Abstract: Particles of active electrode material are made by blending and fibrillizing (i.e., fibrillating) a mixture of activated carbon, conductive carbon, and fibrillizable binder. In selected embodiments, chloride level in the activated carbon is relatively low, a small amount of conductive carbon with low impurity levels and high conductivity is used, and the binder is inert. For example, chloride content of the activated carbon is below 50 ppm, and total impurities in the conductive carbon are below 120 ppm. The mixture may include about 10% of PTFE and 0.5% or less of conductive carbon. Blending and fibrillization may be performed without solvents. The fibrillized particles are dried, blended again to reduce clumping, and used to make active electrode material film. The film is attached to a current collector to obtain an electrode for use in various electrical devices, including double layer capacitors. The electrode increases breakdown voltage of the capacitor electrolyte.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a container with an overpressure safety device comprises a wall having a depression in at least a portion of the wall that expands when the pressure inside the container exceeds a predetermined level. The container further comprises a clamp bridging over the depression and restraining the angular expansion of the depression, while at the same time enabling the depression to expand radially. As a consequence, the outer dimensions of the container remain essentially constant when the pressure inside the container exceeds the predetermined level. The container may be tubular in shape and the depression may be shaped like a groove extending parallel to the longitudinal axis of the container, while the clamp may be shaped like a bar affixed to the outer wall of the container in two or more points spaced angularly on opposite sides of the depression.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a feeder for agglomerating particles comprises an enclosure that has an inlet and an outlet and that is adapted to receive a predetermined amount of the agglomerating particles. An inlet valve controls entry into the enclosure, while an outlet valve controls discharge from the enclosure. A transportation system such as an auger system carries the agglomerating particles from the outlet valve to the inner portion of a drum, and, in order to prevent a clogging of the transportation system, the speed of the transportation system is coordinated with the opening rate of the outlet valve. The drum is adapted to spread out the agglomerating particles through perforations in the drum wall, so to cause the agglomerating particles to be delivered from the inner portion of the drum to a conveyor system outside the drum at a substantially uniform rate.

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: A method for reducing power consumption and heat generation in a computer system employs a substitute idle task that puts the processor into a dormant mode, e.g., sleep, nap, or doze mode. The substitute idle task replaces a conventional operating system idle task. The substitute idle task may have a low priority, such as that of the conventional idle task, which it replaces. At each occurrence of a quantum interrupt, a task scheduler schedules applications for execution during the accompanying time slice. After the scheduled applications are done, the substitute idle task is executed. The dormant mode caused by the idle task reduces the system's power consumption. The idle task may also have a high priority and be designed to run for a predetermined percentage of time. Because the processor spends the predetermined percentage of time in the dormant mode, known power consumption reduction may be guaranteed in the system.

Abstract: A dry process based energy storage product and method for making is disclosed.

Abstract: It is desirable to be able to securely connect individual electrical components within an electrical module. An electrical module is provided in which a plurality of energy storage components are connected together using a clamp instead of wiring or bus bar connections. In one configuration, for example, a first energy storage component comprising a first terminal and second terminal is connected to a second energy storage component comprising a third terminal and a fourth terminal. The first terminal of the first energy storage component is electrically connected to a third terminal of the second energy storage component using a clamp comprising a recess. The recess of the clamp receives at least a portion of the first terminal of the first energy storage component and at least a portion of the third terminal of the second energy storage component.

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

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

Abstract: Particles of active electrode material are made by blending and fibrillizing (i.e., fibrillating) a mixture of activated carbon, conductive carbon, and fibrillizable binder. In selected embodiments, chloride level in the activated carbon is relatively low, a small amount of conductive carbon with low impurity levels and high conductivity is used, and the binder is inert. For example, chloride content of the activated carbon is below 50 ppm, and total impurities in the conductive carbon are below 120 ppm. The mixture may include about 10% of PTFE and 0.5% or less of conductive carbon. Blending and fibrillization may be performed without solvents. The fibrillized particles are dried, blended again to reduce clumping, and used to make active electrode material film. The film is attached to a current collector to obtain an electrode for use in various electrical devices, including double layer capacitors. The electrode increases breakdown voltage of the capacitor electrolyte.

Abstract: A plurality of high capacitance capacitors are coupled to supply or accept large currents. Bus bars are welded to the capacitors to provide improved thermal performance as well as self-supporting rigidity to the geometrical structure formed by the capacitors and the bus bars.

Abstract: Electrodes of a double-layer capacitor are designed so that sub-capacitors formed at each electrode are stressed substantially equally at the rated voltage of the double-layer capacitor. In an exemplary embodiment, each electrode includes a current collector and an active electrode layer, such as a layer of activated carbon. The electrodes are held apart by a porous separator, and the assembly is immersed in an electrolyte. The thicknesses of the active electrode layers differ, resulting in asymmetrical construction of the capacitor. Different thicknesses cause the sub-capacitors to have different capacitances. When voltage is applied to the double-layer capacitor, the voltage is divided unequally between the unequal sub-capacitors. Properly selected thicknesses allow the voltages at the sub-capacitors to stress equally each sub-capacitor. The rated voltage of the double-layer capacitor can then be increased without overstressing the sub-capacitors.

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

Abstract: Electronic circuits couple energy storage devices, such as double layer capacitors or rechargeable battery cells, to a power supply output, thereby improving noise suppression and extending ride-through capability of the power supply. In a typical circuit, an energy storage device is coupled in series with a switch that controls the charging current into the energy storage device. The switch is controlled by a comparator that receives a signal related to the voltage level of the power supply. In some embodiments, the comparator also receives a feedback signal related to a charging current flowing into the energy storage device. The circuit is configured so that the switch limits the charging current to a predetermined current level, or does not allow the charging current to flow until the output voltage of the power supply reaches a predetermined voltage level.

Abstract: Systems and methods for screening capacitors are disclosed. An exemplary method may comprise charging at least one capacitor for time t1 and then implementing the following operations. After charging time t1, comparing a charge state of the at least one capacitor to thresholds th1-low and th1-high for a capacitance screening operation. After waiting time t2, comparing the charge state of the at least one capacitor to a threshold th2 for an Equivalent Series Resistance (ESR) screening operation. After waiting time t3, comparing a change in the charge state of the at least one capacitor to a threshold th3 for a Leakage Current (LC) and Self-Discharge (SD) screening operation. The screening operations may be implemented manually by a user and/or automatically by the exemplary system described herein.

Abstract: A transparent vacuum formed vessel 1 is filled with a liquid 3 at room temperature that will become a solid at freezing temperature and a low density float material 4. After freezing, the vessel is turned upside down so that upon thawing, the vivid colored float will move to the top of the vessel showing a thaw. The devise can be reused. The same concept can be used as a cooking aid by using a transparent sealed tubular 1 assembly inserted in the food with a solid cylinder 3 that will melt at some critical temperature allowing the low density float to rise to the top of the indicator visibly protruding from the food. More than one meltable cylinder, 3 & 8 and float, 4 & 5 may be used as a warning and ready indicator. Combinations of solid dense particulates and low density materials may also be used for color changing indicators. A permanent magnet attached to a float can be used to trigger an audible alarm, which can be incorporated in various cooking utensils to show cooking temperatures and times.

Abstract: Active electrode material, such as fibrillized blend of activated carbon, polymer, and conductive carbon, is pretreated by immersion in a sealing coating. After the active electrode material is dried, the coating seals micropores of the activated carbon or another porous material, thus preventing exposure of water molecules or other impurities trapped in the micropores to outside agents. At the same time, the sealing coating does not seal most mesapores of the porous material, allowing exposure of the mesapores' surface area to the outside agents. The pretreated active electrode material is used for making electrodes or electrode assemblies of electrical energy storage devices. For example, the electrodes may be immersed in an electrolyte to construct electrochemical double layer capacitors. Pretreatment with the sealing coating reduces the number of water molecules interacting with the electrolyte, enhancing the breakdown voltage of the capacitors.

Abstract: Thermal protection is provided in systems utilizing high-current double-layer capacitors. For example, in one implementation, an interconnection coupled to at least one double-layer capacitor that carries capacitor current to or from the at least one double-layer capacitor is functionally coupled to the at least one double-layer capacitor to reduce a temperature of the capacitor is provided.

Abstract: A high reliability radiation shielding integrated circuit device comprising a plurality of package layers; a radiation shielding lid or base coupled to the plurality of package layers; wherein the circuit die are shielded from receiving an amount of radiation greater than the total dose tolerance of the circuit die. An integrated circuit device for use in high reliability applications. The integrated circuit device is designed to be highly reliable and protect integrated circuit die from failing or becoming unreliable due to radiation, mechanical forces, thermal exposure, or chemical contaminates.