Abstract: A fuel cell assembly including a substrate and an electrolyte disposed on the substrate and having a rib projecting out from the substrate. The rib has first and second side surfaces and a top surface. An anode is disposed on the first side surface and a cathode is disposed on the second side surface. The fuel cell also includes a resistive heater disposed at a location selected from the anode, the cathode, within the electrolyte, between the rib and the substrate, and any combination of these.

Abstract: A self-assembled photonic crystal is formed using a template made by nanoimprint lithography. A layer of imprintable material is deposited on a substrate, a pattern is imprinted in the imprintable material to form a template (the pattern of the template being adapted to substantially constrain colloidal particles to a predetermined lattice), and colloidal particles are introduced onto the template, substantially filling the predetermined lattice.

Abstract: A fuel cell includes one or more fuel cell assemblies. Each of the fuel cell assemblies has an electrolyte having a length, an anode having a length and disposed on one side of the electrolyte, and a cathode having a length and disposed on the same or the other side of the electrolyte. The fuel cell further includes a plurality of current collectors. Each of the current collectors is substantially embedded within, and continuously extends substantially the respective length of at least one of the electrolyte, anode and cathode.

Abstract: A fuel cell has at least one electrode operatively disposed in the fuel cell, the electrode(s) having a catalytically active surface. A mechanism is provided for substantially maintaining catalysis over the active surface of the electrode(s).

Abstract: A method is provided for convolutive coding for the transmission of space-time block codes according to the technique termed Golden Code, in a wireless communication network comprising at least a plurality of transmit antennas. The Golden Code coding is associated with a trellis coded modulation, and the necessary partitioning to the trellis is produced such that, for each partitioning step, a set ?? is multiplied by at least one element ? from the set Bk (k>1) of elements of Az such that: Bk={X?Az and |Det(X)|2=2k}, the set ??, termed “infinite Golden Code”, being a principal ideal of the ring Az as defined by the Golden Code technique.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are methods for applying crystalline materials to a substrate by applying a cation and an anion and crystallizing at least a portion of the reaction product of the cation and the anion. The application of at least one of the cation or the anion is actively controlled such that it is applied in a patternwise or blanketwise fashion.

Abstract: A fuel cell system in accordance with a present invention includes a fuel supply apparatus that supplies at least one reactant in a pulse.

Abstract: A sound dampening system for a computer including a bracket and a plurality of acoustic shield members. The bracket is adapted to be fixedly connected to a housing of the computer. The bracket is adapted to extend rearward from the computer. The bracket comprises support surfaces adapted to support wires extending from the computer. The acoustic shield members are connected to the bracket. A first one of the acoustic shield members is removably connected to the bracket.

Abstract: Various embodiments of the invention are directed towards electrode-electrolyte composites. The electrode-electrolyte composites comprise electrode material and electrolyte material. At least a portion of the electrode material is present as a plurality of discrete regions having conductive contact with the electrolyte material.

Abstract: An electrode suitable for use in a fuel cell includes a passive support having pores wherein the passive support has an asymmetric pore morphology with respect to at least one dimension of the passive support; and an electrode material positioned in the pores of the passive support. An exemplary electrode includes an electrode material of a metal and/or metal oxide. An exemplary porous electrode includes a deposited electrolyte layer that blocks at least some pores of the porous electrode. An exemplary method includes reducing an electrode material positioned in pores of a passive support to create secondary porosity and/or to limit agglomeration. Other exemplary devices and/or methods are also disclosed.

Abstract: A method of making a fuel cell includes the following steps. A pattern is placed on a base surface to create a predetermined topography on the base surface. An anode layer, a cathode layer and/or an electrolyte layer is/are deposited over the pattern. Areas of higher topography are removed from areas of lower topography using chemical mechanical planarization to form a predetermined fuel cell structure.

Abstract: A fuel-cell assembly has a plurality of unit cells, each of the unit cells comprising an anode, an electrolyte, a cathode, and a current collector. The fuel-cell assembly has a plurality of electrical interconnection elements, at least one electrical interconnection element being connected respectively to each anode, to each cathode, and to each current collector of the unit cells. The unit cells are arranged in a stack and are mechanically supported by electrical interconnection elements such that each of the unit cells of the stack has at least one edge free to move relative to the electrical interconnection elements.

Abstract: A fuel cell or battery has an integral multifunction heater element operable as an integral heater, an integral temperature sensor, and/or an integral aid to current collection from the fuel cell. The integral multifunction heater element is embedded within the electrolyte, anode, or cathode, disposed in thermal contact with at least one of the electrolyte, anode, or cathode, and is formed of a thin film of material of suitable resistivity, such as a refractory metal or conductive oxide, patterned in a suitable pattern. Conductive terminals provide electrical contact to the thin film. The integral multifunction heater element may include a thermistor or thermocouple. Methods are disclosed for fabricating and using the fuel cell with an integral multifunction heater element.

Abstract: The invention is a fuel cell comprising a cathode film having a side surface, an anode film having a side surface and an electrolyte film disposed between the cathode film and the anode film and having a side surface. The anode, cathode and electrolyte side surfaces are coplanar. Protons generated at the anode diffuse along the anode side surface, the electrolyte side surface or both towards the cathode side surface. Oxygen ions generated at the cathode diffuse along the cathode side surface, the electrolyte side surface, or both towards the anode side surface.

Abstract: A cassette for toolless installation and removal of an expansion card is disclosed. The cassette is provided with a detachable front plate, back plate, and side plate for substantially enclosing an expansion card. The front plate and back plate is pivotally coupled. The back plate includes horizontal and vertical zip slides, allowing the cassette to adjust to expansion cards of various sizes. A chassis is prepared for insertion of the cassette by opening a chassis top plate. The cassette is then be inserted into the chassis from a substantially horizontal approach and secured therein by a cassette coupler. A user then pivots the cassette downward, such that the conductive pins of the expansion card sequentially engage the expansion connector. The chassis top plate is then closed, securing the conductive pins of the expansion card in the expansion connector.

Abstract: A fuel cell has a MEMS fuel-cell structure including an anode, a cathode, and an electrolyte, formed on a substrate, a portion of the substrate being removed from beneath the MEMS structure to leave the MEMS structure suspended in membrane form. An opening may extend through the substrate to leave the MEMS fuel-cell structure in a cantilevered configuration, supported by only one edge. Additional openings may be formed to relieve mechanical stress near an edge or edges supporting the MEMS fuel-cell structure, and/or to limit heat-conducting paths. Specially adapted methods are disclosed for fabricating the MEMS-based fuel cell in any of its various configurations.

Abstract: Various embodiments of the invention are directed toward a fuel cell assembly comprising a fuel cell casing and one or more fuel cell elements comprised of electrode and electrolyte material. The fuel cell casing is configured with threads and the fuel cell elements can be threadingly engaged in the fuel cell casing.

Abstract: A fuel cell is disclosed that includes a passive support having a fine pore region disposed between a first coarser pore region and a second coarser pore region. An exemplary fuel cell has an electrolyte material positioned in the fine pore region and a first electrode material positioned in the first coarser pore region and a second electrode material positioned in the second coarser pore region. Other exemplary devices and/or methods are also disclosed.

Abstract: A fuel cell in accordance with a present invention serially depletes reactants.

Abstract: An electronic device, including first and second conductive pads, and a first plurality of electrically conductive beams substantially parallel to each other. Each beam has a mesial region having a beam resistance, and first and second end regions extending from the mesial region to the respective first and second conductive pads. Each end region includes an end resistance less than the beam resistance.