Abstract: To provide a technique by which an accumulated tolerance caused by the arrangement of terminal fittings is eliminated to improve the workability in a multipole cell-voltage detection connector. When all of receptacle terminals (94) are inserted into receptacle insertion groove parts (22), each of the receptacle terminals (94) is buckled at a bending hole (97) and a mark-off part (98) formed as a boundary of a receptacle root part (95) and a receptacle front part (96). Because the receptacle insertion groove parts (22) are formed in a state where there is substantially no tolerance, the terminal pitch tolerance correction housing (10) is fitted to receptacle units (90), and the receptacle terminals (94) (receptacle front parts (96)) protruded from the receptacle insertion groove parts (22) toward a bottom inner surface (15) are corrected to a state where there is no tolerance.

Abstract: A DC-DC converter includes: a transformer including primary and secondary windings; a switching element that drives the primary winding; a comparator that compares a voltage induced in the secondary winding with a predetermined voltage to detect that the voltage is outside a predetermined voltage range; and a controller. The controller stops switching operation of the switching element when the voltage is outside the predetermined voltage range. Preferably, the DC-DC converter is of a flyback system.

Abstract: To provide a technique by which an accumulated tolerance caused by the arrangement of terminal fittings is eliminated to improve the workability in a multipole cell-voltage detection connector. When all of receptacle terminals (94) are inserted into receptacle insertion groove parts (22), each of the receptacle terminals (94) is buckled at a bending hole (97) and a mark-off part (98) formed as a boundary of a receptacle root part (95) and a receptacle front part (96). Because the receptacle insertion groove parts (22) are formed in a state where there is substantially no tolerance, the terminal pitch tolerance correction housing (10) is fitted to receptacle units (90), and the receptacle terminals (94) (receptacle front parts (96)) protruded from the receptacle insertion groove parts (22) toward a bottom inner surface (15) are corrected to a state where there is no tolerance.

Abstract: A voltage detecting connecting structure and fuel cell has connectors which are in contact with terminals connected to the fuel cell. An embodiment of the fuel cell includes first cells which have the terminals at an anode and a cathode respectively, and second cells which have terminals in neither an anode plate nor a cathode, stacked alternately.

Abstract: In a cell voltage detecting system detecting cell voltages of a fuel cell connected in series, a voltage detector detects cell voltages. An auxiliary power supply generates a voltage equal to or greater than a minimum voltage for driving the voltage detector at positive and negative terminals thereof. First and second diodes are connected to a positive drive terminal of the voltage detector to supply the power to the drive terminal of the voltage detector from a high voltage side between the fuel cell or the auxiliary power supply. A negative terminal of the fuel cell, the negative drive terminal, and the negative terminal of the auxiliary power supply are connected to have a same potential. A method of maintaining a drive voltage for the voltage detector is also disclosed in which the drive voltage for the voltage detector is supplied from the high voltage side.

Abstract: In the connecting structure of the present invention, connectors 8 and 9 which are in contact with terminals 6 and 7 are connected to fuel cell 1 including first cells 2a which have the terminals 6 and 7 at an anode plate and a cathode respectively, and second cells 2b which have terminals 6 and 7 in neither an anode plate nor a cathode, stacked alternately.

Abstract: A voltage detecting connecting structure and fuel cell has connectors which are in contact with terminals connected to the fuel cell. An embodiment of the fuel cell includes first cells which have the terminals at an anode and a cathode respectively, and second cells which have terminals in neither an anode plate nor a cathode, stacked alternately. Another embodiment of the fuel cell includes first cells with terminals provided only to anode sides thereof, and second cells with terminals provided only to cathode sides thereof, the first cells being stacked from one end of the fuel cell and the second cells being stacked from the other end of the fuel cell.

Abstract: In a cell voltage detecting system detecting cell voltages of a fuel cell connected in series, a voltage detector detects cell voltages. An auxiliary power supply generates a voltage equal to or greater than a minimum voltage for driving the voltage detector at positive and negative terminals thereof. First and second diodes are connected to a positive drive terminal of the voltage detector to supply the power to the drive terminal of the voltage detector from a high voltage side between the fuel cell or the auxiliary power supply. A negative terminal of the fuel cell, the negative drive terminal, and the negative terminal of the auxiliary power supply are connected to have a same potential. A method of maintaining a drive voltage for the voltage detector is also disclosed in which the drive voltage for the voltage detector is supplied from the high voltage side.

Abstract: An apparatus measures a voltage of a cell while scanning a group of cells in a cell stack, in which a plurality of cells is electrically connected in series. The apparatus has a first switching device and a voltage detecting device. The first switching device is connected in series with a signal line carrying a voltage of a cell. The voltage detecting device detects the voltage of the cell, which is electrically connected with signal lines carrying voltages of cells belonging to a group. When the first switching device is electrically connected with a connecting point between two successive groups of cells, the first switching device is shared by the two groups.

Abstract: A DC-DC converter includes: a transformer including primary and secondary windings; a switching element that drives the primary winding; a comparator that compares a voltage induced in the secondary winding with a predetermined voltage to detect that the voltage is outside a predetermined voltage range; and a controller. The controller stops switching operation of the switching element when the voltage is outside the predetermined voltage range. Preferably, the DC-DC converter is of a flyback system.

Abstract: In this fuel cell, among a pair of separators in which an electrically conductive portion which is made from an electrically conducting material is surrounded by an insulating portion which is made from an insulating material, a cell side terminal is provided in the inner surface of the insulating portion of at least one said separator, and extends from its interior circumferential side to its outer perimeter side, and is able to electrically connect the interior and exterior of the cell. This cell side terminal is made from a metallic plate, and its inner circumferential side end portion contacts the membrane electrode assembly, while its outer perimeter side end portion extends to the outer perimeter side of the insulating portion. This outer perimeter side end portion can be connected to a measurement side terminal.

Abstract: An apparatus for measuring voltage is provided which measures output voltage between at least one pair of detecting terminals provided on an object under measurement. The apparatus for measuring voltage includes a first connecting terminal connected to one of the at least one pair of detecting terminals, a second connecting terminal connected to the other of the at least one pair of detecting terminals, a capacitor connected between the first connecting terminal and the second connecting terminal, a voltage detecting means for measuring voltage of the capacitor, and a pre-charging means for pre-charging the capacitor with predetermined voltage out of range of voltage which the object under measurement can output to the at least one pair of detecting terminals.

Abstract: The present invention provides a cell voltage measuring device for a fuel cell comprising: a contact region provided on or in a separator forming the fuel cell; and a terminal contacting the separator at the contact region to measure cell voltage of the fuel cell, wherein the contact region is defined by a groove formed in the outer periphery of the separator, and wherein, in a state in which the terminal is inserted into the groove and contacts the separator, the entire area of the cross-section of the terminal perpendicular to the longitudinal axis thereof at a contact point is disposed in the groove. Accordingly, contact between the terminal and the separator can be preferably retained.

Abstract: A fuel cell stack comprising a plurality of fuel cell units stacked via separator plates, which further comprises (a) voltage-measuring projection terminals on peripheries of the separator plates, (b) a plurality of terminal members connected to voltage-inputting terminals of a voltage-measuring apparatus, and (c) an insulating casing comprising a plurality of partitions for supporting each terminal member in an insulated state.

Abstract: A fuel cell of the invention has unified a processing circuit processing a cell voltage output signal of a fuel cell stack and a connector connecting an circuit unit with terminals provided extending from separators of the fuel cell, thereby having abolished connection points (in which harnesses are attached and detached) of an electrical circuit unit with the connector. So, for connection, reliability can be improved, and downsizing is possible. Moreover, with a casing enclosing the connector and electrical circuit unit, the fuel cell can be made compact and the processing circuit can be surely protected thanks to being shielded from surroundings, thereby handling as a unit being able to be facilitated.

Abstract: A connector for switching between the states of the connection and non-connection to a mating connector by a cam mechanism (6) movably installed in insulators (2, 3), wherein the cam mechanism comprises a first cam (6a) and a second cam (6b). The first cam is rotatable about an axis, slidable between first and second positions in a direction parallel with the axis, and energized toward the first position by an elastic member (8). The second cam is rotated in conjunction with the first cam to provide either of the connected state and non-connected state according to a rotating angle. The first cam comprises a locked part (6a2) engaged with the lock part (3b3) of the insulator in the rotating direction thereof when positioned at the first position and disengaged from the lock part when positioned at the second position.

Abstract: A fuel cell stack is formed by stacking a plurality of fuel cells. A heating mechanism is provided for heating an outermost fuel cell by external electrical energy. A power generation circuit including electric heaters corresponding to the fuel cells is provided. Further, a switching mechanism including switches for selectively connecting the fuel cells to the power generation circuit or selectively disconnecting the fuel cells from the power generation circuit is provided.

Abstract: A voltage measurement device includes a first group of switches Q1, Q2, a second group of switches Q7, Q8 and a third groups of switches Q5, Q6. By turning on the third group of switches Q5, Q6, the first group of switches Q1, Q2 are turned on, so that a condenser C1 is charged by voltage impressed between a voltage input terminal A and a voltage input terminal B. While the first group of switches Q1, Q2 are turned off by tuning off the third group of switches Q5, Q6, the second group of switches Q7, Q8 are turned on, so that voltage retained in the condenser C1 is generated between a voltage output terminal G and a voltage output terminal H.

Abstract: A voltage measurement device includes a first group of switches Q1, Q2, a second group of switches Q7, Q8 and a third groups of switches Q5, Q6. By turning on the third group of switches Q5, Q6, the first group of switches Q1, Q2 are turned on, so that a condenser C1 is charged by voltage impressed between a voltage input terminal A and a voltage input terminal B. While the first group of switches Q1, Q2 are turned off by tuning off the third group of switches Q5, Q6, the second group of switches Q7, Q8 are turned on, so that voltage retained in the condenser C1 is generated between a voltage output terminal G and a voltage output terminal H.

Abstract: A connector for switching between the states of the connection and non-connection to a mating connector by a cam mechanism (6) movably installed in insulators (2, 3), wherein the cam mechanism comprises a first cam (6a) and a second cam (6b). The first cam is rotatable about an axis, slidable between first and second positions in a direction parallel with the axis, and energized toward the first position by an elastic member (8). The second cam is rotated in conjunction with the first cam to provide either of the connected state and non-connected state according to a rotating angle. The first cam comprises a locked part (6a2) engaged with the lock part (3b3) of the insulator in the rotating direction thereof when positioned at the first position and disengaged from the lock part when positioned at the second position.