Abstract: An authentication system determines if a counterfeit ineligible unit is installed in a main device. When connected with a battery pack, a notebook PC generates and combines a random number and a function determination signal using a signal combining unit and transmits same to the battery pack. A first function calculation unit calculates the function of the random number. The battery pack has a signal separation unit to separate the combined signal into the random number and function determination signal, and a second function calculation unit to calculate the function of the random number for transmitting back to the notebook PC. A comparison unit compares the calculation results by the first and second function calculation units to determine whether the connected battery pack is an authorized one and denies connection if the pack is an unauthorized one.

Abstract: An authentication system determines if a counterfeit ineligible unit is installed in a main device. When connected with a battery pack, a notebook PC generates and combines a random number and a function determination signal using a signal combining unit and transmits same to the battery pack. A first function calculation unit calculates the function of the random number. The battery pack has a signal separation unit to separate the combined signal into the random number and function determination signal, and a second function calculation unit to calculate the function of the random number for transmitting back to the notebook PC. A comparison unit compares the calculation results by the first and second function calculation units to determine whether the connected battery pack is an authorized one and denies connection if the pack is an unauthorized one.

Abstract: An authentication system determines if a counterfeit ineligible unit is installed in a main device. When connected with a battery pack, a notebook PC generates and combines a random number and a function determination signal using a signal combining unit and transmits same to the battery pack. A first function calculation unit calculates the function of the random number. The battery pack has a signal separation unit to separate the combined signal into the random number and function determination signal, and a second function calculation unit to calculate the function of the random number for transmitting back to the notebook PC. A comparison unit compares the calculation results by the first and second function calculation units to determine whether the connected battery pack is an authorized one and denies connection if the pack is an unauthorized one.

Abstract: A current collector sheet for an electrode of an electrochemical device has a conductive area and an insulating area on the surface thereof. Examples of the current collector sheet includes: a current collector sheet including an insulating sheet, wherein the conductive area has a conductive layer formed on the surface of the insulating sheet, and the insulating area has an exposed portion of the insulating sheet; a current collector sheet including a conductive sheet, wherein the insulating area has an insulating layer formed on the surface of the conductive sheet, and the conductive area has an exposed portion of the conductive sheet; and a current collector sheet including a conductive sheet portion and an insulating sheet portion positioned flush with each other, wherein the conductive area has a surface of the conductive sheet portion, and the insulating area has a surface of the insulating sheet portion.

Abstract: An electrochemical device having an electrode plate assembly. The electrode plate assembly includes (a) at least one first electrode, (b) at least one second electrode, and (c) a separator interposed between the first electrode and the second electrode. The first electrode includes a first current collector sheet and at least one first electrode mixture layer carried thereon. The second electrode includes a second current collector sheet and at least one second electrode mixture layer carried thereon. At least one of the first current collector sheet and the second current collector sheet has a conductive area and an insulating area.

Abstract: An IC chip in an IC tag is provided with a voltage application terminal in connection with its internal circuit, and a high voltage or a reverse voltage is applied to the voltage application upon unlawful handling of the IC tag, so that the IC chip is electrically broken down. In this way, an IC tag installed in an item is prevented from being misused when the IC tag is no longer necessary or being removed for misuse.

Abstract: IC tags are installed in rechargeable batteries and then information required for manufacturing control of the rechargeable batteries or information required to produce battery packs which use rechargeable batteries is recorded onto the IC tags. Allowing the information recorded onto the IC tags to be rewritten makes it possible to search for the causes of occurring problems as well as make the best use of improvements to the rechargeable batteries when information during use of the rechargeable batteries is recorded after the rechargeable batteries are manufactured and shipped.

Abstract: An authentication system determines if a counterfeit ineligible unit is installed in a main device. When connected with a battery pack, a notebook PC generates and combines a random number and a function determination signal using a signal combining unit and transmits same to the battery pack. A first function calculation unit calculates the function of the random number. The battery pack has a signal separation unit to separate the combined signal into the random number and function determination signal, and a second function calculation unit to calculate the function of the random number for transmitting back to the notebook PC. A comparison unit compares the calculation results by the first and second function calculation units to determine whether the connected battery pack is an authorized one and denies connection if the pack is an unauthorized one.

Abstract: An authentication system determines if a counterfeit ineligible unit is installed in a main device. When connected with a battery pack, a notebook PC generates and combines a random number and a function determination signal using a signal combining unit and transmits same to the battery pack. A first function calculation unit calculates the function of the random number. The battery pack has a signal separation unit to separate the combined signal into the random number and function determination signal, and a second function calculation unit to calculate the function of the random number for transmitting back to the notebook PC. A comparison unit compares the calculation results by the first and second function calculation units to determine whether the connected battery pack is an authorized one and denies connection if the pack is an unauthorized one.

Abstract: An authentication system determines if a counterfeit ineligible unit is installed in a main device. When connected with a battery pack, a notebook PC generates and combines a random number and a function determination signal using a signal combining unit and transmits same to the battery pack. A first function calculation unit calculates the function of the random number. The battery pack has a signal separation unit to separate the combined signal into the random number and function determination signal, and a second function calculation unit to calculate the function of the random number for transmitting back to the notebook PC. A comparison unit compares the calculation results by the first and second function calculation units to determine whether the connected battery pack is an authorized one and denies connection if the pack is an unauthorized one.

Abstract: An authentication system determines if a counterfeit ineligible unit is installed in a main device. When connected with a battery pack, a notebook PC generates and combines a random number and a function determination signal using a signal combining unit and transmits same to the battery pack. A first function calculation unit calculates the function of the random number. The battery pack has a signal separation unit to separate the combined signal into the random number and function determination signal, and a second function calculation unit to calculate the function of the random number for transmitting back to the notebook PC. A comparison unit compares the calculation results by the first and second function calculation units to determine whether the connected battery pack is an authorized one and denies connection if the pack is an unauthorized one.

Abstract: A battery pack includes an IC tag carrying predetermined information. The IC tag stops functioning when the battery pack is disassembled or modified so that recorded information cannot be read out, whereby an act of disassembling or modification is detected, connection of an unqualified battery pack to a loading device or charging device is prevented, and connection of a counterfeit is prevented.

Abstract: An electrochemical device having an electrode plate assembly that includes: (a) at least one first electrode; (b) at least one second electrode; and (c) a separator interposed between the first electrode and the second electrode, the electrode plate assembly including a PTC device. The use of the electrochemical device according to this invention makes it possible to efficiently manufacture secondary batteries with a simple structure, a high reliability and a high electrical capacity.

Abstract: An IC chip in an IC tag is provided with a voltage application terminal in connection with its internal circuit, and a high voltage or a reverse voltage is applied to the voltage application upon unlawful handling of the IC tag, so that the IC chip is electrically broken down. In this way, an IC tag installed in an item is prevented from being misused when the IC tag is no longer necessary or being removed for misuse.

Abstract: An IC tag is installed in a blister pack in which a commodity is stored in a cavity formed in a transparent resin sheet and the periphery of the transparent resin sheet is joined to a backing sheet. The antenna of the IC tag or the connection line in connection with its IC chip is provided at the joint location between the transparent resin sheet and the backing sheet. Once the connection between the transparent resin sheet and the backing sheet is broken and the commodity is taken out, the antenna or the connection line is broken, which disables the IC tag. Therefore, an unlawful item that cannot be identified from its appearance is detected by accessing the IC tag using a reader/writer.

Abstract: IC tags are installed in rechargeable batteries and then information required for manufacturing control of the rechargeable batteries or information required to produce battery packs which use rechargeable batteries is recorded onto the IC tags. Allowing the information recorded onto the IC tags to be rewritten makes it possible to search for the causes of occurring problems as well as make the best use of improvements to the rechargeable batteries when information during use of the rechargeable batteries is recorded after the rechargeable batteries are manufactured and shipped.

Abstract: A battery pack includes an IC tag carrying predetermined information. The IC tag stops functioning when the battery pack is disassembled or modified so that recorded information cannot be read out, whereby an act of disassembling or modification is detected, connection of an unqualified battery pack to a loading device or charging device is prevented, and connection of a counterfeit is prevented.

Abstract: An insulating plastic seat is provided on a sealing plate of a battery, and an IC tag is attached on the seat, the IC tag carrying information required in production, marketing, and use of battery, and information required for management of battery after it has been used.

Abstract: Identifying batteries with restrictions on their transport and handling is properly achieved by mounting an IC tag on the batteries, recording information such as battery types and materials used to the IC tag, and then reading the recorded necessary information from the IC tag. When batteries are spent, recorded information is read from the IC tags of the spent batteries, and then the batteries are classified by type and material used. Then, required discard processing or recycle processing for each classified battery is performed.

Abstract: An electrochemical device having an electrode plate assembly that includes: (a) at least one first electrode; (b) at least one second electrode; and (c) a separator interposed between the first electrode and the second electrode, the electrode plate assembly including a PTC device. The use of the electrochemical device according to this invention makes it possible to efficiently manufacture secondary batteries with a simple structure, a high reliability and a high electrical capacity.