Abstract: A basecutter and a method for controlling a basecutter are described for a sugarcane harvester. A basecutter may include a cutting spindle, a transport spindle, at least one power source configured to rotate the cutting spindle and the transport spindle, one or more cutting blades attached to the cutting spindle, and one or more transport devices attached to the transport spindle. The cutting spindle or the transport spindle may be configured to rotate within the other. The cutting spindle and the transport spindle may be rotated at different speeds by the at least one power source. For example, a controller may determine a cutting speed for the cutting spindle and a transport speed for the transport spindle and control the at least one power source to rotate the cutting and transport spindles at the cutting and transport speeds, respectively.

Abstract: A system and method for determining the health of a battery. A primary coil may be positioned along a first portion of a battery and a secondary coil may be positioned along a second portion of the battery. The primary coil may then be excited with a signal, and an electromagnetic field induced in the secondary coil by the excited primary coil may be measured. A state of health of the battery may thus correlate to the measured electromagnetic field during operation of the battery. This state of health may be determined as a function of electrolyte stratification, current profile, electrode structure, electrode surface degradation, and combinations thereof.

Abstract: The present invention provides a simpler and more energy efficient process for the preparation of fatty acid methyl ester (biodiesel) from sun dried whole seed capsules of Jatropha curcas integrated with value addition of seed shells, deoiled cake and crude glycerol co-product stream. More specifically, the invention relates to a method of dispensing with the need for excess methanol recovery through distillation, cost-effective resin treatment for the refining of methyl ester and utilization of co-streams for preparation of high density energy briquettes and Polyhydroxyalkanoate biodegradable polymer in efficient and cost-effective manner.

Abstract: A multi-junction photovoltaic cell includes at least two P-N junctions electrically connected to each other in series. Each P-N junction includes a P-type absorber layer and a N-type emitter layer, each P-type absorber layer including a plurality of alternating thin film layers of zinc telluride and lead telluride, wherein zinc telluride and lead telluride have respective bandgaps when in bulk thickness and the effective bandgap of each P-type absorber layer is between the respective bandgaps. The effective bandgap of at least one P-type absorber layer is different from that of at least one other P-type absorber layer.

Abstract: The present invention provides a simpler and more energy efficient process for the preparation of fatty acid methyl ester (biodiesel) from sun dried whole seed capsules of Jatropha curcas integrated with value addition of seed shells, deoiled cake and crude glycerol co-product stream. More specifically, the invention relates to a method of dispensing with the need for excess methanol recovery through distillation, cost-effective resin treatment for the refining of methyl ester and utilization of co-streams for preparation of high density energy briquettes and Polyhydroxyalkanoate biodegradable polymer in efficient and cost-effective manner.

Abstract: A multi junction photovoltaic cell includes at least two P-N junctions electrically connected to each other in series. Each P-N junction includes a P-type absorber layer and a N-type emitter layer, each P-type absorber layer including a plurality of alternating thin film layers of zinc telluride and lead telluride, wherein zinc telluride and lead telluride have respective bandgaps when in bulk thickness and the effective bandgap of each P-type absorber layer is between the respective bandgaps, The effective bandgap of at least one P-type absorber layer is different from that of at least one other P-type absorber layer.

Abstract: A method and system for determining the state-of-health of a nickel-metal hydride battery connected to a load comprises: detecting at least one of a real and imaginary part of an impedance of the battery at each of a first set of selected frequencies, the first set of selected frequencies including at least one frequency, and determining the state-of-health of the battery from a fuzzy system trained in a relationship between each impedance and the state-of-health, wherein the state-of-health is a function of the battery's ability to deliver power required by the load and the battery's capacity to meet load requirements.

Abstract: An integrated micro power supply is disclosed. In an exemplary embodiment, the micro power supply includes a microbattery formed within a substrate and an energy gathering device for capturing energy from a local ambient environment. An energy transforming device is also formed within the substrate for converting energy captured by the energy gathering device to electrical charging energy supplied to the microbattery.

Abstract: A method of and system for determining the state-of-health of a proton exchange membrane fuel cell stack connected to a load comprises detecting the real part of the impedance Z1 of the fuel cell stack at a selected frequency; detecting the voltage V1 of the fuel cell stack at open circuit; detecting the voltage V2 of the fuel cell stack when the maximum load current is being drawn from said fuel cell stack; and determining the state of health of said fuel cell stack from a fuzzy system trained in a relationship between said real part of the impedance of the fuel cell stack at the selected frequency, the voltage of the fuel cell stack at open circuit, and the voltage of the fuel cell stack when the maximum load current is being drawn from said fuel cell stack.

Abstract: A method of and system for determining the state-of-health of a lead acid battery of the type commonly used in portable external defibrillators comprises detecting an impedance characteristic of the battery at at least one selected frequency, counting the number of complete charge/discharge cycles that the battery undergoes, and determining the state of health of the battery from a fuzzy system trained in a relationship between the impedance characteristic and the cycle number of the lead acid battery and the state-of-health, wherein the state-of-health is a function of and varies with the battery's ability to deliver power required by the load and the battery's capacity to meet load requirements.

Abstract: A method and system for determining the state-of-health of a nickel-metal hydride battery connected to a load comprises: detecting at least one of a real and imaginary part of an impedance of the battery at each of a first set of selected frequencies, the first set of selected frequencies including at least one frequency, and determining the state-of-health of the battery from a fuzzy system trained in a relationship between each impedance and the state-of-health, wherein the state-of-health is a function of the battery's ability to deliver power required by the load and the battery's capacity to meet load requirements.

Abstract: A method of and system for determining the state-of-health of a lead acid battery of the type commonly used in portable external defibrillators comprises detecting an impedance characteristic of the battery at at least one selected frequency, counting the number of complete charge/discharge cycles that the battery undergoes, and determining the state of health of the battery from a fuzzy system trained in a relationship between the impedance characteristic and the cycle number of the lead acid battery and the state-of-health, wherein the state-of-health is a function of and varies with the battery's ability to deliver power required by the load and the battery's capacity to meet load requirements.

Abstract: A method of and system for determining the state-of-health of a proton exchange membrane fuel cell stack connected to a load comprises detecting the real part of the impedance Z1 of the fuel cell stack at a selected frequency; detecting the voltage V1 of the fuel cell stack at open circuit; detecting the voltage V2 of the fuel cell stack when the maximum load current is being drawn from said fuel cell stack; and determining the state of health of said fuel cell stack from a fuzzy system trained in a relationship between said real part of the impedance of the fuel cell stack at the selected frequency, the voltage of the fuel cell stack at open circuit, and the voltage of the fuel cell stack when the maximum load current is being drawn from said fuel cell stack.

Abstract: An integrated micro power supply is disclosed. In an exemplary embodiment, the micro power supply includes a microbattery formed within a substrate and an energy gathering device for capturing energy from a local ambient environment. An energy transforming device is also formed within the substrate for converting energy captured by the energy gathering device to electrical charging energy supplied to the microbattery.

Abstract: A method for determining state of health (SOH) of an electrochemical device using fuzzy logic (i.e., an intelligent system) is presented. State of health of an electrochemical device is determined by an internal characteristic parameter (or external operating and environmental conditions) of the electrochemical device and a characteristic parameter of a load with an intelligent system. The electrochemical device comprises such devices as primary (“throwaway”) batteries, rechargeable batteries, fuel cells, hybrid batteries containing a fuel cell electrode or electrochemical supercapacitors. The intelligent system is trained in the relationship between the characteristic parameters of the electrochemical device, the characteristic parameters of the load and the SOH of the electrochemical device.

Abstract: Elastomeric polymeric flosses comprising particulate modification agents stably associated with the surface thereof, as well as methods for their fabrication, are provided. In the subject flosses, particulate modification agents are either adsorbed to the surface of the floss or embedded in the surface of the floss. To fabricate the subject flosses, unmodified elastomeric flosses are contacted with particulate modification agents under conditions which provide for the stable association of the particles with the floss surface, where the floss surface may be softened to promote embedding of the particulate modification agents in the surface of the floss.

Abstract: A method for determining state of charge (SOC) of an electrochemical device using fuzzy logic (i.e., an intelligent system) is presented. State of charge of an electrochemical device is determined by an internal characteristic or parameter (or external operating and environmental conditions) with an intelligent system. The electrochemical device comprises such devices as primary ("throwaway") batteries, rechargeable batteries, fuel cells, a hybrid battery containing a fuel cell electrode and electrochemical supercapacitors. The intelligent system is trained in the relationship between the characteristic of the electrochemical device and the SOC of the electrochemical device.

Abstract: Elastomeric polymeric flosses comprising particulate modification agents stably associated with the surface thereof, as well as methods for their fabrication, are provided. In the subject flosses, particulate modification agents are either adsorbed to the surface of the floss or embedded in the surface of the floss. To fabricate the subject flosses, unmodified elastomeric flosses are contacted with particulate modification agents under conditions which provide for the stable association of the particles with the floss surface, where the floss surface may be softened to promote embedding of the particulate modification agents in the surface of the floss.

Abstract: A packaged dental floss is provided that includes a predetermined length of dental floss, suitable for a single use to floss a user's teeth, sealed within a cavity having walls of predetermined height, by a sealing film that is constructed to be ruptured by the user to dispense the floss from the cavity.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a stannous fluoride-containing gel comprising from about 0.3% to about 1.0% (by weight) stannous fluoride, from about 1.0% to about 10% (by weight) silica thickening agent and anhydrous glycerin. Preferably, these gels also contain from about 0.01% to about 5% (by weight) of a gum system, e.g. hydroxyethyl cellulose. These gels exhibit very good ribbon stand-up qualities and excellent fluoride ion and stannous ion stability. Also, the present invention relates to an improved method for producing the above gels. This method uses mixing equipment commonly employed to manufacture dentifrices and provides a simplified processing scheme.