Abstract: An anode subassembly is provided for use in an implantable electrochemical cell wherein the anode subassembly includes an anode current collector designed to eliminate perforation edges in the final, outermost turn of a coiled electrode assembly. The anode current collector may be of a reduced size, discontinuous, or formed from alternating perforated and solid areas. The anode subassembly may further include reinforcing elements to support a thin anode layer in the outermost coil of a coiled, anode-limited cell. Reinforcing elements may take the form of a spacer, extensions extending from a reduced-size anode current collector, or strips of alkali metal.

Abstract: An anode subassembly for use in an implantable electrochemical cell includes a solid anode current collector and an alkali metal anode pressed onto the solid anode current collector such that the solid anode current collector is located on the outer side of the outermost winding of a coiled electrode assembly formed when the anode subassembly is wound with a cathode subassembly. The anode subassembly may further include a spacer formed from a microporous, non-conductive material pressed onto the alkali metal anode on the opposite side from the solid anode current collector.

Abstract: An implantable medical device (IMD) including a nonhermetic battery is described. The IMD includes components and a power source module that includes the nonhermetic battery. The IMD also includes a barrier to substantially impede movement of substances from the nonhermetic battery to the components. The barrier may include a hermetic feedthrough, a gel, a polymer, or a solid electrolyte within the nonhermetic battery, and a seal member. The barrier may also be a material that encapsulates the nonhermetic battery and a getter within the IMD. In some embodiments, the IMD comprises a modular IMD including an interconnect member. In that case, the barrier may include a material that fills at least a portion of a void defined by the interconnect member. A length and a cross-sectional area of the interconnect member may also act as a barrier.

Abstract: The invention is directed to techniques for decreasing the volume and thickness of a hermetic battery that includes an electrode stack contained within a hermetic housing. In particular, the invention is directed to batteries that have a non-uniform thickness as defined by the hermetic housing. A battery according to the invention includes a battery housing with at least two battery housing portions that define different thicknesses. For example, a first portion of the battery housing may have first thickness and house the battery, while a second portion of the battery housing has a second thickness and includes one or more feedthroughs. The second thickness may be greater than the first thickness.

Abstract: The present invention is an implantable medical device comprising an outer housing, electronics within the outer housing, the electronics located in on a substrate circuit board, and a rechargeable thin-film microbattery within the outer housing. The rechargeable thin-film microbattery of the present invention is a solid-state battery that is devoid of liquids or other volatile materials from which the electronics must be protected. In one embodiment, the rechargeable thin-film microbattery has a straight first side that is adjacent to the substrate circuit board, and a curved second side that is adjacent to the outer housing. In one embodiment, the rechargeable thin-film microbattery lies in a plane that is parallel to the substrate circuit board containing the electronics.

Abstract: The present invention is an implantable medical device comprising an outer housing, electronics within the outer housing, the electronics located in on a substrate circuit board, and a rechargeable thin-film microbattery within the outer housing. The rechargeable thin-film microbattery of the present invention is a solid-state battery that is devoid of liquids or other volatile materials from which the electronics must be protected. In one embodiment, the rechargeable thin-film microbattery has a straight first side that is adjacent to the substrate circuit board, and a curved second side that is adjacent to the outer housing. In one embodiment, the rechargeable thin-film microbattery lies in a plane that is parallel to the substrate circuit board containing the electronics.

Abstract: Techniques are described for distributed production of controlled certificates, such as license plates for motor vehicles, in a secure manner. Controlled certificates may be printed at a local branch office subject to the control of a client computer. A server computer may regulate the operations of the client computers at the branch offices. The production system includes any of several security features to deter forgery and counterfeiting. For example, the security components that make up a finished controlled certificate may be separately secured with unique security elements. The finished controlled certificate may also have a unique security element.

Abstract: Techniques are described for distributed production of license plates, such as license plates for motor vehicles, in a secure manner. License plates may be printed at a local branch office subject to the control of a client computer. A server computer may regulate the operations of the client computers at the branch offices. The production system includes any of several security features to deter forgery and counterfeiting. For example, the security components that make up a finished license plate may be separately secured with unique security elements. The finished license plate may also have a unique security element.

Abstract: A computer-implemented system and method for compressing and decompressing data. According to one embodiment of the invention, a method of lossless compression of a sequence of data points is provided. The method comprises acts of determining limits on a data point based on available data, predicting a possible value for that data point, limiting the predicted value to the determined limits and encoding a function of the predicted value and the data point. Such encoded function may later be stored or transmitted and may be of smaller size than the original data set. The original data set may be comprised of a sequence of sampled continuous wave data points, such as, for example, time-sampled music data points. A corresponding method for decompression of encoded data may be provided.

Abstract: The present invention is an implantable medical device comprising an outer housing, electronics within the outer housing, the electronics located in on a substrate circuit board, and a rechargeable thin-film microbattery within the outer housing. The rechargeable thin-film microbattery of the present invention is a solid-state battery that is devoid of liquids or other volatile materials from which the electronics must be protected. In one embodiment, the rechargeable thin-film microbattery has a straight first side that is adjacent to the substrate circuit board, and a curved second side that is adjacent to the outer housing. In one embodiment, the rechargeable thin-film microbattery lies in a plane that is parallel to the substrate circuit board containing the electronics.

Abstract: In accordance with the present invention, a system and method for matching buyers and sellers in a marketplace accepts limit bids and offers into a central system. Periodically, an optimizing algorithm is executed to match buyers and sellers. The algorithm utilizes techniques to maximize global utility. After buyers and sellers are matched, a transaction price is calculated for each pairing. The transaction price is selected to ensure that each participant executes the transaction at that participant's best effective transaction price.

Abstract: A method of thermal mass transfer printing a colorant including a binder media from a ribbon onto a first surface of a web having a non-homogeneous thermal conductivity, a non-planar printing surface, a non-homogeneous structure or chemical incompatibility. The first surface of the web is preheated prior to thermal mass transfer printing. The surface of the ribbon containing the colorant is positioned opposite the first surface of the heated web at an inner face. A thermal print head is positioned at the interface on the side of the ribbon opposite the colorant. The web is moved relative to the thermal print head. Printing is completed by selectively applying localized heat to the ribbon from the thermal print head and pressure at the interface to cause the transfer of colorant from the ribbon to the heated web.

Abstract: A portable system and method for printing variable information indicia on a reflective sign comprises providing a first polymeric sign component having a surface suitable for receiving a printed image. A definition of an image to be printed on the first sign component is provided to a portable computer. Indicia in the form of images is then rapidly transferred to the surface of the first sign component.