Abstract: A device for printing a droplet onto a substrate includes: a droplet generating member which is needle-shaped and comprises a receiving portion disposed vertically to receive a solution, and a discharge hole connected to the receiving portion and formed on a bottom of the receiving portion so that the solution can be discharged from the receiving portion; a substrate disposed below the droplet generating member, the substrate includes a target portion to which the droplet discharged from the discharge hole of the droplet generating member is dropped and attached; a voltage applier applying a voltage to the droplet so that the droplet can be dropped onto the target portion of the substrate; a volume measuring unit measuring the volume of the droplet; and a droplet control unit maintaining the volume of the droplet at a predetermined level based on the measured volume of the droplet.

Abstract: A liquid fuel mixing apparatus includes a water chamber, a fuel chamber, and a partition arranged substantially vertically between the water chamber and the fuel chamber. The partition includes a passage to permit communication between the water chamber and the fuel chamber. The water chamber includes a first port for the inflow of water and air recovered from a cathode of the fuel cell. The fuel chamber includes a third port for the inflow of unreacted fuel and CO2 from an anode of the fuel cell, a fourth port for the inflow of a liquid fuel from a liquid fuel tank, and a fifth port for the outflow of a mixed fuel to the fuel cell.

Abstract: A device for printing a droplet onto a substrate includes: a droplet generating member which is needle-shaped and comprises a receiving portion disposed vertically to receive a solution, and a discharge hole connected to the receiving portion and formed on a bottom of the receiving portion so that the solution can be discharged from the receiving portion; a substrate disposed below the droplet generating member, the substrate includes a target portion to which the droplet discharged from the discharge hole of the droplet generating member is dropped and attached; a voltage applier applying a voltage to the droplet so that the droplet can be dropped onto the target portion of the substrate; a volume measuring unit measuring the volume of the droplet; and a droplet control unit maintaining the volume of the droplet at a predetermined level based on the measured volume of the droplet.

Abstract: An improved fluid recycling apparatus and a fuel cell system comprising the same effectively recycle moisture contained in fluid circulating in a fuel cell system and operate independent of orientation. The fluid recycling apparatus includes an electric penetration pump and a gas/liquid separation unit. The electric penetration pump has first and second electrodes and an electric penetration layer interposed between the first and second electrodes. The electric penetration pump directs a liquefied fluid through an electric fluid passage formed in the electric penetration layer by applying a voltage between the first electrode and the second electrode. The gas/liquid separation unit is disposed upstream of the electric fluid passage, contacting the electric penetration pump, and comprises a porous material that can absorb the liquefied fluid.

Abstract: A fuel cell system operating method in which a temperature of a fuel cell power generator is measured when the fuel cell power generator stops generating power, and it is determined whether the temperature is within a predetermined temperature range, and a reverse current is supplied to the fuel cell power generator upon restart if the temperature was determined to be outside of the predetermined range so as to increase the efficiency of the system after restarting the fuel cell power generator after being exposed to extreme conditions. Subsequently, the reverse current supply to the fuel cell power generator stops and electric energy is generated through an electrochemical reaction between hydrogen and oxygen in the fuel cell power generator.

Abstract: Provided are a droplet emitting apparatus and a method of emitting droplets using the same.

Abstract: Provided is a fuel cell system including: a cartridge in which fuel is stored; a power unit producing power by using the fuel supplied from the cartridge; and a port to which an electronic device is connected, wherein the port comprises: a first channel which is a channel for receiving start-up power from the electronic device and supplying produced power to the electronic device; a second channel via which a signal indicating attachment of the fuel cell system to the electronic device is transmitted to the electronic device when the fuel cell system is attached to the electronic device; and a third channel for grounding.

Abstract: A diaphragm air pump comprises a pump chamber, a diaphragm and one or more piezoelectric beams or bimorphs. Fluid flows into the pump chamber and then flows out of it, the diaphragm is provided within the pump chamber, and one or more central openings are formed in the diaphragm. One or more central check valves are provided in the central openings. The diaphragm is just bonded with piezoelectric beams, not fixed to the lower housing of the pump chamber in order to get large displacement. With the provided diaphragm air pump, it is possible to actively adjust the air quantity according to the requirement for fuel cell or a part-to-be-cooled, and it is also possible to reduce noise and power consumption compared with a conventional fan type cooler or air pumps.

Abstract: A fuel cell system including a correction means capable of accurately correcting a concentration sensing value according to temperature is discussed. The fuel cell system may include an electricity generating unit generating electric energy by means of the electrochemical reaction of fuel and an oxidizer, a fuel supplying unit supplying the fuel to the electricity generating unit, a main concentration sensor for measuring the concentration of the fuel, a reference cell filled with reference solution and including a reference concentration sensor for measuring the concentration of the reference solution, and/or a drive controlling unit controlling the operation of the electricity generating unit based on the concentration values measured in the main concentration sensor and the reference concentration sensor.

Abstract: A fuel cell system including a quartz crystal microbalance (QCM) concentration sensor, and in particular, comprising a bypass channel structure useful for installing a QCM concentration sensor to a fuel cell system. The fuel cell system includes a fuel cell stack generating electric energy by an electrochemical reaction of a hydrogen-containing fuel and an oxidant, a fuel cell including a fuel supplying unit supplying the hydrogen-containing fuel to the fuel cell stack, a QCM concentration sensing unit for measuring the concentration of a fluid in the fuel cell, and a drive controlling unit for controlling the operation of the fuel cell according to an output of the QCM concentration sensing unit.

Abstract: A recycler for a direct methanol fuel cell (DMFC) that uses methanol as a direct feed fuel includes: a housing in which a gas-liquid mixture recovered from a stack is accommodated; a rotor rotatably mounted in the housing; and a motor to rotate the rotor, wherein, when the rotor is rotated by the motor, a phase separation occurs such that liquid in the gas-liquid mixture is collected mainly in an outer region of the housing and gas is collected in the center region of the housing due to the centrifugal force. Accordingly, as it is unnecessary to align a liquid outlet port of the housing with a gravitational direction, the recycler can be employed in a mobile apparatus whose orientation occasionally changes. Also, the recycler does not use a membrane whose performance is rapidly reduced over time so that effective performance can be maintained for a long operation time.

Abstract: A power unit, a fuel cartridge, and a fuel cell system having the power unit and the fuel cartridge. The power unit includes a coupling unit to couple with the fuel cartridge. The coupling unit includes a nozzle that receives fuel supplied from the fuel cartridge, a selection key to selectively mate with the fuel cartridge, and an outer unit surrounding the nozzle. An end of the nozzle is located between the selection key and an end of the outer unit.

Abstract: An electronic device having a main body with a system load and capable of supplying power bi-directionally through a port, and an operation method thereof, the electronic device including: a power control apparatus to recognize a connection of an external power source for supplying power to the system load, and to control a startup of the external power source and a distribution of the power supplied from the external power source.

Abstract: A fuel cell system includes a power unit that generates power using a fuel; a fuel storage unit that stores the fuel; a fuel supply device that conveys the fuel from the fuel storage unit to the power unit; and a control unit that controls the supply of the fuel and the generation of power. The fuel supply device includes a fuel supply control device that controls the supply of fuel according to a signal generated by the control unit. The control unit includes a fuel control unit that generates the signal according to the information of the fuel storage unit and the state information of the power unit.

Abstract: A fuel cell system having a back-up battery and a method of consuming residual fuel in the fuel cell system in which the fuel cell system includes a fuel cell, a system controller, a back-up battery, a converter, a fuel supply control, and a driver to drive the fuel supply control, and a charger disposed between the converter and a load. A power output end of the charger is directly connected to the back-up battery via a switch. The converter includes a first converter connected to the back-up battery and a second converter connected to the fuel cell, and the first and second converters are commonly connected to the charger.

Abstract: Disclosed is an apparatus and method for ejecting droplets using charge concentration and liquid bridge breakup. The droplet ejection apparatus includes a reservoir storing a liquid; a capillary nozzle having a lower end submerged in the liquid stored in the reservoir and an upper end exposed outside the surface of the liquid, the capillary nozzle transferring the liquid to the upper end using capillary force; a potentiostat for applying a voltage to the liquid; a substrate mount on which a substrate is disposed to face the upper end of the capillary nozzle; and a distance adjusting unit for reciprocatingly moving the substrate between first and second positions with respect to the capillary nozzle, wherein the first position denotes a position where a distance between the upper end of the capillary nozzle and the surface of the substrate is less than a effective distance.

Abstract: A fuel supply device for direct methanol fuel cells includes a fuel tank for storing liquid fuel, a wick structure formed on the fuel tank, the wick structure for receiving the liquid fuel from the fuel tank, a sheet stack disposed on the wick structure, the sheet stack for absorbing and transferring, in an upward direction, the liquid fuel supplied to the wick structure, and an electrode plate disposed on the sheet stack for supplying, in an upward direction, the liquid fuel absorbed into the sheet stack. The fuel supply device may continuously and uniformly supply a proper amount of liquid fuel and effectively remove by-products generated in a fuel cell. Thus, a long life, efficient fuel cell may be created with the fuel supply device.

Abstract: A hybrid voltage supply apparatus, a method of controlling the same, and an electronic system employing the hybrid voltage supply apparatus as a power supply are provided. The hybrid voltage supply apparatus includes a hybrid voltage supply apparatus including a main power supply, an auxiliary power supply, and a first voltage adjustment unit which operates in any one of a feed-forward driving mode and a feed-back driving mode according to at least one operating parameter of the main power supply, and adjusts an output voltage of the main power supply to a first predetermined DC voltage.

Abstract: A fuel cell system having a fuel pressurizing system. The fuel cell system includes: a cartridge comprising a fuel storage pack; a main body; and a pressurizing unit disposed in the main body to pressurize the fuel storage pack when the cartridge is mated to the main body. The cartridge further includes a pressurizing plate to transmit pressure received from the pressurizing unit to the fuel storage pack when the cartridge is mated to the main body and to preventing the fuel storage pack from being pressurized when the cartridge is separated from the main body. The main body can include a case on which the fuel storage pack and the pressurizing plate are received.

Abstract: A fuel cell system to rapidly increase the temperature of unit cells. The fuel cell system includes; a plurality of current generating unit cells; a load circuit to supply the current to a load; a short circuit to connect the cells to an electrically closed loop without passing through the load; a thermo sensor to measure the temperature of the cells, and a controller that controls the delivery of the current to the load circuit and the short circuit, according to the temperature measured by the thermo sensor. The fuel cell system can rapidly increase the temperature of the unit cells when the temperature of the unit cells is below an operating temperature, thereby reducing the time required for the fuel cell to generate a stable output voltage.