Abstract: In a power supply system in which a load is connected to a battery, the battery is efficiently charged without degrading the characteristics of the load. When a load that deteriorates in characteristics if a voltage exceeding the rated voltage of the load is applied thereto is connected to the battery (during an on-state of the load), the battery is charged with the rated voltage even if there is a need to charge the battery with a charging voltage higher than the rated voltage. Alternatively, the battery may be charged for a predetermined time at a voltage above the rated voltage and then at or below the rated voltage, or the voltage seen by the load may be converted to a voltage at or below the rated voltage while the battery is being charged at a voltage above the rated voltage. When the load is off, the battery is charged with a voltage higher than the rated voltage.

Abstract: A device for determining a state of charge of a battery with high precision regardless of deterioration of the battery. After fully charging the battery, the device sets the battery to an arbitrary state of charge. The device then detects the charging voltage and the charging current occurring at that time. Based on the detected charging voltage and the detected charging current, the device corrects a pre-stored relationship among the charging voltage, the charging current, and the state of charge. After that, based on the corrected relationship, the device determines a state of charge of the battery.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for manufacturing a solid polymer film with a catalyst sufficiently deposited thereon preheats a solid polymer film and then hot presses this solid polymer film together with a catalyst carrier film. Hot pressing the solid polymer film while it is soft from preheating increases the bond strength between the solid polymer film and the catalyst such that separation of the catalyst from the solid polymer film during film separation can be prevented. Moreover, keeping the catalyst carrier film cool prior to hot pressing and making the temperature on the catalyst carrier film side slightly lower that than on the solid polymer film side during hot pressing inhibits an increase in binding strength between the film and the catalyst, and thereby improves separation of the film.

Abstract: An air conditioner having a defrosting mode of operation is disclosed, in which an outdoor heat exchanger is divided into two heat exchanger units juxtaposed in tandem with each other along the direction of air passage. In defrosting mode, a part of the refrigerant from the compressor is supplied to the upstream outdoor heat exchanger unit deposited with frost, and the rest of the high-temperature high-pressure refrigerant is supplied to the indoor heat exchanger to maintain the room temperature.