Patents Issued in June 1, 2010
  • Patent number: 7727622
    Abstract: Provided is a calibration apparatus for an optical scanner, including a substrate on which a molecule capable of forming an excimer is immobilized. A method of manufacturing the calibration apparatus and a method of calibrating an optical scanner using the calibration apparatus are also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 2006
    Date of Patent: June 1, 2010
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Jeo-young Shim, Sung-ouk Jung, Ji-na Namgoong, Kyu-tae Yoo, Jang-seok Ma
  • Patent number: 7727623
    Abstract: A method for making a plate-like fiber-reinforced product to be used as building or packing material, the method comprising: placing fibers on a lower laminate; applying a binding agent on the fibers so that the fibers are surrounded by the binding agent; transferring the fibers with binding agent between the lower laminate and an upper laminate between lower and upper rotating pressing plates; allowing the binding agent to foam up, expand and harden between the upper and lower pressing plates. A manufacturing apparatus and a plate-like product are also indicated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 15, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 1, 2010
    Assignee: Selvaag Spinoff AS
    Inventors: Mikael Blomqvist, David Moon
  • Patent number: 7727624
    Abstract: An open-cell carbon nanotube foam is made of a plurality of separated carbon nanotubes. The foam exhibits a Poisson's ratio substantially equal to zero, a compressibility of at least 85%, a recovery rate of at least 120 mm/min, a compressive strength of at least 12 MPa, a sag factor of at least 4, a fatigue resistance to no more than 15% permanent deformation when subjected to at least 1,000 compressive cycles at a strain of 85%, and/or a resilience of between 25% and 30%. The carbon nanotubes may be multiwalled carbon nanotubes that are aligned parallel to a thickness of a film comprising the foam.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 2006
    Date of Patent: June 1, 2010
    Assignee: Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute
    Inventors: Anyuan Cao, Pulickel Ajayan
  • Patent number: 7727625
    Abstract: A protective and decorative coating composition including about 2 to 10 different colorants which in combination with a resinous composition produce a desired visible coating. A majority of the colorants has a maximum haze of about 10% and exhibits an absorbance peak in the visible spectrum wherein at least about 50% of the total absorbance in the visible spectrum occurs at wavelengths within about 50 nm of the wavelength of the peak absorbance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2005
    Date of Patent: June 1, 2010
    Assignee: PPG Industries Ohio, Inc.
    Inventors: Noel R. Vanier, Calum H. Munro, Eldon L. Decker, Rachel B. Wilson, Matthew E. Wehrle
  • Patent number: 7727626
    Abstract: A light diffusion plate has a substrate and a light diffusion layer formed on the substrate. The light diffusion layer is composed of at least two layers: a first light diffusion layer containing a first matrix and a first light diffusion agent having a refractive index difference ?n1 of 0.04??n1?0.2 with the first matrix, and a second light diffusion layer containing a second matrix and a second light diffusion agent having a refractive index difference ?n2 of 0.005??n2?0.01 with the second matrix. The volume fraction of the first light diffusion agent in the first light diffusion layer is less than 40%, the volume fraction of the second light diffusion agent in the second light diffusion layer is at least 40% and the total thickness of the light diffusion layers is from 5 to 200 ?m after curing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 1, 2010
    Assignee: Asahi Glass Company, Limited
    Inventors: Hisao Inokuma, Toshihiko Higuchi, Akira Mitsui
  • Patent number: 7727627
    Abstract: Fibers having improved resistance to moisture at elevated temperatures comprise at least two elastic polymers, one polymer heat-settable and the other polymer heat-resistant, the heat-resistant polymer comprising at least a portion of the exterior surface of the fiber. The fibers typically have a bicomponent and/or a biconstituent core/sheath morphology. Typically, the core comprises an elastic thermoplastic urethane, and the sheath comprises a homogeneously branched polyolefin, preferably a homogeneously branched substantially linear ethylene polymer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2006
    Date of Patent: June 1, 2010
    Assignee: Dow Global Technologies Inc.
    Inventors: Ashish Sen, John Klier, Rajen M. Patel, Hongyu Chen, Thoi H. Ho
  • Patent number: 7727628
    Abstract: A particulate reusable sorbing coalescing agent facilitating the separation of a non-aqueous phase from an aqueous phase. The agent has a desired shape and properties, sheared from a block of matrix material and presents a higher coalescing rate relative to existing sorbing coalescing agents. Also, a method of manufacturing the particulate reusable sorbing coalescing agent and a method of use the particulate reusable sorbing coalescing agent are disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 15, 2004
    Date of Patent: June 1, 2010
    Assignee: Torr Canada, Inc.
    Inventors: Linda Veronneau, Germain Veronneau
  • Patent number: 7727629
    Abstract: Microcapsules comprising an agglomeration of primary microcapsules, each individual primary microcapsule having a primary shell and the agglomeration being encapsulated by an outer shell, may be prepared by providing an aqueous mixture of a loading substance and a shell material, adjusting pH, temperature, concentration and/or mixing speed to form primary shells of shell material around the loading substance and cooling the aqueous mixture until the primary shells agglomerate and an outer shell of shell material forms around the agglomeration. Such microcapsules are useful for storing a substance and for delivering the substance to a desired environment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 15, 2004
    Date of Patent: June 1, 2010
    Assignee: Ocean Nutrition Canada Limited
    Inventor: Nianxi Yan
  • Patent number: 7727630
    Abstract: Nickel powder batches and methods for producing nickel powder batches. The powder batches include particles having a small particle size, narrow size distribution and a spherical morphology. The present invention is also directed to devices incorporating the nickel metal powders.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 1, 2010
    Assignee: Cabot Corporation
    Inventors: Toivo T. Kodas, Mark J. Hampden-Smith, James Caruso, Quint H. Powell, Daniel J. Skamser, Clive D. Chandler
  • Patent number: 7727631
    Abstract: A method for manufacturing a multi-resin composite article is provided. The method comprises providing at least one fiber preform in a mold; injecting a plurality of resins into the at least one fiber preform at a plurality of locations on the at least one fiber preform; and forming at least one transition region along a mutual contact surface between the resins. Each of the at least one transition regions is defined by a gradual transition in composition from one of the resins to another of the resins. A multi-resin composite article is also provided. The article comprises: at least one fiber preform; a plurality of resins, wherein the at least one fiber preform is infused with the resins; and at least one transition region extending along a mutual contact surface between respective ones of the resins. A system for manufacturing such a multi-resin composite article is also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 1, 2010
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Xiaomei Fang, Wendy Wen-Ling Lin, Ming Xie, Scott Roger Finn
  • Patent number: 7727632
    Abstract: The invention relates to a coating for temperable substrates, in particular of glass panes. This coating comprises for example directly on the substrate an Si3N4 layer, thereon a CrN layer, thereon a TiO2 layer and lastly an Si3N4 layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 3, 2004
    Date of Patent: June 1, 2010
    Assignee: Applied Materials GmbH & Co. KG.
    Inventors: Gerd Kleideiter, Anton Zmelty, Armin Reus, Manfred Ruske, Michael Geisler
  • Patent number: 7727633
    Abstract: A solar control glazing laminate may include a solar control film disposed between first and second polyvinyl butyral layers and first and second glazing substrates. The solar control film may include an infrared radiation reflecting polymeric film and a polymeric binder layer disposed on the infrared radiation reflecting polymeric film. The polymeric binder layer may include a polyester and cross-linked multi-functional acrylate segments and may have infrared radiation absorbing nanoparticles dispersed therein.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 22, 2006
    Date of Patent: June 1, 2010
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Janet R. Kirkman, Peter M. Olofson, Jie Yang, Stephen A. Johnson, Raghunath Padiyath
  • Patent number: 7727634
    Abstract: This invention is directed to a plastic composite comprising color images printed onto a polymeric support film using UV ink. The polymeric support film layer may be bonded to a polymeric film selected from the group consisting of aliphatic polyurethane and ethyl vinyl acetate. The combined laminate can then optionally be disposed between two layers of plasticized PVB, forming the plastic composite. The plastic composite can then be placed between two sheets of glass forming the final laminated glass product. Preferably, when the UV image is printed on the polymeric support film, the image is only partially cured by a UV lamp. After the polymeric support film is contacted with the polymeric film, with the partially cured UV image therebetween, the laminate is exposed to a second UV lamp operating at full power so as to completely cure the UV image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 2005
    Date of Patent: June 1, 2010
    Assignee: Solutia, Inc.
    Inventor: Vincent J. Yacovone
  • Patent number: 7727635
    Abstract: A coating composition that is capable of forming a coating film that combines abrasion resistance and crack resistance. The composition comprises: (A) a silicone resin obtained by hydrolysis and condensation of an alkoxysilane that includes an alkoxysilane represented by a general formula (1): (R1)mSi(OR2)4-m??(1) (wherein, R1 represents a hydrogen atom, or a substituted or unsubstituted monovalent hydrocarbon group, R2 represents an alkyl group of 1 to 3 carbon atoms, and m represents either 0 or 1), (B) hydrophobic silica microparticles, (C) a curing catalyst, and (D) a solvent.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 27, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 1, 2010
    Assignee: Shin-Etsu Chemical Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Masahiro Furuya, Muneo Kudo
  • Patent number: 7727636
    Abstract: According to the present invention, there are provided a coating material composition for chromium plating, which can maintain high adhesion to the chromium plated surface of a chromium plated material having reduced adhesion for a long period and also can form a coating film having excellent chemical resistance, and an article comprising a coating film made of the same. The coating material composition for chromium plating, comprises a vinyl-based polymer (A) obtained by polymerizing a vinyl-based monomer mixture containing a vinyl-based monomer having an amino group, and a compound (B) having an epoxy group and a hydrolyzable silyl group in a molecule, wherein the vinyl-based polymer (A) has a glass transition temperature of lower than 30° C., and the content of the vinyl-based monomer having an amino group is 5% by weight or more and less than 20% by weight in the vinyl-based monomer mixture (100% by weight).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 2006
    Date of Patent: June 1, 2010
    Assignee: Origin Electric Company Limited
    Inventor: Yasuhiro Genjima
  • Patent number: 7727637
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a coating layer structure for heat-cookers, and more particularly, to a coating layer structure for heat-cookers wherein said structure has been produced by forming an aluminum oxide (Al2O3) layer on the surface of an aluminum heat-cooker by anodic oxidation and then applying thereon either an anion- and far infrared ray-emitting, inorganic ceramic coating agent or a non-stick, inorganic ceramic coating agent, said both coating agents being non-toxic to human body, and whereby said structure, on heating, does not release any carcinogens and increases heat conductivity at the same time, and said structure also has excellent anti-corrosive and anti-abrasive properties.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 3, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 1, 2010
    Assignee: Thermolon Korea Co., Ltd
    Inventor: Chung Kwon Park
  • Patent number: 7727638
    Abstract: The invention provides for a film including a layer made from a composition, the composition produced from 30 percent by weight or more of a first polymer component (FPC), wherein said FPC includes a copolymer of propylene and from 6 to 30 percent by weight of another alpha-olefin, and having a melting point derived from stereoregular polypropylene sequences, as determined by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) of 105° C. or less, and a heat of fusion of 45 J/g or less; and a second polymer component (SPC); wherein the SPC includes a thermoplastic polymer other than the FPC.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 2005
    Date of Patent: June 1, 2010
    Assignee: ExxonMobil Chemical Patents Inc.
    Inventors: N. Raja Dharmarajan, Mike C. Bulawa, Sudhin Datta, Andy H. Tsou
  • Patent number: 7727639
    Abstract: An iron-based sintered body with a rustproof function comprises a layer containing 0.01 to 5 at % of indium on the surface of the iron-based sintered body, or an iron-based sintered body with a rustproof function contains 0.01 to 5 at % of indium throughout the sintered body, and the iron-based sintered body having iron as its principal component is manufactured by performing sintering in a gas atmosphere containing indium vapor or indium. Thereby obtained is an iron-based sintered body, as well as the manufacturing method thereof, capable of easily improving the rustproof effect without having to hardly change the conventional process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 1, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 1, 2010
    Assignee: Nippon Mining & Metals Co., Ltd
    Inventors: Masataka Yahagi, Toru Imori, Atsushi Nakamura
  • Patent number: 7727640
    Abstract: The present invention provides an organic electroluminescent element including, between an anode and a cathode, at least a luminescent layer and an adjacent layer that is adjacent to the cathode side of the luminescent layer, wherein the luminescent layer contains a phosphorescent material and a host material, the adjacent layer contains an electron transport material and a hole transport material, and the electron affinity Ea (HT) of the hole transport material and the electron affinity Ea (ET) of the electron transport material satisfy the relation of 1 eV?Ea (ET)?Ea (HT)?2.8 eV.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 2005
    Date of Patent: June 1, 2010
    Assignee: Fujifilm Corporation
    Inventors: Hiroshi Tada, Hisashi Okada
  • Patent number: 7727641
    Abstract: A compound for organic EL includes a polymer molecule having molecules shown in the following Formulae 1 to 5 as constituent units. where R is an alkyl group, an aryl group, or an alkylaryl group, where R? is hydrogen, an alkyl group, or an alkylaryl group.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 1, 2010
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventor: Tetsuji Fujita
  • Patent number: 7727642
    Abstract: A compound for organic electroluminescence includes a polymer molecule having molecules shown in Formulae 1 to 5 as constituent units: wherein R is an alkyl group, an aryl group, or an alkylaryl group, wherein R? is hydrogen, an alkyl group, or an alkylaryl group.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 1, 2010
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventor: Tetsuji Fujita
  • Patent number: 7727643
    Abstract: A composite having a stack of a repeating pattern of layers of: a layer of a nonconductive magnetic material, a first layer of a dielectric material; a layer of a semiconducting material; and a second layer of the dielectric material. The composite has a magnetic resonance frequency and a magnetic anti-resonance frequency and a plasma frequency at higher frequencies than the magnetic resonance frequency.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 12, 2006
    Date of Patent: June 1, 2010
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Navy
    Inventor: Frederic J Rachford
  • Patent number: 7727644
    Abstract: In a grain-oriented electrical steel sheet having phosphate-based coatings, which contain no chromium and which impart a tension, on the surfaces of a steel sheet with ceramic underlying films therebetween, the coating amount of oxygen in the underlying film is 2.0 g/m2 or more and 3.5 g/m2 or less relative to both surfaces of the steel sheet. Consequently, a grain-oriented electrical steel sheet with a chromium-less coating is provided. The resulting steel sheet has coating properties at the same level as those of a steel sheet with chromium-containing coatings and realizes high hygroscopicity resistance and a low iron loss without variations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 2005
    Date of Patent: June 1, 2010
    Assignee: JFE Steel Corporation
    Inventors: Makoto Watanabe, Hiroaki Toda, Mineo Muraki
  • Patent number: 7727645
    Abstract: The invention provides a magnetic recording medium substrate product which enables enhancement of contact strength between a substrate end surface and a soft magnetic layer, as well as suppression of occurrence of corrosion, a magnetic recording medium including the substrate product, which exhibits no deterioration of electromagnetic conversion characteristics and has excellent durability and a magnetic recording and reproducing apparatus including the magnetic recording medium. The magnetic recording medium substrate product includes a disk-shaped non-magnetic substrate having a circular hole in a center portion thereof, and having a chamfer formed at least one of a portion between a main surface on which a magnetic layer is to be formed and an outer end surface and a portion between the main surface and an inner end surface defining the circular hole, wherein the chamfer has a surface roughness (Ra) falling within a range of 4.0 ??Ra?100 ?, preferably 4.0 ??Ra?50 ?, as measured by means of an AFM.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2006
    Date of Patent: June 1, 2010
    Assignee: Showa Denko K.K.
    Inventors: Masato Fukushima, Katsuaki Aida, Kenji Shimizu
  • Patent number: 7727646
    Abstract: The invention concerns a fuel cell comprising an anode chamber, a cathode chamber and a cavity for the electrolytic space, as well as combustion gas supply conduits and carbon dioxide and water discharge conduits for the anode chamber, and, for the cathode chamber, oxygen and carbon dioxide supply conduits and discharge conduits for residual oxygen and residual carbon dioxide. The anode chamber and the cathode chamber receive a metal sponge, the cathode chamber housing a metal or ceramic sponge. Said fuel cell is subdivided into an anode chamber, an outer cathode chamber and a median cathode chamber, separate cavities for electrolytic space located between the anode chamber and the median cathode chamber and the median cathode chamber and the outer cathode chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 7, 2005
    Date of Patent: June 1, 2010
    Inventor: Günter Mayer
  • Patent number: 7727647
    Abstract: A portable fuel cell charger has a water source and an electrolyzer coupled to the water source and adapted to be coupled to a power source. A fuel cell cartridge coupler is coupled to the electrolyzer and is adapted to be coupled to a fuel cell cartridge for providing pressurized hydrogen from the electrolyzer to the fuel cell cartridge.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 12, 2006
    Date of Patent: June 1, 2010
    Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
    Inventors: Steven J. Eickhoff, Soumitri N. Kolavennu
  • Patent number: 7727648
    Abstract: A fuel cell system includes a stack which generates electric energy through a reaction of hydrogen and oxygen and discharges moisture generated from the reaction of the hydrogen and oxygen, a reformer which generates a reforming gas containing hydrogen through a reforming reaction using thermal energy and discharges the reforming gas along with a non-reactive fuel component, a carbon monoxide purifier which reduces a concentration of carbon oxide contained in the reforming gas through a preferential oxidation reaction of the carbon monoxide contained in the reforming gas, and a non-reactive fuel dissolution apparatus which is connected to the stack and the reformer to dissolve the non-reactive fuel component of the reforming gas with the moisture from the stack and supply the reforming gas to the carbon monoxide purifier with the non-reactive fuel component substantially removed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2006
    Date of Patent: June 1, 2010
    Assignee: Samsung SDI Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: In-Hyuk Son, Ju-Yong Kim, Dong-Uk Lee
  • Patent number: 7727649
    Abstract: A polymer electrolyte fuel cell comprises a fuel cell stack and a humidifier. The fuel cell stack includes plural cells in which each cell has a pair of electrodes and a proton-conductive electrolyte membrane arranged between the pair of electrodes, wherein an oxidant gas or a fuel gas passes through the humidifier before being fed to the fuel cell stack, and wherein a wet gas containing water or water vapor also passes through the humidifier. In the fuel cell, the humidifier includes a porous separating layer and a hydrophilic water-releasing layer, wherein the separating layer is configured to separate the wet gas from the oxidant gas or the fuel gas in the humidifier, and wherein the hydrophilic water-releasing layer is disposed in a side of the oxidant gas or the fuel gas to the separating layer in the humidifier.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 26, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 1, 2010
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Katsunori Nishimura, Yuki Okuda, Jinichi Imahashi
  • Patent number: 7727650
    Abstract: Fuel cell structure. A plurality of microtubes are electrically inter-connected. Each microtube includes an anode and a cathode layer separated by an electrolyte layer. The plurality of microtubes are arranged in at least two adjacent layers with microtubes in a first layer extending in a first direction and the microtubes in the second layer extending in a second direction, the first and second directions being non-parallel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 30, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 1, 2010
    Assignee: Massachusetts Institute of Technology
    Inventors: Harry Tuller, Kathy Sahner
  • Patent number: 7727651
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a proton-conducting polymer membrane comprising polymers containing phosphonic acid groups which is obtainable by a process comprising the steps A) mixing of vinyl-containing phosphonic acid with one or more aromatic tetraamino compounds with one or more aromatic carboxylic acids, esters thereof, acid halides thereof or anhydrides thereof which contain at least two acid groups per carboxylic acid monomer, and/or ?mixing of vinyl-containing phosphonic acid with one or more aromatic and/or heteroaromatic diamino carboxylic acids, esters thereof, acid halides thereof or anhydrides thereof, B) heating of the mixture obtainable according to step A) under inert gas at temperatures of up to 350° C. to form polyazole polymers, C) application of a layer using the mixture from step A) and/or B) to a support, D) polymerization of the vinyl-containing phosphonic acid present in the sheet-like structure obtainable according to step C).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2003
    Date of Patent: June 1, 2010
    Assignee: BASF Fuel Cell GmbH
    Inventors: Joachim Kiefer, Oemer Uensal, Gordon Calundann
  • Patent number: 7727652
    Abstract: A membrane electrode assembly for a polymer electrolyte fuel cell has superior power generation characteristics under low humidity conditions and superior starting characteristics under low temperature conditions. In the membrane electrode assembly for a polymer electrolyte fuel cell in which a polymer electrolyte membrane is disposed between a pair of electrodes containing a catalyst, the polymer electrolyte membrane has a polymer segment A having an ion conductive component and a polymer segment B not having an ion conductive component. Furthermore, in the case in which the polymer electrolyte membrane is immersed in water at 90° C. for 30 minutes, absorbed water which exhibits a thawing temperature of from ?30 to 0° C. is in a range from 0.01 to 3.0 g per 1 g of the polymer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 2004
    Date of Patent: June 1, 2010
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Nagayuki Kanaoka, Naoki Mitsuta, Yuichiro Hama, Ryoichiro Takahashi, Hiroshi Souma, Masaru Iguchi, Yoichi Asano
  • Patent number: 7727653
    Abstract: A polymer electrolyte membrane includes a poly(benzoxazole) polymer doped with at least one acid. The polymer electrolyte membrane is manufactured by impregnating poly(benzoxazole) with an acid and has better ionic conductivity at high temperatures and better mechanical properties than a conventional poly(benzoxazole) polymer electrolyte membrane. In addition, the polymer electrolyte membrane has equivalent thermal stability to a conventional polymer electrolyte membrane.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 2006
    Date of Patent: June 1, 2010
    Assignee: Samsung SDI Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Chung-kun Cho, Doo-yeon Lee, Hee-young Sun
  • Patent number: 7727654
    Abstract: Membrane-electrode assemblies are provided having a solid polymer electrolyte membrane that exhibits higher proton conductivity over a wide temperature range, and exhibits superior hot water resistance, chemical stability, toughness and mechanical strength. The membrane-electrode assemblies utilized for solid polymer electrolyte fuel cells include an anode electrode, a cathode electrode and a solid polymer electrolyte membrane, the anode electrode and the cathode electrode disposed on opposite sides of the solid polymer electrolyte membrane. The solid polymer electrolyte membrane contains a polyarylene copolymer with a specific constitutional unit having a fluorine atom and nitrile group introduced in their principal chains.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 2006
    Date of Patent: June 1, 2010
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Nagayuki Kanaoka, Masaru Iguchi, Hiroshi Sohma
  • Patent number: 7727655
    Abstract: A power generator comprising a hydrogen generator and a fuel cell stack having an anode exposed to hydrogen from the hydrogen generator and a cathode exposed to an ambient environment. Hydrophobic and hydrophilic layers are used to promote flow of water away from the cathode. A diffusion path thus separates the fuel cell cathode from the hydrogen generator. In one embodiment, water vapor generated from the fuel cell substantially matches water used by the hydrogen generator to generate hydrogen.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 25, 2005
    Date of Patent: June 1, 2010
    Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
    Inventor: Steven J. Eickhoff
  • Patent number: 7727656
    Abstract: A wave-shaped flow board suitable for a fuel cell includes an injection-molded body substrate, a reaction zone recessed into a surface of the body substrate, and a wave-shaped current collector, which defines a plurality of independent fuel channels. The wave-shaped current collector is integrally mounted in the reaction zone and comprises a bendable conductive lug portion for providing an electrical connection between the wave-shaped current collector and a circuit on the surface of the wave-shaped flow board.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 18, 2006
    Date of Patent: June 1, 2010
    Assignee: Nan Ya Printed Circuit Board Corporation
    Inventors: Su-Yun Yu, Chiang-Wen Lai, Yu-Chih Lin, Jiun-Ming Chen, Ching-Sen Yang
  • Patent number: 7727657
    Abstract: A fuel reservoir for a fuel cell detachably connected with a fuel cell main body is constituted from a fuel storing vessel of a tube type for storing a liquid fuel, a fuel discharge part and a follower which seals the liquid fuel and moves as the liquid fuel is consumed at the rear end of the liquid fuel. The inside of the fuel storing vessel includes a fuel storing chamber at least hermetically sealed with the follower and a pressurizing chamber filled with a means for pressing the follower staying in a state in which it is completely separated from the ambient air and hermetically sealed. The fuel reservoir for a fuel cell makes it possible to prevent boiling, bubbling and spouting of the liquid fuel and to stably supply the liquid fuel directly to a fuel cell main body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 2005
    Date of Patent: June 1, 2010
    Assignees: Mitsubishi Pencil Co., Ltd., Casio Computer Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Toshimi Kamitani, Yasunari Kabasawa
  • Patent number: 7727658
    Abstract: A method for joining a resin member and a porous member can prevent peeling in a specified direction. When a thermoplastic laser transmitting resin member and a porous member are joined, the laser transmitting resin layer and the porous member are laminated, and a laser beam is emitted at a side of the laser transmitting resin member. The porous member is heated so that the laser transmitting resin member is melted, and the melted resin is impregnated with holes of the porous member. The resin is cooled so as to solidify.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 2005
    Date of Patent: June 1, 2010
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Naoyuki Enjoji, Masato Komatsuki
  • Patent number: 7727659
    Abstract: In order to provide a fuel cell unit, comprising a housing which limits at least one gas chamber and has a gas opening in a first housing wall and a gas opening in a second housing wall located opposite the first housing wall, the housing of which has an adequate deformation stability in relation to the sealing surface pressure required for a flat seal even at high temperatures, it is suggested that the fuel cell unit comprise at least one supporting element which is arranged between the first housing wall and the second housing wall and keeps the two housing walls at a distance from one another.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 17, 2005
    Date of Patent: June 1, 2010
    Assignee: ElringKlinger AG
    Inventor: Armin Diez
  • Patent number: 7727660
    Abstract: Modified fuel cells with improved distribution of humidity and/or temperature are provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 17, 2006
    Date of Patent: June 1, 2010
    Assignee: IRD Fuel Cells A/S
    Inventors: Henning Frederiksen, Steen Yde-Andersen, Laila Grahl-Madsen, Joergen Schjerning Lundsgaard
  • Patent number: 7727661
    Abstract: A flow passage member and a reformed gas supply pipe for supplying a reformed gas to a fuel cell stack are provided. Hot air to be supplied to the fuel cell stack flows through the flow passage member. A gold gasket is provided at a joint portion between the flow passage member and the reformed gas supply pipe. The gold gasket has malleability to achieve stable sealing performance and durability in the presence of the oxidizing atmosphere and the reducing atmosphere at high temperature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 13, 2006
    Date of Patent: June 1, 2010
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Tetsuya Ogawa
  • Patent number: 7727662
    Abstract: A low temperature alkaline fuel cell having a hydrogen electrode and an oxygen electrode, both of which are comprised of high performance non-precious metal catalytic materials providing high performance at low temperatures.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2004
    Date of Patent: June 1, 2010
    Assignee: Ovonic Battery Company, Inc.
    Inventors: Benjamin Reichman, Michael A. Fetcenko, Stanford R. Ovshinsky, Kwo Young, William Mays, James Strebe
  • Patent number: 7727663
    Abstract: The present invention provides a cathode and a fuel cell, which are built to prevent escape of liquids, e.g. water and fuel solution, from the cell. Thus, according to a first aspect thereof, the present invention provides a cathode suitable for use in a fuel cell having a proton conducting membrane, the cathode comprising a plurality of layers including a catalyst layer and a hydrophobic porous support layer, wherein at least one of said plurality of layers is a liquid water leak-proof layer, which allows gas to pass through it and prevents passage of liquid water and/or aqueous fuel solution.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 18, 2002
    Date of Patent: June 1, 2010
    Assignee: Tel-Aviv University Future Technology Development L.P.
    Inventors: Emanuel Peled, Tair Duvdevani, Arnon Blum, Vladimir Livshits, Adi Aharon
  • Patent number: 7727664
    Abstract: A production method for a fuel cell including an electrolyte, an anode which is provided on one of both sides of the electrolyte, a cathode which is provided on the other side of the electrolyte, and separators one of which is provided on an outer side of the anode and the other of which is provided on an outer side of the cathode. This production method includes a first process in which the anode and the cathode each of which includes at least a catalyst and an ion-exchange resin are produced; and a second process in which the electrolyte is provided between the anode and the cathode before being formed into a thin-film electrolyte. With this production method, contact resistance can be reduced without increasing the number of production processes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 12, 2005
    Date of Patent: June 1, 2010
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Takumi Taniguchi, Masafumi Kobayashi
  • Patent number: 7727665
    Abstract: In a fuel cell assembly (100, 200), a diffusion layer (113, 114, 201) comprises an electroconductive film (133, 133a, 133b) formed integrally with a separator (115, 116, 115a) so as to form a unitary separator-diffusion layer assembly (130, 131, 130a, 203). The electroconductive film of the diffusion layer can be formed on the separator by a process comprising physical vapor deposition, chemical vapor deposition, spin coating, sputtering or screen printing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 2004
    Date of Patent: June 1, 2010
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd
    Inventors: Jun Sasahara, Toshifumi Suzuki, Tadahiro Kubota, Nariaki Kuriyama, Yuji Saito
  • Patent number: 7727666
    Abstract: A portable electronic device. The portable electronic device includes a body, a cover, a button, a movable pin and a battery. The button is movably disposed on the body to move between a first position and a second position. The movable pin is disposed in the body. The battery is disposed on the body. When the button is in the first position, the cover is separated from the button. When the button moves from the first position to the second position, the movable pin pushes the battery, allowing the battery to be separated from the body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 5, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 1, 2010
    Assignee: Qisda Corporation
    Inventor: Chi-Fang Liu
  • Patent number: 7727667
    Abstract: A package case is structured by a plurality of substantially identical and flat frames stacked on one another. Flat laminate cells (accumulator cells) are individually accommodated in the frames and stacked on one another, so that the number of flat laminate cells (accumulator cells) can readily be changed simply by increasing/decreasing the number of frames to be stacked to meet energy needs and the like. The accumulator device is segmented using the plurality of flat frames, so that externally applied impacts can readily be dispersed and the impact transmitted to the flat laminate cells (accumulator cells) can be reduced without reinforcing the accumulator device 1 with more than necessary strength.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 2005
    Date of Patent: June 1, 2010
    Assignee: Fuji Jukogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Masato Sakurai
  • Patent number: 7727668
    Abstract: An integrated cap assembly of a secondary battery. A cap lamination forms a top portion of the secondary battery and serves as a connection terminal while the secondary battery is charged or discharged. A gasket is molded integrally with the cap lamination in such a manner that a peripheral portion of the cap lamination is inserted in the gasket, the gasket insulating the cap lamination from a can of the secondary battery and sealing a gap between the cap lamination and the can.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2005
    Date of Patent: June 1, 2010
    Assignee: Samsung SDI Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Young Taek Kim
  • Patent number: 7727669
    Abstract: A process is provided to produce non-aqueous electrolytic solution for use in batteries having low acid content and low water content. The invention involves removing acids and water from non-aqueous electrolytic solutions typically found in lithium or lithium-ion batteries by using nitrogen-containing compounds such as triazines. After treatment by a triazine such as melamine, the concentrations of acids and water in the electrolytic solutions are substantially decreased. The present invention provides a process to prepare extremely pure electrolytic solutions having low (<20 ppm) concentrations of both water and acids.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 26, 2005
    Date of Patent: June 1, 2010
    Assignee: Novolyte Technologies Inc.
    Inventors: Zhongyi Deng, Jerry L. Decker, Wu Xu, John R. Sans, Pascal Bolomey
  • Patent number: 7727670
    Abstract: Disclosed is an electrode active material comprising: (a) electrode active material particles capable of lithium intercalation/deintercalation; and (b) a multinary oxide coating layer partially or totally formed on the surface of the electrode active material particles, the multinary oxide coating layer comprising Al, P and a halogen element. A method for preparing the electrode active material, an electrode using the electrode active material, and an electrochemical device comprising the electrode, preferably a lithium secondary battery, are also disclosed. The electrode active material comprising a multinary oxide coating layer has improved structural stability and thermal safety, and thus can provide an electrochemical device having high capacity, long service life and excellent safety.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 2, 2005
    Date of Patent: June 1, 2010
    Assignee: LG Chem, Ltd.
    Inventors: Soon Ho Ahn, Byung Hun Oh
  • Patent number: 7727671
    Abstract: A closed battery, according to the invention, comprises a substantially flat box-type outer case 60 having electrical conductivity, provided with an opening on one side in the longitudinal direction thereof and other peripheral sides that are closed, a spiral electrode body 21 housed in the outer case, comprising a positive electrode, a negative electrode, and a separator interposed therebetween, an electrode current collector tab 21a larger in thickness than a core body, welded to a cut and raised piece that is cut and raised from an exposed part of the core body of one of the electrodes of the spiral electrode body, and a sealing plate 50 for covering and sealing the opening of the outer case, wherein the outer case is sealed by laser-welding with the electrode current collector tab being clamped between the rim of the opening and the sealing plate when sealing the opening of the outer case.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2003
    Date of Patent: June 1, 2010
    Assignee: Sanyo Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Eiji Okutani, Atsushi Obayashi