Abstract: A method for selecting a wireless data transmitter to convey digital data from a first device to a second device. The first device has a transmitter and the second device has a receiver. A sole authentication number is assigned to the first device. A signal including the authentication number is conveyed from the transmitter of the first device and a login number corresponding to the authentication number is displayed on the second device when the receiver of the second device locates the signal. The login number is input into the first device, and the login number is then conveyed from the transmitter to the receiver such that the digital data from the first device is received by the second device.

Abstract: A USB device is coupled to a first USB communication line and a second USB communication line. Separate first and second paths are created between an external device and a controller in the USB device, with both paths including the first and second USB communication lines. The USB device detects whether a USB connection exists over the first and second USB communication lines. If a USB connection exists over the first and second USB communication lines, USB communication is routed via the first path. Otherwise, testing communication is routed via the second path. The external device can be either a USB host or a testing unit.

Abstract: A method employing a bonding layer is used to form active metal electrodes having barrier layers. Active metals such as lithium are highly reactive in ambient conditions. The method involves fabricating a lithium electrode or other active metal electrode without depositing the barrier layer on a layer of metal. Rather a smooth barrier layer is formed on a smooth substrate such as a web carrier or polymeric electrolyte. A bonding or alloying layer is formed on top of the barrier layer. Lithium or other active material is then attached to the bonding layer to form the active metal electrode. A current collector may also be attached to the lithium or active metal during the process.

Abstract: A method employing a bonding layer is used to form active metal electrodes having barrier layers. Active metals such as lithium are highly reactive in ambient conditions. The method involves fabricating a lithium electrode or other active metal electrode without depositing the barrier layer on a layer of metal. Rather a smooth barrier layer is formed on a smooth substrate such as a web carrier or polymeric electrolyte. A bonding or alloying layer is formed on top of the barrier layer. Lithium or other active material is then attached to the bonding layer to form the active metal electrode. A current collector may also be attached to the lithium or active metal during the process.

Abstract: A method for forming lithium electrodes having protective layers involves plating lithium between a lithium ion conductive protective layer and a current collector of an “electrode precursor.” The electrode precursor is formed by depositing the protective layer on a very smooth surface of a current collector. The protective layer is a glass such as lithium phosphorus oxynitride and the current collector is a conductive sheet such as a copper sheet. During plating, lithium ions move through the protective layer and a lithium metal layer plates onto the surface of the current collector. The resulting structure is a protected lithium electrode. To facilitate uniform lithium plating, the electrode precursor may include a “wetting layer” which coats the current collector.

Abstract: Disclosed are positive electrodes containing active-sulfur-based composite electrodes. The cells include active-sulfur, an electronic conductor, and an ionic conductor. These materials are provided in a manner allowing at least about 10% of the active-sulfur to be available for electrochemical reaction. Also disclosed are methods for fabricating active-sulfur-based composite electrodes. The method begins with a step of combining the electrode components in a slurry. Next, the slurry is homogenized such that the electrode components are well mixed and free of agglomerates. Thereafter, before the electrode components have settled or separated to any significant degree, the slurry is coated on a substrate to form a thin film. Finally, the coated film is dried to form the electrode in such a manner that the electrode components do not significantly redistribute.

Abstract: A method employing a bonding layer is used to form active metal electrodes having barrier layers. Active metals such as lithium are highly reactive in ambient conditions. The method involves fabricating a lithium electrode or other active metal electrode without depositing the barrier layer on a layer of metal. Rather a smooth barrier layer is formed on a smooth substrate such as a web carrier or polymeric electrolyte. A bonding or alloying layer is formed on top of the barrier layer. Lithium or other active material is then attached to the bonding layer to form the active metal electrode. A current collector may also be attached to the lithium or active metal during the process.

Abstract: A high performance lithium-sulfur battery cell includes the following features: (a) a negative electrode including a metal or an ion of the metal; (b) a positive electrode comprising an electronically conductive material; and (c) a liquid catholyte including a solvent and dissolve electrochemically active material comprising sulfur in the form of at least one of a sulfide of the metal and a polysulfide of the metal. Such battery cells are characterized by an energy density, calculated based upon a laminate weight, of at least about 400 Watt-hours/kilogram when discharged at a rate of at least 0.1 mA/cm2. Cells meeting these criteria often find use as primary cells.

Abstract: A method for forming lithium electrodes having protective layers involves plating lithium between a lithium ion conductive protective layer and a current collector of an “electrode precursor.” The electrode precursor is formed by depositing the protective layer on a very smooth surface of a current collector. The protective layer is a glass such as lithium phosphorus oxynitride and the current collector is a conductive sheet such as a copper sheet. During plating, lithium ions move through the protective layer and a lithium metal layer plates onto the surface of the current collector. The resulting structure is a protected lithium electrode. To facilitate uniform lithium plating, the electrode precursor may include a “wetting layer” which coats the current collector.

Abstract: Disclosed is an electrochemical device having a shuttle-type redox mechanism for overcharge protection in which the redox reaction is “tuned” with a tuning agent to adjust the potential at which the redox reaction occurs. Such device may be characterized as including the following elements: (1) a negative electrode (e.g., lithium); (2) a positive electrode containing one or more intermediate species (e.g., polysulfides) which are oxidized to one more oxidized species during overcharge; and (3) a tuning species (e.g., an organosulfur compound) which adjusts the rate at which the oxidized species are reduced and thereby adjusts the voltage at which overcharge protection is provided. The oxidized species produced during overcharge move to the negative electrode where they are reduced back to said intermediate species as in a normal redox shuttle. However, the oxidized species react more rapidly than the intermediate species at the negative electrode.

Abstract: Disclosed are dioxolane-treated lithium electrodes, battery cells containing such dioxolane-treated lithium electrodes, battery cell electrolytes containing dioxolane, and methods of treating lithium electrodes with dioxolane and battery cells containing such dioxolane-treated lithium electrodes. Treating lithium with dioxolane prevents the lithium from reacting with a wide range of substances which can contaminate battery cells, particularly moisture and other protic impurities, that might otherwise react with the lithium to the detriment of its function as a negative electrode in a battery cell. Battery cells containing dioxolane as an electrolyte co-solvent in accordance with the present invention exhibit improved cycling performance over cells not containing dioxolane. Moreover, the dioxolane treatment does not negatively impact sulfur utilization and improves the lithium's electrochemical function as the negative electrode in the battery cell.

Abstract: Disclosed is a redox electrode for a battery cell that has a coating to mitigate plugging by precipitated discharge products. The coating comprises a mixed ionic electronic conductor (MIEC) which is applied to the surface of a redox electrode. The presence of the MIEC coating allows for rapid removal of discharge product precipitates from redox electrodes since it is capable of conducting both electrons and ions. As a result, the chemical action necessary to remove such precipitates may take place on both the electrolyte side of the precipitate and at the precipitate/electrode interface. MIEC coatings in accordance with the present invention may be composed of any suitable material having ionic conductivity for a metal ion in a negative electrode with which the redox electrode is to be paired in a battery cell, and reversible redox capacity. Examples include titanium sulfide (TiS2), iron sulfide (FeS2), and cobalt oxides.

Abstract: Disclosed is a positive electrode that has a low equivalent weight and high cell voltage and consequently a high specific energy, and a high discharge rate pulse capability. Also disclosed are methods for fabricating active-sulfur-based composite electrodes, and battery cells incorporating such electrodes. The batteries of this invention are preferably rechargeable and operate at high sulfur utilization over many cycles. Positive electrodes according to the present invention are composed of at least two electrochemically active materials: an “active-sulfur” material, and a second electrochemically active material having a higher discharge rate than the active-sulfur component. The active-sulfur component is also oxidizing with respect to the higher discharge rate material. In operation, the active-sulfur component of the positive electrode discharges to satisfy power demands below its maximum discharge rate.

Abstract: An electrochemical timer is described that is compact, lightweight, inexpensive to manufacture, and simple to use in which the consumption of reactive materials in an electrochemical reaction provides a visual indication of the passage of time. In one embodiment, the electrochemical timer includes a first electrode, an electrolyte, and a second electrode. The electrodes and electrolyte are chosen such that the first electrode is consumed at a predetermined rate upon electrochemical contact of the electrodes and electrolyte. The electrodes and electrolyte are further configured such that the consumption of the first electrode can be monitored to provide an indication of the passage of time. In one embodiment, the electrochemical timers provided herein are used to monitor the shelf-life of perishables.

Abstract: Batteries including a lithium electrode and a sulfur counter electrode that demonstrate improved cycling efficiencies are described. In one embodiment, an electrochemical cell having a lithium electrode and a sulfur electrode including at least one of elemental sulfur, lithium sulfide, and a lithium polysulfide is provided. The lithium electrode includes a surface coating that is effective to increase the cycling efficiency of said electrochemical cell. In a more particular embodiment, the lithium electrode is in an electrolyte solution, and, more particularly, an electrolyte solution including either elemental sulfur, a sulfide, or a polysulfide. In another embodiment, the coating is formed after the lithium electrode is contacted with the electrolyte. In a more particular embodiment, the coating is formed by a reaction between the lithium metal of the lithium electrode and a chemical species present in the electrolyte.

Abstract: A process for forming an electrode involves mixing or homogenizing one or more electrode components in a "fugitive carrier". This mixture is then frozen by dropping the temperature to a level below which the fugitive carrier freezes. This locks the well-mixed electrode components in place in a solid matrix to form an electrode precursor. Thereafter, the fugitive carrier is sublimated from the electrode precursor to form an electrode in which the components are substantially unsegregated.

Abstract: Disclosed are electrolyte solvents for ambient-temperature lithium-sulfur batteries. The disclosed solvents include at least one ethoxy repeating unit compound of the general formula R.sub.1 (CH.sub.2 CH.sub.2 O).sub.n R.sub.2, where n ranges between 2 and 10 and R.sub.1 and R.sub.2 are different or identical alkyl or alkoxy groups (including substituted alkyl or alkoxy groups). Alternatively, R.sub.1 and R.sub.2 may together with (CH.sub.2 CH.sub.2 O).sub.n form a closed ring. Examples of linear solvents include the glymes (CH.sub.3 O(CH.sub.2 CH.sub.2).sub.n CH.sub.3). Some electrolyte solvents include a donor or acceptor solvent in addition to an ethoxy compound as described.

Abstract: Disclosed is an alkali metal negative electrode having a protective layer. Specifically, the disclosed negative electrode includes a glassy or amorphous surface protective layer which conducts alkali metal ions but effectively blocks the alkali metal in the electrode from direct contact with the ambient. The protective layer has improved smoothness and reduced internal stress in comparison to prior protective layers such as those formed by sputtering. In a specific embodiment, the protective layer is formed on the lithium metal electrode surface by a plasma assisted deposition technique.

Abstract: A distributed biometric identification system and architecture for rapidly identifying individuals using fingerprint and photographic data. The present architecture includes a centralized server coupled to a plurality of distributed client workstations by way of a wide area telecommunications network. The server and client workstations each contain subsystems that cooperate to provide personnel identification services to users of the system. The distributed biometric identification system is designed to rapidly identify personnel based on the use of biometric (i.e., fingerprint or photograph) or other unique identification data. The system is an integrated, front-end automated fingerprint and photographic identification tool that supports comprehensive application processing and administrative systems, such as those of the INS and other government agencies.

Abstract: Batteries including a lithium electrode and a sulfur counter electrode that demonstrate improved cycling efficiencies are described. In one embodiment, an electrochemical cell having a lithium electrode and a sulfur electrode including at least one of elemental sulfur, lithium sulfide, and a lithium polysulfide is provided. The lithium electrode includes a surface coating that is effective to increase the cycling efficiency of said electrochemical cell. In a more particular embodiment, the lithium electrode is in an electrolyte solution, and, more particularly, an electrolyte solution including either elemental sulfur, a sulfide, or a polysulfide. In another embodiment, the coating is formed after the lithium electrode is contacted with the electrolyte. In a more particular embodiment, the coating is formed by a reaction between the lithium metal of the lithium electrode and a chemical species present in the electrolyte.