Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Company

3m Innovative Properties Company

Other

Hydro-quebec

3m Innovative Properties

Minneapolis Mining and Manufacturing Company

Thomas A Turgeon

Anthony Sudano

Michel Ranger

Roger Rouillard

James E Skavnak

Jean Rouillard

Jerrold K Weeks

Lawrence A Flor

Philippe St-Germain

Joy A Packard

Michael K Domroese

Joseph Andrew Hoffman

Thomas J Packard

Jennifer L Trice

Orlin Bruce Knudson

Alan P Dieken

Guy Ross

Ronald A Hagen

David D Lindeman

Christophe Comte

Edward J Moe

Thomas W Reeder

Vern E Radewald

Dominik Daigle

Robert J Mattila

Charles G Thiel

Ralph Duane Whaley

DonGene Kriegl

Joseph-Robert-Gaetan Noel

Thomas J Zohn

Brian Mark Pattock

Thomas Ward Reeder

Mark Steven Shinnick

John F Kaman

Andr&eacute; Morin

Michel Gauthier

William A Mittelstadt

Patrick A Mach

John M Agee

Christopher R Yungers

Francis C King

David J Colburn

Scott D Morgan

Toshimi Shiota

Joseph-Robert-Ga&eacute;tan No&euml;l

Andre Morin

Kimberly A Romanko

Gary E Krejcarek

An electrochemical energy storage device includes a number of solid-state thin-film electrochemical cells which are selectively interconnected in series or parallel through use of an integrated interconnect board. The interconnect board is typically disposed within a sealed housing which also houses the electrochemical cells, and includes a first contact and a second contact respectively coupled to first and second power terminals of the energy storage device. The interconnect board advantageously provides for selective series or parallel connectivity with the electrochemical cells, irrespective of electrochemical cell position within the housing. Fuses and various electrical and electro-mechanical devices, such as bypass, equalization, and communication devices for example, may also be mounted to the interconnect board and selectively connected to the electrochemical cells.

Solid-state energy storage module employing integrated interconnect board

The present invention is directed to an improved electrochemical energy storage device. The electrochemical energy storage device includes a number of solid-state, thin-film electrochemical cells which are selectively interconnected in series or parallel through use of an integrated interconnect board. The interconnect board is typically disposed within a sealed housing which also houses the electrochemical cells, and includes a first contact and a second contact respectively coupled to first and second power terminals of the energy storage device. The interconnect board advantageously provides for selective series or parallel connectivity with the electrochemical cells, irrespective of electrochemical cell position within the housing. Fuses and various electrical and electromechanical devices, such as bypass, equalization, and communication devices for example, may also be mounted to the interconnect board and selectively connected to the electrochemical cells.

An improved electrochemical generator is disclosed. The electrochemical generator includes a thin-film electrochemical cell which is maintained in a state of compression through use of an internal or an external pressure apparatus. A thermal conductor, which is connected to at least one of the positive or negative contacts of the cell, conducts current into and out of the cell and also conducts thermal energy between the cell and thermally conductive, electrically resistive material disposed on a vessel wall adjacent the conductor. The thermally conductive, electrically resistive material may include an anodized coating or a thin sheet of a plastic, mineral-based material or conductive polymer material. The thermal conductor is fabricated to include a resilient portion which expands and contracts to maintain mechanical contact between the cell and the thermally conductive material in the presence of relative movement between the cell and the wall structure. The electrochemical generator may be disposed in a hermetically sealed housing.

Method for transferring thermal energy and electrical current in thin-film electrochemical cells

The present invention is directed to an improved electrochemical energy storage device. The electrochemical energy storage device includes a number of solid-state, thin-film electrochemical cells which are selectively interconnected in series or parallel through use of an integrated interconnect board. The interconnect board is typically disposed within a sealed housing which also houses the electrochemical cells, and includes a first contact and a second contact respectively coupled to first and second power terminals of the energy storage device. The interconnect board advantageously provides for selective series or parallel connectivity with the electrochemical cells, irrespective of electrochemical cell position within the housing. In one embodiment, a sheet of conductive material is processed by employing a known milling, stamping, or chemical etching technique to include a connection pattern which provides for flexible and selective interconnecting of individual electrochemical cells within the housing, which may be a hermetically sealed housing. Fuses and various electrical and electro-mechanical devices, such as bypass, equalization, and communication devices for example, may also be mounted to the interconnect board and selectively connected to the electrochemical cells.

A novel powdered medicament dispenser is disclosed. The powder medicament dispenser includes a novel agglomerator for loading the powder from a reservoir to a dispensing mechanism. In another aspect of the invention, a disposable cartridge is disclosed for use with a medicament dispenser having pressurization and actuator assemblies. A novel method of dispensing a powdered medicament, as well as inhalation activated and transmission assemblies are also disclosed.

Powder dispenser

Rechargeable thin-film electrochemical generator

An improved electrochemical energy storing device includes a number of thin-film electrochemical cells which are maintained in a state of compression through use of an internal or an external pressure apparatus. A thermal conductor, which is connected to at least one of the positive or negative contacts of each electrochemical cell, conducts current into and out of the electrochemical cells and also conducts thermal energy between the electrochemical cells and thermally conductive material disposed on a wall structure adjacent the conductors. The wall structure includes electrically resistive material, such as an anodized coating or a thin film of plastic. The thermal conductors are fabricated to include a spring mechanism which expands and contacts to maintain mechanical contact between the electrochemical cells and the thermally conductive material in the presence of relative movement between the electrochemical cells and the wall structure. An active cooling apparatus may be employed external to a hermetically sealed housing containing the electrochemical cells to enhance the transfer of thermal energy into and out of the electrochemical cells. An integrated interconnect board may be disposed within the housing onto which a number of electrical and electro-mechanical components are mounted. Heat generated by the components is conducted from the interconnect board to the housing using the thermal conductors.

Thermal management system and method for a solid-state energy storing

Apparatus controllably breaks hollow spheres stored in an enclosure. A first screen is disposed within the enclosure on a screen support. The screen has holes that are no larger in mesh size than the smallest hollow spheres. The screen support provides support to the first screen and has void areas to allow debris from broken spheres to pass through. An impeller is in contact with the first screen such that movement of the impeller across the first screen breaks the hollow spheres in contact with the first screen.

Apparatus for controllably breaking hollow spheres

Stethoscope component

Automated incubating and imaging system for a disposable microorganism

An ergonometric chestpiece for a stethoscope adapted to receive auscultatory sounds from a body and adapted to be coupled to an earpiece for a user. The chestpiece is adapted to be grasped by a thumb and at least one finger of the user. The chestpiece has a bottom surface which is generally planar and is adapted to be placed near the body for receiving the auscultatory sounds. The chestpiece has an upper portion opposite the bottom surface. The upper portion has a raised center portion defining left and right indented gripping surfaces which form recesses defined by the left and right indented gripping surfaces and by a surface generally parallel to but opposite the bottom surface. The left and right indented gripping surfaces are adapted to receive the thumb and at least one finger of the user, respectively. The indented gripping surfaces have indented impressions adapted to be easily, securely and comfortably grasped by the thumb and fingers of the user. The indented gripping surfaces are each further defined by a protruding edge on the top surface of the raised center portion which prevent the fingers of the user from slipping upward and thus prevent the chestpiece from slipping out of the user's hand. The raised center portion form a physical stop to prevent the thumb and fingers of the user from slipping forward and contacting the body when the thumb and the at least one finger grasp the raised center of the upper portion. The left and right walls may be concave. The ergonometric chestpiece may be generally circular and the left and right walls are cylindrically concave around axes generally orthogonal to the bottom surface. The top surface of the raised center portion may be sloped with respect to the bottom surface, the top surface being closer to the bottom surface at the front of the chestpiece than at the rear of the chestpiece.

Ergonometric stethoscope chestpiece

A tape cartridge having a tape supply reel contained within the cartridge housing. A tape passes through a tape guideway in the cartridge housing and is attached to the tape supply reel on one end and a tape connector on the other end. The cartridge housing contains a single interlock arm pivotally mounted for rotational movement, one end of the arm which is movable into and out of the tape path, while the other end of the arm is movable through a slot in the cartridge housing. The withdrawal of the tape connector from the guideway releases the arm so that a spring can actuate the other end of the arm outwardly into locking engagement within a notch in an external housing.

Tape cartridge retention interlock

An adaptor for using a tape cartridge in a standard VHS videotape machine. The adaptor includes a thumb operated winder and a take up reel. The take up reel includes a clutch to minimize drag on the winder.

Videotape adaptor for use with a cartridge

Growing community of inventors

Fridley, MN, United States of America

Thomas A Turgeon