Abstract: An assay unit for carrying-out fluorescence-detected assays having a microfluidic chip with a microfluidic system to convey a sample or analyte solution through one or more microfluidic channels arranged on the chip, and a photonic system with two or more rectangular waveguide structures. The microfluidic channels and the waveguide structures cross each other at a detection site. In an assay area, where a certain microfluidic channel and a certain waveguide structure cross each other, one or more lateral surfaces of the core of the waveguide structure at least partially face an inner volume of the microfluidic channel, such that an evanescent field of light guided within the waveguide structure overlaps with a certain part of the inner volume of the microfluidic channel.

Abstract: An assay unit for carrying-out fluorescence-detected assays having a microfluidic chip with a microfluidic system to convey a sample or analyte solution through one or more microfluidic channels arranged on the chip, and a photonic system with two or more rectangular waveguide structures. The microfluidic channels and the waveguide structures cross each other at a detection site. In an assay area, where a certain microfluidic channel and a certain waveguide structure cross each other, one or more lateral surfaces of the core of the waveguide structure at least partially face an inner volume of the microfluidic channel, such that an evanescent field of light guided within the waveguide structure overlaps with a certain part of the inner volume of the microfluidic channel.

Abstract: A method for generating battery characteristics for a battery having a target composition includes identifying open-circuit potential (OCP) characteristics for two similar battery compositions having different proportions of elements. The OCP characteristics are converted to dQ/dV characteristics and linearly combined to derived a target dQ/dV characteristic. The target dQ/dV characteristic is integrated to derived a target OCP characteristic. A battery constructed of the target composition is operated according to the target OCP characteristic.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for controlling a regeneration procedure of a lithium battery cell (1) which comprises an anode (2), a cathode (3) and the regeneration electrode (4). The method comprises: detecting a current availability of cyclable lithium in the anode (2); detecting a current availability of cyclable lithium in the cathode (3); passing a first current (I1) between the anode (2) and the regeneration electrode (4) until the actual availability of cyclable lithium in the anode (2) corresponds to a targeted availability of cyclable lithium in the anode (2); and passing a second current (I2) between the cathode (3) and the regeneration electrode (4) until the current availability of cyclable lithium in the cathode (3) corresponds to a targeted availability of cyclable lithium in the cathode (3).

Abstract: A method for generating battery characteristics for a battery having a target composition includes identifying open-circuit potential (OCP) characteristics for two similar battery compositions having different proportions of elements. The OCP characteristics are converted to dQ/dV characteristics and linearly combined to derived a target dQ/dV characteristic. The target dQ/dV characteristic is integrated to derived a target OCP characteristic. A battery constructed of the target composition is operated according to the target OCP characteristic.

Abstract: A cathode active material for a battery cell is described. A protective layer is at least partially applied to the cathode active material, and the protective layer is made of a lithium ion-conducting solid electrolyte layer.

Abstract: An obstacle detection device to be fitted to a mobile vehicle able to move parallel to a reference plane comprises: at least two emitters of electromagnetic beams which are able to form two virtual planes in two different directions that are able to intersect one another and intersect a potential obstacle, at least one image sensor able to produce an image of the intersection of the virtual planes and of the potential obstacle, an image analysis means able to determine the presence of an obstacle, configured to compare the image with a reference image. A detection method employing such a device is also provided.

Abstract: A reader unit (31) is configured to be operationally coupled with an assay unit (11) that is capable of performing one or more diagnostic tests (13) on one or more physiological samples (15), and is configured (32, 36) to obtain test raw data (73) of diagnostic tests performed on an assay unit operationally coupled with the reader unit. The reader unit comprises an encryption module (33) that is configured to encrypt input data with locking key data (75), the input data comprising the test raw data, or data derived from said test raw data. The reader unit is configured to provide access to the encrypted data (77), but not to the input data.

Abstract: A cathode active material for a battery cell is described. A protective layer is at least partially applied to the cathode active material, and the protective layer is made of a lithium ion-conducting solid electrolyte layer.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for controlling a regeneration procedure of a lithium battery cell (1) which comprises an anode (2), a cathode (3) and the regeneration electrode (4). The method comprises: detecting a current availability of cyclable lithium in the anode (2); detecting a current availability of cyclable lithium in the cathode (3); passing a first current (I1) between the anode (2) and the regeneration electrode (4) until the actual availability of cyclable lithium in the anode (2) corresponds to a targeted availability of cyclable lithium in the anode (2); and passing a second current (I2) between the cathode (3) and the regeneration electrode (4) until the current availability of cyclable lithium in the cathode (3) corresponds to a targeted availability of cyclable lithium in the cathode (3).

Abstract: An obstacle detection device fitted to a mobile vehicle able to move parallel to a reference plane, comprises: a first emitter referred to as a horizontal emitter of a first horizontal electromagnetic beam extending in a first virtual plane substantially parallel to the reference plane, a first image sensor able to cover a field intended to intersect with the first virtual plane to form a detection surface, an image analysis means able to determine the presence of an obstacle by detecting the presence of an image on the detection surface. A detection method employing the device is provided.

Abstract: An obstacle detection device to be fitted to a mobile vehicle able to move parallel to a reference plane comprises: at least two emitters of electromagnetic beams which are able to form two virtual planes in two different directions that are able to intersect one another and intersect a potential obstacle, at least one image sensor able to produce an image of the intersection of the virtual planes and of the potential obstacle, an image analysis means able to determine the presence of an obstacle, configured to compare the image with a reference image. A detection method employing such a device is also provided.

Abstract: An assay unit for carrying-out fluorescence-detected assays on physiological samples comprises a microfluidic chip with a microfluidic system to convey a physiological sample or analyte solution through one or more microfluidic channels arranged on the chip, and a photonic system with two or more rectangular waveguide structures arranged on the chip to guide excitation light in the near IR, visible, or near UV range. The microfluidic channels and the waveguide structures cross each other at a detection site. In an assay area, where a certain microfluidic channel and a certain waveguide structure cross each other, one or more lateral surfaces of the core of the waveguide structure at least partially face an inner volume of the microfluidic channel, such that an evanescent field of light guided within the waveguide structure overlaps with a certain part of the inner volume of the microfluidic channel.

Abstract: A reader unit (31) is configured to be operationally coupled with an assay unit (11) that is capable of performing one or more diagnostic tests (13) on one or more physiological samples (15), and is configured (32, 36) to obtain test raw data (73) of diagnostic tests performed on an assay unit operationally coupled with the reader unit. The reader unit comprises an encryption module (33) that is configured to encrypt input data with locking key data (75), the input data comprising the test raw data, or data derived from said test raw data. The reader unit is configured to provide access to the encrypted data (77), but not to the input data.

Abstract: A lithium-ion battery having an anode, a cathode, a separator, and an electrolyte connected to the anode and to the cathode, encompassing at least one lithium salt as an electrolyte salt and one solvent solubilizing the lithium salt, wherein the lithium-ion battery contains at least one cation exchanger that can release Li+ and bind H+, and that is in contact with the electrolyte. A method is also described for preventing the dissolution of metals out of a cathode of a lithium-ion battery and/or damage to an SEI layer of an anode of the lithium-ion battery, encompassing bringing an electrolyte of the lithium-ion battery into contact with at least one cation exchanger that can release Li+ and bind H+.

Abstract: An electrochemical battery system in one embodiment includes a first electrochemical cell, a memory in which command instructions are stored, and a processor configured to execute the command instructions during a discharge cycle of the first electrochemical cell to (i) establish a first discharge voltage of the first electrochemical cell based upon a first sensed discharge voltage, and (ii) permit a second discharge voltage of the first electrochemical cell after establishing the first discharge voltage, wherein the second discharge voltage is greater than the first discharge voltage.

Abstract: The invention relates to a cell coil of a lithium ion rechargeable battery, including at least two conductors (90) and at least two separators, the conductors (90) being separated from one another by the separators; the active material (92) being applied onto the conductors (90); the thickness (94) of the active material varying along the conductors (90). By varying the thickness (94) of the active material along the conductors (90), the service life of the cell coil is increased and an increased storage capacity is able to be implemented.

Abstract: An electrochemical battery system in one embodiment includes a first electrochemical cell, a memory in which command instructions are stored, and a processor configured to execute the command instructions during a discharge cycle of the first electrochemical cell to (i) establish a first discharge voltage of the first electrochemical cell based upon a first sensed discharge voltage, and (ii) permit a second discharge voltage of the first electrochemical cell after establishing the first discharge voltage, wherein the second discharge voltage is greater than the first discharge voltage.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for determining an aging condition of a battery cell. The method has the following steps of a) providing a battery cell, b) recording an impedance spectrum of the battery cell, c) determining an evaluation quantity based on the measured impedance spectrum, and d) determining an aging condition of the battery cell based on a comparison of the evaluation quantity to a reference value.

Abstract: The invention relates to a battery having a housing for accommodating at least one electrolyte. The at least one electrolyte is accommodated by the housing. According to the invention, at least one thermal conduction element is arranged in the at least one battery in order to increase the thermal conductivity within the at least one battery.