Patents Issued in March 4, 2014
  • Patent number: 8663839
    Abstract: An electrode binder composition is used to produce an electrode used for an electrical storage device, and includes (A) a polymer, (B) a compound represented by the following general formula (1), and (C) a liquid medium, the polymer (A) being fluorine-containing polymer particles or diene polymer particles, and a concentration of the compound (B) in the electrode binder composition being 5 to 500 ppm. wherein R1 and R2 independently represent a hydrogen atom, a halogen atom, or a monovalent alkyl group, and n is an integer from 0 to 5.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 13, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2014
    Assignee: JSR Corporation
    Inventors: Maki Maegawa, Tatsuaki Honda, Tatsuya Abe, Hiroyuki Miyauchi
  • Patent number: 8663840
    Abstract: Methods of making a cathode element for an electrochemical cell. The methods comprise providing hollow carbon nanotubes and a sulfur source in a closed environment. Sulfur is deposited within an interior of the hollow carbon nanotube. The method includes cleaning an exterior surface of the carbon nanotubes and incorporating the carbon nanotubes into a cathode element. A cathodic material for a lithium-sulfur electrochemical cell is also provided. The material comprises a plurality of stacked-cone carbon nanotubes. Each nanotube defines a hollow interior and has a substantially continuous exterior surface area. Elemental sulfur is disposed within the hollow interior of each nanotube.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 12, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2014
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Gholam-Abbas Nazri, David Burton, Maryam Nazri, Patrick D. Lake, Andrew Palmer, Max L. Lake
  • Patent number: 8663841
    Abstract: A power storage device in which charge capacity and discharge capacity are high and deterioration in battery characteristics due to charge/discharge is small is provided. A power storage device in which charge capacity and discharge capacity are high and output characteristics are excellent is provided. A power storage device in which charge capacity and discharge capacity are high and cycle characteristics are excellent is provided. A power storage device includes a negative electrode. The negative electrode includes a current collector, an active material including a plurality of protrusions protruding from the current collector and an outer shell in contact with and attached to surfaces of the plurality of protrusions, and graphene in contact with and attached to the outer shell. Axes of the plurality of protrusions are oriented in the same direction. A common portion may be provided between the current collector and the plurality of protrusions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2014
    Assignee: Semiconductor Energy Laboratory Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Ryota Tajima, Takeshi Osada
  • Patent number: 8663842
    Abstract: Silver positive electrode for alkali secondary batteries having an enhanced cycling capability, and consequently a longer lifetime in cycling of the storage batteries incorporating it, by optimizing, in recharge mode, the conditions for electrochemically reducing the oxidized silver species. The silver electrode according to the invention is of the plasticized type, and a high-porosity collector, such as a woven fabric, a felt or a reticulated cellular metal foam, is used. The active compound introduced into the collector is prepared in paste form, in which the active material consists of metallic silver particles and/or silver monoxide particles, and may advantageously include a metal oxide acting as pore-forming and wetting agent for the electrode. Such an electrode is particularly intended for mounting in silver-zinc storage batteries operating in open mode or sealed mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 5, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2014
    Assignee: S.C.P.S. Societe de Conseil et de Prospective Scientifique, S.A.
    Inventors: Bernard Bugnet, Denis Doniat, Fabrice Fourgeot, Robert Rouget
  • Patent number: 8663843
    Abstract: A lithium secondary battery (10) provided by the present invention has an iron oxide film-coated electrode employing a configuration in which an iron oxide film (144) capable of reversibly absorbing and desorbing lithium is retained on an electrically conductive base (142). The electrically conductive base (142) has a roughened surface having a surface roughness Rz of 3 ?m or more, and the iron oxide film (144) is provided on the roughened surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 16, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2014
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Hideki Nakayama, Noritoshi Kasama
  • Patent number: 8663844
    Abstract: The present disclosure describes a rechargeable zinc ion battery, in which anodic zinc will be electrochemically dissolved as Zn2+ ions, diffuses to the cathodic electrode/electrolyte interface through the electrolyte, and zinc ions are subsequently intercalated into manganese dioxide during discharging. In charging, above-mentioned process will be reversed. The rechargeable zinc ion battery comprises a cathode formed from a compressed mixture of alpha manganese dioxide particles, electrically conductive particles and one or more binder(s); a zinc anode separated from cathode; an aqueous electrolyte contains zinc ions in which the pH value may be controlled between 4 and 7.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 17, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2014
    Assignee: Graduate School at Shenzhen, Tsinghua University
    Inventors: Feiyu Kang, Chengjun Xu, Baohua Li, Hongda Du
  • Patent number: 8663845
    Abstract: A secondary-battery current collector comprising an aluminum foil and a film containing an ion-permeable compound and carbon fine particles formed thereon or a secondary-battery current collector comprising an aluminum foil, a film containing an ion-permeable compound and carbon fine particles formed thereon as the lower layer, and a film containing a binder, carbon fine particles and a cathodic electroactive material formed thereon as the upper layer, a production method of the same, and a secondary battery having the current collector are provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 10, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2014
    Assignee: Showa Denko K.K.
    Inventor: Masahiro Ohmori
  • Patent number: 8663846
    Abstract: Composite cathode active materials having a large diameter active material and a small diameter active material are provided. The ratio of the average particle diameter of the large diameter active material to the average particle diameter of the small diameter active material ranges from about 6:1 to about 100:1. Mixing the large and small diameter active materials in a proper weight ratio improves packing density Additionally, including highly stable materials and highly conductive materials in the composite cathode active materials improves volume density, discharge capacity and high rate discharge capacity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2014
    Assignee: Samsung SDI Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Young-min Choi, Kyung-ho Kim, Gue-sung Kim
  • Patent number: 8663847
    Abstract: It is an object of the present invention to provide a positive electrode material having a large ratio of the discharge capacity around 4 V to the total discharge capacity including the discharge capacity at 4V or lower while making the discharge capacity around 4 V sufficient, for the purpose of providing a lithium secondary battery using a lithium transition metal phosphate compound excellent in thermal stability, utilizing the discharge potential around 4V (vs. Li/Li+) that is higher than the discharge potential of LiFePO4, and being advantageous with respect to the detection of the end of discharge state, and a lithium secondary battery using the same. The present invention uses a positive active material for a lithium secondary battery containing a lithium transition metal phosphate compound represented by LiMn1-x-yFexCoyPO4(0.1?x?0.2, 0<y?0.2).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 27, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2014
    Assignee: GS Yuasa International Ltd.
    Inventors: Yuta Kashiwa, Mariko Kohmoto, Toru Tabuchi, Tokuo Inamasu, Toshiyuki Nukuda
  • Patent number: 8663848
    Abstract: Disclosed is a C2/m-structured cathode material for a lithium-ion battery. The cathode material includes a lithium transition metal oxide represented by a formula of: Li(LiwNixCoyMnz)O2, wherein w+x+y+z=1, 0.42?z?0.60, 0.30?x+y?0.55, any of w, x, and y is larger than 0, and the cathode material having a single-phase structure with a space group of C2/m. A lithium-ion battery containing the C2/m-structured cathode material is also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2014
    Assignees: LICO Technology Corp., Academia Sinica
    Inventors: Maw-Kuen Wu, Tzu-Wen Huang, Horng-Yi Tang, Hua-Shu Chang, Chui-Chang Chiu, Kuo-Wei Yeh, Chung-Chieh Chang
  • Patent number: 8663849
    Abstract: Lithium ion battery positive electrode material are described that comprise an active composition comprising lithium metal oxide coated with an inorganic coating composition wherein the coating composition comprises a metal chloride, metal bromide, metal iodide, or combinations thereof. Desirable performance is observed for these coated materials. In particular, the non-fluoride metal halide coatings are useful for stabilizing lithium rich metal oxides.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2014
    Assignee: Envia Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Subramanian Venkatachalam, Deepak Kumaar Kandasamy Karthikeyan, Herman A. Lopez
  • Patent number: 8663850
    Abstract: A nonaqueous electrolyte battery includes a negative electrode and a nonaqueous electrolyte. The negative electrode comprises an active material having a lithium ion insertion potential of 0.4V (vs Li/Li+) or more, a conductive agent and a current collector. The nonaqueous electrolyte contains first sultones having an unsaturated hydrocarbon group. A diameter distribution of pores of the negative electrode when measured by mercury porosimetry has a first peak having a mode diameter of 0.01 to 0.2 ?m and a second peak having a mode diameter of 0.003 to 0.02 ?m. A volume of pores having a diameter of 0.01 to 0.2 ?m and a volume of pores having a diameter of 0.003 to 0.02 ?m, which are measured by the mercury porosimetery, are 0.05 to 0.5 mL and 0.0001 to 0.02 mL, respectively, per g of the negative electrode excluding the current collector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2014
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventors: Hiroki Inagaki, Hidesato Saruwatari, Yumi Fujita, Norio Takami
  • Patent number: 8663851
    Abstract: A fuel cell system includes a plurality of solid oxide fuel cells arranged in a fuel cell stack, an integrated heat exchanger/reformer operable to partially reform an anode feed prior to entry into the fuel cell stack, an anode tailgas oxidizer, and an offgas flow path extending away from an anode side of the fuel cell stack and having a first branch to selectively combine offgas from the anode side of the fuel cell stack with fuel from a fuel source to comprise the anode feed to the fuel cell stack and a second branch to supply offgas from the anode side of the fuel cell stack to the anode tailgas oxidizer. The integrated heat exchanger/reformer transfers heat from the oxidized offgas from the anode tailgas oxidizer to the anode feed before the anode feed enters the anode side of the fuel cell stack. The offgas from the anode tailgas oxidizer provides the sole heat source for the anode feed traveling through the integrated heat exchanger/reformer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2014
    Assignee: Modine Manufacturing Company
    Inventor: Jeroen Valensa
  • Patent number: 8663852
    Abstract: An aerobic microbial fuel cell anode electrode, a fuel cell using the anode, and methods of use. An anode electrode having a conductive exterior surface and having sufficient porosity to allow a fuel-bearing liquid flowing in a cavity within the anode to escape and to supply fuel to a biologically active microbe film grown on the exterior of the anode is situated in the fuel cell. When operated in an aerobic environment, such as water, the anode and a cathode can supply electrical power to a load without the need for a semi-permeable membrane between the anode and the cathode. Several embodiments in which the anode electrode is machined from a graphite block or cylinder are described. Conditions for growing the biologically active film and for operating the fuel cell are described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2014
    Assignee: University of Massachusetts
    Inventors: Kelly Nevin, Derek Lovley
  • Patent number: 8663854
    Abstract: The subject of the present invention is a fuel cell system having at least one fuel cell which has an anode, a cathode, and a membrane element. Two electrode chambers are disposed in the fuel cell, and the electrode chambers are an anode chamber and a cathode chamber. An educt flows into the anode chamber and into the cathode chamber by means of a respective incoming stream. According to the invention, it is provided that at least one compensation region is disposed on the end of the membrane element and serves solely to moisten and/or temper at least one of the incoming streams.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 7, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2014
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Florian Wahl, Sebastian Maass, Uwe Limbeck
  • Patent number: 8663855
    Abstract: A hydrogen-air fuel cell having a mobile element capable of, in closed position, covering the cell cathode in substantially tight fashion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2014
    Assignees: STMicroelectronics (Tours) SAS, Commissariat à l'Energie Atomique et aux Énergies Alternatives
    Inventors: Mathieu Roy, Jean-Yves Laurent
  • Patent number: 8663856
    Abstract: A fuel cell stack is provided having a plurality of unit cells stacked in a horizontal direction. Each unit cell includes an electrolyte membrane having two surfaces and a peripheral edge, electrodes provided on both surfaces of the electrolyte membrane, frame-shaped members provided on both surfaces of the electrolyte membrane adjacent to the respective electrodes and adjacent the peripheral edge of the electrolyte membrane, separators provided on the electrodes and the frame-shaped members and having a reactant gas passage for supplying a reactant gas to each of the electrodes, and a manifold formed in the stacking direction in fluid communication with the reactant gas passage. The manifold includes a horizontal edge portion in fluid communication with the reactant gas passage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2014
    Assignee: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Fumio Kagami, Motoharu Obika
  • Patent number: 8663857
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for producing a continuous flow of hydrogen by catalyzed hydrolysis of a complex hydride, which comprises at least adding continuously and at constant rate a fuel solution to a reactor comprising a complex hydride stabilized on a hydroxide on a cobalt boride catalyst that is added in excess inside said reactor. Sodium borohydride is preferably used, the hydroxide is sodium hydroxide and the catalyst is supported on nickel foam. Parameters and optimal conditions to achieve continuous production of hydrogen have been determined, which is essential in the operation of fuel cells. A facility comprising a semi continuous reactor designed to perform the above process, which needs no refrigeration is also an object of the present invention, as well as a washing and reactivation process of a catalyst of the type used in the process mentioned above.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 7, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2014
    Assignee: Abengoa Hidrogeno, S.A.
    Inventors: María de los Ángeles Jiménez Domínguez, María del Mar Jiménez Vega, Belén Sarmiento Marrón, Asunción Fernández Camacho, Gisela Mariana Arzac De Calvo, Enrique Jiménez Roca
  • Patent number: 8663858
    Abstract: A fuel cell system which prevents the deterioration of the fuel cell stack when feeding of the oxidant gas is paused under a load to perform a fuel conservation operation. Controller shuts down oxidant gas compressor and cooling water circulating pump to execute fuel conservation operation at a low fuel cell system load. The controller gives a current draw instruction to electric power controller. In the fuel conservation operation, electric power controller draws a current larger than zero from fuel cell stack, and keeps the total charge drawn per unit time constant or substantially constant.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 18, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2014
    Assignee: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yoshitaka Ono, Takahiro Fujii, Takashi Iimori, Akira Matsunaga, Ryoichi Shimoi, Kazuo Saito, Hitoshi Igarashi
  • Patent number: 8663859
    Abstract: A method of operating a fuel cell electrochemical system includes receiving at least one of a cost of electricity and a cost of fuel and adjusting at least one of an operating efficiency and throughput of the fuel cell based on the at least one of the received cost of electricity and the received cost of fuel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 21, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2014
    Assignee: Bloom Energy Corporation
    Inventors: Fred Mitlitsky, K. R. Sridhar, Matthias Gottmann, Swaminathan Venkataraman
  • Patent number: 8663860
    Abstract: Disclosed is a fuel cell system which includes a fuel cell having an anode and a cathode and for producing electricity through reaction between the fuel gas and the oxidant gas, a fuel gas supply path through which the fuel gas passes, an oxidant gas supply path through which the oxidant gas passes, a voltage sensing device for detecting voltage produced by the fuel cell during power generation, and a decision device for determining whether or not cross leakage occurs between the anode and the cathode of the fuel cell, based on voltage information sent from the voltage sensing device. Moreover, the decision device determines that the cross leakage occurs between the anode and the cathode, if the voltage produced by the fuel cell is less than a predetermined value during the power generation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2014
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Takatsugu Koyama, Mitsunori Matsumoto, Akio Yamamoto, Hiroyuki Tanaka, Seiji Tonegawa, Nobutaka Nakajima, Shinjiro Morita
  • Patent number: 8663861
    Abstract: The amount of fuel supplied to a fuel cell is set to a second set value Qm2 smaller than a first set value Qm1 determined based on a load. Then, an output current Ifcr of the fuel cell with the fuel supply amount set to the second set value Qm2 is detected. The output current Ifcr is compared with a reference value Iref for determining mild deterioration to determine whether the fuel cell has deteriorated from the comparison result. If a determination that the fuel cell has deteriorated is made, the fuel supply amount is reset to a third set value Qm3 larger than the second set value Qm2.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 24, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2014
    Assignee: Panasonic Corporation
    Inventors: Masaki Mitsui, Takashi Akiyama
  • Patent number: 8663862
    Abstract: An FC voltage increasing converter includes a plurality of converter parts having reactors. Regarding the first of the plurality of converter parts provided with a thermistor, the output starts to be limited when the temperature detected by the thermistor reaches a limitation starting temperature, which is obtained based on a reference heat-resistant temperature, which is obtained by subtracting an error of the thermistor from a specification heat-resistant temperature of each of the reactors. Meanwhile, regarding the second, third and fourth of the plurality of converter parts not provided with thermistors, the outputs start to be limited when the temperature detected by the thermistor reaches a limitation starting temperature obtained based on an allowable temperature, which is obtained by subtracting a characteristic-variation temperature of the reactor from the reference heat-resistant temperature of the reactor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 13, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2014
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Hiroyuki Imanishi, Kota Manabe
  • Patent number: 8663863
    Abstract: An interconnect for a fuel cell is made of pressed metal sheet. The interconnect integrates inlets and outlets, flow distributing inlet and outlet-zones seal surfaces and flow paths on both sides of the interconnect all formed and defined by discrete point or oblong protrusions made by the deformation of the sheet. A protrusion on one side of the interconnect corresponds to an indentation on the other side, but since the interconnect consists of three levels, the first side of the interconnect can be designed substantially independently of the second side.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 19, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2014
    Assignee: Topsoe Fuel Cell A/S
    Inventor: Niels Erikstrup
  • Patent number: 8663864
    Abstract: In a fuel cell stack having a plurality of fuel cell units, which are arranged consecutively in a stacking direction, wherein each of the fuel cell units comprises a housing with at least one housing part made of a metallic material, which has an adequate electrical insulation effect and an adequate mechanical strength at a high operating temperature of the fuel cell stack, a sealing assembly is provided and comprises at least one intermediate element made of a metallic material, wherein the intermediate element is soldered to a housing part of a first fuel cell unit at at least one location by a metal solder and is secured to a housing part of a second fuel cell unit at at least another location, wherein the intermediate element and/or the housing part of the first fuel cell unit is provided with a coating made of a ceramic material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 3, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2014
    Assignee: ElringKlinger AG
    Inventors: Hans-Rainer Zerfass, Armin Diez, Peter Schenk, Wolfgang Fritz, Peter Lamp, Manfred Wier, Joachim Tachtler
  • Patent number: 8663865
    Abstract: A method of manufacturing a fuel cell includes the steps of: (a) providing an extendable stacking reference member structured to extend and contract in a stacking direction; (b) arranging the stacking reference member in an extended setting via a first opening, such that one end of the stacking reference member is located inside a casing body and the other end of the stacking reference member is located outside the casing body; (c) after the step (b), mounting a plurality of cells of a cell laminate on the stacking reference member in a direction from inside to outside of the casing body; (d) contracting the stacking reference member and compressing the mounted cell laminate in the stacking direction, so as to locate the stacking reference member and the cell laminate inside the casing body of the fuel cell; and (e) after the step (d), attaching an end wall member to a first wall member to close the first opening and maintaining the cell laminate under a load in the stacking direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2014
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Kazuhiro Watanabe, Takuji Nagano
  • Patent number: 8663866
    Abstract: A proton exchange membrane and a membrane electrode assembly for an electrochemical cell such as a fuel cell are provided. A catalytically active component is disposed within the membrane electrode assembly. The catalytically active component comprises particles containing a metal oxide such as silica, metal or metalloid ions such as ions that include boron, and a catalyst. A process for increasing peroxide radical resistance in a membrane electrode is also provided that includes the introduction of the catalytically active component described into a membrane electrode assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2014
    Assignee: E I du Pont de Nemours and Company
    Inventors: Kimberly Gheysen Raiford, Junaid Ahmed Siddiqui
  • Patent number: 8663867
    Abstract: The present invention provides an MEA which improves water retention properties of an electrode catalyst layer without inhibiting diffusion of a reaction gas and drainage of water produced by an electrode reaction etc. One aspect of the present invention is a manufacturing method of an MEA which includes coating and drying a catalyst ink to form a first electrode catalyst sub-layer, coating and drying a catalyst ink to form a second electrode catalyst sub-layer, and forming the first and the second electrode catalyst sub-layers on a polymer electrolyte membrane in this order, and has a specific feature that a solvent removal rate in drying to form the first electrode catalyst sub-layer is higher than that in drying to form the second electrode catalyst sub-layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2014
    Assignee: Toppan Printing Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Hiroyuki Morioka
  • Patent number: 8663868
    Abstract: Shaped microporous articles are produced from polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) and nucleating agents using thermally induced phase separation (TIPS) processes. The shaped microporous article is oriented in at least one direction at a stretch ratio of at least approximately 1.1 to 1.0. The shaped article may also comprise a diluent, glyceryl triacetate. The shaped microporous article may also have the micropores filled with a sufficient quantity of ion conducting electrolyte to allow the membrane to function as an ion conductive membrane. The method of making a microporous article comprises the steps of melt blending polyvinylidene fluoride, nucleating agent and glyceryl triacetate; forming a shaped article of the mixture; cooling the shaped article to cause crystallization of the polyvinylidene fluoride and phase separation of the polyvinylidene fluoride and glyceryl triacetate; and stretching the shaped article in at least one direction at a stretch ratio of at least approximately 1.1 to 1.0.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 15, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2014
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Samantha D. Smith, Gene H. Shipman, Robert M. Floyd, Harold Todd Freemyer, Steven J. Hamrock, Michael A. Yandrasits, David G. S. Walton
  • Patent number: 8663869
    Abstract: A solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC) stack includes a plurality of SOFCs, and a plurality of interconnects, each interconnect containing a conductive perovskite layer on an air side of the interconnect. The stack in internally manifolded for fuel and the conductive perovskite layer on each interconnect is not exposed in the fuel inlet riser. The SOFC electrolyte has a smaller roughness in regions adjacent to the fuel inlet and fuel outlet openings in the electrolyte than under the cathode or anode electrodes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2014
    Assignee: Bloom Energy Corporation
    Inventors: Martin Janousek, Tad Armstrong, Dien Nguyen, Ananda H. Kumar
  • Patent number: 8663870
    Abstract: An electrochemical device capable of improving arrangement efficiency of bonded bodies and securing favorable sealing characteristics is provided. An electrolyte membrane 11 has a reaction region 11A sandwiched between a fuel electrode 12 and an oxygen electrode 13 and a peripheral region 11B exposed from between the fuel electrode 12 and the oxygen electrode 13. A connection member 20 has a bent section 23 between two flat sections 21 and 22. Since an adhesive layer 14 is provided in the peripheral section 11B of the electrolyte membrane 11, and the bent section 23 of the connection member 20 is bonded to the adhesive layer 14, arrangement efficiency of a bonded body 10 is improved, and favorable sealing characteristics are secured. The adhesive layer 14 has a structure in which a first contact layer having high adhesion to the electrolyte membrane 11, a barrier layer, a strength retention layer, and a second contact layer having high adhesion to the connection member 20 are sequentially laminated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 18, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2014
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Kazuaki Fukushima, Shuji Goto, Sayaka Nanjo, Tetsuro Kusamoto
  • Patent number: 8663871
    Abstract: A fuel cell separator is produced by forming a fuel cell separator resin composition including, as essential components, (A) an epoxy resin; (B) a curing agent; (C) a curing accelerator; and (D) a carbon material, in which the content of the (D) is 50 to 85% by mass based on the total amount of the composition, in which the (D) includes high crystalline artificial graphite having an average particle size of 100 ?m or more and less than 150 ?m in an amount of 5 to 100% by mass based on the total amount of the (D), and in which the content of the (C) is 0.1 to 20 parts by weight per 100 parts by weight of the (B). The resin composition is excellent in electric conductivity and fluidity and contains little impurities, and can provide a fuel cell separator which is excellent in electric conductivity and dimensional accuracy, and has no fear of causing deterioration in performance of a solid electrolyte.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2014
    Assignee: Nichias Corporation
    Inventors: Takayoshi Shimizu, Atsushi Murakami
  • Patent number: 8663872
    Abstract: A membrane-membrane reinforcing member assembly (1) of the present invention includes: a polymer electrolyte membrane (10) having a pair of first main surface (F1) and second main surface (F2) which face each other and each has a substantially rectangular shape; a pair of first membrane reinforcing members 22 and 24 which are disposed on portions, respectively, extending along a pair of opposed sides of four sides of the first main surface (F1), each has a main surface smaller than the first main surface (F1) and each has a film shape; and a pair of second membrane reinforcing members (26) and (28) which are disposed on portions, respectively, extending along a pair of opposed sides of four sides of the second main surface (F2), each has a main surface smaller than the second main surface (F2) and each has a film shape, wherein the pair of first membrane reinforcing members (22) and (24) and the pair of second membrane reinforcing members (26) and (28) are disposed so as to extend along four sides as a whole,
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2014
    Assignee: Panasonic Corporation
    Inventors: Takeou Okanishi, Yoshihiro Hori, Kazuhito Hatoh
  • Patent number: 8663873
    Abstract: Articles for recording a hologram are described. The articles include a holographic recording medium having a transparent polymeric binder and a photoreactive dye dispersed therein. The articles also include a first compound, dispersed in the holographic recording medium or disposed over a first surface of the holographic recording medium from which surface the hologram is viewed, that is transparent to light in the wavelength range to which the photoreactive dye is sensitive and which is capable of being converted to a converted compound that is opaque to light in the wavelength range to which the photoreactive dye is sensitive and transparent to light in a different wavelength range for viewing the hologram.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 13, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2014
    Assignee: SABIC Innovative Plastics IP B.V.
    Inventors: Andrew Arthur Paul Burns, Arunkumar Natarajan, Shantaram Narayan Naik, Eugene Boden, Kiran Arunkumar Puthamane, Vinodkumar Vasudevan, Sumeet Jain
  • Patent number: 8663874
    Abstract: A hardcoat composition comprises (a) one or more epoxy silane compounds, (b) one or more epoxy-functionalized perfluoropolyether acrylate oligomers, and (c) photoacid generator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2014
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Zai-Ming Qiu, John C. Hulteen, Douglas C. Fall
  • Patent number: 8663875
    Abstract: A thin film composed of a material containing a metal and silicon is formed on a transparent substrate, and a thin film pattern is formed by patterning the thin film. Then, the main surface and the side walls of the thin film pattern are previously modified so as to prevent the transfer characteristics of the thin film pattern from changing more than predetermined even in the case where exposure light with a wavelength of 200 nm or less is cumulatively applied onto the thin film pattern which has been formed. The main surface and the side walls are modified by, for instance, performing heat treatment to the main surface and the side walls at 450-900° C. in the atmosphere containing oxygen.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2014
    Assignee: Hoya Corporation
    Inventors: Yasushi Okubo, Toshiyuki Suzuki, Masahiro Hashimoto
  • Patent number: 8663876
    Abstract: A photomask blank for use in the manufacture of a photomask adapted to be applied with exposure light having a wavelength of 200 nm or less has a thin film on a transparent substrate. The thin film is made of a material containing a transition metal, silicon, and carbon and comprising silicon carbide and/or a transition metal carbide.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 4, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2014
    Assignee: Hoya Corporation
    Inventors: Masahiro Hashimoto, Toshiyuki Suzuki, Hiroyuki Iwashita
  • Patent number: 8663877
    Abstract: Lithography masks, lithography systems, methods of manufacturing lithography masks, methods of altering material layers of semiconductor devices, and methods of manufacturing semiconductor devices are disclosed. In one embodiment, a lithography mask includes a first pattern for at least one material layer of at least one die, the first pattern being oriented in a first position. The lithography mask includes a second pattern for at least one material layer of the at least one die, the second pattern being oriented in a second position. The second position is different than the first position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2014
    Assignee: Infineon Technologies AG
    Inventor: Uwe Paul Schroeder
  • Patent number: 8663878
    Abstract: A mask can be used in lithography to fabricate a semiconductor wafer. The mask includes a low thermal expansion material (LTEM) substrate, a reflective multilayer (ML) above the LTEM substrate; and a patterned absorption layer above the reflective ML. The patterned absorption layer includes a thickness ranging between 25 nm and 31 nm, a refractive index ranging between 0.84 and 0.93 and an extinction coefficient ranging between 0.038 and 0.051.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 5, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2014
    Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Shinn-Sheng Yu, Anthony Yen
  • Patent number: 8663879
    Abstract: A method of forming an IC including MOS transistors includes using a gate mask to form a first active gate feature having a line width W1 over an active area and a neighboring dummy feature having a line width 0.8 W1 to 1.3 W1. The neighboring dummy feature has a first side adjacent to the first active gate feature, and a nearest gate level feature on a second side opposite the first side. The neighboring dummy feature defines a gate pitch based on a distance to the first active gate feature or the neighboring dummy feature maintains a gate pitch in a gate array including the first active gate feature. The spacing between the neighboring dummy feature and the nearest gate level feature (i) maintains the gate pitch or (ii) provides a SRAF enabling distance that is ?2 times the gate pitch and the gate mask includes a SRAF over the SRAF distance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 6, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2014
    Assignee: Texas Instruments Incorporated
    Inventors: James Walter Blatchford, Yong Seok Choi, Thomas J. Aton
  • Patent number: 8663880
    Abstract: A polymerizable composition for a color filter, including (A) a polymerizable compound, (B) a polymerization initiator, (C) a coloring agent, and (D) a polymer including at least a group having polymerization inhibiting ability and a group having surface localizability.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 15, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2014
    Assignee: FUJIFILM Corporation
    Inventors: Kazuto Shimada, Masaomi Makino, Tatsuya Tanaka
  • Patent number: 8663881
    Abstract: A lithographic apparatus includes an illuminator for receiving a beam of EUV radiation from a radiation source apparatus and for conditioning the beam to illuminate a target area of a patterning device, such as a reticle. The reticle forms a patterned radiation beam. A projection system transfers the pattern from said patterning device to a substrate by EUV lithography. Sensors are provided for detecting a residual asymmetry in the conditioned beam as the beam approaches the reticle, particularly in a non-scanning direction. A feedback control signal is generated to adjust a parameter of said radiation source in response to detected asymmetry. The feedback is based on a ratio of intensities measured by two sensors at opposite ends of an illumination slit, and adjusts the timing of laser pulses generating an EUV-emitting plasma.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2014
    Assignee: ASML Netherlands B.V.
    Inventors: Erik Petrus Buurman, Szilard Istvan Csiszar
  • Patent number: 8663882
    Abstract: To provide an electrophotographic photoreceptor excellent in electric characteristics and various characteristics, capable of forming a uniform photosensitive layer and excellent in repetitive characteristics, an image forming apparatus using it and an electrophotgraphic cartridge. A lamination type electrophotographic photoreceptor comprising an electroconductive substrate and a photosensitive layer formed thereon, characterized in that the photosensitive layer contains a compound represented by the following formula (1), the ratio of the weight of the compound represented by the formula (1) to the weight content of all binder resins contained in the photosensitive layer is from 0.15 to 0.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2014
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Chemical Corporation
    Inventors: Teruyuki Mitsumori, Masayuki Hiroi, Hiroaki Takamura
  • Patent number: 8663883
    Abstract: A charge-transporting film includes a polymer of a compound represented by Formula (I): (Ra)n-Fa-Xa-Fa?-(Ra?)n???(I) wherein Fa and Fa? independently represent a charge-transporting sub-unit including an aromatic ring, Ra and Ra? independently represent a —CH?CH2 directly bonded to the aromatic ring of the charge-transporting sub-unit or a group represented by Formula (a), Xa represents an alkylene group or a bivalent group in which an alkylene group and a group selected from —O—, —S—, and ester are combined, n and n? independently represent an integer of 0 or more (wherein n and n? are not simultaneously 0), and L represents a linking group which is represented by *—(CH2)n?—O—CH2— and which is bonded to the aromatic ring of the charge-transporting sub-unit, wherein n? is 1 or 2 and the linking group is bonded to the aromatic, ring of the charge-transporting sub-unit with *.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 8, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2014
    Assignee: Fuji Xerox Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Wataru Yamada, Katsumi Nukada, Takatsugu Doi, Yuko Iwadate, Tomoya Sasaki
  • Patent number: 8663884
    Abstract: An orange toner for developing electrostatic charge images includes a binder resin; and a colorant including a first color material and a second color material; wherein the first color material has a hue angle of ?20° to 80° in a L*a*b* color system, the second color material includes C.I. Solvent Orange 63, and the second color material has a content of 0.05 to 0.2 parts by mass to 100 parts by mass of the binder resin.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2014
    Assignee: Konica Minolta Business Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Yohei Ohno, Kaori Soeda, Miyuki Murakami
  • Patent number: 8663885
    Abstract: In a positively chargeable toner, calcium carbonate fine particles having a certain average primary particle diameter are attached to the surface of toner base particles. The toner base particles contain at least a binder resin and a colorant. The calcium carbonate fine particles are ones which had been subjected to a surface treatment with a positively chargeable surface treating agent and a silicone oil. A mass ratio of the positively chargeable surface treating agent to the silicone oil attached to the surface of the calcium carbonate fine particles is set to be 7:3 to 3:7 in terms of the positively chargeable surface treating agent:the silicone oil.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 9, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2014
    Assignee: Kyocera Document Solutions Inc.
    Inventor: Toru Takatsuna
  • Patent number: 8663886
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides polymeric additives for use with toner particles. The polymeric additive of the present disclosure includes a copolymer possessing at least one monomer having a high carbon to oxygen ratio, a monomer having more than one vinyl group, and at least one amine-functional monomer. Toners possessing this polymeric additive exhibit excellent stability with respect to relative humidity and excellent charging characteristics.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2014
    Assignee: Xerox Corporation
    Inventors: Daryl W. Vanbesien, Richard P. N. Veregin, Suxia Yang, Corey L. Tracy, Karen Ann Moffat, Cuong Vong, Eric Rotberg, Michael S. Hawkins
  • Patent number: 8663887
    Abstract: The present invention is to provide a toner for developing electrostatic images having excellent fixability, peelability, shelf stability (blocking resistance), printing durability, printing durability after being left at high temperature and thin line reproducibility. A toner for developing electrostatic images, comprising colored resin particles comprising a binder resin, a colorant and a wax, wherein the wax contains a natural sunflower wax, and wherein the natural sunflower wax has an acid value of 10 mg KOH/g or less, and a content of the natural sunflower wax is in the range from 1 to 10 parts by weight with respect to 100 parts by weight of the binder resin.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2014
    Assignee: Zeon Corporation
    Inventor: Takuya Kaneda
  • Patent number: 8663888
    Abstract: The present invention provides a toner including: a colorant, and a binder resin, wherein the toner is fixed on a recording medium using a fixing liquid containing a softening agent for softening the toner, and wherein a weight average molecular weight of a THF soluble fraction of the toner in a molecular weight distribution measured by gel permeation chromatography (GPC) is 3,000 to 8,300; and a glass transition temperature of the toner measured by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) is 50° C. to 70° C.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2014
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Yasutada Shitara, Yohichiroh Watanabe, Yasuo Katano, Shinya Nakayama, Ryota Inoue, Yoshihiro Moriya, Akiyoshi Sabu, Shingo Sakashita, Yukiko Nakajima
  • Patent number: 8663889
    Abstract: A polyester resin for a toner containing: a repeating unit derived from a dicarboxylic acid component; and a repeating unit derived from a dial component represented by Formula (1): wherein each of R1 and R2 independently represents a hydrogen atom or a methyl group, each of L1, L2 and L3 independently represents a divalent linking group selected from the group consisting of carbonyl groups, ester groups, ether groups, sulfonyl groups, substituted or unsubstituted chained alkylene groups, substituted or unsubstituted cyclic alkylene groups, substituted or unsubstituted arylene groups, and combinations thereof, L1 and L2 or L1 and L3 optionally forms a ring, each of A1 and A2 independently represents a rosin ester group, and the acid value is from 3 mgKOH/g to 30 mgKOH/g.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2014
    Assignee: Fuji Xerox Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Sumiaki Yamasaki, Satoshi Hiraoka, Yuki Sasaki, Susumu Yoshino, Hirotaka Matsuoka