Disney Enterprises, Inc.

Holding Zero, LLC

Derek Simkowiak

Edward S Lowe, Jr

Gregory J Strange

Pierre Djinki

Gary K Lau

James Hite

The present disclosure describes a non-welded leaf spring battery cell connector which allows for unrestricted outgassing during Lithium-Ion thermal runaway. The connector also has a low-resistance electrical connection surface for applications with rough, uneven contact surfaces such as those on refurbished Lithium-Ion battery cells. The connector is compatible with both protected and unprotected Lithium-Ion cells, as it allows for up to about 5 mm of vertical travel to support varying battery cell lengths caused by battery protection circuits. The leaf spring connector for Lithium-Ion battery cells is made of a conductive sheet of metal, cut and folded into a leaf-spring connector for a removable, non-welded battery cell. The leaf spring connector has one or more areas of material removed, as to not block the flow of caustic gasses during emergency outgassing.

Leaf spring connector for lithium-ion battery cells

The invention addresses individual electronic components on a shared communication bus by using spatial indexing to route data based on the physical location of the electronic components. The spatially indexed two-line data bus maps a spatial grid to a plurality of indexed connection points, which are geometrically arranged in physical space, to a set of electrically conductive grid lines. The grid lines form a communication network which can be connected to electronic components physically located on the mapped spatial grid. In the preferred embodiment, the grid lines are comprised of copper traces on a printed circuit board (PCB). In another embodiment, the grid lines are comprised of connecting wires. The electronic components are connected electrically in parallel with the grid lines.

Spatially indexed two-line data bus

Embodiments provide techniques for facilitating radio frequency (RF) communication between devices using guaranteed time slots (GTSs). Embodiments include designating, at a personal area network (PAN) coordinator, a contention access period (CAP) during which a plurality of devices on a network can transmit unsolicited media access control (MAC) commands to the PAN coordinator via RF communications. Embodiments further include facilitating direct RF communication between the plurality of devices, by broadcasting a beacon, at the PAN coordinator, designating GTSs for the plurality of devices, wherein each GTS specifies a time period during which one of the plurality of devices on the network is authorized to send or receive data.

Storytelling simulator and device communication

One embodiment provides an apparatus adapted to perform a secure firmware upgrade. The apparatus includes a first memory and a second memory. The first memory stores a private key for use in decrypting content and a unique identifier corresponding to the apparatus. The second memory includes a first version of firmware for the apparatus. The apparatus further includes a controller configured to perform an operation that includes receiving a first request to perform a firmware update operation for the apparatus. The operation also includes transmitting a second request for a second version of firmware to a remote server, the second request specifying the unique identifier corresponding to the apparatus. Additionally, in response to transmitting the second request, an encrypted firmware package is received from the remote server. The operation further includes decrypting the encrypted firmware package using the private key and installing the decrypted firmware package on the apparatus.

Growing community of inventors

Lynnwood, WA, United States of America

Derek Simkowiak