Abstract: Electrical fuse indicators, systems and methods for detecting when fuses enter an open state involve a wireless identification element, which alerts a communication unit that the fuse has entered an open state. The wireless identification device may include an antenna. The antenna may be in contact with a fuse element, such that opening of the fuse element renders the antenna inoperable. Alternatively the antenna may be connected to the fuse element in such a manner that opening of the fuse element alters the frequency on which the antenna transmits. A logic port may also be used to detect the operational state of a fuse. Use of such indicators is compatible with existing infrastructure.

Abstract: Provided are active balancing modules that control voltage imbalances between capacitors stacked in a series arrangement and methods for their manufacture. These modules are simple and inexpensive to manufacture, and versatile. They may be used alone or they may be combined together to form a multi-module active balancing circuitry for a plurality of capacitors stacked in a series arrangement. The modules may further be aligned in either a side-by-side topology or an overlapping topology.

Abstract: Electrical fuse indicators used to detect when fuses enter an open state. Each fuse in an electrical system may be connected to a wireless identification element, which alerts a communication unit that the fuse has entered an open state. The wireless identification device may include an antenna. The antenna may be in contact with a fuse element, such that opening of the fuse element renders the antenna inoperable. Alternatively the antenna may be connected to the fuse element in such a manner that opening of the fuse element alters the frequency on which the antenna transmits. A logic port may also be used to detect the operational state of a fuse. Use of such indicators is compatible with existing infrastructure.

Abstract: Provided are active balancing modules that control voltage imbalances between capacitors stacked in a series arrangement and methods for their manufacture. These modules are simple and inexpensive to manufacture, and versatile. They may be used alone or they may be combined together to form a multi-module active balancing circuitry for a plurality of capacitors stacked in a series arrangement. The modules may further be aligned in either a side-by-side topology or an overlapping topology.

Abstract: Provided are electrochemical (e.g., double layer capacitor) cell designs, and methods of their manufacture, which reduce both cell size and impedance while maintaining inter-electrode dielectric integrity and cell performance and facilitating manufacturing. The designs adapt mircofabrication techniques from the field of semiconductor fabrication in order to form and pattern thin dielectric films on electrodes. Existing microfabrication techniques allow for the formation of dielectric (e.g., polyimide) films having a thickness of about 1 to 2 microns. Dielectric films formed on electrodes may be patterned according to well known procedures in the semiconductor fabrication field to provide area for unimpeded ion exchange between the electrodes. The patterning may produce contiguous or noncontiguous dielectric layers between the electrodes having porosity of about 30 to 80%, preferably about 60 to 80% while dielectric integrity is maintained.

Abstract: Provided are electrochemical (e.g., double layer capacitor) cell designs and methods of their manufacture, which reduce cell impedance and increase volumetric capacitance while maintaining inter-electrode dielectric integrity and cell performance. The designs eliminate the contiguous separator material used as the dielectric between the electrodes in conventional double layer capacitor cells. The separator is replaced by a noncontiguous array of dielectric particles, such as glass beads or fibers, sized and distributed to provide substantially uniform separation between the electrodes. The remaining space between the electrodes unoccupied by the dielectric particles is filled with electrolyte. In this way, a much greater proportion of the dielectric space between the electrodes is available for ionic transport. Glass beads and fibers are available with diameters less than that available for currently-used separator materials.

Abstract: Provided are electrochemical capacitor cells that provide direct external electrical connection to their electrodes and methods for their manufacture. These cells are lightweight, simple and inexpensive to manufacture, and versatile. They may be used alone or they may be stacked to form bipolar stacked capacitors.

Abstract: Provided are electrochemical (e.g., double layer capacitor) cell designs, and methods of their manufacture, which reduce both cell size and impedance while maintaining inter-electrode dielectric integrity and cell performance and facilitating manufacturing. The designs adapt mircofabrication techniques from the field of semiconductor fabrication in order to form and pattern thin dielectric films on electrodes. Existing microfabrication techniques allow for the formation of dielectric (e.g., polyimide) films having a thickness of about 1 to 2 microns. Dielectric films formed on electrodes may be patterned according to well known procedures in the semiconductor fabrication field to provide area for unimpeded ion exchange between the electrodes. The patterning may produce contiguous or noncontiguous dielectric layers between the electrodes having porosity of about 30 to 80%, preferably about 60 to 80% while dielectric integrity is maintained.

Abstract: Provided are electrochemical (e.g., double layer capacitor) cell designs and methods of their manufacture, which reduce cell impedance and increase volumetric capacitance while maintaining inter-electrode dielectric integrity and cell performance. The designs eliminate the contiguous separator material used as the dielectric between the electrodes in conventional double layer capacitor cells. The separator is replaced by a noncontiguous array of dielectric particles, such as glass beads or fibers, sized and distributed to provide substantially uniform separation between the electrodes. The remaining space between the electrodes unoccupied by the dielectric particles is filled with electrolyte. In this way, a much greater proportion of the dielectric space between the electrodes is available for ionic transport. Glass beads and fibers are available with diameters less than that available for currently-used separator materials.

Abstract: A liquid crystal projection display, having (a) a light source for producing light of at least two different primary colors; (b) an imaging element corresponding to each primary color light produced by the light source, each imaging element comprising plural pixel elements, each pixel element comprising liquid crystal composition dispersed in plural volumes in a containment medium and being independently addressable to primarily scatter light incident thereon in the absence of a sufficient electric field and to primarily transmit light incident thereon in the presence of a sufficient electric field; and (c) a lens for projecting light transmitted by each imaging element onto a screen; the liquid crystal composition in the pixel elements of the imaging element corresponding to the primary color light of longest wavelength including a pleochroic dye of a color complementary to the primary color light of longest wavelength, which pleochroic dye preferentially absorbs incident light which has not been scattered b

Abstract: An active matrix liquid crystal display having improved performance properties is made using an encapsulated liquid crystal structure comprising a containment medium having dispersed therein a liquid crystal composition having an average dielectric constant greater than about 6 and other specified characteristics.

Abstract: A device assembly in which a plurality of PTC circuit protection devices are connected in series. Assemblies of this type are useful in providing protection under voltage conditions which would be unsafe for an individual protection device. In a preferred system the device assembly is connected in series with a circuit breaker.

Abstract: In order to increase the stability of a device comprising at least one electrode and a conductive polymer composition in contact therewith, the contact resistance between the electrode and the composition should be reduced. This can be achieved by contacting the molten polymer composition with the electrode while the electrode is at a temperature above the melting point of the composition. Preferably, the polymer composition is melt-extruded over the electrode or electrodes, as for example when extruding the composition over a pair of pre-heated wires.

Abstract: In order to increase the stability of a device comprising at least one electrode and a conductive polymer composition in contact therewith, the contact resistance between the electrode and the composition should be reduced. This can be achieved by contacting the molten polymer composition with the electrode while the electrode is at a temperature above the melting point of the composition. Preferably, the polymer composition is melt-extruded over the electrode or electrodes, as for example when extruding the composition over a pair of pre-heated stranded wires.

Abstract: In order to increase the stability of a device comprising at least one electrode and a conductive polymer composition in contact therewith, the contact resistance between the electrode and the composition should be reduced. This can be achieved by contacting the molten polymer composition with the electrode while the electrode is at a temperature above the melting point of the composition. Preferably, the polymer composition is melt-extruded over the electrode or electrodes, as for example when extruding the composition over a pair of pre-heated stranded wires.

Abstract: Self-regulating electrical strip heaters which comprise at least two elongate conductors and at least one elongate resistive heating strip which contacts the conductors alternately as it progresses down the length of the heater. The conductors can be separated from each other by an insulating strip, with the heating strip being wrapped around the conductors and the insulating strip. Alternatively the conductors can be wrapped around a core comprising the heating strip and an insulating strip. The self-regulating characteistic of the heater preferably results from use of a PTC material, particularly a PTC conductive polymer in the heating strip. Preferably the junctions between the conductors and the heating strip are coated with a low resistivity conductive polymer composition.

Abstract: In order to increase the stability of a device comprising at least one electrode and a conductive polymer composition in contact therewith, the contact resistance between the electrode and the composition should be reduced. This can be achieved by contacting the molten polymer composition with the electrode while the electrode is at a temperature above the melting point of the composition. Preferably, the polymer composition is melt-extruded over the electrode or electrodes, as for example when extruding the composition over a pair of pre-heated stranded wires.