Abstract: A method and system to determine if there is an open cell in a battery pack of cells arranged in a lattice. Voltage measurements from each parallel cell group along with information on the battery pack topology are used to estimate the resistance of each cell group. The resistance of each cell group is calculated based on the measured voltage less a nominal open circuit voltage divided by the current level of the battery pack. The average cell group resistance of the battery pack is also calculated. The cell group resistances are analyzed statistically using the resistance of each cell group and the average cell group resistance to reveal outliers which are indicative of open cell groups.

Abstract: A rechargeable battery system including at least one energy storage cell having a positive terminal and a negative terminal, a resistive element and a circuit configured to allow current to flow through the resistive element. A monitoring circuit measures the current flow through, and a voltage produced across, the resistive element and calculates the resistance of the resistive element. The current flow through the resistive element produces heat by raising the temperature of the resistive element. The current flow through the resistive element may be managed by a balancing circuit. A current sense resistor may be connected in series with a balancing resistor and a transistor turns on a balancing operation through balancing resistor. The monitoring circuit may determine the temperature of the resistive element based on the calculated resistance. The battery monitoring circuit may activate a battery cooling system based on the temperature of the resistive element.

Abstract: A method and system to determine if there is an open cell in a battery pack of cells arranged in a lattice. Voltage measurements from each parallel cell group along with information on the battery pack topology are used to estimate the resistance of each cell group. The resistance of each cell group is calculated based on the measured voltage less a nominal open circuit voltage divided by the current level of the battery pack. The average cell group resistance of the battery pack is also calculated. The cell group resistances are analyzed statistically using the resistance of each cell group and the average cell group resistance to reveal outliers which are indicative of open cell groups.

Abstract: A battery module heating assembly for a battery module having a plurality of battery cells arranged in a frame with the cell terminals being connected to one another via busbars. The busbars are covered by the heating assembly. The heating assembly includes at least one thermally conductive pad in contact with one or more heat spreader plates. The heat spreader plates have heating elements attached thereto.

Abstract: The present disclosure includes a hardened tablet for use within an aircraft cabin, the hardened tablet including a processor, a touch screen, a memory, a tablet and a protective layer applied to the touch screen of the tablet, the protective layer comprising a bonding material and a laminate. The protective layer of the hardened tablet is selected from the group consisting of a polycarbonate and a chemically strengthened glass. The thickness of the polycarbonate protective layer is between about 0.5 mm and about 1.6 mm. The bonding material is selected from the group consisting of an adhesive tape and an optically clear adhesive. In one embodiment, the protective layer includes a polycarbonate of a thickness of about 0.02? to about 0.04? and the bonding material is an optically clear adhesive.

Abstract: The present disclosure includes a hardened tablet for use within an aircraft cabin, the hardened tablet including a processor, a touch screen, a memory, a tablet and a protective layer applied to the touch screen of the tablet, the protective layer comprising a bonding material and a laminate. The protective layer of the hardened tablet is selected from the group consisting of a polycarbonate and a chemically strengthened glass. The thickness of the polycarbonate protective layer is between about 0.5 mm and about 1.6 mm. The bonding material is selected from the group consisting of an adhesive tape and an optically clear adhesive. In one embodiment, the protective layer includes a polycarbonate of a thickness of about 0.02? to about 0.04? and the bonding material is an optically clear adhesive.

Abstract: Intelligent safety management for a battery is performed by applying a charging voltage to the battery, monitoring an actual charge level of the battery, determining a first charging voltage and a first charge level for the battery for charging the battery, and determining a second charging voltage and a second charge level for the battery that substantially reduces or eliminates a safety hazard associated with the battery. The second charging voltage is less than the first charging voltage and the second charge level is less than the first charge level. The applied charging voltage is limited so that the actual charge level of the battery does not exceed the second charge level.

Abstract: Various embodiments of the present invention relate to an intelligent seat power system in which a plurality of seat nodes are embedded in respective aircraft seats. The seat nodes receive power and commands from a plurality of power supply units, each of which is connected to a cabin management system. The seat nodes are able to monitor and control functionality at the seat, and communicate their status back to the cabin management system.

Abstract: Various embodiments of the present invention relate to an intelligent seat power system in which a plurality of seat nodes are embedded in respective aircraft seats. The seat nodes receive power and commands from a plurality of power supply units, each of which is connected to a cabin management system. The seat nodes are able to monitor and control functionality at the seat, and communicate their status back to the cabin management system.

Abstract: A battery state of health estimator and similar method, system and computer product is disclosed providing for a estimate of a state of health (SOH) of one or more batteries, comprising, estimating a sampling of internal resistances of the one or more batteries, generating a time history of the internal resistance over a predetermined amount of time, generating a cumulative internal resistance histogram from the time history, calculating a final estimate of internal resistance of one or more batteries which represents the calculated SOH of one or more batteries and comparing the calculated SOH to a predetermined critical resistance threshold. If the calculated SOH is less than the predetermined critical resistance threshold, the battery is in no worse than a “Blue Monday” condition, and if the calculated SOH is greater than the critical resistance threshold, then the one or more batteries has failed.

Abstract: A battery state of health estimator and similar method, system and computer product is disclosed providing for a estimate of a state of health (SOH) of one or more batteries, comprising, estimating a sampling of internal resistances of the one or more batteries, generating a time history of the internal resistance over a predetermined amount of time, generating a cumulative internal resistance histogram from the time history, calculated a final estimate of internal resistance of said one or more batteries which represents the calculated SOH of said one or more batteries and comparing the calculated SOH to a predetermined critical resistance threshold. If the calculated SOH is less than the predetermined critical resistance threshold, the battery is in no worse than a “Blue Monday” condition, and if the calculated SOH is greater than the critical resistance threshold, then the one or more batteries has failed.

Abstract: Methods for cell lysis and purification of biological materials, involving subjecting a sample to high pressure. Also featured is an apparatus for practicing the methods.

Abstract: The invention is based on the discovery that biological and non-biological materials can be sterilized, decontaminated, or disinfected by repeatedly cycling between relatively high and low pressures. Pressure cycling can be carried out at low, ambient, or elevated temperatures (e.g., from about −40° C. to about 95° C., or intermediate ranges). New methods based on this discovery can have applications in, for example, the preparation of vaccines, the sterilization of blood plasma or serum, plant, animal, and human tissue, sputum, urine, feces, water, and ascites, the decontamination of military devices, food and beverage production, and the disinfection of medical equipment. The new methods can also be incorporated into production processes or research procedures.

Abstract: A method of hybridizing a first nucleic acid to a second nucleic acid at least partially complementary to the first nucleic acid by (1) providing a sample vessel and pressure controller for the vessel; and (2) contacting the first and second nucleic acids within the vessel at a pressure above ambient pressure that is effective to enhance hybridization of the first and second nucleic acids.

Abstract: The invention features methods of making devices, or “platens”, having a high-density array of through-holes, as well as methods of cleaning and refurbishing the surfaces of the platens. The invention further features methods of making high-density arrays of chemical, biochemical, and biological compounds, having many advantages over conventional, lower-density arrays. The invention includes methods by which many physical, chemical or biological transformations can be implemented in serial or in parallel within each addressable through-hole of the devices. Additionally, the invention includes methods of analyzing the contents of the array, including assaying of physical properties of the samples.

Abstract: The invention is based on the discovery that biological and non-biological materials can be sterilized, decontaminated, or disinfected by repeatedly cycling between relatively high and low pressures. Pressure cycling can be carried out at low, ambient, or elevated temperatures (e.g., from about −40° C. to about 95° C., or intermediate ranges). New methods based on this discovery can have applications in, for example, the preparation of vaccines, the sterilization of blood plasma or serum, plant, animal, and human tissue, sputum, urine, feces, water, and ascites, the decontamination of military devices, food and beverage production, and the disinfection of medical equipment. The new methods can also be incorporated into production processes or research procedures.

Abstract: The invention features methods of making devices, or “platens”, having a high-density array of through-holes, as well as methods of cleaning and refurbishing the surfaces of the platens. The invention further features methods of making high-density arrays of chemical, biochemical, and biological compounds, having many advantages over conventional, lower-density arrays. The invention includes methods by which many physical, chemical or biological transformations can be implemented in serial or in parallel within each addressable through-hole of the devices. Additionally, the invention includes methods of analyzing the contents of the array, including assaying of physical properties of the samples.

Abstract: The invention features methods of making devices, or “platens”, having a high-density array of through-holes, as well as methods of cleaning and refurbishing the surfaces of the platens. The invention further features methods of making high-density arrays of chemical, biochemical, and biological compounds, having many advantages over conventional, lower-density arrays. The invention includes methods by which many physical, chemical or biological transformations can be implemented in serial or in parallel within each addressable through-hole of the devices. Additionally, the invention includes methods of analyzing the contents of the array, including assaying of physical properties of the samples.

Abstract: The invention is based on the discovery that biological and non-biological materials can be sterilized, decontaminated, or disinfected by repeatedly cycling between relatively high and low pressures. Pressure cycling can be carried out at low, ambient, or elevated temperatures (e.g., from about −40° C. to about 95° C., or intermediate ranges). New methods based on this discovery can have applications in, for example, the preparation of vaccines, the sterilization of blood plasma or serum, plant, animal, and human tissue, sputum, urine, feces, water, and ascites, the decontamination of military devices, food and beverage production, and the disinfection of medical equipment. The new methods can also be incorporated into production processes or research procedures.

Abstract: The invention is based on the discovery that the sequence of monomers in a polymeric biomolecule can be determined in a self-contained, high pressure reaction and detection apparatus, without the need for fluid flow into or out from the apparatus. The pressure is used to control the activity of enzymes that digest the polymeric biomolecule to yield the individual monomers in the sequence in which they existed in the polymer. High pressures modulate enzyme kinetics by reversibly inhibiting those enzymatic processes which result in a higher average activation volume, when compared to the ground state, and reversibly accelerating those processes which have lower activation volumes than the ground state. Modulating the pressure allows the experimenter to precisely control the activity of the enzyme. Conditions can be found, for example, where the enzyme removes only one monomer (e.g., a nucleotide or amino acid) from the biomolecule before the pressure is again raised to a prohibitive level.