Abstract: An electrochemical cell is presented. The electrochemical cell includes an anode, a separator, and a cathode. The separator is coupled to the anode and to the cathode. The cathode comprises a first layer, a second layer, and a single current collector. The first layer includes a first surface and a second surface. A second layer, less than 2 mils thick, is introduced over the first surface of the first layer without a current collector being disposed between the first and the second layers. The current collector is coupled to the second surface of the first layer.

Abstract: An implantable medical device includes a control circuit for controlling the operation of the device and for obtaining physiological data from a patient in which the medical device is implanted. The implanted device also includes a communication circuit for transmitting the physiological data to an external device. A first power source is coupled to the control circuit and provides power to the control circuit. A second power source is coupled to the communication circuit and provides power to the communication circuit.

Abstract: A method and system are described for making ammonia using hydrogen from a gasification process and for integrating the steam systems of the two processes. The gasification process provides high-pressure, purified hydrogen and high-pressure, saturated steam. The high pressure hydrogen lowers the overall compression requirement for the ammonia process. In addition, the high-pressure, saturated steam can be converted into superheated steam by recovering heat from ammonia synthesis and used to power steam turbines for compression and refrigeration needs.

Abstract: The present teachings include an electrochemical cell including an anode, a cathode, an electrolyte, a separator disposed between the cathode and anode, and a housing containing the anode, cathode, electrolyte, and separator. The separator can include a first sheet consisting essentially of a single layer material and a second sheet distinct from the first sheet. The second sheet can include an inner microporous layer laminated between two more outer layers. In some cells, the inner layer can have a transition temperature between a porous configuration and a substantially non-porous configuration that is between about 80 degrees C. and 150 degrees C., and in which the two more outer layers maintain their structural integrity to at least about 10 degrees C. greater than the first layer transition temperature.

Abstract: A process for satisfying variable power demand and a method for maximizing the monetary value of a synthesis gas stream are disclosed. One or more synthesis gas streams are produced by gasification of carbonaceous materials and passed to a power producing zone to produce electrical power during a period of peak power demand or to a chemical producing zone to produce chemicals such as, for example, methanol, during a period of off-peak power demand. The power-producing zone and the chemical-production zone which are operated cyclically and substantially out of phase in which one or more of the combustion turbines are shut down during a period of off-peak power demand and the syngas fuel diverted to the chemical producing zone. This out of phase cyclical operational mode allows for the power producing zone to maximize electricity output with the high thermodynamic efficiency and for the chemical producing zone to maximize chemical production with the high stoichiometric efficiency.

Abstract: A lithium-ion battery includes a positive electrode that includes a current collector that includes a positive electrode comprising a current collector and an active material comprising a material selected from the group consisting of LiCoO2, LiMn2O4, LiNixCoyNi(1-x-y)O2, LiAlxCoyNi(1-x-y)O2, LiTixCoyNi(1-x-y)O2, and combinations thereof. The battery also includes a negative electrode that includes a current collector and an active material comprising a lithium titanate material. The current collector of the negative electrode includes a material selected from the group consisting of aluminum, titanium, silver, and combinations thereof. The battery is configured for cycling to near-zero-voltage conditions without a substantial loss of battery capacity.

Abstract: A lithium-ion battery includes a positive electrode that includes a positive current collector, a first active material, and a second active material. The lithium-ion battery also includes a negative electrode comprising a negative current collector, a third active material, and a quantity of lithium in electrical contact with the negative current collector. The first active material, second active material, and third active materials are configured to allow doping and undoping of lithium ions, and the second active material exhibits charging and discharging capacity below a corrosion potential of the negative current collector and above a decomposition potential of the first active material.

Abstract: A method for charging an implantable medical device includes charging a lithium-ion battery provided in a medical device, the lithium-ion battery having a negative electrode with a lithium titanate active material. For at least a portion of the charging, the potential of the negative electrode is more than approximately 70 millivolts below the equilibrium potential of the negative electrode.

Abstract: A battery includes a positive electrode including a current collector and a first active material and a negative electrode including a current collector, a second active material, and a third active material. The first active material, second active material, and third active material are configured to allow doping and undoping of lithium ions. The third active material exhibits charging and discharging capacity below a corrosion potential of the current collector of the negative electrode and above a decomposition potential of the first active material.

Abstract: A medical device includes a rechargeable lithium-ion battery for providing power to the medical device. The lithium-ion battery includes a positive electrode comprising a current collector and an active material comprising a material selected from the group consisting of LiCoO2, LiMn2O4, LiNixCoyNi(1?x?y)O2, LiAlxCoyNi(1?x?y)O2, LiTixCoyNi(1?x?y)O2, and combinations thereof. The lithium-ion battery also includes a negative electrode having a current collector and an active material including a lithium titanate material. The current collector of the negative electrode includes a material selected from the group consisting of aluminum, titanium, and silver. The battery is configured for cycling to near-zero-voltage conditions without a substantial loss of battery capacity.

Abstract: A medical device includes a rechargeable lithium-ion battery for providing power to the medical device. The lithium-ion battery includes a positive electrode including a current collector and a first active material, a negative electrode including a current collector and a second active material, and an auxiliary electrode including a current collector and a third active material. The auxiliary electrode is configured for selective electrical connection to one of the positive electrode and the negative electrode. The first active material, second active material, and third active material are configured to allow doping and undoping of lithium ions. The third active material exhibits charging and discharging capacity below a corrosion potential of the current collector of the negative electrode and above a decomposition potential of the first active material.

Abstract: A medical device includes a rechargeable lithium-ion battery for providing power to the medical device. The lithium-ion battery includes a positive electrode comprising a current collector and a first active material and a negative electrode comprising a current collector, a second active material, and a third active material. The first active material, second active material, and third active material are configured to allow doping and undoping of lithium ions. The third active material exhibits charging and discharging capacity below a corrosion potential of the current collector of the negative electrode and above a decomposition potential of the first active material.

Abstract: An exemplary embodiment relates to a medical device that includes a rechargeable lithium-ion battery for providing power to the medical device. The lithium-ion battery includes a positive electrode comprising a current collector, a first active material, and a second active material. The lithium-ion battery also includes a negative electrode comprising a current collector and a third active material, the third active material comprising a titanate material. The first active material, second active material, and third active materials are configured to allow doping and undoping of lithium ions. The second active material exhibits charging and discharging capacity below a corrosion potential of the current collector of the negative electrode and above a decomposition potential of the first active material.

Abstract: A battery includes a positive electrode having a current collector and a first active material and a negative electrode having a current collector and a second active material. The battery also includes an auxiliary electrode having a current collector and a third active material. The auxiliary electrode is configured for selective electrical connection to one of the positive electrode and the negative electrode. The first active material, second active material, and third active material are configured to allow doping and undoping of lithium ions. The third active material exhibits charging and discharging capacity below a corrosion potential of the current collector of the negative electrode and above a decomposition potential of the first active material.

Abstract: A lithium-ion battery includes a positive electrode including a positive current collector, a first active material, and a second active material. The battery also includes a negative electrode having a negative current collector and a third active material, the third active material including a lithium titanate material. The first active material, second active material, and third active materials are configured to allow doping and undoping of lithium ions. The second active material exhibits charging and discharging capacity below a corrosion potential of the negative current collector and above a decomposition potential of the first active material.

Abstract: A medical device includes a rechargeable lithium-ion battery for providing power to the medical device. The lithium-ion battery includes a positive electrode including a current collector, a first active material, and a second active material. The lithium-ion battery also includes a negative electrode including a current collector, a third active material, and a quantity of lithium in electrical contact with the current collector of the negative electrode. The second active material exhibits charging and discharging capacity below a corrosion potential of the current collector of the negative electrode and above a decomposition potential of the first active material.

Abstract: Power source longevity monitor for an implantable medical device. An energy counter counts the amount of energy used by the implantable medical device. An energy converter converts the energy used into an estimate of remaining power source longevity and generating an energy longevity estimate. A voltage monitor monitors the voltage of the power source. A voltage converter converts the voltage monitored by the voltage monitor into an estimate of remaining longevity of the power source and generating a voltage longevity estimate. A calculator is operatively coupled to the energy converter and to the voltage converter and predicts the power source longevity using the energy longevity estimate early in the useful life of the power source and using the voltage longevity estimate later in the useful life of the power source.

Abstract: A conveyor belt assembly including a flexible belt body with a plurality of spaced flexible teeth and at least one hardened tooth coupled to the belt body. The flexible belt body and flexible teeth comprise a resilient material. The hardened tooth comprises hardened plastic or metal. The flexible belt body also includes at least one reinforcing member within the belt body. A guide member is coupled to the flexible belt body and the hardened tooth to assist in transporting objects on the conveyor belt assembly. A pivotable clamping device clamps the ends of the belt body together to form a continuous belt. The clamping device clamps the reinforcing member to ensure a strong connection.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus of the invention include one or more of the following: (a) a battery having an electrode that develops a resistive film from inadequate discharge events, (b) a non- or slowly-deforming capacitor capable of storing a charge from the battery, the capacitor requiring no or few periodic battery discharges for reforming oxide, (c) means for periodically discharging the battery to reduce the film on the electrode, (d) a lead for sensing physiologic electrical signals of a patient, (e) a status system for monitoring cardiac activity of the patient, (f) a therapy delivery system for delivering therapeutic electrical energy to the patient, (g) a means for determining elapsed time since a therapy delivery event occurred and/or battery discharge adequate to remove film, (h) a means for optimizing battery discharge, and (i) a means for optimizing the time between discharging the battery.

Abstract: In one aspect, a computer-implemented method is provided for aggregating and scheduling product batches in a manufacturing environment. Using a batch aggregation engine implementing a mathematical programming strategy, one or more product demands are allocated to one or more product batches having suggested sizes and suggested starting times. The mathematical programming strategy includes evaluating a number of time-based penalties relative to one another in allocating the demands to the batches, the time-based penalties being based on relationships between suggested starting times for batches and times of demands being considered for allocation to batches. The suggested sizes, the suggested starting times, and feedback relating to the suggested sizes and suggested starting times are communicated from the batch aggregation engine to a scheduling engine to assist the scheduling engine in scheduling starting times for the batches.