Patents Issued in April 14, 2009
  • Patent number: 7517568
    Abstract: This invention relates to packaging for dilute hypochlorite and hypochlorous acid compositions to produce stable compositions. Examples of suitable packaging containers are a bag-in-can device, a plastic aerosol container, a dual delivery container, a dual chambered device, an expandable chamber device, a precompression trigger sprayer, a mechanically pressurized device, and an ultrasonic sprayer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2005
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2009
    Assignee: The Clorox Company
    Inventors: Bruce K. Bitowft, Steven E. Bromberg, Timothy Kennedy, Ricardo Ruiz de Gopegui
  • Patent number: 7517569
    Abstract: A film comprises a barrier layer including PVdC or EVOH, a skin layer, and an intermediate layer comprising at least about 50% of propylene/ethylene copolymer. The film has at least about 10% free shrink in at least one direction at 85° C. The film is useful in making barrier shrink bags.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 2005
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2009
    Assignee: Cryovac, Inc.
    Inventors: Stephanie G. Kreitman, Mendy J. Mossbrook, Michael Broadus
  • Patent number: 7517570
    Abstract: Coated inflatable fabrics, more particularly airbags to which very low add-on amounts of coating have been applied, are provided which exhibit extremely low air permeabilities. The inventive fabrics are primarily for use in automotive restraint cushions which require low permeability characteristics (such as side curtain airbags). Traditionally, heavy, and thus expensive, coatings of compounds such as neoprene, silicones and the like, have been utilized to provide such required low permeability. The inventive fabric utilizes an inexpensive, very thin coating to provide such necessary low permeability levels. Thus, the inventive coated airbag possesses a coating of at most 2.5 ounces per square yard, most preferably about 0.8 ounces per square yard, and exhibits a leak-down time (a measurement of the time required for the entire amount of gas introduced within the airbag at peak pressure during inflation to escape the airbag at 10 psi) of at least 7 seconds.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 9, 2000
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2009
    Assignee: Milliken & Company
    Inventors: Shulong Li, John A. Sollars, Jr.
  • Patent number: 7517571
    Abstract: A temporary tattoo for concealing and for blocking a permanent tattoo or other imperfections on an individual's skin includes a white opaque neutralizer base that effectively prevents read through of the underlying marking. The temporary tattoo includes at least one pigmented layer disposed on top of the white opaque neutralized base that is intended to meter the individual's skin tone and/or pigment. The temporary tattoo also includes one or more reintroduction layers disposed between the neutralized base and the at least are pigmented layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 11, 2005
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2009
    Inventors: Barbara Funke, Roxanne Donatiello
  • Patent number: 7517572
    Abstract: Disclosed is a composite web including a base web, a first web of fastener material, a first sinusoidal line of separation and a second sinusoidal line of separation. In one aspect, the composite web can be used to form components for absorbent articles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 2005
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2009
    Assignee: Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc.
    Inventor: Wendy L. Van Dyke
  • Patent number: 7517574
    Abstract: An inexpensive optical recording medium is provided that can ensure recording and reproduction of data even in case of using blue or blue-violet laser light as irradiation light and can be stored for a long time. The optical recording medium includes a recording layer. The recording layer includes a recording portion and a covering portion covering at least one side of the recording portion in a thickness direction of the recording portion. The recording portion and the covering portion are substantially formed from a plurality of types of common constituent elements. Composition ratios of the constituent elements are different between the recording portion and the covering portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 2005
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2009
    Assignee: TDK Corporation
    Inventors: Daisuke Yoshitoku, Koji Mishima, Kenji Yamaga
  • Patent number: 7517575
    Abstract: A silver alloy reflective film contains X1 as a component and has an enriched layer located in a region within 2 nm deep from the surface of the reflective film, in which the component X1 is enriched in the enriched layer at a higher concentration than the average concentration of X1 in the whole of the reflective film, wherein X1 is at least one alloying element selected from the group consisting of Bi, Si, Ge, Pb, Zn, Cd, Hg, Al, Ga, In, Tl, Sn, As, and Sb. The reflective film has stable and excellent basic properties as reflective films, such as initial reflectivity and durability, and satisfies further requirements, such as laser marking suitability. An optical information recording medium includes the reflective film and is excellent.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2006
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2009
    Assignee: Kobe Steel, Ltd.
    Inventors: Hideo Fujii, Yuki Tauchi, Junichi Nakai
  • Patent number: 7517576
    Abstract: The invention provides a vacuum insulation panel to which moisture and gas do not easily adsorb while it is being processed or being in storage in an unfinished state. The vacuum insulation panel includes a core provided with air circulation, a getter material which adsorbs moisture and gas from the core, an inner film bag which accommodates the core and the getter material, and an outer barrier bag which accommodates the inner film bag. The getter material is filled in an incision provided on the surface of the core. To prevent the getter material from getting out of the incision, the opening of the incision is narrowed by evacuating air from the interior of the inner film bag and, concurrently, compressing the inner film bag and the core.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 11, 2005
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2009
    Assignee: Hitachi Appliances, Inc.
    Inventors: Wataru Echigoya, Kuninari Araki, Tsuyoshi Kubota, Takashi Miseki
  • Patent number: 7517577
    Abstract: A vehicular seat trim cover attachment device having a plurality of female attachment portions interconnected to one another by at least one connecting portion. The attachment device is preferably flexible in at least two independent planes. Each female attachment portion has a receptacle portion and a base portion. Each base portion is connected to the connecting portion. Each base portion has a lateral dimension greater than a lateral dimension of the receptacle portion. At least a portion of the connecting portion is disposed in an exoplanar relationship with respect to a pair of female attachment portions that have substantially coplanar base portions. Preferably, the connecting portion extends below the bottom surfaces of the adjacent base portions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2009
    Assignee: Woodbridge Foam Corporation
    Inventors: Burkhard Pedde, Phillipe Marenne, Michael Hack, Georg Heinl
  • Patent number: 7517578
    Abstract: Apparatus and related methods align magnetic flakes in a carrier, such as an ink vehicle or a paint vehicle to create optically variable images in a high-speed, linear printing operation. Images can provide security features on high-value documents, such as bank notes. Magnetic flakes in the ink are aligned using magnets in a linear printing operation. Selected orientation of the magnetic pigment flakes can achieve a variety of illusive optical effects that are useful for decorative or security applications.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2009
    Assignee: JDS Uniphase Corporation
    Inventors: Vladimir P. Raksha, Paul G. Coombs, Charles T. Markantes, Dishuan Chu, Jay M. Holman, Alberto Argoitia
  • Patent number: 7517579
    Abstract: A bonded structure including one or more substrates bonded together with a tackified amorphous poly-alpha-olefin adhesive composition. One method of making such a bonded structure is carried out by applying a tackified amorphous poly-alpha-olefin adhesive composition to one or more substrates at a temperature of about 170 degrees Celsius or lower, and joining the substrates to themselves or to one another. The bonded structure has a dynamic peel strength between about 400 and about 1000 grams per 25 millimeters. The bonding efficiency of the bonded structure renders the bonded structure suitable for incorporation into a variety of articles, including personal care products, health/medical products, and household/industrial product, for example.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 18, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2009
    Assignee: Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc.
    Inventors: Stephen Michael Campbell, Daniel William Hesse, Richard D. Schultz, Mark J. Jung, Richard M. Hansen, Cristian M. Neculescu, Sandra Marie Rogers, Violet May Grube, Rhiannon L. Thoresen, Thomas Michael Killian, Jonathan K. Rice, Palani Raj Ramaswami Wallajapet, Courtney Eileen Shea, Jason Sybren Fairbanks, Prasad Shrikrishna Potnis, Randall J. Palmer
  • Patent number: 7517580
    Abstract: Fibrous monolith composites having architectures that provide increased flaw insensitivity, improved hardness, wear resistance and damage tolerance and methods of manufacture thereof are provided for use in dynamic environments to mitigate impact damage and increase wear resistance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 2005
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2009
    Assignee: Advanced Ceramics Research, Inc.
    Inventors: Anthony C. Mulligan, Mark J. Rigali, Manish P. Sutaria, Dragan Popovich, Joseph P. Halloran, Michael L. Fulcher, Randy C. Cook
  • Patent number: 7517581
    Abstract: A hydrophilic semipermeable membrane can include a porous polymeric structure containing a blend of PVDF and hydroxyalkylcellulose. The membrane may be used for ultrafiltration. A method of making a hydrophilic semipermeable membrane can include providing a blend containing PVDF and hydroxyalkylcellulose, forming the blend into a porous polymeric structure, and purifying the porous polymeric structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2009
    Assignee: Parker-Hannifin Corporation
    Inventors: John A. Simonetti, Irina Vinarov
  • Patent number: 7517582
    Abstract: Personal care products comprising supersaturated solutions and core compositions comprising activation means are disclosed. In one embodiment, a core composition comprising the activation means is surrounded by an encapsulation layer. The core composition comprising the activation means may be introduced into wet wipes such that, upon rupture and contact between the supersaturated solution and the activation means, the wet wipe solution is warmed resulting in a warm sensation on a user's skin. Any number of other active ingredients, such as biocides, can also be incorporated into the personal care product.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 10, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2009
    Assignee: Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc.
    Inventors: John David Amundson, Frank P. Abuto, David Martin Jackson, Jenny L. Day
  • Patent number: 7517583
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a laminated glass having an interlayer film between at least two transparent glass platy bodies. Functional ultra-fine particles of a particle diameter of not greater than 0.2 ?m are dispersed in the interlayer film. The functional ultra-fine particles comprise a single substance of metal, oxide, nitride, sulfide or Sb- or F-doped substance of Sn, Ti, Si, Zn, Zr, Fe, Al, Cr, Co, Ce, In, Ni, Ag, Cu, Pt, Mn, Ta, W, V and Mo, or a composite selected from at least two of these, or a mixture containing an organic resin substance in the single substance or composite, or a coated substance coated with the single substance or composite, or an antimony-doped tin oxide and/or tin-doped indium oxide. An infrared-reflective film that selectively reflects a near-infrared ray and has a sheet resistivity ranging from 1 k?/? to 10 G?/? is formed on at least one surface of the interlayer film or at least one transparent glass platy body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2009
    Assignee: Central Glass Company, Limited
    Inventors: Tadashi Onishi, Isao Nakamura, Chiharu Takimoto
  • Patent number: 7517584
    Abstract: Scratch-resistant thermoplastic films are disclosed. The films include a scratch-resistant coating that is formed from an acrylated binder, a thermal initiator, and a melamine crosslinker. Of particular advantage, the coating can be formed on the film during an in-line process while the film is being formed. The melamine crosslinker not only causes the coating to crosslink but also improves the adhesion of the coating to the film layer. In one embodiment, the film layer is made from a polyester.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2005
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2009
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Polyester Film, Inc.
    Inventors: Stephen J. Gust, Jan C. Westermeier
  • Patent number: 7517585
    Abstract: Tape that visually indicates a tear site of a section of tape from a longer length of tape and that visually distinguishes the tear site from the remainder of the length of tape, so that the end of the roll can be readily identified. The tear site becomes visible upon the reaction of a chromogenic material. The reaction of the chromogenic material is initiated by tearing of the tape, so that a visible mark or indicator results from tearing or cutting the tape.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 2003
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2009
    Inventors: Catherine L. Funderburk, Barbara Wagner
  • Patent number: 7517586
    Abstract: This invention relates to an absorbent structure that comprises water-swellable material, which comprises water-swellable polymers that are coated with a coating agent said coating agent comprising a phase-separating elastomeric material, which allows swelling of the water-swellable polymers, without breakage of the coating.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 5, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2009
    Assignee: Procter & Gamble Company
    Inventors: Renae Dianna Fossum, Mattias Schmidt, Axel Meyer
  • Patent number: 7517587
    Abstract: The invention relates to macromolecules auto-assembled and photopolymerised around carbon nanotubes. Said macromolecules are essentially formed from rings of lipid compounds, polymerised about the nanotubes, said polymerised compounds being obtained from lipid molecules with one or two chains A, bonded to a group Z where A is a chain, CH3—(CH2)m—C?C—C?C—(CH2)n—, where n and m, independently=whole numbers from 1 to 16 and Z is a polar head group embodied by a —COOH, —CO—NH—Y, —NH2 or N+(R)3, where R is an alkyl with C1, to C4 and Y is a —(CH2)4—C(R1)—N(CH2—COOH)2 group with R=H, or a COOH group, where A is a single lipid chain or a group of structure (I) or (II), where R2=a COOH, or —CO—NH—Y1 group with Y1=a —(CH2)4—C (R3)—N(CH2COOH)2 group with R3=H or a COOH group, where Z and R2 can also be neutral polar head groups of the sugar or polysaccharide type.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 13, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2009
    Assignees: Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (C.N.R.S.), Universite Louis Pasteur
    Inventors: Charles Mioskowski, Stéphane Rickling, Patrick Schultz
  • Patent number: 7517588
    Abstract: An apparatus and method of forming a composite body. The invention includes the steps of heating diamond crystals to a temperature about 1900° C. and simultaneously subjecting the diamond crystals to a pressure above about 40 k-bar, forming a diamond material layer having a first surface from the diamond crystals, providing a substrate, and bonding the first surface of the diamond material layer and the substrate under high pressure and high temperature. The composite body has a diamond material layer formed from diamond crystals. The diamond material layer has a first surface and a substrate. The first surface of the diamond material layer and the substrate are bonded together under high pressure and high temperature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2009
    Inventor: Robert H. Frushour
  • Patent number: 7517589
    Abstract: Thermally stable diamond constructions comprise a diamond body having a plurality of bonded diamond crystals and interstitial regions disposed among the crystals. A metallic substrate is attached to the body. The body includes a first region substantially free of a catalyst material that extends a partial depth from a surface into the body, and a second region that includes the catalyst material. The body can include natural diamond grains and/or a blend of natural and synthetic diamond grains, and is treated to form the first region. Before treatment, a portion of the body to be treated is finished to an approximate final dimension so that the depth of the first region of the finished product is substantially the same as when treated. During treatment, catalyst materials as well as non-catalyst metallic materials are removed from the diamond body to provide a further enhanced degree of thermal stability.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2009
    Assignee: Smith International, Inc.
    Inventor: Ronald K. Eyre
  • Patent number: 7517590
    Abstract: A metal band inlay for trim strips or sealing strips of flexible material that is bent to form a section. The metal band includes a plurality of edge slots in the longitudinal direction, which are guided inwardly from an edge of the metal band transversely to the longitudinal direction. The edge slots are wedge shaped. Central slots run to a tip toward their respective two ends and are arranged between the sequential edge slots. The central slots extend transversely to the longitudinal direction, but do not extend up to the edge. To simplify the cutting, the metal band further includes throughcuts that extend transversely to the longitudinal direction of the metal band, that correspond to at least some of the central slots and that extend from at least one edge of the metal band in the direction toward the tip of the respective central slot disposed opposite to the edge.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 2005
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2009
    Assignee: BFC Buro-und Fahrzeugtechnik GmbH & Co. Prod. KG
    Inventor: Joachim Wagner
  • Patent number: 7517591
    Abstract: The surface-treated steel sheet has a zinc-based plated steel sheet, a surface-treatment coating being formed on the surface of the zinc-based steel sheet by applying and drying a surface treatment coating composition thereon, and a top coating being formed by applying and drying a coating composition for top coating on the surface-treatment coating. The surface treatment coating composition contains a water-epoxy resin dispersion, a silane coupling agent, and phosphoric acid and/or a hexafluorometal acid. The coating composition for top coating contains a high molecular weight epoxy group-containing resin having number average molecular weights ranging from 6000 to 20000.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2009
    Assignees: JFE Steel Corporation, Kansai Paint Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Tatsuya Miyoshi, Kenichi Sasaki, Naoto Yoshimi, Akira Matsuzaki, Kazuhisa Okai, Takao Ooshima, Takashi Nakano, Masahiro Murata, Syoichi Tanaka
  • Patent number: 7517592
    Abstract: A light-emitting device comprising a pair of electrodes and a light-emitting layer or a plurality of organic layers comprising a light-emitting layer disposed therebetween, the light emitting layer or at least one of a plurality of organic layers comprising the light-emitting layer comprising at least one compound represented by the following general formula (1): wherein each of Ar11, Ar12, Ar13, Ar14 and Ar15 represents an aryl group or a heteroaryl group; Ar represents a benzene ring, a naphthalene ring; a phenanthrene ring or an anthracene ring; at least one of Ar, Ar11, Ar12, Ar13, Ar14 and Ar15 is a condensed aryl group, a condensed or uncondensed heteroaryl group or a group comprising a condensed aryl group or a condensed or uncondensed heteroaryl group; Ar11, Ar12, Ar13, Ar14 and Ar15 are not bonded to each other to form a ring; R11 represents a substituent; and n11 represents an integer of 0 or more.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 10, 2002
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2009
    Assignee: FUJIFILM Corporation
    Inventors: Tatsuya Igarashi, Xuepeng Qiu
  • Patent number: 7517593
    Abstract: A donor substrate for a laser induced thermal imaging method and an organic electroluminescent display device fabricated using the same are provided. The donor substrate may be constructed with base film; a light-to-heat conversion layer formed on the base film; a buffer layer formed on the entire surface of the light-to-heat conversion layer; a metal layer formed on the buffer layer; and a transfer layer formed of an organic material and formed on the metal layer, thereby enhancing the characteristics of a transfer pattern by transferring a small molecular material using the laser induced thermal imaging method.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2009
    Assignee: Samsung Mobile Display Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Myung-Won Song, Ho-Kyoon Chung, Seong-Taek Lee, Mu-Hyun Kim, Byung-Doo Chin, Tae-Min Kang, Jae-Ho Lee
  • Patent number: 7517594
    Abstract: The present invention is generally directed to electroluminescent Pt(II) complexes which have emission maxima across the visible spectrum, and devices that are made with the Pt(II) complexes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 2005
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2009
    Assignee: E.I. du Pont de Nemours and Company
    Inventors: Daniel David Lecloux, Viacheslav A. Petrov, Eric Maurice Smith, Ying Wang
  • Patent number: 7517595
    Abstract: An OLED device comprises a cathode, an anode, a light emitting layer, and on the cathode side of said emitting layer, a further layer, wherein the further layer is an electron-transporting layer containing: a) a first compound that has the lowest LUMO value of the compounds in the layer, the amount being greater than 40% by volume and less than 100% by volume of the layer; and b) at least one second compound that is a low voltage electron transport material, exhibiting a higher LUMO value than the first compound, the total amount of said compound(s) being less than 60% by volume and more than 0% by volume of the layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2005
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2009
    Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
    Inventors: William J. Begley, Tukaram K. Hatwar, Ralph H. Young, Natasha Andrievsky
  • Patent number: 7517596
    Abstract: A novel phenanthroline compound is provided which is suitable as a compound for an organic EL device and is represented by the general formula (I): wherein R1, R2, R3, R4, R5, R6, R7, and R8 are each independently a hydrogen atom, an alkyl group, a substituted or unsubstituted aralkyl group, a substituted or unsubstituted aryl group, a substituted or unsubstituted heterocyclic group, or a halogen atom with the proviso that at least one of R1, R2, R3, R4, R5, R6, R7, and R8 is a group represented by the general formula (II): and R9, R10, R11, R12, R13, R14, R15, R16, R17, R18, R19, and R20 are each independently a hydrogen atom, an alkyl group, a substituted or unsubstituted aryl group, a substituted or unsubstituted heterocyclic group, or a halogen atom.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 2005
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2009
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Satoshi Igawa, Shinjiro Okada, Takao Takiguchi, Manabu Furugori
  • Patent number: 7517597
    Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention provide a magnetic recording medium for use in high-reliable magnetic recording apparatus capable of reading/writing information with high density. In one embodiment, a magnetic recording apparatus includes a magnetic recording medium, a driver for driving the medium in a recording direction, a compound type magnetic head having an electromagnetic induction type magnetic head for recording and a spin-valve type magnetic head for reading in combination, a mechanism to move the head relative to the medium, and a read/write signal processing module for the head. The magnetic recording medium has a magnetic layer formed by way of a first underlayer, a second underlayer and a third underlayer on a substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2009
    Assignee: Hitachi Global Storage Technologies Netherlands B.V.
    Inventors: Tatsuya Hinoue, Hiroyuki Suzuki, Tetsuya Kanbe, Koji Sakamoto
  • Patent number: 7517598
    Abstract: A magnetic recording medium having a non-magnetic support and a magnetic layer formed thereon, wherein the magnetic layer comprises a ferromagnetic powder, a binder and a non-magnetic inorganic powder, and wherein at least 95% of the non-magnetic powder particles contained in the magnetic layer have a particle size of 0.05 to 0.013 ?m, provide that the non-magnetic powder particles are those found in a field of view of 1.8 ?m×2.4 ?m when the surface of the magnetic layer is observed with a scanning electron microscope at a magnification of 50,000 times.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 10, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2009
    Assignee: Hitachi Maxell, Ltd.
    Inventors: Ken Yoshimura, Tetsutaro Inoue
  • Patent number: 7517599
    Abstract: The measurement precision of a current detector of the fuel cell in a fuel cell system is improved. Where the fuel cell system 20 has not started operation, the vehicle 10 is operating under regenerative operation, the fuel cell 21 is operating under intermittent operation, or operation of the fuel cell system 20 has ended, the output terminal voltage of the fuel cell 21 is set to the OCV value of 400V via the DC/DC converter 31. As a result, even where the status of the fuel cell 21 changes from operating to stopped, the value of the current flowing over the power supply lines 411 can be immediately and reliably set to 0 A. The control unit 60 then obtains the current value Ad from the fuel cell current sensor 413 (step S150), and determines the offset correction value Ac needed in order to cancel the drift amount (i.e., in order to perform zero-point correction).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 13, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2009
    Assignees: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha, Denso Corporation
    Inventors: Masahiro Shige, Tadaichi Matsumoto, Shigeto Kajiwara, Hideki Kashiwagi
  • Patent number: 7517600
    Abstract: A control system for a fuel cell stack that controls the relative humidity of the cathode outlet gas during stack power transients to provide better cathode outlet gas relative humidity control by reducing the dynamic pressure range and thus the dynamic cathode outlet gas relative humidity range. In one embodiment, the control system uses a first narrower cathode pressure range based on stack current density during stack power transients to provide better cathode outlet gas relative humidity control, and uses a second wider cathode pressure range based on stack current density during low current density and steady-state current density to improve system efficiency by decreasing compressor parasitics.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 2006
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2009
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations, Inc.
    Inventors: David A. Arthur, Manish Sinha
  • Patent number: 7517601
    Abstract: A fuel cell including at least one single cell C having an electrolyte 3, a fuel electrode 5, and an air electrode 7, wherein the single cell C is supported on a substrate 1 and the electrolyte 3 is disposed on a first surface of the substrate 1, with the fuel electrode 5 and the air electrode 7 disposed on the first surface of the substrate 1 so as to sandwich the electrolyte 3.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 2003
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2009
    Assignee: Dai Nippon Printing Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kuniaki Yoshikata, Hirotoshi Sakamoto, Koichi Mikami
  • Patent number: 7517602
    Abstract: A fuel cell includes an electrolyte electrode assembly and a pair of separators sandwiching the electrolyte electrode assembly. Each of the separators is a single plate, and includes a plurality of trapezoidal portions. First protrusions and second protrusions are provided on both surfaces of the trapezoidal portion. The first protrusions contact the anode of the electrolyte electrode assembly, and the second protrusions contact the cathode of the electrolyte electrode assembly. A fuel gas inlet for supplying a fuel gas into a fuel gas flow field is formed on the trapezoidal portion. The fuel gas inlet is provided at an upstream position away from an intermediate position of the electrolyte electrode assembly in a flow direction of an oxygen-containing gas.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2009
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Hiroki Homma
  • Patent number: 7517603
    Abstract: A structure including a support defining an opening, and a tensilely stressed thin-film membrane disposed to occlude the opening, the membrane contacting at least a portion of the support. The stressed membrane includes a material having a characteristic crack spacing greater than one-half of a minimum dimension of the membrane and less than ten times the minimum dimension. A structure including a support defining a opening having a minimum opening dimension, and a compressively stressed thin-film membrane disposed to occlude the opening, the membrane contacting at least a portion of the support. The stressed membrane includes a membrane material having a critical aspect ratio for buckling that is greater than a ratio of one-half of the minimum opening dimension to a thickness of the membrane, and the critical aspect ratio for buckling is less than a ratio of ten times the minimum opening dimension to the thickness of the membrane.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2009
    Assignee: Lilliputian Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Samuel B. Schaevitz, Aleksander Franz, Roger W. Barton
  • Patent number: 7517604
    Abstract: An electrolyte membrane is formed by an acidic polymer and a low-volatility acid that is fluorinated, substantially free of basic groups, and is either oligomeric or non-polymeric.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 2005
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2009
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Steven J. Hamrock, James M. Larson, Phat T. Pham, Matthew H. Frey, Gregory M. Haugen, William M. Lamanna
  • Patent number: 7517605
    Abstract: A solid oxide fuel cell is formed by arranging a fuel electrode layer and an air electrode layer on both surfaces of a solid electrolyte, respectively, a fuel electrode current collector and an air electrode current collector outside the fuel electrode layer and the air electrode layer, respectively, and separators outside the fuel electrode current collector and the air electrode current collector. In a first embodiment, a fuel gas and an oxidant gas are supplied from the separators to the fuel electrode layer and the oxidant electrode layer, respectively, through the fuel electrode current collector and the air electrode current collector, respectively. Each separator is formed by laminating a plurality of thin metal plates at least including a thin metal plate in which a first gas discharge opening is arranged in a central part and second gas discharge openings are circularly arranged in a peripheral part, and a thin metal plate with an indented surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 2006
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2009
    Assignees: Mitsubishi Materials Corporation, Kansai Electric Power Co., Inc.
    Inventors: Norikazu Komada, Koji Hoshino, Jun Akikusa, Kei Hosoi
  • Patent number: 7517606
    Abstract: A fuel cell comprising a catalytic layer including substantially spherical metal-carbon catalyst particles having a weight average particle size of at least about 0.1 micron and not greater than about 20 micron, wherein the catalyst particles comprise a metal phase homogeneously dispersed on a carbon support phase.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2002
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2009
    Assignee: Cabot Corporation
    Inventors: Toivo T. Kodas, Mark J. Hampden-Smith, James Caruso, Daniel J. Skamser, Quint H. Powell
  • Patent number: 7517607
    Abstract: A lithium ion secondary battery in which a safety vent as a safety device for a swelling phenomenon functions under a low pressure. A notch is formed in an inner surface of a large-area wall of the secondary battery, and an auxiliary notch is formed in an outer surface to correspond to the notch formed in the inner surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 18, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2009
    Assignee: Samsung SDI Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Jun Ho Kim
  • Patent number: 7517608
    Abstract: An improved redox battery energy storage system is disclosed for reducing oxygen gas levels and separating oxygen gas from hydrogen gas, thus reducing the likelihood of flammable gas explosions. The system includes at least one cell, which includes a positive compartment having positive solution, a negative compartment having negative solution, and a membrane separating the positive and negative compartments. A positive reservoir is in fluid communication with the cell's positive compartment, the positive reservoir defining a positive vent space for positive gas, which includes oxygen. A negative reservoir is in fluid communication with the cell's negative compartment, the negative reservoir defining a negative vent space. A return line is in fluid communication with the negative compartment and the negative reservoir to return the negative solution from the cell to the negative reservoir through the negative vent space.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2009
    Assignee: VRB Power Systems Inc.
    Inventors: Clive Brereton, David Genders, Gary Lepp, Timothy David John Hennessy
  • Patent number: 7517609
    Abstract: A battery compartment arrangement for remote control blind with remote control drive mountable at a mounting end of a headrail of the blind, the remote control drive comprises a case comprising a slit at one end for retaining an inserted portion of a front surface of the headrail, and a plate for dividing an internal space into a first compartment for receiving a motor and a second compartment, the second compartment including a cavity at its one outer end and a notch at its the other outer end; and a battery compartment received in and secured to the second compartment by snapping its pin and latch at both ends into the cavity and the notch respectively. Unfastening the pin and the latch will facilitate a replacement of at least one consumed cell.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2009
    Inventor: Li-Ming Cheng
  • Patent number: 7517610
    Abstract: A rechargeable battery includes a cover and at least one connecting pole comprising a pole shank inserted into a pole sleeve having an inner casing. The connecting pole is closed from the outside of the rechargeable battery such that it is liquid-tight and gas-tight. The pole sleeve is electrically conductively connected to the pole shank and is held in a liquid-tight and gas-tight manner by the cover. A first section of the pole shank is electrically conductively connected in a gas-tight and liquid-tight manner to the inner casing of the pole sleeve. A sliding element is provided between a second section of the pole shank and the inner casing of the pole sleeve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 12, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2009
    Assignee: VB Autobatterie GmbH
    Inventor: Karlo Popp
  • Patent number: 7517611
    Abstract: A leak-proof alkaline dry battery including a battery case and a seal unit for closing the opening of the battery case. The seal unit includes: a negative electrode terminal plate; a negative electrode current collector nail electrically connected to the terminal plate; and a resin seal member. The resin seal member includes: a central cylindrical part having an opening through which the body of the negative electrode current collector nail is inserted; an outer peripheral cylindrical part interposed between a peripheral edge of the negative electrode terminal plate and an open edge of the battery case; a connecting part interconnecting the central and outer peripheral cylindrical parts; and a thinned section formed in the connecting part. The body of the negative electrode current collector nail is fitted to the opening of the central cylindrical part in a particular fit relation to prevent leakage for a long time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 13, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2009
    Assignee: Panasonic Corporation
    Inventors: Ichiro Matsuhisa, Seiji Wada, Yasushi Sumihiro, Yasuhiko Syoji
  • Patent number: 7517612
    Abstract: An organic electrolytic solution for a lithium-sulfur battery that provides high discharge capacity and longer cycle life to the battery, and a lithium-sulfur battery including the organic electrolytic solution are provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2009
    Assignee: Samsung SDI Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Young-Gyoon Ryu, Myung-Dong Cho, Sang-Mock Lee, Boris A. Trofimov
  • Patent number: 7517613
    Abstract: A positive electrode material for a nonaqueous lithium secondary battery and a lithium secondary battery that has superior cycle life and safety and reduced internal resistance of the battery at low temperature is provided. The positive electrode material for a nonaqueous lithium secondary battery comprise a layered structured complex oxide expressed by a composition formula LiaMnxNiyCozM?O2, where 0<a?1.2, 0.1?x?0.9, 0?y?0.44, 0.1?z?0.6, 0.01???0.1, and x+y+z+?=1. A diffraction peak intensity ratio between the (003) plane and the (104) plane (I(003)/I(104)) in an X-ray powder diffractometry using a Cu—K? line in the X-ray source is not less than 1.0 and not more than 1.5.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2009
    Assignee: Shin-Kobe Electric Machinery Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Toyotaka Yuasa, Masahiro Kasai
  • Patent number: 7517614
    Abstract: The negative active material for a rechargeable lithium battery of the present invention includes a carbonaceous material and a silicon-based compound represented by Formula 1: Si(1-y)MyO1+x(1) where 0?y?1, ?0.5?x?0.5, and M is selected from the group consisting of Mg, Ca, and mixtures thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2009
    Assignee: Samsung SDI Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Goo-Jin Jeong, Sang-Min Lee, Sung-Soo Kim, Yoshiaki Nitta
  • Patent number: 7517615
    Abstract: A uniform gel electrolyte having high durability and use thereof, in particular, batteries or capacitors using such a gel electrolyte. The gel electrolyte includes a gel composition containing an electrolyte salt, a solvent for the electrolyte salt, and a polymer matrix, wherein the polymer matrix comprises a crosslinked polymer prepared by polymerizing a bifunctional (meth)acrylate represented by the following formula (I): wherein R represents a divalent organic group, and R1 represents a hydrogen atom or a methyl group.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 2006
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2009
    Assignee: Nitto Denko Corporation
    Inventors: Yoshihiro Uetani, Shuuhei Murata, Keisuke Kii
  • Patent number: 7517616
    Abstract: A sulfide-based inorganic solid electrolyte that suppresses the reaction between silicon sulfide and metallic lithium even when the electrolyte is in contact with metallic lithium, a method of forming the electrolyte, and a lithium battery's member and lithium secondary battery both incorporating the electrolyte. The electrolyte comprises Li, P, and S without containing Si. It is desirable that the oxygen content vary gradually from the electrolyte to the lithium-containing material at the boundary zone between the two members when analyzed by using an XPS having an analyzing chamber capable of maintaining a super-high vacuum less than 1.33×10?9 hPa and that the oxygen-containing layer on the surface of the lithium-containing material be removed nearly completely. The electrolyte can be formed such that at least part of the forming step is performed concurrently with the step for etching the surface of the substrate by irradiating the surface with inert-gas ions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 2006
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2009
    Assignee: Sumitomo Electric Industries, Ltd.
    Inventors: Hirokazu Kugai, Nobuhiro Ota
  • Patent number: 7517617
    Abstract: This invention relates to a mask blank for use in EUV lithography and a method for its production. The mask blank comprises a substrate with a front side and a rear side whereby a coating is applied to the front side for use as a mask in EUV lithography and the rear side of the substrate comprises an electrically conductive coating. The electrically conductive coating is particularly abrasion resistant and strongly adhesive according to DIN 58196-5 (German Industry Standard), DIN 58196-4 and DIN 58196-6 and characterised by a minimum electrical conductivity. The electrically conductive coating is applied by means of ion-beam-assisted sputtering. Since the electrically conductive coating on the rear side is so abrasion resistant and strongly adhesive, the mask blank may be gripped, held and handled by means of an electrostatic holding device (chuck) without any troublesome abrasion occurring.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 16, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2009
    Assignee: Schott AG
    Inventors: Lutz Aschke, Markus Renno, Mario Schiffler, Frank Sobel, Hans Becker
  • Patent number: 7517618
    Abstract: A mask capable of improving accuracy of transferring a pattern by making the configuration of a beam portion regular and simple, an exposure method using the mask and a production method of a semiconductor device; wherein the beam portion is composed of a first beam portion wherein a plurality of first beams extending by inclining with respect to the X axis and Y axis are arranged at regular intervals and a second beam portion wherein a plurality of second beams extending by inclining with respect to the X axis and Y axis and intersecting with the first beams are arranged at regular intervals, and the beam configuration is made regular on all region surrounded by a supporting frame; four unit exposure regions for performing exposure by being superimposed on an object to be exposed are set in the region surrounded by the supporting frame, and a membrane of at least two unit exposure regions exists at any position when superimposing the four unit exposure regions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2005
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2009
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventor: Shigeru Moriya