Abstract: A power supply apparatus is provided which includes: a fuel cell; a power storage device which stores electric power; a connection terminal for connecting a load; a charge-used voltage converter which converts the output voltage of the fuel cell into a charging voltage for charging the power storage device and charges the power storage device; and an output-used voltage converter which converts the output voltage of the power storage device into a predetermined set output voltage and outputs it to the connection terminal.

Abstract: A method for operating a fuel cell system including a fuel cell stack composed of a plurality of cells connected in series. The method includes the steps of: (a) supplying a fuel and an oxidant to anodes and cathodes of the cells, respectively, depending on a load to generate power at a constant voltage under constant voltage control; (b) temporarily suspending the supply of the oxidant with the fuel being supplied; and (c) lowering the constant voltage to a predetermined voltage simultaneously with or immediately before the suspension of the supply of the oxidant. According to this operation method, when the supply of the oxidant is suspended, a platinum catalyst in the cathodes can be reduced and reactivated in all the cells.

Abstract: There is provided a fuel cell system which reduces voltage variations of a plurality of fuel cells and stabilizes a generated power of a fuel cell stack. A fuel cell system according to the invention includes a fuel cell stack having a plurality of fuel cells connected in series, a fuel supply device, an air supply device and a controller. The controller sets at least one of a fuel supply amount and an air supply amount for each fuel cell based on each voltage of the plurality of fuel cells so that each voltage variation of the plurality of fuel cells may be minimized, and the fuel supply device supplies fuel to each of the fuel cells based on the fuel supply amount of each fuel cell, and/or the air supply device supplies air to each of the fuel cells based on the air supply amount of each fuel cell.

Abstract: A direct oxidation fuel cell (DOFC) system, comprises at least one fuel cell assembly including a cathode and an anode with an electrolyte positioned therebetween; a source of liquid fuel in fluid communication with an inlet of the anode; an oxidant supply in fluid communication with an inlet of the cathode; a liquid/gas (L/G) separator in fluid communication with outlets of the anode and cathode for: (1) receiving unreacted fuel and liquid and gaseous products, and (2) supplying a solution of fuel and liquid product to the anode inlet; and a control system for measuring the amount of liquid product and controlling oxidant stoichiometry of the system operation in response to the measured amount of liquid product. Alternatively, the control system controls the concentration of the liquid fuel in the solution supplied to the anode inlet, based upon the system operating temperature or output power.

Abstract: A method of fabricating an annular component part is disclosed wherein press forming is carried out to prepare an annular body having a cylindrical wall, having a root portion and a distal end, and an annular flange portion. The fabricating method comprises expanding an inner circumferential periphery of the cylindrical wall to an inner diameter corresponding to an inner diametric concave portion formed on the inner circumferential periphery and squeezing the cylindrical wall in a tapered profile such that the inner diameter of the cylindrical wall gradually decreases. During inner diametric expanding operation, an annular shoulder is formed on the inner circumferential periphery of the cylindrical wall and plays a role as an undercut of the annular component.

Abstract: Electronic equipment is provided in which a bi-directional voltage converter is connected between a fuel cell and a secondary battery, and a load apparatus is connected in parallel to the fuel cell. Further, if a plurality of voltage converters are provided, when each output voltage is closer to an output voltage of the secondary battery than an output voltage of the fuel cell, they are classified into a first voltage-converter group, while being closer to the output voltage of the fuel cell than the output voltage of the secondary battery, they are sorted out as a second voltage-converter group. Then, the secondary battery is connected in parallel to the first voltage-converter group and the fuel cell is connected in parallel to the second voltage-converter group.

Abstract: The power supply apparatus of the present invention comprises a fuel cell, a secondary battery for supplying power to a load, a power measurement section for measuring the output power of the fuel cell, a power converter which inputs output of the fuel cell, controls the output power so that the input voltage or the input current approaches the operation target value, supplies the output power to the load and/or the secondary battery and conducts a power conversion, and a control section which controls quantity of fuel to be supplied to the fuel cell, and also indicates to the power converter of an operation target value that comes within predetermined range which includes the smallest quantity of fuel the fuel cell discharges, wherein the control section sequentially indicates a plurality of the target values for power measurement to the power converter, the power measurement section measures the output power of the fuel cell for each target value for power measurement, and the control section seeks the targ

Abstract: A method for activating a direct oxidation fuel cell including an anode, a cathode, and a proton-conductive electrolyte membrane interposed between the anode and the cathode is provided. The anode and the cathode each have a catalyst layer on a face in contact with the proton-conductive electrolyte membrane. This method activates the fuel cell by passing a current through the fuel cell from an external power source, with the positive electrode and the negative electrode of the external power source connected to the anode and the cathode of the fuel cell, respectively, while supplying an organic fuel and an inert gas to the anode and the cathode, respectively.

Abstract: A surface acoustic wave device comprises: a plurality of surface acoustic wave elements provided on a piezoelectric substrate to be electrically isolated with each other, a substrate provided with a first conductor electrically connecting the plurality of surface acoustic wave elements, a second conductor electrically isolated to the first conductor and an external terminal, and a sealing member for protecting the substrate and the piezoelectric substrate. For the substrate, a package having a recess or an insulating substrate is used. The first conductor is electrically isolated to the external terminal, while the second conductor is electrically connected with the external terminal. The above-described structure provides a small-sized surface acoustic wave device with excellent-attenuation characteristics.

Abstract: A power supply apparatus comprises a power generating device in which the output power supplied to a load varies depending on a power generating condition; a current detection part for detecting the current output from the power generating device; a target output voltage setting part for setting a target output voltage of the power generating device; an error amplifier for amplifying the error between the voltage output from the power generating device and the target output voltage and outputting an error signal; a current control part for receiving input of the error signal, controlling the output current of the generating device so as to make the absolute value of the error signal small and outputting it to external output terminals; and an operation part for calculating the target output voltage as a desired operating condition of the power generating device by a predetermined function having at least the current detected by the current detecting part as an input parameter, and issuing it to the target out

Abstract: A power supply apparatus comprises a power generating device in which the output power supplied to a load varies depending on a power generating condition; a current detection part for detecting the current output from the power generating device; a target output voltage setting part for setting a target output voltage of the power generating device; an error amplifier for amplifying the error between the voltage output from the power generating device and the target output voltage and outputting an error signal; a current control part for receiving input of the error signal, controlling the output current of the generating device so as to make the absolute value of the error signal small and outputting it to external output terminals; and an operation part for calculating the target output voltage as a desired operating condition of the power generating device by a predetermined function having at least the current detected by the current detecting part as an input parameter, and issuing it to the target out

Abstract: The power supply apparatus of the present invention comprises a fuel cell, a secondary battery for supplying power to a load, a power measurement section for measuring the output power of the fuel cell, a power converter which inputs output of the fuel cell, controls the output power so that the input voltage or the input current approaches the operation target value, supplies the output power to the load and/or the secondary battery and conducts a power conversion, and a control section which controls quantity of fuel to be supplied to the fuel cell, and also indicates to the power converter of an operation target value that comes within predetermined range which includes the smallest quantity of fuel the fuel cell discharges, wherein the control section sequentially indicates a plurality of the target values for power measurement to the power converter, the power measurement section measures the output power of the fuel cell for each target value for power measurement, and the control section seeks the targ

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a yoke includes a step of cutting a steel plate into a rectangular sheet having a plurality of first dovetail convexities at one end thereof and a plurality of second dovetail convexities at the other end, a step of rolling the rectangular sheet into a cylinder to fit the first dove tails and the second dove tails to each other and a step of punching border portions of the first dove tails and the second dove tails. The second dovetail convexities are formed to be the same in shape as the first dovetail convexities so that they can fit to the first dovetail convexities. A smooth-faced yoke can be manufacture without using an expensive welder.

Abstract: A method of manufacture of a surface acoustic wave device which includes a step of applying a photosensitive film resist on a substrate and forming a photosensitive film resist layer over at least a portion of a surface of the substrate; a step of forming acoustic absorbers only at the two sides orthogonal to the direction of the surface acoustic wave transmission; a step of placing in a package a surface acoustic wave element obtained by cutting and dividing the substrate and electrically connecting a connection electrode of the surface acoustic wave element with an external terminal of the package; and a step of sealing an opening of the package with a lid, wherein the main surface of the acoustic absorbers is formed parallel to the surface of the substrate.

Abstract: There is provided a battery pack system with estimation accuracy of a remaining capacity of a secondary batter enhanced. A current accumulation coefficient correction section 109 calculates a correction amount ? with respect to a current accumulation coefficient k in accordance with a battery electromotive force Veq from an electromotive force calculation section 105. A remaining capacity calculation section 112 estimates a remaining capacity SOC by current accumulation, based on the current accumulation coefficient k calculated from a correction amount ?, and a charging efficiency ? based on a currently estimated remaining capacity calculated by a charging efficiency calculation section 110.

Abstract: A clean power supply unit with a high fuel utilization rate using a fuel cell is provided. The power supply unit of the present invention comprises a fuel cell using methanol as fuel; a secondary battery for supplying power to a load; a fuel cell control part for controlling the amount of fuel and/or air supplied to the above-mentioned fuel cell; and a power converter for converting the power output from the above-mentioned fuel cell to a predetermined voltage or current, supplying power to the load and/or the above-mentioned secondary battery and controlling the supplied power so as to fall within a predetermined range including the value at which the amount of methanol discharged from the above-mentioned fuel cell becomes minimized.

Abstract: A method for operating a direct methanol fuel cell is provided. The fuel cell includes a fuel cell main body having a fuel electrode and an air electrode disposed in opposing positions on either side of an electrolyte film. In this method, an aqueous methanol solution is supplied directly to the fuel electrode. A quantity of the aqueous methanol solution supplied is controlled in accordance with an electric current value drawn from the fuel cell main body so as to minimize a quantity of unused methanol within a discharge fluid discharged from the fuel electrode.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a yoke includes a step of cutting a steel plate into a rectangular sheet having a plurality of first dovetail convexities at one end thereof and a plurality of second dovetail convexities at the other end, a step of rolling the rectangular sheet into a cylinder to fit the first dove tails and the second dove tails to each other and a step of punching border portions of the first dove tails and the second dove tails. The second dovetail convexities are formed to be the same in shape as the first dovetail convexities so that they can fit to the first dovetail convexities. A smooth-faced yoke can be manufacture without using an expensive welder.

Abstract: A surface acoustic wave device in the present invention comprises; a plurality of surface acoustic wave elements provided on a piezoelectric substrate to be electrically isolated with each other, a substrate provided with a first conductor electrically connecting the plurality of surface acoustic wave elements, a second conductor electrically isolated to the first conductor and an external terminal, and a sealing member for protecting the substrate and the piezoelectric substrate. For the substrate, a package having a recess or an insulating substrate is used. The first conductor is electrically isolated to the external terminal, while the second conductor is electrically connected with the external terminal. The above-described structure in accordance with the present invention provides a small-sized surface acoustic wave device with excellent attenuation characteristics.

Abstract: In a pre-replacement process, a replacement battery module is provided with a memory effect before being dispatched, by performing at least one of the process of performing a cyclic charge/discharge operation on the replacement battery module while limiting the width of SOC change to an intermediate range, and the process of setting an initial SOC and then letting the replacement battery module stand for a predetermined time in an environment of temperature above normal temperature. This pre-replacement process substantially eliminates the difference between the voltage characteristic of the replacement battery module yet to be used and the voltage characteristic of a battery module having a history of use, thereby achieving a uniform voltage characteristic of a battery pack as a whole.