Abstract: A tracking circuit for a power supply comprises an inverter (68), a summing network (70), and a driver circuit (72). The inverter inverts a feedback voltage, which is a variable load voltage level, about an inverter reference voltage level to provide an inverter output voltage level. The inverter output voltage level is summed or averaged with the output voltage of the power supply with respect to the voltage of the return line (54) to provide a summing voltage. The driver circuit signals the primary control circuit (35) to adjust the power supply output voltage level so that the summing voltage is held constant and equal with a driver reference voltage level.

Abstract: An electrochemical cell is provided with first (10) and second (11) electrodes and a solid polymer electrolyte (15) disposed therebetween. The solid polymer electrolyte is preferably fabricated by providing a linear powdered polymeric precursor material which is thereafter heated to temperatures sufficient to drive off moisture and in the presence of an electrolyte active species. The electrolyte active species is preferably an acidic electrolyte active species which has the effect of protonating the powdered polymeric precursor material. Electrochemical cells fabricated using these devices demonstrate performance characteristics far better than those available in the prior art.

Abstract: A secondary battery (100) includes a cell (110) having a positive terminal (115) and a negative terminal (120), a device (130, 140) for coupling the positive terminal (115) to the negative terminal (120) in response to swelling of the cell (100), and a fuse (125) coupled between the positive terminal (115) and the negative terminal (120) in response to swelling of the cell (110).According to another aspect of the present invention, a secondary battery (700) has external contacts (150, 155) and includes a cell (110) having a positive terminal (115) and a negative terminal (120) that are coupled to the external contacts (150, 155) during normal cell operation. In response to swelling of the cell (110), a device (705, 720, 725, 730, 735) decouples at least one of the positive and negative terminals (115, 120) from at least one of the external contacts (150, 155) in response to swelling of the cell (110).

Abstract: Labels (12) are disposed on a carrier strip (10), which is routed from a feed reel (22), over a guide (24), idlers (26 & 28), through a printer (30), over a peeler plate (32), and to a pick-up reel (34). The labels are cleaned of dust prior to printing by effectively rolling an adherent surface (36) over the printing surface (14) of each label as it moves past the guide.

Abstract: An electrochemical capacitor cell (140) is provided with first and second electrodes (146) (148), and a solid polymer electrolyte (154) is disposed therebetween. The electrodes may either be of the same or different materials and may be fabricated from ruthenium, iridium, cobalt, tungsten, vanadium, iron, molybdenum, hafnium, nickel, silver, zinc, and combinations thereof. The solid polymer electrolyte is in intimate contact with both electrodes, and is made from a polymeric support structure having dispersed therein an electrolyte active species. Also a method of fabricating a biopolar electrochemical charge storage device by assembling at least the first and second bipolar subassemblies together with the second layer of electrode active material for the first bipolar subassembly in direct contact with the first layer of electrode active material for the second bipolar subassembly without a current collector disposed therebetween.

Abstract: An electrode material for use in an lithium intercalation electrochemical cell. The electrode material is an Li.sub.2 NiO.sub.2 material which may be used either alone, or in combination with conventional lithiated transition metal oxide materials. The electrode material provides a reservoir or excess pool of lithium ions adapted to overcome the irreversible capacity loss typically experienced in current lithium ion batteries.

Abstract: A light pipe assembly (10) for an electrical device comprises a holder (12) made of a compliant material, and light pipes (14) which transmit light. The light pipes are seated in channels (16) formed in the holder. The holder has compressible ridges (22) formed on the portion of the holder where light enters (18). The light pipe assembly is seated in the device such that the light receiving face (34) of each light pipe is in proximity to a surface mounted LED (50). The compressible ridges keep light from bleeding from the LED to adjacent light pipes and compensates for the slight variations in dimensions between the housing (42) and the circuit board (44) of the device. The top portion (30) of each light pipe protrudes above the holder and through openings in the housing so that the signal of the LED can be seen.

Abstract: A method for making high power electrochemical capacitors provides for depositing an electrically conducting polymer (20) (22) onto a non-noble metal substrate (10) which has been prepared by coating with an adhesion enhancing material (16) (18). Using the method, high power, high energy devices may be fabricated by arranging a plurality of individual capacitor cells into a stacked, bipolar device.

Abstract: A hybrid electrode for a high power, high energy, electrical storage device contains both a high-energy electrode material (42) and a high-rate electrode material (44). The two materials are deposited on a current collector (40), and the electrode is used to make an energy storage device that exhibits both the high-rate capability of a capacitor and the high energy capability of a battery. The two materials can be co-deposited on the current collector in a variety of ways, either in superimposed layers, adjacent layers, intermixed with each other or one material coating the other to form a mixture that is then deposited on the current collector.

Abstract: A hybrid energy storage system (10) including a first energy storage device (12), such as a secondary or rechargeable battery, and a second energy storage device (14), such as an electrochemical capacitor. The electrochemical capacitor provides intermittent energy bursts to satisfy the power requires of, for example, pulsed power communication devices. The first and second energy storage devices are coupled to a current controller to assure that pulse transients are not applied to the battery cell as a result of charging the capacitor.