• UBI-2590 No Longer Requires Export License

• Smart Batteries Defined & When to Use Them

• Reader Questions Answered: How Do I Dispose of My Lithium Ion Batteries?

• RF Enabling Technology: Thin Cell Batteries

• Visit Ultralife at AFCEA West 2007 and Other Trade Shows

• $10.9 Million Contract for Rechargeable Batteries and Other Releases

• Ultra Brain Teaser

The UBI-2590 (UBBL02) no longer requires an export license from the State Department.

In a letter dated October 13 from the United States Department of State, the UBI-2590 is clearly no longer subject to their licensing jurisdiction, "The Department of State has determined that the UBBL02 Rechargeable 12V/24V Lithium Ion Battery (aka BB-2590 Rechargeable Battery) is not subject to the licensing jurisdiction of the Department of State."

Visit the UBI-2590 page.
 

A smart battery is a battery that is to a large extent 'self aware' and is able to communicate back to its host or user. Smart batteries are typically equipped with microchips that monitor the battery for parameters such as: state of charge, temperature, battery status etc. Smart batteries communicate back to the user or system host through single wire or two wire protocols.

The decision to use a smart battery is application specific. If your system has a host that is capable of communicating with the battery, is capable of probing the battery for status and other crucial information then the overall safety of your system is greatly enhanced if you use a smart battery. It is for this reason that the military is trying to use smart batteries on man-worn systems. On the other hand if your system host is "dumb" and does not have the capability to communicate with a smart battery, then any information that the battery can provide is of no added value to your system. In such cases use of a smart battery might not be the best approach.

CONTACT our Application Engineers for more detailed information regarding your application and whether or not a smart battery is right for you.

Ultralife has a suite of smart batteries & chargers that may be the perfect solution for your application needs.
 

Regulations and laws pertaining to the recycling and disposal of lithium ion batteries vary from country to country as well as by state and local governments. The European governments have more strict regulations on the disposal of rechargeable batteries than the USA and Canada. You will need to check the laws and regulations where you live.

The following is a recommendation of Ultralife Batteries, Inc. for the USA:

There are a number of facilities that recycle Lithium Ion batteries. The Rechargeable Battery Recycling Corporation's web site, www.rbrc.org, is an excellent source for finding a facility to handle these types of batteries.

Remember that before any type of disposal the batteries should be discharged completely. Tape the contacts with electrical tape and package so as to prevent contacts accidentally coming together at any time. These batteries can be incinerated if you have a large quantity and they will need to be packaged as lithium ion batteries. Incineration must be performed by an approved and permitted waste treatment facility that handles lithium ion batteries. If you are not sure if your waste facility can handle lithium ion batteries, contact them and verify if they are permitted or not.

For home disposal, many stores offer free recycling of rechargeable batteries. If no outlet is available in your area, it is safe to dispose of these batteries in your regular trash. As always, check with your local laws to make sure that this is acceptable.
 

With a unique combination of a thin, lightweight form factor and high energy, our Thin Cell batteries are ideal for flat-profile applications such as those necessary to support RF applications.

With the ability to handle 25 to 75 mW constant power discharge with a pulse discharge of capability of 400 mW in a package only 2.2 mm thick - RF engineers are starting to take notice.

Why? Because RF technology interrogation requires high pulse capability to deal with interference fields from nearby liquids and metals that create signal blind spots and this battery technology is an enabling technology bridging many electrical and mechanical engineering design gaps.

The specific energy, energy density and power density of this technology is 1.25 X, 2.2 X and 180 X that of commercially available coin cells and the energy, on a normalized cost basis, is comparable to those same coin cells? Take notice!

Two standard sizes are currently available, however, custom sizes can be manufactured efficiently and economically as required.

Visit the U10007 and U10004 Thin Cell product pages.
 

Ultralife and McDowell Research will be displaying at the AFCEA West show at the San Diego Convention Center in January 2007. We'll also be at the Marine West show at Camp Pendleton, CA January 17 - 18.
 

• 10/9/06: Ultralife Batteries Awarded $10.9 Million Contract for Rechargeable Batteries and Chargers to Power System to Counter Improvised Explosive Devices

• 10/31/06: Ultralife Batteries Awarded $9 Million Contract for System Integration Kits to Support Military Communications

• 11/9/06: Ultralife Batteries Reports Third Quarter Results

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