Abstract: A battery system is provided for a vehicle. The battery system includes, but is not limited to, comprising: a heat transfer loop, a battery cell, a thermoelectric semiconductor device coupled to the battery cell and the heat transfer loop, a variable voltage source coupled to the thermoelectric semiconductor device, and a temperature sensor coupled to the battery cell. A controller is coupled to the variable voltage source and the temperature sensor and also configured to receive a signal indicative of a temperature of the battery cell from the temperature sensor and adjust a voltage of the variable voltage source applied to the thermoelectric semiconductor device based at least in part on an evaluation of the temperature.

Abstract: Electrodynamic ion funnels confine, guide, or focus ions in gases using the Dehmelt potential of oscillatory electric field. New funnel designs operating at or close to atmospheric gas pressure are described. Effective ion focusing at such pressures is enabled by fields of extreme amplitude and frequency, allowed in microscopic gaps that have much higher electrical breakdown thresholds in any gas than the macroscopic gaps of present funnels. The new microscopic-gap funnels are useful for interfacing atmospheric-pressure ionization sources to mass spectrometry (MS) and ion mobility separation (IMS) stages including differential IMS or FAIMS, as well as IMS and MS stages in various configurations. In particular, “wedge” funnels comprising two planar surfaces positioned at an angle and wedge funnel traps derived therefrom can compress ion beams in one dimension, producing narrow belt-shaped beams and laterally elongated cuboid packets.

Abstract: Electrodynamic on funnels confine, guide, or focus ions in gases using the Dehmelt potential of oscillatory electric field. New funnel designs operating at or close to atmospheric gas pressure are described. Effective on focusing at such pressures is enabled by fields of extreme amplitude and frequency, allowed in microscopic gaps that have much higher electrical breakdown thresholds in any gas than the macroscopic gaps of present funnels. The new microscopic-gap funnels are useful for interfacing atmospheric-pressure ionization sources to mass spectrometry (MS) and on mobility separation (IMS) stages including differential IMS or FAIMS, as well as IMS and MS stages in various configurations. In particular, “wedge” funnels comprising two planar surfaces positioned at an angle and wedge funnel traps derived therefrom can compress on beams in one dimension, producing narrow belt-shaped beams and laterally elongated cuboid packets.

Abstract: A tile tray (1) including a generally planar base (2) and two or more retaining members (5) adapted to locate and retain a tile (7) to the base. The tile tray (1) further includes a coupling means for connecting two or more of the tile trays in a substantially aligned configuration.

Abstract: A battery module is described. The battery module includes a plurality of battery cells; a plurality of cooling fin assemblies, each cooling fin assembly positioned between two battery cells, the cooling fin assemblies comprising at least one cooling fin and a foot on at least one side of the cooling fin assemblies, the foot having a bottom and interlocking profiles on each end, the interlocking profiles on adjacent feet of the cooling fin assemblies interlocking the feet and forming a surface; and a heat sink contacting the surface of the interlocked feet. A method of cooling a battery module is also described.

Abstract: A method for gathering information from battery sensors—for instance, information regarding the state-of-charge (SOC), temperature and/or other characteristics of battery cells in a vehicle battery pack—and using that information to estimate or predict battery degradation or state-of-health (SOH). According to an exemplary embodiment, the method uses both a time-based algorithm and an event-based algorithm to predict or estimate battery degradation. The event-based algorithm may select certain data from the battery conditions (e.g., a state-of-charge (SOC) swing (?SOC) or an SOC maximum (SOCMax)), instead of using the entire set of battery condition data, and may use this information in its prediction or estimate.

Abstract: Communications device identification methods, communications methods, wireless communications readers, wireless communications systems, and articles of manufacture are described. In one aspect, a communications device identification method includes providing identification information regarding a group of wireless identification devices within a wireless communications range of a reader, using the provided identification information, selecting one of a plurality of different search procedures for identifying unidentified ones of the wireless identification devices within the wireless communications range, and identifying at least some of the unidentified ones of the wireless identification devices using the selected one of the search procedures.

Abstract: A battery assembly includes a casing with a casing wall having inner and outer surfaces and an opening therethrough and being shaped such that a coolant chamber is formed within the casing adjacent to the opening. A sleeve including a compressible material is inserted through the opening. The sleeve is shaped such that a sealing portion thereof is positioned over the outer surface of the casing wall. A battery cell is inserted into the sleeve such that at least a portion of the battery cell is positioned within the coolant chamber. A sealing member is coupled to the casing such that a force is applied onto the sealing portion of the sleeve causing the sealing portion of the sleeve to at least partially compress and seal the coolant chamber.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to an aqueous dispersion composition which comprises an ethylene-unsaturated carboxylic acid ionomer resin (A) neutralized with a mixture of ions including at least one divalent metal ion and at least one ammonium ion, (B) a non-water soluble vapor phase corrosion inhibitor, and (C) water. The dispersion exhibits good shelf-life and excellent rust-prevention properties. Durable corrosion resistant ionomeric coatings can be easily formed therefrom, which when applied to metal surfaces and baked, can form a rust-preventive coating layer showing excellent coating adhesion both to the metal surface and to an over coat paint. Such coatings are particularly useful when applied to a vehicle body or part thereof.

Abstract: A tile tray (1) including a generally planar base (2) and two or more retaining members (5) adapted to locate and retain a tile (7) to the base. The tile tray (1) further includes a coupling means for connecting two or more of the tile trays in a substantially aligned configuration.

Abstract: A battery system is provided for a vehicle. The battery system includes, but is not limited to, comprising: a heat transfer loop, a battery cell, a thermoelectric semiconductor device coupled to the battery cell and the heat transfer loop, a variable voltage source coupled to the thermoelectric semiconductor device, and a temperature sensor coupled to the battery cell. A controller is coupled to the variable voltage source and the temperature sensor and also configured to receive a signal indicative of a temperature of the battery cell from the temperature sensor and adjust a voltage of the variable voltage source applied to the thermoelectric semiconductor device based at least in part on an evaluation of the temperature.

Abstract: A floor covering system (10) including a first layer (14) of planar material and a second layer (12) of planar material. At least a portion of the second layer (12) is adapted for laminating engagement with the first layer (12) to define a floor covering. The system further includes a locating means for locating two or more of the second layers in a substantially aligned configuration, wherein the second layer (12) is adapted to receive the locating means.

Abstract: A method for predicting the elution time of a peptide in chromatographic and electrophoretic separations by first providing a data set of known elution times of known peptides, then creating a plurality of vectors, each vector having a plurality of dimensions, and each dimension representing positional information about at least a portion of the amino acids present in the known peptides. A hypothetical vector is then created by assigning dimensional values for at least one hypothetical peptide, and a predicted elution time for the hypothetical vector is created by performing at least one multivariate regression fitting the hypothetical peptide to the plurality of vectors. Preferably, the multivariate regression is accomplished by the use of an artificial neural network and the elution times are first normalized using linear regression.

Abstract: Exemplary embodiment include method of sealing battery cooling plates, and methods of assembling battery using battery cooling plate racks and a single component including multiple cooling plates an connection portions therebetween.

Abstract: An exemplary embodiment includes a method of sealing battery cooling plates.

Abstract: Processes for providing durable antimicrobial surfaces are disclosed that comprise treating a polymer substrate surface with formaldehyde followed by treatment with an antimicrobial peptide. Further embodiments include articles, including medical devices, characterized by a durable antimicrobial surface provided by the processes of the invention.

Abstract: Complexes of copper and/or zinc with hydrolyzed olefin/maleic anhydride copolymers were solubilized in ammoniacal solution providing preservative solutions that fully penetrate wood. With loss of the ammonia from the wood, the complexes were stably retained in the wood providing a long lasting preservative.

Abstract: Processes for providing durable antimicrobial surfaces are disclosed that comprise treating a polymer substrate surface with formaldehyde followed by treatment with an antimicrobial peptide. Further embodiments include articles, including medical devices, characterized by a durable antimicrobial surface provided by the processes of the invention.

Abstract: Complexes of copper and/or zinc with molybdate and/or tungstate were solubilized in ammonia or ammoniacal solution providing preservative solutions that fully penetrate wood. With loss of the ammonia from the wood, the complexes were stably retained in the wood providing a long lasting preservative.

Abstract: Complexes of ibuprofen and copper and/or zinc were solubilized in ammoniacal solution providing preservative solutions that fully penetrate wood. With loss of the ammonia from the wood, the complexes were stably retained in the wood providing a long lasting preservative.