The adhesion between metal foil serving as a current collector and a negative electrode active material is increased to enable long-term reliability. An electrode active material layer (including a negative electrode active material or a positive electrode active material) is formed over a base, a metal film is formed over the electrode active material layer by sputtering, and then the base and the electrode active material layer are separated at the interface therebetween; thus, an electrode is formed. The electrode active material particles in contact with the metal film are bonded by being covered with the metal film formed by the sputtering. The electrode active material is used for at least one of a pair of electrodes (a negative electrode or a positive electrode) in a lithium-ion secondary battery.

Various embodiments are directed to a powered surgical instrument for cutting and fastening tissue. The instrument may comprise an end effector comprising a first jaw member and a second jaw member. The second jaw member may be coupled to move relative to the first jaw member from an open position, where the jaw members are apart from one another, to a closed position. The end effector may also comprise a firing bar positioned to fire by translating within the end effector when the first and second jaw members are in the closed position. Additionally, the surgical instrument may comprise a drive device, a clamping trigger and a control circuit. The drive device may be mechanically coupled to the firing bar. The clamping trigger may be mechanically coupled to the end effector such that actuation of the clamping trigger causes the second jaw member to pivot towards the first jaw member. The control circuit may comprise a firing switch, a clamp switch, a latching device and an end-of-stroke sensor. The firing switch may be configured to be in electrical communication with a power supply for powering the drive device and in electrical communication with the drive device. The clamp switch may be in mechanical communication with the clamping trigger. The latching device may be in electrical communication with the clamp switch, the power supply and the drive device. The end-of-stroke switch may be in electrical communication with the latching device. Additionally, the firing switch may be electrically connected to, upon actuation, connect the power supply to the drive device via a first connection comprising the latching device and the firing switch. Further, the end-of-stroke switch may be electrically connected to, upon sensing an end of a stroke of the firing bar, cause a change in a state of the latching device to break the first connection between the power supply and the drive device.

Embodiments of the invention provide a battery pack including a pack body and a plurality of terminals. The pack body has first and second main surfaces that are opposed to each other in a first axis direction, first and second end surfaces that are opposed to each other in a second axis direction orthogonal to the first axis direction, and first and second side surfaces that are opposed to each other in a third axis direction orthogonal to the first axis direction and the second axis direction. The plurality of terminals includes a positive terminal, a negative terminal, a temperature detection terminal, and a control terminal that are arranged on the first end surface along the third axis direction. The negative terminal is arranged between the temperature detection terminal and the control terminal and closer to the control terminal than the temperature detection terminal.

A terminal assembly includes a male terminal structure and a female terminal structure. The male terminal structure includes a male terminal body, a first terminal member, and a free terminal member. The first terminal member is disposed at the male terminal body. The free terminal member is disposed at the male terminal body and detachably in contact with the first terminal member. The female terminal structure includes a female terminal body, an extension portion, a tunnel, a second terminal member, and a secured terminal member. The extension portion is protruding from the female terminal body. The tunnel is recessed from the extension portion. The second terminal member is disposed at the female terminal body and received in the tunnel. The secured terminal member is disposed at the female terminal body, spaced from the second terminal member, and disposed on the extension portion.

A lithium ion secondary battery includes: a cathode; an anode: a separator; and an electrolytic solution containing lithium hexafluorophosphate (LiPF.sub.6) as a lithium salt, wherein the cathode includes a current collector and a cathode mixture formed on the current collector, and wherein the cathode mixture contains an aluminum oxide, a part or an entirety of a surface of the aluminum oxide being coated with carbon.

Battery unit for an electronic price label and an electronic price label, which includes a separate, external, replaceable battery unit having a battery, and a fastening means, which may be detachably fasten the battery unit to the frame part of the electronic price label.

A method includes detecting a present temperature value of a battery cell of a battery, determining whether the present temperature value is higher than a lowest threshold temperature value and lower than a highest threshold temperature value, detecting a present electric current value of the battery in association with a determination that the present temperature value is higher than the lowest threshold temperature value and lower than the highest threshold temperature value, determining whether the present electric current value is higher than a threshold current value corresponding to the present temperature value, and stopping a charge-discharge process of the battery cell in response to determining that the present electric current value is higher than the threshold current value.

A single-electrode battery subassembly includes a separator comprising an electrolyte. The separator has a first surface and an opposing second surface. A single electrode is disposed over the first surface of the separator. A removable, electrically inert substrate disposed on the second surface of the separator.

Techniques for enabling multi-pack and component connectivity detection are provided. In some configurations, individual PCMs can test the connectivity between components of a device without the need to operate the components. For example, PCMs configured in accordance with the present disclosure can test the connectivity between a motherboard, a display circuit, a camera, and a number of battery packs without the need to operate the motherboard, display circuit, camera, etc. In some configurations, conductors that are part of cables and connectors used to connect the components can be used to determine the state of one or more connections. When a signal that runs through the conductors meets one or more criteria, the PCMs of a device cause a predetermined delay prior to enabling one or more components. By testing the connectivity between components before each component transitions to an operational state, other problems caused by faulty connections can be mitigated.

A method of increasing secondary power source capacity includes doping a compound into an electrolyte as an additive which binding energy is higher than binding energy of combinations that are formed at a secondary power source discharge, the compound being ZnKr or CdAr. The method can be used in manufacturing secondary power sources such as batteries for electrical machines, transport vehicles, and cars, and for power sources for portable and mobile electronic devices.