Abstract: A hearing aid dehumidifier and disinfectant chamber. The chamber comprises an enclosure, including a vapor permeable wall, adapted to removably enclose a hearing aid. In vapor transmitting relationship with the vapor permeable wall is an electrochemical ozone generator, which is designed to draw water vapor from inside the enclosure and electrolyze it into at least ozone, which is discharged into the enclosure. Drawing the water vapor from the enclosure dries the hearing aid. The electrochemical action ceases when all water vapor is removed. Bathing the hearing aid in ozone for at least until the ozone decomposes, sterilizes the hearing aid, inside and out.

Abstract: A hearing aid dehumidifier and disinfectant chamber. The chamber comprises an enclosure, including a vapor permeable wall, adapted to removably enclose a hearing aid. In vapor transmitting relationship with the vapor permeable wall is an electrochemical ozone generator, which is designed to draw water vapor from inside the enclosure and electrolyze it into at least ozone, which is discharged into the enclosure. Drawing the water vapor from the enclosure dries the hearing aid. The electrochemical action ceases when all water vapor is removed. Bathing the hearing aid in ozone for at least until the ozone decomposes, sterilizes the hearing aid, inside and out.

Abstract: A secondary button cell battery that is particularly suited for use in hearing aid appliances, and an associated charging station. Recharging is accomplished without direct conductive connection between the source of the energy and either the battery or its appliance. Radio frequency energy is harvested in an enclosed chamber in a charging station and applied to the recharging of the button cell. Such energy is harvested by the use of one or more energy harvesting diodes connected in parallel with the battery. Multiple diodes connected in parallel or serial may be used to adjust charging current or voltage or both. Charge control is provided by directly or indirectly detecting the level of charge on the cell. Where the associated appliance is a hearing aid, the charge level detection may be accomplished acoustically by determining the characteristics of the sound emitted by the hearing aid, and charging is accomplished with the cell within the hearing aid appliance.

Abstract: This invention is a method of fabricating a conformal lithium polymer battery comprising the steps of: selecting a slab of lithium polymer battery material of a desired height, containing a desired number of cells; freezing the slab; vertically cutting the slab to a desired shape; attaching a lead to each anode conductor; and attaching a lead to a each cathode conductor. The slab may contain one or many cells. The leads may be made of multistranded, metallic wire, metallic ribbon, low melting point alloy, self-healing metal, and litz wire. Attachment is accomplished so as to minimize tension on the leads. The cut slab may need to be deburred after cutting and before attaching leads. Preferably, burr formation is prevented by recessing the edge of the anodic or cathodic half cells.

Abstract: A secondary button cell battery that is particularly suited for use in hearing aid appliances, and an associated charging station. Recharging is accomplished without direct conductive connection between the source of the energy and either the battery or its appliance. Radio frequency energy is harvested in an enclosed chamber in a charging station and applied to the recharging of the button cell. Such energy is harvested by the use of one or more energy harvesting diodes connected in parallel with the battery. Multiple diodes connected in parallel or serial may be used to adjust charging current or voltage or both. Charge control is provided by directly or indirectly detecting the level of charge on the cell. Where the associated appliance is a hearing aid, the charge level detection may be accomplished acoustically by determining the characteristics of the sound emitted by the hearing aid, and charging is accomplished with the cell within the hearing aid appliance.

Abstract: Submersible headphones comprising an acoustic circuit in which the electro-acoustic transducer is separated from the open proximal end of the circuit by a length of small hollow tube, and the volume of air in the tube is at least equal to the volume of air in the transducer itself. When the headphones are accidentally dislodged from the ear at some depth below the surface of a body of water, the proportioning of the volume of the air in the tube so that it at least equals the volume of air in the transducer prevents water from traveling down the tube into contact with the transducer. The tube is constructed of hydrophobic material, which tends to prevent water from entering the small diameter tube at atmospheric pressure. Transducers that are suitable for use include piezoelectric transducers and bipolar armature transducers.

Abstract: A dynamic battery array of individual cells, controllably interconnected for instantaneous dynamic configuration into a plurality of individual power buses having different electrical power output characteristics, each of which is tailored to supply the electrical power required at the instant by a particular electrical load within a circuit. Preferably the cells are fungible and randomly available so that at any given instant any given cell can be poweringly associated with a particular electrical load. The dynamic battery array, consisting of discrete cells lends itself to mounting on physically flexible substrates such as credit cards. The programmable array employs low resistance switch arrays for dynamically and instantaneously forming individual power networks or power buses between selected power cells and individual electrical loads in electrical circuits.

Abstract: The combination of a specially configured transaction card (10) and a magnetic pattern reader device (18) minimizes the power consumed by the operation of the smartcard format transaction (10). The transaction card (10) has a plurality of logically and electrically interconnected members, including at least one electromagnetic member with low magnetic permeability core element. The electromagnetic element generates a magnetic pattern. A logic processor member (16) controls the generation of the magnetic pattern. A self-contained energy source (14) powers the system. The magnetic pattern reader device includes a magnetically permeable element that has a higher magnetic permeability than that of the magnetic pattern generator. The magnetic pattern reader device is readably associated with the magnetic pattern generator so as to directly read the magnetic pattern.

Abstract: A dynamic battery array of individual cells, controllably interconnected for instantaneous dynamic configuration into a plurality of individual power buses having different electrical power output characteristics, each of which is tailored to supply the electrical power required at the instant by a particular electrical load within a circuit. Preferably the cells are fungible and randomly available so that at any given instant any given cell can be poweringly associated with a particular electrical load. The dynamic battery array, consisting of discrete cells lends itself to mounting on physically flexible substrates such as credit cards. The programmable array employs low resistance switch arrays for dynamically and instantaneously forming individual power networks or power buses between selected power cells and individual electrical loads in electrical circuits.

Abstract: Submersible headphones comprising an acoustic circuit in which the electro-acoustic transducer is separated from the open proximal end of the circuit by a length of small hollow tube, and the volume of air in the tube is at least equal to the volume of air in the transducer itself. When the headphones are accidentally dislodged from the ear at some depth below the surface of a body of water, the proportioning of the volume of the air in the tube so that it at least equals the volume of air in the transducer prevents water from traveling down the tube into contact with the transducer. The tube is constructed of hydrophobic material, which tends to prevent water from entering the small diameter tube at atmospheric pressure. Transducers that are suitable for use include piezoelectric transducers and bipolar armature transducers.

Abstract: A method and apparatus that provides an efficient way to deposit a charge to a target battery using a small, light-weight, and disposable energy source capable of delivering a high-current and over-voltage which is substantially greater than the voltage of the target battery. The most common application for which the present invention is directed is an automobile battery. The target battery is a secondary battery which has plates submerged in an electrolytic solution. As the target battery discharges, a passivation substance forms on the plates of the target battery. To deposit a charge from the present invention energy source to the target battery, the energy source is electrically connected to the target battery. The energy source has an over-voltage, which is substantially greater than the voltage of the target battery.

Abstract: A dynamic battery array of individual discrete cells, controllably interconnected for instantaneous dynamic configuration into a plurality of individual power buses having different electrical power output characteristics, each of which is tailored to supply the electrical power required at the instant by a particular electrical load within a circuit. Preferably the cells are fungible and randomly available so that at any given instant any given cell can be poweringly associated with a particular electrical load. The dynamic battery array, consisting of discrete cells lends itself to mounting on physically flexible substrates such as credit cards. The programmable array employs low resistance switch arrays for dynamically and instantaneously forming individual power networks or power buses between selected power cells and individual electrical loads in electrical circuits.