Patents Issued in July 31, 2012
  • Patent number: 8231981
    Abstract: A method of producing an acrylic resin plate, comprising a step of adding 0.001 to 1 part by weight of a polymerization initiator having 10 hours half life temperature of 80° C. or more and 0.015 to 0.2 parts by weight of cyclohexadiene or terpenoid-based compound into 100 parts by weight of a mixture composed of an alkyl methacrylate having a C1-4 alkyl group and a poly-functional (meth)acrylate to give a polymerizable mixture, and a step of polymerizing said polymerizable mixture; an acrylic resin comprising 3 to 30 wt % of an alkyl methacrylate unit having a C8-20 alkyl group, 2 to 35 wt % of a mono-ethylenically unsaturated monomer unit containing an alkyl methacrylate unit having a C1-4 alkyl group and 35 to 95 wt % of a poly-functional (meth)acrylate unit; an acrylic resin plate made of the resin and production process the same, and a transparent electrode plate for touch panel and a touch panel having them.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 10, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 31, 2012
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Rayon Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hideyuki Sugamoto, Osamu Kawai, Hiroki Hatakeyama
  • Patent number: 8231982
    Abstract: A composite of a metal and a resin, in which a shaped metal and a shaped thermoplastic resin are integrally joined by injection molding, and in which the perpendicular precision of the thermoplastic shaped body with respect to the shaped metal is improved, as well as a method for manufacturing the composite. A composite 40 of a metal and a resin is composed of a shaped metal 20 and a shaped thermoplastic resin that is integrally joined to this shaped metal 20 by injection molding. The shaped thermoplastic resin comprises a seat 42 and a boss 41 that protrudes from the seat 42. A runner 43 is provided which communicates with the seat 42 via two sprues and through which a molten thermoplastic resin that has been injected through an injection gate 45 flows into the boss 41 and the thermoplastic resin injected through the injection gate 45 flows through the sprues 47 to opposite locations of the boss 41 substantially uniformly, thereby filling the locations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 25, 2006
    Date of Patent: July 31, 2012
    Assignee: Taisei Plas Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Masanori Naritomi, Naoki Andoh
  • Patent number: 8231983
    Abstract: Disclosed is an organic electroluminescent device having high emission luminance, high external quantum efficiency and long lifetime. Also disclosed are a display and an illuminating device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2006
    Date of Patent: July 31, 2012
    Assignee: Konica Minolta Holdings Inc.
    Inventors: Shuichi Sugita, Tatsuo Tanaka
  • Patent number: 8231984
    Abstract: Target is to provide an organic compound material having a bipolar character. A quinoxaline derivative represented by a general formula (1) is provided. In the formula, R1-R12 each independently represents a hydrogen atom, a halogen atom, a lower alkyl group, an alkoxy group, an acyl group, a nitro group, a cyano group, an amino group, a dialkylamino group, a diarylamino group, a vinyl group, an aryl group, or a heterocyclic residue group. R9 and R10, R10 and R11, and R11 and R12 are each independent or respectively mutually bonded to form an aromatic ring. Ar1-Ar4 each independently represents an aryl group or a heterocyclic residue group. Ar1, Ar2, Ar3 and Ar4 are each independent or Arl and Ar2, and Ar3 and Ar4 are respectively mutually bonded directly, or Ar1 and Ar3, and Ar3 and Ar4 are bonded via oxygen (O), sulfur (S) or a carbonyl group.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 31, 2012
    Assignee: Semiconductor Energy Laboratory Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Satoko Shitagaki, Atsushi Tokuda, Hiroko Abe, Ryoji Nomura, Satoshi Seo
  • Patent number: 8231985
    Abstract: The aluminum-nitride-based composite material according to the present invention is an aluminum-nitride-based composite material that is highly pure with the content ratios of transition metals, alkali metals, and boron, respectively as low as 1000 ppm or lower, has AlN and MgO constitutional phases, and additionally contains at least one selected from the group consisting of a rare earth metal oxide, a rare earth metal-aluminum complex oxide, an alkali earth metal-aluminum complex oxide, a rare earth metal oxyfluoride, calcium oxide, and calcium fluoride, wherein the heat conductivity is in the range of 40 to 150 W/mK, the thermal expansion coefficient is in the range of 7.3 to 8.4 ppm/° C., and the volume resistivity is 1×1014 ?·cm or higher.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 3, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 31, 2012
    Assignee: NGK Insulators, Ltd.
    Inventors: Yoshimasa Kobayashi, Akira Goto, Yuji Katsuda, Naohito Yamada
  • Patent number: 8231986
    Abstract: For the purpose of solving problems inherent to a white Al2O3 spray coating, i.e. drawbacks that the injury resistance, corrosion resistance, heat resistance, abrasion resistance and the like are poor and the light reflectance is high because the coating is porous and weak in the bonding force among particles, there are proposed a spray coating member having excellent injury resistance and the like in which a surface of a substrate is covered with a colored Al2O3 spray coating of a luminosity lower than grayish white, achromatic or chromatic color.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 21, 2006
    Date of Patent: July 31, 2012
    Assignee: Tocalo Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yoshio Harada, Takema Teratani
  • Patent number: 8231987
    Abstract: Example embodiments may provide data storage devices using movement of magnetic domain walls including a first magnetic layer having at least two magnetic domains with determinable magnetization directions, and/or a soft second magnetic layer formed on a lower surface of the first magnetic layer. Magnetic domain walls may be moved even in curved regions of the first magnetic layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 31, 2012
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Chee-kheng Lim
  • Patent number: 8231988
    Abstract: Battery electrodes with desirable discharge performance comprise manganese oxide and magnetic particles. Corresponding power cells have improved specific discharge capacities. Furthermore, magnetically modified manganese dioxide electrodes are found to have significantly improved cycling properties that suggest the possibility for improved performance in secondary batteries.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 8, 2006
    Date of Patent: July 31, 2012
    Assignee: University of Iowa Research Foundation
    Inventors: Johna Leddy, Joseph Tesene
  • Patent number: 8231989
    Abstract: A method for improving fuel cell system reliability in the event of end cell heater failure in a fuel cell stack. The method includes detecting that an end cell heater has failed. If an end cell heater failure is detected, then the method performs one or more of setting a cooling fluid pump to a predetermined speed that drives a cooling fluid through cooling fluid flow channels in the fuel cell stack, limiting the output power of the fuel cell stack or the net power of the fuel cell system, limiting the maximum temperature of the cooling fluid flowing out of the stack, turning off stack anti-flooding algorithms that may be used to remove water from reactant gas flow channels in the stack, and turning off cathode stoichiometry adjustments for relative humidity control in response to water accumulating in cathode flow channels in the fuel cell stack.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 31, 2012
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Derek R Lebzelter, William S Marley, John P. Salvador, Abdullah B. Alp, Loren Devries
  • Patent number: 8231990
    Abstract: The present invention concerns an alloy film for a metal separator for a fuel cell characterized by containing at least one noble metal element selected from Au and Pt and at least one non-noble metal element selected from the group consisting of Ti, Zr, Nb, Hf, and Ta, at a content ratio of noble metal element/non-noble metal element of 35/65 to 95/5, and having a film thickness of 2 nm or more. The present invention also relates to a manufacturing method of an alloy film for the metal separator for the fuel cell and a target material for sputtering, as well as the metal separator and the fuel sell. The alloy film for the metal separator for the fuel cell according to the invention is excellent in the corrosion resistance, has low contact resistance, can maintain the low contact resistance for a long time even in a corrosive environment, and is excellent further in the productivity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 31, 2012
    Assignee: Kobe Steel, Ltd.
    Inventors: Toshiki Sato, Jun Suzuki, Yoshinori Ito, Hirotaka Ito, Shinichi Tanifuji
  • Patent number: 8231991
    Abstract: A method of forming an energy storage device includes forming a fill hole in a wall of the energy storage device. The method also includes deforming the wall of the energy storage device to reduce a width of the fill hole. Moreover, the method includes sealing the fill hole.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 11, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 31, 2012
    Assignee: Medtronic, Inc.
    Inventors: Paul Michael Boucher, Steven Edward Messer, Walter Carl Sunderland, Benjamin Adam Matter
  • Patent number: 8231992
    Abstract: For a lithium battery pack including battery cells the number of which is larger than the number of battery cells 111 that can be monitored by a voltage detect portion 115, there is disposed a temperature detect element 113 for detecting the temperatures of the battery cell 112 not monitored by the voltage detect portion 115, and, when the temperatures of the battery cell 112 detected by the temperature detect element 113 rise beyond a given value, there is issued a signal to stop the charging of the battery pack.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 20, 2006
    Date of Patent: July 31, 2012
    Assignee: Hitachi Koki Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kazuhiko Funabashi, Nobuhiro Takano, Takao Aradachi
  • Patent number: 8231993
    Abstract: A multi-walled tubing assembly includes an outer corrugated tube and an inner tube received in the outer tube, and may receive an insert. The inner tube is made from a resilient material. The outer tube is structurally rigid. The insert may be plain and used in conjunction with one or more adhesives. The insert may include a section with barbs or teeth which, once inserted into the inner tube, engage with the corrugations of the outer tube. Some embodiments result in a good seal and mechanically fix the tubing assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 9, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 31, 2012
    Assignee: Deeya Energy, Inc.
    Inventors: Saroj Kumar Sahu, Suresh Kumar Natarajan, Bruce Conway
  • Patent number: 8231994
    Abstract: A battery cover mechanism used in a portable electronic device includes a housing, a battery cover and an operating member. The housing has a first surface, a receiving groove defined therefrom for receiving a battery and an elastic arm disposed thereon adjacent to the receiving groove. The battery cover is detachably mounted on the housing to cover the receiving groove and defines a notch therethrough. The operating assembly comprises a pedestal and an operating member. The pedestal is fixedly mounted on the battery cover and releasably resisted by the elastic arm. The operating member is rotatably assembled with the pedestal and accommodated within the corresponding notch of the battery cover so as to make the elastic arm release the pedestal to detach the battery cover from the housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 6, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 31, 2012
    Assignees: Shenzhen Futaihong Precision Industry Co., Ltd., FIH (Hong Kong) Limited
    Inventors: Ji Zhou, Yu Zhang
  • Patent number: 8231995
    Abstract: A goggle includes a lens assembly which comprises a front lens, a rear lens spaced apart from the front lens, and a liquid crystal device disposed on one of the lenses. The goggle includes a frame, which defines an aperture and a peripheral channel. The peripheral channel receives the front lens and the rear lens is positioned rearward of the channel so that the aperture receives the lens assembly. A power unit includes a battery and a drive circuit, wherein the drive circuit is connected to a pair of prongs that are electrically connectable to the liquid crystal device for operation thereof. The power unit provides a master switch connected to the battery to control application of power to the drive circuit, and a state change switch to control application of power from the drive circuit, through the prongs, to the liquid crystal device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 18, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 31, 2012
    Assignee: Alphamicron, Inc.
    Inventors: Eui-Yeul Park, Roy Miller, Tamas Kosa, Bahman Taheri
  • Patent number: 8231996
    Abstract: Methods of cooling a battery pack comprising a large number of cells are disclosed in various embodiments. In one embodiment, one or more low thermal resistance heat pipes are used to transfer heat away from the battery pack. In another embodiment, the heat pipes are coupled to a cold plate cooled by circulating liquid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 17, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 31, 2012
    Assignee: Atieva USA, Inc
    Inventors: Keith Howard, Sheau-Pyng Lin
  • Patent number: 8231997
    Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide an electrolyte membrane-electrode membrane assembly for a solid polymer fuel cell having superior characteristics, wherein a gas diffusion electrode membrane and a solid electrolyte membrane are well bonded, and electrode catalysts are uniformly-dispersed to obtain high electrode activity, a production method thereof and a fuel cell equipped therewith.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2006
    Date of Patent: July 31, 2012
    Assignee: Tokuyama Corporation
    Inventors: Hitoshi Matsuoka, Kenji Fukuta
  • Patent number: 8231998
    Abstract: A battery includes a first portion including a substrate having formed thereon a current collector and an anode electrode material. A second portion is formed on a substrate and includes a current collector and a cathode electrode material. The first portion is joined to the second portion and a separator is disposed between the first portion and the second portion as joined to separate the anode electrode material from the cathode electrode material. An electrolyte is placed in contact with the anode electrode material, the cathode electrode material and the separator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 31, 2012
    Assignee: The Regents of the University of Michigan
    Inventors: Ann M. Sastry, Fabio Albano
  • Patent number: 8231999
    Abstract: A separator having at least: a base material layer made of a microporous membrane of a polyolefin resin; and a functional resin layer which is made of a resin different from the polyolefin resin and has a porous interconnected structure in which many holes are mutually interconnected. A diameter of a narrowest portion of through-holes of said functional resin layer is larger than a diameter of a narrowest portion of through-holes of said base material layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 5, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 31, 2012
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Yukako Teshima, Atsushi Kajita, Hiroshi Imoto
  • Patent number: 8232000
    Abstract: A rechargeable battery 100 includes a plurality of electrode assemblies 10; a case 34 housing the electrode assemblies 10; at least one electrode terminal 21, 22, electrically connected to the electrode assemblies 10 by a lead tab 40, 50, the lead tab 50 including a terminal junction part 51; and a prong portion extending from the terminal junction plate, the prong portion comprising a plurality of prongs 53, 54, each of the prongs having a main body 53a electrically connected to one of the electrode assemblies 10 and an angled body 53b bent at one angle from the main body 53a.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 15, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 31, 2012
    Assignee: SB Limotive Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Sang-Won Byun, Yong-Sam Kim, Seok-Yoon Yoo, Young-Bong Choi, Sang-Jin Park
  • Patent number: 8232001
    Abstract: A battery pack including: a bare cell including an electrode assembly, and a can to house the electrode assembly; and a protective circuit board including a base plate, disposed on the can. The can includes a cap plate disposed in an opening thereof, including a first terminal that extends toward the protective circuit board. The protective circuit board includes a base plate, a first connection terminal connected to the first terminal, a second connection terminal connected to the cap plate, and a first opening corresponding to the first and second connection terminals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 31, 2012
    Assignee: Samsung SDI Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Bohyun Byun
  • Patent number: 8232002
    Abstract: The external terminal 19 has sword-guard portion 191 provided with a terminal portion 193 formed at one end thereof and a cylindrical crimping member 192 formed at another end thereof, the cylindrical crimping member 192 being inserted through openings each formed at a first insulating member 211, the opening-sealing plate 13, a second insulating member 212 and the collector 181, and being crimped in a diameter-enlarging direction, so that the sword-guard portion 191 of the external terminal 19, the opening-sealing plate 13 and the collector 181 are mechanically-fixed and a thin-walled portion made thinner than other portions formed in a tip portion of the cylindrical crimping member 192 is adhered to the collector, and the thin-walled portion 194 and the collector being welded with a high energy beam.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 31, 2012
    Assignee: SANYO Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yasuhiro Yamauchi, Kenji Nansaka, Toshiyuki Nohma
  • Patent number: 8232003
    Abstract: A storage battery is provided comprising a positive electrode of lead, a negative electrode of palladium, and an electrolyte consisting of an aqueous solution of at least one sulfate salt. Upon charging, lead is converted to lead dioxide and atomic hydrogen is absorbed by the palladium. During discharge, lead dioxide is reduced to the plumbous state and hydrogen is oxidized to hydrogen ions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 14, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 31, 2012
    Inventor: John E. Stauffer
  • Patent number: 8232004
    Abstract: A power storage device has a stack including positive electrodes and negative electrodes that are stacked on top of each other with electrolytes interposed in-between. A positioning member is inserted into a positioning hole that is formed in the stack so as to penetrate the stack in the stacking direction. A terminal portion is formed at an end of the positioning member in the inserting direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 23, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 31, 2012
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Izumi Takahashi
  • Patent number: 8232005
    Abstract: A hybrid lead acid electric storage battery uses conventional lead-acid secondary battery chemistry. The battery is a sealed battery or an unsealed battery. The battery has a set of positive battery grids (plates) having cores of thin titanium expanded metal with a thickness, if flattened, preferably in the range 0.2 mm to 0.7 mm and most preferably 0.3 mm to 0.4 mm. The grid cores are of a titanium alloy containing a platinum group metal. The cores are coated with hot dip lead and are not lead electroplated. The negative plates are carbon based assemblies. Each such assembly has a metal core, preferably a sheet of expanded copper, a corrosion shield sealing the metal core, and an outer layer primarily of activated carbon covering the shield.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 31, 2012
    Inventor: Eliot Gerber
  • Patent number: 8232006
    Abstract: A lead-acid battery comprising: at least one lead-based negative electrode; at least one lead dioxide-based positive electrode; at least one capacitor electrode; and electrolyte in contact with the electrodes; wherein a battery part is formed by the lead based negative electrode and the lead dioxide-based positive electrode; and an asymmetric capacitor part is formed by the capacitor electrode and one electrode selected from the lead based negative electrode and the lead-dioxide based positive electrode; and wherein all negative electrodes are connected to a negative busbar, and all positive electrodes are connected to a positive busbar. The capacitor electrode may be a capacitor negative electrode comprising carbon and an additive mixture selected from oxides, hydroxides or sulfates of lead, zinc, cadmium, silver and bismuth, or a capacitor negative electrode comprising carbon, red lead, antimony in oxide, hydroxide or sulfate form, and optionally other additives.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 1, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 31, 2012
    Assignee: Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation
    Inventors: Lan Trieu Lam, Nigel Peter Haigh, Christopher G Phyland, David Anthony James Rand
  • Patent number: 8232007
    Abstract: Subfluorinated carbonaceous materials obtained through direct fluorination of graphite or coke particles are provided. One set of subfluorinated carbonaceous materials has an average chemical composition CFx in which 0.63<x?0.95, 0.66<x?0.95 or 0.7<x?0.95. The subfluorinated carbonaceous materials are capable of electrochemical performance superior to commercial CF at relatively high rates of discharge.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 21, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 31, 2012
    Assignees: California Institute of Technology, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (C.N.R.S.), Universite Blaise Pascal
    Inventors: Rachid Yazami, André Hamwi
  • Patent number: 8232008
    Abstract: An electrode body of a secondary battery is formed by superimposing a positive electrode and a negative electrode upon each other with a belt-shaped separator interposed between the electrodes, and rolling up the positive and negative electrodes and the separator into a spiral shape. At least one side edge of a positive electrode current collector of the positive electrode in the longitudinal direction thereof includes a plurality of step parts discontinuously formed in the longitudinal direction at unequal intervals, and extends at both sides of each step part with a deviation of 0.2 mm or more. At least one side edge of a negative electrode current collector of the negative electrode in the longitudinal direction thereof includes a plurality of step parts discontinuously formed in the longitudinal direction at unequal intervals, and extends on both sides of each step part with a deviation of 0.2 mm or more.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 31, 2012
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventors: Hideaki Morishima, Seiichi Hikata
  • Patent number: 8232009
    Abstract: An electrode laminate unit of an electric storage device includes positive electrodes, negative electrodes and a lithium electrode connected to the negative electrode. When an electrolyte solution is injected into the electric storage device, lithium ions are emitted from the lithium electrode to the negative electrode. A positive and a negative electrode current collector have through-holes that guide the lithium ions in the laminating direction. The aperture ratio of the through-holes at the edge parts where the electrolyte solution is easy to be permeated is set to be smaller than the aperture ratio at central parts in order to suppress the permeation. Thus, the distribution of the electrolyte solution is made uniform, whereby the doping amount is made uniform.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 21, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 31, 2012
    Assignee: Fuji Jukogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Nobuo Ando, Mitsuru Nagai, Takashi Utsunomiya, Ken Baba
  • Patent number: 8232010
    Abstract: A process for the production of hydrogen for micro fuel cells, comprises the successive steps of: continuously supplying a catalytic bed with an aqueous solution of sodium borohydride, the catalytic bed being made of at least one metal chosen among cobalt, nickel, platinum, ruthenium with obtainment of hydrogen and of a by-product comprising sodium metaborate, continuously recovering the hydrogen thus obtained and supplying, with said hydrogen as it is as obtained, a micro fuel cell which transforms hydrogen into electric energy. An apparatus provides continuous supply of hydrogen to a micro fuel cell. An integrated system structured for continuously producing and supplying hydrogen to a micro fuel cell and for converting the continuously supplied hydrogen into electric energy.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 5, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 31, 2012
    Assignee: STMicroelectronics S.r.l.
    Inventors: Roberta Giuffrida, Marco Antonio Salanitri, Giuseppe Emanuele Spoto, Stefania Calamia, Salvatore Leonardi, Salvatore Coffa, Roberta Zito
  • Patent number: 8232011
    Abstract: One aspect of the invention includes the discovery that pinholes in the membrane of the membrane electrode assembly may be caused by hygroexpansive ratcheting. In one embodiment of the invention, a fuel cell stack including a plurality of cells each having a membrane electrode assembly each including a membrane manufactured by an extrusion method and operated so that the rate of drying during humidity cycling is sufficiently low to reduce or eliminate build up stresses in the membrane electrode assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 20, 2006
    Date of Patent: July 31, 2012
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Michael K. Budinski, Craig S. Gittleman, Yeh-Hung Lai, Christopher Lewis, Daniel Miller
  • Patent number: 8232012
    Abstract: The invention pertains to a process for operating a polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cell (PEMFC), said PEMFC comprising: (a) a membrane comprising at least one fluorinated ionomer [polymer (I)] comprising recurring units derived from tetrafluoroethylene (TFE) and from at least one monomer of formula (M): wherein m is an integer between 1 and 6 and X? is chosen among halogens (Cl, F, Br, I), —O?M+, wherein M+ is a cation selected among H+, NH4+, K+, Li+, Na+, or mixtures thereof, said polymer (I) having an equivalent weight (EW) of from 700 to 850 g/eq.; (b) a cathode; (c) an anode; said process comprising: (i) feeding gaseous reactants at the electrodes at a relative humidity of at most 66%; (ii) maintaining an average current density between 0.05 and 1.5 A/cm2; and (iii) maintaining an average temperature of more than 65° C.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 31, 2012
    Assignee: Solvay Solexis S.p.A.
    Inventors: Vincenzo Arcella, Alessandro Ghielmi, Luca Merlo
  • Patent number: 8232013
    Abstract: A fuel cell system has a purge valve that adjusts the amount of nitrogen in a hydrogen circulation channel and a fuel electrode to be discharged through a discharge channel. A purge rate correcting unit variably sets a target control value of the nitrogen content in the hydrogen circulation channel and the fuel electrode by taking into account whether a driving mode is set in a normal power generation mode or an idle mode. An opening of the purge valve is controlled on the basis of the target control value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 31, 2012
    Assignee: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hitoshi Igarashi, Kenichi Goto, Kenji Yonekura, Kazuo Saito, Takashi Iimori, Ryoichi Shimoi, Yohei Kaneko
  • Patent number: 8232014
    Abstract: A method for reducing the probability of an air/hydrogen front in a fuel cell stack is disclosed that includes closing anode valves for an anode side of the fuel cell stack to permit a desired quantity of hydrogen to be left in the anode side upon shutdown and determining a schedule to inject hydrogen during the time the fuel cell stack is shutdown. The pressure on an anode input line is determined and a discrete amount of hydrogen is injected into the anode side of the stack according to the determined schedule by opening anode input line valves based on the determined pressure along the anode input line so as to inject the hydrogen into the anode side of the stack.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 31, 2012
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: David A. Arthur, Dieter Kaimann, Thomas W. Tighe, Steven G. Goebel, John P. Salvador, Gary M. Robb, Daniel I. Harris, Joseph Nicholas Lovria, Balasubramanian Lakshmanan, Daniel T. Folmsbee
  • Patent number: 8232015
    Abstract: The present invention provides membrane cassettes and stacks thereof which are suitable for a use in a variety of electrochemical and ion exchange applications. The present invention also provides methods of manufacturing the membrane cassettes and stacks of the invention. In certain preferred embodiments, the invention provides cassettes and stacks which are suitable for use in fuel cell applications.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 6, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 31, 2012
    Assignee: Protonex Technology Corporation
    Inventors: Paul Osenar, Paul Sabin, Mohammad Enayetullah, Richard M. Formato
  • Patent number: 8232016
    Abstract: To mitigate bubble blockage in water passageways (78, 85), in or near reactant gas flow field plates (74, 81) of fuel cells (38), passageways are configured with (a) intersecting polygons, obtuse angles including triangles, trapezoids, or (b) hydrophobic surfaces (111), or (c) differing adjacent channels (127, 128), or (d) water permeable layers (93, 115, 116, 119) adjacent to water channels or hydrophobic/hydrophilic layers (114, 120).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 31, 2012
    Assignee: UTC Power Corporation
    Inventors: Robert M. Darling, Evan C. Rege, Ryan J. Balliet, Jeremy P. Meyers, Craig E. Evans, Thomas D. Jarvi
  • Patent number: 8232017
    Abstract: A fuel cell stack is disclosed including a non-fuel cell cassette having temperature sensing elements disposed therein. The temperature sensing elements are disposed in one or more void spaces in the non-fuel cell cassette, which void spaces are connected to openings in the side of the non-fuel cell cassette for lead wires to communicate information from the temperature sensing elements to components outside of the fuel cell stack.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 27, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 31, 2012
    Assignee: Delphi Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Karl J. Haltiner, Jr., Stefan M. Maczynski, Peter E. Hendler
  • Patent number: 8232018
    Abstract: A fuel cell system that employs a technique for nitrogen bleeding. The fuel cell system includes a fuel cell stack having a first sub-stack and a second sub-stack, where the hydrogen gas flow is flow-shifted between the sub-stacks. A first nitrogen bleed valve is provided in an anode gas input line coupled to the first sub-stack and a second nitrogen bleed valve is provided in an anode gas input line coupled to the second sub-stack. When the first sub-stack is receiving the anode gas, and a nitrogen bleed is requested, the first bleed valve is closed and the second bleed valve is opened to provide the nitrogen bleeding. When the second sub-stack is receiving the anode gas, and a nitrogen bleed is requested, the second bleed valve is closed and the first bleed valve is opened to provide the nitrogen bleed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 31, 2012
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: David A. Arthur, Abdullah B. Alp
  • Patent number: 8232019
    Abstract: The present invention provides a technology related to a fuel cell system capable of adjusting a discharge amount of an odorant discharged to an outside of a moving body according to a state of the moving body. The fuel cell system mounted to a moving body includes: a fuel cell which generates electric power by electrochemically reacting a hydrogen gas with an oxidation gas; and a adjusting portion which adjusts an amount of an odorant to be discharged to an outside of the moving body according to a state of the moving body, the odorant being included in an anode off-gas discharged from an anode side of the fuel cell.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 4, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 31, 2012
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Keigo Suematsu, Tatsuaki Yokoyama, Shuji Hirakata, Takahide Izutani, Atsushi Matsuba, Katsuhiko Oshikawa
  • Patent number: 8232020
    Abstract: An interconnector is made of ferritic chromium steel, on which a cupriferous layer is disposed. This layer prevents interdiffusion between the chromium steel and additional components with which the interconnector has direct contact. According to the state of the art, such diffusion occurs particularly if these additional components contain nickel. In addition, the interconnector may comprise a chromium-containing oxide layer as a barrier against interdiffusion. For this purpose, the interconnector steel can also be preoxidized before applying the cupriferous layer. The interconnector has a significantly longer service life than interconnectors according to the state of the art, and it has improved electrical conductivity because the electrical contact surface thereof is free of oxides and has high transverse conductivity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 18, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 31, 2012
    Assignee: Forschungszentrum Juelich GmbH
    Inventors: Leszek Niewolak, Willem J. Quadakkers, Lorenz Singheiser
  • Patent number: 8232021
    Abstract: A fuel cell stack including an electricity generating unit for generating electrical energy by electrochemically reacting a fuel and an oxidizing agent, the electricity generating unit including: a first separator; a second separator; a membrane electrode assembly (MEA) between the first separator and the second separator, each of the first and second separators including a channel on a surface facing the MEA and a manifold in the surface facing the MEA, the manifold communicating with the channel; and a gasket, positioned at an outer circumference portion of an area where the MEA is positioned, for sealing a space between the first and second separators and for covering an open area of a channel extension area of at least one of the first and second separators where the manifold communicates with the channel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 31, 2012
    Assignee: Samsung SDI Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Jun-Won Suh, Young-Seung Na, Keun-Yong Lee, Sung-Won Jeong, Chan-Gyun Shin, Kyoung-Hwan Choi, Sang-Kyun Kang
  • Patent number: 8232022
    Abstract: A clamping structure for a planar solid oxide fuel cell stack comprising a flexible sheet and a rigid, thermally insulating end block, the flexible sheet being capable of bending into a primarily convex shape, the rigid, thermally insulating end block shaped as a rectangular base with a planar surface and an opposing surface that is primarily convex in shape, the flexible sheet being placed adjacent to the opposing surface of the rigid, thermally insulating end block, the flexible sheet thereby bending to obtain a shape that is primarily convex. The invention also relates to a solid oxide fuel cell stack and a process for the compression of the stack.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 31, 2012
    Assignee: Topsoe Fuel Cell A/S
    Inventor: Niels Erikstrup
  • Patent number: 8232023
    Abstract: A fuel cell including a power generating body including an electrolyte layer and electrode layers, diffusion layers disposed on opposite major surfaces of the power generating body, separators disposed on major surfaces of the diffusion layers opposite to those facing the power generating body, a first seal formed around the periphery of the power generating body and including an effective seal portion that suppresses leakage of the gas to the outside of the fuel cell between the separators, and a second seal formed integrally with at least one of the diffusion layers to extend along an end face of the diffusion layer. The second seal is in intimate contact with a surface of the power generating body on which the diffusion layer is laminated and a surface of a corresponding one of the separators that is laminated on the diffusion layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 31, 2012
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Naohiro Takeshita, Fumishige Shizuku
  • Patent number: 8232024
    Abstract: A gasket formed of compressible material and having a first sealing surface and a second sealing surface for providing a fluid seal between a first component and a second component, a plurality of cavities provided within the gasket proximate the first and/or second sealing surfaces and extending over at least a first portion of the gasket to provide increased compressibility of the gasket in the first portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 1, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 31, 2012
    Assignee: Intelligent Energy Limited
    Inventors: Peter D. Hood, Simon E. Foster
  • Patent number: 8232025
    Abstract: An electrochemical cell structure has an electrical current-carrying structure which, at least in part, underlies an electrochemical reaction layer. The cell comprises an ion exchange membrane with a catalyst layer on each side thereof. The ion exchange membrane may comprise, for example, a proton exchange membrane. Some embodiments of the invention provide electrochemical cell layers which have a plurality of individual unit cells formed on a sheet of ion exchange membrane material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 31, 2012
    Assignee: Société BIC
    Inventors: Gerard F. McLean, Anna Stukas, Jeremy Schrooten
  • Patent number: 8232026
    Abstract: In one embodiment, an electrochemical cell such as a fuel cell is provided to include a bipolar plate. The bipolar plate includes a metal substrate defining at least one flow channel having a channel span of no greater than 1.0 millimeter; and the metal substrate includes a stainless steel material less precious than stainless steel SS316L. In certain instances, the channel span is of 0.7 to 0.9 millimeters. In certain other instances, the flow channel has a channel depth of 0.3 to 0.5 millimeters. In yet other instances, the plate substrate includes stainless steel SS301, stainless steel SS302, or combinations thereof. In another embodiment, the electrochemical cell further includes a gas diffusion layer disposed next to the bipolar plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 31, 2012
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Atul Kumar, Mark Stephens Ricketts, Shinichi Hirano
  • Patent number: 8232027
    Abstract: A hydrogen-permeable structure is disclosed, which includes a hydrogen-permeable base in which a fluctuation range of a d value by X-ray analysis measurement is at most 0.05% in a region within 2 ?m deep from a surface, and an oxide proton conductive film formed on a surface thereof. The disclosure also relates to a method of manufacturing the hydrogen-permeable structure and a fuel cell using the hydrogen-permeable structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 15, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 31, 2012
    Assignees: Sumitomo Electric Industries, Ltd., Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Osamu Mizuno, Ryoko Kanda, Jin-Joo Park, Satoshi Aoyama, Naoki Ito
  • Patent number: 8232028
    Abstract: An optical medium is provided. The optical medium comprises: a diffusion-controlling matrix framework; at least one photoactive monomer attached to the diffusion-controlling matrix framework in a first state of the optical medium, wherein the at least one photoactive monomer is released from the diffusion-controlling matrix framework by photo cleavage, producing a second state of the optical medium, in which diffusion of the photoactive monomer through the optical medium is possible; and wherein the at least one photoactive monomer is then polymerized or reattached to the diffusion-controlling matrix, giving a third state of the optical medium, when exposed to photo-polymerizing light.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 31, 2012
    Assignee: Inphase Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: Fredric R. Askham
  • Patent number: 8232029
    Abstract: A method of correcting patterns includes attaining a correcting amount distribution map using a photo mask, the photo mask including a transparent substrate having first and second surfaces opposite to each other and a mask pattern on the first surface, attaining a plurality of shadowing maps based on the correction amount distribution map, each of the shadowing maps including a unit section having a different plane area, and forming a plurality of shadowing regions with shadowing elements in the transparent substrate of the photo mask using respective shadowing maps.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 31, 2012
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: MyoungSoo Lee, Byunggook Kim
  • Patent number: 8232030
    Abstract: Present embodiments are directed to the improvement of flexible imaging members used in electrophotography. More particularly, embodiments pertain to a structurally simplified curl-free flexible electrophotographic imaging member without the need for an anticurl back coating, having a functionally improved top outermost exposed slippery imaging layer which furthers extends service life, and provides a process for making and using the member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 31, 2012
    Assignee: Xerox Corporation
    Inventors: Robert C. U. Yu, Yuhua Tong, Stephen T. Avery