Abstract: An appliance, such as a flashlight, accepts first and second batteries. The appliance also includes an electrical load, such as a light source. A first circuit, such as a DC to DC converter, receives power from the first battery and supplies power to the load. A second circuit, such as a DC to DC converter, receives power from the second battery and supplies electrical power to the load. In one embodiment, the appliance accepts batteries having multiple physical sizes.

Abstract: A solid oxide fuel cell system includes at least one fuel cell and at least one gas flow channel to deliver a reactant mixture. The fuel cell comprises at least one chamber to house at least one anode, at least one cathode, and at least one electrolyte, and the fuel cell is adapted to receive a reactant mixture comprising reactants mixed prior to delivery to the fuel cell. The one or more gas flow channels for delivering the reactant mixture have characteristic dimensions that are less than a quench distance of the reactant mixture at an operating temperature within the solid oxide fuel cell system.

Abstract: An auxiliary power supply (150) includes an auxiliary battery (152), power supply circuitry (154), and a connector (108b). The power supply circuitry (154) supplies an output which provides electrical energy for powering the electrical circuitry (102) of a battery powered device (100) and for recharging a battery (104) associated therewith. In one embodiment, the power supply circuitry (154) supplies an output current which is a function of the charge state of the auxiliary battery (152) and a load current presented by the electrical circuitry (102).

Abstract: A system includes a power source (102), a power supply (103), and an electrical appliance (106). The power supply (103) uses power from the power source (102) to supply power to the electrical appliance (106). The devices carry out one or more of operations such as power converter disconnect, load shifting, power supply capability determination, and load prioritization operations.

Abstract: A lighting device in the form of a handheld flashlight is provided that includes a plurality of light sources. The lighting device also has a tail cap that engages the main body by way of a cam lock wheel to provide a closure to the battery compartment. A ribbon having four traces couples a bottom switch and negative contacts to control circuitry. The lighting device further includes multiple modes of operation having a plurality of switches that provide control in various lighting modes. The lighting device is configured to be powered by one number of batteries supplying a first voltage output and is configured to be powered by a second different number of batteries supplying a second different voltage output, and the batteries are installed in battery compartments.

Abstract: An electrical device (100) includes a housing (102), a battery receiving region (104), device electrical circuitry (112), an energy converter (110), and an energy limiter (108). The battery receiving region (104), the circuitry (112), the energy converter (110) and the energy limiter (108) are located within the housing (102). The energy converter (110) has an input dynamic range for supplied electrical energy and converts the energy to a level suitable for powering the device circuitry (112). The energy limiter (108) limits the supplied electrical energy.

Abstract: A lighting device (100) includes a housing (100), a battery receiving region (108), an active electrical circuit (202), and a light source (118). The active electrical circuit (202) uses energy from batteries (110) received in the batter receiving region (110) of the flashlight (100) to power the light source (118). The electrical circuitry of the flashlight (110) is energy limited so that the flashlight is intrinsically safe for use in hazardous locations.

Abstract: An alkaline electrochemical cell capable of providing optimum run times at both high drain rates and low drain rates is disclosed. In one embodiment, the cell's gelled anode incorporates a limited quantity of zinc powder having specific physical characteristics that enable it to discharge efficiently over a wide range of electrical discharge conditions. The anode may also include an electrolyte that is selected to improve the zinc's discharge efficiency.

Abstract: A lighting device is generally illustrated having a light body having forward facing light sources including a visible white light source, visible colored light source and an infrared light source. Additionally, a side facing light source is provided. The light body also includes switches for activating the visible light sources and a three-position switch for activating the IR light source and the side facing light source. A light source has a first lens. Additionally, a second lens is included in a light illumination path of the light source to focus light illumination into a desired beam. The lighting device further includes a light transparent gel disposed between the first lens and the second lens for enhancing efficiency of light transmission from the first lens to the second lens.