Abstract: Embodiments described herein relate generally to electrodes for electrochemical cells, the electrodes including an electrode material disposed on a current collector. In some embodiments, an electrode includes an edge protection barrier member on a perimeter of a surface of the current collector. The barrier member forms a wall along the main edge(s) of the current collector, defining an inner region bounded by the barrier member and the top surface of the current collector, and the electrode material occupies the inner region.

Abstract: Embodiments described herein relate generally to electrochemical cells having pre-lithiated semi-solid electrodes, and particularly to semi-solid electrodes that are pre-lithiated during the mixing of the semi-solid electrode slurry such that a solid-electrolyte interface (SEI) layer is formed in the semi-solid electrode before the electrochemical cell formation. In some embodiments, a semi-solid electrode includes about 20% to about 90% by volume of an active material, about 0% to about 25% by volume of a conductive material, about 10% to about 70% by volume of a liquid electrolyte, and lithium (as lithium metal, a lithium-containing material, and/or a lithium metal equivalent) in an amount sufficient to substantially pre-lithiate the active material. The lithium metal is configured to form a solid-electrolyte interface (SEI) layer on a surface of the active material before an initial charging cycle of an electrochemical cell that includes the semi-solid electrode.

Abstract: Apparatus, systems, and methods described herein relate to the manufacture and use of single pouch battery cells. In some embodiments, an electrochemical cell includes a first current collector coupled to a first portion of a pouch, the first current collector having a first electrode material disposed thereon, a second current collector coupled to a second portion of the pouch, the second current collector having a second electrode material disposed thereon, and a separator disposed between the first electrode material and the second electrode material. The first portion of the pouch is coupled to the second portion of the pouch to enclose the electrochemical cell.

Abstract: A shift lever device includes: a lever main-body; a hollow knob provided at a lever main-body distal end portion; a shift-button rotatably mounted to the knob; and a rod that is inserted-through interior of the lever main-body. The shift-button has a contact surface extending in direction of being away from a rotating-shaft of the shift-button, and that, when the shift-button rotates with respect to the knob, contacts an upper end portion of the rod and lowers the rod. Given that direction orthogonal to axial-direction of the rotating-shaft on plane orthogonal to axis of the rod is reference-direction, and that, among tangent-lines at contact points of the contact surface and the rod, tangent-line on plane orthogonal to the rotating-shaft is reference tangent-line, rotation range of the shift-button is set such that, partway through rotation, the reference tangent-line passes position at which the reference tangent-line becomes parallel to the reference-direction.

Abstract: Apparatus, systems, and methods described herein relate to the manufacture and use of single pouch battery cells. In some embodiments, an electrochemical cell includes a first current collector coupled to a first portion of a pouch, the first current collector having a first electrode material disposed thereon, a second current collector coupled to a second portion of the pouch, the second current collector having a second electrode material disposed thereon, and a separator disposed between the first electrode material and the second electrode material. The first portion of the pouch is coupled to the second portion of the pouch to enclose the electrochemical cell.

Abstract: A semi-solid electrode includes a first porous substrate and a second porous substrate stacked together to form a current collector, and a semi-solid electrode material embedded in the current collector. The semi-solid electrode material includes a suspension of an active material and a conductive material disposed in a non-aqueous liquid electrolyte. The porous substrates are at least partially disposed within the suspension such that the suspension substantially encapsulates the porous substrates. Each porous substrate in the current collector defines a pitch, and the two pitches of the two porous substrates in the current collector can be shifted with respect to each other by 30% to 70% of the pitch so as to reduce polarization effect.

Abstract: A battery system includes a main electrochemical cell that includes a cathode and an anode, a cathode tab electrically coupled to the cathode, and an anode tab electrically coupled to the anode. A second electrochemical cell is electrically coupled to the cathode tab and the anode tab. An interrupt device, such as a bi-stable metal disc, is operably coupled to the second electrochemical cell and at least one of the cathode tab or the anode tab. Upon overcharging of the main electrochemical cell, the voltage between the cathode tab and the anode tab causes the second electrochemical cell to generate gases that triggers the interrupt device, which in turn disconnects at least one of the cathode tab or the anode tab, thereby protecting the main electrochemical cell from further damages.

Abstract: Embodiments described herein relate generally to systems and methods for improving safety features in electrochemical cells. In particular, the systems and methods as described herein can solve safety issues concerning gas generation in electrochemical cells.

Abstract: Embodiments described in this application relate generally to a system, an apparatus and/or methods for manufacturing electrodes by infusion electrolyte into compacted electrode materials. In some embodiments, a working electrode materials can be produced using an infusion mixing and manufacturing process. In some embodiments, a single-sided finished electrode can be produced directly from a dry powder mixture using an infusion mixing and manufacturing process. In some embodiments, a double-sided finished electrode can be produced directly from a dry powder mixture using an infusion mixing and manufacturing process. The electrodes produced by an infusion mixing and manufacturing process generally perform better than those produced by non-infusion processes.

Abstract: A shift lever device includes: a lever main-body; a hollow knob provided at a lever main-body distal end portion; a shift-button rotatably mounted to the knob; and a rod that is inserted-through interior of the lever main-body. The shift-button has a contact surface extending in direction of being away from a rotating-shaft of the shift-button, and that, when the shift-button rotates with respect to the knob, contacts an upper end portion of the rod and lowers the rod. Given that direction orthogonal to axial-direction of the rotating-shaft on plane orthogonal to axis of the rod is reference-direction, and that, among tangent-lines at contact points of the contact surface and the rod, tangent-line on plane orthogonal to the rotating-shaft is reference tangent-line, rotation range of the shift-button is set such that, partway through rotation, the reference tangent-line passes position at which the reference tangent-line becomes parallel to the reference-direction.

Abstract: An energy storage device includes a positive electrode current collector, a negative electrode current collector and a separator disposed between the positive electrode current collector and the negative electrode current collector. The separator is spaced from the positive electrode current collector, thereby at least partially defining a positive electroactive zone, and the separator may be spaced from the negative electrode current collector, thereby at least partially defining a negative electroactive zone. The energy storage device includes a semi-solid electrode with a thickness in the range of about 200 ?m to about 2,000 ?m, located in the positive electroactive zone and/or the negative electroactive zone. The semi-solid electrode may also include a suspension of an ion-storing solid phase material in a non-aqueous liquid electrolyte.

Abstract: Apparatus, systems, and methods described herein relate to the manufacture and use of single pouch battery cells. In some embodiments, an electrochemical cell includes a first current collector coupled to a first portion of a pouch, the first current collector having a first electrode material disposed thereon, a second current collector coupled to a second portion of the pouch, the second current collector having a second electrode material disposed thereon, and a separator disposed between the first electrode material and the second electrode material. The first portion of the pouch is coupled to the second portion of the pouch to enclose the electrochemical cell.

Abstract: Embodiments described herein relate generally to electrodes for electrochemical cells, the electrodes including an electrode material disposed on a current collector. In some embodiments, an electrode includes an edge protection barrier member on a perimeter of a surface of the current collector. The barrier member forms a wall along the main edge(s) of the current collector, defining an inner region bounded by the barrier member and the top surface of the current collector, and the electrode material occupies the inner region.

Abstract: Embodiments described herein relate generally to electrochemical cells having pre-lithiated semi-solid electrodes, and particularly to semi-solid electrodes that are pre-lithiated during the mixing of the semi-solid electrode slurry such that a solid-electrolyte interface (SEI) layer is formed in the semi-solid electrode before the electrochemical cell formation. In some embodiments, a semi-solid electrode includes about 20% to about 90% by volume of an active material, about 0% to about 25% by volume of a conductive material, about 10% to about 70% by volume of a liquid electrolyte, and lithium (as lithium metal, a lithium-containing material, and/or a lithium metal equivalent) in an amount sufficient to substantially pre-lithiate the active material. The lithium metal is configured to form a solid-electrolyte interface (SEI) layer on a surface of the active material before an initial charging cycle of an electrochemical cell that includes the semi-solid electrode.

Abstract: A lithium rechargeable battery having a nonaqueous electrolyte held between a positive electrode and a negative electrode is provided. The lithium rechargeable battery has a high energy density and a high battery capacity by enhancing a filling factor of an active material of the positive electrode or the negative electrode. In the lithium rechargeable battery includes the positive electrode, the negative electrode, and the nonaqueous electrolyte held between the positive electrode and the negative electrode, the positive electrode or the negative electrode is comprised of a lithium titanate sintered body. The lithium titanate sintered body has a mean fine pore diameter of 0.10 to 0.20 ?m, a specific surface area of 1.0 to 3.0 m2/g, and a relative density of 80 to 90%.

Abstract: A parking assistance system includes a usage status acquisition unit configured to acquire usage status information indicating a usage status at a plurality of parking positions in a parking lot, a moving vehicle information acquisition unit configured to acquire a position of a vehicle moving in the parking lot, a control unit configured to select a parking position for the vehicle in accordance with the usage status information and the position of the vehicle, and transmit guidance image information for guiding the vehicle to the selected parking position, and a projection unit configured to project a guidance image based on the guidance image information onto an inside of the parking lot to present the parking position to the vehicle.

Abstract: A circuit board holding member includes a body portion, holding portions and first attachment portions. The body portion is made of resin, and is provided to hold a circuit board. The holding portions are made of resin. The holding portions are formed integrally with the body portion, and are provided to hold connection lines to be connected from electric modules of an apparatus to the circuit board. The first attachment portions are provided in the body portion and serve for removably attaching the circuit board to the apparatus.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes plural image holders that hold an image; plural development devices that produce an image on the plural image holders; an intermediate transfer body supported by plural support members; plural first transfer devices that transfer images that are present on the plural image holders to the intermediate transfer body; a second transfer device that transfers a composite image from the intermediate transfer body onto a recording medium; a fixing device that fixes the composite image onto the recording medium; an ejection device that ejects the recording medium having the composite image transferred thereto out of the image forming apparatus main body; and a recording medium stacking part where ejected recording media are stacked.

Abstract: An electronic control unit includes an input interface having multiplexer circuits, each of which circuits is supplied with input signals supplied from an outside of the electronic control unit, and a failsafe processing part that determines whether an abnormality occurs in the input interface by referring to a state of a specific multiplexer circuit that is at least one of the multiple multiplexer circuits when determining that an output signal of the input interface has an abnormal state and executes a failsafe process based on results of determination as to whether an abnormality occurs in the specific multiplexer circuit.

Abstract: A circuit board holding member includes a body portion, holding portions and first attachment portions. The body portion is made of resin, and is provided to hold a circuit board. The holding portions are made of resin. The holding portions are formed integrally with the body portion, and are provided to hold connection lines to be connected from electric modules of an apparatus to the circuit board. The first attachment portions are provided in the body portion and serve for removably attaching the circuit board to the apparatus.