With Separator Patents (Class 361/512)
  • Patent number: 6795293
    Abstract: An energy storage device, such as a battery or supercapacitor, that includes at least two electrodes, at least one of the electrodes includes an electrically conducting substrate having a layer of energy accumulating redox polymer complex compound of transition metal having at least two different degrees of oxidation, which polymer complex compound is formed of stacked transition metal complex monomers. The stacked transition metal complex monomers have a planar structure with the deviation from the plane of no greater than 0.1 nm and a branched system of conjugated &pgr;-bonds. The polymer complex compound of transition metal can be formed as a polymer metal complex with substituted tetra-dentate Schiff's base. The layer thickness of redox polymer is within the range 1 nm-20 &mgr;m.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 2003
    Date of Patent: September 21, 2004
    Assignee: EnGen Group, Inc.
    Inventors: Alexander Timonov, Sergey Logvinov, Nikolay Shkolnik, Sam Kogan
  • Patent number: 6791822
    Abstract: A first capacitor element of a sheet form includes a porous valve metal film, a dielectric layer provided on the porous valve metal film, a solid electrolyte layer provided on the dielectric layer, and a collector layer provided on the solid electrolyte layer. A second capacitor element of a sheet form includes a valve metal film, a porous valve metal body provided on the valve metal film, a dielectric layer provided on the porous valve metal body, a solid electrolyte layer provided on the dielectric layer, and a collector layer provided on the electrolyte layer. The first and second capacitor elements are stacked. The porous valve metal film of the first capacitor element and the valve metal film of the second capacitor element are connected to one external electrode while the collector layers of the first and second capacitor elements are connected to another external electrode, thus providing a solid electrolytic capacitor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 2003
    Date of Patent: September 14, 2004
    Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Ayumi Kochi, Seiji Takagi, Yuji Mido, Tetsuhiro Korechika
  • Patent number: 6762927
    Abstract: An anode is described that has a niobium-based barrier layer, which includes a niobium metal core, a conducting niobium suboxide layer and a dielectric barrier layer of niobium pentoxide.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 23, 2001
    Date of Patent: July 13, 2004
    Assignee: H.C. Starck GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Christoph Schnitter, Karlheinz Reichert
  • Patent number: 6751085
    Abstract: The present invention relates to the field of solid state capacitors. The invention particularly relates to capacitors of the type in which a powder-formed valve action material, typically tantalum, forms a highly porous anode body portion of a solid state capacitor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 19, 2002
    Date of Patent: June 15, 2004
    Assignee: AVX Limited
    Inventor: David Huntington
  • Patent number: 6744621
    Abstract: A solid electrolytic capacitor comprising a foil coated with a dielectric oxide film, wherein the coated foil has slit or cut edges, and the slit or cut edges have been reformed by forming the foil in an aqueous citrate electrolyte, then depolarizing the foil, and then forming the foil in an aqueous phosphate electrolyte wherein the foil is not anodized in an aqueous acid electrolyte prior to forming the foil in an aqueous citrate electrolyte.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 2003
    Date of Patent: June 1, 2004
    Assignee: Kemet Electronics Corporation
    Inventors: Philip Michael Lessner, Albert Kennedy Harrington, Brian John Melody, John Tony Kinard
  • Patent number: 6741450
    Abstract: An electric double-layer capacitor includes a cell structure formed by laminating basic cells in series one on another. Each of the basic cells includes a pair of collectors, a separator disposed between said collectors, gaskets disposed at peripheral edges of said pair of collectors and said separator to define a pair of closed spaces, and a pair of polarizable electrodes which are disposed in said closed spaces defined by said collectors, said separator and said gaskets, respectively and which contain an electrolytic solution. The basic cells are laminated one on another with a back of each of said collectors opposed to said polarizable electrode serving as a connection surface. The electric double-layer capacitor further includes a lead terminal/electrode plate assembly having electrode plates bonded to the collectors located at opposite ends of the cell structure through conductive bond layers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2002
    Date of Patent: May 25, 2004
    Assignee: NEC Tokin Corporation
    Inventors: Yutaka Nakazawa, Ryuichi Kasahara, Koji Sakata
  • Patent number: 6730439
    Abstract: A heat-resistant separator composed of a non-woven fabric of high-melting resin, 1 to 20 &mgr;m in average fiber diameter, 5 to 300 g/m2 in basis weight, 1 to 200 cc/cm2/sec in air permeability, and 0.01 to 1.0 mm in thickness, or a laminated heat-resistant separator composed of a laminate having a melt-blown, non-woven fabric layer of high-melting resin, 1 to 20 &mgr;m in average fiber diameter, 5 to 300 g/m2 in basis weight, 1 to 200 cc/cm2/sec in air permeability, and 0.01 to 1.0 mm in thickness is more resistant to heat, and hence safer, and is suitable for batteries and electrical double-layer capacitors serviceable at high temperature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2001
    Date of Patent: May 4, 2004
    Assignee: Tonen Tapyrus Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Toshikazu Kamei, Masaki Yamazaki
  • Patent number: 6721169
    Abstract: Separator paper comprising paper impregnated with soluble silicate. The soluble silicate may be applied to the separator paper by immersing the paper into an aqueous solution of the soluble silicate or by spraying with an aqueous solution of the soluble silicate. In a preferred embodiment, the soluble silicate is sodium silicate. An electrolytic capacitor comprising an electrolytic solution, at least one anode foil, at least one cathode foil, and separator paper between the at least one anode foil and at least one cathode foil, wherein the separator paper comprises paper impregnated with a soluble silicate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 19, 2002
    Date of Patent: April 13, 2004
    Assignee: Kemet Electronics Corporation
    Inventors: Brian John Melody, John Tony Kinard, Guy Cornelius Scibenas Van Natta, Jr., Albert Kennedy Harrington, David Alexander Wheeler
  • Patent number: 6704192
    Abstract: A freestanding, microporous polymer sheet is composed of a polymer matrix binding an electrically conductive matrix. The polymer matrix preferably includes UHMWPE, and the electrically conductive matrix preferably contains one of a carbonaceous material and a metal oxide, or a combination thereof. The UHMWPE is of a molecular weight that provides sufficient molecular chain entanglement to form a sheet with freestanding characteristics. Multiple microporous sheets can be wound or stacked in a package filled with an electrolyte to function as electrodes in an energy storage device, such as a battery or an ultracapacitor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 10, 2001
    Date of Patent: March 9, 2004
    Assignee: Amtek Research International LLC
    Inventor: Richard W. Pekala
  • Patent number: 6697249
    Abstract: An electric double layer capacitor including at least one pair of polarizable electrodes connected to current collectors, a separator made of ion-permeable but electron-insulating material interposed between the electrodes in each pair of electrodes, and a liquid electrolyte. According to the invention the electrodes include a layer of carbon particles having a narrow distribution of nanopores therein, the pore sizes of the nanopores being adapted to fit the ion sizes of the electrolyte. The invention also relates to a method of manufacturing such a supercapacitor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 2002
    Date of Patent: February 24, 2004
    Assignee: FOC Frankenburg Oil Company
    Inventors: Yurii Maletin, Natalie Strizhakova, Sergey Kozachkov, Antonina Mironova, Sergey Podmogilny, Valerii Danilin, Julia Kolotilova, Volodymyz Izotov, Jan Cederström, Sergey Gordeev Konstantinovich, Julia Kukushkina Aleksandrovna, Vasilii Sokolov Vasilevitj, Alexander Kravehik Efimovitj, Anti Perkson, Mati Arulepp, Jaan Leis, Clarence L. Wallace, Jie Zheng
  • Patent number: 6690573
    Abstract: An electrolytic capacitor is provided, comprising a capacitor element constituted in the way that an anode foil and a cathode foil with a lead for external connection connected thereto, respectively, are wound, with a separator intervening between them, and a cylindrical metal case, having a bottom, including the capacitor element, and a sealing plate for sealing an opening of the metal case, wherein a gel-like polymer having ion conductivity is formed inside and outside part of the above described capacitor element, and the above described gel-like polymer firmly attached to an inside the above described metal case, and thus the capacitor element is fixed. The gel-like polymer having conductivity is a mixture with an acrylic copolymer, to which an electrolytic solution is infiltrated to uniformly distribute the electrolytic solution.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2002
    Date of Patent: February 10, 2004
    Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kazumitsu Honda, Nario Niibo, Hisao Miyazawa, Yoshihiro Watanabe
  • Patent number: 6678149
    Abstract: A capacitor element includes an anode body made of valve metal having a substantially-rectangular shape and having positive and negative portions separated in a first direction parallel to a short side of the rectangular shape, a dielectric oxide layer over the negative portion, a solid electrolyte layer over the dielectric oxide layer, and a negative electrode layer over the solid electrolyte layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 2003
    Date of Patent: January 13, 2004
    Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Koji Matsumoto, Masaki Shiragami, Koichi Kojima, Tsuyoshi Yoshino
  • Patent number: 6678147
    Abstract: Iron oxide film directly grown on iron, steel, or other substrates by chemical or electrochemical oxidation is a promising material for energy storage through surface adsorption of static charges. As the electrode materials of energy-storage devices, the hydrated iron compound has a chemical composition of FexOyHz, where 1.0≦x≦3.0, 0.0≦y≦4.0, and 0.0≦z≦1.0. An aqueous or organic solution of a metallic salt including sulfates, sulfites, hydroxides, chlorides, phosphates and nitrates is used as electrolyte for the electrochemical devices. Cyclic voltammetry indicates that the iron-oxide electrodes in the electrolytes can store charges as high as 0.5 F/cm2 or 320 F/g of the electrode materials. Electrochemical capacitors using the iron oxide as the electrode material is an economical and viable power source for use in portable electronics, power tools, and electrical vehicles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 19, 2002
    Date of Patent: January 13, 2004
    Assignee: Luxon Energy Devices Corporation
    Inventors: Lih-Ren Shiue, Nae-Lih Wu, Dien-Shi Wu, Chieng-Wen Chao, Yi-Ping Lan
  • Publication number: 20030235024
    Abstract: Separator paper comprising paper impregnated with soluble silicate. The soluble silicate may be applied to the separator paper by immersing the paper into an aqueous solution of the soluble silicate or by spraying with an aqueous solution of the soluble silicate. In a preferred embodiment, the soluble silicate is sodium silicate. An electrolytic capacitor comprising an electrolytic solution, at least one anode foil, at least one cathode foil, and separator paper between the at least one anode foil and at least one cathode foil, wherein the separator paper comprises paper impregnated with a soluble silicate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 19, 2002
    Publication date: December 25, 2003
    Applicant: KEMET ELECTRONICS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Brian John Melody, John Tony Kinard, Guy Cornelius Scibenas Van Natta,, Albert Kennedy Harrington, David Alexander Wheeler
  • Patent number: 6665171
    Abstract: An electrochemical capacitor comprising a pair of oxidation-reduction active electrodes and an electrolyte solution or an ion-conductive solid electrolyte between the electrodes, wherein the electrodes contain a specific copolymer, thereby providing the electrochemical capacitor high in energy density and excellent in heat-resistance and charge/discharge cycle features.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 8, 2001
    Date of Patent: December 16, 2003
    Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yoshinori Takamuka, Hideki Shimamoto
  • Patent number: 6661643
    Abstract: Deionizers using the electrode configurations of electrochemical capacitors are described, wherein the deionizing process is called capacitive deionization (CDI). During deionization, a DC electric field is applied to the cells and ions are adsorbed on the electrodes with a potential being developed across the electrodes. As electrosorption reaches a maximum or the cell voltage is built up to the applied voltage, the CDI electrodes are regenerated quickly and quantitatively by energy discharge to storage devices such as supercapacitors. In conjunction with a carousel or Ferris wheel design, the CDI electrodes can simultaneously and continuously undergo deionization and regeneration. By the responsive regeneration, the CDI electrodes can perform direct purification on solutions with salt content higher than seawater. More importantly, electrodes are restored, energy is recovered and contaminants are retained at regeneration, while regeneration requires no chemicals and produces no pollution.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 18, 2002
    Date of Patent: December 9, 2003
    Assignee: Luxon Energy Devices Corporation
    Inventors: Lih-Ren Shiue, Abel Sun, Chia-Chann Shiue, Fei-Chen Hsieh, Yu-His Hsieh, Jiung-Jau Jou
  • Publication number: 20030223178
    Abstract: Implantable defibrillators are implanted into the chests of patients prone to suffering ventricular fibrillation, a potentially fatal heart condition. A critical component in these devices is an aluminum electrolytic capacitors, which stores and delivers one or more life-saving bursts of electric charge to a fibrillating heart. These capacitors make up about one third the total size of the defibrillators. Unfortunately, conventional manufacturers of these capacitors have paid little or no attention to reducing the size of these capacitors through improved capacitor packaging. Accordingly, the inventors contravened several conventional manufacturing principles and practices to devise unique space-saving packaging that allows dramatic size reduction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 25, 2003
    Publication date: December 4, 2003
    Applicant: Cardiac Pacemakers, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael J. O'Phelan, James M. Poplett, Robert R. Tong, Alexander Gordon Barr
  • Patent number: 6654229
    Abstract: An electrode material for an electric double layer capacitor having a carbon fiber as an essential material. The carbon fiber has a coaxial stacking morphology of truncated conical tubular graphene layers, and each of the truncated conical tubular graphene layers includes a hexagonal carbon layer. Edges of the hexagonal carbon layer are exposed. The exposed edges of the hexagonal carbon layers have a high degree of activity and can be modified with functional groups such as —COOH, —CHO, or —OH. This enables use of the carbon fiber as the electrode material. The specific surface area of the surfaces on which the edges are exposed is extremely large, whereby a large-capacitance electric double layer capacitor can be formed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 2002
    Date of Patent: November 25, 2003
    Assignees: GSI Creos Corporation, Morinobu Endo
    Inventors: Takashi Yanagisawa, Morinobu Endo
  • Patent number: 6654228
    Abstract: According to a first embodiment of the present invention, a self-contained portable energy storage device is disclosed that includes a housing having first and second external contact terminals, a high-energy storage capacitor disposed in the housing and coupled between first and second internal terminals, and a voltage converter disposed in the housing and coupled to the first and second internal terminals. The voltage converter is also coupled to the first and second external contact terminals to convert the voltage appearing at the first and second internal terminals to a substantially constant voltage that the voltage converter applies to the first and second external contact terminals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 2000
    Date of Patent: November 25, 2003
    Assignee: Eveready Battery Company, Inc.
    Inventor: John C. Bailey
  • Patent number: 6650531
    Abstract: A laminated electric double layer capacitor module having electrode assemblies with positive and negative electrodes disposed to face each other, an ion permeable separator disposed between adjacent electrode assemblies so as to separate respective electrode layers from each other, a metal current collector plate for the positive electrodes, and a metal current collector plate for the negative electrodes, an electrolyte, and a module case. The electrode assemblies, the separators, and the current collector plates for the positive and negative electrodes are integrated into a laminated assembly of the capacitor module. A plurality of laminated assemblies are accommodated in a plurality of element compartments and electrically connected in series.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 2002
    Date of Patent: November 18, 2003
    Assignee: Asahi Glass Company, Limited
    Inventors: Katsuji Ikeda, Yoshihiro Hozumi, Masami Kashihara
  • Patent number: 6643120
    Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide an antimony-containing niobium sintered body for a capacitor having a small specific leakage current value, an antimony-containing niobium powder for use in the sintered body, and a capacitor using the sintered body. In the present invention, an antimony-containing niobium powder having an antimony content of preferably about 0.1 to about 10 mol % and an average particle size of preferably about 0.2 to about 5 &mgr;m is used. By using this antimony-containing niobium powder, a sintered body and a capacitor are constructed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 2001
    Date of Patent: November 4, 2003
    Assignee: Showa Denko Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Kazuhiro Omori, Kazumi Naito
  • Patent number: 6639786
    Abstract: A cylindrical electric double-layer capacitor includes a cylindrical sealed vessel housing an electrode roll and an electrolyte solution. The electrode roll is formed of a rolled superposed assembly having band-shaped positive and negative poles and two band-shaped separators sandwiching one of the band-shaped positive and negative poles. Each of the band-shaped positive and negative poles includes a band-shaped collector and a pair of polarizing electrodes formed in a laminated manner on opposite surfaces of the band-shaped collector. In a state in which the electrode roll has been accommodated in the sealed vessel along with the electrolyte solution, an outer diameter D1 of the electrode roll and an inner diameter D2 of the sealed vessel are brought into a relationship of D1=D2 by at least one of swelling of the polarizing electrodes caused by the electrolyte solution and expansion of the polarizing electrodes caused by an electrical charge.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 9, 2002
    Date of Patent: October 28, 2003
    Assignee: Honda Giken Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Minoru Noguchi, Naohiko Oki, Eisuke Komazawa, Takahiro Takeshita, Yasuhiro Matsumoto
  • Patent number: 6631074
    Abstract: A method of making an electrode structure, and a double layer capacitor including the electrode structure, the method includes the steps of: applying a first slurry including conducting carbon powder and a binder to a current collector plate; curing the applied first slurry to form a primary coating; applying a second slurry that includes activated carbon powder, a solvent and a binder to the primary coating; and curing the applied second slurry to form a secondary coating, thereby forming a first electrode. In variations, additional primary and secondary coatings may be formed on both sides of the collector plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 1, 2001
    Date of Patent: October 7, 2003
    Assignee: Maxwell Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Priya Bendale, Manuel R. Malay, John Dispennette, Chenniah Nanjundiah, Earl Chaney
  • Patent number: 6631072
    Abstract: A charge storage device comprising: a first electrode; a second electrode being opposed to and spaced apart from the first electrode; a porous separator disposed between the electrodes; a sealed package for containing the electrodes, the separator and an electrolyte in which the electrodes are immersed; and a first terminal and a second terminal being electrically connected to the first electrode and the second electrode respectively and both extending from the package to allow external electrical connection to the respective electrodes, wherein the gravimetric FOM of the device is greater than about 2.1 Watts/gram.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 24, 2001
    Date of Patent: October 7, 2003
    Assignee: Energy Storage Systems PTY LTD
    Inventors: George Lange Paul, Rory Albert James Pynenburg, Peter John Mahon, Anthony Michael Vassallo, Philip Andrew Jones, Sarkis Keshishian, Anthony Gaetano Pandolfo
  • Patent number: 6625007
    Abstract: A component cell of an electric double layer capacitor is fabricated by forming first and second half portions of the cell. In each of the half portions a polarized electrode impregnated with electrolyte is pasted to a collector electrode so that a stepped portion is formed on the periphery of the collector electrode. A gasket is attached to the stepped portion of each half portion, and a center gasket is attached to the periphery of a separator which is placed between the first and second half portions. Pressure is then applied to the first and second half portions of the cell in directions towards each other at an elevated temperature so that all gaskets are thermally joined together. A plurality of such component cells are stacked in a layered structure and sealed in a package.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2002
    Date of Patent: September 23, 2003
    Assignee: NEC Tokin Corporation
    Inventors: Koji Sakata, Yutaka Nakazawa, Ryuichi Kasahara
  • Patent number: 6625008
    Abstract: An electrical double layer capacitor has an electrolyte included of a non-aqueous solvent and a supporting salt dissolved in the non-aqueous solvent. A pair of polarizing electrodes are disposed in confronting relation with one another. A separator is disposed between the polarizing electrodes. The supporting salt contained in the electrolyte exists only in regions proximate a surface of the polarizing electrodes when the electrical double layer capacitor is fully charged. When the electrical double layer capacitor is charged at 3.3 V for 24 hours, a charged current after 24 hours is in the range of from about 5 &mgr;A/cm2 to about 22 &mgr;A/cm2 per unit area of the polarizing electrodes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 6, 2002
    Date of Patent: September 23, 2003
    Assignee: Seiko Instruments inc.
    Inventors: Shunji Watanabe, Hideharu Onodera, Tsugio Sakai, Toyoo Harada, Yoshimi Kanno, Shinichi Takasugi, Tsuneaki Tamachi
  • Patent number: 6621685
    Abstract: Disclosed is an electric double-layered capacitor fabricated by inserting a UV-curing gel type polymer electrolyte having excellent characteristics of ion conductivity, adhesion to electrode, compatibility with an organic solvent electrolyte, mechanical stability, permeability, and applicability to process, between electrodes. Accordingly, the present invention increases its storage capacitance, reduces self-discharge of electricity, and decreases inner cell resistance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 10, 2003
    Date of Patent: September 16, 2003
    Assignee: Korea Institute of Science and Technology
    Inventors: Byung-Won Cho, Hee-Woo Rhee, Won-Il Cho, Hyun-Joong Kim, Chun-Mo Yang, Yong-Tae Kim
  • Patent number: 6594139
    Abstract: An electrode component for an electrochemical cell or a capacitor is described wherein the electrode is produced by physical vapor depositing an electrode active material onto a substrate to coat the substrate. The thusly produced electrode is useful as a cathode in a primary electrochemical cell and as a cathode and an anode in a secondary cell, and as an electrode in an electrochemical capacitor and an electrolytic capacitor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 2001
    Date of Patent: July 15, 2003
    Assignee: Wilson Greatbatch Ltd.
    Inventors: Barry C. Muffoletto, Ashish Shah, Neal N. Nesselbeck
  • Patent number: 6580598
    Abstract: Deionizers using the electrode configurations of electrochemical capacitors are described, wherein the deionizing process is called capacitive deionization (CDI). During deionization, a DC electric field is applied to the cells and ions are adsorbed on the electrodes with a potential being developed across the electrodes. As electrosorption reaches a maximum or the cell voltage is built up to the applied voltage, the CDI electrodes are regenerated quickly and quantitatively by energy discharge to storage devices such as supercapacitors. In conjunction with a carousel or Ferris wheel design, the CDI electrodes can simultaneously and continuously undergo deionization and regeneration. By the responsive regeneration, the CDI electrodes can perform direct purification on solutions with salt content higher than seawater. More importantly, electrodes are restored, energy is recovered and contaminants are retained at regeneration, while regeneration requires no chemicals and produces no pollution.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2002
    Date of Patent: June 17, 2003
    Assignee: Luxon Energy Devices Corporation
    Inventors: Lih-Ren Shiue, Abel Sun, Chia-Chann Shiue, Fei-Chen Hsieh, Yu-His Hsieh, Jiung-Jau Jou
  • Patent number: 6579327
    Abstract: A method of manufacturing a cylindrical high voltage supercapacitor. An anode and a cathode are provided. At least one bipolar electrode is interposed between the anode and the cathode, and a separator is intervened in each pair of the above electrodes. The anode, the cathode, the bipolar electrode and the separator, as placed in the above order, are wound concentrically into a roll, so as to form the cylindrical high voltage supercapacitor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 6, 2002
    Date of Patent: June 17, 2003
    Assignee: Luxon Energy Devices Corporation
    Inventors: Lih-Ren Shiue, Li-Ping Li, Hsing-Chen Chung, Wan-Ting Lo
  • Patent number: 6580599
    Abstract: An electric double layer capacitor of an electrode containing a carbon material as the main component, and an electrolyte to form an electric double layer at the interface with the electrode, wherein the electrolyte is one having a salt of a quaternary onium containing a polyfluoroalkyl group dissolved in an organic solvent.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 2001
    Date of Patent: June 17, 2003
    Assignee: Asahi Glass Company, Limited
    Inventor: Masashi Matsuo
  • Patent number: 6580600
    Abstract: A capacitance type humidity detecting sensor has two electrodes opposing each other with a gap interposed therebetween to form a capacitor on a silicon substrate with a silicon oxide film formed on a surface thereof. A moisture-sensitive film is formed so as to cover the two electrodes with a silicon nitride film interposed therebetween. The silicon nitride film protects the two electrodes from moisture passing through the moisture-sensitive film. The capacitance formed between the two electrodes changes in accordance with ambient humidity. A switched capacitor circuit formed in a circuit element portion processes a signal indicative of a change in the capacitance formed between the two electrodes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 30, 2002
    Date of Patent: June 17, 2003
    Assignees: Nippon Soken, Inc., Denso Corporation
    Inventors: Inao Toyoda, Hajime Matsuhashi, Kazushi Asami
  • Patent number: 6565701
    Abstract: An ultracapacitor comprises two solid, nonporous current collectors, two porous electrodes separating the collectors, a porous separator between the electrodes and an electrolyte occupying the pores in the electrodes and separator. At least one of the current collectors comprises a conductive metal substrate coated with a metal nitride, carbide or boride coating.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 10, 2000
    Date of Patent: May 20, 2003
    Assignee: General Electric Corporation
    Inventors: Elihu Calfin Jerabek, Mati Mikkor
  • Patent number: 6563695
    Abstract: A tantalum or niobium powder that can provide a porous sintered tantalum or niobium body having a large surface area and involving a lower risk of failure to form a solid electrolyte film, where a material serving as a tantalum or niobium ion source is dissolved in a molten salt, upon which a reducing agent is allowed to act, resulting in reduction to the metal state of the tantalum or niobium ions dissolved in the molten salt, to thereby obtain a tantalum or niobium powder comprising aggregated columnar particles. A tantalum or niobium powder contains radially aggregated particles formed by a plurality of columnar particles aggregated radially.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 8, 2000
    Date of Patent: May 13, 2003
    Assignee: Cabot Supermetals K.K.
    Inventors: Ryosuke O. Suzuki, Rieko Ishii, Tadao Nishiyama, Hitoshi Iijima
  • Patent number: 6558437
    Abstract: A paste of organic solvent with dissolved organic salt and active carbon is formed and a uniform film of the paste is applied onto a substrate by casting the paste into a clearance between a knife blade and the substrate. The paste is evaporated to form a paste electrode for an ultracapacitor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 21, 2001
    Date of Patent: May 6, 2003
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Chang Wei, Elihu Calvin Jerabek, Katherine Dana DeJager, Oliver Harris LeBlanc, Jr.
  • Patent number: 6554875
    Abstract: A process for manufacturing an electric double-layer capacitor with an excellent property of preventing a short circuit between the electrodes, a better ionic permeability and a high strength is provided, said process comprising using, as a separator, a fiber sheet containing a fiber having fibrils and a fine polyester fiber having a fineness of not more than 0.45 dtex (decitex) and drying the separator at a specific temperature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2000
    Date of Patent: April 29, 2003
    Assignees: Japan Vilene Co., Ltd., Power Systems Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Fuminori Kimura, Takeshi Kobayashi, Kouji Kimura, Masahiko Shimizu
  • Patent number: 6535374
    Abstract: Implantable defibrillators are implanted into the chests of patients prone to suffering ventricular fibrillation, a potentially fatal heart condition. A critical component in these devices is an aluminum electrolytic capacitors, which stores and delivers one or more life-saving bursts of electric charge to a fibrillating heart. These capacitors make up about one third the total size of the defibrillators. Unfortunately, conventional manufacturers of these capacitors have paid little or no attention to reducing the size of these capacitors through improved capacitor packaging. Accordingly, the inventors contravened several conventional manufacturing principles and practices to devise unique space-saving packaging that allows dramatic size reduction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 2001
    Date of Patent: March 18, 2003
    Assignee: Cardiac Pacemakers, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael J. O'Phelan, James M. Poplett, Robert R. Tong, Alexander Gordon Barr
  • Patent number: 6532144
    Abstract: In an electric double layer capacitor, at least three frame-shaped gaskets are stacked. A cell member of a pair of polarized electrodes sandwiching a porous separator is accommodated within a central gasket so as to be sandwiched between a pair of current collectors. Upper and lower frame shaped gaskets are adhered on both side edges of the central gasket such that the current collectors are sandwiched and held with two gaskets confronting to seal the inside of the central gasket. A step portion is formed in an inner peripheral end surface of at least one of the gaskets confronting such that each of the side edges of the collectors is received in this step portion, whereby making it easy to position the current collector in the gasket. This step portion also makes it possible to bond the current collector to the gasket at a low stress.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 7, 2001
    Date of Patent: March 11, 2003
    Assignee: NEC TOKIN Corporation
    Inventors: Masako Ohya, Susumu Saitou
  • Patent number: 6529366
    Abstract: A sintered body (10) made of valve action metal powders such as Ta powders, in which an anode lead (11) is embedded in one of wall faces is formed. A dielectric layer (oxide layer) (14) is formed around the metal powders. A manganese dioxide layer (15) is formed around the sintered body in which the dielectric layer is provided on the metal powders. A graphite layer is formed on the manganese dioxide layer. The graphite layer is made by an aqueous graphite layer (16) on the manganese dioxide layer side and a resin graphite layer (17) formed on the aqueous graphite layer. A metal layer (18) is formed on the graphite layer. In such a manner, a capacitor (1) element is formed. Preferably, the graphite layer is burned at a temperature ranging from 230 to 300° C. As a result, an increase in impedance caused by a thermal stress between cathode layers is prevented. Thus, a solid electrolytic capacitor having a small impedance between the anode and the cathode is obtained.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 2001
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2003
    Assignee: Rohm Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Takahiro Nakamura
  • Patent number: 6524498
    Abstract: An electrolyte composition and a solid polymer electrolyte for electric double-layer capacitors are endowed with high ionic conductivity, high tackiness and shape retention. The invention is also directed at a polarizable electrode-forming composition and a polarizable electrode having a high adhesion, high dielectric properties, and excellent shape retention. A high-performance electric double-layer capacitor arrived at using the above compositions and components is additionally disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 22, 2000
    Date of Patent: February 25, 2003
    Assignee: Nisshinbo Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: Kimiyo Hata, Takaya Sato
  • Patent number: 6525924
    Abstract: The invention relates to a device for accumulation of electrical energy. The device is a substantially cylindrical winding of strips. At least one strip is a strip conductor. The device is defined transversally by a substantially cylindrical lateral face and longitudinally by two opposite end faces. Each of the two opposite end faces contains an edge of the strip conductor. In the device, at least one of the edges of at least one strip conductor contains a plurality of teeth. The teeth are disposed on at least one of the end faces and form at least one set in which they are substantially superimposed in a predetermined direction, approximately perpendicular to a plane tangent to the cylindrical face. The teeth constitute a group of elements of electrical connection to a terminal and in which each element extends itself in continuity with the strip conductor which comprises the element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 2001
    Date of Patent: February 25, 2003
    Assignee: Montena Components S.A.
    Inventors: Roland Gallay, Dominique Guillet, Vincent Hermann, Adrian Schneuwly
  • Patent number: 6522523
    Abstract: The invention provides an electric double-layer capacitor comprising a bipolar interelectrode formed by bonding a collector to a carbon electrode with no adhesive put therebetween. The electric double-layer capacitor is so designed that a plurality of combinations of an intermediate electroconductive polymer composite electrode and a separator placed in layers between a pair of terminal electroconductive polymer composite electrodes, wherein; the intermediate electroconductive polymer composite electrode is composed of an electroconductive sheet made of a polymer substance to which electroconductivity is imparted and which has an apparent melt viscosity of from 300 to 3,000,000 poises, and a carbon electrode heat-sealed to at least one surface of the sheet, and the carbon electrode and the separator contain an electrolytic bath infiltrated thereinto.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 2001
    Date of Patent: February 18, 2003
    Assignees: Daiso Co., Ltd., A School Corporation Kansai University
    Inventors: Hiroshi Takatomi, Hiroshi Ohmiya, Takaaki Sakai, Yoshiharu Matsuda
  • Patent number: 6515845
    Abstract: Disclosed herein is the fabrication method of producing nanoporous carbon materials with pore sizes ranging from 2 nanometer to 20 nanometer which can be used as electrode materials for a supercapacitor and an electric double layer capacitors being a kind of supercapacitor. The invention also relates to electric double layer capacitors utilizing these carbon materials as electrodes. The carbon materials presented in the present invention possess regular pores with dimensions ranging in between 2 nm and 20 mm and exhibit high electrical conductivity. These carbon materials shows low equivalent series resistance (ESR) and thus exhibits high charge storage capacity at high charging/discharging current density.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 2000
    Date of Patent: February 4, 2003
    Assignees: Fincell Co., Ltd., Viable Korea Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Seung-Mo Oh, Taeg-Hwan Hyeon, Sang-Jin Han
  • Patent number: 6510043
    Abstract: A method of manufacturing a cylindrical high voltage supercapacitor. An anode and a cathode are provided. At least one bipolar electrode is interposed between the anode and the cathode, and a separator is intervened in each pair of the above electrodes. The anode, the cathode, the bipolar electrode and the separator, as placed in the above order, are wound concentrically into a roll, so as to form the cylindrical high voltage supercapacitor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 7, 2002
    Date of Patent: January 21, 2003
    Assignee: Luxon Energy Devices Corporation
    Inventors: Lin-Ren Shiue, Dien-Shi Wu, Ching-Wen Chao, Li-Ping Li, Ming-Fang Hsieh, Hsing-Chen Chung, Wan-Ting Lo
  • Publication number: 20030011966
    Abstract: The invention is directed to a layer stack for the acceptance of a liquid having a suction layer (1) with high absorbency sufficing for sucking up the liquid from the edge of the layer stack into its middle and having a first storage layer (2) with low absorbency that is not sufficient for sucking up the liquid from the edge of the layer stack up to its middle between which an intermediate layer (3) composed of non-absorbent material and adjoining the first storage layer (3) [sic] is arranged, whereby a non-absorbent edge layer (7) is arranged at that side of the first storage layer (2) facing away from the intermediate layer (3), and whereby the intermediate layer (3) comprises through holes (4) whose plurality, size and distribution is [sic] selected such that some of the liquid suctioned up by the suction layer (1) can proceed via the holes (4) to the first storage layer and thoroughly saturate this.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 26, 2002
    Publication date: January 16, 2003
    Inventor: Norbert Will
  • Patent number: 6507479
    Abstract: An electric double-layer capacitor (EDLC) has a laminated overcoat encapsulating a stacked body including a plurality of basic cells and a pair of terminals sandwiching therebetween the stacked body. The innermost film of the laminated overcoat is thermally fused onto the exposed surfaces of the terminal plates and the stacked body substantially without a gap. The fusing step is conducted by an equal-pressure pressing using a hot water while the internal of the laminated overcoat is evacuated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2001
    Date of Patent: January 14, 2003
    Assignee: NEC Corporation
    Inventors: Takashi Saito, Ryuichi Kasahara
  • Patent number: 6504704
    Abstract: As a cathode foil, an etched aluminum foil is used, where a TiN film is prepared on the surface thereof by cathode arc plasma deposition process. As an anode foil, an etched aluminum foil is used, where a dielectric film is prepared on the surface thereof by a formation process. Winding together the anode foil along with the cathode foil and a separator, a capacitor element is prepared. While placing an organic semiconductor including a desired TCNQ complex sale in a bottomed cylindrical aluminum case and melting the TCNQ complex sale under heating on a heater heated to about 300° C., then, the capacitor element heated to about 250° C. is placed in the aluminum case, to impregnate the capacitor element with the melted TCNQ complex sale and immediately immerse the aluminum case in cooling water to cool and solidify the TCNQ complex salt. Then, the capacitor element is sealed with a resin to prepare a solid electrolytic capacitor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 26, 2001
    Date of Patent: January 7, 2003
    Assignee: Nippon Chem-Con Corporation
    Inventors: Kazuhiro Hatanaka, Kazunori Naraya, Kazuhiro Higuchi
  • Publication number: 20020163773
    Abstract: An electrochemical capacitor includes: an organic electrolyte solution, and an electrode body including polarized electrodes having, as a main component, a partially oxidized carbon material having fine crystals of graphite-like carbon, a separator, and current collectors, the electrode body being immersed in the organic electrolyte solution, and the polarized electrodes expanding in volume due to charge and contracting in volume due to discharge. Mechanical stress is applied to a carbon material having fine crystals of graphite-like carbon to introduce cracks and/or fractures thereinto, and the carbon material is partially oxidized to give a raw material for the polarized electrodes. The electrochemical capacitor can contribute to an increase in capacity of the capacitor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 5, 2002
    Publication date: November 7, 2002
    Applicant: NGK Insulators, Ltd.
    Inventors: Yusuke Niiori, Hiroyuki Katsukawa
  • Patent number: 6469888
    Abstract: A non-aqueous electrolyte electric double-layer capacitor in which there is no danger of being ignited, bursting or catching flame at the time of a short-circuit, has low internal resistance, superior properties at low temperatures, and is self-extinguishable or incombustible. In a first aspect, a non-aqueous electrolyte includes a non-aqueous electrolyte having a phosphazene derivative. In a second aspect, a potential window of the phosphazene derivative is a range having a lower limit of +0.5 or lower and an upper limit of +4.5 or higher, and a potential window of the organic solvent has a wider range than the potential window of the phosphazene derivative. In a third aspect, a conductivity of a quaternary ammonium salt solution (0.5 mol/l) is 2.0 mS/cm. In a fourth aspect, a permittivity thereof at a temperature of 25° C. is 15 or higher and a viscosity thereof is 20 mPa·s (20 cP) or lower.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 2000
    Date of Patent: October 22, 2002
    Assignee: Bridgestone Corporation
    Inventors: Masashi Otsuki, Shigeki Endo, Takao Ogino
  • Patent number: 6466428
    Abstract: A multilayer cell is provided that comprises two solid, nonporous current collectors, two porous electrodes separating the current collectors, a porous separator between the electrodes and an electrolyte occupying pores in the electrodes and separator. The mutilayer cell is electrolyzed to disassociate water within the cell to oxygen gas and hydrogen gas. A vacuum is applied to the cell substantially at the same time as the electrolyzing step, to remove the oxygen gas and hydrogen gas. The cell is then sealed to form a ultracapacitor substantially free from water.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 5, 2000
    Date of Patent: October 15, 2002
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Chang Wei, Elihu Calvin Jerabek, James Day