Abstract: An electrolytic capacitor comprising an anode comprised of cryogenically milled anode material is described. The cryogenic milling process prepares the active anode material for anode fabrication. The capacitor further comprises a casing of first and second casing members secured to each other to provide an enclosure. A feedthrough electrically insulated from the casing and from the casing and extending there from through a glass-to-metal seal, at least one anode electrically connected within the casing, a cathode, and an electrolyte. The cathode is of a cathode active material deposited on planar faces of the first and second casing members.

Abstract: An electrolytic capacitor comprising an anode comprised of cryogenically milled anode material is described. The cryogenic milling process prepares the active anode material for anode fabrication. The capacitor further comprises a casing of first and second casing members secured to each other to provide an enclosure. A feedthrough electrically insulated from the casing and from the casing and extending there from through a glass-to-metal seal, at least one anode electrically connected within the casing, a cathode, and an electrolyte. The cathode is of a cathode active material deposited on planar faces of the first and second casing members.

Abstract: An electrolytic capacitor comprising an anode comprised of cryogenically milled anode material is described. The cryogenic milling process prepares the active anode material for anode fabrication. The capacitor further comprises a casing of first and second casing members secured to each other to provide an enclosure. A feedthrough electrically insulated from the casing and from the casing and extending there from through a glass-to-metal seal, at least one anode electrically connected within the casing, a cathode, and an electrolyte. The cathode is of a cathode active material deposited on planar faces of the first and second casing members.

Abstract: A current collector comprising a frame conductor formed as a closed undulating perimeter, and a conductive mesh formed within the frame conductor is described. The conductive mesh is comprised of a plurality of radial struts, each radial strut having a central end and an outer end. The radial struts emanate from a junction within the undulating perimeter with their outer ends connected to the undulating perimeter of the frame. The conductive mesh may include branch struts having proximal ends and distal ends, with the proximal ends connected to the radial struts. The distal ends of the branch struts may be connected to the undulating perimeter, or to adjacent radial struts. The current collector is used in an electrochemical cell, wherein a first electrode active material is contacted to at least one of first and second major sides of the current collector to provide a first electrode.

Abstract: An electrochemical cell comprising a conductive casing housing an electrode assembly provided with a stack holder surrounding the electrode assembly is described. The stack holder is of a shape memory material that serves to maintain the anode and cathode in a face-to-face close physical proximity alignment throughout discharge. This is particularly important in later stages of cell life. As the cell discharges, anode active material is physically moved from the anode to intercalate with the cathode active material. As this mass transfer occurs, the cathode becomes physically larger and the anode smaller. This can lead to gaps forming between the anode and the cathode. However, the stack holder inhibits the formation of such gaps by maintaining a compressive force on the electrode assembly throughout cell discharge.

Abstract: The present invention broadly comprises a method and apparatus for testing electrochemical cells which is faster and more cost-effective than current testing methods. Accordingly, the invention provides a method for testing electrochemical cells, particularly batteries for medical applications, such as for implantable devices for pacemakers, defibrillators, etc., comprising the steps of: surrounding at least one electrochemical cell with a vacuum with a pressure range of 0 to 0.001 Torr and measuring energy emitted from the electrochemical cell.

Abstract: An apparatus for calculating fluid flow in a channel including a very low profile probe which detects fluid depth in the channel; a mechanism for measuring average fluid velocity in the channel; a mechanism for correcting the detected fluid depth based upon the measured average fluid velocity to account for drawdown; and a mechanism for calculating average flow rate based upon the average fluid velocity measurement and the corrected fluid depth value. The probe has a height to width ratio of less than 0.52.

Abstract: A multi-function fluid flow monitoring apparatus capable of measuring fluid flow-related variables of fluid in a channel on the basis of signals from any one or more of a plurality of different types of flow sensors. Such different types of flow sensors may include, for example, a bubbler-type pressure sensor, a submerged pressure transducer, an ultrasonic transducer, and/or a velocity sensor forming part of an area-velocity sensor system, each of which sensors may be selectively connected to the apparatus as needed to accommodate various monitoring conditions. The apparatus is further capable of monitoring various conditions of fluid in the channel, such as pH level, ORP, temperature, solution conductivity, dissolved oxygen, and the like.

Abstract: Improved accuracy in solution conductivity or resistivity measurment uses a center-sampling technique in which an AC drive is applied to a conductivity cell and the conductivity cell voltage is sampled during a predetermined time interval in the center of a half cycle drive waveform. The effects of cell capacitance, and particularly the electrode-solution capacitive, are compensated by periodically sampling during a second time interval which is different from the first interval. Based upon the difference between the sampled voltages in the first and second intervals, a correction to the measured conductivity or resistivity is made to compensate for capacitance induced errors.

Abstract: Apparatus for generating a constant current, comprising a storage device for storing a voltage corresponding to the constant current, the storage device including a resistor-capacitor filter and having an input and an output; a Zener diode for supplying a constant voltage; a first high off-state impedance device for connecting the Zener diode to the input in response to a first actuation signal; a second high off-state impedance device for connecting the input to a source of discharge potential in response to a second actuation signal; a microprocessor for supplying the first actuation signal to the first high off-state impedance device for a first time interval and the second actuation signal to the second off-state impedance device thereafter for a second time interval, and then providing no first and second actuation signals for a third time interval much greater than the combined first and second time intervals; and a voltage-to-current converting circuit connected to the output and having a high input im

Abstract: A film video player for producing a standard television signal from photographic film includes an image sensor for sensing a film image illuminated by a pulse of light from an electronic strobe light. The electronic strobe light includes a high voltage power supply with a voltage greater than the minimum ignition voltage of a flash tube in the strobe light for igniting an arc in the flash tube, a low voltage power supply having a voltage less than the minimum ignition voltage of the flash tube for producing an extended pulse of light of constant intensity, means including a photocell for sensing the quantity of light produced by the flash tube and including a control device in series with the flash tube for terminating the pulse of light after a predetermined quantity of light is produced, and means for dispersing the light from the flash tube to produce more uniform illumination.