Abstract: The invention provides a novel, versatile degradable hydrogel composition, and methods thereof, with precisely tunable stiffness, plasticity (e.g., degree of covalent vs. physical crosslinks) and predictive disintegration rates degradation, allowing controlled disintegration and release of therapeutic cells or pharmaceuticals and/or in vitro 3D cell expansion.

Abstract: A charging station assembly capable of generating and delivering a conditioned airflow while charging a battery of a vehicle. The temperature and flow rate of this conditioned airflow may be controlled based on the ambient conditions and battery status. The conditioned airflow may be directed toward an outside heat exchanger of a refrigerant system of the vehicle to enhance capacity. The conditioned airflow may also be routed to a battery pack for direct cooling or heating through additional ventilation system. In hot ambient conditions, the charging station provides cool air to facilitate battery cooling. In cold ambient conditions, the charging station provides hot air to facilitate battery heating. This charging station assembly shifts the load from the vehicle refrigerant system to the charging system, thereby improving battery thermal management capability, while eliminating the need for an oversized refrigerant system.

Abstract: An integrated thermal management system and method for a vehicle, including: a cabin thermal management loop; an energy storage system thermal management loop; a power electronics thermal management loop; and a multi-port valve assembly coupled to the cabin thermal management loop, the energy storage system thermal management loop, and the power electronics thermal management loop and adapted to, responsive to an operating state of the vehicle, selectively isolate and couple the cabin thermal management loop, the energy storage system thermal management loop, and the power electronics thermal management loop from and to one another.

Abstract: A thermal management heat pump system and method for a vehicle, including: a cabin thermal management loop including a refrigerant loop; an energy storage system thermal management loop including a coolant loop; a power electronics thermal management loop including the coolant loop; a heat exchanger selectively coupling the refrigerant loop and the coolant loop responsive to one or more of a sensed and a commanded operating state of the vehicle; and a multi-port valve assembly selectively coupling the energy storage system thermal management loop and the power electronics thermal management loop responsive to the one or more of the sensed and the commanded operating state of the vehicle.

Abstract: Ventilation control systems and methods for a vehicle are presented. The system includes a touch screen that is configures to display an object and receive a selection of a part of the object. The system also includes an air vent that comprises at least one controllable fin and a motor that can control the configuration of that fin. A control circuitry of the system configures the fin, using the at least one motor, to direct air from the air vent to a location that corresponds to the selected part of the object.

Abstract: An illustrative system includes a location sensor configured to sense location of an electric vehicle and to generate a signal indicative of an electric vehicle's location. An electric vehicle battery cooling system is configured to provide cooling to an electric vehicle's battery. A controller is electrically couplable to receive the signal indicative of an electric vehicle's location from the location sensor and is configured to determine battery energy for the electric vehicle to reach a location of a charging station. The battery energy is based on the location of the electric vehicle and an amount of electrical energy remaining in the electric battery. The controller is configured to initiate cooling of the electric battery based on the amount of electrical energy remaining in the electric battery and the battery energy for the electric vehicle to reach the location of the charging station.

Abstract: Under one aspect, a non-volatile nanotube diode device includes first and second terminals; a semiconductor element including a cathode and an anode, and capable of forming a conductive pathway between the cathode and anode in response to electrical stimulus applied to the first conductive terminal; and a nanotube switching element including a nanotube fabric article in electrical communication with the semiconductive element, the nanotube fabric article disposed between and capable of forming a conductive pathway between the semiconductor element and the second terminal, wherein electrical stimuli on the first and second terminals causes a plurality of logic states.

Abstract: Ventilation control systems and methods for a vehicle are presented. The system includes a touch screen that is configures to display an object and receive a selection of a part of the object. The system also includes an air vent that comprises at least one controllable fin and a motor that can control the configuration of that fin. A control circuitry of the system configures the fin, using the at least one motor, to direct air from the air vent to a location that corresponds to the selected part of the object.

Abstract: The present disclosure is directed toward carbon based diodes, carbon based resistive change memory elements, resistive change memory having resistive change memory elements and carbon based diodes, methods of making carbon based diodes, methods of making resistive change memory elements having carbon based diodes, and methods of making resistive change memory having resistive change memory elements having carbons based diodes. The carbon based diodes can be any suitable type of diode that can be formed using carbon allotropes, such as semiconducting single wall carbon nanotubes (s-SWCNT), semiconducting Buckminsterfullerenes (such as C60 Buckyballs), or semiconducting graphitic layers (layered graphene). The carbon based diodes can be pn junction diodes, Schottky diodes, other any other type of diode formed using a carbon allotrope. The carbon based diodes can be placed at any level of integration in a three dimensional (3D) electronic device such as integrated with components or wiring layers.

Abstract: Under one aspect, a covered nanotube switch includes: (a) a nanotube element including an unaligned plurality of nanotubes, the nanotube element having a top surface, a bottom surface, and side surfaces; (b) first and second terminals in contact with the nanotube element, wherein the first terminal is disposed on and substantially covers the entire top surface of the nanotube element, and wherein the second terminal contacts at least a portion of the bottom surface of the nanotube element; and (c) control circuitry capable of applying electrical stimulus to the first and second terminals. The nanotube element can switch between a plurality of electronic states in response to a corresponding plurality of electrical stimuli applied by the control circuitry to the first and second terminals. For each different electronic state, the nanotube element provides an electrical pathway of different resistance between the first and second terminals.

Abstract: An electric vehicle system for transporting human passengers or cargo includes an electric vehicle that includes a body, a plurality of wheels, a cargo area, an electric motor for propelling the electric vehicle, and a primary battery for providing electrical power to the electric motor for propelling the electric vehicle. An auxiliary battery module is attachable to the electric vehicle for providing electrical power to the electric motor via a first electrical connector at the auxiliary battery module and a second electrical connector at the electric vehicle that mates with the first electrical connector. The auxiliary battery module can be positioned in the cargo area while supplying power to the electric motor, and can be removable and reattachable from the electric vehicle. The auxiliary battery module includes an integrated cooling system for cooling itself during operation of the electric vehicle including a conduit therein for circulating coolant.

Abstract: The invention provides a novel, versatile degradable hydrogel composition, and methods thereof, with precisely tunable stiffness, plasticity (e.g., degree of covalent vs. physical crosslinks) and predictive disintegration rates degradation, allowing controlled disintegration and release of therapeutic cells or pharmaceuticals and/or in vitro 3D cell expansion.

Abstract: The present disclosure is directed toward carbon based diodes, carbon based resistive change memory elements, resistive change memory having resistive change memory elements and carbon based diodes, methods of making carbon based diodes, methods of making resistive change memory elements having carbon based diodes, and methods of making resistive change memory having resistive change memory elements having carbons based diodes. The carbon based diodes can be any suitable type of diode that can be formed using carbon allotropes, such as semiconducting single wall carbon nanotubes (s-SWCNT), semiconducting Buckminsterfullerenes (such as C60 Buckyballs), or semiconducting graphitic layers (layered graphene). The carbon based diodes can be pn junction diodes, Schottky diodes, other any other type of diode formed using a carbon allotrope. The carbon based diodes can be placed at any level of integration in a three dimensional (3D) electronic device such as integrated with components or wiring layers.

Abstract: Under one aspect, a non-volatile nanotube diode device includes first and second terminals; a semiconductor element including a cathode and an anode, and capable of forming a conductive pathway between the cathode and anode in response to electrical stimulus applied to the first conductive terminal; and a nanotube switching element including a nanotube fabric article in electrical communication with the semiconductive element, the nanotube fabric article disposed between and capable of forming a conductive pathway between the semiconductor element and the second terminal, wherein electrical stimuli on the first and second terminals causes a plurality of logic states.

Abstract: A reservoir system for liquid cooling includes an inner volume, with one or more inlet ports and one or more outlet ports for directing a flow of coolant. The reservoir system includes an opening, covered by a cap, that can receive a filter for filtering the coolant. The filter is sealed against an inner surface of the reservoir, wherein fluid flows through the filter element, and wherein the filter element is removable through the opening. The reservoir system includes a by-pass that directs a portion of flow from the inlet to the outlet, before or after the filter, while another portion of the flow traverses the inner volume for de-gassing. The relatively larger inner volume with corresponding lower velocities allows bubbles to escape to a freeboard region, thus de-gassing the coolant. The by-pass may be internal to, external to, integrated with, or a combination thereof, the reservoir.

Abstract: Ventilation control systems and methods for a vehicle are presented. The system includes a touch screen that is configures to display an object and receive a selection of a part of the object. The system also includes an air vent that comprises at least one controllable fin and a motor that can control the configuration of that fin. A control circuitry of the system configures the fin, using the at least one motor, to direct air from the air vent to a location that corresponds to the selected part of the object.

Abstract: Under one aspect, a non-volatile nanotube diode device includes first and second terminals; a semiconductor element including a cathode and an anode, and capable of forming a conductive pathway between the cathode and anode in response to electrical stimulus applied to the first conductive terminal; and a nanotube switching element including a nanotube fabric article in electrical communication with the semiconductive element, the nanotube fabric article disposed between and capable of forming a conductive pathway between the semiconductor element and the second terminal, wherein electrical stimuli on the first and second terminals causes a plurality of logic states.

Abstract: The present disclosure is directed toward carbon based diodes, carbon based resistive change memory elements, resistive change memory having resistive change memory elements and carbon based diodes, methods of making carbon based diodes, methods of making resistive change memory elements having carbon based diodes, and methods of making resistive change memory having resistive change memory elements having carbons based diodes. The carbon based diodes can be any suitable type of diode that can be formed using carbon allotropes, such as semiconducting single wall carbon nanotubes (s-SWCNT), semiconducting Buckminsterfullerenes (such as C60 Buckyballs), or semiconducting graphitic layers (layered graphene). The carbon based diodes can be pn junction diodes, Schottky diodes, other any other type of diode formed using a carbon allotrope. The carbon based diodes can be placed at any level of integration in a three dimensional (3D) electronic device such as integrated with components or wiring layers.

Abstract: Under one aspect, a covered nanotube switch includes: (a) a nanotube element including an unaligned plurality of nanotubes, the nanotube element having a top surface, a bottom surface, and side surfaces; (b) first and second terminals in contact with the nanotube element, wherein the first terminal is disposed on and substantially covers the entire top surface of the nanotube element, and wherein the second terminal contacts at least a portion of the bottom surface of the nanotube element; and (c) control circuitry capable of applying electrical stimulus to the first and second terminals. The nanotube element can switch between a plurality of electronic states in response to a corresponding plurality of electrical stimuli applied by the control circuitry to the first and second terminals. For each different electronic state, the nanotube element provides an electrical pathway of different resistance between the first and second terminals.

Abstract: The present disclosure is directed toward carbon based diodes, carbon based resistive change memory elements, resistive change memory having resistive change memory elements and carbon based diodes, methods of making carbon based diodes, methods of making resistive change memory elements having carbon based diodes, and methods of making resistive change memory having resistive change memory elements having carbons based diodes. The carbon based diodes can be any suitable type of diode that can be formed using carbon allotropes, such as semiconducting single wall carbon nanotubes (s-SWCNT), semiconducting Buckminsterfullerenes (such as C60 Buckyballs), or semiconducting graphitic layers (layered graphene). The carbon based diodes can be pn junction diodes, Schottky diodes, other any other type of diode formed using a carbon allotrope. The carbon based diodes can be placed at any level of integration in a three dimensional (3D) electronic device such as integrated with components or wiring layers.