Abstract: A generator section of a fuel cell comprises an electromotive unit, a fuel tank, a passage through which fluids, including fuel, water, and air, are circulated, and a valve mechanism in the passage. A control section has a connector connectable to an electronic device and controls operation of the generator section. A locking mechanism has a locking member, movable between a locking position in which the electronic device connected to the connector is locked in a connected position and a release position in which the electronic device is unlocked, and an eject member which moves the locking member to the release position. The control section has a detector which detects movement of the eject member and a valve drive unit which closes the valve mechanism of the generator section when the movement of the eject member is detected by the detector.

Abstract: A battery pack includes: a plurality of flat-shaped cells each including a generator element sealed by a laminate film; a case for accommodating the cells so as to be laminated in a thickness direction thereof, the case having an opening formed at least at one end thereof; a lid member fixed to the opening of the case and pressing the laminated cells in a laminating direction thereof; a bottom member provided between the case and the cell located at an end of the laminated cells on a side opposite to the opening of the case; a first tray provided between the cells and brought into contact with the case; a second tray provided between the lid member and the cells and brought into contact with the case; and a third tray provided between the bottom member and the cells and brought into contact with the case. The lid member and the bottom member are formed of a material having a thermal conductivity lower than a thermal conductivity of any one of the first tray, the second tray and the third tray.

Abstract: A battery pack of a battery includes a plurality of laminated cells that are hermetically sealed by a laminated film, a case for storing the plurality of the laminated cells, a positive electrode terminal and a negative electrode terminal of a battery for connecting the cells in parallel or series for connection to the outside of the case, a lid member for pressing the cells from the uppermost surface of the laminate of the cells stored in the case toward the inner side of the case in the direction opposite to the laminating direction of the cells, and a fixing member for fixing the lid member to the case at a position where a predetermined pressing force is applied.

Abstract: An assembled battery voltage detecting apparatus includes a sampling switch section which samples a voltage of each of single batteries, capacitors charged with voltages of single batteries, a transfer switch section to transfer a charge voltage charged in each of the capacitors, a ground potential setting switch section which, in the case of reading the voltage charged in the capacitor, connects a reference electric potential of the capacitor to a grounding terminal of a voltage detecting apparatus, and a voltage detecting circuit which controls a switching timing of each of the above switches, and then reads a voltage of each capacitor.

Abstract: A direct-methanol fuel cell system includes a power generating unit, a fuel container which is connected to the power generating unit and contains a first fuel being a methanol aqueous solution, a replenishing container which is connected to the fuel container and contains a second fuel which is methanol or a methanol aqueous solution having a concentration higher than a concentration of the first fuel, and a control unit configured to reduce a concentration of the first fuel and a voltage of the power generating unit until a temperature of the power generating unit rises to a preset temperature value.

Abstract: A fuel cell system includes a cathode, an anode, a fuel supply unit configured to supply a fuel containing methanol and water to the anode, a methanol supply unit configured to supply methanol to the fuel, a sensor which measures a methanol concentration of the fuel, a current measuring unit configured to measure a current flowing between the cathode and the anode, a concentration adjusting unit and a correction unit. The concentration adjusting unit is configured to adjust the methanol concentration of the fuel by controlling the methanol supply unit by using an output value of the sensor. The correction unit is configured to correct a data of a relation between the methanol concentration of the fuel and the output value of the sensor, using an output of the current measuring unit.

Abstract: A liquid fuel cell unit which outputs a first voltage, a boosting circuit which boosts the first voltage output from the liquid fuel cell unit, and outputs a boosted second voltage to an electronic apparatus, and a first control circuit are included. The first control circuit compares the first voltage output from the liquid fuel cell unit with a preset first threshold voltage, and controls the boosting circuit in accordance with the comparison result such that the first voltage does not fall below the first threshold voltage, or the first voltage holds the first threshold voltage or more.

Abstract: A fuel cell unit includes a second flow path, which branches from the first flow path and flows the fuel solution sent out from the mixing tank back to the mixing tank. A sensor detects a concentration of the fuel solution in the second flow path. A controller changes flow of the fuel solution in the second flow path by controlling a mechanism, when the concentration detected by the sensor presents a predetermined state.

Abstract: A fuel cell unit being capable of calibrating a concentration value of an aqueous fuel solution by use of a reference concentration value, including: a fuel cell; a fuel tank which stores a fuel for the fuel cell; a mixing tank which produces the aqueous fuel solution supplied to the fuel cell; a concentration sensor which detects the concentration of the aqueous fuel solution produced in the mixing tank; a fuel pump which feeds, into the mixing tank, the fuel of the fuel tank; and a controller which acquires a current value output from the fuel cell and the concentration value of the aqueous fuel solution, both of which vary by controlling the fuel pump, and calibrates the concentration value of the aqueous fuel solution by use of the acquired concentration value of the aqueous fuel solution and the reference concentration value.

Abstract: A microcomputer of a fuel cell unit controls the output power of a DMFC at two stages in a High mode and in a Low mode by driving of an auxiliary machine. When an output value of a DC/DC converter exceeds a predetermined value, the microcomputer decides a rechargeable cell connected to one diode of a diode OR circuit of an electronic apparatus side with the other diode connected to the converter as being a near-full charged level and drives the auxiliary machine so as to lower an output power from a High mode to a Low mode. When, after this, a predetermined time is elapsed, the microcomputer decides the residual amount of the rechargeable cell as being lowered down to a predefined value and drives the auxiliary machine so as to return the output power from the Low mode to the High mode.

Abstract: A fuel cell power generating device comprises an electromotive unit which is formed by stacking of membrane electrode assembly which is enclosing an electrolyte film with an anode electrode and a cathode electrode and generates an electric power, a liquid fuel feed unit which supplies a liquid fuel to the anode electrode, a gas feed unit which supplies an oxidizer gas to the cathode electrode, a control unit which controls at least either the gas feed rate control for adjusting the feed rate of the oxidizer gas by the gas feed unit or the liquid fuel control for adjusting the feed rate of the liquid fuel by the liquid feed unit, at the time of satisfying either the condition in which the electromotive force of the electromotive unit is lower than a predetermined reference value, or the condition in which the predetermined time interval passes.

Abstract: A generator section of a fuel cell comprises an electromotive unit, a fuel tank, a passage through which fluids, including fuel, water, and air, are circulated, and a valve mechanism in the passage. A control section has a connector connectable to an electronic device and controls operation of the generator section. A locking mechanism has a locking member, movable between a locking position in which the electronic device connected to the connector is locked in a connected position and a release position in which the electronic device is unlocked, and an eject member which moves the locking member to the release position. The control section has a detector which detects movement of the eject member and a valve drive unit which closes the valve mechanism of the generator section when the movement of the eject member is detected by the detector.

Abstract: A fuel cell unit includes a fuel cell capable of generating electric power by chemical reaction, a pump which circulates fuel in the fuel cell, and a circuit configured to monitor an output voltage of the fuel cell and to control the pump to keep the output voltage at a predetermined level.

Abstract: A housing of a fuel cell has a first region, a second region, and a partition which divides the first and second regions. A generator section in the first region has an electromotive unit which generates power based on a chemical reaction and a fuel tank which contains a fuel. Located in the second region is a control section which has a control circuit board and controls operation of the generator section.

Abstract: A fuel cell system is provided with a fuel cell stack including plural unit fuel cells connected in series, plural detection units respectively detecting abnormality of potential differences between the positive and negative electrodes of unit fuel cells, the unit fuel cells being connected in series and constituting a part of the fuel cell stack and a bypass unit forming bypass current path between the ends, the bypass unit being operative when at least one of the plural detection units detects the abnormality of the potential difference.

Abstract: A fuel cell unit for supplying electric power to an electronic apparatus includes a DMFC that generates electric power using methanol as fuel. A microcomputer examines whether or not the fuel cell unit has been installed in the electronic apparatus. When the fuel cell unit has been installed in the electronic apparatus, the microcomputer visually informs the user, using LEDs, of the operating state of the DMFC detected by various sensors, including an installation and removal sensor, a liquid level sensor, a temperature sensor, and an acceleration sensor.

Abstract: A fuel cell unit includes a casing, an electromotive element which is located in the casing and generates electric power through a chemical reaction, and a fuel container which is removably connected to the casing and contains a fuel to be supplied to the electromotive element. The casing has a base and a wall surface in the form of an outwardly convex curved surface.

Abstract: The invention provides a direct methanol fuel cell system comprising a fuel cell main body comprising an anode, a cathode, an electrolyte membrane provided between the anode and the cathode, and a feed tank containing a methanol-containing liquid fuel to be fed to the anode, a first liquid fuel storage tank which contains a methanol-containing liquid fuel to be supplied into the feed tank, a second liquid fuel storage tank which contains a methanol-containing liquid fuel to be supplied into the first liquid fuel storage tank, and a liquid level change detecting mechanism which detects changes in the level of the liquid fuel stored in the first liquid fuel storage tank.

Abstract: The invention provides a fuel cartridge for supplying methanol aqueous solution to a direct methanol fuel cell system, comprising a memory which stores at least a concentration of the methanol aqueous solution.

Abstract: A remaining battery capacity measuring device having a microprocessor and an integrated circuit is packaged together with a secondary battery to form a battery pack. The integrated circuit includes a current measuring circuit for charging and discharging currents of a secondary battery, an overcurrent detection circuit for detecting overcurrent in the secondary battery, a driver circuit for driving a semiconductor switch for change and discharge control of the secondary battery, and a power switch circuit for power-saving operation. The current measuring circuit includes an operational amplifier for detecting a voltage across a resistor for current detection, and has a function to apply a variable offset voltage to the amplifier and a function to vary the gain of another operational amplifier for amplifying the output of the former operational amplifier.