Abstract: At least one positive temperature coefficient element is used to efficiently control fuel cell voltage at startup and shutdown making the fuel cell more efficient and protecting the electro catalyst layer.

Abstract: A flow control valve for a fuel cell that has particular application for controlling the flow of cathode air through a cathode flow channel of the fuel cell. The valve includes an element that controls the flow through the flow channel in response to changes in the voltage potential of the fuel cell. The valve includes a shape memory alloy wire and a flow control element secured to both ends of the shape memory alloy wire. The ends of the wire are also coupled to the anode and cathode of the fuel cell. When no current is flowing through the wire, the flow control element holds the wire in a pre-strained condition. If the voltage generated by the fuel cell increases, the current passing through the wire will heat the wire and cause it to shrink or contract which forces the flow control element into the flow path.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for heat sealing a lidstock to a container for a blister package, the container having a top surface comprising a substantially flat sealing flange surrounding a blister and a lip having at least one raised surface, the method comprising the steps of a) locating the lidstock on the top surface; b) providing a first seal between the lidstock and the at least one raised surface of the lip with a first heat sealing tool; c) providing a second hermetic seal between the lidstock and the sealing flange surrounding the blister with a second heat sealing tool. The invention also relates to a package for storing a hydrophilic contact lens comprising a lip having at least one raised surface and a removable lidstock sealed to a sealing flange and to the at least one raised surface. Also disclosed is an apparatus for heat sealing the lidstock to the container.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for heat sealing a lidstock (9) to a container (1) for a blister package, the container having a top surface comprising a substantially flat sealing flange (3) surrounding a blister (2) and a lip (4) having at least one raised surface (6), the method comprising the steps of a) locating the lidstock on the top surface; b) providing a first seal between the lidstock and the at least one raised surface of the lip with a first heat sealing tool (11); c) providing a second hermetic seal between the lidstock and the sealing flange surrounding the blister with a second heat sealing tool. The invention also relates to a package for storing a hydrophilic contact lens comprising a lip having at least one raised surface and a removable lidstock sealed to a sealing flange and to the at least one raised surface. Also disclosed is an apparatus for heat sealing the lidstock to the container.

Abstract: A fuel cell system that employs a diode electrically coupled between bipolar plates in a fuel cell of a fuel cell stack for preventing the fuel cell between the plates from reversing its polarity. The diode is a thin-sheet p-n diode including doped semiconductor layers and has a thickness relative to the thickness of the MEA in the fuel cell so that the overall stack thickness does not increase. When the fuel cell is operating properly the diode does not conduct and all of the current through the fuel cell goes through the MEA. If the electric load on the stack increases to a level beyond the capability of the fuel cell, where the potential across the fuel cell goes significantly below zero, the diode will begin to conduct so that any current that cannot travel through the MEA with the cell voltage less than one negative forward diode voltage drop is able to go around the MEA through the diode.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to an electrochemical fuel cell. The configuration of the fuel cell stack provides a multiple-legged current flow path therethrough. Electrically isolated zones are formed in the cells and one coupled in a serial manner. This configuration provides incremental voltage summing such that additional power converting element are not needed to match the stack output to the load.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a planar flow field design having an intake manifold and an exhaust manifold which are configured in two offset planes. A relatively short passage extends from the intake manifold through the exhaust manifold and terminates at a reactive face of a membrane electrode assembly (MEA) such that a differential flow distribution is provided from the intake manifold through the passage and across a reactive face of the MEA to the exhaust manifold.

Abstract: A switch assembly for selectively enabling current flow through a segment of a fuel cell stack. The switch assembly includes a first plate including a first non-conductive substrate having a first conductive path therethrough and a second plate including a second non-conductive substrate having a second conductive path therethrough. A first switch is disposed between the first plate and the second plate and is in electrical communication with the first conductive path and the second conductive path. The first switch is operable in an open mode to prohibit current flow between the first conductive path and the second conductive path. The first switch is operable in a closed mode to enable current flow between the first conductive path and the second conductive path.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for heat sealing a lidstock (9) to a container (1) for a blister package, the container having a top surface comprising a substantially flat sealing flange (3) surrounding a blister (2) and a lip (4) having at least one raised surface (6), the method comprising the steps of a) locating the lidstock on the top surface; b) providing a first seal between the lidstock and the at least one raised surface of the lip with a first heat sealing tool (11); c) providing a second hermetic seal between the lidstock and the sealing flange surrounding the blister with a second heat sealing tool. The invention also relates to a package for storing a hydrophilic contact lens comprising a lip having at least one raised surface and a removable lidstock sealed to a sealing flange and to the at least one raised surface. Also disclosed is an apparatus for heat sealing the lidstock to the container.

Abstract: A flow control valve for a fuel cell that has particular application for controlling the flow of cathode air through a cathode flow channel of the fuel cell. The valve includes an element that controls the flow through the flow channel in response to changes in the voltage potential of the fuel cell. The valve includes a shape memory alloy wire and a flow control element secured to both ends of the shape memory alloy wire. The ends of the wire are also coupled to the anode and cathode of the fuel cell. When no current is flowing through the wire, the flow control element holds the wire in a pre-strained condition. If the voltage generated by the fuel cell increases, the current passing through the wire will heat the wire and cause it to shrink or contract which forces the flow control element into the flow path.

Abstract: At least one positive temperature coefficient element is used to efficiently control fuel cell voltage at startup and shutdown making the fuel cell more efficient and protecting the electro catalyst layer.

Abstract: A method for controlling a production line for the manufacture and/or packaging of contact lenses which production line simultaneous by processes at least two lots, the method comprising dividing at least a portion of the production line into a series of cells through which the contact lens pass sequentially, and providing a control system comprising at least three shifts registers each containing information about each of said cells, including: (a) a location shift register which indicates whether a cell should be empty or occupied, (b) a lot data shift register which is a non-binary shift register and contains manufacturing and/or prescription data about the contact lens which should be in the cell and (c) a condition shift register which provides an indication of the condition of the product in the cell, and simultaneously indexing all of said shift registers as a lens passes down the production line from one cell to the next cell.

Abstract: A method for tracking multiple SKUs of contact lenses in a manufacturing line comprising the steps of: a) molding a plurality of contact lenses, b) providing a plurality of carriers each having a carrier indicator, c) inspecting each contact lens to determine information relating to its prescription, d) transferring each lens to a carrier, e) reading the carrier indicator of the carrier of step d) and f) storing in machine-accessible memory the information associated with the carrier indicator of the carrier of step (e) and the information relating to the lens for step (c).

Abstract: A method and system for detecting imperfections in a membrane electrode assembly of an electrochemical fuel cell, and more particularly for detecting defects within a proton exchange membrane in a membrane electrode assembly which is optionally sandwiched between conductive diffusion media layers or between conductive diffusion layers with at least one rigid solid that is transparent to infrared radiation. A potential voltage is applied across the membrane and the presence of a defect and preferably the location of a defect is determined by monitoring variations in intensity level of infrared radiation emitted from a surface of the membrane electrode assembly.

Abstract: A sensor plate for measuring current and/or temperature distribution of an operating fuel cell. The sensor plate has a circuit board interposed between an anode flow field plate and a cathode flow field plate of the fuel cell. A flow field plate is segmented into a plurality of electrically isolated regions without disrupting the flow field of the plate. The circuit board has an array of resistors and/or thermistors mounted to it wherein each resistor and/or thermistor is associated with one of the electrically isolated regions of the segmented plate. The current distribution of the electrically isolated regions of the fuel cell is calculated by using the voltage drop across the resistors and the known resistance values of the resistors mounted to the circuit board.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method and system for detecting imperfections in a membrane electrode assembly of an electrochemical fuel cell, and more particularly for detecting defects within a proton exchange membrane in a membrane electrode assembly, optionally sandwiched between conductive diffusion media layers, where a potential voltage is applied across the membrane and the presence of a defect and preferably the location of a defect is determined by monitoring variations in intensity level of infrared radiation emitted from a surface of the membrane electrode assembly. Another preferred embodiment includes sandwiching the membrane electrode assembly and conductive diffusion layers with at least one rigid solid that is transparent to infrared radiation.

Abstract: A sensor plate for measuring current and/or temperature distribution of an operating fuel cell. The sensor plate has a circuit board interposed between an anode flow field plate and a cathode flow field plate of the fuel cell. A flow field plate is segmented into a plurality of electrically isolated regions without disrupting the flow field of the plate. The circuit board has an array of resistors and/or thermistors mounted to it wherein each resistor and/or thermistor is associated with one of the electrically isolated regions of the segmented plate. The current distribution of the electrically isolated regions of the fuel cell is calculated by using the voltage drop across the resistors and the known resistance values of the resistors mounted to the circuit board.

Abstract: The present invention is a method and apparatus for entry of alphanumeric characters or symbols, employing fewer, data entry keys than the number of characters to be selected from. In particular the invention “multiplexes” a given display area to control the display of specific character groupings and to facilitate user selection and entry or editing of characters.

Abstract: The transfer of video and graphic data from a frame buffer to a display system is interleaved in a manner which permits operation with a reduced memory bandwidth. For those scan lines of a display in which the video information appears, video data is retrieved from the frame buffer during the horizontal blanking time of the scan. Graphical data is retrieved from the memory during the active portion of horizontal scan line. By alternating the retrieval of data in this manner, a lower bandwidth operation can be employed, thereby reducing the expenses of the memory. An address translator permits video and graphic data that is stored in different respective formats to be retrieved with a consistent addressing approach. The use of multiple color look-up tables permits full-color video to be displayed even if limited-color graphics are being employed.

Abstract: The transfer of video and graphic data from a frame buffer to a display system is interleaved in a manner which permits operation with a reduced memory bandwidth. For those scan lines of a display in which the video information appears, video data is retrieved from the frame buffer during the horizontal blanking time of the scan. Graphical data is retrieved from the memory during the active portion of horizontal scan line. By alternating the retrieval of data in this manner, a lower bandwidth operation can be employed, thereby reducing the expenses of the memory. An address translator permits video and graphic data that is stored in different respective formats to be retrieved with a consistent addressing approach. The use of multiple color look-up tables permits full-color video to be displayed even if limited-color graphics are being employed.