Abstract: A bonding pad for connecting an electrical energy storage device to an implantable medical device, is described. The bonding pad comprises at least two contact surfaces, one have a channel for receiving the terminal lead of the electrical energy storage device, the other being relatively planar for contact to the medical device. That way, the channel provides for increased surface area contact with the terminal lead for a more robust connection while the opposite, planar contact surface provides flexibility for contact to a lead of the medical device.

Abstract: A method for synthesizing a mixture of &egr;-SVO (Ag2V4O11) and &ggr;-SVO (Ag1.6V4O10.8) by a two-step raw materials mixing process, is described. &ggr;-SVO is the preferred SVO in terms of electrochemical performance, such as reduced Rdc growth and reduced or eliminated voltage delay. On the other hand, &egr;-SVO has slightly higher volumetric capacity than y-SVO. AgVO3 is an undesirable component in Li/SVO cell cathodes because it causes increased Rdc growth and larger voltage delay in comparison to the pure product materials. According to the present invention, a mixture of &egr;-SVO (0-100%)+&ggr;-SVO (100-0%) as a cathode active material in lithium cells is preferred.

Abstract: A secondary electrochemical cell comprising a medium rate electrode region in a side-by-side electrode plate configuration intended to be discharged under a substantially constant drain and a high rate electrode region disposed in a jellyroll wound configuration intended to be pulse discharged, is described. Both electrode regions share a common anode and are activated with the same electrolyte.

Abstract: A power providing device that has a battery, a protective housing a terminal cap and a fuse.

Abstract: A power providing device that has a battery, a protective housing a terminal cap, and a fuse on a substrate.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to an electrochemical cell having plate electrodes housed inside mating “clam shell” casing components. Also, the present casing design allows for indentation structures in the casing components by virtue of them being stamped metal parts. Such indentations are not possible with traditional cylindrical and prismatic casing designs. When mated together, the casing components are form-fitting with respect to the internal battery structure so as to reduce the overall size of the electrochemical package. This provides the cell with the greatest amount of energy per unit size.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to an electrochemical cell having plate electrodes housed inside mating “clam shell” casing components. When mated together, the casing components are form-fitting with respect to the internal battery structure so as to reduce the overall size of the electrochemical package. A one piece header containing both a glass-to-metal seal opening for a terminal lead and an electrolyte fill opening is used in conjunction with the clam shell casing.

Abstract: Lithium electrochemical cells having a sandwich cathode electrode of SVO/CFx/SVO active materials are described. Such a design improves the service life of defibrillator electrochemical cells. A preferred formulation uses &ggr;-SVO/CFx/&ggr;-SVO or (&ggr;+&egr;)-SVO/CFx/(&ggr;+&egr;)-SVO sandwiched cathode electrodes.

Abstract: An electrochemical cell of either a primary or a secondary chemistry, is described. In either case, the cell has a negative electrode of lithium or of an anode material which is capable of intercalating and de-intercalating lithium coupled with a positive electrode of a cathode active material. A carbonate compound is mixed with either the anode material or the cathode active material prior to contact with its current collector. The resulting electrode couple is activated by a nonaqueous electrolyte. The electrolyte flows into and throughout the electrodes causing the carbonate additive to dissolve in the electrolyte. The carbonate solute is then able to contact the lithium to provide an electrically insulating and ionically conducting passivation layer thereon.

Abstract: A method for improving the electrical conductivity of a substrate of metal, metal alloy or metal oxide comprising depositing a small or minor amount of metal or metals from Group VIIIA metals (Fe, Ru, Os, Co, Rh, Ir, Ni, Pd, Pt) or from Group IA metals (Cu, Ag, Au) on a substrate of metal, metal alloys and/or metal oxide from Group IVA metals (Ti, Zr, Hf), Group VA metals (V, Nb, Ta), Group VIA metals (Cr, Mo, W) and Al, Mn, Ni and Cu and then directing a high energy beam onto the substrate to cause an intermixing of the deposited material with the native oxide of the substrate metal or metal alloy. The native oxide layer is changed from electrically insulating to electrically conductive. The step of depositing can be carried out, for example, by ion beam assisted deposition, electron beam deposition, chemical vapor deposition, physical vapor deposition, plasma assisted, low pressure plasma and plasma spray deposition and the like.

Abstract: A casing having substantially parallel side walls connected by a curved end wall receives a cathode electrode having substantially parallel opposed side walls connected by end walls. The cathode electrode is enclosed by a separator envelope that substantially conforms to an upper surface of the electrode. Accordingly, along the perimeter of the electrode the separator has a non-uniform spacing with respect to the edges of the electrode. The upper surface of the separator is disposed in a relatively closely spaced relationship with the electrode proximate the header and lid where welding takes place. At the opposite end of the cathode electrode there is space inside the casing that provides for electrode swelling. Since no welding operations take place there, the separator is provided in a relatively loose relationship with respect to the cathode to accommodate swelling during discharge.

Abstract: An electrode component for an electrochemical cell or a capacitor is described wherein the electrode is produced by physical vapor depositing an electrode active material onto a substrate to coat the substrate. The thusly produced electrode is useful as a cathode in a primary electrochemical cell and as a cathode and an anode in a secondary cell, and as an electrode in an electrochemical capacitor and an electrolytic capacitor.

Abstract: In primary cells, the addition of gaseous carbon dioxide to the nonaqueous electrolyte has beneficial effects in terms of minimizing or eliminating voltage delay and reducing Rdc build-up when the cell is subjected to pulse current discharge conditions. For secondary systems, carbon dioxide provided in the electrolyte benefits cycling efficiency. The problem is that carbon dioxide readily degases from an electrolyte prepared under an ambient atmosphere. To prevent this, the carbon dioxide-containing electrolyte is prepared and stored in a carbon dioxide atmosphere. Also, the thusly prepared electrolyte is filed into the casing in a carbon dioxide-containing atmosphere. This prevents degassing of the additive from the electrolyte.

Abstract: An alkali metal secondary electrochemical cell, and preferably a lithium ion cell, provided with a removable gas relief valve, is described. The gas release valve is positioned on the casing, in fluid flow communication between the inside thereof and the exterior. This gas release valve serves to eliminate cell gases that build up inside the casing during the cell's formation stage. Once the lithium-ion cell has completed formation, the gas release valve is removed and replaced with a hermetic closure. Removal of the gas release valve and sealing of the cell takes place in an environment in which no outside gas is capable of being introduced inside the casing. The cell can also be provided in a tank filled with inert gas and a filter which separates the cell gas from the inert gas. When cell formation is completed, the cell hermetically sealed.

Abstract: The present invention provides a new process for attaching the anode lead to the battery case, creating a case negative design. The anode lead is an extension of the anode current collector and is nested between the case and the lid. Excess lead material is ground or cut off and the case to lid seal is achieved by laser/electron beam welding. The new procedure enhances the hermicity of the cell and the new process is applicable to a number of additional applications. This includes primary lithium batteries, implantable batteries, lithium based rechargeable cells, also acid or alkaline based batteries.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to the realization that the dimensions and basis weight of an electrode active admixture such as a transition metal oxide, and particularly silver vanadium oxide, formed into an electrode structure from an admixture paste subjected to a calendering process are influenced by the calender direction. To obtain electrode structures of a desired low basis weight requires a secondary calendering step performed in a direction reverse or orthogonal to that used to form the initial sheet tape. Orthogonal or reverse feed of the electrode active admixture provides for fibrillation of the fluoro-polymeric binder in other than the initial direction. This lets the binder spread in directions transverse to the initial direction to form the low basis weight electrode active structure.

Abstract: alkali metal electrochemical cell capable of discharge at elevated pressure and temperature is described. To help increase the cell's pressure tolerance, the cell header has an internal groove surrounding the glass-to-metal seal.

Abstract: A solid cathode liquid organic electrolyte alkali metal high rate cell wherein a combination of an elongated alkali metal anode and elongated solid cathode with separator therebetween is wound to form an anode-cathode subassembly having a jellyroll type configuration and wherein the combination is shaped so that the resulting sub-assembly has a substantially rectangular cross-section. The anode-cathode sub-assembly is placed in a conductive cell casing of prismatic shape having opposed flat faces, a lead of either the anode or cathode is attached to the cell casing depending upon whether case positive or case negative electrical configuration is desired and a lead of the other of the anode or cathode is connected to an electrical connector means extending through the casing in an insulated manner. The anode and cathode and separator are in face-to-face contact throughout the entire cross-section of the subassembly.

Abstract: A single phase silver vanadium oxide prepared from a mixture of a decomposable silver salt and vanadium oxide first heated at about 2° C. to about 40° C. above the decomposition temperature of the mixture followed by a second heating in a temperature range of about 490° C. to about 520° C. is described. The silver vanadium oxide material is coupled with a lithium anode and activated with a nonaquecus electrolyte to provide an improved high energy density electrochemical cell having increased pulse voltages and a reduction in voltage delay.

Abstract: An electrochemical cell of either a primary or a secondary chemistry, is described. In either case, the cell has a negative electrode of lithium or of an anode material which is capable of intercalating and de-intercalating lithium coupled with a positive electrode of a cathode active material. A nitrate compound is mixed with either the anode material or the cathode active material prior to contact with its current collector. The resulting electrode couple is activated by a nonaqueous electrolyte. The electrolyte flows into and throughout the electrodes causing the nitrate additive to dissolve in the electrolyte. The nitrate solute is then able to contact the lithium to provide an electrically insulating and ionically conducting passivation layer thereon.