Abstract: A brain electrode apparatus is a brain electrode apparatus including an electrode that is capable of being inserted into a brain, and the brain electrode apparatus includes a long-shaped probe, an electrode part formed on the probe, and an inserting member that is detachably inserted in a first hole formed on a plane face of the probe having flexibility. Further, the probe includes a first area on the electrode part side with respect to the position where the first hole is formed, and a second area on the opposite side of the electrode part side with respect to the position where the first hole is formed, and the inserting member is inserted into the first hole in a state where the probe is bent at the position of the first hole such that the second area overlaps the first area.

Abstract: A control device 7 obtains a reformed carbon quantity C supplied to a reform reaction flow channel 21 from a supplied fuel quantity Qf and also obtains a reformed water quantity S supplied to the reform reaction flow channel 21 from a generated power quantity W. Further, it obtains a oxygen consumed quantity consumed through power generation in a fuel cell 3 from the generated power quantity W, a supplied oxygen quantity to be supplied to a cathode flow channel 33 from a supplied cathode gas quantity Qc, and a reformed oxygen quantity O to be supplied to the reform reaction flow channel 21 based on a difference between the supplied oxygen quantity and the consumed oxygen quantity. By correcting a reformed carbon quantity C (delivery of a fuel pump 51) in accordance with the reformed oxygen quantity O, each of O/C and S/C is kept in a target value range.

Abstract: An optical device includes a lens holding member that holds a lens and that is movable in a direction along a plane that is orthogonal to an optical axis of the lens, and an actuator that moves the lens holding member in the direction along the plane. In the optical device, the actuator includes an actuator element, formed of electroactive polymer, and a connecting member that connects the lens holding member to the actuator element.

Abstract: A technology for preventing degradation of a hydrogen permeable metal layer in a fuel cell 210 is provided. A fuel cell system 200 including a fuel cell 210 with an anode which has the hydrogen permeable metal layer comprises a fuel cell controller 230 for controlling the operation status of the fuel cell system 200, a temperature parameter acquisition section for acquiring a temperature parameter of the hydrogen permeable metal layer, and a hydrogen permeable metal layer degradation prevention section which reduces the hydrogen partial pressure in an anode channel 212 for supplying fuel gas to the anode. If a temperature of the hydrogen permeable metal layer represented by the temperature parameter deviates from a specified temperature range, the fuel cell controller 230 cause the hydrogen permeable metal layer degradation prevention section to operate for preventing degradation of the hydrogen permeable metal layer.

Abstract: A fuel cell of the invention has a hydrogen permeable metal layer, which is formed on a plane of an electrolyte layer that has proton conductivity and includes a hydrogen permeable metal. The fuel cell includes a higher temperature zone and a lower temperature zone that has a lower temperature than the higher temperature zone. The hydrogen permeable metal layer includes a lower temperature area A corresponding to the lower temperature zone and a higher temperature area B corresponding to the higher temperature zone. The lower temperature area A and the higher temperature area B have different settings of composition and/or layout of components. This arrangement effectively prevents potential deterioration of cell performance due to an uneven distribution of internal temperature of the fuel cell including the hydrogen permeable metal layer.

Abstract: A lens apparatus includes a lens barrel, an image-capturing optical system, and a diaphragm device disposed in an optical path of the image-capturing optical system. The diaphragm device includes a plurality of diaphragm blades and an electroactive polymer actuator configured to move the plurality of diaphragm blades from a diaphragm-open state to a diaphragm-closed state and from a diaphragm-closed state to a diaphragm-open state.

Abstract: A power system of the invention includes fuel cells and a fuel gas generation system that generates a fuel gas to be supplied to the fuel cells. At the time of stopping supply of hydrogen, the fuel gas generation system selectively uses a stop process that replaces hydrogen in a hydrogen separator unit with the air for removal of hydrogen and a pause process that allows hydrogen to remain in the hydrogen separator unit. The stop process is selected when the fuel gas generation system stops the supply of hydrogen for a long time period. The pause process is selected when the fuel gas generation system temporarily stops the supply of hydrogen. The arrangement of the invention desirably shortens a restart time of the fuel gas generation system and reduces a potential energy loss.

Abstract: An optical device includes a lens holder that holds a lens and is movable in the optical-axis direction of the lens, and an actuator that moves the lens holder in the optical-axis direction. The actuator includes an actuator element composed of an electroactive polymer, an actuator-element holder that holds the actuator element, a mechanism that applies prestrain to the actuator element, and a connecting member that connects the lens holder and the actuator. Herein, a connecting portion of the connecting member is disposed adjacent to the side surface of the actuator.

Abstract: A control device 7 obtains a reformed carbon quantity C supplied to a reform reaction flow channel 21 from a supplied fuel quantity Qf and also obtains a reformed water quantity S supplied to the reform reaction flow channel 21 from a generated power quantity W. Further, it obtains a oxygen consumed quantity consumed through power generation in a fuel cell 3 from the generated power quantity W, a supplied oxygen quantity to be supplied to a cathode flow channel 33 from a supplied cathode gas quantity Qc, and a reformed oxygen quantity O to be supplied to the reform reaction flow channel 21 based on a difference between the supplied oxygen quantity and the consumed oxygen quantity. By correcting a reformed carbon quantity C (delivery of a fuel pump 51) in accordance with the reformed oxygen quantity O, each of O/C and S/C is kept in a target value range.

Abstract: An image pickup apparatus includes an image pickup element for converting an optical image on a focal plane into an electrical image signal and outputting the electrical image signal. A vibration sensor detects a vibration amount of an image pickup apparatus main body, and an optical axis decentering member is provided for decentering an optical axis to cause the optical image to coincide with a predetermined position on the focal plane of the image pickup element. A driving control circuit controls a decentering amount of the optical axis decentering member on the basis of a detection output from the vibration sensor, and a control circuit controls the driving control circuit so that the decentering member is operated if the image pickup element is outputting the electrical signal.

Abstract: An image pickup apparatus includes an image pickup element for converting an optical image on a focal plane into an electrical image signal, and outputting the electrical image signal, a vibration sensor for detecting a vibration amount of an image pickup apparatus main body, an optical axis decentering member for decentering an optical axis so as to cause the optical image to coincide with a predetermined position on the focal plane of the image pickup element, a driving control circuit for controlling a decentering amount of the optical axis decentering member on the basis of a detection output from the vibration sensor, and a control circuit for, when the image pickup element outputs the electrical image signal, controlling to permit a driving operation of the optical axis decentering member by the driving control circuit.

Abstract: A fuel cell system, in particular, improvement to a fuel cell system intended to enhance the drainage of generation water produced during power generation and to maintain and stabilize the power generation efficiency of fuel cell. Monitor keeps watch over the state of use of FC stack and upon judging that the drainage of reaction water falls into arrears in a gas flow passage to result in drain clogging, not only estimates the amount of reaction water but also computes the amount of drainage maintenance agent to be added in conformity with the amount of reaction water discharged, instructing flow rate controller to feed the required amount of water repellent agent from water repellent agent storage tank. Pursuant to the instruction from the monitor, the flow rate controller feeds the required amount of water repellent agent from the water repellent agent storage tank to the mixed supply unit.

Abstract: A fuel cell having a single cell 20 comprises a hydrogen permeable metal layer 22 and a cathode 24 as layers equipped with catalytic metal for promoting a reaction of a labile substance supplied to the fuel cell during production of electricity in the fuel cell. Also, the fuel cell has an electrolyte layer 21 formed with a solid oxide. The electrolyte layer 21 has a high grain boundary density electrolyte layer 27, and low grain boundary density electrolyte layers 25 and 26 as decomposition reaction suppress parts to suppress a decomposition reaction of the solid oxide due to the catalyst metal.

Abstract: A fuel cell of the invention has a hydrogen permeable metal layer, which is formed on a plane of an electrolyte layer that has proton conductivity and includes a hydrogen permeable metal. The fuel cell includes a higher temperature zone and a lower temperature zone that has a lower temperature than the higher temperature zone. The hydrogen permeable metal layer includes a lower temperature area A corresponding to the lower temperature zone and a higher temperature area B corresponding to the higher temperature zone. The lower temperature area A and the higher temperature area B have different settings of composition and/or layout of components. This arrangement effectively prevents potential deterioration of cell performance due to an uneven distribution of internal temperature of the fuel cell including the hydrogen permeable metal layer.

Abstract: A technology for preventing degradation of a hydrogen permeable metal layer in a fuel cell 210 is provided. A fuel cell system 200 including a fuel cell 210 with an anode which has the hydrogen permeable metal layer comprises a fuel cell controller 230 for controlling the operation status of the fuel cell system 200, a temperature parameter acquisition section for acquiring a temperature parameter of the hydrogen permeable metal layer, and a hydrogen permeable metal layer degradation prevention section which reduces the hydrogen partial pressure in an anode channel 212 for supplying fuel gas to the anode. If a temperature of the hydrogen permeable metal layer represented by the temperature parameter deviates from a specified temperature range, the fuel cell controller 230 cause the hydrogen permeable metal layer degradation prevention section to operate for preventing degradation of the hydrogen permeable metal layer.

Abstract: The fuel cell system 1 has a reformer 2 and a fuel cell 3. The reformer 2 has a reforming reaction channel 21 that generates a hydrogen-containing reformed gas Ga and a heat exchange channel 22 for heating. The fuel cell 3 has an anode channel 32 to which the hydrogen-containing reformed gas Ga is supplied, a cathode channel 33 to which an oxygen-containing gas Gc is supplied, and an electrolyte 31 formed between them. The electrolyte 31 is a laminate of a hydrogen-separating metal layer 311 and a proton conductor layer 312. The fuel cell system 1 has a cathode offgas line 46 for feeding the cathode offgas Oc discharged from the cathode channel 33 to the reforming reaction channel 21.

Abstract: A lens apparatus includes a lens barrel, an image-capturing optical system, and a diaphragm device disposed in an optical path of the image-capturing optical system. The diaphragm device includes a plurality of diaphragm blades and an electroactive polymer actuator configured to move the plurality of diaphragm blades from a diaphragm-open state to a diaphragm-closed state and from a diaphragm-closed state to a diaphragm-open state.

Abstract: An optical device includes a lens holder that holds a lens and is movable in the optical-axis direction of the lens, and an actuator that moves the lens holder in the optical-axis direction. The actuator includes an actuator element composed of an electroactive polymer, an actuator-element holder that holds the actuator element, a mechanism that applies prestrain to the actuator element, and a connecting member that connects the lens holder and the actuator. Herein, a connecting portion of the connecting member is disposed adjacent to the side surface of the actuator.

Abstract: An optical device includes a lens holding member that holds a lens and that is movable in a direction along a plane that is orthogonal to an optical axis of the lens, and an actuator that moves the lens holding member in the direction along the plane. In the optical device, the actuator includes an actuator element, formed of electroactive polymer, and a connecting member that connects the lens holding member to the actuator element.

Abstract: The fuel cell 60 comprises a proton-conductive, solid electrolyte layer and a hydrogen-permeable metal layer joined to the electrolyte layer. When the fuel cell 60 generates power, reformed gas produced in a reformer 62 is supplied as fuel gas to the anode of the fuel cell 60. When power generation by the fuel cell 60 is stop, air supplied by a blower 67 is fed to the anode of the fuel cell 60, so that the fuel gas within the fuel cell 60 is replaced by air.