Abstract: A composite of silicon and tin is prepared as a negative electrode composition with increased lithium insertion capacity and durability for use with a metal current collector in cells of a lithium-ion battery. This electrode material is formed such that the silicon is present as a distinct amorphous phase in a matrix phase of crystalline tin. While the tin phase provides electron conductivity, both phases accommodate the insertion and extraction of lithium in the operation of the cell and both phases interact in minimizing mechanical damage to the material as the cell experiences repeated charge and discharge cycles. In general, roughly equal atomic proportions of the tin and silicon are used in forming the phase separated composite electrode material.

Abstract: Methods, apparatuses, and systems are presented for performing adaptive equalization involving receiving a signal originating from a channel associated with inter-symbol interference, filtering the signal using a filter having a plurality of adjustable tap weights to produce a filtered signal, and adaptively updating each of the plurality of adjustable tap weights to a new value to reduce effects of inter-symbol interference, wherein each of the plurality of adjustable tap weights is adaptively updated to take into account a constraint relating to a measure of error in the filtered signal and a constraint relating to group delay associated with the filter. Each of the plurality of adjustable tap weights may be adaptively updated to drive group delay associated with the filter toward a target group delay.

Abstract: The operation of internal combustion, reciprocating engines in some automotive vehicles may be managed such that the engine operation is stopped each time the vehicle is brought to a stop, and then the engine is re-started when the operator presses the accelerator pedal to put the vehicle in motion. In some driving situations the engine of the vehicle may be stopped and re-started many times, which is a mode of engine operation for which the traditional 12 volt, lead-acid battery is not well suited. It is found that a six cell, lithium-ion battery combining LiFePO4 as the active positive electrode material and Li4Ti5O12 as the active negative electrode material, together with suitable separators and a suitable low freezing point electrolyte may be adapted to deliver starting power for repeated engine starting, despite short intervening charging periods.

Abstract: A method for monitoring a lithium-ion battery cell includes monitoring a battery cell voltage and a corresponding state of charge of the battery cell during an electric power event which may include either an electric power charge event or an electric power discharge event. A measured potential-derivative is determined by differentiating the battery cell voltage in relation to the corresponding state of charge of the battery during the electric power event. The measured potential-derivative is compared with a preferred anode potential-derivative of an anode charge curve (for electric power discharge events) or an anode discharge curve (for electric power charge events), and with a preferred cathode potential-derivative of a cathode charge curve (for electric power charge events) or a cathode discharge charge curve (for electric power discharge events).

Abstract: A method for monitoring a lithium-ion battery cell includes monitoring a battery cell voltage and a corresponding charge capacity of the battery cell during an electric power event which may include either an electric power charge event or an electric power discharge event. A measured charge-capacity-derivative is determined by differentiating the charge capacity in relation to the corresponding battery cell voltage during the electric power event. The measured charge-capacity-derivative is compared with a preferred anode charge-capacity-derivative of an anode charge curve (for electric power discharge events) or an anode discharge curve (for electric power charge events), and with a preferred cathode charge-capacity-derivative of a cathode charge curve (for electric power charge events) or a cathode discharge charge curve (for electric power discharge events).

Abstract: A method of determining and predicting a state of a rechargeable battery device in real time involves measuring a current and a voltage of the rechargeable battery in real time, inputting the measured current and voltage into an algorithm, and applying the algorithm to determine the state of the rechargeable battery. The algorithm includes a first mathematical model based on a direct solution of at least one differential equation characterizing an equivalent RC circuit of the battery as a function of time. The first model generates a plurality of parameters that are usable to determine the state of the battery. The algorithm further includes a second mathematical model configured to regress the parameters over time, and a third mathematical model configured to estimate the state of the battery.

Abstract: A lithium ion battery includes a positive electrode, a negative electrode, and an electrolyte operatively disposed between the positive and negative electrodes. The negative electrode contains a composite material including graphitic carbon and a disordered carbon.

Abstract: Methods, apparatuses, and systems are presented for performing adaptive equalization involving receiving a signal originating from a channel associated with inter-symbol interference, filtering the signal using a filter having a plurality of adjustable tap weights to produce a filtered signal, and adaptively updating each of the plurality of adjustable tap weights to a new value to reduce effects of inter-symbol interference, wherein each of the plurality of adjustable tap weights is adaptively updated to take into account a constraint relating to a measure of error in the filtered signal and a constraint relating to group delay associated with the filter. Each of the plurality of adjustable tap weights may be adaptively updated to drive group delay associated with the filter toward a target group delay.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for improved high-speed adaptive equalization that may operate effectively even in systems experiencing severe interference by using one or more error generators and taking multiple samples across a bit interval. Advantageously, a preferred embodiment of the current invention may be deployed in a clockless configuration. Preferably, one or more controllable analog filters may be controlled by one or more microprocessors used to assess the error data from the error generators and to calculate the appropriate coefficients for the filters according to one or more error minimization algorithms. Preferably, the steps of sampling, assessment, calculation and coefficient setting may be done iteratively to converge to an optimum set of filter values and/or respond dynamically to signals with time-varying noise and interference characteristics.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for improved high-speed adaptive equalization that may operate effectively even in systems experiencing severe interference by using one or more error generators and taking multiple samples across a bit interval. Advantageously, a preferred embodiment of the current invention may be deployed in a clockless configuration. Preferably, one or more controllable analog filters may be controlled by one or more microprocessors used to assess the error data from the error generators and to calculate the appropriate coefficients for the filters according to one or more error minimization algorithms. Preferably, the steps of sampling, assessment, calculation and coefficient setting may be done iteratively to converge to an optimum set of filter values and/or respond dynamically to signals with time-varying noise and interference characteristics.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for improved high-speed adaptive equalization that may operate effectively even in systems experiencing severe interference by using one or more error generators and taking multiple samples across a bit interval. Advantageously, a preferred embodiment of the current invention may be deployed in a clockless configuration. Preferably, one or more controllable analog filters may be controlled by one or more microprocessors used to assess the error data from the error generators and to calculate the appropriate coefficients for the filters according to one or more error minimization algorithms. Preferably, the steps of sampling, assessment, calculation and coefficient setting may be done iteratively to converge to an optimum set of filter values and/or respond dynamically to signals with time-varying noise and interference characteristics.

Abstract: A method for performing adaptive equalization is presented comprising receiving a Forward Error Correction (FEC) encoded signal from a channel, filtering the received FEC encoded signal using a filter according to at least one adjustable filter coefficient to produce a filtered signal, evaluating the filtered signal to generate a signal error output, adjusting the at least one adjustable filter coefficient in response to the signal error output, performing FEC decode processing dependent on the filtered signal to generate an FEC output, and adjusting the at least one adjustable filter coefficient in response to the FEC output. In one embodiment, the signal error output relates to Mean Squared Error (MSE), and the FEC output relates to bit error rate. The at least one adjustable filter coefficient may be first adjusted in response to the signal error output until a specified condition is met, then adjusted in response to the FEC output.

Abstract: Improved high-speed adaptive equalization is presented that may involve converting an optical signal into an electrical signal and performing equalization by (i) filtering the electrical signal with an analog filter according to at least one filter coefficient to produce a filtered output, (ii) generating an error signal from the filtered output according to an error function, (iii) providing at least one control signal to the analog filter for adjusting the at least one filter coefficient, (iv) detecting a relationship between a change in the at least one filter coefficient and a change in the error signal, and (v) adjusting the at least one filter coefficient according to the relationship to minimize the error signal. The least one coefficient may comprise a plurality of coefficients, and the relationship may be a gradient estimate having multiple components, each determined by varying only one of the coefficients and detecting a resulting change in the error signal.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for eliminating dead zone in a phase locked loop with binary quantized detectors are described. Dead zone can be eliminated by changing the threshold used to quantize the cross point sample. A quantized cross point sample is integrated in order to set a new threshold. The integration may be performed during data transitions to eliminate threshold drift during long sequences where no transitions occur.

Abstract: Improved high-speed adaptive equalization is presented that may involve converting an optical signal into an electrical signal and performing equalization by (i) filtering the electrical signal with an analog filter according to at least one filter coefficient to produce a filtered output, (ii) generating an error signal from the filtered output according to an error function, (iii) providing at least one control signal to the analog filter for adjusting the at least one filter coefficient, (iv) detecting a relationship between a change in the at least one filter coefficient and a change in the error signal, and (v) adjusting the at least one filter coefficient according to the relationship to minimize the error signal. The least one coefficient may comprise a plurality of coefficients, and the relationship may be a gradient estimate having multiple components, each determined by varying only one of the coefficients and detecting a resulting change in the error signal.

Abstract: Method and system for a programmable analog tapped delay line filter are disclosed. One embodiment of the present invention is a programmable analog tapped delay line filter comprising an input line, an output line, and one or more gaincells or taps coupled between the input line and the output line. The input and output lines each comprises a cascade of one or more differential delay cells, and each of the one or more gaincells or taps corresponds to a tap weight or coefficient. Furthermore, the input and output lines are terminated in impedances and the filter produces one or more outputs.

Abstract: A method and system for generating data for a spectral Doppler strip in an ultrasound system includes a beamformer that provides Doppler data to a signal processor. The signal processor applies an autoregressive model and determines autoregressive parameters responsive to the Doppler data. Information responsive to the autoregressive parameters is generated, and a window function is applied to the information. At least one spectrum responsive to the auto-regressive parameter is estimated with a Fourier transform.

Abstract: An ultrasonic method and system for boundary detection of an object of interest in an ultrasound image is provided. One ultrasound imaging system that is provided acquires an ultrasound image from a subject using harmonic information and automatically generates a boundary oriented with respect to an object of interest in the ultrasound image. Another ultrasound imaging system that is provided receives a plurality of user-proposed transition positions oriented with respect to an object of interest in an ultrasound image and automatically generates a computed boundary oriented with respect to the object of interest at least partially as a function of the plurality of user-proposed transition positions. The ultrasound image used in this system can be generated with received ultrasonic energy at a fundamental frequency or at a harmonic of the fundamental frequency.

Abstract: An ultrasound system and method are provided for improving resolution and operation. The system applies different imaging parameters within and outside a region of interest in an ultrasound image to improve spatial and/or temporal resolution inside a region of interest. The system also increases an apparent frame rate within a region of interest in an ultrasound-image frame by generating a motion-compensated interpolated image based on measured motion. The ultrasound imaging system also performs a method for automatically adjusting ultrasound imaging parameters in at least a portion of an ultrasound image in response to transducer or image motion to improve spatial or temporal resolution. With the measured motion, the system can also alter an operating mode of an ultrasound transducer array in response to an absence of transducer motion. Further, the system corrects distortion in an acquired ultrasound image caused by transducer or image motion.

Abstract: A method and system for generating data for a spectral Doppler strip in an ultrasound system includes a beamformer that provides Doppler data to a signal processor. The signal processor applies an autoregressive model and determines autoregressive parameters responsive to the Doppler data. Information responsive to the autoregressive parameters is generated, and a window function is applied to the information. At least one spectrum responsive to the autoregressive parameter is estimated with a Fourier transform.