Abstract: An anode for a rechargeable battery cell includes an electrode substrate and a current collector fixed to the electrode substrate. The anode also includes an active layer arranged on the current collector and having discrete first material sections and at least one second material section arranged in an alternating pattern. Each discrete material section is aligned parallel to the current collector. The active layer is configured to intercalate transient ions during charging of the battery cell and de-intercalate the transient ions during discharging of the battery cell. A method of manufacturing such an anode for a rechargeable battery cell is also considered.

Abstract: An anode for a rechargeable battery cell includes an electrode substrate and a current collector fixed to the electrode substrate. The anode also includes an active layer arranged on the current collector and having discrete first material sections and second material sections arranged in an alternating pattern. Each discrete material section is aligned perpendicular to the current collector. The active layer is configured to intercalate transient ions during charging of the battery cell and de-intercalate the transient ions during discharging of the battery cell. A method of manufacturing such an anode for a rechargeable battery cell is also considered.

Abstract: Excessive expansion of rechargeable batteries during recharging is a significant concern since the uncontrolled buildup of high internal battery pressures from expansion inside a confined space can lead to separator membrane failure and/or thermal runaway of a battery cell. A crushable foam or honeycomb insert layer is placed inside of a rigid battery fixture to automatically limit the progressive buildup of internal battery pressure due to charging-induced expansion of the battery cell during recharging. The crushable insert layer is included as part of the rigid battery fixture. Aluminum honeycomb cores and porous aluminum metal foam materials have a significant amount of crushability over a very wide range of compressive strains. Alternatively, a porous metal foam or metal honeycomb material may be infused with a liquid polymer (e.g., silicone, rubber, EDPM, or polyurethane) to enhance the mechanical properties of the polymer-infused metal foam or honeycomb metal/polymer composite material.

Abstract: A pouch battery cell includes a pouch enclosure and a battery cell arranged in the pouch enclosure. A first terminal is connected to the battery cell through the pouch enclosure. A second terminal is connected to the battery cell through the pouch enclosure. A check valve includes a first gas channel in fluid communication with an inner volume of the pouch enclosure and a second gas channel. The check valve vents gas from the pouch enclosure when a difference between pressure at the first gas channel and the second gas channel is greater than a predetermined pressure difference and restricts flow of gas from the second gas channel to the first gas channel.

Abstract: Electrodes, electrochemical cells and methods for making electrodes are provided. In one example, an electrode includes an electrode base material. The electrode further includes an oxygen-scavenger material that is disposed on the electrode base material.

Abstract: A battery cell is provided. The battery cell includes an external container and an electrode stack disposed within the external container. The electrode stack includes at least one pair of an anode and a cathode. The battery cell further includes an electrolyte disposed within the external container and an O2 scavenger material disposed within the external container. The O2 scavenger material is configured for absorbing oxygen gas generated within the electrode stack.

Abstract: A battery cell includes an electrode stack including a pair of an anode and a cathode and a separator. Operation of the battery cell causes gas or moisture to form. The battery cell further includes a stiff frame. The frame includes a hollow portion. The electrode stack is disposed within the hollow portion. The frame includes a portion of the frame that is porous or includes a gas diffusion membrane. The battery cell further includes an electrolyte disposed within the frame and in contact with the electrode stack and a functional material disposed within the battery cell and outside of the hollow portion. The functional material absorbs the gas/moisture. The portion of the frame that is porous or includes a gas diffusion membrane enables the gas/moisture to exit the hollow portion and come into contact with the functional material while maintaining the electrolyte within the frame.

Abstract: A system for key absence management in a vehicle configured to be started by an electronic key fob includes a key absence management controller that implements a method configured to authorize starting of the vehicle by monitoring presence and absence of the electronic key fob in the vehicle. If the controller finds the electronic key fob to be present in the vehicle, then the controller authorizes starting of the vehicle. If the controller finds the electronic key fob to be absent from the vehicle, then the controller authorizes starting of the vehicle based on detection of a keyless authority indicator. A vehicle configured to be started by an electronic key fob includes the system with the controller that implements the method.

Abstract: A lithium metal negative electrode for an electrochemical cell for a secondary lithium metal battery includes a polycrystalline metal substrate having a major facing surface with a defined crystallographic texture. An epitaxial lithium metal layer is formed on the major facing surface of the polycrystalline metal substrate. The epitaxial lithium metal layer exhibits a predominant crystal orientation. The predominant crystal orientation of the epitaxial lithium metal layer is derived from the defined crystallographic texture of the major facing surface of the polycrystalline metal substrate.

Abstract: A method of forming a plurality of embossments in a sheet of metal includes: (i) placing the sheet onto a first surface of a die having a plurality of embossment cavities thereon, wherein the sheet has a bottom surface in contact with the first surface of the die and a top surface having an ablative coating formed thereon; and (ii) directing a laser beam at the ablative coating at one or more loci on the top surface of the sheet which correspond to the plurality of embossment cavities on the first surface of the die, so as to locally ablate the ablative coating at the one or more loci and turn the ablative coating at the one or more loci into plasma, thereby causing a plasma pressure shock wave at each of the one or more loci which presses the sheet into the embossment cavities to form the embossments.

Abstract: A structural assembly includes a frame and a plurality of panels. The frame includes a wall that at least partially defines an interior region. The plurality of panels is disposed at least partially in the interior region and is coupled to the frame. The plurality of panels includes a first panel and a second panel. The first panel includes a first surface and a second surface opposite the first surface. The first surface defines a first plurality of depressions and the second surface defines a first plurality of protrusions complementary to the first plurality of depressions. The second panel includes a third surface and a fourth surface opposite the third surface. The third surface defines a second plurality of depressions. The fourth surface defines a second plurality of protrusions complementary to the first plurality of depressions. The first panel is coupled to the second panel.

Abstract: A method for forming an electrode for an electrochemical cell that cycles lithium ions is provided. The method includes contacting a precursor electroactive material and a conductive material to a polymeric solution including a first solvent and a binder material to form a first admixture; applying a mixing force to the first admixture to form a first mixture; drying the first mixture to form a plurality of electroactive material agglomerates, each agglomerate including an electroactive material particle in contact with the conductive material via the binder material; contacting the plurality of electroactive material agglomerates to a second solvent to form a second admixture, the binder material being insoluble in the second solvent; applying a mixing force to the second admixture to form a second mixture; and disposing the second mixture on or near one or more surfaces of a current collector to form the electrode.

Abstract: An energy-dissipating cover for covering a component sensitive to mechanical impulse includes a sheet of selected ferrous or aluminum alloy, the sheet having a top surface, a bottom surface, an outer perimeter, an overall area within the outer perimeter and a nominal thickness of no more than 2.5 mm. The sheet is configured for connection with one or more external structures at a plurality of connection points within the outer perimeter, wherein the overall area comprises a plurality of supported areas and at least one unsupported area. Embossments are formed within the at least one unsupported area and extend outward from the bottom surface. The embossments are shaped, sized and arranged so as to limit orthogonal deflection of the sheet from a mechanical impulse directed normal to the bottom surface of the sheet at the plurality of embossments.

Abstract: A battery cell includes a first current collector and a cathode electrode arranged adjacent to the first current collector and including lithium active material. A separator is arranged adjacent to the cathode electrode. The battery cell includes a second current collector. A porous conductive layer is arranged on the second current collector between the second current collector and the separator.

Abstract: A method of making a battery current collector foil includes heat treating a foil sheet and mechanically roughening the heat treated foil sheet to create a surface roughness of between 2-4 ?m. The heat treating and mechanical roughening of the foil sheet provides improved coating adhesion. One of an anode and cathode coating is then applied to the roughened, heat treated, foil sheet.

Abstract: A battery electrode, and a method for fabricating the battery electrode are described. The battery electrode includes a current collector having a woven mesh planar sheet that is composed of metallic strands. The metallic strands define a multiplicity of interstitial spaces, and the woven mesh planar sheet includes a first surface and a second surface. An active material including lithium is embedded in the interstitial spaces of a first portion of the woven mesh planar sheet, and an electrical connection tab arranged on a second portion of the woven mesh planar sheet.

Abstract: The present disclosure describes a method of manufacturing a vehicle body structure component. The method includes extruding a tube to include at least one reinforced region extending along a length of the tube. The tube has a first thickness in the at least one reinforced region and a second thickness in other regions of the tube. The first thickness is greater than the second thickness. The method further includes cutting a blank from the tube such that the blank includes at least a portion of the at least one reinforced region and forming the blank into a desired shape of the component.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides a method of preparing a metal sheet. The method includes extruding a component along an extrusion axis. The component has a wall at least partially defining an interior region. The component includes a metal. The method further includes unfurling the wall to form a sheet precursor. The sheet precursor has a first thickness and a first transverse dimension. The method further includes rolling the sheet precursor along a rolling axis to form the metal sheet. The metal sheet has a second thickness perpendicular to the rolling axis. The second thickness is less than the first thickness. The second transverse dimension is parallel to the rolling axis. The second transverse dimension is greater than the first transverse dimension. In certain aspects, the metal includes lithium and the metal sheet is a lithium metal electrode.

Abstract: An environment interactive system includes: a first camera capturing first images of an area external to the vehicle; a second camera capturing second images of an area interior to the vehicle; a telematics control module determining a geographical location of the vehicle; a viewing device displaying items adjacent to, on or in front of detected objects and in a FOV of an occupant. The items correspond to the detected objects; and an infotainment module. The infotainment module: detects the objects based on the first images and the location of the vehicle; based on the second images, tracks at least one of a location of an eye of the occupant or a location of a body part of the occupant other than the eye; and based on the location of the eye and the location of the body part, displays the items via the viewing device in the FOV.

Abstract: A gaming system of a vehicle includes: a game application embodying an interactive game and stored in memory; a sensor of a vehicle configured to determine a present condition while the vehicle is moving; a gaming module of the vehicle, the gaming module configured to, while the vehicle is moving: execute the game application; display a virtual environment of the interactive game via one or more displays in the vehicle; output sound of the interactive game via one or more speakers in the vehicle; control action within the virtual environment of the interactive game based on user input received via one or more input devices of the vehicle; and adjust one or more characteristics of the virtual environment of the interactive game based on the present condition.