Abstract: A method for monitoring pressure of blood in an artery may include contacting a non-invasive sensor of a pressure of blood monitoring device at an area above an artery of a finger, collecting with the sensor one or more pressure data readings, other than readings corresponding to an air pressure reading, from the area after the contacting and after a pressure is exerted at the area on the sensor; and analyzing with a computing device the one or more pressure data readings to generate at least one of a blood pressure reading and a heart pulse reading.

Abstract: A method for monitoring pressure of blood in an artery may include contacting a non-invasive sensor of a pressure of blood monitoring device at an area above an artery of a finger, collecting with the sensor one or more pressure data readings, other than readings corresponding to an air pressure reading, from the area after the contacting and after a pressure is exerted at the area on the sensor; and analyzing with a computing device the one or more pressure data readings to generate at least one of a blood pressure reading and a heart pulse reading.

Abstract: A pulse mode apparatus comprises a mismatched battery electrically connected to a pulse mode device having a pulse duty cycle with a power-on time period and a power-off time period. The mismatched battery comprises a first battery cell having a first internal resistance and first charge capacity, and a second battery cell having a second internal resistance and second charge capacity, and the battery comprises at least one of the following: (1) the second internal resistance is less than the first internal resistance, and (2) the second charge capacity is less than the first charge capacity. The battery also has a pair of electrical connectors electrically coupling the first and second battery cells in parallel, a pair of terminals connected to the first or second battery cells, and a casing around the first and second battery cells with the terminals extending out of the casing.

Abstract: A lithium battery comprises at least one battery cell on a support, the battery cell comprising a plurality of electrodes about an electrolyte. A protective casing comprises a cover spaced apart from and covering the battery cell to form a gap therebetween with a polymer filling the gap. In one version, the polymer comprises polyvinylidene chloride polymer. First and second terminals extend out of the protective casing, the first and second terminals being connected to different electrodes of the battery cell.

Abstract: A lithium battery comprises a support, and a plurality of battery component layers on the support, the battery component layers including a cathode having a cathode area with a plurality of cathode perimeter edges. An electrolyte is on the cathode, and an anode is on the electrolyte. The anode comprises an anode area with a plurality of anode perimeter edges, each anode perimeter edge having a corresponding cathode perimeter edge that lies adjacent to and below the anode perimeter edge. The anode area is sized so that at least one anode perimeter edge is terminated before its corresponding cathode perimeter edge to define a gap between the anode perimeter edge and the corresponding cathode perimeter edge, the gap having a gap distance G.

Abstract: A pulse mode apparatus comprises a mismatched battery electrically connected to a pulse mode device having a pulse duty cycle with a power-on time period and a power-off time period. The mismatched battery comprises a first battery cell having a first internal resistance and first charge capacity, and a second battery cell having a second internal resistance and second charge capacity, and the battery comprises at least one of the following: (1) the second internal resistance is less than the first internal resistance, and (2) the second charge capacity is less than the first charge capacity. The battery also has a pair of electrical connectors electrically coupling the first and second battery cells in parallel, a pair of terminals connected to the first or second battery cells, and a casing around the first and second battery cells with the terminals extending out of the casing.

Abstract: A solid-state, mismatched battery comprises a first battery cell having a first internal resistance, and a second battery cell having a second internal resistance, the second internal resistance being a predefined resistance that is less than the first internal resistance. One or more of electrical connectors electrically couple the first and second battery cells. A casing encloses the first and second battery cells. A pair of terminals is electrically coupled to the first and second battery cells to output electrical power to an external load.

Abstract: A method for monitoring pressure of blood in an artery may include contacting a non-invasive sensor of a pressure of blood monitoring device at an area above an artery of a finger, collecting with the sensor one or more pressure data readings, other than readings corresponding to an air pressure reading, from the area after the contacting and after a pressure is exerted at the area on the sensor; and analyzing with a computing device the one or more pressure data readings to generate at least one of a blood pressure reading and a heart pulse reading.

Abstract: A method of depositing lithium-containing films on a battery substrate in a sputtering chamber is provided. At least one pair of sputtering targets that each comprise a lithium-containing sputtering member is provided in the sputtering chamber, the sputtering targets selected to each have a conductivity of at least about 5×10?6 S·cm?1. A substrate carrier holding at least one battery substrate is placed in the sputtering chamber. A pressure of sputtering gas is maintained in the sputtering chamber. The sputtering gas is energized by applying to the pair of sputtering targets, an electrical power at a frequency of from about 10 to about 100 kHz.

Abstract: A plasma chamber for depositing a battery component material on a partially fabricated battery cell comprising a battery component layer containing charge-carrying metal species and having an exposed surface. The chamber comprises a support carrier to hold a battery support comprising the partially fabricated battery cell. A mesh screen is positioned at a preset distance from the support carrier, the mesh screen having a plurality of mesh openings. An exhaust maintains a pressure of the process gas in the plasma chamber. A plasma power source is capable of applying an electrical power to the process gas to generate a plasma from the process gas for plasma deposition, during which the mesh screen is capable of reducing migration of the charge-carrying metal species across the battery component layer.

Abstract: A plasma deposition method deposits a battery component material on a partially fabricated battery cell comprising a battery component layer containing charge-carrying metal species and having an exposed surface. A mesh screen is maintained at a preset distance from the exposed surface, the mesh screen having a plurality of mesh openings. A process gas is energized to form a plasma by applying an electrical power to deposit the battery component material onto the exposed surface of the battery component layer. The mesh screen reduces migration of the charge-carrying metal species in the battery component layer to the exposed surface of the partially fabricated battery cell.

Abstract: A lithium battery comprises a support, and a plurality of battery component layers on the support, the battery component layers including a cathode having a cathode area with a plurality of cathode perimeter edges. An electrolyte is on the cathode, and an anode is on the electrolyte. The anode comprises an anode area with a plurality of anode perimeter edges, each anode perimeter edge having a corresponding cathode perimeter edge that lies adjacent to and below the anode perimeter edge. The anode area is sized so that at least one anode perimeter edge is terminated before its corresponding cathode perimeter edge to define a gap between the anode perimeter edge and the corresponding cathode perimeter edge, the gap having a gap distance G.

Abstract: A plasma deposition method deposits a battery component material on a partially fabricated battery cell comprising a battery component layer containing charge-carrying metal species and having an exposed surface. A mesh screen is maintained at a preset distance from the exposed surface, the mesh screen having a plurality of mesh openings. A process gas is energized to form a plasma by applying an electrical power to deposit the battery component material onto the exposed surface of the battery component layer. The mesh screen reduces migration of the charge-carrying metal species in the battery component layer to the exposed surface of the partially fabricated battery cell.

Abstract: A solid-state, mismatched battery comprises a first battery cell having a first internal resistance, and a second battery cell having a second internal resistance, the second internal resistance being a predefined resistance that is less than the first internal resistance. One or more of electrical connectors electrically couple the first and second battery cells. A casing encloses the first and second battery cells. A pair of terminals is electrically coupled to the first and second battery cells to output electrical power to an external load.

Abstract: A thin film battery comprises a substrate having a surface, and a plurality of battery cells on the substrate surface. Each battery cell comprises an electrolyte having opposing surfaces, and a plurality of conductors in electrical contact with at least one of the opposing surfaces of the electrolyte, the plurality of conductors including a first conductor in electrical contact with a surface of the electrolyte and a second conductor in electrical contact with the opposing surface of the electrolyte. At least one electrical connector strip connects a conductor of a first battery cell to a conductor of a second battery cell to electrically couple the first and second battery cells to one another.

Abstract: A lithium battery comprises at least one battery cell on a support, the battery cell comprising a plurality of electrodes about an electrolyte. A protective casing comprises a cover spaced apart from and covering the battery cell to form a gap therebetween with a polymer filling the gap. In one version, the polymer comprises polyvinylidene chloride polymer. First and second terminals extend out of the protective casing, the first and second terminals being connected to different electrodes of the battery cell.

Abstract: A method of depositing lithium-containing films on a battery substrate in a sputtering chamber is provided. At least one pair of sputtering targets that each comprise a lithium-containing sputtering member is provided in the sputtering chamber, the sputtering targets selected to each have a conductivity of at least about 5×10?6 S·cm?1. A substrate carrier holding at least one battery substrate is placed in the sputtering chamber. A pressure of sputtering gas is maintained in the sputtering chamber. The sputtering gas is energized by applying to the pair of sputtering targets, an electrical power at a frequency of from about 10 to about 100 kHz.

Abstract: A thin film battery comprises a substrate having a surface, and a plurality of battery cells on the substrate surface. Each battery cell comprises an electrolyte having opposing surfaces, and a plurality of conductors in electrical contact with at least one of the opposing surfaces of the electrolyte, the plurality of conductors including a first conductor in electrical contact with a surface of the electrolyte and a second conductor in electrical contact with the opposing surface of the electrolyte. At least one electrical connector strip connects a conductor of a first battery cell to a conductor of a second battery cell to electrically couple the first and second battery cells to one another.

Abstract: A battery comprises a substrate comprising a first surface comprising a first battery cell having a first non-contact surface, a pliable dielectric abutting the first non-contact surface, the pliable dielectric comprising a peripheral edge, and a first cap about the pliable dielectric.

Abstract: In a method of fabricating a battery, a substrate is annealed to reduce surface contaminants or even water of crystallization from the substrate. A series of battery component films are deposited on a substrate, including an adhesion film, electrode films, and an electrolyte film. An adhesion film is deposited on the substrate and regions of the adhesion film are exposed to oxygen. An overlying stack of cathode films is deposited in successive deposition and annealing steps.