Abstract: In one embodiment, an energy storage device comprises a first electrode supported by a first collectors sheet; a second electrode supported by a second collector sheet; and a dielectric separator therebetween, all spirally would together. A container houses this spiral winding, with the first collector sheet having an end in contact with the base and the second collector sheet having an end oriented towards an opening opposite to the base. A collector plate is interposed between the second collector sheet and the opening and is restrained in position by a crimp in the container. A lid is positioned in the opening and has one side in electrical contact with the collector plate and an opposite side oriented outwardly of the container. The lid is restrained in position by rolling the one or more container walls over the lid.

Abstract: Films of active electrode material, such as films made from carbon and fibrillized polymer, are attached to a porous separator. Outer surfaces of the films (i.e., surfaces opposite those adjoining the separator) are then covered with current collectors. The 5 resulting stack is usable in fabrication of electrical energy storage devices. The stack can be shaped as needed, connected to terminals, and immersed in an electrolytic solution to provide a double layer capacitor.

Abstract: A fault-tolerant computer uses multiple commercial processors operating synchronously, i.e., in lock-step. In an exemplary embodiment, redundancy logic isolates the outputs of the processors from other computer components, so that the other components see only majority vote outputs of the processors. Processor resynchronization, initiated at predetermined time, milestones, and/or in response to processor faults, protects the computer from single event upsets. During resynchronization, processor state data is flushed and an instance of these data in accordance with processor majority vote is stored. Processor caches are flushed to update computer memory with more recent data stored in the caches. The caches are invalidated and disabled, and snooping is disabled. A controller is notified that snooping has been disabled. In response to the notification, the controller performs a hardware reset of the processors. The processors are loaded with the stored state data, and snooping and caches are enabled.

Abstract: Electrodes are constructed with pressure-bonding techniques that simplify alignment of various electrode components during lamination. In an exemplary embodiment, a current collector is made from aluminum foil that has been roughed or pitted on both surfaces. The surfaces of the current collector can be further treated to enhance adhesion properties of these surfaces. Layers of film that include active electrode material, such as activated carbon particles, are fabricated using non-lubricated techniques. Each film is coated on one side with an adhesive binder solution, such as a thermoplastic solution. The adhesive binder is dried, and the films are laminated to the current collector using a calender with heated rollers. The resulting electrode product is processed to shape electrodes, which can then be used in electrical energy storage devices, including double layer capacitors.

Abstract: An electrode structure adapted for use in a ultracapacitor energy storage device, which expedites electrode drying time and improves impregnation of the electrode structure, is disclosed. In one embodiment, the electrode structure comprises a carbon film element having a plurality of cavities disposed thereon. In another embodiment, a plurality of channels is punched into a carbon film element of the electrode structure.

Abstract: A method is described for applying a double sealing system to an electro-technical device and an electro-technical device with a double seal. Said Electro-technical device has; a container (5) housing a functional unit (2) and including one aperture (52) provided with a cover (6), wherein said cover has a first face (61) abutting an annular surface (520) which borders said aperture (52); a first sealing joint (7) accommodated in a first groove (64) provided in the first face (61) of the annular surface (520), a second groove (65) provided on said first face (61) of the annular surface (520), and surrounding the first groove (64), said second groove (65) having a closed concavity not directly accessible from the exterior of the electro-technical device (1) when the cover is applied to the annular surface (520).

Abstract: Double-layer energy storage devices and methods for manufacturing thereof are disclosed. Such devices and methods are useful for lessening self-discharge of the double-layer energy storage devices. An energy storage device and methods of manufacture that address the problem of capacitor self-discharge due to electrode misalignment, mismatch and/or unpaired electrodes is provided. The rate of self-discharge of a capacitor is increased when electrodes of electrode pairs are not well matched either by misalignment of the electrodes in one or more electrode pairs (e.g., along a longitudinal side or a terminal end of an electrode), or due to errors in the manufacture of electrodes where the electrodes of an electrode pair are not topographically matched (mismatch). In addition, self-discharge of a capacitor is increased if an unpaired electrode (an electrode without a counter-electrode) exists at the beginning, end or both of a roll or stack of capacitor units.

Abstract: A power module includes double layer capacitors, a voltage booster, a charging circuit, and a switching assembly. In discharging mode, the switching assembly connects the voltage booster to the output of the power module. The voltage booster enhances the voltage of the cells as needed for operation of a load at the output of the module. In charging mode, the switching assembly connects the charging circuit to the output of the module to receive electric energy from an external charger connected to the output of the module. The charging circuit converts the received energy into energy suitable for recharging the cells. In end-of-cycle discharging mode, the switching assembly connects the voltage booster to the charging circuit, causing these devices to loop into each other. Inefficiencies in the voltage booster and the charging circuit dissipate the energy in the cells, rendering the battery fail-safe.

Abstract: The fault-tolerant or self-correcting computer system is disclosed. The computer system that is provided with various sets of protections against failures that may be caused by space radiation, for example. Improved reliability of the system is achieved by scrubbing of the components on a regular schedule, rather than waiting for an error to be detected. Thus, errors that may go undetected for an extended period are not allowed to propagate and further damage the system. Three or more processors are provided to operate in parallel, and a controller is provided to receive signals from the processors and, using a voting logic, determines a majority signal value. In this manner, the controller can detect an error when a signal from one of the processors differs from the majority signal. The system is also provided with a scrubbing module for resynchronizing the processors after a predetermined milestone has been reached.

Abstract: An energy storage device comprises a pair of electrodes in contact with an electrolyte and a dielectric separator therebetween. The separator comprises a chelating material capable of binding parasitic to ions with the electrolyte, so to prevent the free circulation of the parasitic ions within the electrolyte. In one embodiment, the chelating material comprises chitosan, which may be provided in fibrous form and which may be included within a non-woven fabric of cellulosic and/or olefinic, or which may be instead coated on the separator or otherwise comprised in the separator. In another embodiment, the chelating material comprises chitosan, and the ion-binding capability of the chitosan is enhanced by chemically binding a chelating agent to the chitosan so to create a multi-dentate ligand that binds with the parasitic ions, particularly multi-valent metal ions, to create coordination compounds. One such chelating agent is ethylendiamine tetraacetic acid (EDTA).

Abstract: Electrode material typically is made from treated carbons. The number of functional groups residing on the treated carbon is reduced before the treated carbon is integrated into an electrochemical double layer capacitor. In one implementation, the number of functional groups on a given treated carbon is reduced by over 80%.

Abstract: A method and implementation for improved performance and sealing of an energy storage device are disclosed.

Abstract: Thermal protection is provided in systems utilizing high-current double-layer capacitors.

Abstract: Dry process based energy storage device structures and methods for using a dry adhesive therein are disclosed.

Abstract: Electrodes are constructed with pressure-bonding techniques that simplify alignment of various electrode components during lamination. In an exemplary embodiment, a current collector is made from aluminum foil that has been roughed or pitted on both surfaces. The surfaces of the current collector can be further treated to enhance adhesion properties of these surfaces. Layers of film that include active electrode material, such as activated carbon particles, are fabricated using non-lubricated techniques. Each film is coated on one side with an adhesive binder solution, such as a thermoplastic solution. The adhesive binder is dried, and the films are laminated to the current collector using a calender with heated rollers. The resulting electrode product is processed to shape electrodes, which can then be used in electrical energy storage devices, including double layer capacitors.

Abstract: Porous separator is sandwiched between electrode films with attached current collector foil to obtain an electrode sheet. The electrode sheet is formed into a jellyroll for use in a double layer capacitor. The jellyroll is inserted into a can through an open end to rest against the can's bottom. A collector plate is pressed against the jellyroll, crunching current collector foil protruding from each end of the jellyroll. The bottom and the collector plate include indentations of reduced thickness. Laser is applied to the indentations to weld the foil on each end of the jellyroll to the bottom or collector plate. The laser application pattern, for example, a zigzag pattern, results in the total length of laser welds along each indentation being considerably longer than the length of the indentation, reducing contact resistance between (1) the foil and the bottom, and (2) the foil and the current collector.

Abstract: A high voltage capacitor design is provided that provides improved performance. The high voltage capacitor includes a stack of mechanically joined capacitor cells, which in one variant utilize a separator formed of two layers of paper. In one version, the high voltage capacitor may be used as a capacitative voltage divider.

Abstract: A method and a system for the detection and correction of errors in memory systems is disclosed. In one embodiment, a method of error detection in a memory system having a plurality (m>1) of memory devices includes generating check bits for each of a plurality of data sets, dividing each memory device into a plurality (n>1) of segments. The plurality of data sets are interleaved to form a plurality (p>1) of words. Each word includes at least one segment from two or more of the memory devices. Detection and correction may utilize oneor more parallel Reed-Solomon decoder and encoder. The system and method allow for the efficient detection and/or correction of memory device errors and bit errors in one or more memory devices.

Abstract: The fault-tolerant or self-correcting computer system is disclosed. The computer system that is provided with various sets of protections against failures that may be caused by space radiation, for example. Improved reliability of the system is achieved by scrubbing of the components on a regular schedule, rather than waiting for an error to be detected. Thus, errors that may go undetected for an extended period are not allowed to propagate and further damage the system. Three or more processors are provided to operate in parallel, and a controller is provided to receive signals from the processors and, using a voting logic, determines a majority signal value. In this manner, the controller can detect an error when a signal from one of the processors differs from the majority signal. The system is also provided with a scrubbing module for resynchronizing the processors after a predetermined milestone has been reached.

Abstract: A compressible and deformable layer is densified and laminated to a layer of a material that is relatively resistant to stretching. The densification and bonding take place in a single step. As used in fabrication of electrodes, for example, electrodes for double layer capacitors, a deformable and compressible active electrode film is manufactured from activated carbon, conductive carbon, and a polymer. The electrode film may be bonded directly to a collector. Alternatively, a collector may be coated with a wet adhesive layer. The adhesive layer is subsequently dried onto the foil. The dried adhesive and foil combination may be manufactured as a product for later sale or use, and may be stored as such on a storage roll or other storage device. The active electrode film is overlayed on the metal foil, and processed in a laminating device, such as a calender. Lamination both densifies the active electrode film and bonds the film to the metal foil.