Abstract: A power supply apparatus has a fuel cell unit as a source of input power. A control device limits the output of the fuel cell unit within an operating range of up to a maximum power point, even if a load power is not lower than the maximum power of said fuel cell unit. In addition to the fuel cell, a charge storing device is provided at the output side of the power supply apparatus. The charge storing device is capable of making up a shortage of power of the fuel cell.

Abstract: A fuel cell 1 and an electric double-layer capacitor 2 are parallelly arranged for a power supply. A DC/DC converter 3 steps up voltage of the fuel cell 1 and the electric double-layer capacitor 2, to thereby output power. An output switch 5 is disposed on an output pathway of the DC/DC converter 3. By controlling the output switch 5 with a control IC 4, output power can be switched on and off. When there is a fuel shortage or abnormality in the fuel cell 1, the control IC 4 controls the output switch 5, to thereby intermittently alter the output power. With this configuration, when the power supply is used for a mobile telephone as a portable electronic device connected thereto, a user can confirm whether there is a fuel shortage or a fuel cell abnormality by checking of blinking state of a charge pilot lamp of the mobile telephone.

Abstract: A power supply unit in a hybrid structure of a fuel cell and a power storage unit and a control method for the power supply unit, in which a small-size light-weight power storage unit is used and chances of incomplete functioning have been eliminated. In addition to the downsizing of the power storage unit and a reduction of the system price, it also becomes possible to start the fuel cell at high speed and raise the fuel cell temperature quickly, monitor output and remaining mounts of fuel and power, and take measures against fluctuations of output, and provides immediate availability of portable devices like the ones using a conventional secondary cell.

Abstract: A fuel container for a fuel cell, comprises a container body, the container body having a liquid fuel chamber for the storage of liquid fuel and a discharge means accommodating chamber for accommodating means for discharging the liquid fuel, a valve disposed in the container body to discharge or shut off the liquid fuel, and a partition wall member disposed slidably in the interior of the container body, wherein the partition wall member partitions the interior of the container body into the liquid fuel chamber and the discharge means accommodating chamber, the liquid fuel chamber and the discharge means accommodating chamber are in communication with each other through the partition wall member, and at least one of sliding surfaces of the container body and the partition wall member contains a material of a low frictional coefficient.

Abstract: In equipment with a built-in fuel cell, there are provided a plurality of secondary cells, and each of the secondary cells has a first state in which an electric power is supplied to a load within the equipment, and a second state in which the electric power that is supplied from the fuel cell is charged, and the first state and the second state is selectively used. The present invention can provide the fuel cell-carried equipment that stably operates due to a power system on which a fuel cell and plural secondary cells are mounted.

Abstract: A battery and a DC-to-DC converter are contained in a battery pack. When the battery pack is connected to a load by means of a connector and an output voltage reference value, corresponding to the power supply voltage of the load, the output voltage of the battery is converted according to the output voltage reference value by the DC-to-DC converter. The output voltage reference value is set by an output voltage reference value output means in the connector. Furthermore, the converted voltage is supplied to the load via an output voltage line.

Abstract: A method of controlling an electric power source apparatus, which comprises supplying electric power to an electronic device on which a secondary battery is mounted from a power source apparatus having a fuel cell and an auxiliary power source. Electric power is supplied intermittently to a charging terminal of the electronic device by means of a switch for controlling conduction and interruption of an output terminal of the power source apparatus.

Abstract: When the mobile type information terminal is transferred between an operating state and a standby state, self diagnosis is performed. The fuel cell charges the secondary cells with a normal current of fixed value I1, and when the output voltage of the boost DC/DC converter (when PG=L), the charge current is reduced to the fixed value and aging is performed. After aging is performed for 60 seconds, charging is performed once again performed at the normal fixed value I1. This type of operation is repeated 30 times. During aging, when the output voltage from the boost DC/DC converter is reduced (when PG=L), aging is stopped and after 20 seconds aging is performed again, and this operation is done 10 times. The mobile type information terminal can perform self diagnosis and retrial of regeneration without the user being aware, in which secondary batteries and a fuel cell are loaded.

Abstract: A fuel cell 1 and an electric double-layer capacitor 2 are parallelly arranged for a power supply. A DC/DC converter 3 steps up voltage of the fuel cell 1 and the electric double-layer capacitor 2, to thereby output power. An output switch 5 is disposed on an output pathway of the DC/DC converter 3. By controlling the output switch 5 with a control IC 4, output power can be switched on and off. When there is a fuel shortage or abnormality in the fuel cell 1, the control IC 4 controls the output switch 5, to thereby intermittently alter the output power. With this configuration, when the power supply is used for a mobile telephone as a portable electronic device connected thereto, a user can confirm whether there is a fuel shortage or a fuel cell abnormality by checking of blinking state of a charge pilot lamp of the mobile telephone.

Abstract: In order to provide a fuel cell apparatus with an effective energy consumption by selecting a suitable fuel cartridge mounted on the apparatus, the present invention provides a fuel cell apparatus comprising at least two fuel storage sections for storing fuel for power generation, wherein at least one of the storage sections is selected and used, while the fuel cell is in service.

Abstract: A fuel container for a fuel cell, comprises a liquid fuel chamber having a space for the storage of liquid fuel, a valve disposed in an outlet of the liquid fuel chamber to discharge the liquid fuel from the space or stop the discharge, a partition wall member movable through the space toward the valve, and a compressed gas chamber communicating with the space and storing compressed gas, the compressed gas imparting a back pressure to the partition wall member so that the partition wall member moves through the space toward the valve, the liquid fuel chamber and the compressed gas chamber being integral with each other. This fuel container is used as a fuel container for replenishing fuel to a fuel container installed in a fuel cell or can be installed into a fuel cell.

Abstract: A battery and a DC-to-DC converter are contained in a battery pack. When the battery pack is connected to a load by means of a connector and an output voltage reference value, corresponding to the power supply voltage of the load, the output voltage of the battery is converted according to the output voltage reference value by the DC-to-DC converter. The output voltage reference value is set by an output voltage reference value output means in the connector. Furthermore, the converted voltage is supplied to the load via an output voltage line.

Abstract: A fuel container for a fuel cell, comprises a container body, the container body having a liquid fuel chamber for the storage of liquid fuel and a discharge means accommodating chamber for accommodating means for discharging the liquid fuel, a valve disposed in the container body to discharge or shut off the liquid fuel, and a partition wall member disposed slidably in the interior of the container body, wherein the partition wall member partitions the interior of the container body into the liquid fuel chamber and the discharge means accommodating chamber, the liquid fuel chamber and the discharge means accommodating chamber are in communication with each other through the partition wall member, and at least one of sliding surfaces of the container body and the partition wall member contains a material of a low frictional coefficient.

Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide a power supply unit configured with a fuel cell generating electric power that is stable over a longer period than similar prior art power supply units, which is achieved by preventing the accumulation of peroxides, one major cause of decreasing the MEA performance, thus extending the lifetime of the MEA. There is provided a power supply unit for supplying electric power to equipment, the power supply unit comprising a fuel cell and a control unit which controls an electrical load that is applied to the fuel cell, wherein a specified load and a low load where a cathode potential becomes higher than the cathode potential under the specified load are applied to the fuel cell alternately as the electrical load.

Abstract: A fuel cell comprising: a membrane electrode assembly; an anode current collector which lies near the anode of the membrane electrode assembly and collects electrons generated by the electrochemical reaction; a cathode current collector which lies near the cathode of the membrane electrode assembly and collects electrons consumed by the electrochemical reaction; a first end plate which surface-contacts the anode current collector and supplies the fuel to the anode; a second end plate which surface-contacts the cathode current collector and supplies the oxygen to the cathode; a pressing member which applies pressure to the first end plate and the second end plate to hold the membrane electrode assembly between the anode current collector and the cathode current collector; and an interconnect which is connected with the anode current collector and/or the cathode current collector by the pressure applied by the pressing member and made of a material with higher conductivity than the current collectors.

Abstract: A control method of a power source system having at least two kind of power supply, such as a fuel cell and an auxiliary power supply and supplying power to electronic devices, the fuel cell characteristics being recovered by increasing the fuel cell output voltage.

Abstract: A cellular mobile telephone is provided with a fuel cell of high power output. The cellular mobile telephone includes a plate-formed fuel cell section having at least two cells for generating power by an aqueous solution containing methanol being supplied to an anode and the air containing oxygen to the cathode, wherein these two or more cells are arranged on both sides thereof; an cellular mobile telephone body utilizing the power of the fuel cell section; and a hinge mechanism for linking the fuel cell section 10 and cellular mobile telephone body rotatably with respect to each other.

Abstract: A power supply apparatus has a fuel cell unit as a source of input power. A control device limits the output of the fuel cell unit within an operating range of up to a maximum power point, even if a load power is not lower than the maximum power of said fuel cell unit. In addition to the fuel cell, a charge storing device is provided at the output side of the power supply apparatus. The charge storing device is capable of making up a shortage of power of the fuel cell.

Abstract: Fuel concentration near a power generator of a DMFC is adjusted by decreasing current taken from the DMFC when the concentration near the power generator of the DMFC is higher than an optimum value and increasing the current taken from the DMFC when the concentration near the power generator of the DMFC is lower than the optimum value. Since the fuel does not come into direct contact with the power generator in the DMFC in a portion from a cartridge to the power generator in the DMFC, drying of the fuel is suppressed. By providing an auxiliary tank capable of storing fuel, concentration of methanol supplied near the power generator of the DMFC is lowered upon activation after long-time storage.

Abstract: A fuel cell unit comprises a fuel cell body, a case and a seal member. The fuel cell body has a membrane electrode assembly for generating power, which comprises an anode being supplied with fluid fuel, a cathode being exposed to atmosphere to be supplied with an oxydant, a membrane sandwiched between the anode and cathode, and a fuel tank connected to a fuel cartridge, from which the liquid fuel is supplied to the anode. The case has an internal space for accommodating an electronic part, the case enclosing and holding the fuel cell body and having an opening in the area of the cathode of the membrane electrode assembly and opened to the outside. The seal member for providing a seal is disposed between the edges surrounding the opening in the case and the fuel cell body to shield the internal space from the opening.