TECHNOLOGY FOCUS - ELECTRICAL POWER AND ENERGY - Preferred Components: The rechargeable energy storage is operable at preferably 150-210 degrees C. The energy storage is configured: to store preferably one hundredth (0.01) of a joule and 10000 joules of energy; and to provide peak power of preferably one tenth (0.10) of a watt and 10000 watts. The energy storage is configured to charge and discharge for preferably at least 10000 cycles. The energy storage comprises at least one of a battery and an ultracapacitor. The ultracapacitor is an electrochemical double layer capacitor that comprises at least one electrode comprising carbon energy storage media. The energy storage comprises an appearance that is one of cylindrical, annular, ring-shaped, flat, prismatic, stacked, box-like or flat prismatic. In the power system, where a load comprises at least one of electronic circuitry, transformer, amplifier, servo, processor, data storage, pump, motor, sensor, thermally tunable sensor, optical sensor, transducer, light source, scintillator, pulser, hydraulic actuator, antenna, single channel analyzer, multi-channel analyzer, radiation detector, accelerometer or magnetometer. The circuit comprises at least one of processor, power converter, transistor, inductor, capacitor, switch, data storage or bus. The power system further comprises: machine executable instructions stored in the data storage for execution by the processor; and an interface for coupling to an external energy supply (51). The external energy supply comprises at least one of a connection provided via wireline, generator, battery and ultracapacitor. The circuit is further configured to draw power from many types of energy storage devices. The circuit comprises a circuit for at least one of stimulating an electrical signal, monitoring a state of charge of the energy storage, governing change-over from a first type of energy storage to a second type of energy storage, changing modes of operation, monitoring system health, storing and retrieving data, automatically adjusting an output voltage, entering a sleep mode, entering a state of low-power operation and bypassing at least one component of the power system. The circuit is further configured for monitoring at least one of temperature, vibration, shock, voltage and current. The circuit comprises at least one redundant component. The ultracapacitor comprises an electrolyte. The ultracapacitor exhibits a leakage current of no more than 1000 mA/l over the temperature range. The ultracapacitor is contained within a hermetically sealed container. The hermetically sealed container comprises aluminum. The circuit comprises: a subsystem for depassivation of a battery in the energy storage; a subsystem for bypassing a component of the power system; a subsystem for simulating electrical output of an energy supply; a subsystem for monitoring a state of charge of the energy storage; a subsystem for switching among at least two sources of energy; a subsystem for automatically adjusting a voltage output of the power system; a subsystem for switching between modes of operation; a subsystem for adjusting operation according to an environmental factor; a subsystem for inducing low-power operation; a subsystem for logging data; a subsystem for managing performance of the power supply; a subsystem for monitoring health of the power system; or a subsystem for accessing redundant elements. The subsystem for depassivation is configured to draw a constant load from the battery for a period of time. The subsystem for depassivation comprises measurement apparatus to assess a need for depassivation. The measurement apparatus comprises at least one of a voltage sensor and a current sensor. The measurement apparatus is configured to draw a predetermined depassivating load current and monitor voltage of the battery until the voltage rises to a predetermined level. The subsystem for bypassing a component of the power system: is configured to automatically determine a failed state of a component and identify an alternative current path from the energy storage to a load; is disabled by proper functioning of components subject to the bypass; and includes at least one solid-state device, at least one of a separate power converter and a redundant power converter and a switch network to block current flow in at least one of into and out of a component that is bypassed. The solid-state device is a junction field effect transistor. The switch network includes at least one of a diode and a transistor. The subsystem for simulating electrical output of an energy supply: includes a simulator map, a feedback controller, at least one of a buck converter, boost converter, buck-boost converter, cuk, flyback converter and a forward converter; is configured for connecting in parallel or series with a load; and supports bi-directional flow of power. The simulator map is implemented in at least one of a digital domain and an analog domain. The feedback controller is implemented in at least one of a digital domain and an analog domain. In the power system, where an output and input of the simulator comprises at least one of voltage, current, power and impedance. The subsystem for monitoring a state of charge of the energy storage includes a sense resistor for converting a current to a voltage, a hall effect sensor, an inductive current sensor, an analog to digital converter, a microprocessor and a memory, where a variable in the memory is updated to reflect the state of charge. The subsystem for automatically adjusting a voltage output of the power system: is configured to control a voltage output according to temperature; and is configured to control a voltage output by providing a variable voltage set point. The subsystem for switching between modes of operation: is configured to provide at least two modes of operation; is configured to provide for control of a voltage output from the power system; is configured to provide for control of a current output from the power system; is configured to provide for control of a maximum current output from the power system; is configured to provide for control of a voltage input to the power system; is configured to provide for control of a current input to the power system; is configured to provide for control of a maximum current input to the power system; is configured to provide for deactivation of a circuit; is configured for automatic operation; is arranged to be configured by way of a remote signal; is arranged to be configured by way of a user-generated signal; is configured according to temperature; includes at least one transistor or relay for switching passive components; and adjusts a parameter in a digital controller. The subsystem for adjusting operation according to an environmental factor: is configured to provide for limiting a current input to the power system; is configured to provide for limiting a current output from the power system; is configured to provide for limiting a voltage output from the power system; is configured to provide for control according to temperature; is configured to provide for control according vibration; and is configured to provide for control according to pressure. The subsystem for inducing low-power operation: is configured to be activated during preparation for at least one of storage and transport; is configured to be activated by installation of a cover; is configured to cause a short circuit across at least two pins of one of a digital controller and an analog controller when the cover is installed; is configured to be activated by installation of a cover comprising a resistor; is configured to be activated by insatallation of a cover comprising a battery; is configured to be activated by installation of a cover comprising a diode; comprises a dustcap with a rotatable connector; is configured to be activated by detection of non-operation, where the detection of non-operation is indicated by a period of low current output; is configured to provide for disabling of at least one component; and is configured to provide for controlling a voltage output. The subsystem for logging data: includes a memory; is configured to provide at least one of controlling system operation, sending a status to a remote location and assessment of the power system after operation; is configured to record at least one of a battery voltage, battery current, battery state of charge, temperature, vibration, shock events and a logic event comprising an indication of at least one of fluid flow, mud pulse actuation and changeover state; is configured to retrieve data from memory; is configured to communicate data; comprises read-only-memory; random-access-memory; includes many memory chips; is configured to provide for archiving data stored in a location in random-access-memory to a location in read-only-memory; and is configured to provide for storing parameterized data. The subsystem for managing performance of the power supply: is configured to provide for run-time adjustment; is configured to provide for periodic adjustment; is configured to provide for adjustment by a user; is configured to provide for adjustment activated by a remote signal; is configured to provide for minimizing at least one of standby power loss, self-discharge power loss, transistor switching and gating loss, conduction loss and core loss; is configured to provide for minimizing power loss in a load; configured to control at least one of a voltage output from the power system, current output from the power system and power output from the system; and is configured to adjust a control signal. In the power system, where minimizing power loss is aided by at least one of a first computation of estimated power loss, measurement of at least one electrical parameter, iterative perturbation and observation steps, and iterative computations. The subsystem for monitoring health of the power system: includes a memory, at least one of a temperature measuring device and an acceleration measuring device; and is configured to derive an estimate of system health from a measurement of at least one of temperature, vibration and shock. The subsystem for accessing redundant elements: comprises at least one standby rechargeable energy storage device, at least one standby circuit and a power converter; is configured to identify a fault from a voltage output measurement; is configured to identify a fault from a voltage output measurement for the rechargeable energy storage and a current through the rechargeable energy storage; comprises many resistor dividers coupled to many rechargeable energy storage devices and analog to digital converters. Preferred Method: The method of providing power to a logging instrument downhole, further comprises charging the power system with energy from an external energy supply, where the charging comprises at least one of continuously and periodically charging the power system; determining a failed state for a component of the power system and routing power from the energy storage around the failed component; controlling the providing to limit a duty cycle of the tool; regulating at least one of a voltage and a current delivered to the logging instrument; depassivating at least one battery in the energy storage; monitoring data for at least one aspect of the power system and logging the data in memory; and communicating the data to topside equipment. The step of providing power comprises: drawing power from the energy storage and simulating an electrical signal of another type of energy storage; monitoring state of charge of the energy storage; changing between types of energy storage; monitoring at least one aspect of the power system and automatically adjusting an output of the energy storage; and monitoring at least one aspect of the power system and at least one of activating a component of the power system and deactivating the component. The method of fabricating the power system, further comprises: assembling the energy storage from many storage cells, where at least one insulator is disposed between storage cells in many, and at least one storage cell in the energy storage is at least partially wrapped in a wrapper; configuring the circuit for incorporation into the logging instrument, where configuring the circuit comprises orienting the circuit to reduce at least one of stress and strain experienced during operation and assembling many circuit modules; and encapsulating components within the power system with an encapsulant. The step of assembling comprises selecting each of the modules according to at least one feature provided by the respective module, coupling each of the modules to a bus, disposing a stand-off support between each of the modules and coupling a connector of a first module with a mateable connector of a second module. The circuit comprises at least one of power converter, voltage regulating circuit, low power consumption circuit, bypass circuit, battery conditioning circuit and current limiting circuit. In the power system: at least one of the energy source comprises at least one battery, a wireline coupled to a remote power supply and a generator; and at least two of the energy sources are a substantially similar or dissimilar type of energy source. The subsystem for monitoring a state of charge of the energy storage: is configured to draw power from one energy source at a time; is configured to simultaneously draw power from at least one energy source; includes at least one transistor, relay and level shift circuit; modulates between energy sources to achieve a time-average aggregate behavior; is configured to provide a digital changeover control signal; is configured to provide an analog changeover control signal; and is configured to interpret at least one of a state of charge of an energy source, a voltage presented by an energy source, an impedance presented by an energy source, an ambient temperature, vibration and a signal received from a remote location and to provide a corresponding changeover control signal.    TECHNOLOGY FOCUS - INORGANIC CHEMISTRY - Preferred Components: The carbon-based energy storage media comprises at least one of activated carbon, carbon fibers, rayon, graphene, aerogel, carbon cloth, carbon nanotubes or another nano-form of carbon. The electrolyte comprises one of moisture (less than 500 ppm), halides (less than 1000 ppm total concentration) and metallic species (less than 2000 ppm total concentration) comprising at least one of bromine, cadmium, cobalt, chromium, copper, iron, potassium, lithium, molybdenum, sodium, nickel, lead, zinc, at least one alloy of the metallic species or oxide.    TECHNOLOGY FOCUS - ORGANIC CHEMISTRY - Preferred Components: The electrolyte comprises many cations comprising at least one of 1-(3-cyanopropyl)-3-methylimidazolium, 1,2-dimethyl-3-propylimidazolium, 1,3-bis(3-cyanopropyl)imidazolium, 1,3-diethoxyimidazolium, 1-butyl-1-methylpiperidinium, 1-butyl-2,3-dimethylimidazolium, 1-butyl-3-methylpyrrolidinium, 1-butyl-4-methylpyridinium, 1-butylpyridinium, 1-decyl-3-methylimidazolium, 1-ethyl-3-methylimidazolium or 3-methyl-1-propylpyridinium. The electrolyte comprises many anions comprising at least one of bis(trifluoromethanesulfonate)imide, tris(trifluoromethanesulfonate)methide, dicyanamide, tetrafluoroborate, hexafluorophosphate, trifluoromethanesulfonate, bis(pentafluoroethanesulfonate)imide, thiocyanate or trifluoro(trifluoromethyl)borate. The electrolyte comprises a solvent comprising acetonitrile, amides, benzonitrile, butyrolactone, cyclic ether, dibutyl carbonate, diethyl carbonate, diethylether, dimethoxyethane, dimethyl carbonate, dimethylformamide, dimethylsulfone, dioxane, dioxolane, ethyl formate, ethylene carbonate, ethyl methyl carbonate, lactone, linear ether, methyl formate, methyl propionate, methyltetrahydrofuran, nitrile, nitrobenzene, nitromethane, n-methylpyrrolidone, propylene carbonate, sulfolane, sulfone, tetrahydrofuran, tetramethylene sulfone, thiophene, ethylene glycol, diethylene glycol, triethylene glycol, polyethylene glycols, carbonic acid ester, gamma -butyrolactone, nitrile or tricyanohexane.