The electrochemical device includes a first stack of solid thin layers formed on a substrate, the first stack forming a battery and including: a first electrode and a second electrode separated by a first electrolyte layer, a first current collector in contact with the first electrode, a second current collector in contact with the second electrode. The device includes a second stack forming a thermometer. The second stack includes a third current collector and a fourth current collector separated by a second electrolyte layer forming a resistive layer, the second electrolyte layer being ionically dissociated from the first electrolyte layer. The device includes a control circuit configured to measure the resistance of the resistive layer.

A battery pack including a cell block including a group of battery cells electrically connected to each other; and a detector on a lateral surface of the cell block, the detector including an insulative body, a voltage detection lead, and a temperature detection lead, wherein the insulative body faces an outer peripheral surface of a first battery cell, the outer peripheral surface being exposed at the lateral surface of the cell block, and the voltage detection lead and the temperature detection lead are at least partially surrounded and fixed by the insulative body.

A surgical stapler includes a handle assembly, an end effector, a firing rod disposed in mechanical cooperation with the end effector, a drive motor coupled to the firing rod, a sensor, and a controller. The end effector includes a first and second jaw member moveable relative to one another. The first jaw member includes a surgical fastener and the second jaw member includes an anvil. The drive motor is configured to advance the firing rod to cause the first and second jaw members to clamp tissue and to eject a surgical fastener. The surgical stapler includes a sensor that is configured measure a clamping force exerted on tissue by the first and second jaw members. The controller control a speed of the drive motor based on the measured clamping force.

Systems and methods for overheating protection in a liquid cooled vehicle battery are disclosed. Systems can include a battery housing enclosing at least one electrochemical cell and a temperature dependent fuse connected in series with the at least one electrochemical cell. A cooling system may circulate liquid coolant through the battery housing. In the event of a cooling system failure, the temperature dependent fuse may blow before the temperature of the at least one electrochemical cell increases enough to damage the battery.

An electrochemical storage cell is disclosed that comprises a core and a rectangular shell that receives the core snugly therein. The rectangular shell has first and second open ends. A first end cap is used to close the first open end. An anode terminal extends through the first end cap from an interior portion of the electrochemical storage cell to an external portion thereof. A first gasket is secured within the rectangular shell between the first end cap and the core to resiliently hold the core away from the first end cap. A second end cap is used to close the second open end. A cathode terminal extends through the second end cap from an interior portion of the electrochemical storage cell to an external portion thereof. A second gasket is secured within the rectangular shell between the second end cap and the core to resiliently hold the core away from the second end cap.

An electrochemical storage cell is disclosed that comprises a core and a rectangular shell that receives the core snugly therein. The rectangular shell has first and second open ends. A first end cap is used to close the first open end. An anode terminal extends through the first end cap from an interior portion of the electrochemical storage cell to an external portion thereof. A first gasket is secured within the rectangular shell between the first end cap and the core to resiliently hold the core away from the first end cap. A second end cap is used to close the second open end. A cathode terminal extends through the second end cap from an interior portion of the electrochemical storage cell to an external portion thereof. A second gasket is secured within the rectangular shell between the second end cap and the core to resiliently hold the core away from the second end cap.

A battery system may include multiple battery cells grouped into modules. Each battery module may have a diffuser plate to direct the hot gases and molten material that are ejected during cell failure. The gas and material may be directed away from the nearest neighboring cells in the event of a single cell thermal runaway. Residual thermal energy is wicked away, absorbed or contained to keep heat away from the neighboring cells. These and other features may manage the blast energy and residual thermal energy of a single cell failure event. This may prevent a cascading failure of the larger battery system, thereby mitigating the risk of injury to personnel and property.

The invention relates to a device (101, 102, 103) for energy distribution and/or energy conversion, the device being arranged in a hybrid- or electric vehicle (10) having at least one vehicle interior (20) and at least one battery (40) for driving at least one electric drive motor (50). To improve the total energy balance of the hybrid- or electric vehicle (10), according to the invention the device (101, 102, 103) comprises a housing (110) in which at least one electronic, electric, electromechanical, or electrochemical device (121, 122, 131, 132, 133, 161, 162, 171, 172) is arranged, the waste heat of which, generated during the distribution and/or conversion of energy, is fed into a flow of heat transfer medium (210) which passes through the housing (110), said flow being connected at its outlet to the vehicle interior (20) and/or to the battery (40).

The invention relates to a device (101, 102, 103) for energy distribution and/or energy conversion, the device being arranged in a hybrid- or electric vehicle (10) having at least one vehicle interior (20) and at least one battery (40) for driving at least one electric drive motor (50). To improve the total energy balance of the hybrid- or electric vehicle (10), according to the invention the device (101, 102, 103) comprises a housing (110) in which at least one electronic, electric, electromechanical, or electrochemical device (121, 122, 131, 132, 133, 161, 162, 171, 172) is arranged, the waste heat of which, generated during the distribution and/or conversion of energy, is fed into a flow of heat transfer medium (210) which passes through the housing (110), said flow being connected at its outlet to the vehicle interior (20) and/or to the battery (40).

A battery system includes a plurality of battery cells connected in parallel. Each battery cell includes a positive and negative tab. The battery system also includes a plurality of thermal switch devices (e.g., temperature cut off (TCO) or positive temperature coefficient (PTC) devices). Each thermal switch device is electrically coupled to a respective cell. The battery system further includes a rigid-flex circuit board comprising a plurality of rigid regions. Each rigid region is physically and electrically connected to an adjacent rigid region by a respective flexible region. Each rigid region is electrically coupled to respective positive and negative tabs of a respective battery cell. Each thermal switch device prevents abnormal current flow (e.g., by limiting the flow of current at high temperatures) between a first battery cell that is coupled to the thermal switch device and a second battery cell that is adjacent to the first battery cell.