Abstract: Lithium ion batteries with improved fire resistance properties are described. The lithium ion battery includes a first electrode including a lithium compound and a second electrode. A separator is positioned between the first electrode and the second electrode and an electrolyte is provided. wherein the separator comprises at least a layer of polymeric nanofibers positioned on one side of a separator core and a fire-retardant polymer coating formed opposite to the nanofiber layer which is simultaneously deposited during electrospinning process. The polymeric nanofibers have a diameter less than approximately 1 micron. The polymeric nanofibers have a fire-retardant material entrapped within the nanofibers. The fire-retardant material has a lower melting point than the polymeric nanofibers. The separator/nanofibers/fire-retardant material are configured such that a fire-initiating event releases the entrapped fire-retardant material from the nanofibers which extinguishes the fire-initiating event.

Abstract: A contact center includes an outbound server to make a call to a callee and a media device. The media device receives an audio signal based on the call, to determine a Mel-frequency cepstral coefficient for the received audio signal, and to match the Mel-frequency cepstral coefficient for the audio signal to a Mel-frequency cepstral coefficient for a pre-recorded carrier message. The media device can determine a content of the audio signal based on the match.

Abstract: An animal tail-wagging simulation device includes a housing, a circuit board mounted in the housing and provided with a driving coil, and a swinging arm pivotably coupled with the housing via a shaft. The swinging arm has an upper U-shaped portion. The driving coil is disposed in a middle of the U-shaped portion. Two sides of the U-shaped portion are provided respectively with two permanent magnets. When the driving coil is energized, electromagnetic field is generated and interacts with the permanent magnets to drive the swinging arm to swing. A swinging unit is provided at a lower end of the swinging arm. The swinging unit includes a swinging plate pivotably coupled with the swinging arm, and an adjustable counterweight.

Abstract: A contact center includes an outbound server to make a call to a callee and a media device. The media device receives an audio signal based on the call, to determine a Mel-frequency cepstral coefficient for the received audio signal, and to match the Mel-frequency cepstral coefficient for the audio signal to a Mel-frequency cepstral coefficient for a pre-recorded carrier message. The media device can determine a content of the audio signal based on the match.

Abstract: The present invention describes a method of producing a p-type light-absorbing semiconductor copper zinc tin selenide/sulfide (Cu2(ZnxSn2-x)(SySe1-y)4) (abbreviated CZTS) with electrochemical deposition. It can be used in the production of solar cell when combined with an n-type inorganic or an organic semiconductor layer. The present method comprises a one-step or a sequence of depositions using electroplating to fabricate a low-cost and large-area CZTS solar cell, without using expensive and complicated deposition techniques or highly toxic and flammable chemicals in the production process. The present method significantly reduces the cost and energy requirement for production of solar cell.

Abstract: The present invention describes a method of producing a p-type light-absorbing semiconductor copper zinc tin selenide/sulfide (Cu2(ZnxSn2-x)(SySe1-y)4) (abbreviated CZTS) with electrochemical deposition. It can be used in the production of solar cell when combined with an n-type inorganic or an organic semiconductor layer. The present method comprises a one-step or a sequence of depositions using electroplating to fabricate a low-cost and large-area CZTS solar cell, without using expensive and complicated deposition techniques or highly toxic and flammable chemicals in the production process. The present method significantly reduces the cost and energy requirement for production of solar cell.

Abstract: A method and system for container identification are disclosed. The method comprises obtaining a plurality of digital images of a character sequence on the container, extracting the character sequences from the images, combining the character sequences into at least one identification code candidate, and selecting one of the candidates as the identification code. The system comprises at least one camera and a computer system that is electrically coupled to the camera, whereby when the computer system receives a trigger signal, said computer system takes a plurality of digital images from the camera, produces character sequences as partial recognition results for the plurality of digital images, and combines the partial recognition results together to produce the identification code.

Abstract: A method and system for container identification are disclosed. The method comprises obtaining a plurality of digital images of a character sequence on the container, extracting the character sequences from the images, combining the character sequences into at least one identification code candidate, and selecting one of the candidates as the identification code. The system comprises at least one camera and a computer system that is electrically coupled to the camera, whereby when the computer system receives a trigger signal, said computer system takes a plurality of digital images from the camera, produces character sequences as partial recognition results for the plurality of digital images, and combines the partial recognition results together to produce the identification code.

Abstract: A method of joining first and second sheets of material to form a seam between the two pieces, comprises the steps of: overlapping edge portions of each sheet in such manner that the edge portion of the first sheets forms an extension beyond an edge of the second sheet and remaining portions of the sheets overlie one another; stitching the edge portions together along a first stitch line; folding the extension back upon itself so that the edges of both sheets face one another; applying an adhesive strip over the facing edges; folding the remaining portion of the second sheet over the adhesive strip; and stitching through the remaining portion of the second sheet and the extension along a second stitch line.