Abstract: Systems and methods for charging and discharging a plurality of batteries are described herein. In some embodiments, a system includes a battery module, an energy storage system electrically coupled to the battery module, a power source, and a controller. The energy storage system is operable in a first operating state in which energy is transferred from the energy storage system to the battery module to charge the battery module, and a second operating state in which energy is transferred from the battery module to the energy storage system to discharge the battery module. The power source electrically coupled to the energy storage system and is configured to transfer energy from the power source to the energy storage system based on an amount of stored energy in the energy storage system. The controller is operably coupled to the battery module and is configured to monitor and control a charging state of the battery module.

Abstract: Embodiments described herein relate generally to electrodes for electrochemical cells, the electrodes including an electrode material disposed on a current collector. In some embodiments, an electrode includes an edge protection barrier member on a perimeter of a surface of the current collector. The barrier member forms a wall along the main edge(s) of the current collector, defining an inner region bounded by the barrier member and the top surface of the current collector, and the electrode material occupies the inner region.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image holding member, a charging unit that charges the surface of the image holding member, an electrostatic charge image forming unit that forms an electrostatic charge image on the charged surface of the image holding member, a developing unit that includes a developer containing toner particles containing a release agent having a melting temperature ranging from 60° C. to 100° C.

Abstract: A game system 100 to which an image display system is applied contains a head-mounted display 300 having a camera for capturing a real world and a display for displaying video information obtained by integrating real-world video information captured by the capturing part with virtual-world video information, a motion sensor 400 for detecting movement of a body of a wearer wearing the head-mounted display 300 as movement information and a marker 200 used for detecting position information of the wearer. The game system 100 controls the virtual-world video information based on the movement information and the position information. According to this configuration, it is possible to control the video information displayed on the head-mounted display according to the position and the movement of the wearer. Further, the present invention provides a method for controlling the image display system, an image distribution system and a head-mounted display.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image carrier that includes a conductive substrate, and a photosensitive layer and a surface protection layer; a developing device that includes an electrostatic image developer containing a toner, and develops the electrostatic image to form a toner image. The toner contains an amorphous polyester resin and has a weight average molecular weight Mw in a range of from 25,000 to 60,000, and a ratio of the weight average molecular weight Mw to a number average molecular weight Mn (Mw/Mn) is in a range of from 5 to 10. In the toner, a ratio of an absorbance for a wavelength of 1500 cm?1 to an absorbance for a wavelength of 720 cm?1 is 0.6 or less, and a ratio of an absorbance for a wavelength of 820 cm?1 to the absorbance for a wavelength of 720 cm?1 is 0.4 or less.

Abstract: Embodiments described herein relate generally to systems and methods for continuously and/or semi-continuously manufacturing semi-solid electrodes and batteries incorporating semi-solid electrodes. In some embodiments, the process of manufacturing a semi-solid electrode includes continuously dispensing a semi-solid electrode slurry onto a current collector, separating the semi-solid electrode slurry into discrete portions, and cutting the current collector to form a finished electrode.

Abstract: Embodiments described herein relate generally to devices, systems and methods of producing high energy density batteries having a semi-solid cathode that is thicker than the anode. An electrochemical cell can include a positive electrode current collector, a negative electrode current collector and an ion-permeable membrane disposed between the positive electrode current collector and the negative electrode current collector. The ion-permeable membrane is spaced a first distance from the positive electrode current collector and at least partially defines a positive electroactive zone. The ion-permeable membrane is spaced a second distance from the negative electrode current collector and at least partially defines a negative electroactive zone. The second distance is less than the first distance.

Abstract: Embodiments described herein relate generally to electrochemical cells having pre-lithiated semi-solid electrodes, and particularly to semi-solid electrodes that are pre-lithiated during the mixing of the semi-solid electrode slurry such that a solid-electrolyte interface (SEI) layer is formed in the semi-solid electrode before the electrochemical cell formation. In some embodiments, a semi-solid electrode includes about 20% to about 90% by volume of an active material, about 0% to about 25% by volume of a conductive material, about 10% to about 70% by volume of a liquid electrolyte, and lithium (as lithium metal, a lithium-containing material, and/or a lithium metal equivalent) in an amount sufficient to substantially pre-lithiate the active material. The lithium metal is configured to form a solid-electrolyte interface (SEI) layer on a surface of the active material before an initial charging cycle of an electrochemical cell that includes the semi-solid electrode.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image holding member; a charging unit; an electrostatic image forming unit; a developing unit; a transfer unit; and a fixing unit that fixes the toner image on the recording medium. The toner has an amorphous polyester resin and has a weight-average molecular weight Mw in a range of 25,000 to 60,000, a ratio Mw/Mn is within a range of 5 to 10, a ratio of an absorbance at a wavenumber of 1500 cm?1 to an absorbance at a wavenumber of 720 cm?1 is 0.6 or less, and a ratio of an absorbance at a wavenumber of 820 cm?1 to the absorbance at a wavenumber of 720 cm?1 is 0.4 or less. The fixing unit includes a heat roll having an elastic component, an endless belt and a pressure pad that is disposed on an inner side of the endless belt.

Abstract: Embodiments described herein relate generally to devices, systems and methods of producing high energy density electrodes including a first electrode material disposed on a current collector and having a first porosity, and a second electrode material disposed on the first electrode material and having a second porosity less than the first porosity. In some embodiments, the second electrode material includes a mixture of an active material and a conductive material in a liquid electrolyte. In some embodiments, the first electrode materials can have a different composition than the second electrode material. In some embodiments, the first electrode material can include a high-capacity material such as tin, silicon antimony, aluminum, or titanium oxide. In some embodiments, a lithium-containing material can be disposed between the first electrode material and the second electrode material.

Abstract: Embodiments described herein relate generally to electrochemical cells including a selectively permeable membrane and systems and methods for manufacturing the same. In some embodiments, the selectively permeable membrane can include a solid-state electrolyte material. In some embodiments, electrochemical cells can include a cathode disposed on a cathode current collector, an anode disposed on an anode current collector, and the selectively permeable membrane disposed therebetween. In some embodiments, the cathode and/or anode can include a slurry of an active material and a conductive material in a liquid electrolyte. In some embodiments, a catholyte can be different from an anolyte. In some embodiments, the catholyte can be optimized to improve the redox electrochemistry of the cathode and the anolyte can be optimized to improve the redox electrochemistry of the anode. In some embodiments, the selectively permeable membrane can be configured to isolate the catholyte from the anolyte.

Abstract: Apparatus, systems, and methods described herein relate to the manufacture and use of single pouch battery cells. In some embodiments, an electrochemical cell includes a first current collector coupled to a first portion of a pouch, the first current collector having a first electrode material disposed thereon, a second current collector coupled to a second portion of the pouch, the second current collector having a second electrode material disposed thereon, and a separator disposed between the first electrode material and the second electrode material. The first portion of the pouch is coupled to the second portion of the pouch to enclose the electrochemical cell.

Abstract: Systems and methods for charging and discharging a plurality of batteries are described herein. In some embodiments, a system includes a battery module, an energy storage system electrically coupled to the battery module, a power source, and a controller. The energy storage system is operable in a first operating state in which energy is transferred from the energy storage system to the battery module to charge the battery module, and a second operating state in which energy is transferred from the battery module to the energy storage system to discharge the battery module. The power source electrically coupled to the energy storage system and is configured to transfer energy from the power source to the energy storage system based on an amount of stored energy in the energy storage system. The controller is operably coupled to the battery module and is configured to monitor and control a charging state of the battery module.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image holding member; a charging unit; an electrostatic image forming unit; a developing unit; a transfer unit; and a fixing unit that fixes the toner image on the recording medium. The toner has an amorphous polyester resin and has a weight-average molecular weight Mw in a range of 25,000 to 60,000, a ratio Mw/Mn is within a range of 5 to 10, a ratio of an absorbance at a wavenumber of 1500 cm?1 to an absorbance at a wavenumber of 720 cm?1 is 0.6 or less, and a ratio of an absorbance at a wavenumber of 820 cm?1 to the absorbance at a wavenumber of 720 cm?1 is 0.4 or less. The fixing unit includes a heat roll having an elastic component, an endless belt and a pressure pad that is disposed on an inner side of the endless belt.

Abstract: A charge remaining in an electrostatic coater when power supply to the electrostatic coater is stopped is neutralized at an early stage. A rotary atomizing head 102 receives a high voltage of negative polarity from a cascade 104. An electrostatic coater 100 further includes a second high-voltage generator 110 that generates a high voltage of positive polarity. The second high-voltage generator 110 is composed of a Cockcroft-Walton circuit. The Cockcroft-Walton circuit is composed of diodes and capacitors. A high voltage of the electrostatic coater 100 is controlled by a controller 10. Immediately after running of the electrostatic coater 100 is stopped by stopping power supply to the cascade 104, power is supplied to the second high-voltage generator 110. The high voltage of positive polarity generated by the second high-voltage generator 110 is supplied to the rotary atomizing head 102 for a predetermined time period.

Abstract: Embodiments described herein relate generally to electrochemical cells having semi-solid electrodes that include a gel polymer additive such that the electrodes demonstrate longer cycle life while significantly retaining the electronic performance of the electrodes and the electrochemical cells formed therefrom. In some embodiments, a semi-solid electrode can include about 20% to about 75% by volume of an active material, about 0.5% to about 25% by volume of a conductive material, and about 20% to about 70% by volume of an electrolyte. The electrolyte further includes about 0.01% to about 1.5% by weight of a polymer additive. In some embodiments, the electrolyte can include about 0.1% to about 0.7% of the polymer additive.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image holding member, a charging device, an electrostatic charge image forming device, a developing device having a toner, a transfer device, and a fixing device, wherein the fixing device includes a fixing belt, a rotational member, and a heater; the toner contains an amorphous polyester resin as a binder resin; and the toner has a weight average molecular weight Mw and a number average molecular weight Mn, Mw is from 25000 to 60000, and Mw/Mn is from 5 to 10, and has an infrared absorption spectrometry, the ratio of absorbance for a wavelength of 1500 cm?1 to absorbance for a wavelength of 720 cm?1 is 0.6 or less, and the ratio of absorbance for a wavelength of 820 cm?1 to absorbance for a wavelength of 720 cm?1 is 0.4 or less.

Abstract: A charge remaining in an electrostatic coater when power supply to the electrostatic coater is stopped is neutralized at an early stage. A rotary atomizing head 102 receives a high voltage of negative polarity from a cascade 104. An electrostatic coater 100 further includes a second high-voltage generator 110 that generates a high voltage of positive polarity. The second high-voltage generator 110 is composed of a Cockcroft-Walton circuit. The Cockcroft-Walton circuit is composed of diodes and capacitors. A high voltage of the electrostatic coater 100 is controlled by a controller 10. Immediately after running of the electrostatic coater 100 is stopped by stopping power supply to the cascade 104, power is supplied to the second high-voltage generator 110. The high voltage of positive polarity generated by the second high-voltage generator 110 is supplied to the rotary atomizing head 102 for a predetermined time period.

Abstract: An energy storage device includes: a container; a terminal disposed outside the container or a current collector disposed inside the container; a conductive member penetrating the container and connected to the current collector or the terminal; and a fixing member joining the current collector or the terminal and the conductive member to each other.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image forming unit including an image carrier, a developing device that includes a developer containing a toner, and a cleaning device including a blade; and a transfer device. The toner contains toner particles having a volume-average particle size of 3 ?m or more and 5 ?m or less, a spherical inorganic external additive having a number-average particle size of 80 nm to 200 nm, and an organic component. In the cleaning device, an external additive residue in or near a contact region between the image carrier and the blade contains the organic component and an inorganic component, the area ratio of the organic component to the inorganic component is 3/7 or more and 7/3 or less, and the area ratio of the inorganic component that is spherical to the external additive residue is 30% or more.