Abstract:
The composite electrolyte for use in a thin plate rechargeable lithium battery comprises a porous or micro-porous inert, multi-layered polymer separator laminate which carries an adherent second polymer coating containing a dissociable lithium compound, and the multi-layered separator having adherent solid second polymer layer, is impregnated with an organic liquid containing another lithium salt. The porous or micro-porous separator laminate is made of multiple polymer layers, at least one of the member layers having melting temperature at least 20-C below the melting temperature of the other polymer member layers. The composite porous electrolyte is inserted between the electrodes of a rechargeable lithium battery. In another embodiment the porous polymer separator sheet has an adherent, dissociable lithium compound containing, solid second polymer layer on each of its major faces.
Abstract:
An electrical energy storage device for storing electrical energy and supplying the electrical energy to a driving motor at different power levels is disclosed. The electrical storage device has an energy battery connected to a power battery. The energy battery has a higher energy density than the power battery. However, the power battery can provide electrical power to the electrical motor at different power rates, thereby ensuring that the motor has sufficient power and current when needed. The power battery can be recharged by the energy storage battery. In this way, the power battery temporarily stores electrical energy received from the energy battery and both batteries can provide electrical energy at the different power rates as required by the motor. The energy storage device can be releasably connected to an external power source in order to recharge both batteries. Both batteries can be recharged independently to optimize the recharging and lifetime characteristics of the batteries.
Abstract:
A matted particulate electrode located between the current collector and a porous separator of a rechargeable lithium battery is described, which contains electro-active particles intermixed with pliable, solid, lithium ion conducting, polymer electrolyte filaments having adhesive surfaces. The electro-active particles and the optionally added electro-conductive carbon particles adhere to the tacky surface of the adhesively interlinking polymer electrolyte filaments. The matted particulate electrode is impregnated with an organic solution containing another lithium compound. In a second embodiment the porous separator is coated on at least one of its faces, with polymer electrolyte having an adhesive surface and made of the same polymer as the electrolyte filaments. The polymer electrolyte filaments in the matted layer may adhere to the coated surface of the separator. In addition the polymer coating is partially filling the pores of the porous electrolyte, but leaving sufficient space in the pores for the organic solution to penetrate the separator of the lithium battery.
Abstract:
A composition for hard, sintered, tough and wear resistant ceramic articles is described. The composition is comprised of alumina, titanium carbonitride and filaments of titanium diboride or titanium nitride. The ceramic articles made of this composition are isostatically hot pressed or sintered at high temperature in inert gas. The density of the ceramic articles is usually in excess of 99% theoretical density and the hardness is greater than 20 GPa. The process was applied to manufacture ceramic cutting inserts of the above composition.
Abstract:
An ultra-high-efficiency switching power supply system integrating, into a single package, power conversion switches for multiple power supplies, an input power switching block, an output power switching block, control logic for controlling the power conversion switches and control input/output ports. This integrated multiple power supply package is called a Power Bridge and preferably implements the integrated components as one or more integrated circuit chips housed in the package housing. The Power Bridge is a bridge between the microprocessor of a portable computer and its internal and external power sources. The power supply system facilitates board design because the ultra-high-efficiency power module generally requires less space and generates less heat than conventional power supply circuitry. The power supply module improves power management because of improved communications connections between the power supply module control circuitry and other components, such as busses, other bridge modules and embedded controllers.
Abstract:
A high efficiency switching power supply including an analog front end, a battery control circuitry portion, a display and equalization circuitry portion, field effect transistor (FET) drivers, an isolated power supply transformer circuitry (and three associated sets of tap circuitry), microcontroller circuitry, oscillator circuitry, overcharge protection circuitry, programmable logic circuitry portion, and a zero current predictor. Overbiasing of the FET power supply switches, and/or other various circuitry features disclosed herein, helps achieve electrical power efficiencies of preferably greater than 95%, even more preferably greater than 98% and even more preferably greater than 99%. Preferably, the switching power supply has one or more of the following: (1) high electrical power efficiency (>95%. >98%, >99%); (2) overbiasing of a gate of a power supply switch; (3) a power supply switch with a low gate capacitance ratio; (4) multiple modes of operation; and (5) current prediction wherein an inductor voltage is used to control a constant current capacitor whose voltage indicates the level of current in the inductor.
Abstract:
The preparation of amorphous lithium-manganese oxide compound is described having lithium to manganese ratio between 0.4 and 1.5 and particle size less than 5 .mu.m. The amorphous lithium-manganese oxide compound is to be utilized in a non-aqueous rechargeable lithium battery.
Abstract:
A ceramic heating rate regulator for electrically powered thermal treatment operations is described. The regulator is made of a ceramic mixture containing molybdenum disilicide, which is an electrically conductive substance undergoing crystal structure transformation above 700.degree. C. The regulator comprises an elongated ceramic rod containing high concentration of molybdenum disilicide, the rod is subsequently insulated by a ceramic cylinder which contains silicon nitride and low concentrations of molybdenum disilicide. The regulator when incorporated in the heating circuit of the thermal treatment furnace will itself heat up and thus reduce the size of the heating current flowing in the circuit, as soon as the temperature of the regulator has reached the transformation temperature of molybdenum disilicide. The heating rate regulator is designed to be used in conjunction with conventional temperature controlling devices.
Abstract:
An electrically conducting ceramic composition is described which can be utilized in an exhaust gas filter. The ceramic composition is compacted into discs or ceramic plates, are subsequently fired or sintered and then equipped with electrodes. Electrode leads are attached to the sintered filter discs or plates bearing electrodes which are subsequently connected to a power source. The ceramic filter discs or plates are supported and enclosed in a metallic housing. In another embodiment an insulator ring is placed between the housing and the ceramic filter plate. The housing enclosing the ceramic filter or filters, and equipped with electrodes and appropriate leads, is incorporated in the exhaust system of an internal combustion engine. The ceramic filter is used for trapping combustible carbon particles carried by the exhaust gas emanating from the engine. The carbon particles collected by the filter can be eliminated by heat generated electrically by means of an electrical current being passed through the filter between the electrodes when so desired.
Abstract:
The terminals of a thin plate rechargeable lithium battery are coated with a heat-sealable polymer. The coating forms a band on each face of the terminals and the band is heat-sealed to the inner insulator layers of a multi-layered polymer laminate enclosing the thin plate rechargeable lithium battery at a location close to an open edge of the insulator layer. Small sheets of rigid, high melting point, polymeric materials are inserted between the bands of coating carried by the terminals and the edge of the multi-layered laminate enclosing the lithium battery. A portion of the sheets of polymeric material is adhesively attached to the face of the terminal adjacent the bands of coating. The open edges of the multi-layered polymer laminate enclosure are subsequently sealed to enclose completely the thin plate lithium battery.