Abstract: A fuel cell system that includes a cell unit comprising a fuel cell, a fuel tank unit for storing a fuel to be supplied to the cell unit, and a fuel feed unit for supplying the fuel from the fuel tank unit to the cell unit in a thin housing having a substantially rectangular parallelepiped shape. The fuel tank unit, the fuel feed unit, and the cell unit are located in a specific order in one direction between two opposite ends of the housing. The fuel tank unit includes a valve, which supplies fuel to the fuel feed unit and opens to supply the fuel to the fuel feed unit only when the fuel tank unit is mounted. The fuel feed unit connects sides of the fuel tank unit and the cell unit that face each other and reduces a pressure of a gaseous fuel supplied from the fuel tank unit.

Abstract: A fuel cell system, which is mounted and used in a portable and small electric device. It comprises a cell unit comprising one or more fuel cells, a fuel tank unit for storing a fuel to be supplied to the cell unit, a fuel feed unit for supplying the fuel of the fuel tank unit to the cell unit, and an opening for supplying an oxidizer gas to the cell unit, in a thin housing having a substantially rectangular parallelepiped shape. The fuel tank unit, fuel feed unit and cell unit are located in one direction between two opposite ends of the housing.

Abstract: A fuel cell system including a humidifying means for directly humidifying a polymer electrolyte membrane that serves as an ionic conductor. The humidifying means has a water holding unit comprised of a water-absorbing material and located in contact with the polymer electrolyte membrane to directly humidify the polymer electrolyte membrane by utilizing capillary action. It also has a humidification water passage comprised of a hydrophilic material and provided in the polymer electrolyte membrane so as to be connected to the water holding unit to humidify the polymer electrolyte membrane rapidly and uniformly. The fuel cell system with such a structure can directly humidify an ionic conductor.

Abstract: A fuel cell system, which is mounted and used for a portable and small electric device, comprises a cell unit (1) comprising one or more fuel cells (14), a fuel tank unit (3) for storing a fuel to be supplied to the cell unit (1), a fuel feed unit (4) for supplying the fuel of the fuel tank unit (3) to the cell unit (1), and an opening (7) for supplying an oxidizer gas to the cell unit (1), in a thin housing (2) having a substantially rectangular parallelepiped shape, wherein the fuel tank unit (3), fuel feed unit (4) and cell unit (1) are located in one direction between two opposite short side faces (83a, 83b) of the housing (2). A large-capacity and high-output small fuel cell system is provided by such a structure.

Abstract: There is provided a toner having favourable development characteristics and favourable stability and a method for production thereof. The toner comprises at least a graft copolymer and a coloring material, wherein the graft copolymer is formed by graft polymerization of a polymerizable monomer with a block copolymer having a polymerizable functional group on a side chain. The method for producing the toner has a step of subjecting a reaction mixture comprising at least a block copolymer having a polymerizable functional group in a side chain and having a polyalkenyl ether repeating unit structure, a polymerizable monomer, and a coloring material to suspension polymerization or emulsion polymerization, to produce a graft copolymer in which a polymer of the polymerizable monomer is grafted to the side chain of the block copolymer.

Abstract: A fuel cell system is provided which has a humidifying means (2) for directly humidifying a polymer electrolyte membrane (12) that serves as an ionic conductor. As the humidifying means (2), means is employed which has a water holding unit (21) comprised of a water-absorbing material and located in contact with the polymer electrolyte membrane to directly humidify the polymer electrolyte membrane (12) by utilizing a capillary action and further has a humidification water passage (28) comprised of a hydrophilic material and provided in the polymer electrolyte membrane so as to be connected to the water holding unit (21) to humidify the polymer electrolyte membrane (12) rapidly and uniformly. Such a constitution provides a fuel cell system that can directly humidify an ionic conductor.

Abstract: A process for producing a colorant comprises the step of mixing a coloring material and a block copolymer in a flow channel of a microreactor to obtain a dispersion comprising a colorant as a dispersoid. The flow-mixing channel may have a cross-sectional area of not less than 0.5 mm2, and the ratio of the total cross-sectional areas of flow channels connected with the flow-mixing channel to the cross-sectional area of the flow-mixing channel ranges from 0.01 to 0.1, and a rectangular cross-section having a ratio of a flow channel depth to a flow channel width of not less than 0.5.

Abstract: A process for producing a colorant comprises the step of mixing a coloring material and a block copolymer in a flow channel of a microreactor to obtain a dispersion comprising a colorant as a dispersoid. The flow-mixing channel may have a cross-sectional area of not less than 0.5 mm2, and the ratio of the total cross-sectional areas of flow channels connected with the flow-mixing channel to the cross-sectional area of the flow-mixing channel ranges from 0.01 to 0.1, and a rectangular cross-section having a ratio of a flow channel depth to a flow channel width of not less than 0.5.

Abstract: There is provided a toner having favourable development characteristics and favourable stability and a method for production thereof. The toner comprises at least a graft copolymer and a coloring material, wherein the graft copolymer is formed by graft polymerization of a polymerizable monomer with a block copolymer having a polymerizable functional group on a side chain. The method for producing the toner has a step of subjecting a reaction mixture comprising at least a block copolymer having a polymerizable functional group in a side chain and having a polyalkenyl ether repeating unit structure, a polymerizable monomer, and a coloring material to suspension polymerization or emulsion polymerization, to produce a graft copolymer in which a polymer of the polymerizable monomer is grafted to the side chain of the block copolymer.

Abstract: A process for producing a colorant comprises the step of mixing a coloring material and a block copolymer in a flow channel of a microreactor to obtain a dispersion comprising a colorant as a dispersoid. The flow-mixing channel may have a cross-sectional area of not less than 0.5 mm2, and the ratio of the total cross-sectional areas of flow channels connected with the flow-mixing channel to the cross-sectional area of the flow-mixing channel ranges from 0.01 to 0.1, and a rectangular cross-section having a ratio of a flow channel depth to a flow channel width of not less than 0.5.

Abstract: Water is supplied to a fuel cell system, and electric power is supplied to a power intake electrode of the fuel cell system, whereby the water supplied to the fuel cell system is electrolyzed to generate hydrogen. Hydrogen as fuel can be filled in the fuel tank by supplying the generated hydrogen to the fuel tank.

Abstract: A fuel cell system is provided which has a humidifying means (2) for directly humidifying a polymer electrolyte membrane (12) that serves as an ionic conductor. As the humidifying means (2), means is employed which has a water holding unit (21) comprised of a water-absorbing material and located in contact with the polymer electrolyte membrane to directly humidify the polymer electrolyte membrane (12) by utilizing a capillary action and further has a humidification water passage (28) comprised of a hydrophilic material and provided in the polymer electrolyte membrane so as to be connected to the water holding unit (21) to humidify the polymer electrolyte membrane (12) rapidly and uniformly. Such a constitution provides a fuel cell system that can directly humidify an ionic conductor.

Abstract: A fuel cell system which is mounted and used for a portable and small electric device comprises a cell unit (1) comprising one or more fuel cells (14), a fuel tank unit (3) for storing a fuel to be supplied to the cell unit (1), a fuel feed unit (4) for supplying the fuel of the fuel tank unit (3) to the cell unit (1), and an opening (7) for supplying an oxidizer gas to the cell unit (1), in a thin housing (2) having a substantially rectangular parallelepiped shape, wherein the fuel tank unit (3), fuel feed unit (4) and cell unit (1) are located at one direction between two opposite short side faces (83a, 83b) of the housing (2). A large-capacity and high-output small fuel cell system is provided by such structure.

Abstract: An electrode substrate and a recording medium having a smooth surface with surface unevenness of 1 nm or less and a size of 1 &mgr;m/or more are disclosed. An electrode substrate and a recording medium having a concave-shaped groove for tracking on the surface, which groove has a depth which can detect of the tunnel current from the bottom thereof by a probe electrode for scanning the surface are also disclosed. Information processing devices equipped with the smooth recording medium, an electroconductive probe arranged approximate to the recording medium and a pulse voltage application circuit for recording are also disclosed.

Abstract: An electrode substrate and a recording medium having a smooth surface with surface unevenness of 1 nm or less and a size of 1 &mgr;m□ or more are disclosed. An electrode substrate and a recording medium having a concave-shaped groove for tracking on the surface, which groove has a depth which can detect of the tunnel current from the bottom thereof by a probe electrode for scanning the surface are also disclosed. Information processing devices equipped with the smooth recording medium, an electroconductive probe arranged approximate to the recording medium and a pulse voltage application circuit for recording are also disclosed.

Abstract: An encoder includes an electrically conductive reference scale having surface steps formed at predetermined positions; an electrically conductive probe having a tip disposed opposed to the reference scale; wherein the reference scale and the probe are relatively movable in a direction different from the opposing direction of the tip of the probe and the reference scale; a portion for applying an electrical voltage to between the reference scale and the probe; a portion for detecting a change in a tunnel current between the reference scale and the probe, to between which the electric voltage is applied by the voltage applying portion at the time of the relative movement between the scale and the probe, the detecting portion detecting the change in the tunnel current when the probe passes a position opposed to a surface step of the reference scale; and portion for detecting the amount of the relative movement between the scale and probe, on the basis of the detection by the change detecting portion.

Abstract: A recording device, comprising a probe electrode, a recording medium having electric memory effect and a writing voltage applying unit for applying voltage onto the recording medium from the probe electrode, and a reproducing device comprising a probe electrode, a recording medium exhibiting electric memory effect or a recording medium recorded by energy irradiation, a voltage applying unit for applying voltage not exceeding the threshold value voltage giving rise to electric memory effect onto the recording medium from the probe electrode and a reading unit for reading the change in current quantity passing through the recording medium.

Abstract: A liquid crystal device is constituted by disposing a liquid crystal between a pair of substrates each having an electrode thereon and coated with a polymeric ion-conductive film and an organic electroconductive alignment film in this order or in reverse order. The alignment film may be provided with an electroconductivity selectively at parts thereof above the electrode so as to suppress occurrence of crosstalk between pixels. The above arrangements of the ion-conductive film and the alignment film are suitable for providing a practical liquid crystal device affording a high contrast and a moderate V-T characteristic advantageous for halftone display.

Abstract: An encoder includes an electrically conductive reference scale having surface steps formed at predetermined positions; an electrically conductive probe having a tip disposed opposed to the reference scale; wherein the reference scale and the probe are relatively movable in a direction different from the opposing direction of the tip of the probe and the reference scale; a portion for applying an electrical voltage to between the reference scale and the probe; a portion for detecting a change in a tunnel current between the reference scale and the probe, to between which the electric voltage is applied by the voltage applying portion at the time of the relative movement between the scale and the probe, the detecting portion detecting the change in the tunnel current when the probe passes a position opposed to a surface step of the reference scale; and portion for detecting the amount of the relative movement between the scale and probe, on the basis of the detection by the change detecting portion.

Abstract: A liquid crystal device is constituted by disposing a liquid crystal between a pair of substrates each having an electrode thereon and coated with a polymeric ion-conductive film and an organic electroconductive alignment film in this order or in reverse order. The alignment film may be provided with an electroconductivity selectively at parts thereof above the electrode so as to suppress occurrence of crosstalk between pixels. The above arrangements of the ion-conductive film and the alignment film are suitable for providing a practical liquid crystal device affording a high contrast and a moderate V-T characteristic advantageous for halftone display.