Abstract: A foundation layer and methods of forming a conductive via are described. A die pad is formed over a die. A seed layer is deposited over the die pad and the foundation layer. A first photoresist layer is deposited over the seed layer, and the first layer is patterned to form a conductive line opening over the die pad. A conductive material is deposited into the conductive line opening to form a conductive line. A second photoresist layer is deposited over the first layer, and the second layer is patterned to form a via opening over the conductive line. The conductive material is deposited into the via opening to form the conductive via, where the conductive material only deposits on portions of exposed conductive line. The second and first layers are removed. Portions of exposed seed layer are recessed, and then a top surface of the conductive via is exposed.

Abstract: An example outdoor mounted device includes a first battery configured to operate at a low temperature range that at least includes negative 20 Celsius; a second battery configured to operate at a high temperature range; a temperature sensor; and processing circuitry configured to: determine, based on data received from the temperature sensors, a current temperature; responsive to determining that the current temperature is within the low temperature range, cause one or more components of the computing device to operate using electrical energy sourced from the first battery; and responsive to determining that the current temperature is within the high temperature range, cause the one or more components of the computing device to operate using electrical energy sourced from the second battery.

Abstract: A vertical farm system including at least one enclosure, the at least one enclosure separated into a day section and a night section, a plurality of racks disposed within the at least one enclosure and configured to hold plants, a conveyor system configured to move the plurality of racks through the day and night section of the at least one enclosure, and at least one of an irrigation system, a lighting system or an automated harvesting system disposed within the at least one enclosure, the at least one of the irrigation system, the lighting system and the automated harvesting system being stationary relative to the plurality of racks.

Abstract: A foundation layer and methods of forming a conductive via are described. A die pad is formed over a die. A seed layer is deposited over the die pad and the foundation layer. A first photoresist layer is deposited over the seed layer, and the first layer is patterned to form a conductive line opening over the die pad. A conductive material is deposited into the conductive line opening to form a conductive line. A second photoresist layer is deposited over the first layer, and the second layer is patterned to form a via opening over the conductive line. The conductive material is deposited into the via opening to form the conductive via, where the conductive material only deposits on portions of exposed conductive line. The second and first layers are removed. Portions of exposed seed layer are recessed, and then a top surface of the conductive via is exposed.

Abstract: An apparatus (1) for generating power is provided. The apparatus comprises: at least one pocket (2a-h) for collecting inlet gas which rises through a liquid in which the at least one pocket may be located; an output rotor (4); and a greenhouse gas scavenger (6) for removing greenhouse gas from an inlet gas; the apparatus being configured so that collection of inlet gas causes movement of the pocket, the pocket being coupled to the output rotor so that movement of the pocket causes rotation of the output rotor. A method is also provided.

Abstract: An indexed sequence of bits in a buffer is allocated for tracking a battery charging state. The indexed sequence of bits has a first number of bits. A battery voltage of a rechargeable battery is sampled at a sampling rate. For each sampled battery voltage, the battery voltage is compared with a voltage threshold. A next bit position in the indexed sequence of bits is identified. In accordance with a determination that a comparison result is true, a predefined first value is added to the next bit position. A second number of bits that are filled with the predefined first value is determined. A ratio between the second number and the first number is also determined. In accordance with a determination that the ratio exceeds a threshold step-down ratio, a battery charge voltage is stepped down. The rechargeable battery is charged to a step-down voltage.

Abstract: The present document describes methods and systems for battery authentication. In aspects, the battery includes an identifier (ID) resistor integrated into the battery label and having at least one exposed resistor contact. The location of the resistor contact can be used for mechanical keying for identification of the battery. The ID resistor has a resistance value that corresponds to a type of the battery. To detect the ID resistor, a device can have electrical contacts (e.g., pogo pins) that are exposed in a battery housing and that electrically connect to the resistor contact(s) of the battery. The device can use a lookup table to identify the type of the battery based on the resistance value of the ID resistor. Such identification of the type of the battery enables authentication of the battery to the device and initiation of one or more functions based on whether the battery is valid.

Abstract: The present document describes techniques for extending battery life after long-term and high-temperature storage. These techniques delay charging of a battery to detect battery conditions and determine whether the battery was exposed to high temperatures while in an idle or low-power state for a long period of time. These techniques include a methodology to relax and refresh an anode surface of the battery, after high-temperature storage, through distinct and tailored discharges prior to beginning a normal charge profile. These techniques can be applied to a wide range of chemistry platforms, which may have kinetic (Li-ion) limitations, to extend the longevity of the battery by reducing lithium plating and capacity degradation caused by long-term, high-temperature storage.

Abstract: A battery pack includes a battery, a first temperature sensor configured to provide a first temperature value associated with a temperature of the battery, a heat source disposed proximate to the battery and configured to heat the battery, a second temperature sensor configured to provide a second temperature value associated with a temperature of the heat source, and a control board coupled to the first temperature sensor and the second temperature sensor, wherein the control board is configured to receive the first temperature value and the second temperature value. The control board is configured to compare the first temperature value and the second temperature value to determine a temperature gradient between the battery and the heat source and transmit an alert if the temperature gradient exceeds a first temperature gradient threshold.

Abstract: The present document describes techniques associated with right-to-repair battery-replacement methodologies and applications thereof. These techniques include detecting a replacement battery in an electronic device (a new battery or the same battery reinstalled), authenticating the replacement battery, and monitoring battery characterization and health of the replacement battery. Using these techniques fulfills sustainability and right-to-repair options, aligning with customer rights and government regulations. Further, these techniques enable replacement of an embedded battery in a user's device and detection that the replacement battery was installed and is safe for use by the device. A battery health monitor may be implemented on the device to monitor the health of the replacement battery. In some aspects, the battery health monitor may be a subscription-based service implemented via an application executed on the device or via a system-level application.

Abstract: The disclosure describes a battery connector that includes a bendable axis configured to enable a first portion of the battery connector to be electrically connected to a corresponding connector prior to connecting a second portion. A flexible printed circuit may connect the first portion to the second portion and the bendable axis may be located along the flexible printed circuit. A hinge may connect the first portion to the second portion and enable the first portion to bend with respect to the second portion. A flexible printed circuit connected to the battery connector may enable the battery connector to wrap around an edge of a printed circuit board so that the first portion of the battery connector is connected to a first side of the printed circuit board and the second portion of the battery connector is connected to a second side of the printed circuit board.

Abstract: A battery pack includes a battery, an outer enclosure housing the battery to form a battery pack, and an expandable portion extending from the outer enclosure and allowing the battery pack to expand along an X-axis of the battery pack. The expandable portion includes an inner portion, an outer portion, and a gap portion between the inner portion and the outer portion. The inner portion and the outer portion have a sealing layer to seal off an interior space and the gap portion is devoid of the sealing layer. The sealing layer allows for fluid communication between the gap portion and the interior space when a pressure exerted on the sealing layer exceeds a pressure threshold. The expandable portion includes folds allowing the expandable portion to fold toward the battery pack in an initial folded configuration and expand away from the battery pack in an at least partially unfolded configuration.

Abstract: This application is directed to an electronic device powered by one or more rechargeable battery cells. The electronic device includes a first negative temperature coefficient (NTC) thermistor proximate to the battery cells, and an open capacitor coupled in parallel with the NTC thermistor. The open capacitor has an open area and two electrodes that are at least partially exposed via the open area and electrically isolated. The electronic device further includes a control circuit coupled to the NTC thermistor and the open capacitor. The control circuit is configured to detect a voltage drop across the NTC thermistor and the open capacitor if conductive liquid enters the open area of the capacitor and electrically connects the two electrodes that are at least partially exposed via the open area.

Abstract: A battery pack includes a battery, a first temperature sensor configured to provide a first temperature value associated with a temperature of the battery, a heat source disposed proximate to the battery and configured to heat the battery, a second temperature sensor configured to provide a second temperature value associated with a temperature of the heat source, and a control board coupled to the first temperature sensor and the second temperature sensor, wherein the control board is configured to receive the first temperature value and the second temperature value. The control board is configured to compare the first temperature value and the second temperature value to determine a temperature gradient between the battery and the heat source and transmit an alert if the temperature gradient exceeds a first temperature gradient threshold.

Abstract: An example outdoor mounted device includes a first battery configured to operate at a low temperature range that at least includes negative 20 Celsius; a second battery configured to operate at a high temperature range; a temperature sensor; and processing circuitry configured to: determine, based on data received from the temperature sensors, a current temperature; responsive to determining that the current temperature is within the low temperature range, cause one or more components of the computing device to operate using electrical energy sourced from the first battery; and responsive to determining that the current temperature is within the high temperature range, cause the one or more components of the computing device to operate using electrical energy sourced from the second battery.

Abstract: An indexed sequence of bits in a buffer is allocated for tracking a battery charging state. The indexed sequence of bits has a first number of bits. A battery voltage of a rechargeable battery is sampled at a sampling rate. For each sampled battery voltage, the battery voltage is compared with a voltage threshold. A next bit position in the indexed sequence of bits is identified. In accordance with a determination that a comparison result is true, a predefined first value is added to the next bit position. A second number of bits that are filled with the predefined first value is determined. A ratio between the second number and the first number is also determined. In accordance with a determination that the ratio exceeds a threshold step-down ratio, a battery charge voltage is stepped down. The rechargeable battery is charged to a step-down voltage.

Abstract: An example outdoor mounted device includes a first battery configured to operate at a low temperature range that at least includes negative 20 Celsius; a second battery configured to operate at a high temperature range; a temperature sensor; and processing circuitry configured to: determine, based on data received from the temperature sensors, a current temperature; responsive to determining that the current temperature is within the low temperature range, cause one or more components of the computing device to operate using electrical energy sourced from the first battery; and responsive to determining that the current temperature is within the high temperature range, cause the one or more components of the computing device to operate using electrical energy sourced from the second battery.

Abstract: An indexed sequence of bits in a buffer is allocated for tracking a battery charging state. The indexed sequence of bits has a first number of bits. A battery voltage of a rechargeable battery is sampled at a sampling rate. For each sampled battery voltage, the battery voltage is compared with a voltage threshold. A next bit position in the indexed sequence of bits is identified. In accordance with a determination that a comparison result is true, a predefined first value is added to the next bit position. A second number of bits that are filled with the predefined first value is determined. A ratio between the second number and the first number is also determined. In accordance with a determination that the ratio exceeds a threshold step-down ratio, a battery charge voltage is stepped down. The rechargeable battery is charged to a step-down voltage.

Abstract: The present document describes techniques associated with a blind battery connector. The blind battery connector described herein enables a user to blindly engage, safely and securely, a battery connector with a system-side connector. In aspects, the blind battery connector includes polarity-oriented magnets at both the battery connector and the system-side connector to automatically align and engage the battery connector with the system-side connector with correct orientation. The magnets may be embedded or removably assembled to the battery connector and the system-side connector. The blind battery connector controls initial alignment of the battery connector for coupling with the system-side connector and provides additional mechanical strength to the coupling against drop, vibration, and shock.

Abstract: This application is directed to a battery having a heating element. A connector of the battery includes a first terminal, a second terminal, and a heater terminal. One or more rechargeable battery cells are electrically coupled to the first and second terminals of the connector. The heating element is in contact with a subset of the battery cells, and includes a resistive heater path that is electrically coupled to the first and heater terminals of the connector and generates heat to warm the battery when a heater voltage is applied to the heater terminal. A waterproof material is wrapped around an exterior of the heating element and battery cells and prevents ambient water from contacting the heater element and battery cells. The waterproof material includes an opening to allow at least the first and second terminals of the connector to be electrically coupled to a logic board.