondary battery includes a positive electrode capable of absorbing and desorbing lithium ion, a negative electrode capable of absorbing and desorbing lithium ion, a porous film interposed between the positive electrode and the negative electrode, and a non-aqueous electrolyte: the porous film being adhered to a surface of at least one of the positive electrode and the negative electrode; the porous film including a filler and a resin binder; the resin binder content in the porous film being 1.5 to 8 parts by weight per 100 parts by weight of the filler; and the resin binder including an acrylonitrile unit, an acrylate unit, or a methacrylate unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 2004
    Date of Patent: July 8, 2008
    Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Tsumoru Ohata, Junji Nakajima, Tetsuya Hayashi, Takashi Takano, Shigeo Ikuta, Kohei Suzuki, Kouji Nishida, Masao Fukunaga, Akiko Fujino
  • Patent number: 7396613
    Abstract: A battery pack is provided. The battery device is accommodated and hermetically sealed in a packaging unit and is packed along with a connection substrate and a frame by the packaging unit. A laminated material used for hermetically sealing the battery device is also used as an exterior material for the battery pack.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 8, 2006
    Date of Patent: July 8, 2008
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Masaru Hiratsuka, Mitsuo Sakamoto, Takao Sawaguchi, Kazuhito Hatta
  • Patent number: 7396614
    Abstract: A lithium and vanadium oxide is described having the formula Li1+xV3O8, wherein 0.1?×?0.25. The oxide has a monoclinic crystalline structure and comprises non-agglomerated grains in the form of monocrystalline pellets having a length L of between 1 and 100 ?m, a width W such that 4<L/W<100, and a thickness t such that 4 L/t<100, with t<W, the elongation axis of the pellets being axis b of the monoclinic cell. The oxide may be prepared by mixing the Li and V precursors, without grinding or compression, heating said mixture to 565° C.-585° C. and de-agglomerating the product obtained. The oxide is suitable for use as an active material for the positive electrode of a lithium battery.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 8, 2002
    Date of Patent: July 8, 2008
    Assignee: Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique
    Inventors: Séverine Jouanneau, Dominique Guyomard, Annie Le Gal La Salle, Alain Verbaere, Stéphane Lascaud, Nelly Bourgeon, Marc Deschamps
  • Patent number: 7396615
    Abstract: A method for producing a polyelectrolyte membrane, including the step of immersing a basic polymer such as a polybenzimidazole in a strong acid having a concentration sufficient to impregnate the basic polymer with six or more strong acid molecules per polymer repeating unit of the basic polymer at a temperature of not less than 30° C. for a period of 5 h or less, as well as a fuel battery having the polyelectrolyte membrane. Hence, the times required to immerse the basic polymers in the strong acids can be shortened and the proton conductivity of the polyelectrolyte membranes can be improved.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 1999
    Date of Patent: July 8, 2008
    Assignee: BASF Fuel Cell GmbH
    Inventor: Tetsu Yamamoto
  • Patent number: 7396616
    Abstract: It is an object to provide a solid electrolyte and an electrochemical system using the solid electrolyte which has a little expansion (swelling) and whose strength does not decrease in case of positioning the solid electrolyte including a complex compound composed of an inorganic compound, polyvinyl alcohol, and water, in a wet condition. It is possible to use the solid electrolyte in a device such as a fuel cell or an electrolytic device used with the wet condition. The solid electrolyte has a little size variation even if humidity varies and has a low methanol permeability.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 2004
    Date of Patent: July 8, 2008
    Assignee: Nippon Kodoshi Corporation
    Inventor: Haruo Sawa
  • Patent number: 7396617
    Abstract: A reticle includes at least two duplicate mask patterns each having a different bias. A reticle according to at least one embodiment of the invention includes a first mask pattern, a second mask pattern and a third mask pattern, each of the first mask pattern, second mask pattern and third mask pattern being duplicates of one another and having a different bias.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 2004
    Date of Patent: July 8, 2008
    Assignee: Photronics, Inc.
    Inventors: Barry K. Rockwell, Jeffrey W. Tracy, Edward Vokoun
  • Patent number: 7396618
    Abstract: A color filter substrate for a liquid crystal display device includes a substrate having first, second and third sub-pixel regions and first, second and third border regions between adjacent sub-pixel regions, first red, first green and first blue color filter patterns at the first, second and third sub-pixel regions, respectively, and second red, second green and second blue color filter patterns at each of the first, second and third border regions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 18, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 8, 2008
    Assignee: LG. Display Co., Ltd
    Inventors: Jeong-Hyun Kim, Sam-Yeoul Kim
  • Patent number: 7396619
    Abstract: A color filter includes a transparent substrate, a black matrix formed on the transparent substrate, a plurality of banks superposed on the black matrix, and a color layer formed of R, G and B color portions. The black matrix defines a plurality of sub-pixels of the color filter. The banks and the black matrix enclose a plurality of spaces for respectively accommodating the R, G and B color portions. Wherein, a plurality of groups is defined, each group includes a plurality of sub-pixels of concolorous color portions, at least one channel is formed on the bank between adjacent sub-pixels of concolorous color portions in the group. In a manufacturing method for the color filter, the ink can flow over between the adjacent sub-pixels in a defined group and level through the channel, thus the uniformity of the color portions can be improved.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 2006
    Date of Patent: July 8, 2008
    Assignee: ICF Technology Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Ching-Yu Chou, Chien-Hung Chen
  • Patent number: 7396620
    Abstract: There is provided an exposure method for exposing a pattern on an original form onto an object through a projection optical system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 2004
    Date of Patent: July 8, 2008
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Koichi Sentoku
  • Patent number: 7396621
    Abstract: A method of manufacturing a semiconductor device includes preparing a projection exposure apparatus and a photomask, the photomask having a transparent substrate and a light shield film arranged in patterns to be transferred to a resist film on a wafer. The patterns include a circuit mask pattern, and first and second mark mask patterns having dimensions which change in accordance with exposure of the resist film.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 8, 2008
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventors: Tadahito Fujisawa, Soichi Inoue, Satoshi Tanaka, Masafumi Asano
  • Patent number: 7396622
    Abstract: An electrophotographic photosensitive member having a support and a charge generation layer containing a charge-generating material and a binder resin, provided on the support, and a hole transport layer containing a hole-transporting material, provided on the charge generation layer. The charge generation lays contains a phenanthroline compound according to formula (3) discussed in the specification or an acenaphthene compound according to formula (4) discussed in the specification. Also disclosed are a process cartridge and an electrophotographic apparatus which have the electrophotographic photosensitive member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 8, 2008
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Hideaki Nagasaka, Kunihiko Sekido, Michiyo Sekiya, Nobumichi Miki, Yosuke Morikawa
  • Patent number: 7396623
    Abstract: The presently disclosed embodiments relate in general to electrophotographic imaging members, such as layered photoreceptor structures, and processes for making and using the same. More particularly, the embodiments pertain to a photoreceptor that incorporates a material with a high dielectric constant that improves background and print image quality.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 8, 2008
    Assignee: Xerox Corporation
    Inventors: Jin Wu, Liang-bin Lin, Linda L. Ferrarese, John J. Wilbert, James R. Backus
  • Patent number: 7396624
    Abstract: An electrophotographic photoreceptor containing a naphthalenetetracarboxylic acid diimide derivative of Formula (1), which has a branched alkyl group substituted with an aryl group at the ?-position with regard to nitrogen atoms of imide groups: wherein R1 and R2 are independently selected from the group consisting of a hydrogen atom, a halogen atom, a C1-C20 substituted or unsubstituted alkyl group, and a C1-C20 substituted or unsubstituted alkoxy group; R3 is selected from the group consisting of a C1-C20 substituted or unsubstituted alkyl group, a C1-C20 substituted or unsubstituted alkoxy group, a C7-C30 substituted or unsubstituted aralkyl group, and a group having the formula —(CH2)n—Y—R4; Ar is a C6-C30 substituted or unsubstituted aryl group; Y is an oxygen or sulfur atom; R4 is a hydrogen atom or a C1-C20 substituted or unsubstituted alkyl group; and n is an integer between 1 and 12.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 1, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 8, 2008
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Beom-jun Kim, Seung-ju Kim, Saburo Yokota, Kyung-yol Yon, Hwan-koo Lee
  • Patent number: 7396625
    Abstract: To provide a method for producing a toner in which at least monomers are polymerized in at least one of a supercritical fluid and a subcritical fluid to thereby produce toner particles, wherein at least one of the supercritical fluid and the subcritical fluid contains a fluorine-containing surfactant, and a polymer resulted from polymerization of the monomers is insoluble in at least one of the supercritical fluid and the subcritical fluid, and provide a toner produced by the method for producing the toner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2006
    Date of Patent: July 8, 2008
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Chiaki Tanaka, Masayuki Ishii
  • Patent number: 7396626
    Abstract: The present invention provides a toner improved in dispersibility of a colorant in the toner particles and excellent in the color reproducibility including color mixability and transparency. The toner is also excellent in the stability in long-term of the chargeability and capable of forming images maintaining high image quality. The present invention provides a toner for forming a full-color image which includes at least toner particles containing a binder resin, a colorant and a wax, and inorganic fine particles, wherein the binder resin comprises a resin having polyester units which is synthesized by use of an aromatic carboxylic acid titanium compound as a catalyst, and the inorganic fine particles comprise fine titanium oxide particles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 8, 2008
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Hiroyuki Fujikawa, Nobuyoshi Sugahara, Takayuki Itakura, Naoki Okamoto, Koh Ishigami, Yoshinobu Baba, Hirohide Tanikawa
  • Patent number: 7396627
    Abstract: A method including contacting a toner including: a binder resin including an unsaturated carboxylic acid derivative monomer; a vinyl polymerizing monomer; and a colorant; to a supercritical fluid or a sub-critical fluid to remove the unsaturated carboxylic acid derivative monomer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 8, 2008
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Naohiro Watanabe, Chiaki Tanaka, Masayuki Ishii, Kei Naitoh, Takuya Saito
  • Patent number: 7396628
    Abstract: Provided is a toner for electrostatic charge image developing, comprising a core layer which contains a first binder resin and a coloring agent, and a shell layer which contains a second binder resin and covers the core layer, characterized in that the following equation (1) and the following equation (2) are satisfied, 2.0×105?G?(60)?4.0×106??Equation (1) 10?G?(60)/G?(80)?40??Equation (2) wherein, in the equation (1) and the equation (2), G?(60) represents a storage elastic modulus (Pa) of the toner for electrostatic charge image developing measured under the conditions of a temperature of 60° C., a vibration frequency of 6.28 rad/sec, and a strain amount of 0.01 to 0.5%, and G?(80) represents a storage elastic modulus (Pa) of the toner for electrostatic charge image developing measured under the conditions of a temperature of 80° C., a vibration frequency of 6.28 rad/sec, and a strain amount of 0.01 to 0.5%.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 8, 2008
    Assignee: Fuji Xerox Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Masanobu Ninomiya, Hiroshi Nakazawa, Takao Ishiyama
  • Patent number: 7396629
    Abstract: An image forming method and an image forming apparatus are disclosed in which an electrostatic latent image is formed on a photosensitive member surface by using a two-component developer including a toner and carrier. The photosensitive member surface has a specific modulus of elastic deformation and includes a charge transport layer with a specific thickness. The toner has a specific weight-average particle diameter. The carrier has a specific volume-average particle diameter and a specific circularity, and contains 20% by number or less of particles having a value of “average circularity?2?” where ? is standard deviation of carrier circularity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 8, 2008
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yoshinobu Baba, Hiroyuki Fujikawa, Nobuyoshi Sugahara, Koh Ishigami, Naoki Okamoto, Takayuki Itakura
  • Patent number: 7396630
    Abstract: A toner composition including toner particles including a binder resin including a modified polyester resin, and a second resin having a weight average molecular weight of from 2,000 to 10,000; a colorant; a release agent; and a particulate material which is present at least a surface portion of the toner particles while embedded into the surface portion, wherein the binder resin has a glass transition temperature not lower than 35° C. and lower than 55° C., and wherein the particulate material has an average particle diameter of from 0.002 to 0.2 times that of the toner particles. A developer including the toner composition and a carrier having a layer thereon which includes at least an acrylic resin and a silicone resin, and a method for fixing an image of the toner composition are also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 11, 2006
    Date of Patent: July 8, 2008
    Assignee: Ricoh Company Limited
    Inventors: Yohichiroh Watanabe, Masanori Suzuki, Tsunemi Sugiyama, Hiroshi Yamashita, Takuya Saito, Naohiro Watanabe, Masami Tomita, Shigeru Emoto, Shinichiro Yagi, Hiroshi Yamada, Toshiki Nanya, Tadao Takigawa
  • Patent number: 7396631
    Abstract: Radiation curable thermal transfer elements including a substrate and a light-to-heat conversion layer overlaying the substrate, and processes to make the thermal transfer elements. The light-to-heat conversion layer is derived from a radiation curable material capable of being cured by exposure to radiation at a curing wavelength and an imaging radiation absorber material not substantially increasing radiation absorbance at the curing wavelength. The radiation curable transfer elements can be used in processes for making organic microelectronic devices.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 7, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 8, 2008
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Robin E. Wright, Khanh T. Huynh, Leslie A. Kreilich, Lan H. Liu, Rachel K. Swanson, Richard L. Walter, Martin B. Wolk, Stephen A. Johnson, William A. Tolbert
  • Patent number: 7396632
    Abstract: Substrate films, thermal mass transfer donor elements, and methods of making and using the same are provided. In some embodiments, such substrate films and donor elements include at least two dyads, wherein each dyad includes an absorbing first layer and an essentially non-absorbing second layer. Also provided are methods of making a donor element that includes an essentially non-absorbing substrate, an absorbing first layer, and a non-absorbing second layer, wherein the composition of the essentially non-absorbing substrate is essentially the same as the composition of the essentially non-absorbing second layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 19, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 8, 2008
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Martin B. Wolk, Thomas R. Hoffend, Jr., Stephen A. Johnson, John P. Baetzold, Richard J. Thompson, Terence D. Neavin, Michael A. Haase, Sergey A. Lamansky
  • Patent number: 7396633
    Abstract: With the damascene process in which an interconnection is formed using a conventional chemically amplified positive photoresist composition, there arises a problem that the photoresist within the via hole (as well as in its vicinity) may remain even after the exposure and the development are carried out. The present invention relates to a chemically amplified resist composition comprising, at least, a photo acid generator, a quencher and a salt having a buffering function for an acid which is generated from the acid generator by irradiation, wherein the salt having the buffering function for the acid generated from the acid generator is a salt derived from a long chain alkylbenzenesulfonic acid or a long chain alkoxybenzenesulfonic acid and an organic amine that is a basic compound.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 2004
    Date of Patent: July 8, 2008
    Assignees: NEC Electronics Corporation, Shin-Etsu Chemical Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Seiji Nagahara, Satoshi Watanabe, Kazunori Maeda
  • Patent number: 7396634
    Abstract: A photosensitive composition comprising: a sensitizing dye represented by the following formula (1): in which A represents an optionally substituted aromatic ring or an optionally substituted hetero ring; X represents an oxygen atoms a sulfur atom, or —N(R6)—; and R1, R2, R3, R4, R5, and R6 each independently represents a hydrogen atom or a monovalent non-metal atomic group; an activator compound being capable of causing a chemical change due to a mutual action with light absorption of the sensitizing dye represented by the formula (1) so as to generate at least one of a radical, an acid and a base; and a compound being capable of reacting with at least one of a radical and an acid so that physical or chemical characteristics thereof change irreversibly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 8, 2008
    Assignee: FUJIFILM Corporation
    Inventor: Akinori Shibuya
  • Patent number: 7396635
    Abstract: A producing method of a wired circuit board that can prevent meandering of the elongate base material conveyed with the rolls and also prevent entry of air bubbles in between a light-transparency protecting film and a photosensitive solder resist layer when the light-transparency protecting film is laminated on the photosensitive solder resist layer. After a conductive pattern 3 is formed on the front side of the elongate base material 1 by the additive process, a narrow stiffener sheet 7 smaller in width than the elongate base material 1 is provided on the back side of the elongate base material 1. Then, after the photosensitive solder resist layer 10 is formed on the front side of the elongate base material 1 to cover the conductive pattern 3, the light-transparency protecting film 11 is laminated on the front side of the photosensitive solder resist layer 10. Thereafter, the photosensitive solder resist layer 10 is exposed to light through the light-transparency protecting film 11.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 8, 2008
    Assignee: Nitto Denko Corporation
    Inventor: Toshiki Naito
  • Patent number: 7396636
    Abstract: A method for creating segmented resist islands for photolithography on single sliders is disclosed. The method includes ramping the temperature of a number of single sliders, to a temperature that is below a proper softbake temperature. The single sliders reside in a divider and the single sliders and walls of the divider have a layer of resist deposited on them. Coarse lithography is then performed to remove the resist from above portions of the walls of the divider; and the temperature of the single sliders, the resist and the divider is then ramped to a proper softbake temperature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 2004
    Date of Patent: July 8, 2008
    Assignee: Hitachi Global Storage Technologies Netherlands, B.V.
    Inventors: Cherngye Hwang, Kim Y. Lee, Dennis R. McKean, Gary Suzuki
  • Patent number: 7396637
    Abstract: A main object of the present invention is to provide a method for manufacturing an EL element which can avoid a state which plural unnecessary layers are laminated on each pattern-formed light-emitting portion when the light-emitting portions are formed by photolithography and thus enables quick and easy peeling treatment in the peeling process of the unnecessary layers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 2, 2006
    Date of Patent: July 8, 2008
    Assignee: Dai Nippon Printing Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Norihito Itou, Tomoyuki Tachikawa
  • Patent number: 7396638
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a photothermographic material including, on a same surface of a support, a photosensitive silver halide, a non-photosensitive organic silver salt, a reducing agent and a binder, wherein the photosensitive silver halide has a silver iodide content within a range from 40 to 100 mol %, and the material is thermally developed within a developing time of 12 seconds or less. The invention also relates to an image forming method using the photothermographic material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 2004
    Date of Patent: July 8, 2008
    Assignee: FUJIFILM Corporation
    Inventor: Fumito Nariyuki