Patent application number | Description | Published |
20100159363 | ELECTROCHEMICAL CELLS FOR ENERGY HARVESTING - A device having a positive electrode, a negative electrode, and an ion-conducting electrolyte in contact with both electrodes. Each electrode has a metal, a metal oxide, a hydrous metal oxide, alloy thereof, or mixture thereof, however, the electrodes are different such materials. The positive electrode is capable of storing and donating ions and electrons and reducing oxygen. The negative electrode is capable of storing and donating ions and electrons and oxidizing hydrogen. The electrolyte permits transport of oxygen and hydrogen. The device can charge using ambient hydrogen and oxygen. It can be discharged as an electrochemical capacitor or be operated in a fuel cell mode. | 06-24-2010 |
20100210454 | NANOCOMPOSITE CATALYST MATERIALS COMPRISING CONDUCTIVE SUPPORT (CARBON), TRANSITION METAL COMPOUND, AND METAL NANOPARTICLES - The present invention is generally directed to a nanocomposite catalyst material for electrochemical devices such as fuel cells, comprising metal nanoparticles impregnated on a conductive support that is coated with a transition metal compound. The metal nanoparticles may comprise platinum; the metal phosphate may comprise tantalum oxyphosphate, niobium oxyphosphate, tantalum oxide, niobium oxide, or any combination thereof; and the conductive support may comprise carbon. In addition, the present invention provides for a method of making the catalyst material. | 08-19-2010 |
20100291298 | Methods of Preparing Metal Carbides - The present embodiments relate methods of preparing metal carbides, for example some embodiments relate to methods of preparing metal carbides that do not contain the formation of an intermediate oxide compound. Some embodiments relate to methods that do not employ hydrocarbons in the reaction. Some embodiments relate to a method of preparing metal carbides that involves citrate gel precursors and a non-hydrocarbon gas but does not use a hydrocarbon gas, does not form an oxide intermediate species and does not produce carbon monoxide. In some embodiments, the metal carbides are transition metal carbides. | 11-18-2010 |
20110008686 | PERFORMANCE RECOVERY OF A FUEL CELL - A method of improving the electrical performance of an operating fuel cell catalyst-containing cathode in a fuel cell connected to an electrical load by: reducing the flow of air to the cathode; disconnecting the load from the fuel cell; connecting a potentiostat to the fuel cell; cycling an applied voltage, current, or power to the fuel cell one or more times; disconnecting the potentiostat from the fuel cell; reconnecting the load to the fuel cell; and resuming the flow of air to the cathode. | 01-13-2011 |
20130141109 | Battery Health Monitoring System and Method - A method and system for monitoring the health of a battery is provided. A precision frequency can be determined for the battery by applying one of an AC current or voltage perturbation across a frequency sweep with impedance spectroscopy equipment to obtain an impedance response; collecting data related to the impedance response at a plurality of various states of charge within a recommended voltage window of the battery; plotting the collected data on one or more impedance curves; and analyzing the one or more impedance curves at the various states of charge to determine the precision frequency. Next, one of an AC current or voltage perturbation can be applied at the precision frequency resulting in an impedance response. The value of the impedance response can be recorded, and a determination can be made of a battery classification zone that the impedance value falls within. | 06-06-2013 |
Patent application number | Description | Published |
20090218960 | STEP-WISE INTENSITY CONTROL OF A SOLID STATE LIGHTING SYSTEM - A solid state lighting system controls overall light output level in a step-wise manner by discretely controlling the ON/OFF state of its light emitters. Solid state emitters that are ON at a given time are set and kept at a level intended to produce a desired output characteristic, e.g. at a level to produce a described color of light. The system utilizes optical processing of the generated light, for example by diffuse reflection in an optical integrating cavity, sufficient to convert the point source output(s) from the emitting elements into a uniform virtual source output. The virtual source output appears uniform regardless of how many emitters are ON or OFF, and only the perceptible intensity of the light output changes with the number of emitters that the system has ON. | 09-03-2009 |
20100277904 | HEAT SINKING AND FLEXIBLE CIRCUIT BOARD, FOR SOLID STATE LIGHT FIXTURE UTILIZING AN OPTICAL CAVITY - Disclosed exemplary solid state light fixtures use optical cavities to combine or integrate light from LEDs or the like. In such a fixture, the cavity is formed by a light transmissive structure having a volume, and a diffuse reflector that covers a contoured portion of the structure. A heat sink member supports a flexible circuit board so as to position the light emitters to couple light to the transmissive structure and provide effective heat dissipation. The circuit board has flexible tabs mounting the emitters. When installed in the fixture, the tabs bend and the emitters press against a sufficiently rigid periphery of the light transmissive structure. TIM may be compressed between the heat sink member and the opposite surface of each tab. Heat conductive surface pads and heat conductors through vias through the tabs conduct heat from the emitters to the heat sink member, e.g. through the TIM. | 11-04-2010 |
20100277907 | HEAT SINKING AND FLEXIBLE CIRCUIT BOARD, FOR SOLID STATE LIGHT FIXTURE UTILIZING AN OPTICAL CAVITY - Disclosed exemplary solid state light fixtures use optical cavities to combine or integrate light from LEDs or the like. In such a fixture, the cavity is formed by a light transmissive structure having a volume, and a diffuse reflector that covers a contoured portion of the structure. A circuit board has flexible tabs mounting the light emitters. A heat sink member supports the circuit board and is contoured relative to the shape of the light transmissive structure so that the tabs bend and the emitters press against a sufficiently rigid periphery of the light transmissive structure. TIM may be compressed between the heat sink member and the opposite surface of each tab. Various contours/angles of the periphery of the light transmissive structure and the mating portion of the heat sink member may be used. | 11-04-2010 |
20110109237 | EFFICIENT POWER SUPPLY FOR SOLID STATE LIGHTING SYSTEM - Drive circuitry drives a plurality of solid state light emitters coupled between a higher voltage node and a lower voltage node. The drive circuitry includes a switching regulator, such as a buck regulator, having a switch and an inductive element coupled between the switch and the lower voltage node to electrically connect the switch to the lower voltage node. A controller drives the switch in accordance with an output signal produced by the solid state light emitters. Input power supply circuitry supplies an input power supply signal for providing a voltage level at the higher voltage node to operate the solid state light emitters. The input power supply circuitry is configured for supplying the controller with a first power supply signal produced based on the input power supply signal. Operation power supply circuitry is electrically connected to the lower voltage node for supplying the controller with a second power supply signal when the voltage level developed at the lower voltage node is sufficient to support operation of the controller. | 05-12-2011 |
20150054410 | ENHANCEMENTS FOR LED LAMPS FOR USE IN LUMINAIRES - One example solid state lighting type lamp for a three-way luminaire includes a power source, a controller, an output stage, switching logic circuitry and multiple sets of light emitters. The logic circuitry receives input signals from tip and ring power contacts on a lamp base. The controller provides power from the power source to the output stage which is controlled by the switch logic circuitry to selectively apply power to different ones of the sets of light emitters responsive to the input signals. Each set of light emitters emit light having different color temperatures. In another three-way luminaire example, the control circuitry is configured to control drive current in a sequence to toggle the lamp consecutively between an OFF state and ON state in response to inputs from a three-way socket. Another type of lamp includes circuitry to permanently disable the lamp on detection of an end-of-life condition. | 02-26-2015 |
20150056834 | THEFT DETERRENTS FOR SOLID STATE LAMPS - A lamp includes a bulb; a light source such as an LED; a lamp base including a connector for providing electricity from a standard lamp socket; and a housing coupled to the lamp base and supporting the bulb in a position to receive electromagnetic energy from the light source. Circuitry connected to receive electricity from the connector of the lamp base provides drive current to the light source. In the examples, each of the lamps also includes a theft deterrence mechanism coupled to the lamp base configured to deter unauthorized removal of the lamp once the lamp base has been inserted into the standard lamp socket to enable lamp operation. | 02-26-2015 |
Patent application number | Description | Published |
20080224025 | Step-wise intensity control of a solid state lighting system - A solid state lighting system controls overall light output level in a step-wise manner by discretely controlling the ON/OFF state of its light emitters. Solid state emitters that are ON at a given time are set and kept at a level intended to produce a desired output characteristic, e.g. at a level to produce a described color of light. The system utilizes optical processing of the generated light, for example by diffuse reflection in an optical integrating cavity, sufficient to convert the point source output(s) from the emitting elements into a uniform virtual source output. The virtual source output appears uniform regardless of how many emitters are ON or OFF, and only the perceptible intensity of the light output changes with the number of emitters that the system has ON. | 09-18-2008 |
20080228508 | Monitoring connect time and time of operation of a solid state lighting device - Techniques are disclosed to monitor the time of operation of a solid state lighting system, e.g. for warranty purposes. Examples are disclosed that measure time of system connection to power and/or time of light output from the solid state emitter(s) of the system. A service under the warranty is provided if operation time does not exceed the warranty eligibility criteria, e.g. maximum limit(s). The service provided under the warranty may be pro-rated based on the time of operation. | 09-18-2008 |
20110176316 | SEMICONDUCTOR LAMP WITH THERMAL HANDLING SYSTEM - A lamp for general lighting applications is described. The lamp utilizes solid state light emitting sources to produce and distribute white light and dissipate the heat generated by the solid state light emitting sources. The lamp includes a thermal handling system having a heat sink and a thermal core made of a thermally conductive material to dissipate the heat generated by the solid state light emitting sources to a point outside the lamp. | 07-21-2011 |
20130003376 | SEMICONDUCTOR LAMP WITH THERMAL HANDLING SYSTEM - A lamp, for general lighting applications, utilizes solid state light emitting sources to produce and distribute white light. The exemplary lamp also includes elements to dissipate the heat generated by the solid state light emitting sources. The lamp includes a thermal handling system having a heat sink and a thermal core made of a thermally conductive material to dissipate the heat generated by the solid state light emitting sources to a point outside the lamp. | 01-03-2013 |