Abstract: A composite cathode material includes a gel polymer electrolyte and particles of a cathode material. The particles of the cathode material are arranged in the gel polymer electrolyte.

Abstract: A haircare appliance is described having first and second arms that define a hair treatment chamber, an emitter configured to emit radiation into the hair treatment chamber, and an airflow generator configured to generate an airflow within the hair treatment chamber. The emitter includes an incandescent source of radiation.

Abstract: A vacuum cleaning system including a robotic unit including a traction arrangement, a docking interface and an articulated arm defining an end effector. The end effector includes a suction tool. The robotic unit defines a suction flow path which extends from the suction tool to the docking interface. The system further includes a handheld vacuum cleaner configured to be docked with the docking interface, the handheld vacuum cleaner including a vacuum motor for drawing air through the suction flow path when docked with the docking interface.

Abstract: A handheld appliance has a handle, the handle having a main body, the main body having a first end portion, a second end portion and a third portion there between, wherein the first end portion and the second end portion extend radially outwards beyond the third portion; and an external sleeve is rotatably supported around the third portion by the first end portion and the second end portion.

Abstract: A vacuum cleaning system including a robotic unit including a traction arrangement, a docking interface and an articulated arm defining an end effector. The end effector includes a suction tool. The robotic unit defines a suction flow path which extends from the suction tool to the docking interface. The system further includes a handheld vacuum cleaner configured to be docked with the docking interface, the handheld vacuum cleaner including a vacuum motor for drawing air through the suction flow path when docked with the docking interface.

Abstract: A heater module includes a thick-film heating element, the heating element including: a heating conductor; a temperature sensor; and a substrate supporting the heating conductor and the temperature sensor. The heater module includes a resistive conductor having at least one trimming cut formed by a trimming process.

Abstract: Described herein is a laminate electrochemical cell including a cathode layer, an anode layer, a polymer electrolyte layer, and a ceramic layer. The polymer electrode layer is arranged between the cathode layer and the anode layer and coats at least a portion of the anode layer. The ceramic layer is arranged between the polymer electrolyte layer and the cathode layer. The ceramic layer and the polymer electrolyte layer have different compositions. Also described herein are methods of manufacturing the laminate electrochemical cell, battery stacks including a plurality of said laminate electrochemical cells, and electrically-powered devices including the electrochemical cell or battery stack.

Abstract: A heater module includes a heater assembly including a heater and a temperature sensor thermally coupled to the heater, and a trimmable resistor electrically coupled to the temperature sensor or to the heater.

Abstract: A vacuum cleaning system including a robotic unit including a traction arrangement, and a docking interface for receiving a handheld vacuum cleaner, and a handheld vacuum cleaner configured to be docked with the docking interface. The handheld vacuum cleaner includes a vacuum motor for drawing air through a suction flow path defined by the robot unit when docked with the docking interface. The handheld vacuum cleaner includes a main body from which extends a battery pack. When the handheld vacuum cleaner is docked with the docking interface, it is configured such that the battery pack extends over the top of at least part of the robotic unit. Conveniently, the robotic unit and the handheld vacuum cleaner may share one or more common suction tools, which means that both machines can be optimised for the surfaces they are intended to clean.

Abstract: A haircare appliance is described having first and second arms that define a hair treatment chamber, an infrared emitter configured to emit infrared radiation into the hair treatment chamber, and an airflow generator configured to generate an airflow within the hair treatment chamber. The infrared emitter is configured to emit infrared radiation including a peak wavelength greater than 900 nm.

Abstract: A surface treating system including a robotic unit including a main body, a traction arrangement that defines a ground plane of the robotic unit, and an articulated arm is provided. The articulated arm includes an upper arm section and a lower arm section. The upper arm section is attached to the main body at a shoulder joint. The lower arm section is attached to the upper arm section at an elbow joint, and an end effector is defined at a distal end of the lower arm section. The articulated arm is movable between a stowed position and a fully deployed position through a generally vertical plane of motion. In the fully deployed position, the articulated arm is configured so that substantially all the lower arm section and at least some of the upper arm section extends parallel with and directly adjacent to the ground plane.

Abstract: A cleaner head for a cleaning appliance, the cleaner head comprising: a housing defining a suction chamber; and a sole plate defining a downwardly-directed opening through which dirt can enter the suction chamber. The cleaner head further comprises a hollow deformable seal extending from a rear portion of the housing, the hollow deformable seal having a width at least equal to a width of the opening in the sole plate, and having a lower sealing surface that extends in a downward and rearward direction from a rear edge of the housing such that, in use, the hollow deformable seal is biased against and conforms to a surface being cleaned in order to maintain a seal between the cleaner head and the surface being cleaned.

Abstract: A vacuum cleaning system including a robotic unit including a main body, a traction arrangement defining a ground plane, and an articulated arm. The articulated arm includes an upper arm section and a lower arm section, wherein the upper arm section is attached to the main body at a shoulder joint, and wherein the lower arm section is attached to the upper arm section at an elbow joint, and wherein an end effector is defined at a distal end of the lower arm section. The articulated arm is configured such that the end effector is movable angularly about a first axis with respect to the elbow joint and is movable linearly along a second axis with respect to the elbow joint. The vacuum cleaning system equipped with a robotic arm that is able to bend and flex due to the pivotable upper and lower arm portions, but also extend and rotate through the lower arm or ‘forearm’ portion, providing improved dexterity for the machine.

Abstract: A haircare appliance has a housing having an air inlet and an air outlet, an airflow generator for generating an airflow from the air inlet to the air outlet, and a heater for heating the airflow. The haircare appliance has an airflow temperature module for obtaining a value indicative of a temperature of the airflow at the air outlet, a distance sensor for sensing a distance to hair within a flow path from the air outlet and a temperature sensor for sensing a temperature of the hair. The haircare appliance has a moisture estimation module configured to estimate, based on received output values from the airflow temperature module, the distance sensor and the temperature sensor, a moisture content of the hair.

Abstract: A haircare appliance has a heat source configured to emit heat, a location determination module configured to determine a location of target hair, and a guide mechanism for use in guiding emitted heat from the heat source to the location of the target hair in response to an output of the location determination module.

Abstract: A fan assembly includes a fan body, a motor-driven impeller contained within the fan body and arranged to generate an air flow, a nozzle including a nozzle body having an air inlet arranged to receive the air flow from the fan body, and one or more air outlets arranged to emit the airflow from the fan assembly. The fan assembly further includes a nozzle retaining mechanism for releasably retaining the nozzle on the fan body, and a rotation mechanism for rotating the nozzle body relative to the fan body. The nozzle rotation mechanism includes a rotation motor arranged to drive a drive member and a driven member that is arranged to be driven by the drive member to rotate around a rotation axis.

Abstract: An electrolyte and a method of making an electrolyte of the formula: Mg[Al(R)4]2, where R represents a compound selected from a deprotonated alcohol or thiol; an amine; or a mixture thereof. The method includes the steps of: combining a Mg(AlH4)2 precursor with an alcohol, thiol or amine of the general formula R—H to create a reaction liquor containing Mg[Al(R)4]2; and washing the reaction liquor in an organic solvent.

Abstract: A haircare apparatus has a plurality of capacitive sensors, each capacitive sensor configured to provide a capacitance reading indicative of hair proximal to the haircare apparatus. The haircare apparatus has a moisture estimation module configured to estimate, based on capacitance readings of the plurality of capacitive sensors, a moisture level of the hair proximal to the haircare apparatus.