Abstract: A backup power supply is so constructed that it is provided with multiple DC backup power supplies 111 to 11N, each containing nickel-metal hydride battery, stored upright on the bottom of the disk array unit 100; cooled by cooling air through the vents 1011 for ventilation from the bottom to the top; and connected with the output of the AC/DC converters 121, 122 with the backboard 151. Very compact disk array unit with an uninterruptible power supplying function can be realized.

Abstract: A power supply unit in a hybrid structure of a fuel cell and a power storage unit and a control method for the power supply unit, in which a small-size light-weight power storage unit is used and chances of incomplete functioning have been eliminated. In addition to the downsizing of the power storage unit and a reduction of the system price, it also becomes possible to start the fuel cell at high speed and raise the fuel cell temperature quickly, monitor output and remaining mounts of fuel and power, and take measures against fluctuations of output, and provides immediate availability of portable devices like the ones using a conventional secondary cell.

Abstract: In equipment with a built-in fuel cell, there are provided a plurality of secondary cells, and each of the secondary cells has a first state in which an electric power is supplied to a load within the equipment, and a second state in which the electric power that is supplied from the fuel cell is charged, and the first state and the second state is selectively used. The present invention can provide the fuel cell-carried equipment that stably operates due to a power system on which a fuel cell and plural secondary cells are mounted.

Abstract: Power is taken out from radio waves through an antenna and a power receiving unit. A signal receiver, a comparator, and an ID signal holder are operated with the taken-out power to compare an ID contained in a received signal with an ID read out from the ID signal holder. When both the ID's are matched with each other, a switch for a main power source is turned on. In trying to remotely operate household electrical appliances by utilizing the Internet that has become increasingly popular, standby power is consumed if the electrical appliances are kept in a standby state at all times. Since power is taken out from radio waves, the invention is able to cut the standby power in an environment where the radio waves are transferred via radio communication that is expected to be more and more prevalent in future.

Abstract: Apparatus built-in backup power supply system has a “peak cut” function for sharing a part of the load current at the time of a peak load using a secondary battery. For this purpose, a two-way DC—DC converter 5 and the secondary battery 4 are installed on the DC output side of the AC-DC converter 3, and that portion of the load current that exceeds a predetermined peak cut level is discharged from the secondary battery 4 during peak loading. When the load is less than the predetermined cut level, the secondary battery 4 is charged from the AC-DC converter 3 via the two-way DC—DC converter 5. A suitable peak cut level is determined according to the state of charge of the secondary battery and load pattern, and is changed dynamically.

Abstract: A semiconductor device capable of achieving downsizing without reducing the power supply efficiency and capable of reducing switching noises and a memory card using the same are disclosed. The device comprises a plurality of stages of voltage booster circuits for potentially raising a power supply voltage up to a final output voltage, a voltage control unit for controlling an output voltage at a nearby location of the final stage, and one or more internal elements to which the final output voltage is supplied. A primary voltage booster circuit at the first stage includes an inductance element, a switching element, a diode and a driver circuit. At a metal core part of the inductance element, a metal wiring line is used, which was formed by use of a fabrication process of semiconductor integrated circuits, while employing for its core part an inter-wiring layer dielectric film that was formed using the fabrication process.

Abstract: A DC backup power supply system having a battery a charge-discharge circuit for charging and discharging a power between the battery and a DC line and a control circuit for controlling the charge-discharge circuit, wherein the battery has a number of battery cells and cylindrical portions of the battery cells are laid on an approximately horizontal plane.

Abstract: An information apparatus including a DC backup power supply system for supplying DC power to the information apparatus. The DC backup power supply system includes a battery pack having a plurality of sets of battery cells, each set including a plurality of serially connected battery cells extending in one direction, and the plurality of sets of the battery cells being disposed in a second direction which is transverse to the first direction. The plurality of sets of battery cells are serially connected to one another, and at least adjacent sets of the battery cells have an insulated sheet disposed therebetween.

Abstract: The object of the invention is to compensate an effect of a voltage drop emerging in output voltage by the equivalent series resistance of a power output filter in a power-supply device. To achieve the object, a power-supply device wherein the power output filter that passes output power and first and second filters provided separately from the power output filter are provided, the first filter provided separately and one input terminal of an error amplifier are connected, new reference voltage acquired by adding differential voltage between the output of the second filter provided separately and the output of the power output filter to reference voltage is input to the other input terminal of the error amplifier and an output signal is fed back to the error amplifier is provided. According to the power-supply device, a voltage drop by equivalent series resistance emerging the output voltage of the power-supply device can be compensated.

Abstract: A step-down type DC-DC power supply device implements both the stabilization of the control loop and the responsibility at the same time. In the power-supply device, an output power signal is fed back to an error amplifier after having passed through a CR smoothing filter provided independently of a power LC smoothing filter. Also, independently of the duty controls over Power MOSFETs, i.e., upper-side/lower-side semiconductor switching components in the steady state, an output from the power LC smoothing filter is added to an upper and lower limit-mode-equipped control circuit, thereby, at the transient state, forcefully setting the duty ? at either 0% or 100%.

Abstract: A resonant converter which can realize its easy design, eliminate the need for its adjustment, realize reliable soft switching operation, and increase an efficiency. A driver DRV of a main switching device uses a PLL circuit PLL to apply frequency tracking control in such a manner that a driving frequency fsw is made to track a resonant frequency fr (or 1/N thereof, N being an odd number) and that the phase of the driving frequency fsw leads the current zero phase of the resonant frequency fr always by a desired time. As a result, such an optimum condition can be kept that the main switching device is triggered immediately before the zero-cross point of a resonant current. Thus the resonant converter which can always satisfy the optimum operational conditions, realize soft switching operation, and increase an efficiency can be realized with an easy design and a manufacturing adjustment-free arrangement.

Abstract: In the case where there coexist general loads requiring backup only for a short duration and a specific load requiring backup for a longer duration, uninterruptible power with higher reliability is supplied to the specific load with the adoption of a simple configuration. A DC backup power supply system comprises an AC/DC converter for normally supplying DC power to loads in while (the general loads and the specific load, included), and a control circuit for supplying DC output backing up the loads in whole for relatively short time only from a battery at the time of a power outage, while supplying DC output backing up the specific load, such as a cache memory and so forth, for relatively long time. Thus, it is possible to implement an uninterruptible power supply system small in size and low in cost, provided with a function for proper use depending on a prevailing situation.

Abstract: In order to provide a fuel cell apparatus with an effective energy consumption by selecting a suitable fuel cartridge mounted on the apparatus, the present invention provides a fuel cell apparatus comprising at least two fuel storage sections for storing fuel for power generation, wherein at least one of the storage sections is selected and used, while the fuel cell is in service.

Abstract: A fuel cell apparatus comprising a fuel cell for supplying electric power for driving a load, a fuel chamber for storing fuel, a water storage chamber for storing water, an adjuster connected to the fuel chamber, water storage chamber and the fuel cell, wherein the adjuster supplies mixed fuel to the fuel cell, the mixed fuel being obtained by controlling and mixing fuel supplied by the fuel chamber and water supplied by the water storage chamber.

Abstract: A step down type DC-DC power-supply device implements both the stabilization of the control loop and the responsibility at the same time. In the power-supply device, an output power signal is fed back to an error amplifier after having passed through a CR smoothing filter provided independently of a power LC smoothing filter. Also, independently of the duty controls over Power MOSFETs, i.e., upper-side/lower-side semiconductor switching components in the steady state, an output from the power LC smoothing filter is added to an upper and lower limit-mode-equipped control circuit, thereby, at the transient state, forcefully setting the duty ? at either 0% or 100%.

Abstract: A step-down type DC-DC power-supply device implements both the stabilization of the control loop and the responsibility at the same time. In the power-supply device, an output power signal is fed back to an error amplifier after having passed through a CR smoothing filter provided independently of a power LC smoothing filter. Also, independently of the duty controls over Power MOSFETs, i.e., upper-side/lower-side semiconductor switching components in the steady state, an output from the power LC smoothing filter is added to an upper and lower limit-mode-equipped control circuit, thereby, at the transient state, forcefully setting the duty ? at either 0% or 100%.

Abstract: (Object) An object of the present invention is to supply such voltage to a load that corresponds to the load.

Abstract: A step-down type DC—DC power-supply device implements both the stabilization of the control loop and the responsibility at the same time. In the power-supply device, an output power signal is fed back to an error amplifier after having passed through a CR smoothing filter provided independently of a power LC smoothing filter. Also, independently of the duty controls over Power MOSFETs, i.e., upper-side/lower-side semiconductor switching components in the steady state, an output from the power LC smoothing filter is added to an upper and lower limit-mode-equipped control circuit, thereby, at the transient state, forcefully setting the duty &agr; at either 0% or 100%.

Abstract: The present invention reduces the capacity of the AC-DC converter for the peak load and realizes low price and reduction in the volume of the power unit. The apparatus built-in backup power supply has the peak cut function for sharing a part of the load current at the time of peak load from the secondary battery. The two-way DC-DC converter 5 and the secondary battery 4 are installed on the DC output side of the AC-DC converter 3 and a current larger than a predetermined peak cut level is discharged from the secondary battery 4 at the time of peak load. Further, when the load is less than the predetermined cut level, the secondary battery 4 is charged from the AC-DC converter 3 via the two-way DC-DC converter 5. Furthermore, a most suitable peak cut level according to the SOC of the secondary battery and load pattern is automatically set and dynamically changed.

Abstract: A boost circuit is connected to a rechargeable battery and a switch is connected between a rectification circuit and a power factor correction converter. In the power failure state, the switch is turned on to activate the boost circuit and energy of the rechargeable battery is supplied to a load by rasing the voltage at two steps in the path from the boost circuit, switch, and to power factor correction converter. Since the voltage of the battery can be lowered, the number of serially connected cells can be made small. The volume of UPS can be reduced and a low cost can be realized. Since the number of serially connected cells is reduced, the reliability against failure of battery cells can be improved.