Abstract: A fuel vapor treatment or recovery system for an automotive internal combustion engine. The system comprises a canister containing a fuel vapor adsorbing material. A membrane separation module is provided to be connected to the canister and including a separation membrane for separating a mixture gas into an air-rich component and a fuel vapor-rich component. The separation membrane has an air-selective permeability so that the air-rich component is be able to pass through the separation membrane, the mixture gas containing air and fuel vapor. Additionally, a gas transporting device is provided to be connected to the canister, for causing purge gas to be introduced into the canister to purge fuel vapor from the fuel vapor adsorbing material and causing fuel vapor purged from the canister to be fed to the membrane separation module.

Abstract: This invention relates to a lithium ion multi-cell battery (15) wherein plural lithium ion cells (C.sub.n) are arranged in series. Each cell comprises a positive electrode of manganese/spinal oxide and a negative electrode. A first Zener diode (Z.sub.n 1) and first resistor (R.sub.n 1) are connected in series between the electrodes. By setting the Zener voltage (VZ1) of the first Zener diode (Z.sub.n 1) equal to the cell voltage VL of the responding cell (C.sub.n) when positive electrode crystal phase transport stars in that cell (C.sub.n), the charge amount of each cell is made uniform.

Abstract: A state of charge indicator of a lithium ion battery computes a state of charge (SOC) corresponding to a cell open circuit voltage from a SOC-cell open circuit voltage characteristic map, and displays the SOC on a display device. Herein, the SOC-cell open circuit voltage characteristics are obtained by defining the battery charge amount when the open circuit voltage of the cell is 3.9 V as SOC=100%, and defining the battery charge amount when the open circuit voltage of the cell is 3.5 V as SOC=100%. By defining SOC=100% and SOC=0% in this way, the SOC can be correctly computed and displayed even if the battery has deteriorated.

Abstract: An inductor (L), capacitor (C) and alternator (OSC) are connected in series to the positive and negative poles of a battery (15). The temperature of the battery (15) is increased by causing the alternator (OSC) to generate an alternating current having the resonance frequency of the inductor (L) and capacitor (C). The alternating current is consumed by the internal resistance of the battery (15) due to the resonance of the inductor (L) and capacitor (C), and the temperature of the battery (15) therefore rises due to the heat thereby generated in the battery. In this way, the temperature of the battery (15) can be effectively increased with minimum power consumption.

Abstract: The invention relates to a variable light transmittance glass board which is an electrochromic cell in principle and is comprised of oppositely arranged two transparent glass substrates each of which is laid with a transparent electrode film, first and second electrochromic layers formed on the two electrode films, respectively, by using tungsten trioxide for the first layer and Prussian blue for the second layer and an electrolyte liquid which fills up the space remaining between the two electrode films. The electrolyte liquid is a solution of a conventional supporting electrolyte such as lithium perchlorate in an organic polar solvent such as propylene carbonate. Durability of both electrochromic layers at elevated temperatures is greatly improved by adding 0.2-3.0 wt % of water to the organic polar solvent.

Abstract: The disclosure relates to a novel polymer which is made up of repeating units of N,N,N'N'-tetrapheny-p-phenylenediamine. This polymer is thermoplastic and is soluble in industrially usable organic solvents. The polymer acquires high conductivity by doping with an electron acceptor. The polymer becomes insoluble in organic solvents when it is once doped with an electron acceptor and then dedoped, so that the polymer can be used as an active electrode material in electrolytic devices using an organic solvent. The polymer has electrochromic properties and undergoes two-stage oxidation and two-stage reduction to assume three differently stable states. The polymer exhibits pale yellow color in its reduced state, green color in the first-stage oxidized state and dark blue color in the second-stage oxidized state.

Abstract: A novel polymer of triphenylamine, which may be a homopolymer of 4,4',4"-triphenylamine units, a copolymer of 4,4',4"-triphenylamine units and 1,4-benzene units or a homopolymer of 4,4'-(4"-unsubstituted or 4"-alkyl or alkoxyl) triphenylamine. This polymer is prepared by first carrying out Grignard reaction between a halogenotriphenylamine and metallic magnesium and then polymerizing the obtained Grignard reagent in a nonreactive organic solvent by using a nickel compound catalyst. This polymer acquires high conductivity by doping with an electron accepting dopant, and the conductivity is stable in the atmosphere. This polymer is useful as an electrode material in a device using a liquid electrolyte and is advantageous in being stable to repetition of electrochemical oxidation and reduction.

Abstract: A method of electrodepositing a hexacyano-cobalt iron complex of the general formula Fe.sub.x [Co(CN).sub.6 ].sub.y, where 3.ltoreq.x.ltoreq.4 and 2.ltoreq.y.ltoreq.3, which serves as an electrochromic material high in memory effects and quick in response. A film of the cyano-complex is electrodeposited from an aqueous mixed solution of K.sub.3 [Co(CN).sub.6 ] and an iron(III) salt such as FeCl.sub.3. During the electrolytic reduction process the cathode potential is periodically increased and decreased over a predetermined range, preferably from -0.2 to +1.2 V, to stably accomplish electrodeposition to thereby obtain an electrochromic film which is uniform in physical properties and even in the tone and tint of the color. The sweep of the cathode potential may be made in the manner of a saw-tooth wave, rectangular wave or sinusoidal wave.