Abstract: The present invention relates to a nonaqueous electrolyte for electrochemical devices, and to electric double-layer capacitor and secondary battery using the said nonaqueous electrolyte. The nonaqueous electrolyte according to the present invention comprises a room temperature molten salt and a fluorohydrocarbon. The nonaqueous electrolyte is flame resistant and can suppress the rise in its viscosity. Therefore, high quality electrochemical devices can be obtained by using the nonaqueous electrolyte. The electric double-layer capacitor according to the present invention comprises a pair of polarizable electrode plates, a separator interposed between the pair of electrode plates, and the inventive nonaqueous electrolyte.

Abstract: The present invention provides a safe non-aqueous electrolyte secondary battery with characteristics analogous to those of a conventional battery by minimizing battery expansion that causes damage to a device during high temperature exposure or storage.

Abstract: An ion-conductive polymer electrolyte having a high ionic conductivity and a high stability in both of physical and chemical properties is disclosed. It has a polymer containing at least one monomer selected from the group containing of a hydroxyalkyl acrylate, a hydroxyalkyl methacrylate and vinylene carbonate as its polymerizable ingredient, and at least one electrolyte salt. An aluminum electrolytic capacitor and an electric double-layer capacitor configured with the electrolyte are also disclosed.

Abstract: An ion-conductive polymer electrolyte having a high ionic conductivity and a high stability in both of physical and chemical properties is disclosed. It comprises a polymer containing at least one monomer selected from the group consisting of a hydroxyalkyl acrylate, a hydroxyalkyl methacrylate and vinylene carbonate as its polymerizable ingredient, and at least one electrolyte salt. An aluminum electrolytic capacitor and an electric double-layer capacitor configured with the electrolyte are also disclosed.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to the provision of an anode for a non-aqueous electrolyte cell, which is excellent in rapid charge/discharge characteristics, discharge capacity characteristics at high temperatures, charge/discharge characteristics at low temperatures and shelf life, and thus has high reliability. According to the present invention, a sheet, mainly composed of an alkali metal having a body centered cubic crystal structure as an active material, is pressed from a direction normal to the principal surface thereof, thereby preferentially orienting crystallites so that (100) planes, (110) planes, (211) planes, (310) planes, (321) planes or (222) planes are parallel to the principal surface of the sheet, and the thus pressed sheet is used for the anode.

Abstract: A non-aqueous electrolyte secondary battery employs a negative electrode which contains an alkali metal as an active material, and is provided with a polymer film thereon, the polymer film being provided with a gel electrolyte thereon. The polymer film is made of a polymeric monomer which has ?molecular weight/terminal polymer functional group number! of 500 or less, and a structure represented by one of the formulas (1)-(4): ##STR1## wherein EO refers to CH.sub.2 CH.sub.2 O, PO refers to CH.sub.2 (CH.sub.3)CHO, (EO.sub.m PO.sub.n) indicates one of random polymerization and block polymerization, and wherein m and n do not represent 0 at the same time where 0.ltoreq.m and 0.ltoreq.n.

Abstract: A non-aqueous electrolyte secondary battery having a long cycle life and a high reliability with substantially no internal short-circuit is provided by incorporating crystalline metal lithium as its negative electrode. The crystalline metal lithium is electrochemically deposited on a metal substrate in an electrolyte including a tetrahydrofran derivative or a 1,3-dioxolan derivative as a solvent.

Abstract: A rechargeable negative electrode for an electrochemical apparatus using nonaqueous electrolytes, said electrode comprising an alloy comprising (1) at least one metal selected from the group consisting of Sn, Pn, In and Bi and (2) Zn or Zn and Cd, as well as a rechargeable electrochemical apparatus comprising a combination of said negative electrode with a positive electrode having reversibility in charging and discharging. The above-mentioned negative electrode reversibly absorbs and desorbs alkali metal ions, as the result of charge and discharge, in nonaqueous electrolyte containing alkali metal ions. It undergoes no pulverization even after repeated charge and discharge, and maintains its shape stably, so that it has a long charge-and-discharge cycle life. Further, since it can absorb a large quantity of alkali metal per unit volume, it is of high energy density.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a rechargeable negative electrode for an electrochemical apparatus using nonaqueous electrolyte, said electrode comprising an alloy comprising Cd and at least one metal selected from the group consisting of Sn, Pb, In and Bi, as well as to a rechargeable electrochemical apparatus comprising a combination of said negative electrode with a positive electrode having reversibility in charge and discharge.The above-mentioned negative electrode reversibly absorbs and desorbs alkali metal ions, as the result of charge and discharge, in nonaqueous electrolyte containing alkali metal ions. It undergoes no pulverization even after repeated charge and discharge and maintains its shape stably, so that it has a long chargeand-discharge life. Further, since it can absorb a large quantity of alkali metal per unit volume, it is of high energy density.

Abstract: A rechargeable electrochemical device composed of a negative electrode (4) which comprises an alkali metal as an active material, a non-aqueous electrolyte (6), and a positive electrode (1). The positive electrode (1) is composed of an oxide of chromium and vanadium represented by the general formula:Cr.sub.x V.sub.2(1-x) O.sub.5-(2+y)x(wherein 0.2.ltoreq.x.ltoreq.0.9, 0.1.ltoreq.y.ltoreq.1.0). The rechargeable electrochemical device offers a high discharge voltage, a large discharge capacity, linear discharge voltage, and the capacity to withstand over-charging.

Abstract: An alloy capable of reversibly absorbing and desorbing lithium ions in a non-aqueous electrolyte containing lithium ions on charging and discharging has excellent applicability to anode for rechargeable electrochemical devices. However, such alloy, when absorbed with lithium, loses its flexibility, so that when it is incorporated in a device in a charged state, it is subject to trouble such as cracking and can not display its properties. This invention adopts a method in which anode alloy is combined with lithium by connecting them so as to be electronically conductive to each other and this combination is fitted into the device, and then the electrolyte is supplied into the device to have lithium absorbed in anode alloy in the device. According to this method, cracking of cathode can be prevented.

Abstract: A distance detecting device for close-up photography applicable to a range finding device of the type wherein light emitted from a light source is projected onto an object through a projecting lens, and the light reflected from the object impinges upon one of a plurality of light receiving elements via a light receiving lens for detecting which one of a plurality of zones the object is located, depending on which one of the light receiving elements receives the light. The device in accordance with the present invention generates a single light pulse for ordinary photography and light pulses successively for close-up photography, indicating whether a camera-to-target-object distance matches a predetermined distance for close-up photography or deviates therefrom. The successive light pulses for close-up photography may be weaker in intensity than the single light pulse for ordinary photography.