Abstract: Provided is an SOFC, including a fuel electrode (20), a thin-plate-like interconnector (30) provided on the fuel electrode and formed of a conductive ceramics material, and a conductive film (70) formed on a surface of the interconnector (30) opposite to the fuel electrode (20). The conductive film (70) is formed of an N-type semiconductor (e.g., LaNiO3). The N-type semiconductor generally has the property of exhibiting a smaller conductivity (a current hardly flows) at higher temperature. Therefore, a portion with a higher current density (thus, a portion with higher temperature) in the conductive film (70) in the vicinity of the interconnector (30) has a smaller conductivity (a current hardly flows). By virtue of this action, even though a “fluctuation in current density of a current flowing through the interconnector (30) and an area in the vicinity thereof” occurs for some reasons, the fluctuation can be suppressed.

Abstract: A solid oxide fuel cell is provided that includes an anode current collecting layer, a cathode, an electrolyte layer, and an anode active layer. The anode current collecting layer contains Ni or NiO, and an oxide represented by a general formula AEZrO3 where AE is one or a combination of two or more selected from the group consisting of Ca, Sr, Mg, and Ba. The electrolyte layer is disposed between the anode current collecting layer and the cathode. The anode active layer is disposed between the electrolyte layer and the anode current collecting layer.

Abstract: On each of upper and lower surfaces of a flat-plate-like support substrate having a longitudinal direction and having fuel gas flow channels formed therein, a plurality of power-generating elements A connected electrically in series are disposed at predetermined intervals along the longitudinal direction. On each of the upper and lower surfaces of the support substrate, a plurality of recesses are formed at predetermined intervals along the longitudinal direction. Each of the recesses is a rectangular-parallelepiped-like depression defined by four side walls arranged in a circumferentially closed manner and a bottom wall. That is, in the support substrate, frames are formed to surround the respective recesses. Fuel electrodes of the power-generating elements A are embedded in the respective recesses, and inter connectors are embedded in respective recesses formed on the outer surfaces of the fuel electrodes.

Abstract: A solid oxide fuel cell includes two or more power generating elements each having a cathode, an anode, and an electrolyte layer placed between the cathode and the anode; an interconnector electrically connecting the power generating elements and containing a chromite-based material; and a sealing portion provided between the electrolyte layer and the interconnector and not containing either Ni or ZrO2.

Abstract: A first auxiliary switch circuit is connected to one terminal and a first terminal of a main switch circuit and generates a first auxiliary detection current. A second auxiliary switch circuit is connected to the other terminal and a second terminal of the main switch circuit and generates a second auxiliary detection current. A current adjustment detection circuit adjusts the first auxiliary detection current so that the potentials of the other terminal and the first terminal are equal and passes the first auxiliary detection current in a direction of receiving the current from the first auxiliary switch circuit and adjusts the second auxiliary detection current so that the potentials of the one terminal and the second terminal are equal and passes the second auxiliary detection current in a direction of outputting the current to the second auxiliary switch circuit, thereby generating a detection current being proportional to the output current.

Abstract: On each of upper and lower surfaces of a flat-plate-like support substrate having a longitudinal direction and having fuel gas flow channels formed therein, a plurality of power-generating elements A connected electrically in series are disposed at predetermined intervals along the longitudinal direction. On each of the upper and lower surfaces of the support substrate, a plurality of recesses are formed at predetermined intervals along the longitudinal direction. Each of the recesses is a rectangular-parallelepiped-like depression defined by four side walls arranged in a circumferentially closed manner and a bottom wall. That is, in the support substrate, frames are formed to surround the respective recesses. Fuel electrodes of the power-generating elements A are embedded in the respective recesses.

Abstract: An electrochemical apparatus having a plurality of ceramic electrochemical cells, a plurality of gas feed members and a plurality of gas discharge members. The electrochemical cell has a first electrode contacting with a first gas, a solid electrolyte layer and a second electrode contacting with a second gas. A gas flow channel for flowing the first gas therethrough, a first through hole and a second through hole are provided in the electrochemical cell. The gas feed member is inserted into the first through hole, the gas discharge member is inserted into the second through hole. The adjacent gas feed members are airtightly coupled to each other thereby forming a gas feed channel, and the adjacent gas discharge members are airtightly coupled to each other thereby forming a gas discharge channel.

Abstract: A switching regulator is configured to generate an output voltage by stepping down an input voltage by switching control of a switching element. The switching regulator includes a first comparator configured to compare a feedback voltage of the output voltage and a target voltage; a second comparator configured to compare magnitude of a current flowing through the switching element and a predetermined value; an on-time timer configured to measure fixed on-time for on-control of the switching element; an off-time timer configured to measure fixed off-time for off-control of the switching element; and a control circuit configured to perform the on-control of the switching element with the fixed on-time in accordance with an output of the first comparator, and the off-control of the switching element with the fixed off-time in accordance with an output of the second comparator.

Abstract: Powders of respective metal elements (Mn, Co) constituting a transition metal oxide (MnCo2O4) having a spinel type crystal structure are used as a starting material. A paste containing the mixture of the powders is interposed between an air electrode and an interconnector, and with this state, a sintering is performed, whereby a bonding agent (sintered body) is formed to obtain the bonding member according to the present invention. In the bonding member, a chromia layer including Cr2O3, a first layer including elements of Mn, Co, Fe, Cr, and O, and a second layer including elements of Mn, Co, Fe, and O are provided in this order from the side close to the interconnector at the bonding portion between the bonding agent and the interconnector. The bonding member has sufficiently great bonding strength between the interconnector and the bonding agent.

Abstract: Powders of respective metal elements (Mn, Co) constituting a transition metal oxide (MnCo2O4) having a spinel type crystal structure are used as a starting material of the coating film. A film of a paste containing the mixture of the powders is formed on the surface of the interconnector, and with this state, the paste is sintered to form the coating film. In the coating body, a chromia layer including Cr2O3, a first layer including elements of Mn, Co, Fe, Cr, and O, and a second layer including elements of Mn, Co, Fe, and O are provided in this order from the side close to the interconnector at the boundary between the coating film and the interconnector. With this structure, the coating film is difficult to be peeled even if the coating body is placed in a severe temperature change.

Abstract: A switching regulator is configured to generate an output voltage by stepping down an input voltage by switching control of a switching element. The switching regulator includes a first comparator configured to compare a feedback voltage of the output voltage and a target voltage; a second comparator configured to compare magnitude of a current flowing through the switching element and a predetermined value; an on-time timer configured to measure fixed on-time for on-control of the switching element; an off-time timer configured to measure fixed off-time for off-control of the switching element; and a control circuit configured to perform the on-control of the switching element with the fixed on-time in accordance with an output of the first comparator, and the off-control of the switching element with the fixed off-time in accordance with an output of the second comparator.

Abstract: Powders of respective metal elements (Mn, Co) constituting a transition metal oxide (MnCo2O4) having a spinel type crystal structure are used as a starting material. A paste containing the mixture of the powders is interposed between an air electrode and an interconnector, and with this state, a sintering is performed, whereby a bonding agent according to the present invention can be obtained. This bonding agent has a “co-continuous structure”. In the “co-continuous structure”, a thickness of an arm portion that links many base portions to one another is 0.3 to 2.5 ?m. The bonding agent includes a spherical particle in which plural crystal faces are exposed to the surface, the particle having a side with a length of 1 ?m or more, among the plural sides constituting the outline of the crystal face. The diameter of the particle is 5 to 80 ?m.

Abstract: A current sense circuit for use with a switching regulator including a first transistor, connected to an inductor, configured to switch a current flowing through the inductor from a power supply; and a second transistor, connected to a node to which the inductor and the first transistor are connected, configured to be turned on during a part of an OFF period of the first transistor. The current sense circuit includes a current generator configured to generate a sense current corresponding to a current flowing through the first transistor; a hold circuit configured to output a voltage corresponding to the sense current during an ON period of the first transistor, and to hold and output the voltage corresponding to the sense current during the OFF period of the first transistor; and an output transistor configured to generate a current corresponding to the voltage output by the hold circuit.

Abstract: The present invention provides a current-mode control step-up converter capable of reducing the minimum duty ratio to a sufficiently small value and facilitating the setting of the maximum duty ratio. The step-up converter comprises a current detector 9 for generating a current detection signal Vc corresponding to the current of a rectifier 4; an error amplifier 8 for generating an error signal Ve corresponding to an output DC voltage Vo; and a control circuit 10 for turning ON/OFF the main switch 3 on the basis of the current detection signal Vc and the error signal Ve. The control circuit 10 comprises a comparator 11 and a timer circuit 12. With this configuration, the ON time of the main switch 3 is set at a predetermined value, and the valley value of an inductor current changing in a triangular waveform is controlled. Hence, the OFF time of the main switch is adjusted to stabilize the output.

Abstract: The step-down converter includes: a switch; an inductor; a rectifier; a smoothing unit; and a current bypass circuit, wherein when the current flowing toward the inductor exceeds a predetermined value, the current bypass circuit forms a path through which the current flows from the input terminal to the output terminal while bypassing the inductor.

Abstract: The present invention provides an electrochemical device including electrodes of an electrochemical cell and conductive connection members, wherein sufficient bonding strength is achieved between each of the electrodes and the corresponding conductive connection member through thermal treatment carried out at a temperature lower than 1,000° C. The electrochemical cell includes a solid electrolyte membrane and a pair of electrodes provided on the electrolyte membrane. The conductive connection members are electrically connected to the respective electrodes by means of a bonding layer. The bonding layer contains a transition metal oxide having a spinel-type crystal structure.

Abstract: A novel method of manufacturing a transition metal oxide having a spinel structure is provided. A mixture of powdery metals of metal elements constituting the transition metal oxide is heated in an oxidizing atmosphere to generate the transition metal oxide.

Abstract: A reference voltage is applied from a reference voltage generating circuit to the non-inverting input terminal of an amplifier for supplying a drive voltage to the gate terminal of an NMOS transistor, and the output voltage appearing at the source terminal of the NMOS transistor is divided by a resistor pair and applied to the inverting input terminal of the amplifier. The voltage obtained by adding a voltage equal to or higher than the voltage for sufficiently driving the NMOS transistor to the output voltage appearing at the source terminal of the NMOS transistor is generated by a charge pump circuit and supplied to the amplifier as a power supply voltage. With this configuration, the drive voltage for the NMOS transistor is suppressed to the required minimum voltage while the drive voltage is obtained securely. The power consumption in the amplifier can thus be suppressed.

Abstract: A first auxiliary switch circuit is connected to one terminal and a first terminal of a main switch circuit and generates a first auxiliary detection current. A second auxiliary switch circuit is connected to the other terminal and a second terminal of the main switch circuit and generates a second auxiliary detection current. A current adjustment detection circuit adjusts the first auxiliary detection current so that the potentials of the other terminal and the first terminal are equal and passes the first auxiliary detection current in a direction of receiving the current from the first auxiliary switch circuit and adjusts the second auxiliary detection current so that the potentials of the one terminal and the second terminal are equal and passes the second auxiliary detection current in a direction of outputting the current to the second auxiliary switch circuit, thereby generating a detection current being proportional to the output current.

Abstract: A buck-boost switching regulator which includes a first switch, a first diode, an inductor, a second switch, a second diode, and a controller for controlling the first switch and the second switch, the controller being configured to receive a current signal indicative of a inductor current flowing in the inductor, and generating a signal indicative of an average current flowing in the inductor, the average current being utilized to control the first switch and the second switch, wherein the controller includes a first compensator circuit for outputting a voltage error signal, a second compensator circuit for outputting a current error signal and a modulator circuit to output a first control signal to control the first switch and a second control switch to control the second switch.