Abstract: An apparatus that is useful for evaluating and optimizing electrochemical processes and for electrochemically characterizing materials includes a base or substrate carrying a plurality of electrodes, at least one housing member that is secured to the base or substrate to define an electrochemical cell volume for holding an electrolyte in contact with the plurality of electrodes carried on the base, and a counter electrode disposed in the cell volume. The apparatus may be used for rapidly evaluating various parameters that influence electrochemical deposition processes, electrolytic processes and electrochemical cell performance.

Abstract: A forming die includes a base and at least two die segments. At least a first one of the die segments is moveably mounted to the base for shifting between closed and opened positions. The die segments together define a cavity having an opening when the first die segment is in the closed position. A punch is moveably mounted to the base for shifting between a retracted position and an extended position wherein the punch crimps a part positioned within the cavity. A powered actuator is connected to at least the first one of the die segments, and shifts the first die segment between the closed and opened positions such that a part positioned within the cavity can be removed after crimping by shifting of the first die segment to the open position. The forming die is particularly well-suited for crimping electrochemical cells.

Abstract: An electrochemical cell constructed in accordance with the present invention includes a can for containing electrochemical materials including positive and negative electrodes and an electrolyte, the can having an open end and a closed end; a pressure relief mechanism formed in the closed end of the can for releasing internal pressure from within the can when the internal pressure becomes excessive; a first outer cover positioned on the closed end of the can to be in electrical contact therewith and to extend over the pressure relief mechanism; a second outer cover positioned across the open end of the can; and an insulator disposed between the can and the second outer cover for electrically insulating the can from the second outer cover. According to another embodiment, the second cover is dielectrically isolated from a current collector. The second cover is fastened to the can by the use of a double-seamed closure.

Abstract: A water-soluble binder useful for preparing an electrode for either primary or secondary batteries, having either aqueous or non-aqueous electrolyte, contains polyacrylamide and at least one copolymer selected from carboxylated styrene-butadiene copolymer and styrene-acrylate copolymer. The water-dispersible binder eliminates or reduces the need for organic solvents during preparation of an electrode made of a particulate active electrode material. The binder exhibits good chemical resistance, adhesive properties, flexibility and resilience, making it well suited for use in preparing batteries having a spirally wound electrode assembly.

Abstract: A system and method of arranging products, such as batteries, in a display package according to a desired orientation with efficient space utilization. The method includes providing products to be packaged, and applying an invisible orientation marking on each of the products. The orientation marking is visible when illuminated with ultraviolet light and is generally invisible to consumers under normal ambient light conditions. The method also includes illuminating the products with ultraviolet light, scanning each of the products, detecting the orientation marking on each of the products, orienting each of the products based on the detecting steps, and disposing each of the oriented products in a package so that the products have a desired orientation.

Abstract: An electrochemical cell having a can with a bottom end and an open top end, and positive and negative electrodes disposed in the can. The cell includes an inner metal cover inserted in the open end of the can for closing the open end of the can. The inner metal cover has a pressure relief mechanism for providing pressure relief to vent high pressure gases upon reaching a predetermined pressure. In addition, an outer cover is preferably positioned over the metal cover to form an electrical contact terminal and to substantially cover the pressure relief mechanism. The pressure relief mechanism advantageously provides for high pressure gas venting while minimizing the amount of volume consumed by the venting components and thereby allowing for a greater amount of electrochemically active materials in the can.

Abstract: An electrochemical cell having a container with a closed bottom end, an open top end, and side walls extending between the top and bottom ends has a pressure relief mechanism formed in the bottom end, and positive and negative electrodes disposed in the container. The pressure relief mechanism is a stress concentrator formed in the container for providing pressure relief to vent high pressure gases. The stress concentrator includes first and second crossing grooves and third and fourth arcuate grooves to provide for multiple stress concentration points which offers increased reliability of venting, reduced space required for the vent opening, and results in significant reduction of bulging in the closed bottom end of the container.

Abstract: A liquid crystal display of the present invention includes a first electrode provided on a substrate, a first liquid crystal layer provided on and in contact with the first electrode, a second electrode provided on and in contact with the first liquid crystal layer, a second liquid crystal layer provided on and in contact with the second electrode, and a third electrode provided on and in contact with the second liquid crystal layer. The display may further include a third liquid crystal layer provided on and in contact with the third electrode, and a fourth electrode provided on and in contact with a third liquid crystal layer. By reducing the thickness of the liquid crystal layers relative to a conventional liquid crystal display, and by providing a plurality of liquid crystal layers, the voltage level required to cause the liquid crystal display to change visual states is substantially reduced without affecting the degree of visual change exhibited by the liquid crystal display.

Abstract: An electrochemical cell constructed in accordance with the present invention includes a can for containing electrochemical materials including positive and negative electrodes and an electrolyte, the can having an open end and a closed end; a pressure relief mechanism formed in the closed end of the can for releasing internal pressure from within the can when the internal pressure becomes excessive; a first outer cover positioned on the closed end of the can to be in electrical contact therewith and to extend over the pressure relief mechanism; a second outer cover positioned across the open end of the can; and an insulator disposed between the can and the second outer cover for electrically insulating the can from the second outer cover. According to another embodiment, the second cover is dielectrically isolated from a current collector.

Abstract: An electrochemical cell constructed in accordance with the present invention includes a can for containing electrochemical materials including positive and negative electrodes and an electrolyte, the can having an open end and a closed end; a pressure relief mechanism formed in the closed end of the can for releasing internal pressure from within the can when the internal pressure becomes excessive; a first outer cover positioned on the closed end of the can to be in electrical contact therewith and to extend over the pressure relief mechanism; a second outer cover positioned across the open end of the can; and an insulator disposed between the can and the second outer cover for electrically insulating the can from the second outer cover. According to another embodiment, the second cover is dielectrically isolated from a current collector.

Abstract: A battery construction is disclosed that includes a housing and a spiral-wound electrode assembly disposed in the housing and defining at least two electrochemical cells that are electrically connected in series. Both of the cells include wound layers of a positive electrode, a negative electrode, and a polymer electrolyte provided between the positive and negative electrode layers. The layers of each successive electrochemical cell are wound around the layers of the previous cell and are preferably separated therefrom by an insulating layer. By utilizing a polymer electrolyte, the need for expensive microporous separator layers is eliminated as is the need for providing separate sealed containers to construct a multi-cell battery. Thus, a less-expensive and space-efficient multi-cell spiral-wound electrode construction may be obtained.

Abstract: An electrochemical cell constructed in accordance with the present invention includes a can for containing electrochemical materials including positive and negative electrodes and an electrolyte, the can having an open end and a closed end; a pressure relief mechanism formed in the closed end of the can for releasing internal pressure from within the can when the internal pressure becomes excessive; a first outer cover positioned on the closed end of the can be in electrical contact therewith and to extend over the pressure relief mechanism; a second outer cover positioned across the open end of the can; and an insulator disposed between the can and the second outer cover for electrically insulating the can from the second outer cover. According to another embodiment, the second cover is dielectrically isolated from a current collector.

Abstract: An electrochemical cell constructed in accordance with the present invention includes a can for containing electrochemical materials including positive and negative electrodes and an electrolyte, the can having an open end and a closed end; a pressure relief mechanism formed in the closed end of the can for releasing internal pressure from within the can when the internal pressure becomes excessive; a first outer cover positioned on the closed end of the can to be in electrical contact therewith and to extend over the pressure relief mechanism; a second outer cover positioned across the open end of the can; and an insulator disposed between the can and the second outer cover for electrically insulating the can from the second outer cover. According to another embodiment, the second cover is dielectrically isolated from a current collector. The battery comprises a collector assembly and can defining a sealed internal volume within the can and available for containing electrochemically active materials.

Abstract: A forming die includes a base and at least two die segments. At least a first one of the die segments is moveably mounted to the base for shifting between closed and opened positions. The die segments together define a cavity having an opening when the first die segment is in the closed position. A punch is moveably mounted to the base for shifting between a retracted position and an extended position wherein the punch crimps a part positioned within the cavity. A powered actuator is connected to at least the first one of the die segments, and shifts the first die segment between the closed and opened positions such that a part positioned within the cavity can be removed after crimping by shifting of the first die segment to the open position. The forming die is particularly well-suited for crimping electrochemical cells.

Abstract: The present invention is a process for producing a silver layer, in situ, on an internal wall of a cathode container of an alkaline cell and the alkaline cell produced by the process. In the process a silver compound is dissolved in the cathode, which is in contact with the metal container of the cell, and silver ions diffuse through the cathode and displace metal on the inside surface of the container to coat the container surface with silver.

Abstract: A package for storing one or more batteries comprising a container defining an encapsulated hollow region and having walls that provide a first vapor permeability. The package contains an air cell or air-assisted cell battery housed within the container. Also housed within the container is a vapor control medium for providing controlled vapor flooding within the container so as to substantially match the vapor pressure of the hollow region with the vapor pressure within the air cell battery. The package allows for an electrically-operated device to be assembled with the air cell battery and housed ready for use within the package, while advantageously controlling the vapor pressure to minimize cell performance degradation.

Abstract: An electrochemical cell having a container with a closed bottom end, an open top end, and side walls extending between the bottom and top ends. The container has a plurality of beads extending radially inward formed near the open top end. Electrochemically active material is disposed in the container, and a seal assembly is disposed in the open end and supported by the plurality of beads.

Abstract: An electrochemical cell is provided having a non-cylindrical container including one or more side walls each having a curved surface that curves radially inward. The electrochemical cell further includes first and second electrodes and a separator disposed therebetween. A cover and seal assembly is assembled to the top open end of the container. The radially inwardly curved surface of the side walls opposes forces caused by internal pressure within the cell so as to reduce and/or prevent bulging of the side walls.

Abstract: An electrochemical cell of the present invention includes a composite cover assembly for the closed end of the cylindrical can of the electrochemical cell. The composite cover includes an electrically conductive contact terminal having a diameter substantially smaller than the diameter of the cylindrical can, and a flexible disk-shaped label that covers the portion of the surface of the closed end of the can that is not covered by the contact terminal. By using a smaller contact terminal, the gap 19 (FIGS. 1 and 2) provided between the positive cover 17 and the closed end 14 of can 15 to accommodate cell bulging in the conventional construction, may be substantially eliminated and the length of the can may be increased without exceeding the standards established for overall battery length. Thus, more active ingredients may be contained in the can, thereby increasing the service life of the electrochemical cell.

Abstract: An electrolyte solvent system for use in electrochemical cells in which the electrolyte solvent system consists essentially of a dioxolane-based solvent and a dimethoxyethane-based solvent in a weight ratio of about 1:3. Also disclosed are electrolyte solutions and electrochemical cells comprising such a solvent system.