Abstract: A method in a plasma processing chamber for fabricating a semiconductor device having a self-aligned contact. The method includes the step of providing a wafer having a substrate, a polysilicon layer disposed above the substrate, a nitride layer disposed above a polysilicon layer, and an oxide layer disposed above the nitride layer. The method further includes the step of etching in a first etching step partially through the oxide layer of the layer stack with a first chemistry and a first set of process parameters. In this first etching step, the first chemistry comprises essentially of CHF.sub.3 and C.sub.2 HF.sub.5. The method also includes the step of etching the oxide layer in a second etching step through to the substrate with a second chemistry comprising CHF.sub.3 and C.sub.2 HF.sub.5 and a second set of process parameters.

Abstract: In a method for producing a lithium nickelate positive electrode, nickel hydroxide or nickel oxyhydroxide is held into an electrically conductive porous substrate to form an electrode plate, the electrode is treated with an alkaline solution containing lithium ion; and the electrode treated with the alkaline solution is heated at a temperature not higher than 450.degree. C.

Abstract: A positive electrode active material for lithium battery which is represented by general formula Li.sub.x Mn.sub.2-y M.sub.y O.sub.4 (M: a 2-valency metal selected from Ni, Co, Fe and Zn with 0.45.ltoreq.y.ltoreq.0.60, 1.ltoreq.x.ltoreq.2.1) having cubic spinel structure of lattice constant within 8.190 angstrom. Such an active material is manufactured by employing sol-gel process wherein one of inorganic salt, hydroxide and organic acid salt of lithium or a mixture of these for Li, one of inorganic salt and organic acid salt of manganese or a mixture of these for Mn, and one of inorganic salt and organic acid salt of the selected metal or a mixture of these for M are used as the starting materials for synthesis, ammonia water is added to the solutions of these starting materials in alcohol or water to obtain gelatinous material and the gelatinous material thus obtained is fired.

Abstract: A method is described whereby a wafer having a layer of photoresist on its surface, can be subjected to ion implantation just prior to examination by a scanning-electron-microscope(SEM) thereby rendering the photoresist sufficiently conductive that charging of the surface does not occur within the SEM. Accumulation of surface charge on specimens in the SEM causes gross image distortion and obliteration. The technique is particularly useful for inspecting a developed photoresist layer on an insulating layer such as silicon oxide prior to oxide etching. Such is the case when the wafer is being inspected for photoresist quality and pattern dimensions prior to contact opening. The resist mask is developed and subjected to a low dosage ion implant. Images are rendered crisp and clear allowing for accurate measurements. The ability to test the photo pattern at this point is cost effective in that it permits the option of photoresist re-work, and lessens the need for a post-etch inspection.

Abstract: An electrode material includes a sulfide compound containing an oxadiazole ring as an active substance. The secondary battery using such a material provides a large current at room temperature.

Abstract: A binder solution for providing an electrode suitable for use in non-aqueous-type electrochemical devices, such as a battery and an electric double layer capacitor, is formed by dissolving a vinylidene fluoride polymer having an inherent viscosity (and thus a polymerization degree) higher than a conventional level in an organic solvent. An electrode-forming composition is formed by dispersing powdery electrode material in the binder solution and is applied onto an electroconductive substrate while avoiding the gelation of the polymer, followed by drying, to form a composite electrode layer, which retains the powdery electrode material at a smaller amount of vinylidene fluoride polymer than a conventional level and is well resistant to a non-aqueous electrolytic solution.

Abstract: Carbon/carbon composite materials for use in electrochemical cells are prepared by carbonizing a resin material used to bind a layer of carbon containing material to convert the resin to residual carbon. In one embodiment of the invention, the carbon containing material is a mixture of activated carbon fibers and activated carbon powder. In another embodiment, an activated carbon fabric is used instead of the discrete carbon fibers. Substantial improvements in mechanical properties, resistivity and surface area are achieved in the present invention. The composite materials may be used in the fabrication of electrodes and bipolar electrical devices such as capacitors.

Abstract: A thermal battery which includes a plurality of stacked battery cells within a thermally insulated case. Each battery cell includes an anode wafer, a cathode precursor wafer and an electrolyte wafer disposed between them. The electrolyte wafer is solid at room temperature and will become molten at a predetermined temperature. The cathode precursor wafer is of a formulation which is ignitable to supply the necessary heat to cause the electrolyte to become molten. After generation of the heat, the cathode precursor wafer becomes the cathode for the battery cell, thus eliminating the requirement to provide a separate heat wafer for each cell of the battery.

Abstract: A battery packaging system (10) packages a battery cell or cells (26) in a housing member (12). A clip (14) is used to retain the battery cells in the housing member, and has cantilevered clip fingers (32) which engage openings (22) formed on the rim (20) of the housing member. The clip compressionally or resiliently engages the battery cells, so that they are tightly held in the housing, by retaining fingers (40) formed in the retaining surface (28) of the clip. A cap (16) may be attached to the clip, and provides a peripheral skirt (54) which covers the openings so that the clip is not removable.

Abstract: A sealed nonaqueous secondary battery comprising a sealed-end battery case containing an electrodes assembly composed of a cathode, and an anode both capable of intercalating and deintercalating a light metal, a separator therebetween and a nonaqueous electrolytic solution, the opening of said battery case being sealed with an insulating gasket which is provided at the inner periphery of said opening and a sealing part which is held by the gasket and serves as a cathode or anode terminal, wherein the sealing part comprises an explosion-proof valve which is capable of being deformed to the direction opposite to the electrodes assembly with an increase in internal pressure, a vented terminal cap which is provided above the explosion-proof valve in the side opposite to the electrodes assembly, and a current breaker which is provided between the explosion-proof valve and the terminal cap; the current breaker having a piled structure composed of a first electric conductor having a penetrated hole which is provided

Abstract: A latching mechanism (160) disposed on an accessory (102) for attaching the accessory (102) to a portable device (100) includes a support (164) and a latch (162) disposed about opposite ends (150, 152) that mate with first and second portions (206 and 300, 302) of a retaining device (123) disposed about opposite ends (112, 122) of the portable device (100). The support (164) includes feet (412, 414) having prongs (420) that face a hooked end (404) of the latch (162). The latch (162) includes a spring (502, 510) coupled to the hooked end (404) such that when the latch (162) is extended, the hooked end (404) exerts a force (700) on the first portion (206) of the retaining device (123) drawing the support (164) into abutment with the second portion (300, 302) of the retaining device (123). The exerted force (700), which is in a plane parallel to a front surface (146) of the accessory (102) extending between the ends (150, 152) thereof, maintains the accessory (102) in attachment with the portable device (100).

Abstract: A prismatic galvanic cell having a large number of electrode pairs separated by separators is provided with electrode plates having current tapping lugs which extend from upper or lateral edges of the plates, and which include flexible tongues extending along and parallel to the plate edges. The flexible tongues of grouped electrode plates of the same polarity are connected to the terminal posts of the cell in a manner which precludes short circuiting and which accommodates the increased bending stresses typical of such cells.

Abstract: This invention provides a method to reduce the internal pressure of a hydride battery, particularly a sealed type. The battery, according to this invention, is composed of a container, a positive electrode, a negative electrode suitable for various temperatures comprising at least two hydrogen storage electrode materials and/or their hydrides, a separator positioned between the positive and negative electrodes, and an electrolyte in the container and in contact with the positive and negative electrodes and the separator. The negative electrode is a hydrogen storage hydride electrode which is composed of at least two hydrogen storage electrode alloys having compositions represented by A.sub.a B.sub.b C.sub.c. . . and A'.sub.a,B'.sub.b C'.sub.c, . . . respectively; where the set of elements: A, B, C, . . . and the set of elements: A', B', C', . . . both consist of 6 to 80 at. % of nickel, preferably 24-55 at.

Abstract: A battery system includes a battery cell having a battery cell housing, and a housing support external to the battery cell housing. The housing support is formed of at least two split shell segments. Each split shell segment includes a heat conductor inner layer having a plurality of heat-conducting fibers with heat sink ends, and a structural support outer layer overlying the heat conductor inner layer. The structural support layer is made of a fiber-reinforced composite material. A layer of a structural adhesive bonds the respective heat conductor inner layer of each split shell segment to the battery cell housing. A thermal sink is in thermal contact with the sink ends of the plurality of heat-conducting fibers of each of the split shell segments, and the structural support outer layer of each split shell segment is joined to a structural base.

Abstract: A method for manufacturing positive a electrode active material for a lithium battery represented by general formula Li.sub.x Mn.sub.2-y M.sub.y O.sub.4 (M: a 2-valency metal, 0.45.ltoreq.y.ltoreq.0.60, 1.ltoreq.x.ltoreq.2.1) having cubic spinel structure of and a lattice constant within 8.190 angstroms by employing a solid phase reaction, comprising the steps of firing a lithium compound, a manganese compound and a metal M compound and refiring the fired material after pressurizing it at least once to remove a metal M oxide.

Abstract: There is disclosed a non-aqueous-electrolyte secondary battery comprising a positive electrode including a material capable of reversibly absorbing and releasing lithium, a negative electrode, a non-aqueous electrolyte containing a lithium salt, and a separator of the secondary battery the negative electrode comprises a material mainly comprising an amorphous chalcogen compound and/or an amorphous oxide including three or more atoms selected from the group consisting of Groups 1, 2, 13, 14, and 15 of the Periodic Table, and the said non-aqueous-electrolyte contains at least one N-containing organic compound. This non-aqueous electrolyte secondary battery has excellent charge and discharge characteristics, and its decrease of discharge capacity due to repeated charging/discharging is small.

Abstract: Provided are alkaline storage batteries which are higher in active material utilization as compared with conventional batteries and which can maintain the high utilization even after long-term charge-discharge cycle. Cobalt hydroxide having a BET specific surface area of 20-30 m.sup.2 /g and obtained by neutralization reaction of a cobalt salt solution and an aqueous alkali solution in the presence of a reducing agent is added to a positive electrode active material.

Abstract: Method for producing an improved rechargeable battery, containing a plurality of stacked, nested bipolar cells, in which each bipolar cell is formed by inserting into a bipolar cup a porous condensed phase positive electrode, a porous dielectric separator, and a gas electrode, adding to the bipolar cell cups a predetermined volume of a liquid electrolyte, and a plurality of the bipolar cell cups are stacked in a nesting relationship within a battery housing pressure vessel.

Abstract: The invention provides an electrochemical zinc-air multi-cell battery, each cell being of the type provided with a housing having a base, two major surfaces and two minor surfaces, defining an interior space for containing therein a zinc electrode; at least one generally planar air permeable but liquid impermeable air electrode, each of the at least one air electrode being installed in a window opening provided in at least one of the major surfaces; an electrolyte in contact with the zinc electrode and the air electrode; and means for directing a flow of reaction air from a scrubber across the outer faces of two adjacently interfacing air electrodes; the battery further having cooling-air, flow-directing means comprising a pair of spaced-apart thin plates positioned between adjacent cells, each thin plate having similar dimensions to the major surfaces and means being provided for forcing cooling-air to flow between the pair of thin plates, the outer faces of the thin plates being arranged to be in contact wi

Abstract: The purpose of this invention is to provide a life indicator which can detect an occurrence of growth and obtain various information based on it. A life indicator of this invention having at least a sensor portion, a sending circuit, a receiving circuit and a light emitting diode. The sensor portion is adapted to be applied with a pressure based on an elongation of a positive plate directly or indirectly, so as to detect the applied pressure as a change of electric parameter.