Patent application number | Description | Published |
20140279611 | HIGH ASSURANCE FEDERATED ATTRIBUTE MANAGEMENT - Methods, systems, and computer program products for managing attributes of a person are disclosed. The method may include receiving, by an electronic apparatus, identity data of a person, and receiving, by the electronic apparatus, one or more asserted attributes of the person. The method may additionally include storing, by the electronic apparatus and in an electronic database, the identity data of the person in association with the one or more asserted attributes of the person, and receiving, by the electronic apparatus, confirmation of the one or more asserted attributes based on information received from one or more publishers of the one or more asserted attributes. The method may further include associating, by the electronic apparatus, the confirmation with the one or more asserted attributes of the person, and storing, by the electronic apparatus and in the electronic database, an indication that the one or more asserted attributes are confirmed. | 09-18-2014 |
20160078451 | HIGH ASSURANCE FEDERATED ATTRIBUTE MANAGEMENT - Methods, systems, and computer program products for managing attributes of a person are disclosed. The method may include receiving, by an electronic apparatus, identity data of a person, and receiving, by the electronic apparatus, one or more asserted attributes of the person. The method may additionally include storing, by the electronic apparatus and in an electronic database, the identity data of the person in association with the one or more asserted attributes of the person, and receiving, by the electronic apparatus, confirmation of the one or more asserted attributes based on information received from one or more publishers of the one or more asserted attributes. The method may further include associating, by the electronic apparatus, the confirmation with the one or more asserted attributes of the person, and storing, by the electronic apparatus and in the electronic database, an indication that the one or more asserted attributes are confirmed. | 03-17-2016 |
Patent application number | Description | Published |
20090246578 | THERMAL MANAGEMENT IN A FUEL CELL SYSTEM - Embodiments of thermally integrated HT PEM fuel cell systems are disclosed. In one disclosed embodiment, a fuel cell system comprises a fuel cell, a fuel processor configured to form a processed fuel for the fuel cell, and a thermal management system comprising a heat transfer fluid circulation loop that circulates a heat transfer fluid through the fuel cell and through the fuel processing system in a common loop. | 10-01-2009 |
20090253000 | System and method for operating a high temperature fuel cell as a back-up power supply with reduced performance decay - A method is provided for reducing degradation in a fuel cell assembly, including at least one fuel cell with a PBI membrane, during standby, operation. The method may include electrochemically consuming an oxidant from a cathode coupled to the PBI membrane in response to a disconnection of an external load and supplying fuel to remove or electrochemically consume any back-diffused oxidant to the associated fuel cell sufficient to replace or consume the back-diffused oxidant while the external load is removed, and/or also may include controlling a standby temperature of the fuel cell. In this way, it may be possible to avoid increased cell voltage decay associated with degradation of the PBI in a simple and cost effective system. | 10-08-2009 |
20100003558 | CONTROL FOR REFORMER, FUEL CELL AND BATTERY MANAGEMENT SYSTEM IN A STATIONARY POWER PLANT - A method of operating a power generating system including a fuel cell coupled to an electrical buffer, wherein the fuel cell is further coupled to a steam reformer, comprising adjusting operation of the reformer based on a voltage affected by the electrical buffer while maintaining a steam to carbon ratio of the reformer to control charging of the electrical buffer by the fuel cell. | 01-07-2010 |
20100227250 | Rigidity & Inplane Electrolyte Mobility Enhancement for Fuel Cell Eletrolyte Membranes - Embodiments related to fuel cells and membrane-electrode assemblies for fuel cells are disclosed. In one disclosed embodiment, a membrane-electrode assembly includes a catalyzed anode material and a membrane disposed in face-sharing contact with the catalyzed anode material. The membrane comprises mutually interpenetrating first and second phases, the first phase supporting an ionic conduction through the membrane, and the second phase supporting a dimensional structure of the membrane. The membrane-electrode assembly also includes a catalyzed cathode material disposed in face-sharing contact with the membrane, opposite the catalyzed anode material. Two opposing flow plates are also provided, each flow plate configured to distribute a reactant gas to a catalyzed electrode material of the membrane-electrode assembly. Other embodiments provide variants on the membrane-electrode assembly and methods to make the membrane-electrode assembly. | 09-09-2010 |
20120156581 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR OPERATING A HIGH TEMPERATURE FUEL CELL AS A BACK-UP POWER SUPPLY WITH REDUCED PERFORMANCE DECAY - A method is provided for reducing degradation in a fuel cell assembly, including at least one fuel cell with a PBI membrane, during standby, operation. The method may include electrochemically consuming an oxidant from a cathode coupled to the PBI membrane in response to a disconnection of an external load and supplying fuel to remove or electrochemically consume any back-diffused oxidant to the associated fuel cell sufficient to replace or consume the back-diffused oxidant while the external load is removed, and/or also may include controlling a standby temperature of the fuel cell. In this way, it may be possible to avoid increased cell voltage decay associated with degradation of the PBI in a simple and cost effective system. | 06-21-2012 |
20140060666 | INTERNALLY MANIFOLDED FLOW CELL FOR AN ALL-IRON HYBRID FLOW BATTERY - In one example, a system for a flow cell for a flow battery, comprising: a first flow field; and a polymeric frame, comprising: a top face; a bottom face, opposite the top face; a first side; a second side, opposite the first side; a first electrolyte inlet located on the top face and the first side of the polymeric frame; a first electrolyte outlet located on the top face and the second side of the polymeric frame; a first electrolyte inlet flow path located within the polymeric frame and coupled to the first electrolyte inlet; and a first electrolyte outlet flow path located within the polymeric frame and coupled to the first electrolyte outlet. In this way, shunt currents may be minimized by increasing the length and/or reducing the cross-sectional area of the electrolyte inlet and electrolyte outlet flow paths. | 03-06-2014 |
20140065460 | REDOX AND PLATING ELECTRODE SYSTEMS FOR AN ALL-IRON HYBRID FLOW BATTERY - A system for a flow cell for a hybrid flow battery, comprising: a redox plate comprising a plurality of electrolyte flow channels; conductive inserts attached to the redox plate between adjacent electrolyte flow channels; a redox electrode attached to a surface of the redox plate; a plating electrode, comprising: a plurality of folded fins with an oscillating cross-section, the plurality of folded fins comprising: a first planar surface; a second planar surface, parallel to the first planar surface; a plurality of ridges intersecting the first and second planar surfaces such that the plurality of ridges divide the first planar surface into a first plurality of strips, and divide the second planar surface into a second plurality of strips; and a membrane barrier. In this way, the capacity and performance of hybrid flow batteries may be maximized, through decreasing the reaction kinetics, mass transport and ohmic resistance losses at both electrodes. | 03-06-2014 |
Patent application number | Description | Published |
20110003236 | Reducing Loss of Liquid Electrolyte From a High Temperature Polymer-Electrolyte Membrane Fuel Cell - A method for controlling an amount of a liquid electrolyte in a polymer-electrolyte membrane of a fuel cell is provided. The method comprises enriching one or more of a fuel flow and an air flow with a vapor of the liquid electrolyte, the liquid electrolyte being unreplenishable via an electrochemical reaction of the fuel cell. The method further comprises delivering the vapor of the liquid electrolyte to the fuel cell including the polymer-electrolyte membrane via one or more of the gas-permeable anode and or the gas-permeable cathode. In this manner, loss of liquid electrolyte from the PEM membrane of the fuel cell can be reduced, leading to improved fuel-cell endurance. | 01-06-2011 |
20110143237 | Radiative Heat Transfer via Fins in a Steam Reformer - Embodiments are disclosed that relate to increasing radiative heat transfer in a steam reformer from an exterior shell which includes a diffusion burner to an interior reactor via angled fins coupled to the exterior shell. For example, one disclosed embodiment provides a steam reformer, comprising an exterior shell which includes a diffusion burner and angled fins, the angled fins extending away from an inner surface of the exterior shell and downward toward the diffusion burner. The steam reformer further comprises an interior reactor positioned at least partly within the exterior shell. | 06-16-2011 |
20110206570 | Radiative Heat Transfer via Shunt in a Steam Reforming Reactor - Embodiments are disclosed that relate to increasing a temperature in a low temperature zone in a steam reforming reactor via a radiative heating shunt. For example, one disclosed embodiment provides a steam reforming reactor comprising a reaction chamber having an interior surface, a packing material located within the reaction chamber, and a radiative heating shunt extending from the interior surface into the reaction chamber. The radiative heating shunt comprises a porous partition enclosing a sub-volume of the reaction chamber bounded by the porous partition and a portion of the interior surface, the sub-volume being at least partly free of packing material such that radiative heat has a path from the interior surface to a distal portion of the porous partition that is unobstructed by packing material. | 08-25-2011 |
20120034535 | REDUCING LOSS OF LIQUID ELECTROLYTE FROM A HIGH TEMPERATURE POLYMER-ELECTROLYTE MEMBRANE FUEL CELL - A method for controlling an amount of a liquid electrolyte in a polymer-electrolyte membrane of a fuel cell is provided. The method comprises enriching one or more of a fuel flow and an air flow with a vapor of the liquid electrolyte, the liquid electrolyte being unreplenishable via an electrochemical reaction of the fuel cell. The method further comprises delivering the vapor of the liquid electrolyte to the fuel cell including the polymer-electrolyte membrane via one or more of the gas-permeable anode and or the gas-permeable cathode. In this manner, loss of liquid electrolyte from the PEM membrane of the fuel cell can be reduced, leading to improved fuel-cell endurance. | 02-09-2012 |
20120076697 | Radiative Heat Transfer via Fins in a Steam Reformer - Embodiments are disclosed that relate to increasing radiative heat transfer in a steam reformer from an exterior shell which includes a diffusion burner to an interior reactor via angled fins coupled to the exterior shell. For example, one disclosed embodiment provides a steam reformer, comprising an exterior shell which includes a diffusion burner and angled fins, the angled fins extending away from an inner surface of the exterior shell and downward toward the diffusion burner. The steam reformer further comprises an interior reactor positioned at least partly within the exterior shell. | 03-29-2012 |
20140272493 | METHODS TO PREPARE STABLE ELECTROLYTES FOR ALL IRON REDOX FLOW BATTERIES - An iron redox flow battery system, comprising a redox electrode, a plating electrolyte tank, a plating electrode, a redox electrolyte tank with additional acid additives that may be introduced into the electrolytes in response to electrolyte pH. The acid additives may act to suppress undesired chemical reactions that create losses within the battery and may be added in response to sensor indications of these reactions. | 09-18-2014 |
20140363747 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR REBALANCING ELECTROLYTES IN A REDOX FLOW BATTERY SYSTEM - A method of rebalancing electrolytes in a redox flow battery system comprises directing hydrogen gas generated on the negative side of the redox flow battery system to a catalyst surface, and fluidly contacting the hydrogen gas with an electrolyte comprising a metal ion at the catalyst surface, wherein the metal ion is chemically reduced by the hydrogen gas at the catalyst surface, and a state of charge of the electrolyte and pH of the electrolyte remain substantially balanced. | 12-11-2014 |
20150255824 | METHOD AND SYSTEM TO MAINTAIN ELECTROLYTE STABILITY FOR ALL-IRON REDOX FLOW BATTERIES - Methods and systems are provided which maintain the positive and negative electrolyte pH and stability of a redox flow battery through the use of electrochemical rebalancing cells. The electrochemical cells may be activated by applying an electrical load to affect changes to the pH of the electrolytes. The use of the electrochemical cells improves long term performance stability redox flow batteries by decreasing and/or eliminating Fe(OH) | 09-10-2015 |
Patent application number | Description | Published |
20090032817 | Back-To-Back Metal/Semiconductor/Metal (MSM) Schottky Diode - A method is provided for forming a metal/semiconductor/metal (MSM) back-to-back Schottky diode from a silicon (Si) semiconductor. The method deposits a Si semiconductor layer between a bottom electrode and a top electrode, and forms a MSM diode having a threshold voltage, breakdown voltage, and on/off current ratio. The method is able to modify the threshold voltage, breakdown voltage, and on/off current ratio of the MSM diode in response to controlling the Si semiconductor layer thickness. Generally, both the threshold and breakdown voltage are increased in response to increasing the Si thickness. With respect to the on/off current ratio, there is an optimal thickness. The method is able to form an amorphous Si (a-Si) and polycrystalline Si (polySi) semiconductor layer using either chemical vapor deposition (CVD) or DC sputtering. The Si semiconductor can be doped with a Group V donor material, which decreases the threshold voltage and increases the breakdown voltage. | 02-05-2009 |
20120073635 | Tandem Dye-Sensitized Solar Cell and Method for Making Same - A method is provided for forming a tandem dye-sensitized solar cell (DSC) using a bonding process. The method forms a first photovoltaic (PV) cell including a cathode, a first dye, and an anode. A second PV cell is also formed including a cathode, a second dye, and an anode. The second PV cell anode is bonded to the first PV cell cathode, at a temperature of less than 100 degrees C., using a transparent conductive adhesive. In response to the bonding, an internal series electrical connection is formed between the first PV cell and the second PV cell. In one aspect, the second PV cell is formed from a first titanium oxide (TiO | 03-29-2012 |
20120302743 | Long Wavelength Absorbing Porphyrin Photosensitizers for Dye-Sensitized Solar Cells - A long wavelength absorbing porphyrin/metalloporphyrin molecule is provided, made up of a porphyrin macrocycle and an anchor group for attachment to a substrate. A molecular linking element is interposed between the porphyrin macrocycle and the anchor group. The porphyrin/metalloporphyrin molecule also includes an (aminophenyl)amine group, either N,N-(4-aminophenyl)amine or N-phenyl-N-(4-aminophenyl)amine, where an amino moiety of the 4-aminophenyl group is derivatized by an element such as hydrogen, haloalkanes, aromatic hydrocarbons, halogenated aromatic hydrocarbons, heteroarenes, halogenated heteroarenes, or combinations of the above-mentioned elements. | 11-29-2012 |
20130077036 | Method for Improving Metallic Nanostructure Stability - A method is provided for improving metallic nanostructure stability. The method provides a substrate, and using a physical vapor deposition (PVD) process for example, deposits metallic nanostructures having a first diameter overlying the substrate. Some examples of metallic nanostructures include Ag, Au, and Al. The metallic nanostructures are annealed in an atmosphere including an inert gas and H | 03-28-2013 |
20130122723 | Ultraviolet Treatment of Metal Oxide Electrodes - An ultraviolet treatment method is provided for a metal oxide electrode. A metal oxide electrode is exposed to an ultraviolet (UV) light source in a humid environment. The metal oxide electrode is then treated with a moiety having at least one anchor group, where the anchor group is a chemical group capable of promoting communication between the moiety and the metal oxide electrode. As a result, the moiety is bound to the metal oxide electrode. In one aspect the metal oxide electrode is treated with a photoactive moiety. Exposing the metal oxide electrode to the UV light source in the humid environment induces surface defects in the metal oxide electrode in the form of oxygen vacancies. In response to the humidity, atmospheric water competes favorably with oxygen for dissociative adsorption on the metal oxide electrode surface, and hydroxylation of the metal oxide electrode surface is induced. | 05-16-2013 |
20140075745 | High Capacity Alkali/Oxidant Battery - An alkali/oxidant battery is provided with an associated method of creating battery capacity. The battery is made from an anode including a reduced first alkali metal such as lithium (Li), sodium (Na), and potassium (K), when the battery is charged. The battery's catholyte includes an element, in the battery charged state, such as nickel oxyhydroxide (NiOOH), magnesium(IV) (oxide Mn | 03-20-2014 |
Patent application number | Description | Published |
20130223673 | METHODS AND ARRANGEMENTS FOR IDENTIFYING OBJECTS - In some arrangements, product packaging is digitally watermarked over most of its extent to facilitate high-throughput item identification at retail checkouts. Imagery captured by conventional or plenoptic cameras can be processed (e.g., by GPUs) to derive several different perspective-transformed views—further minimizing the need to manually reposition items for identification. Crinkles and other deformations in product packaging can be optically sensed, allowing such surfaces to be virtually flattened to aid identification. Piles of items can be 3D-modelled and virtually segmented into geometric primitives to aid identification, and to discover locations of obscured items. Other data (e.g., including data from sensors in aisles, shelves and carts, and gaze tracking for clues about visual saliency) can be used in assessing identification hypotheses about an item. A great variety of other features and arrangements are also detailed. | 08-29-2013 |
20130311329 | IMAGE-RELATED METHODS AND ARRANGEMENTS - In one aspect, a user captures an image of a physical object (e.g., of a grocery item, using a smartphone). The depicted object is identified, such as by extracting fingerprint or watermark data from the imagery. Other imagery depicting that object—or depicting related objects—is identified on the web, and is displayed to the user on the smartphone screen. The user may select one or more of these images and direct that they be posted to a social network account (e.g., Pinterest) associated with the user. In another aspect, the user's location is sensed (e.g., an aisle of a department store), and a collection of images depicting nearby products is presented to the user for selection and posting to a social networking service. A great variety of other features and arrangements are also detailed. | 11-21-2013 |
20140112524 | METHODS AND ARRANGEMENTS FOR IDENTIFYING OBJECTS - In some arrangements, product packaging is digitally watermarked over most of its extent to facilitate high-throughput item identification at retail checkouts. Imagery of such packaging is analyzed to detect digital watermarking. One claim recites a method utilized at a retail checkout location comprising: receiving imagery representing a packaged item from a digital camera, the packaged item including digital watermarking hidden on its packaging, the packaged item moving relative to the digital camera; determining a region in the imagery corresponding to at least one relatively faster moving object; arranging watermark detection blocks over the determine region; an detecting the digital watermarking from the watermark detection blocks. Of course other claims and combinations are also provided. | 04-24-2014 |
Patent application number | Description | Published |
20080301237 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR IMPROVED REFERRAL TO RESOURCES AND A RELATED SOCIAL NETWORK - A method and apparatus are provided for a user to construct a payload comprising content, such as multimedia, or references to content. The payload may be provided with further elements, such as a title or initial comments. The payload may be sent to any immediate contact of the user. Upon receipt by other users, the payload may be forwarded to any of the others' immediate contacts. Additionally, comments can be made by anyone in receipt of the payload for others in receipt of the payload to view. A social networking mechanism is provided, wherein a record is made for each forwarding of a payload and introductions can be made between individuals lying in the same forwarding chain of a payload. Immediate contacts can be collected into groups for ease in addressing. Teams of users can send and forward messages among themselves or to others outside of the team, according to predetermined rules and individuals' standing within the team. Users are provided with a sortable, filterable list of payloads sent to them. A thumbnail of each payload is provided to allow a user the opportunity to quickly assess the nature of the content. Payloads and invitations to join may be sent to people outside the system via email or as an instant message. | 12-04-2008 |
20110087734 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR IMPROVED REFERRAL TO RESOURCES AND A RELATED SOCIAL NETWORK - A method and apparatus are provided for a user to construct a payload comprising content, such as multimedia, or references to content. The payload may be provided with further elements, such as a title or initial comments. The payload may be sent to any immediate contact of the user. Upon receipt by other users, the payload may be forwarded to any of the others' immediate contacts. Additionally, comments can be made by anyone in receipt of the payload for others in receipt of the payload to view. A social networking mechanism is provided, wherein a record is made for each forwarding of a payload and introductions can be made between individuals lying in the same forwarding chain of a payload. Immediate contacts can be collected into groups for ease in addressing. Teams of users can send and forward messages among themselves or to others outside of the team, according to predetermined rules and individuals' standing within the team. Users are provided with a sortable, filterable list of payloads sent to them. A thumbnail of each payload is provided to allow a user the opportunity to quickly assess the nature of the content. Payloads and invitations to join may be sent to people outside the system via email or as an instant message. | 04-14-2011 |
Patent application number | Description | Published |
20090121135 | PORTABLE RADIOMETRY AND IMAGING APPARATUS - Systems, including devices and methods, for infrared imaging, and more particularly to systems for infrared imaging. | 05-14-2009 |
20110304736 | GIMBAL POSITIONING WITH TARGET VELOCITY COMPENSATION - A gimbal system, including components and methods of use, configured to track moving targets. More specifically, the disclosed system may be configured to orient and maintain the line of sight (“los”) of the gimbal system toward a target, as the target and, in some cases, the platform supporting the gimbal system are moving. The system also may be configured to calculate an estimated target velocity based on user input, and to compute subsequent target positions from previous positions by integrating the estimated target velocity over time. A variety of filters and other mechanisms may be used to enable a user to input information regarding a target velocity into a gimbal controller. | 12-15-2011 |
20110304737 | GIMBAL POSITIONING WITH TARGET VELOCITY COMPENSATION - A gimbal system, including components and methods of use, configured to track moving targets. More specifically, the disclosed system may be configured to orient and maintain the line of sight (“los”) of the gimbal system toward a target, as the target and, in some cases, the platform supporting the gimbal system are moving. The system also may be configured to calculate an estimated target velocity based on user input, and to compute subsequent target positions from previous positions by integrating the estimated target velocity over time. A variety of filters and other mechanisms may be used to enable a user to input information regarding a target velocity into a gimbal controller. | 12-15-2011 |