Abstract: A container is provided, including a housing having a plurality of walls that define an inside and an outside of the housing; and at least one dual-sided outlet arranged on at least one of the walls, the dual sided outlet having a first electrical supply point arranged on the inside of the housing and a second electrical supply point arranged on the outside of the housing; wherein each of the first and second electrical supply points is configured to detachably couple to at least one respective electrical appliance, and each of the first and second electrical supply points is configured to provide electrical power to the at least one respective electrical appliance.

Abstract: A floating bracket has a flexible interface between a vehicle body panel and a vehicle. The floating bracket is slidably interfaced with a vehicle body panel. The floating bracket is rigidly fixed to a point on the vehicle. The floating bracket enables expansion or contraction of the vehicle body panel to take place. Accordingly the vehicle body panel may slide with respect to the vehicle. Thus, the vehicle body panel is free to move yet is still fixedly attached to the vehicle.

Abstract: A lightweight automobile body structure is provided and includes a base assembly including an upper sheet and a lower sheet. The upper sheet has first and second series of upper reliefs formed therein and the lower sheet has first and second series of lower reliefs formed therein. The upper and lower sheets stacked adjacent one another, whereby the first series of upper reliefs are in flush contact with the first series of lower reliefs and the second series of upper reliefs are offset from the second series of lower reliefs for defining a space therebetween. First and second side panels are fixedly attached to the base assembly and extend therefrom for defining respective sides. A roof panel is fixedly attached between the first and second side panels for defining a roof.

Abstract: An apparatus for stamping sheet metal is disclosed. The apparatus has a lower bolster having a number of air pins disposed at predetermined locations. A first die set having first and second die shoes and a stamping ring and cap are disposed on the lower bolster. The first and second die shoes are matable to form a stamped component. The second die shoe is coupled to the lower bolster so that at least one air pin is operable to apply force to the ring. The system further has third and fourth die shoes which are used to form a second stamped component. The third and fourth die shoes further have a second stamping ring and second cap. The system is such that the third and fourth die shoes can be inserted into the press after the first and second die shoes have been removed. It is not necessary to remove the air pins disposed in the lower bolster to change the die shoes.

Abstract: A snap connector for coupling a convertible boot arm to a quarter trim panel including an edge flange. According to an example embodiment, the snap connector includes a substantially C-shaped element coupled to the convertible boot arm that is adapted to snap fit over the edge flange of the quarter trim panel. The snap connector may include a flexible detent element that may distend over the edge flange during an installation of the snap connector over the edge flange, and upon installation, may extend over the flange to removably adjoin the snap connector to the edge flange.

Abstract: A method for compressing a speech signal by using similarity of the F.sub.1 /F.sub.0 ratios in pitch intervals within a frame. This method comprises the steps of: dividing the speech signal into frames, each being of a predetermined size; checking whether each of the divided frames corresponds to a voiced speech; obtaining an F.sub.1 /F.sub.0 ratio of an initial pitch interval and of subsequent pitch intervals of each frame corresponding to voiced speech; determining if data in each of the subsequent pitch intervals can be regarded as identical to data in the initial pitch interval by calculating if the difference between the obtained F.sub.1 /F.sub.0 ratio corresponding to the subsequent pitch interval and the obtained F.sub.1 /F.sub.0 ratio of the initial pitch interval is smaller than a predetermined value; and compressing data in each of the subsequent pitch intervals if it can be regarded as identical to data in the initial pitch interval according the determining step above.

Abstract: Mechanically alloyed hydrogen storage materials having a major atomic percentage of magnesium and a minor atomic percentage of at least two elements selected from the group consisting of nickel, molybdenum, iron and titanium. Preferably the mechanical alloy comprises a multi-phase material, including at least one amorphous phase. Also, the at least two elements are preferably either nickel (from about 5 to 15 at. %) and molybdenum (from about 0.5 to 5 at. %) or iron (from about 5 to 15 at. %) and titanium (from about 5 to 15 at. %). The hydrogen storage materials are created by mechanical alloying in a milling apparatus under an inert atmosphere, such as argon, or a mixed atmosphere, such as argon and hydrogen. The speed and length of the milling are varied.

Abstract: An nickel hydroxide positive electrode active material which can be made by an ultrasonic precipitation method. The nickel hydroxide active material is characterized by the ability to reversibly cycle between the beta and gamma nickel hydroxide crystalline phases during electrochemical charge and discharge. The material may also be characterized by a high degree of local ordering of the hydroxyl ions.

Abstract: A dilator/sampler for sampling materials and fluid from a body cavity, the device comprising: a shaft having a distal end, and a proximal end; a Z-shaped sampler having a first sampling surface and a second sampling surface parallel to each other joined by a diagonal connector, the first sampling surface and the second sampling surface corresponding to the parallel bars of the Z shaped sampler where the first sampling surface is attached to the distal end of the shaft; and a conical dilator having a tip and a base attached at the base to the second sampling surface. The invention also comprises a sheath having a distal edge and a proximal end surrounding the dilator/sampler. In another embodiment of the invention, the base of the conical dilator is shaped to function as a sampler.

Abstract: A high capacity long cycle life positive electrode which includes an electronically conductive substrate for conducting electricity through the electrode and an electrochemically active nickel hydroxide material in electrical contact with the electronically conductive substrate, the electrochemically active nickel hydroxide material is composed of at least two different solid solution nickel hydroxide materials each having differing compositions. The positioning of the at least two different solid solution nickel hydroxide materials and their relative compositions alter the local redox potential or porosity to force discharge of the electrode in a stepwise fashion from the nickel hydroxide material remote from said conductive network or substrate, through any intermediate nickel hydroxide materials, to the nickel hydroxide material adjacent the conductive network or substrate.

Abstract: Disordered multicomponent hydrogen storage material characterized by extraordinarily high storage capacity due to a high density of useable hydrogen storage sites (greater than 10.sup.23 defect sites/cc) and/or an extremely small crystallite size. The hydrogen storage material can be employed for electrochemical, fuel cell and gas phase applications. The material may be selected from either of the modified LaNi.sub.5 or modified TiNi families formulated to have a crystallite size of less than 200 Angstroms and most preferably less than 100 Angstroms.

Abstract: A modular metal hydride hydrogen storage system which can provide a robust and reliable source of hydrogen that can quickly and easily be modified for a variety of applications and environments. The hydrogen storage system comprises at least one storage module. Each storage module comprises a container having at least one open end, a metal hydride hydrogen storage means, means for introducing gaseous hydrogen into and withdrawing gaseous hydrogen from the container, and means for connecting storage modules together end-to-end to form a plurality of storage modules.

Abstract: A robust terminal for a prismatic battery comprising a terminal post, and a connector strap mechanically joined to the terminal post. Electrode tabs are mechanically joined to the connector strap. Connection points between the tabs and the connector strap have two or more degrees of freedom.

Abstract: An apparatus for monitoring a battery pack having a plurality of serially connected rechargeable batteries. The apparatus comprises a means of detecting cell reversal and a means of protecting the batteries of the battery pack upon detection of cell reversal.

Abstract: An acute matrix liquid crystal display panel including 1) a plurality of liquid crystal display elements distributed in a matrix of rows and columns; 2) means for supplying video signals and display element selection signals, including row and column conductors; and 3) a plurality of paired Ovonic threshold switches and resistive elements each serially coupled between the corresponding row or column conductor and the liquid crystal display element, the Ovonic threshold switches acting as display element selection devices and current isolation devices in which the Ovonic threshold switches having an off state resistance of at least 1.times.10.sup.9 ohms.

Abstract: A photovoltaic module which includes at least one photovoltaic cell which is encapsulated in a non-reacted, injection molded polymeric material, thereby forming an environmental seal around the cell. The photovoltaic cell(s) are incorporated into a photovoltaic panel having front and back sides and edges forming a perimeter, and also includes means for external electrical connection to the photovoltaic cell. The non-reacted injection molded polymeric material encapsulating the panel may form useful structures, such as shingles, blocks, cases, or boxes.

Abstract: The present invention is a computational unit comprising a logic processing device, and a memory array deposited on top of and communicating with the logic processing device. More specifically, the present invention is a computational unit comprising a logic processing device, and electrically erasable phase change memory deposited on top of and communicating with the logic processing device.

Abstract: An active matrix liquid crystal display panel including a plurality of Ovonic threshold switches each serially coupled between the corresponding row or column conductor and the liquid crystal display element. The Ovonic threshold switches act as display element selection devices and current isolation devices. The Ovonic switches have an off-state resistance of at least 1.times.10.sup.10 ohms.

Abstract: The present invention defines a display driver for driving a flat panel display having rows and columns. The display driver has row and column drivers comprised of logic gates where each logic gate includes chalcogenide threshold switches. The logic gates of the present invention use a chalcogenide threshold switch as a means of discharging load capacitance and resetting logic gate output.

Abstract: An electrically operated, directly overwritable, multibit, single-cell chalcogenide memory element with multibit storage capabilities and having at least one contact for supplying electrical input signals to set the memory element to a selected resistance value, the second contact tapering to a peak adjacent to the memory element. In this manner the tapered contact helps define the size and position of a conduction path through the memory element.