Abstract: The present invention provides a nonaqueous electrolyte secondary battery, comprising an electrode group including a positive electrode, a negative electrode including a material for absorbing-desorbing lithium ions, and a separator arranged between the positive electrode and the negative electrode, a nonaqueous electrolyte impregnated in the electrode group and including a nonaqueous solvent and a lithium salt dissolved in the nonaqueous solvent, and a jacket for housing the electrode group and having a thickness of 0.3 mm or less, wherein the nonaqueous solvent ?-butyrolactone in an amount larger than 50% by volume and not larger than 95% by volume based on the total amount of the nonaqueous solvent.

Abstract: According to one embodiment, a fuel cell includes an electric-power generator, a fuel distribution mechanism, and a pump. The electric-power generator includes a membrane electrode assembly including an anode, a cathode, and an electrolytic membrane. The fuel distribution mechanism includes a container and a thin tube. The container includes a fuel discharge surface, and contains the electric-power generator inside. The thin tube is formed in the container in a manner that a fuel outlet and a fuel inlet communicate with each other. The pump is connected directly to the fuel inlet.

Abstract: The present invention provides a nonaqueous electrolyte secondary battery, comprising an electrode group including a positive electrode, a negative electrode including a material for absorbing-desorbing lithium ions, and a separator arranged between the positive electrode and the negative electrode, a nonaqueous electrolyte impregnated in the electrode group and including a nonaqueous solvent and a lithium salt dissolved in the nonaqueous solvent, and a jacket for housing the electrode group and having a thickness of 0.3 mm or less, wherein the nonaqueous solvent ?-butyrolactone in an amount larger than 50% by volume and not larger than 95% by volume based on the total amount of the nonaqueous solvent.

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: The present invention relates to a fuel cell including: a membrane electrode assembly (2) having a fuel electrode (13), an air electrode (16), and an electrolyte membrane (17) sandwiched therebetween; and a fuel storage unit (4) storing a liquid fuel. The fuel cell is capable of continuously generating electricity for long hours only by being replenished with a fuel, and therefore, attempts have been made to miniaturize the fuel cell to use it as a power source of portable electronic devices. When the membrane electrode assembly and the fuel storage unit in the fuel cell are connected via a flow path, a fuel supply state becomes uneven depending on the shape and the like of the flow path even though a supply amount of the fuel can be adjusted, which causes a problem such as a decrease in an output of the fuel cell.

Abstract: The present invention provides a nonaqueous electrolyte secondary battery, comprising an electrode group including a positive electrode, a negative electrode including a material for absorbing-desorbing lithium ions, and a separator arranged between the positive electrode and the negative electrode, a nonaqueous electrolyte impregnated in the electrode group and including a nonaqueous solvent and a lithium salt dissolved in the nonaqueous solvent, and a jacket for housing the electrode group and having a thickness of 0.3 mm or less, wherein the nonaqueous solvent ?-butyrolactone in an amount larger than 50% by volume and not larger than 95% by volume based on the total amount of the nonaqueous solvent.

Abstract: According to one embodiment, a fuel cell includes an electric-power generator, a fuel distribution mechanism, and a pump. The electric-power generator includes a membrane electrode assembly including an anode, a cathode, and an electrolytic membrane. The fuel distribution mechanism includes a container and a thin tube. The container includes a fuel discharge surface, and contains the electric-power generator inside. The thin tube is formed in the container in a manner that a fuel outlet and a fuel inlet communicate with each other. The pump is connected directly to the fuel inlet.

Abstract: A fuel cell socket, to which a fuel cell plug for discharging a liquid fuel for a fuel cell is detachably connected, includes a cylindrical socket body having a diameter-reduced part provided at a substantially intermediate position in an axial direction, a valve having a shaft portion which is protruded toward a connection side through the diameter-reduced part, an elastic cylindrical fuel introduction path which is provided to surround the shaft portion protruded from the diameter-reduced part and has a fastener provided at a side portion, and an auxiliary elastic body which is provided outside the fuel introduction path and pushes the fastener toward the connection side.

Abstract: A fuel cell includes a cathode catalyst layer, an anode catalyst layer, a proton-conductive membrane provided between the cathode catalyst layer and the anode catalyst layer, and a fuel transmitting layer that supplies a vaporized component of a liquid fuel to the anode catalyst layer. Water generated in the cathode catalyst layer is supplied to the anode catalyst layer via the proton-conductive membrane. The liquid fuel is one of a methanol aqueous solution having a concentration of over 50% by molar and liquid methanol.

Abstract: In electronic equipment using a fuel cell as a power source, an antenna and a fuel cell, which are provided in a lower case of a main body receiving electronic parts, are arranged at a given distance from each other. An acceptable communication state can be established in the electronic equipment.

Abstract: A PDA, which functions as an electronic unit, includes power supply which includes a fuel cell unit and an auxiliary power supply which is charged by an output of the fuel cell unit. A non-use state of the PDA is detected by non-use detection unit. Upon detection of the non-use state by the non-use detection unit, the output from the fuel cell unit is stopped and an output of the auxiliary power supply is shut off.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a fuel cell including: a membrane electrode assembly (2) having a fuel electrode (13), an air electrode (16), and an electrolyte membrane (17) sandwiched therebetween; and a fuel storage unit (4) storing a liquid fuel. The fuel cell is capable of continuously generating electricity for long hours only by being replenished with a fuel, and therefore, attempts have been made to miniaturize the fuel cell to use it as a power source of portable electronic devices. When the membrane electrode assembly and the fuel storage unit in the fuel cell are connected via a flow path, a fuel supply state becomes uneven depending on the shape and the like of the flow path even though a supply amount of the fuel can be adjusted, which causes a problem such as a decrease in an output of the fuel cell.

Abstract: A coupler including a nozzle and a socket. The nozzle includes a nozzle body, a movable pin, and a first supporting member. The movable pin is made retractably movable in the axial direction in a nose portion to open and close the channel inside the nozzle. The socket includes a housing, a collar, a ring-like packing, a valve stem, a valve head, and a second supporting member. The valve stem is made retractably movable in the socket in the axial direction to open and close the channel inside the socket. All portions or components which contact liquid fuel in the coupler are formed solely of rubber and/or plastics.

Abstract: A coupler for a fuel cell according to the embodiment has a socket and a nozzle. The socket is provided on the fuel cell and has a valve body and an urging component for urging the valve body in the direction of closing it. The nozzle is provided on a fuel cartridge for storing a liquid fuel for the fuel cell and has a valve body and an urging component for urging the valve body in the direction of closing it. The valve bodies are opened to supply the liquid fuel in the fuel cartridge to the fuel cell when the nozzle is connected to the socket. The coupler for a fuel cell has a lubricity providing portion for applying lubricating properties. The lubricity providing portion is disposed on the sliding contact surfaces of the socket and the nozzle and makes sliding contact with each other when the socket and the nozzle are connected to each other or separated from each other.

Abstract: A fuel cartridge 5 for a fuel cell includes a cartridge body 8 containing liquid fuel for the fuel cell, and a nozzle part 9 supplying the liquid fuel to a fuel cell body. The nozzle part 9 has a nozzle head 12 provided on the cartridge body 8 and an insertion portion 14 which is inserted in a socket part 6 of the fuel cell body, and a valve mechanism (19, 20, 21, 22) arranged in the nozzle head 12. A recess portion 15 is provided in a tip of the insertion portion 14 of the nozzle head 12. Liquid fuel remaining on the tip of the nozzle part 9 is accommodated in the recess portion 15.

Abstract: A fuel cell includes a cathode, an anode, a proton-conductive film (6) arranged between the cathode and the anode and an oxidization catalyst layer (14) provided on an opposite side to a surface the cathode which faces the proton-conductive film (6) and containing an oxidization catalyst which oxidizes an organic substance.

Abstract: A fuel distribution mechanism of a fuel cell, including a fuel inlet communicating with the supply channel, a plurality of fuel outlets which are open so as to be opposite the fuel electrode, and a fuel passage communicating with the fuel inlet and the fuel outlets in order to circulate the fuel from the fuel inlet to the fuel outlets, and the fuel passage is formed between the fuel inlet and the fuel outlets and comprises a plurality of branch passages that are adjusted in passage cross-sectional shape and branch structure as the branch passages extend from upstream to downstream between the fuel passage situated upstream and the fuel outlets and that have a desired channel resistance.

Abstract: A fuel cell coupler includes a nozzle part (9) arranged on a fuel cartridge, and a socket part (6) arranged in a fuel cell body, and the parts are detachably coupled to each other. The nozzle part (9) has a resin part which deforms to detach from the socket part (6) when a bending load is applied on the fuel cartridge coupled to the fuel cell body. A guide groove (18) for guiding insertion of the nozzle part (9) into the socket part (6) deforms so that a key section (29) disengages and the nozzle part (9) detaches from the socket part (6) when the bending load is applied to the fuel cartridge coupled to the fuel cell body.

Abstract: The present invention provides a nonaqueous electrolyte secondary battery, comprising an electrode group including a positive electrode, a negative electrode including a material for absorbing-desorbing lithium ions, and a separator arranged between the positive electrode and the negative electrode, a nonaqueous electrolyte impregnated in the electrode group and including a nonaqueous solvent and a lithium salt dissolved in the nonaqueous solvent, and a jacket for housing the electrode group and having a thickness of 0.3 mm or less, wherein the nonaqueous solvent ?-butyrolactone in an amount larger than 50% by volume and not larger than 95% by volume based on the total amount of the nonaqueous solvent.

Abstract: Provided is a methanol fuel cell cartridge formed of a container comprising a polyester-based resin layer which has a methanol vapor permeability coefficient at 40° C. of 3 ?g·mm/m2·hr or less and a cation index in a methanol immersion test of 30 or less, and is produced by using a titanium-based catalyst. According to the present invention, the methanol fuel cell cartridge can be produced at low cost, which is excellent in impermeability (barrier performance) to methanol and oxygen, can be downsized, reduced in weight, and increased in transparency, and does not cause deterioration in battery performance of the fuel cell during operation.