Abstract: A battery pack includes a battery stack including plural battery cells, a housing accommodating the battery stack, a heater substrate including plural metal patterns, and plural heat conduction sheets. The battery cells are arrayed in a thickness direction. The heater substrate is disposed inside the housing such that the metal patterns oppose the corresponding battery cells. The metal patterns generate heat when electrified. The heat conduction sheets are interposed between the corresponding battery cells and metal patterns.

Abstract: A power supply control device for controlling power supply to a load of a vehicle using a first battery and a second battery, the power supply control device comprising: an acquisition unit that acquires a power supply state of the vehicle; a diagnostic unit that performs diagnosis of the second battery when the power supply state of the vehicle is switched from off to on; and a control unit that controls an electrical connection state between the load and the second battery, wherein the control unit controls the first state in which power can be supplied from the second battery to the load when the diagnosis unit diagnoses that the second battery is normal.

Abstract: A vehicle battery controller includes a sensor configured to acquire information on a subordinate battery configured to back up a main battery during autonomous driving, a DDC provided between the main battery and the subordinate battery, a switching circuit configured to switch a connection state of the subordinate battery between a connection state for manual driving and a connection state for the autonomous driving, and an electronic control unit configured to control charging and discharging of the subordinate battery by controlling the DDC and the switching circuit based on the information acquired by the sensor. The electronic control unit permits the autonomous driving when determination is made, through first battery control, that the subordinate battery can output backup power. The electronic control unit determines whether the subordinate battery can output the backup power by executing second battery control having higher accuracy than that of the first battery control.

Abstract: A battery pack includes a battery stack including plural battery cells, a housing accommodating the battery stack, a heater substrate including plural metal patterns, and plural heat conduction sheets. The battery cells are arrayed in a thickness direction. The heater substrate is disposed inside the housing such that the metal patterns oppose the corresponding battery cells. The metal patterns generate heat when electrified. The heat conduction sheets are interposed between the corresponding battery cells and metal patterns.

Abstract: A battery pack includes a battery stack, gas discharge valves, a housing and a metal plate. The battery stack includes plural battery cells arrayed in a thickness direction. The gas discharge valves are provided at top walls of the battery cells and discharge gas that is produced inside the battery cells. The housing is fabricated of resin and accommodates the battery stack in a hermetically sealed state. The metal plate is disposed inside the housing and opposes the gas discharge valves in a vertical direction.

Abstract: A heat dissipation fin structure includes a plurality of fins provided on a surface of a fin base plate. The fins configure a plurality of flow passages in which cooling air that enters from an inlet passes. The fins include a first fin, and an end portion of the first fin on an inlet side is arranged in an intermediate part of a first flow passage that is formed between a pair of the fins. The first flow passage is divided by the first fin into a second flow passage and a third flow passage. An interval between the pair of fins is wider on an outlet side than the inlet side. A sectional area of the first flow passage is substantially equal to a sum of sectional areas of the second flow passage and the third flow passage.

Abstract: A power supply system including: a first battery connected to a first load; a second battery; a DC-DC converter connecting the first battery and the second battery; and a connection switching unit including a first switch configured to connect the first battery to a second load and a second switch configured to connect the second battery to the second load. The connection switching unit is configured to switch selectively to a first mode in which the first switch is closed and the second switch is opened and a second mode in which the first switch is opened and the second switch is closed.

Abstract: A power supply system including: a first battery connected to a first load; a second battery; a DC-DC converter connecting the first battery and the second battery; and a connection switching unit including a first switch configured to connect the first battery to a second load and a second switch configured to connect the second battery to the second load. The connection switching unit is configured to switch selectively to a first mode in which the first switch is closed and the second switch is opened and a second mode in which the first switch is opened and the second switch is closed.

Abstract: A vehicle battery controller includes a sensor configured to acquire information on a subordinate battery configured to back up a main battery during autonomous driving, a DDC provided between the main battery and the subordinate battery, a switching circuit configured to switch a connection state of the subordinate battery between a connection state for manual driving and a connection state for the autonomous driving, and an electronic control unit configured to control charging and discharging of the subordinate battery by controlling the DDC and the switching circuit based on the information acquired by the sensor. The electronic control unit permits the autonomous driving when determination is made, through first battery control, that the subordinate battery can output backup power. The electronic control unit determines whether the subordinate battery can output the backup power by executing second battery control having higher accuracy than that of the first battery control.

Abstract: A heat dissipation fin structure includes a plurality of fins provided on a surface of a fin base plate. The fins configure a plurality of flow passages in which cooling air that enters from an inlet passes. The fins include a first fin, and an end portion of the first fin on an inlet side is arranged in an intermediate part of a first flow passage that is formed between a pair of the fins. The first flow passage is divided by the first fin into a second flow passage and a third flow passage. An interval between the pair of fins is wider on an outlet side than the inlet side. A sectional area of the first flow passage is substantially equal to a sum of sectional areas of the second flow passage and the third flow passage.

Abstract: A power supply system including: a first battery connected to a first load; a second battery; a DC-DC converter connecting the first battery and the second battery; and a connection switching unit including a first switch configured to connect the first battery to a second load and a second switch configured to connect the second battery to the second load. The connection switching unit is configured to switch selectively to a first mode in which the first switch is closed and the second switch is opened and a second mode in which the first switch is opened and the second switch is closed.

Abstract: A fuel cell unit according to the present invention is connectable to an external apparatus and includes a fuel cell generating an electric power, an auxiliary device feeding a fuel and air to the fuel cell, and a controller controlling power generation performed using the fuel cell. After receiving an electric power supplied from the external apparatus, the controller supplies an electric power supplied from the external apparatus to the auxiliary device.

Abstract: In a fuel cell unit, a control method therefor, and an information processing apparatus, a determination is made as to whether or not elapsed time from the last power generation until the present power generation has reached a predetermined time. When it is determined that the elapsed time has reached the predetermined time, setup processing for hydrating a solid polymer electrolyte membrane of a fuel cell is performed.

Abstract: The power supply controller serves to distribute electric power to each part of the electronic apparatus for operation, and the electric power can be fed from the AC power source, the fuel cell unit and the secondary battery unit. The power supply controller transmits the data signal indicating from which of the AC power source, the fuel cell unit and the secondary battery unit, the electricity is fed, to the CPU via the built-in register. The CPU displays the use status of the AC power source, the fuel cell unit and the secondary battery unit on the LCD via the display controller.

Abstract: A fuel cell system includes a plurality of fuel cell stacks; a mixing tank in which a liquid fuel mixture is stored; a plurality of liquid feed pumps configured to feed the liquid fuel mixture to the fuel cell stacks; a switch unit configured to switch on and off of a load connected with the fuel cell stacks: and a controller configured to control a feed of the fuel mixture to the fuel cell stacks, according to an ambient temperature of the fuel cell stacks.

Abstract: An electronic apparatus system of this invention includes an electronic apparatus, and a fuel cell unit which is detachable from the electronic apparatus. The fuel cell unit incorporates a DMFC that can produce electricity by chemical reaction. On the other hand, the electronic apparatus has at least two operation modes having different power consumption amounts such as a normal mode and power saving mode. Upon switching the operation mode, the electronic apparatus advises the fuel cell unit accordingly. Upon reception of this advice, the fuel cell unit compares the current output electric power of the DMFC with the power consumption amount in the operation mode after switching, and returns a message based on that comparison result. The electronic apparatus switches the operation mode based on the returned message.

Abstract: According to one embodiment, a fuel cell apparatus includes a power generator portion which generates electricity through a chemical reaction, a fuel tank containing fuel and having a fuel supply port which supplies fuel and an air inlet which lets air into the fuel tank, and a circulation system which supplies fuel and air to the power generator portion. The circulation system has a fuel passage which circulates the fuel supplied from the fuel supply port of the fuel tank through the power generator portion, and an air passage which circulates air through the power generator portion. The air inlet of the fuel tank is connected to the circulation system.

Abstract: A cell stack unit includes a cell stack having single cells, separators, and end separators, fastening plates placed on the end separators, manifold members disposed on the sides of the cell stack in the stacking direction and including supply ports and discharge ports, and fuel supply passages and fuel discharge passages for flowing fuel, and oxidizer supply passages and oxidizer discharge passages for flowing oxidizer formed in the cell stack and manifold members. The fuel supply passages, the fuel discharge passages, the oxidizer supply passages, and the oxidizer discharge passages each have passages formed in the boundary between the end separator and the fastening plate and extending in the plane direction of the single cells, and passages each communicating with one of the supply port and the discharge port through the manifold member.

Abstract: An electronic apparatus includes a body, a fuel cell capable of generating power by chemical reaction and supplying the power to the body, a sensor to sense a tilt of the fuel cell, and a notifying portion to notify a user of information of the tilt sensed by the sensor.

Abstract: According to one embodiment, a liquid quantity sensing device comprises a sensor body, a first electrode, a plurality of second electrodes and a sensing mechanism. The sensor body extends toward an interior of a container and includes electrically conductive material. The first electrode is disposed on the sensor body while the plurality of second electrodes are disposed on the sensor body and are separated from each other in a movement direction of a liquid level that changes according to a quantity of the liquid. The sensing mechanism senses conduction states between the respective second electrodes and the first electrode. At least one of the first electrode and an uppermost electrode of the second electrodes is separated from the upper wall by a distance larger than a maximum thickness of a liquid drop that adheres to the upper wall.