Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for optimizing usage of a large number of battery cells, some, most or all of which are fast charging cells, and possibly arranged in battery modules—e.g., for operating an electric vehicle power train. Methods comprise deriving an operation profile for the battery cells/modules for a specified operation scenario and specified optimization parameters, operating the battery cells/modules according to the derived operation profile, and monitoring the operation of the battery cells/modules and adjusting the operation profile correspondingly. Systems may be configured to balance cell/module parameters among modules, to have parallel supplemental modules and/or serial supplementary cells in the modules, and/or have supplemental modules and circuits configured to store excessive charging energy for cells groups and/or modules—to increase the cycling lifetime and possibly the efficiency of the systems. Disclosed redundancy management improves battery performance and lifetime.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for operating lithium ion devices by setting an operative capacity below a rated capacity value of the lithium ion device, and operating the lithium ion device at the set operative capacity by decreasing a lower voltage cutoff value during discharging and/or by increasing an upper voltage cutoff level during charging—to support operation at the set operative capacity. The systems and methods may utilize residual lithium in device components such as anodes, cathodes, electrolyte etc. or combinations thereof, and/or external lithiation to increase the cycling lifetime of the lithium ion devices, to adapt to user preferences and expected use profiles, and to simplify device status indications to the user. Advantageously, relatively simple circuitry is required to implement the provided methods and systems, and achieve customizable operation of the lithium ion devices.

Abstract: Lithium ion batteries and cells, as well as operating and testing methods are provided, which utilize a transparent pouch to monitor the battery in operational condition and/or in operation. Transparent parts of the pouch may be used for direct sensing of cell elements. Removable covers may be used to protect battery components from illumination damage. Indicators in the transparent pouch may be associated with cell components such as electrodes and electrolyte to indicate their condition. External sensors may be used to derive data from the indicators, and bi-directional electromagnetic (e.g., optical) communication may be established through the transparent pouch, to enhance monitoring and spare physical electrical connections. For example, the transparent pouch may be used to monitor and enhance battery safety and/or to modify operational parameters non-destructively, during operation of the battery.

Abstract: Color conversion units and inks for horticultural applications as well as corresponding growing facilities and methods are provided. Color conversion units comprise structural element(s) positioned between natural and/or artificial illumination source(s) and horticultural crop(s), and fluorescent dye(s) embedded in and/or painted on the structural element(s) and configured to convert radiation within absorption range(s) in the specified spectrum into emitted radiation within emission range(s) that are at longer wavelengths than the absorption range(s) and are more readily used by the crop plants and/or modify their growing conditions. Illumination control may be achieved by controlling the types and spatial spread of the dyes, to modify the illumination spectra controllably. For example, dyes may be used to convert ultraviolet, blue and/or green radiation into red radiation which is used better by the plants and/or into growth signals, e.g.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for operating lithium ion devices by setting an operative capacity below a rated capacity value of the lithium ion device, and operating the lithium ion device at the set operative capacity by decreasing a lower voltage cutoff value during discharging and/or by increasing an upper voltage cutoff level during charging—to support operation at the set operative capacity. The systems and methods may utilize residual lithium in device components such as anodes, cathodes, electrolyte etc. or combinations thereof, and/or external lithiation to increase the cycling lifetime of the lithium ion devices, to adapt to user preferences and expected use profiles, and to simplify device status indications to the user. Advantageously, relatively simple circuitry is required to implement the provided methods and systems, and achieve customizable operation of the lithium ion devices.

Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for optimizing usage of a large number of battery cells, some, most or all of which are fast charging cells, and possibly arranged in battery modules—e.g., for operating an electric vehicle power train. Methods comprise deriving an operation profile for the battery cells/modules for a specified operation scenario and specified optimization parameters, operating the battery cells/modules according to the derived operation profile, and monitoring the operation of the battery cells/modules and adjusting the operation profile correspondingly. Systems may be configured to balance cell/module parameters among modules, to have parallel supplemental modules and/or serial supplementary cells in the modules, and/or have supplemental modules and circuits configured to store excessive charging energy for cells groups and/or modules—to increase the cycling lifetime and possibly the efficiency of the systems. Disclosed redundancy management improves battery performance and lifetime.

Abstract: A device, system and method for decoding a product code generated by encoding input data by a plurality of first and second dimension error correction codes. For each of a plurality of first dimension codewords, the first dimension input data codeword may be decoded using a first dimension error correction code and the first dimension codeword may be erased if errors are detected in the decoded first dimension codeword. For each of a plurality of second dimension codewords, the second dimension codeword may be decoded using a second dimension erasure correction code to recover an erasure in the second dimension codeword that was erased in the first dimension decoding.

Abstract: Lithium ion batteries and cells, as well as operating and testing methods are provided, which utilize a transparent pouch to monitor the battery in operational condition and/or in operation. Transparent parts of the pouch may be used for direct sensing of cell elements. Removable covers may be used to protect battery components from illumination damage. Indicators in the transparent pouch may be associated with cell components such as electrodes and electrolyte to indicate their condition. External sensors may be used to derive data from the indicators, and bi-directional electromagnetic (e.g., optical) communication may be established through the transparent pouch, to enhance monitoring and spare physical electrical connections. For example, the transparent pouch may be used to monitor and enhance battery safety and/or to modify operational parameters non-destructively, during operation of the battery.

Abstract: A device, system and method for decoding a product code generated by encoding input data by a plurality of first and second dimension error correction codes. For each of a plurality of first dimension codewords, the first dimension input data codeword may be decoded using a first dimension error correction code and the first dimension codeword may be erased if errors are detected in the decoded first dimension codeword. For each of a plurality of second dimension codewords, the second dimension codeword may be decoded using a second dimension erasure correction code to recover an erasure in the second dimension codeword that was erased in the first dimension decoding.

Abstract: A porous layer is described. The porous layer comprises a solidified sol-gel inorganic material having a distribution of nanometric voids, wherein at least some of nanometric voids are at least partially coated internally by carbon or a hydrophobic substance containing carbon.

Abstract: A device, system and method for decoding a product code generated by encoding input data by a plurality of first and second dimension error correction codes. For each of a plurality of first dimension codewords, the first dimension input data codeword may be decoded using a first dimension error correction code and the first dimension codeword may be erased if errors are detected in the decoded first dimension codeword. For each of a plurality of second dimension codewords, the second dimension codeword may be decoded using a second dimension erasure correction code to recover an erasure in the second dimension codeword that was erased in the first dimension decoding.

Abstract: A method of fabricating a nanoshell is disclosed. The method comprises coating a nanometric core made of a first material by a second material, to form a core-shell nanostructure and applying non-chemical treatment to the core-shell nanostructure so as to at least partially remove the nanometric core, thereby fabricating a nanoshell. The disclosed nanoshell can be used in the fabrication of transistors, optical devices (such as CCD and CMOS sensors), memory devices and energy storage devices.

Abstract: A device, system and method for decoding. A noisy version of an error correction codeword may be received, for example, over a noisy communication channel or retrieved from a memory device (e.g. a flash memory device). One or more symbol probabilities may be transformed, from an initial domain to a transformed domain, the symbol probabilities being one or more individual symbols of the received error correction codeword were transmitted as one or more symbols in candidate transmitted error correction codewords. In the transformed domain, a plurality of the transformed symbol probabilities may be composed to generate a combined coset probability defining the likelihood that the transmitted error correction codeword is associated with the individual symbols belongs to a particular one of a plurality of candidate cosets. A plurality of the coset probabilities for the plurality of respective cosets may be inverse transformed from the transformed domain to the initial domain.

Abstract: A porous layer is described. The porous layer comprises a solidified sol-gel inorganic material having a distribution of nanometric voids, wherein at least some of nanometric voids are at least partially coated internally by carbon or a hydrophobic substance containing carbon.

Abstract: A device, system and method for decoding. A noisy version of an error correction codeword may be received, for example, over a noisy communication channel or retrieved from a memory device (e.g. a flash memory device). One or more symbol probabilities may be transformed, from an initial domain to a transformed domain, the symbol probabilities being one or more individual symbols of the received error correction codeword were transmitted as one or more symbols in candidate transmitted error correction codewords. In the transformed domain, a plurality of the transformed symbol probabilities may be composed to generate a combined coset probability defining the likelihood that the transmitted error correction codeword is associated with the individual symbols belongs to a particular one of a plurality of candidate cosets. A plurality of the coset probabilities for the plurality of respective cosets may be inverse transformed from the transformed domain to the initial domain.

Abstract: A method and system for optimizing flash memory without dedicated parity area and with reduced array size. The memory size of a multi level cell (MLC) flash is reduced and controller operation is simplified. Simplified operation includes the controller being able to program each host data page to an integer number of flash pages. A maximal available information bits per cell (IBPC) is maintained in a flash device while also maximizing the programming throughput of the flash. Features include the ability to dynamically select which number of cell states is used by flash memory cells.

Abstract: k information bits are encoded according to a code with which is associated a parity check matrix H that has n columns. The entire resulting codeword is stored in a storage medium. At least n?<n bits of a representation of the codeword are read from the storage medium and an attempt is made to decode only the n? bits using a matrix H? that has fewer columns than H. Typically, H has m=n?k rows and H? has m?(n?n?) rows and n? columns. If the attempt fails, one or more additional bits are read from the storage medium, if necessary, and are combined with the n? bits, and the decoding attempt is repeated using a matrix H?? that has more columns than H?.

Abstract: A method includes, when using a binary cache in an multi-level cell (MLC) flash memory splitting a codeword corresponding to a data page into multiple data pages and storing the multiple data pages into multiple single level cell (SLC) pages of the binary cache for subsequent storage into a single wordline of the MLC flash memory.

Abstract: A method of writing data includes receiving a data page to be stored in a data storage device and initiating an encode operation to encode the data page. The encode operation generates first encoded data and a first portion of the first encoded data is stored to the first physical page of the data storage device. The method includes initiating storage of a second portion of the first encoded data to a second physical page of the data storage device. The method also includes initiating a decode operation to recover the data page. The decode operation uses a representation of the first portion of the first encoded data that is read from the first physical page without using any data from the second physical page.

Abstract: An example method is provided that includes receiving a representation of a codeword that includes a plurality of bits, and associating the bits with a respective plurality of one-bit hard-bit values representing the bits and multiple-bit soft-bit values representing measures of reliability of respective hard-bit values. The method includes for each of a plurality of iterations, updating a hard-bit/soft-bit value of one or more bits of a respective subset of the bits as a function of current hard-bit values of the subset's bits, and the current hard-bit and soft-bit values of the respective bit. For two iterations in which the current hard-bit and soft-bit values for each bit of a subset for both iterations is the same, the hard-bit/soft-bit value updated for any bit of the subset during one of the two iterations is the same as that computed for the respective bit during the other of the two iterations.