Abstract: In a multi-processor system constituted by a processor such as a CPU and a DSP, in which the processor and the DSP have an external memory and a bus as shared resources and the DSP carries out a process in response to a processing request from the processor, a monitoring step for status of use includes a step of monitoring the status of use of the DSP, and when contention information obtained in the monitoring step for the status of use indicates frequent uses, an altering step for software process appropriately alters a software processing method to be executed, and switches the corresponding process to an equivalent process so that it becomes possible to avoid bus contention, and consequently to prevent a reduction in the processing speed.

Abstract: An objective of this invention is to provide a separator for a fuel cell whereby a fuel, air or cooling water can be evenly and efficiently fed. In a separator for a fuel cell comprising fuel channels 105 in one side and cooling water channels 106 in the other side, the region where the fuel channels 105 and the cooling water channels 106 are formed is rectangular. The fuel gas is fed from a first fuel-feeding manifold 107 and discharged from a first fuel-discharging manifold 109 to the outside of the cell. The cooling water is fed from a first cooling-water-feeding manifold 111 and discharged from a first cooling-water-discharging manifold 113 to the outside of the cell.

Abstract: A fuel cell unit having an electrolytic layer with a catalyst layer and a gas diffusion layer arranged in the stated order on each principal surface is provided. The electrolytic layer is composed of a porous sheet and an electrolytic gel impregnated therein. The electrolytic gel is gel particles made of a proton conductive material. At least one of the catalyst layer and the gas diffusion layer has pores that are smaller than the electrolytic gel particles.

Abstract: The invention provides a polymer electrolyte fuel cell device 1 comprising at least one fuel cell 10 having an anode, a cathode and a polymer electrolyte membrane provided between the anode and cathode, a combustion unit 3, a fuel gas pipe 4 for introducing therethrough the unreacted portion of a fuel gas discharged from the fuel cell 10 into the combustion unit 3, and an oxidizer gas supply manifold 2 for supplying oxidizer gas discharged from the combustion unit 3 to the cathode. By partly consuming the oxygen contained in an oxidizer gas supplied from outside, the combustion unit 3 burns the unreacted fuel gas and burns the impurities contained in the oxidizer gas. This feature prevents the polymer electrolyte membrane from drying, affords a high cell voltage without impairment and enables the device to achieve a higher overall efficiency than in the prior art.

Abstract: A hydrogen production apparatus is disclosed which operates based on a steam reforming method and operates without supply of steam from outside. The hydrogen production apparatus humidifies air by allowing air to contact with warm water to generate a mixture of air and steam, mixes the mixture with a hydrocarbon fuel. Alternatively, the hydrogen production apparatus humidifies a mixture of a hydrocarbon fuel and air by allowing the mixture to contact with warm water to generate a mixed gas of the hydrocarbon fuel, air, and steam. The hydrogen production apparatus then allows air to partially oxidize the hydrocarbon fuel and allows the steam to reform the hydrocarbon fuel, resulting in the production of hydrogen.

Abstract: A polymer electrolyte fuel cell system with a polymer electrolyte fuel cell is made up of a cell main body, a mixture generator for generating a gas-liquid mixture by mixing fuel gas which has been supplied from a fuel gas supply with water, and a means for supplying the gas-liquid mixture to the anode-side channels. The gas-liquid mixture allows the solid-polymer film to be moistened without humidifying fuel gas and oxidant gas with a humidifier, and the cell main body to be cooled down without providing a cooling channel therein.

Abstract: A fuel cell system for directly converting chemical energy of a fuel into electric energy electrochemically. A fuel cell has a cathode and an anode. A main hydrogen absorbing alloy supplies hydrogen gas to the anode of the fuel cell during steady-state operation of the system. An auxiliary hydrogen absorbing alloy originally having a higher hydrogen gas absorbing/desorbing equilibrium pressure than the main hydrogen absorbing alloy at an equal temperature supplies hydrogen gas to the anode until the equilibrium pressure of the main hydrogen absorbing alloy, which is supplied an exhaust gas from the fuel cell is equal to a hydrogen gas absorbing/desorbing equilibrium pressure of the auxiliary hydrogen absorbing alloy, the auxiliary hydrogen absorbing alloy receiving the hydrogen gas from the main hydrogen absorbing alloy during steady-state operation.

Abstract: The present invention provides a portable power source comprising a fuel cell generating electricity using hydrogen as fuel, a hydrogen storage unit filled with hydrogen absorbing alloy for supplying hydrogen to the fuel cell, a case enclosing the fuel cell and hydrogen storage unit, and a lid for sealing a part of the case when the portable power source is not in use, wherein the lid seals a surface of the case on which at least one air inlet for taking in the air necessary for the fuel cell to generate electricity and a reactant gas outlet for exhausting reactant gas produced by the generation of electricity are formed.

Abstract: A fuel cell system for directly converting chemical energy of a fuel into electric energy electrochemically. A fuel cell has a cathode and an anode. A main hydrogen absorbing alloy supplies a hydrogen gas to the anode of the fuel cell during steady-state operation of the system. An auxiliary hydrogen absorbing alloy originally having a higher hydrogen gas absorbing/desorbing equilibrium pressure than the main hydrogen absorbing alloy at an equal temperature supplies a hydrogen gas to the anode until the equilibrium pressure of the main hydrogen absorbing alloy, which is supplied an exhaust gas from the fuel cell is equal to a hydrogen gas absorbing/desorbing equilibrium pressure of the auxiliary hydrogen absorbing alloy, the auxiliary hydrogen absorbing alloy receiving the hydrogen gas from the main hydrogen absorbing alloy during steady-state operation.