Abstract: A battery system includes a load bearing structure having battery cells, or structures formed by battery cells, and at least one mechanical switch, and an electrical connection coupled with the battery cells of the load bearing structure. A battery has a rate-sensitive component that is configured to deform into a first state to provide a first reaction force under a mechanical loading of a first magnitude. The rate-sensitive component is configured to deform into a second state to provide a second reaction force under a mechanical loading of a second magnitude.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for intra prediction in video encoding and decoding A method and an apparatus for video encoding and decoding, and more particularly, a method and an apparatus for performing intra prediction using reference sample portion having a thickness of at least two pixels and intra prediction modes based on such reference sample portion The intra-prediction mode may specify a direction and a propagation model for determining the manner of propagating samples in the prediction block. Using a reference sample portion having a thickness of at least two pixels allows the variations in the pixel values to be used in propagating the samples in the prediction block.

Abstract: The disclosure features methods of forming composite materials, and the composite materials formed by such methods. The methods include forming a mixture that includes a binder material and a filler material, and applying a pressure of at least 10 MPa to the mixture to form the composite material, where the composite material thus formed includes less than 9% by weight of the binder material, less than 18% by volume of the binder material, or both, and has a flexural strength of at least 3 MPa.

Abstract: A video classification method and apparatus relate to the field of electronic and information technologies, so that precision of video classification can be improved. The method includes: segmenting a video in a sample video library according to a time sequence, to obtain a segmentation result, and generating a motion atom set; generating, by using the motion atom set and the segmentation result, a motion phrase set that can indicate a complex motion pattern, and generating a descriptive vector, based on the motion phrase set, of the video in the sample video library; and determining, by using the descriptive vector, a to-be-detected video whose category is the same as that of the video in the sample video library. The method is applicable to a scenario of video classification.

Abstract: A corrosion-free electrolyte for use in plasmonic-enhanced dye-sensitized solar cells includes ions of a plasmon-supporting metal, in particular iodide anions of the plasmon-supporting metal especially, but not exclusively, gold(I) diiodide anions ([AuI2]?) and/or gold(III) tetraiodide anions ([AuI4]?). Methods for preparing the electrolyte are also disclosed, as are methods for reducing the corrosion of plasmonic structures in plasmonic-enhanced dye-sensitized solar cells and for improving the efficiency of dye-sensitized solar cells, in particular plasmonic-enhanced dye-sensitized solar cells, by disposing the electrolyte between the electrodes.

Abstract: A battery can include a cathode; an anode; a case; and an electrolyte; wherein the cathode and anode are formed of active material positioned on charge collectors. In one aspect, a battery includes a cathode comprising at least one charge collector; an anode comprising at least one charge collector; a separator; a cell case; and an electrolyte. The cathode and anode are formed of active material positioned on charge collectors. Examples of the aspect can include some, all, or none of the following features. The charge collector contains at least one weakening feature selected from the group consisting of bumps, notches, grooves, cracks, voids, sharp openings, folds, ridges, valleys, and hollow cross-section profiles.

Abstract: An optical module includes first and second transparent substrates and a spacer between the first and second transparent substrates, holding the first transparent substrate in proximity to the second transparent substrate, with first and second diffractive optical elements (DOEs) on respective faces of the first and second transparent substrates. At least first and second capacitance electrodes are disposed respectively on the first and second transparent substrates in proximity to the first and second DOEs. Circuitry is coupled to measure changes in a capacitance between at least the first and second capacitance electrodes.

Abstract: A video classification method and apparatus relate to the field of electronic and information technologies, so that precision of video classification can be improved. The method includes: segmenting a video in a sample video library according to a time sequence, to obtain a segmentation result, and generating a motion atom set; generating, by using the motion atom set and the segmentation result, a motion phrase set that can indicate a complex motion pattern, and generating a descriptive vector, based on the motion phrase set, of the video in the sample video library; and determining, by using the descriptive vector, a to-be-detected video whose category is the same as that of the video in the sample video library. The method is applicable to a scenario of video classification.

Abstract: A battery system includes a load bearing structure having battery cells, or structures formed by battery cells, and at least one mechanical switch, and an electrical connection coupled with the battery cells of the load bearing structure. A battery has a rate-sensitive component that is configured to deform into a first state to provide a first reaction force under a mechanical loading of a first magnitude. The rate-sensitive component is configured to deform into a second state to provide a second reaction force under a mechanical loading of a second magnitude.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a battery includes introducing a first material to the battery, providing an anode, a cathode and a separator of the battery; and assembling the anode, the separator and the cathode. The first material is configured and arranged to increase the internal impedance of the battery upon mechanical or thermal loading.

Abstract: An energy management method is provided. The energy management method comprises the steps of retrieving load information from at least one load and retrieving energy-supplying information from an energy supply system having a grid power source, a renewable energy generation module and an energy storage module to instantly calculate first and second energy thresholds. When an energy production of the renewable energy generation module is smaller than the second energy threshold, the grid power source or the energy storage module is controlled to supply energy to the load. When the energy production is between the first and the second energy thresholds, the renewable energy generation module is controlled to supply energy to the load. When the energy production is larger than the first energy threshold, the renewable energy generation module is controlled to supply energy to the load and charge the energy storage module.

Abstract: The present invention relates to volume and/or shape memory systems for which the volume and/or shape can be adjusted by controlling one or more variables such as applied voltage and temperature. In one embodiment, the volume and/or shape memory systems of the present invention are controlled and/or adjusted by way of a temperature mechanism. In another embodiment, the volume and/or shape memory systems of the present invention are controlled and/or adjusted by way of a voltage mechanism. In still another embodiment, the present invention provides a device that contains, in part, a smart volume and/or shape memory material that exhibits high energy densities, and can provide large displacements over broad temperature and/or voltage ranges.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to an energy absorption system for absorbing mechanical impact energy using one or more chemicals for promoting absorption of a liquid, and optionally including one or more promoter, recovery agent, and/or viscosity adjusting agent, which allows the system to release the absorbed energy.

Abstract: An energy management method is provided. The energy management method comprises the steps of retrieving load information from at least one load and retrieving energy-supplying information from an energy supply system having a grid power source, a renewable energy generation module and an energy storage module to instantly calculate first and second energy thresholds. When an energy production of the renewable energy generation module is smaller than the second energy threshold, the grid power source or the energy storage module is controlled to supply energy to the load. When the energy production is between the first and the second energy thresholds, the renewable energy generation module is controlled to supply energy to the load. When the energy production is larger than the first energy threshold, the renewable energy generation module is controlled to supply energy to the load and charge the energy storage module.

Abstract: A kinetic energy and blast energy absorbing material includes: a micro-truss structure including: a plurality of first struts extending along a first direction; a plurality of second struts extending along a second direction; and a plurality of third struts extending along a third direction; and a compressible fluid comprising a liquid or gel and a nanoporous material, wherein the micro-truss structure contains the compressible fluid.

Abstract: A displacement detection method detects a displacement from phase singularities before and after the displacement, by specifying the phase singularities based on predetermined elements by acquiring the elements from a phase structure of the phase singularities, and detecting positions of the phase singularities after the displacement based on the elements acquired by specifying of the phase singularity.

Abstract: The present invention relates to volume and/or shape memory systems for which the volume and/or shape can be adjusted by controlling one or more variables such as applied voltage and temperature. In one embodiment, the volume and/or shape memory systems of the present invention are controlled and/or adjusted by way of a temperature mechanism. In another embodiment, the volume and/or shape memory systems of the present invention are controlled and/or adjusted by way of a voltage mechanism. In still another embodiment, the present invention provides a device that contains, in part, a smart volume and/or shape memory material that exhibits high energy densities, and can provide large displacements over broad temperature and/or voltage ranges.

Abstract: An acidic oil-in-water-type emulsified food comprising an egg white hydrolyzate. A method of producing the acidic oil-in-water-type emulsified food comprising emulsifying an aqueous phase component and an oil phase component in the presence of the egg white hydrolyzate. An antioxidant comprising an egg white hydrolyzate obtained by treating egg white with a neutral protease originating from a microorganism belonging to the genus Aspergillus. A flavor improving agent comprising an egg white hydrolyzate obtained by treating egg white with a neutral protease originating from a microorganism belonging to the genus Aspergillus.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to an energy absorption system for absorbing mechanical impact energy using one or more chemicals for promoting absorption of a liquid, and optionally including one or more promoter, recovery agent, and/or viscosity adjusting agent, which allows the system to release the absorbed energy.

Abstract: The present invention generally relates to a method for using nanoporous materials to convert mechanical motion and/or heat into electrical energy. In one embodiment, the present invention relates to the conversion of mechanical energy to electrical energy by immersing a high surface area nanoporous electrode in an electrolyte such that the ion structure at the surface of the electrode is interrupted in response to a change in the flow rate of the electrolyte, causing increased electrostatic energy to be generated at the liquid/solid interface. The invention further relates to a device suitable for conducting this method.