Abstract: Improved metal-air fuel cell battery systems having metal-fuel realized in the form of substantially planar metal-fuel cards of rigid construction, which can be either manually or automatically inserted within the power generation bay of the system. The power generation bay includes at least one electrically-conductive cathode element supported by a cathode support structure in a stationary position with respect to the cathode support structure, and at least one electrically-conductive anode-contacting element supported by an anode contacting structure in a stationary position with respect to the anode contacting structure. In order to produce a range of output voltages, the power generation bay includes a plurality of cells comprising cathode elements spatially arranged with anode contacting elements, and each metal-fuel card has a plurality of electrically-isolated metal-fuel strips that are spatially arranged with these cells when the metal-fuel card is inserted to the power generation bay.

Abstract: Disclosed are various types of metal-air FCB-based systems comprising a Metal-Fuel Transport Subsystem, a Metal-Fuel Discharging Subsystem, and a Metal-Fuel Recharging Subsystem. The function of the Metal-Fuel Transport Subsystem is to transport metal-fuel cards or sheets to the Metal-Fuel Discharge Subsystem, or the Metal-Fuel Recharge Subsystem, depending on the mode of the system selected. When transported to or through the Metal-Fuel Discharge Subsystem, each metal-fuel card is discharged by (i.e. electro-chemically reaction with) one or more discharging heads in order produce electrical power across an electrical load connected to the subsystem while H2O and O2 are consumed at the cathode-electrolyte interface during the electro-chemical reaction.

Abstract: A fuel cell battery having an electrolyte, and a moving anode having anode material deposited on two sides of an electrically conductive substrate, which can be either a rotating anode disk, or a linearly moving anode, sandwiched between two air electrodes wherein the air electrodes each have at least one recharging portion and at least one discharging portion. The recharging portion of the air electrode is designed for optimum recharging and the discharging portion of the air electrode is designed for optimum discharging such that the fuel cell battery performs to its maximum ability. The recharging air electrode area can be larger than the discharging air electrode area for faster recharge times. The recharging air electrode can be operated at lower current densities to prevent anode densification, anode shape change and dendrite growth. Discharging the anode material on both sides of the anode increases the depth of the discharge and increases the battery's capacity.

Abstract: In an air-metal fuel cell battery (FCB) system, wherein metal-fuel tape, the ionically-conductive medium and the cathode structures are transported at substantially the same velocity at the locus of points at which the ionically-conductive medium contacts the moving cathode structure and the moving metal-fuel tape during discharging and recharging modes of operation. In a first generalized embodiment of the present invention, the ionically-conductive medium is realized as an ionically-conductive belt, and the metal-fuel tape, ionically-conductive belt, and movable cathode structure are transported at substantially the same velocity at the locus of points which the ionically-conducing belt contacts the metal-fuel tape and the cathode structure during system operation. In a second generalized embodiment of the present invention, the ionically-conductive medium is realized as a solid-state film layer integrated with the metal-fuel tape.

Abstract: Improved metal-air fuel cell battery systems having metal-fuel realized in the form of metal-fuel tape cartridges and metal-fuel cards, which can be either manually or automatically inserted within the power generation bay of the system. In order to produce a range of output voltages, the metal-fuel tape has a plurality of electrically-isolated metal-fuel tracks and the metal-fuel cards have a plurality of electrically-isolated metal-fuel strips. An output voltage configuration subsystem is provided for configuring the voltages produced by the individual cells to produce a desired output. A subsystem is provided for detecting oxide formation on the metal-fuel tracks and strips so that only metal-fuel that has been oxidized is reduced during recharging operations. A subsystem is also provided for controlling the flow of oxygen into the power generation head in order to control the power output from the system.

Abstract: Disclosed are various types of metal-air FCB-based systems comprising a Metal-Fuel Transport Subsystem, a Metal-Fuel Discharging Subsystem, and a Metal-Fuel Recharging Subsystem. The function of the Metal-Fuel Transport Subsystem is to transport metal-fuel material, in the form of tape, cards, sheets, cylinders and the like, to the Metal-Fuel Discharge Subsystem, or the Metal-Fuel Recharge Subsystem, depending on the mode of the system selected. When transported to or through the Metal-Fuel Discharge Subsystem, the metal-fuel is discharged by (i.e. electro-chemically reaction with) one or more discharging heads in order produce electrical power across an electrical load connected to the subsystem while H2O and O2 are consumed at the cathode-electrolyte interface during the electrochemical reaction.

Abstract: A switch element utilizes a single polarizer to couple two discreet inputs to any combination of two discreet outputs along non-blocking optical paths. This switch element may be conveniently networked to additional switch elements for scaling to switches having larger numbers (N) of inputs and outputs. The present invention provides advantages typically associated with conventional polarization gates, including terabit per-second data rates, to facilitate use in fiber-optics networks. This switch element is relatively robust and insensitive to environmental disturbances and has a reconfiguration time which is an order of magnitude faster than conventional optomechanical switches which generally require tens of milliseconds before reconfiguration. The switch element provides constant data pathlength for constant latency, loss, and unskewed data output.

Abstract: A light polarizer includes a plurality of discrete layers of birefringent film disposed in superposed relation on a transparent substrate. The planar components of the optic axes of each successive one of the discrete layers are angularly offset relative each preceding one of the discrete layers by a predetermined angle in one of either a positive or negative direction to provide the light polarizer with selectivity for either right-handed circularly polarized (RHCP) or left-handed circularly polarized (LHCP) incident light. In another aspect of the invention, the layers are of quarter-wave thickness having planar components orthogonally offset to provide selectivity for either right or left linearly polarized light. In a still further aspect of the invention, an optically isotropic layer of quarter-wave thickness is disposed between adjacent birefringent quarter-wave plates.

Abstract: Disclosed is an electrical power generation system comprised of a network of metal-air fuel cell battery (FCB) subsystems connected to an output power bus structure and controlled by a network control subsystem. The operation of each metal-air FCB subsystem is controlled so that, on the average, the amount of metal-fuel in each of the FCB subsystem is substantially the same, regardless of the total amount of metal-fuel remaining within the system available for electrical power generation. The electrical power generation system can be used as an electrical power plant that can be installed in virtually any system, device or environment in which there is a need to satisfy the peak power demand of an electrical load (e.g. motor, appliance, machinery, tools, etc.) independent of the total amount of metal-fuel remaining within the system.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method and apparatus for extending path-length of metal-fuel tape during discharging and/or recharging operations so that a supply of metal-fuel tape contained within a cassette device or on a supply reel can be rapidly discharged and/or recharged in an improved manner. During discharging operations, a plurality of discharging heads are selectively arranged about the extended path-length of metal-fuel tape so as increase the rate at which electrical power is powered from the system. During recharging operations, a plurality of recharging heads are selectively arranged about the extended path-length of metal-fuel tape to decrease the time required to recharge the metal-fuel tape transported through the system.

Abstract: In an air-metal fuel cell battery (FCB) system, wherein metal-fuel tape, the ionically-conductive medium and the cathode structures are transported at substantially the same velocity at the locus of points at which the ionically-conductive medium contacts the moving cathode structure and the moving metal-fuel tape during discharging and recharging modes of operation. In a first generalized embodiment of the present invention, the ionically-conductive medium is realized as an ionically-conductive belt, and the metal-fuel tape, ionically-conductive belt, and movable cathode structure are transported at substantially the same velocity at the locus of points which the ionically-conducing belt contacts the metal-fuel tape and the cathode structure during system operation. In a second generalized embodiment of the present invention, the ionically-conductive medium is realized as a solid-state (e.g.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for converting a monoscopic image with one perspective to a stereoscopic image with two perspectives is provided. A foreground object is identified and outlined. The depth of the object is endowed with depth information. The second perspective is generated by image warping. Alternate embodiments comprising additional features, such as removing redundant frames, which reduce the necessary computation are also provided.

Abstract: A multi-mode stereoscopic imaging system is described. It is the first stereo system which is convertible back and forth from the auto stereo viewing mode without glasses to the binocular stereo viewing mode with glasses. It is based on micro-polarizer arrays and spatial multiplexing of images. The system consists of a stereo image component and an auto parallax barrier component. Both components use the properties of &mgr;Pols. Switching from one mode to the other is accomplished manually, and electronically with the aid of a liquid crystal light valve. The system combines the benefits of auto-stereo imaging and the binocular stereo imaging of prior art techniques without their limitations.

Abstract: In an air-metal fuel cell battery (FCB) system, wherein metal-fuel tape, the ionically-conductive medium and the cathode structures are transported at substantially the same velocity at the locus of points at which the ionically-conductive medium contacts the moving cathode structure and the moving metal-fuel tape during discharging and recharging modes of operation. In a first generalized embodiment of the present invention, the ionically-conductive medium is realized as an ionically-conductive belt, and the metal-fuel tape, ionically-conductive belt, and movable cathode structure are transported at substantially the same velocity at the locus of points which the ionically-conducing belt contacts the metal-fuel tape and the cathode structure during system operation. In a second generalized embodiment of the present invention, the ionically-conductive medium is realized as a solid-state (e.g. gelatinous) film layer integrated with the metal-fuel tape.

Abstract: An LCD panel employing a novel scheme of systemic light recycling. A single polarization state of light is transmitted from the backlighting structure to section of the LCD panel where both spatial intensity and spectral filtering of the transmitted polarized light simultaneously occurs on a subpixel basis. At each subpixel location, spectral bands of light not transmitted to the display surface during spectral filtering, are reflected without absorption back along the projection axis into the backlighting structure. At a subcomponent level within the LCD panel, spectral components of transmitted polarized light not used at any particular subpixel structure location are effectively reflected either directly or indirectly back into the backlighting structure.

Abstract: A polymer-based electrolyte composition having excellent film-forming properties, flexibility, mechanical strength and high hydroxide conductivity is disclosed. The composition comprises an organic polymer having an alkyl quaternary ammonium salt structure; a nitrogen-containing, heterocyclic quaternary ammonium salt; and a metal hydroxide salt. In a preferred embodiment, the composition is cast in the form of a film that is suitable for use as an ion-conducting or other specialty membrane in a power source, such as for example an alkaline battery or fuel cell, that relies on hydroxide anion transport for its operation.

Abstract: Disclosed are super broadband circularly polarizing film materials and novel methods of fabricating and using the same. The circularly polarizing materials are made from polymerizable CLC film material having a cholesteric order, in which a liquid crystal material, such as a nematic liquid crystal material, is distributed in a non-linear fashion across the thickness of the film in a plurality of liquid crystal-rich and liquid crystal-depleted sites in the CLC polymer. The pitch of the helices of the CLC molecules in the polyermized CLC material varies in a non-linear (e.g. exponential) manner along the depth dimension (i.e. transverse to the surface) thereof. The resulting circularly polarizing materials have reflection and transmission characteristics over bands of operation approaching 2000 nm. Depending on the final spiral structure of the polymeriable CLC materials utilized, the CLC circularly polarizing materials reflect either left-handed or right-handed circularly polarized light.

Abstract: A solid state dye laser is adapted for use in a solid state dye laser assembly having a pump adapted to emit light at a first frequency and intensity. The solid state dye laser includes an elongated web of polymeric host material having a gain medium disposed therein, the gain medium being in a substantially solid state and doped with a fluorescent dye adapted to emit light within a predetermined spectral tuning range. The gain medium includes polymeric cholesteric liquid crystal disposed in a planar texture and frozen into a characteristic wavelength. The solid state dye laser, including the gain medium, is adapted for convenient movement relative to the pump.

Abstract: An electro-optical backlighting panel construction for use in portable computer-based systems having direct and projection viewing modes of operation. In the illustrative embodiments of the present invention, the electro-optical backlighting panel is integrated with a LCD display panel, a micropolarization panel, and a touch-screen writing panel to provide several different types of portable computer-based systems including, for example, a portable notebook computer, a computer-driven image display device, and a portable pen-computing device. In general, each of these computer-based systems are capable of selectively displaying color video images on an actively driven display surface, or projecting such video images onto a wall surface or projection screen. These computer-based systems can be easily reconfigured for projection viewing without any sort of physical modification to the LCD display panel assembly.

Abstract: Disclosed is a novel optical information storage media having M information storage decks. Each information storage deck has N information storage layers, and each information storage layer has a pair of information storage structures. Each paired information storage structure has a characteristic wavelength and polarization state, and from which recorded information can be read by a laser beam having similar wavelength and polarization-state characteristics. A novel system is provided for reading the optical information storage media of the present invention. In the illustrative embodiment, an optical storage device of the present invention having M.times.N.times.2 information storage layers can be read using only N laser lines (i.e. spectral components), thereby providing a 2M-fold increase in information storage capacity over prior art systems. The information storage and retrieval system of the present invention is completely backward compatible to allow for the reading of conventional CD-ROM devices.