Patents Issued in February 8, 2011
  • Patent number: 7883771
    Abstract: A halogen-free pressure-sensitive adhesive tape including a tape substrate made of a non-halogen resin composition containing no halogen elements and, applied to at least one side of the substrate, a pressure-sensitive adhesive containing a modified acrylic resin obtained by copolymerizing acrylic acid or an acrylic ester with a monomer which forms a tackifier resin.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 2005
    Date of Patent: February 8, 2011
    Assignee: Yazaki Corporation
    Inventors: Hiroshi Umemoto, Masato Koike, Susumu Hara, Hiroshi Ichikawa
  • Patent number: 7883772
    Abstract: A fabric including microdenier fibers is provided, the microdenier fibers prepared by fibrillating a multicomponent, multilobal fiber including a contiguous core fiber component enwrapped by a multilobal sheath fiber component such that the sheath fiber component forms the entire outer surface of the multicomponent fiber, wherein the core fiber component and the multilobal sheath fiber component are sized such that the multicomponent, multilobal fiber can be fibrillated to expose the core fiber component and split the fiber into multiple microdenier fibers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2007
    Date of Patent: February 8, 2011
    Assignee: North Carolina State University
    Inventors: Behnam Pourdeyhimi, Stephen Sharp
  • Patent number: 7883773
    Abstract: The present invention relates to proppants which can be used to prop open subterranean formation fractions. Proppant formulations are further disclosed which use one or more proppants of the present invention. Methods to prop open subterranean formation fractions are further disclosed. In addition, other uses for the proppants of the present invention are further disclosed, as well as methods of making the proppants.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 8, 2011
    Assignee: Oxane Materials, Inc.
    Inventors: Russell J. Smith, John R. Loscutova, Elizabeth A. Whitsitt, Christopher E. Coker, Andrew R. Barron, Mark Wiesner, Stephen A. Costantino, Rajendra K. Bordia
  • Patent number: 7883774
    Abstract: The invention herein provides for an improved fill composition for encapsulation in casing structures adapted for projectile motion and rupture upon contact with a target surface, such as paintballs. The fill composition adapted for use in an impact-rupturable capsule of the invention comprises a water soluble dye and soy oil. The invention further provides for an improved shell composition for an impact-rupturable capsule containing the fill composition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 2007
    Date of Patent: February 8, 2011
    Assignee: JT Sports LLC
    Inventor: Yancy Baggs
  • Patent number: 7883775
    Abstract: The invention provides a diamond coated tool having an excellent cutting performance, wear resistance, adhesion resistance and work surface roughness in combination and a method of producing such a tool. A diamond coated tool comprising a substrate and a diamond coating formed on the surface of the substrate, wherein said substrate is made of a cemented carbide or a cermet, diamond grains constituting a growth surface of said diamond coating has an average grain size of about 1.5 micrometers or below, said diamond coating has a thickness ranging from about 0.1 micrometer to 20 micrometers, and said diamond coating has an average surface roughness Ra ranging from about 0.01 micrometer to 0.2 micrometer. Such a diamond coated tool can be obtained by carburizing the substrate consisting of a cemented carbide or a cermet, and growing up a diamond coating thereon.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 2003
    Date of Patent: February 8, 2011
    Assignees: A.L.M.T. Corp., Sumitomo Electric Industries, Ltd.
    Inventors: Katsuo Kazahaya, Shigetaka Kawai, Yasushi Matsumoto, Keiji Ishibashi, Takahiro Imai
  • Patent number: 7883776
    Abstract: An optical coating on a transparent substrate is provided with a temporary layer of carbon as protection during manufacturing against scratches and corrosive environments. When the optical coating and/or substrate are tempered in an atmosphere reactive to carbon, such as air, the layer of carbon is removed as a carbon-containing gas. For an optical coating with a brittle, glassy, outermost layer furthest from the substrate, additional protection is provided by a scratch propagation blocker layer between the outermost layer and the carbon protective layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 29, 2007
    Date of Patent: February 8, 2011
    Assignee: AGC Flat Glass North America, Inc.
    Inventors: Kyle W. Hukari, Peter A. Maschwitz, Rand D. Dannenberg
  • Patent number: 7883777
    Abstract: The invention relates to solar energy shielding window film laminates exhibiting visual light transmittance in the range of 5 to 80% with minimum progressive fading or degradation of reflective quality wherein base polyester films have a layer of adhesive sandwiched there between, the adhesive layer containing dispersed mixed metal oxides as solar-energy-screen particles optionally in combination with rare earth hexaborides, antimony containing metal oxide, indium containing metal oxide, titanium nitride, or carbon particles either singly or in combinations thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2006
    Date of Patent: February 8, 2011
    Assignee: Garware Polyester Ltd.
    Inventors: Shashikant Bhalchandra Garware, Mohan Sitaram Adsul
  • Patent number: 7883778
    Abstract: A sheet glass that has a side surface with an average surface roughness equal to or less than 0.2 ?m is provided. Furthermore, a method of manufacturing a sheet glass is provided that includes processing a base-material glass sheet to obtain a sheet glass that has a side surface with an average surface roughness equal to or less than 0.2 ?m. Moreover, a method of manufacturing a sheet glass is provided that includes processing a base-material glass sheet so that an average surface roughness of a side surface becomes equal to or less than a predetermined value according to a section modulus of the sheet glass that is to be manufactured.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 2007
    Date of Patent: February 8, 2011
    Assignee: The Furukawa Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Toshihiro Nakamura, Sadayuki Toda, Hisashi Koaizawa
  • Patent number: 7883779
    Abstract: A semiconductor manufacturing apparatus includes a processing chamber for performing a manufacturing processing on a wafer. A gas supply line for introducing a purge gas is connected to an upper portion of the processing chamber, a valve being installed on the gas supply line. A rough pumping line with a valve a is connected to a lower portion of the processing chamber. Installed on the rough pumping line are a dry pump for exhausting a gas in the processing chamber and a particle monitoring unit for monitoring particles between the valve a and the dry pump. In the semiconductor manufacturing apparatus, after the valve is opened, the purge gas is supplied to apply physical vibration due to shock wave in the processing chamber 100 so that deposits are detached therefrom to be monitored as particles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2007
    Date of Patent: February 8, 2011
    Assignee: Tokyo Electron Limited
    Inventors: Tsuyoshi Moriya, Hiroyuki Nakayama
  • Patent number: 7883780
    Abstract: The present invention provides a laminate comprising a resin layer and a copper foil. The resin layer is made from a liquid crystalline polyester having at least one structural unit selected from a structural unit derived from aromatic diamine and a structural unit derived from aromatic amine with a phenolic hydroxyl group in an amount of 10 to 35% by mole on the basis of the total structural units in the polyester. The copper foil has a tensile modulus of 60 GPa or smaller and a tensile strength at break of 150 MPa or smaller measured after heat treatment at a temperature of 300° C. The copper-foil laminate has good flexibility and high durability with little anisotropy is provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 2006
    Date of Patent: February 8, 2011
    Assignee: Sumitomo Chemical Company, Limited
    Inventors: Satoshi Okamoto, Toyonari Ito
  • Patent number: 7883782
    Abstract: A pore-free weld connection and a method for manufacturing such a weld connection between first, second and third components (1, 3, 5, 13, 15, 17), which are connected together by means of a closed weld seam (7, 18), and of which one component (5, 17) has, at a start- and end-point (9, 11, 21, 23) of the weld seam (7, 18), a cavity (6, 19) serving for a root-side degassing of a weld puddle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2002
    Date of Patent: February 8, 2011
    Assignee: Endress + Hauser GmbH + Co. KG
    Inventor: Bernd Kastner
  • Patent number: 7883783
    Abstract: An electrodeposited copper foil with carrier foil on which a resin layer for forming an insulating layer is formed, comprising a carrier foil, a bonding interface layer, an electrodeposited copper foil with smooth surfaces on both sides and a resin layer. The resin layer is composed of 20 to 80 parts by weight of an epoxy resin and a curing agent, 20 to 80 parts by weight of a solvent soluble aromatic polyamide resin polymer and optionally a curing accelerator in a suitable amount.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2005
    Date of Patent: February 8, 2011
    Assignee: Mitsui Mining & Smelting Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Seiji Nagatani
  • Patent number: 7883784
    Abstract: This invention relates to coatings for a metal or non-metal substrate comprising (a) a thermal sprayed bondcoat layer applied to the substrate, and (b) a thermal sprayed ceramic layer applied to said bondcoat layer; wherein said coating has a helium leak rate of less than 6×10?6 standard cubic centimeters per second. The thermal sprayed bondcoat layer comprises (i) a thermal sprayed inner layer alloy, and (ii) a thermal sprayed outer layer alloy. The inner layer alloy is thermally sprayed from a powder having a mean particle size of 50 percentile point in distribution of from about 5 microns to about 50 microns. The outer layer alloy is thermally sprayed from a powder having a mean particle size of 50 percentile point in distribution of from about 30 microns to about 100 microns. The coatings are useful for extending the service life under severe conditions, such as those associated with metallurgical vessels' lances, nozzles and tuyeres.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 7, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 8, 2011
    Assignee: Praxair S. T. Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Prasad Shrikrisnna Apte, James Patrick Meagher, Shawn W. Callahan
  • Patent number: 7883785
    Abstract: The present invention describes novel organometallic compounds which are phosphorescent emitters. Such compounds can be used as active components (=functional materials) in a variety of different applications which can in the widest sense be considered part of the electronics industry. The compounds of the invention are described by the formulae (I), (Ia), (II) and (IIa).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 14, 2003
    Date of Patent: February 8, 2011
    Assignee: Merck Patent GmbH
    Inventors: Philipp Stössel, Ingrid Bach, Hubert Spreitzer
  • Patent number: 7883786
    Abstract: The invention provides a novel compound used as a material for organic light-emitting elements, and an organic light-emitting element which has highly efficient and highly luminescent optical power and is superior in durability. The organic light-emitting element includes an anode and a cathode, and a layer which contains an organic compound and is held between the anode and the cathode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 1, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 8, 2011
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Shigemoto Abe, Akihiro Senoo, Jun Kamatani, Satoshi Igawa, Naoki Yamada
  • Patent number: 7883787
    Abstract: Organic light emitting devices are described wherein the emissive layer comprises a host material containing an emissive molecule, which molecule is adapted to luminesce when a voltage is applied across the heterostructure, and the emissive molecule is selected from the group of phosphorescent organometallic complexes, including cyclometallated platinum, iridium and osmium complexes. The organic light emitting devices optionally contain an exciton blocking layer. Furthermore, improved electroluminescent efficiency in organic light emitting devices is obtained with an emitter layer comprising organometallic complexes of transition metals of formula L2MX, wherein L and X are distinct bidentate ligands. Compounds of this formula can be synthesized more facilely than in previous approaches and synthetic options allow insertion of fluorescent molecules into a phosphorescent complex, ligands to fine tune the color of emission, and ligands to trap carriers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 1, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 8, 2011
    Assignees: The Trustees of Princeton University, The University of Southern California
    Inventors: Mark E. Thompson, Peter Djurovich, Sergey Lamansky, Drew Murphy, Raymond Kwong, Feras Abdel-Razzaq, Stephen R. Forrest, Marc A. Baldo, Paul E. Burrows
  • Patent number: 7883788
    Abstract: It is an object of the present invention to provide a functional layer for protecting a light emitting element from being deteriorated by a physical or chemical influence when the light emitting element is manufactured or driven, and to attain extension of lifetime of an element and improvement of element characteristics without increasing a drive voltage and degrading transmittance and color purity by providing such a functional layer. One feature of the present invention is to provide a buffer layer made of a composite material for a light emitting element including aromatic hydrocarbon containing at least one vinyl skeleton and metal oxide in part of a light emitting substance containing layer, in the light emitting element fowled by interposing the light emitting substance containing layer between a pair of electrodes. The composite material for a light emitting element for forming the buffer layer of the present invention has high conductivity and is superior in transparency.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 20, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 8, 2011
    Assignee: Semiconductor Energy Laboratory Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Takahiro Kawakami, Tomoya Aoyama, Junichiro Sakata, Hisao Ikeda, Satoshi Seo, Yuji Iwaki
  • Patent number: 7883789
    Abstract: A substrate with a transparent conductive oxide film (especially a substrate with a transparent conductive oxide film useful as a substrate for a thin-film silicon-based solar cell) being excellent in mass production efficiency and being characterized by having a low resistance, a high transparency and a good light scattering performance over a full wavelength region (300 nm to 3 ?m) of solar ray, a process for its production, and a photoelectric conversion element (especially, solar cell) employing the substrate, are presented. A substrate with a transparent conductive oxide film, comprising a substrate and a transparent conductive oxide layer formed on the substrate and constituted by a plurality of ridges and a plurality of flat portions, wherein the surfaces of the ridges and the flat portions, have many continuous micron-size protrusions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 2007
    Date of Patent: February 8, 2011
    Assignee: Asahi Glass Company, Limited
    Inventors: Kazuo Sato, Junichi Sato, legal representative, Naoki Taneda, Makoto Fukawa, Nobutaka Aomine, Mika Kambe, Yukio Yoshikawa
  • Patent number: 7883790
    Abstract: A medical device includes a rechargeable lithium-ion battery for providing power to the medical device. The lithium-ion battery includes a positive electrode including a current collector and a first active material, a negative electrode including a current collector and a second active material, and an auxiliary electrode including a current collector and a third active material. The auxiliary electrode is configured for selective electrical connection to one of the positive electrode and the negative electrode. The first active material, second active material, and third active material are configured to allow doping and undoping of lithium ions. The third active material exhibits charging and discharging capacity below a corrosion potential of the current collector of the negative electrode and above a decomposition potential of the first active material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 8, 2011
    Assignee: Medtronic, Inc.
    Inventors: William G. Howard, Craig L. Schmidt, Erik R. Scott
  • Patent number: 7883791
    Abstract: A fuel cell electrolyte according to one aspect of the invention contains a basic polymer and a phosphate compound expressed by the following general formula (1): where R represents an alkyl or alkoxyalkyl group, and n is 1 or 2.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 2006
    Date of Patent: February 8, 2011
    Assignees: Sanyo Electric Co., Ltd., Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd., Samsung SDI Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kunihiro Nakato, Atsuo Sonai
  • Patent number: 7883793
    Abstract: A battery module having battery cell assemblies with alignment-coupling features is provided. The battery module includes a first battery cell assembly having at least first, second, third and fourth alignment-coupling features thereon. The battery module further includes a second battery cell assembly having at least fifth, sixth, seventh, and eighth alignment-coupling features thereon. The fifth, sixth, seventh, and eighth alignment-coupling features of the second battery cell assembly are configured to engage the first, second, third and fourth alignment-coupling features, respectively, of the first battery cell assembly to couple the second battery cell assembly to the first battery cell assembly and to align the second battery cell assembly relative to the first battery cell assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 8, 2011
    Assignee: LG Chem, Ltd.
    Inventors: Mark Niedzwiecki, Heekook Yang, Igor Isayev
  • Patent number: 7883794
    Abstract: Disclosed is a cathode comprising a complex formed between the surface of a cathode active material and an aliphatic mono-nitrile compound, and an electrochemical device comprising the cathode. A non-aqueous electrolyte containing a lithium salt, a solvent and an aliphatic mono-nitrile compound, and an electrochemical device comprising the electrolyte are also disclosed. The electrochemical device shows excellent low-temperature characteristics, high-temperature life characteristics and safety.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 23, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 8, 2011
    Assignee: LG Chem, Ltd.
    Inventors: Young Soo Kim, Soon Ho Ahn
  • Patent number: 7883795
    Abstract: A secondary battery includes an electrode assembly including a positive electrode and a negative electrode, and a separator interposed therebetween. Each of the positive and negative electrodes have uncoated regions without active material along an edge. A container is also included for receiving the electrode assembly. A cap assembly is fixed to the container to seal the container. A lead element covers an entire surface of an uncoated region to contact and combine with the uncoated region. A tab extends from the lead element to be disposed within the range of the lead element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 2005
    Date of Patent: February 8, 2011
    Assignee: Samsung SDI Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yong-Sam Kim, Ki-Ho Kim, Jae-Yul Ryu
  • Patent number: 7883796
    Abstract: An electrochemical cell has a container having a main surface and a cavity containing therein a positive electrode, a negative electrode, a separator separating the positive and negative electrodes from one another, and an electrolyte. A sealing plate that seals the cavity of the container is bonded to the main surface of the container with an unoxidized weld.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 2005
    Date of Patent: February 8, 2011
    Assignee: Seiko Instruments Inc.
    Inventors: Tomohiko Kida, Hideharu Onodera, Shunji Watanabe, Kensuke Tahara, Yoshibumi Nakamura
  • Patent number: 7883797
    Abstract: A non-aqueous electrolyte battery that contains a molten salt electrolyte and has the enhanced output performances and cycle performances can be provided. The electrolyte has a molar ratio of lithium salt to molten salt of from 0.3 to 0.5, and the non-aqueous electrolyte battery has a positive electrode having a discharge capacity of 1.05 or more times that of a negative electrode thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 13, 2005
    Date of Patent: February 8, 2011
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventors: Takashi Kishi, Takashi Kuboki, Hidesato Saruwatari, Norio Takami
  • Patent number: 7883798
    Abstract: An active material for a battery has a surface treatment layer that includes a conductive agent and at least one coating-element-containing compound selected from the group consisting of a coating-element-containing hydroxide, a coating-element-containing oxyhydroxide, a coating-element-containing oxycarbonate, a coating-element-containing hydroxycarbonate, and a mixture thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 4, 2006
    Date of Patent: February 8, 2011
    Assignee: Samsung SDI Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Ho-Jin Kweon, Jun-Won Suh, Jang-Ho Yoon, Jung-Joon Park
  • Patent number: 7883799
    Abstract: The present invention provides an organic/inorganic composite porous separator, which comprises: (a) a porous substrate having pores; and (b) an organic/inorganic composite layer formed by coating at least one region selected from the group consisting of a surface of the substrate and a part of pores present in the substrate with a mixture of inorganic porous particles and a binder polymer, wherein the inorganic porous particles have a plurality of macropores with a diameter of 50 nm or greater in the particle itself thereby form a pore structure, a manufacturing method thereof, and an electrochemical device using the same. As an additional pathway for lithium ions is created due to a number of pores existing in the inorganic porous particle itself, degradation in the battery performance can be minimized, and energy density per unit weight can be increased by the weight loss effect.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 28, 2006
    Date of Patent: February 8, 2011
    Assignee: LG Chem, Ltd.
    Inventors: Dae Jong Seo, Seok Koo Kim, Jang Hyuk Hong, Joon Yong Sohn, Sang Young Lee, Soon Ho Ahn
  • Patent number: 7883800
    Abstract: The disclosure herein relates to a lithium ion conducting electrolyte. This electrolytic material has improved ionic conductivity. The material disclosed herein is an amorphous compound of the formula LixSMwOyNz wherein x is between approximately 0.5 and 3, y is between 1 and 6, z is between 0.1 and 1, w is less than 0.3 and M is an element selected from B, Ge, Si, P, As, Cl, Br, I, and combinations thereof. The material can be prepared in the form of a thin film. The electrolyte material can be used in microbatteries and electronic systems.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 26, 2006
    Date of Patent: February 8, 2011
    Assignee: Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique
    Inventors: Philippe Vinatier, Alain Levasseur, Brigitte Pecquenard, Kyong-Hee Joo
  • Patent number: 7883801
    Abstract: An electrolyte for a rechargeable lithium battery according to one embodiment of the present invention includes a modified polyether silicone oil, a carbonate, and a lithium salt. The electrolyte has improved thermal stability and lithium ion conductivity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 2006
    Date of Patent: February 8, 2011
    Assignee: Samsung SDI Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Ryuichi Shimizu, Sang-Woog Ryu, Sung-Soo Kim
  • Patent number: 7883802
    Abstract: Electrochemical power generation systems in which the oxidizable reactant is non-carbon constituents of a fossil fuel are provided. The fossil fuel may be coal, which is contacted with an aqueous electrolyte medium used in the systems. The electrolyte may, in certain aspects, be acid mine drainage. Aspects of the invention include systems and methods for remediation of acid mine drainage, where the systems are configured to raise the pH of acid mine drainage. Aspects of the invention also include regenerating the electrolyte using an external electricity source and recirculating the electrolyte to the system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 8, 2011
    Inventors: R. Paul Levine, Robert Danziger
  • Patent number: 7883803
    Abstract: A solid oxide fuel cell power generation system's entire output is made up of three streams: water, sequestered carbon dioxide provided into a storage tank, and carbon dioxide depleted air. Thus, the system generates electricity from a hydrocarbon fuel, while outputting substantially no pollutants into the atmosphere and cleaning the air by removing carbon dioxide from the air exhaust stream. Thus, the system outputs cleaner air than it takes in without releasing pollutants into the atmosphere, while generating electricity from a readily available hydrocarbon fuel, such as natural gas.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2007
    Date of Patent: February 8, 2011
    Assignee: Bloom Energy Corporation
    Inventors: James F. McElroy, Arne Watson Ballantine
  • Patent number: 7883804
    Abstract: A fuel cell cartridge includes a fuel reservoir configured to supply a fuel to a fuel-cell power generation part and has a water-absorber configured to absorb water formed in the fuel-cell power generation part, at least on part of its outer surface. When the cartridge is attached to a fuel cell system, the fuel in the fuel reservoir is supplied to the fuel cell system. A power generation reaction in the fuel-cell power generation part yields electric power and water. The water is easily and reliably absorbed by the water-absorber without leakage to outside of the fuel cell system. The fuel cell cartridge has a simple structure, is easily handled, can easily and reliably recover water formed in the fuel cell, allows the recovered water to be easily disposed of upon recharge of the fuel and exhibits good recyclability.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 2004
    Date of Patent: February 8, 2011
    Assignee: Fujitsu Limited
    Inventors: Fumio Takei, Norio Sawatari
  • Patent number: 7883805
    Abstract: A hydrogen generating material reacts with water to produce hydrogen and includes at least one metal material selected from the group consisting of aluminum, magnesium, and their alloys. The metal material includes particles with a particle size of 60 ?m or less in a proportion of 80 wt % or more. The hydrogen generating material can produce hydrogen easily and efficiently at low temperatures. A hydrogen generator can be made portable by using the hydrogen generating material. Moreover, the use of the hydrogen generating material as a hydrogen fuel source can reduce the size of a fuel cell and improve the electrical efficiency.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 2005
    Date of Patent: February 8, 2011
    Assignee: Hitachi Maxell, Ltd.
    Inventors: Toshihiro Nakai, Takeshi Miki, Shoji Saibara
  • Patent number: 7883806
    Abstract: A fuel cell reforming catalyst includes a platinum-group metal; an inorganic oxide selected from CeO2, Pr6O11, and combinations thereof; a strong acid ion; and a carrier. The fuel cell reforming catalyst has high activity for the reforming reaction at low temperatures and low space velocities.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 23, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 8, 2011
    Assignee: Samsung SDI Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Leonid Gorobinskiy, Norboru Sato, Ju-Yong Kim, Myoung-Ki Min, Jin-Goo Ahn, Elena Alekseeva
  • Patent number: 7883807
    Abstract: To provide a membrane/electrode assembly and a method for operating a polymer electrolyte fuel cell, whereby power generation will not be terminated even when the power generation is initiated in such an environment that the temperature of the membrane/electrode assembly is at most 0° C. A membrane/electrode assembly 10 for polymer electrolyte fuel cells, which comprises an anode 13 and a cathode 14 each having a catalyst layer 11 containing a proton-conductive fluoropolymer (A), and a polymer electrolyte membrane 15 containing a proton-conductive fluoropolymer (B), disposed between the anode 13 and the cathode 14, wherein each of the above proton-conductive fluoropolymer (A) and the above proton-conductive fluoropolymer (B) has an ion exchange capacity of from 1.4 to 1.8 meq/g dry resin, and each of the above proton-conductive fluoropolymer (A) and the above proton-conductive fluoropolymer (B) has a water content of at most 150 mass %.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 8, 2011
    Assignee: Asahi Glass Company, Limited
    Inventors: Kohta Yamada, Shinji Terazono
  • Patent number: 7883808
    Abstract: A power supply apparatus has a fuel cell unit as a source of input power. A control device limits the output of the fuel cell unit within an operating range of up to a maximum power point, even if a load power is not lower than the maximum power of said fuel cell unit. In addition to the fuel cell, a charge storing device is provided at the output side of the power supply apparatus. The charge storing device is capable of making up a shortage of power of the fuel cell.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 21, 2006
    Date of Patent: February 8, 2011
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Yasuaki Norimatsu, Akihiko Kanouda, Mutsumi Kikuchi
  • Patent number: 7883809
    Abstract: A technique for heating a fuel cell stack at stack start-up that includes using the vehicle motor drive system to generate waste heat independent from providing traction. Particularly, at fuel cell stack start-up, the electric traction inverter associated with the traction motor that drives the vehicle is controlled so that command signals provided by an inverter to a traction motor do not provide motor torque, but dissipates power into the motor windings and/or motor structure as waste heat. Thus, the output power generated by the fuel cell stack can be made high enough to quickly heat the fuel cell stack through inefficiencies in the stack operation, without providing driving torque. Additionally, the electric traction inverter can be operated so that waste heat is generated within the semiconductor power switches in the inverter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 3, 2005
    Date of Patent: February 8, 2011
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventor: Clark G. Hochgraf
  • Patent number: 7883810
    Abstract: A system for the slow purge of a fuel cell stack. A pump can be used to keep the coolant circulating, so that the stack, an associated radiator, and coolant plumbing therebetween are maintained at the same temperature. The heat from the stack, liquid coolant, and radiator can be used to provide the heat of vaporization of the liquid in the stack, and the liquid water can be removed from the stack as water vapor. Because the air flow rate is relatively low, there is sufficient time for the water to vaporize and for the air to come to the same temperature as the stack, which is also facilitated by high surface area for heat transfer. Purge air can be drawn into the stack through the radiator, via a purge air blower, which preheats the air to help avoid frigid air contacting the stack.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 2006
    Date of Patent: February 8, 2011
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: John C. Fagley, Yan Zhang, Paul Taichiang Yu
  • Patent number: 7883811
    Abstract: A control apparatus for a fuel cell stack includes a fuel cell stack having a stacked body formed by stacking fuel cell units together and a pair of end plates sandwiching the stacked body therebetween; electrical heaters disposed near the ends of the stacked body or the end plates, respectively; a water purging device for purging water which is generated during a power generation operation in the fuel cell stack, and which is held in the fuel cell units; and a control unit which controls the power generation operation in the fuel cell stack, and which is operatively connected to the electrical heaters and the water purging device. The control unit is adapted to operate the electrical heaters and the water purging device when the power generation operation is stopped.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 2003
    Date of Patent: February 8, 2011
    Assignee: Honda Giken Koygo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Hideo Kato, Katsumi Hayashi, Hideo Okamoto, Masahiko Sato
  • Patent number: 7883812
    Abstract: A fuel cell system is capable of shifting to a normal operation quickly, and can be provided in transportation equipment such as a motorbike. The fuel cell system includes a cell stack which has a plurality of fuel cells; an aqueous solution tank which holds aqueous methanol solution to be supplied to the cell stack; a water pump which supplies water to the aqueous solution tank; an electric current detection circuit which detects an electric current value of the cell stack; and CPU which controls the fuel cell system. The CPU drives the water pump, and thereby starts a liquid amount adjustment if the electric current value detected by the electric current detection circuit becomes not lower than a predetermined value after power generation of the cell stack is started.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 8, 2007
    Date of Patent: February 8, 2011
    Assignee: Yamaha Hatsudoki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Yasuyuki Muramatsu
  • Patent number: 7883813
    Abstract: A method of operating a fuel cell system includes purging heavier and lighter than air gases from a system cabinet containing at least one fuel cell stack during a single purge step, and starting-up the fuel cell system after the purging step. The system includes an air blower, a purge manifold, and a purge damper.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 2, 2007
    Date of Patent: February 8, 2011
    Assignee: Bloom Energy Corporation
    Inventors: William David Lyle, Arne Watson Ballantine
  • Patent number: 7883814
    Abstract: A first metal separator of a fuel cell comprises a metal plate, and a first seal member is formed integrally on both surfaces of an outer edge of the metal plate. A first rib having a frame shape is provided around an oxygen-containing gas supply passage or the like of the metal plate. The first rib has a rib surface spaced away from an inner end surface of the metal plate around the oxygen-containing gas supply passage or the like, toward the oxygen-containing gas supply passage or the like.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 1, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 8, 2011
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yasuhiro Watanabe, Masaaki Sakano, Shuji Sato, Shigeru Inai, Teruyuki Ohtani, Ken Takahashi
  • Patent number: 7883815
    Abstract: A fuel cell is equipped with a fuel cell main body, a liquid fuel-storing tank for storing a liquid fuel and a fuel-supplying member which has a penetrating structure and is connected with the liquid fuel-storing tank and which supplies the liquid fuel to the liquid fuel main body, wherein the liquid fuel-storing tank is provided with a liquid fuel reservoir comprising a cylindrical fuel-storing vessel for storing the liquid fuel, a fuel discharge part provided at a lower part of the fuel-storing vessel and having a fuel discharge valve and a follower which is disposed at a rear end of the liquid fuel stored in the fuel-storing vessel and which moves as the liquid fuel is consumed, a housing box member which encompasses at least a part of the liquid fuel reservoir via a space part in the periphery of the liquid fuel reservoir and whose rear end part is closed and pressurized gas which is filled in the space part.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 2005
    Date of Patent: February 8, 2011
    Assignees: Mitsubishi Pencil Co., Ltd., Casio Computer Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yoshihisa Suda, Kouji Nishimura, Takahiro Osada, Kunitaka Yamada, Toshimi Kamitani, Yasunari Kabasawa
  • Patent number: 7883816
    Abstract: A fuel cell device includes an elongate substrate having a cold zone adjacent a first end and a reaction zone adjacent a second end configured to be heated to an operating reaction temperature while the cold zone is configured to be shielded from the heat source to remain at a low temperature below the operating reaction temperature. Fuel and air inlets positioned in the cold zone are coupled to respective elongate fuel and oxidizer passages that extend within an interior solid ceramic support structure through the reaction zone in parallel and opposing relation to respective outlets adjacent the second end. Electrodes positioned adjacent the passages in the reaction zone are each electrically coupled from the interior structure to respective exterior contact surfaces in the cold zone. A solid electrolyte monolithic with the ceramic support structure is positioned between electrodes, and electrical connections are made to the exterior contact surfaces.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 8, 2006
    Date of Patent: February 8, 2011
    Inventors: Alan Devoe, Lambert Devoe
  • Patent number: 7883817
    Abstract: The present invention provides a gas diffusion electrode capable of sufficiently preventing not only degradation of MEA during storage but also degradation of initial characteristics and durability during the time period from production to initial use, and a polymer electrolyte fuel cell including the gas diffusion electrode. The gas diffusion electrode includes a catalyst layer in which A1 representing a total mass of organic substance comprising alcohol, a partial oxide of the alcohol, a product of intramolecular dehydrogenation reaction of the alcohol, a product of intermolecular condensation reaction of the alcohol, a product of intermolecular condensation reaction between the alcohol and the partial oxide and a product of intermolecular condensation reaction of the partial oxide, E1 representing a total mass of carbon powder and G1 representing a total mass of cation exchange resin are controlled to satisfy {100×A1/(E1+G1)}?0.05.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 5, 2005
    Date of Patent: February 8, 2011
    Assignees: Panasonic Corporation, Asahi Glass Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yoshihiro Hori, Mikiko Yoshimura, Yoichiro Tsuji, Takeshi Yonamine, Masaki Yamauchi
  • Patent number: 7883818
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a proton-conducting polymer membrane comprising polyazoles which is obtainable by a process comprising the steps A) preparation of a mixture comprising polyphosphoric acid, at least one polyazole and/or one or more compounds suitable for forming polyazoles under the action of heat in step B), B) heating of the mixture obtainable according to step A) to temperatures up to 400° C. under inert gas, C) application of a layer to a support using the mixture from step A) and/or B), D) treatment of the membrane formed in step C) until it is self-supporting, wherein the treatment of the membrane is carried out using a hydrolysis liquid comprising oxo acids of phosphorus and/or oxo acids of sulfur.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 14, 2003
    Date of Patent: February 8, 2011
    Assignee: BASF Fuel Cell GmbH
    Inventors: Joachim Kiefer, Oemer Uensal, Gordon Calundann, Ursula Leister, Kilian Brehl, Edmund Thiemer, Melanie Schlegel
  • Patent number: 7883819
    Abstract: In at least one embodiment, the present invention provides an electrically conductive fluid distribution separator plate assembly, a method of making, and a system for using, the electrically conductive fluid distribution separator plate assembly. In at least one embodiment, the electrically conductive fluid distribution separator plate assembly comprises a metallic cathode plate having opposed surfaces and a first contact resistance, a polymeric composite anode plate adjacent to the metallic cathode plate, and a low contact resistance coating located on at least one of the surfaces of the plates, with the coating having a second contact resistance, less-than the first contact resistance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2005
    Date of Patent: February 8, 2011
    Assignee: GM Global Technologies Operations, Inc.
    Inventors: Mahmoud H. Abd Elhamid, Youssef M. Mikhail, Richard H. Blunk, John N. Owens, Daniel J. Lisi, Gayatri Vyas
  • Patent number: 7883820
    Abstract: An ion-conductive composite membrane and a method of manufacturing the same, the membrane including phosphate platelets, a silicon compound, and a Keggin-type oxometalate and/or Keggin-type heteropoly acid, wherein the phosphate platelets are three-dimensionally connected to each other via the silicon compound. An electrolyte membrane having an ion-conductive inorganic membrane or an ion-conductive organic/inorganic composite membrane effectively prevents crossover of liquid fuel without the reduction of ion conductivity in a liquid fuel cell, thereby allowing for the production of fuel cells having excellent performance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 2, 2006
    Date of Patent: February 8, 2011
    Assignee: Samsung SDI Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hyuk Chang, Hae-kyoung Kim, Hasuck Kim, Jin-Kyu Lee, Sangook Park, Shin Woo Ha
  • Patent number: 7883821
    Abstract: The present invention provides a process for producing a titanium-containing metal oxide the coloration of which is decreased; a hologram recording material suitable for holographic memory recording using a blue laser, wherein a titanium-containing metal oxide the coloration of which is decreased is used as a metal oxide matrix; a process for producing the same; and a hologram recording medium. A process for producing a metal oxide comprising at least Ti as a metal element, the process comprising: providing an alkoxide compound of Ti to which a glycol other than any geminal diol and any vicinal diol is coordinated; hydrolyzing the alkoxide compound of Ti to which the glycol is coordinated, thereby yielding a precursor of a metal oxide; and advancing polycondensation reaction of the metal oxide precursor, thereby forming the metal oxide.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 2007
    Date of Patent: February 8, 2011
    Assignee: TDK Corporation
    Inventors: Atsuko Kosuda, Naoki Hayashida, Jiro Yoshinari
  • Patent number: 7883822
    Abstract: In one aspect there is provided a gray scale lithographic mask that comprises a transparent substrate and a metallic layer located over the substrate, wherein the metallic layer has tapered edges with a graded transparency. The lithographic mask, along with etching processes may be used to transfer a pattern 450a into a layer of a semiconductor device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 17, 2007
    Date of Patent: February 8, 2011
    Assignee: Texas Instruments Incorporated
    Inventors: Byron N. Burgess, Stuart M. Jacobsen