Abstract: A non-aqueous electrochemical cell is disclosed having a heat-resistant coating on at least one of a negative electrode, a positive electrode, and a separator, if provided. The heat-resistant coating may consume heat in the cell to stabilize the cell, act as an electrical insulator to prevent the cell from short circuiting, and increase the mechanical strength and compression resistance of the coated component. In certain embodiments, the heat-resistant coating serves as a solid state electrolyte to produce a solid state electrochemical cell.

Abstract: An electrochemical cell includes an anode, a semi-solid cathode, and a separator disposed therebetween. The semi-solid cathode includes a porous current collector and a suspension of an active material and a conductive material disposed in a non-aqueous liquid electrolyte. The porous current collector is at least partially disposed within the suspension such that the suspension substantially encapsulates the porous current collector.

Abstract: There are provided a method for producing N-alkyl-?-valienamine analogs represented by formula (I): (where R1 is a C1-12 alkyl group), and useful novel intermediates for the production method.

Abstract: Systems and methods for controlling a temperature of a plurality of batteries of a vehicle are described. The systems and methods may transfer heat from a fuel cell system to the plurality of batteries of the vehicle. The heat produced by the fuel cell system may be transferred to the plurality of batteries through at least one heat transfer system.

Abstract: An MR element comprises: a tunnel barrier layer having two surfaces facing toward opposite directions; a free layer disposed adjacent to one of the surfaces of the tunnel barrier layer and having a direction of magnetization that changes in response to a signal magnetic field; and a pinned layer disposed adjacent to the other of the surfaces of the tunnel barrier layer and having a fixed direction of magnetization. The tunnel barrier layer is made of a material containing an oxide semiconductor such as ZnO. The MR element has a resistance-area product that falls within a range of 0.3 to 2.0 ?-?m2 inclusive.

Abstract: A sealed electronics package comprising a tubular case wall including first and second conductive portions electrically separated by an insulative partition, a hermetic seal between the insulative partition and the first conductive portion, a hermetic seal between the insulative partition and the second conductive portion, end caps, and a hermetic seal between the end caps to the tubular case wall.

Abstract: A feedthrough is insulated and hermetically sealed by brazing a ceramic disk to a case cover and by brazing the top surface of the ceramic disk to the bottom surface of a feedthrough pinhead. Using this technique instead of forming a compression seal, the surface area for bonding is increased, increasing bond strength. The ceramic disk electrically insulates the feedthrough pin from the cover, and provides a large surface area for mechanically sealing the cell with the braze. Considering the small size of many cells, this increased surface area is important for getting a good seal and increasing bond strength. This design also creates a longer fluid path, providing greater hermeticity. Furthermore, a greater range of component material combinations is available because CTE compatibility limitations of the feedthrough pin, cover, and insulator are minimized. This feedthrough is applicable to broad array of applications and numerous material combinations.

Abstract: An MR element comprises: a tunnel barrier layer having two surfaces facing toward opposite directions; a free layer disposed adjacent to one of the surfaces of the tunnel barrier layer and having a direction of magnetization that changes in response to a signal magnetic field; and a pinned layer disposed adjacent to the other of the surfaces of the tunnel barrier layer and having a fixed direction of magnetization. The tunnel barrier layer is made of a material containing an oxide semiconductor such as ZnO. The MR element has a resistance-area product that falls within a range of 0.3 to 2.0 ?-?m2 inclusive.

Abstract: A sealed electronics package comprising a tubular case wall including first and second conductive portions electrically separated by an insulative partition, a hermetic seal between the insulative partition and the first conductive portion, a hermetic seal between the insulative partition and the second conductive portion, end caps, and a hermetic seal between the end caps to the tubular case wall.

Abstract: A sealed electronics package comprising a tubular case wall including first and second conductive portions electrically separated by an insulative partition, a hermetic seal between the insulative partition and the first conductive portion, a hermetic seal between the insulative partition and the second conductive portion, end caps; and a hermetic seal between the end caps to the tubular case wall.

Abstract: A feedthrough assembly and method for a battery includes a corrosion-prone pin coupled to a corrosion-resistant current collector and protected from the battery electrolyte by a protective covering. The current collector is connected to the battery electrode without danger of exposing the pin to the electrolyte.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for providing a hermetically sealed electrical feedthrough for use with a metal battery case. The apparatus includes a ceramic-metal feedthrough subassembly, a metal case of low melt point material, and a clad metal case cover comprising a first layer of high melt point material and a second layer of low melt point material. The first layer is hermetically sealed to the case and the second layer is hermetically sealed to a collar on the feedthrough subassembly. In another embodiment, the case body, clad cover, and feedthrough pin are made of metals that can withstand the temperatures required for hermetically sealing the ceramic cylinder directly to the cover. The cover comprises a first material suitable for installing the feedthrough subassembly and a second material matched to the case body for forming a reliable weld thereto.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for providing a hermetically sealed electrical feedthrough for use with a metal battery case. The apparatus includes a ceramic-metal feedthrough subassembly, a metal case of low melt point material, and a clad metal case cover comprising a first layer of high melt point material and a second layer of low melt point material. The first layer is hermetically sealed to the case and the second layer is hermetically sealed to a collar on the feedthrough subassembly. In another embodiment, the case body, clad cover, and feedthrough pin are made of metals that can withstand the temperatures required for hermetically sealing the ceramic cylinder directly to the cover. The cover comprises a first material suitable for installing the feedthrough subassembly and a second material matched to the case body for forming a reliable weld thereto.

Abstract: A sealed electronics package comprising a tubular case wall including first and second conductive portions electrically separated by an insulative partition, a hermetic seal between the insulative partition and the first conductive portion, a hermetic seal between the insulative partition and the second conductive portion, wherein the first conductive portion is an anode and said second conductive portion is a cathode, end caps; and a hermetic seal between the end caps to the tubular case wall.

Abstract: A method and apparatus suitable for use in high volume production for determining leakage from a nominally sealed product container, e.g., a battery case. The method and apparatus first functions to analytically test for leakage of a particular component of interest, e.g., a liquid electrolyte comprising a mixture of ethylene carbonate (EC) and methyl-ethyl carbonate (MEC) in a lithium-ion battery. A second gas leakage test can then be performed.

Abstract: A silicon nitride reaction-sintered body having a high mechanical strength without surface working can be produced by (1) forming a silicon powder mixture of at least two types of silicon powders having substantially independent particle size distribution ranges into a green body, the silicon powder mixture having an average particle size ranging from 5 .mu.m to 300 .mu.m; (2) heating the green body in a nitrogen-containing atmosphere for nitrogenation; and (3) sintering the nitrogenated green body at a temperature of 1900.degree. C. or higher.

Abstract: A mail processing machine for sorting mail according to whether the characters of the destination address are printed or handwritten. The mail processing machine reads information of the surface of the mail and distinguishes the area of the destination address from the area of the sender address. The machine has a recognizer to determine printed or handwritten address according to the dispersion (i.e. the statistical variation) of a characteristic of the letters such as the height of letters, the space between letters or lines etc. In this operation, the recognizer calculates the dispersion using the signals corresponding to only the bottom two lines of the address area, which contain important information.

Abstract: A postal material reading apparatus is provided with a mechanism for obtaining an image signal which represents a visual image of the surface of postal material. A detector is provided responsive to that image signal for identifying an area of that image which contains an edge mark that may interfere with orientation analysis of the image. A detector is also provided responsive to the identification of that area for analyzing the image signal for only that portion of the image signal which represents the image outside the area in which the edge mark was detected, to determine the orientation of the postal material. In the preferred embodiment, a histogram is used to identify the area of the image which contains the potentially interfering edge mark.

Abstract: A postal materal reading apparatus is provided with a mechanism for obtaining an image signal which represents a visual image of the surface of postal material. A detector is provided responsive to that image signal for identifying an area of that image which contains an edge mark that may interfere with orientation analysis of the image. A detector is also provided responsive to the identification of that area for analyzing the image signal for only that portion of the image signal which represents the image outside the area in which the edge mark was detected, to determine the orientation of the postal material. In the preferred embodiment, a histogram is used to identify the area of the image which contains the potentially interfering edge mark.

Abstract: This invention relates to a character segmentation method for use with an optical character reader for sequentially reading postal code, state name and city name postal information, and for generating signals which represent character masks of each character. The system then calculates the gap between each mask and determines if it is greater than an average gap value calculated for all the masks. A determination is also made if a substantially smaller mask (representing a punctuation mark) exists between the two masks. These determinations are used to identify and separate the blocks of information. Once the blocks are identified, the block containing the postal code is classified since it necessarily contains five characters and the two remaining blocks (i.e., state and city) are classified since they, having been scanned in sequence, follow the postal code.