Abstract: A tire having an electroluminescent device includes an electroluminescent lamp, a driver, and a power supply including a piezoelectric fiber matrix for pulsing the device to flash and for generating power to energize the device. The device may be integrated in a rubber patch that is mounted to the tire sidewall, cured to the tire sidewall, or mounted in a recess or other prepared location.

Abstract: A tire with radial carcass reinforcement having beads with a heel portion on an axially inner side and a toe portion on an axially outer side includes two carcass reinforcement plies for tension in higher sidewall tires. The bead includes at least one bead wire coated with a rubber mix, a wedge formed of a rubber mix disposed axially outward of the at least one bead wire, and at least one rubber filler located axially and radially outward of the bead wire and wedge. The wedge is defined by two sides extending at an acute angle axially from an apex A located beneath the section of the at least one bead wire, the rubber mix forming the wedge having a Shore A hardness of at least 65 and greater than the Shore A hardness of the at least one rubber filler.

Abstract: The invention relates to a pneumatic tire wherein the crown has a ply comprised of substantially circumferentially oriented cords which are spirally wound. The winding pitch p of said cords is greater than 2.5 times the cord diameter &PHgr;. The tread compound is applied directly on said cords. This arrangement facilitates tire fabrication and assures good adherence between the tread compound and the rest of the crown of the tire.

Abstract: An article comprised of a material that can be wetted by electrolyte solutions contains indicator substances sensitive to acid, caustic and or salt solutes that are present in said electrolyte solutions: said articles are employed as whole or partial encapsulation for devices, especially electrochemical cells, and thereby provide an enhanced alerting function for electrolyte leaks and spills.

Abstract: A battery charger (100) suitable for sub-miniaturization and connection to a wall transformer power supply (20) to charge a battery (30). The battery charger (100) features a switch (130) that controls flow of current from the transformer (20) either to output terminals for charging the battery (30) or to ground, a voltage regulator (120), a microprocessor (110), a current sensing resistor (150) and a Schottky diode (140). The microprocessor (110) is coupled to the switch (130) to control whether the switch is open or closed. The secondary leakage inductance of the wall transformer (20) is exploited to control charging of the battery. The microprocessor (110) is programmed to initiate a charging mode comprising oscillation between a conduction interval and a flyback interval. A charging pulse is delivered to the battery (30) during the flyback interval.

Abstract: A method (50) of fabricating a microscopically dense amorphous carbon material for use as an electrode (20) in an electrochemical cell (10) includes the steps of mixing a lignin material with a matrix-enhancing salt, and subsequently heating (72) the mixture.

Abstract: A battery charger system (10) consisting of a power supply unit (20) and a battery charger unit (70). The power supply unit (20) features a current profile generator (26) that defines a current profile of the output current of the power supply unit (20). The battery charger system (10) provides a unique way of communicating charging current demand between the battery charger unit (70) and the power supply unit (20). The power supply unit (20) is capable of determining the charging current demand by detecting specific logical operating states of the battery charger unit (70), and comparing the current to a set threshold. The battery charger unit (70) communicates charging current demand to the power supply unit (20), and the power supply unit (20) responds by adjusting its output current to meet the required demand.

Abstract: A series-resonant power converter (10) comprising a transformer (100), a resonant tank circuit (120) having a piezo-electric crystal (122) as the resonant element and a series-connected resonant capacitor (124). First and second switches (132 and 134) are connected to the transformer (100) and are driven by voltages at windings of the transformer so as to alternately turn on. The piezo-electric crystal (122) self-oscillates to store and release energy and thereby charge and discharge the capacitor (124). Moreover, as a result of the self-oscillation of the resonant circuit (120), the switches (132 and 134) are alternately driven in synchronism with the charging and discharging cycle of the capacitor (122) through windings of the transformer (100). No additional switching circuitry is needed to achieve proper oscillation of the resonant tank circuit (120).

Abstract: A battery housing is described comprising a frame, a top cover, and a bottom cover, wherein the frame has a ledge at its bottom, and an arch formed on one or more walls of the frame. The top cover has one or more rod-shaped projections protruding downward from the bottom side of the top cover, each projection having a ridge at the distal end of the projection. The bottom cover of the housing is wedged between the ledge and the arch, and the top cover of the housing fits onto the frame. Each rod is slid through a corresponding opening in the arch, and the ridge at the distal end of each rod slides through and past the opening of each arch, locking the rod in place vis-a-vis the arch.