Abstract: An MEA is made by: preparing a mixture of a polymer electrolyte and a catalyst; forming, on a transfer sheet, a thin film of the catalyst mixture; transferring the thin film onto one surface of a proton conductive electrolyte membrane for forming a catalyst thin film layer thereon; and repeating the transferring step for forming plural catalyst thin film layers, wherein the transferring steps causes the plural catalyst thin film layers to have a density gradient of sequentially decreasing from its proton conductive electrolyte membrane side to the other side, and wherein the catalyst layer has therein a substantially constant weight ratio of the polymer electrolyte to the catalyst.

Abstract: A power supply system is provided having a fuel cell and a power storage source comprising at least one of a secondary battery and a capacitor, the power supply system being secured to or mounted, in use thereof, on an electronic equipment, wherein: the fuel cell has a maximum output power which is higher than the average power consumption of and lower than the maximum power consumption of the electronic equipment; and the power storage source can output at least a power corresponding to the maximum power consumption of the electronic equipment. The power supply system can start the operation of electronic equipment having a high load even at the time of starting such operation, irrespective of the ambient temperature; can operate the electronic equipment for a long time by simply refilling the fuel supply; and can be low in cost, small in size and high in reliability and output energy density.

Abstract: It is difficult to realize a small fuel cell capable of being installed in mobile device by merely downsizing a conventional fuel cell without changing the configuration. The present invention provides a small fuel cell employing a polymer electrolyte thin film, by using a semiconductor process. A polymer electrolyte thin film fuel cell in accordance with the present invention comprises: a substrate having a plurality of openings; an electrolyte membrane-electrode assembly formed on the substrate so as to cover each of the openings, the assembly comprising a first catalyst electrode layer, a hydrogen ion conductive polymer electrolyte membrane and a second catalyst electrode layer which are formed successively; and fuel and oxidant supply means for supplying a fuel or an oxidant gas to the first catalyst electrode layer through the openings, and an oxidant gas or a fuel to the second catalyst electrode layer.

Abstract: In a fuel cell system, leakage of a fuel and a by-product produced in oxidizing a fuel, and leakage thereof out of a fuel cell by evaporation are prevented. For this purpose, in a fuel cell system comprising an electrogenerating portion having a fuel electrode, an oxidant electrode and an electrolyte sandwiched between the fuel electrode and the oxidant electrode; a fuel accommodating container accommodating a fuel to be supplied to the fuel electrode; a fuel supplying portion supplying a fuel from the fuel accommodating container to the electrogenerating portion; and a fuel discharging portion connected to the fuel electrode, the fuel accommodating container, the fuel supplying portion, the fuel electrode and the fuel discharging portion are air-tightly connected.

Abstract: When a user indicates a point on a display screen of a computer using a pen sensor, first the display screen is divided into a plurality of areas and the areas are displayed by mutually different colors or brightnesses. The plurality of colors or brightnesses displayed are scanned by the pen sensor and the colors or brightnesses detected by the light receiver to judge in which area the indicated point is located. Next, the judged area is further divided into a plurality of areas which are displayed by mutually different colors or brightnesses. Next, a routine similar to the above is successively repeated to narrow down the area in which the point indicated by the pen sensor is located and finally determine the position of the point, that is, the XY coordinates on the display screen.

Abstract: Disclosed is a nickel positive electrode for alkaline storage batteries with superb utilization of nickel hydroxide in an atmosphere from room temperature to high temperature. The positive electrode comprises a nickel hydroxide particle or a nickel hydroxide particle with one or more elements other than Ni incorporated therein, a coating layer which comprises a compound of cobalt having a mean valence over 2 and which coats the nickel hydroxide particle, and a compound of at least one element selected from the group consisting of Ca, Sr, Ba, Cu, Ag, Cd, Y, Yb, Ce, Sm, Gd and Er.

Abstract: An electrochemical device comprising an electrolyte and at least one electrode plate, the electrochemical device having a metal part constituting the electrode plate or being connected to the electrode plate; the electrolyte comprising a solute and a solvent dissolving the solute; the metal part having an insulating oxide layer for preventing the electrolyte from creeping on at least part of the surface of the metal part.

Abstract: In a conventional blowing apparatus, vibration is increased depending upon a combination of rotor magnetic poles, the number of stator salient poles and blades of a fan. In a blowing apparatus comprising a stator having a core including a M-number of salient poles, and a rotor having permanent magnets having a P-number of magnetic poles rotatably disposed such as to be opposed to magnetic pole surfaces of the stator, the stator and the rotor, in combination, forming a motor for rotating a fan having a N-number of blades, mN≠nM or mN≠nP is satisfied. With this feature, a synergism between vibration generated by cogging torque of the motor and vibration generated by rotation of the fan is moderated, and vibration and noise are reduced.

Abstract: A method of producing an electrode alloy powder is disclosed, wherein, to provide an electrode alloy powder capable of yielding an alkaline storage battery excellent in high-rate discharge property, self-discharge property and cycle life, a first step of immersing a starting powder comprising a hydrogen storage alloy containing 20 to 70 wt % of Ni in an aqueous solution containing 30 to 80 wt % of sodium hydroxide at a temperature of 90° C. or higher and a second step of washing with water the powder which has been subjected to the first step are conducted.

Abstract: The linear actuator with movable magnets includes a cylindrical inner yoke; a magnet holder disposed concentrically with the inner yoke via a clearance; a first and a second cylindrical magnets which are magnetized in the radial direction and held by the magnet holder in the axial direction; and an outer yoke disposed concentrically with the inner yoke. The magnetized directions of the two magnets are opposite to each other. The outer yoke has a first and a second coil-disposed sections, around which a first and a second driving coils are wound, respectively. The outer yoke also has a plurality of magnetic pole sections that oppose, via a clearance, to at least one of the first and the second magnets. Besides, in the actuator, dimensional requirements are defined for the magnetic pole and the magnets.

Abstract: A data conversion device is provided in an information-processing device having an image-display device as an integral part thereof, wherein the information-processing device supplies data to the image-display device through the data conversion device. The data conversion device includes a voltage-level conversion unit converting a voltage level of input data of the data conversion device inputted from the information-processing device to a desired voltage level, and a bit-length conversion unit converting a bit length of the input data to a desired bit length. The data conversion device is implemented on a single semiconductor chip, and is directly connected to the information-processing device without using a data transmission method of transmitting data for a long distance.

Abstract: In a conventional blowing apparatus, vibration is increased depending upon a combination of rotor magnetic poles, the number of stator salient poles and blades of a fan. In a blowing apparatus comprising a stator having a core including a M-number of salient poles, and a rotor having permanent magnets having a P-number of magnetic poles rotatably disposed such as to be opposed to magnetic pole surfaces of the stator, the stator and the rotor, in combination, forming a motor for rotating a fan having a N-number of blades, mN≠nM or mN≠nP is satisfied. With this feature, a synergism between vibration generated by cogging torque of the motor and vibration generated by rotation of the fan is moderated, and vibration and noise are reduced.

Abstract: Disclosed is a nickel positive electrode for alkaline storage batteries with superb utilization of nickel hydroxide in an atmosphere from room temperature to high temperature. The positive electrode comprises a nickel hydroxide particle or a nickel hydroxide particle with one or more elements other than Ni incorporated therein, a coating layer which comprises a compound of cobalt having a mean valence over 2 and which coats the nickel hydroxide particle, and a compound of at least one element selected from the group consisting of Ca, Sr, Ba, Cu, Ag, Cd, Y, Yb, Ce, Sm, Gd and Er.

Abstract: Disclosed is a nickel positive electrode for alkaline storage batteries with superb utilization of nickel hydroxide in an atmosphere from room temperature to high temperature. The positive electrode comprises a nickel hydroxide particle or a nickel hydroxide particle with one or more elements other than Ni incorporated therein, a coating layer which comprises a compound of cobalt having a mean valence over 2 and which coats the nickel hydroxide particle, and a compound of at least one element selected from the group consisting of Ca, Sr, Ba, Cu, Ag, Cd, Y, Yb, Ce, Sm, Gd and Er.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method for detecting a fully charged condition of a secondary battery by which the fully charged condition of a secondary battery can be detected accurately and deterioration in battery characteristic due to overcharging can be restrained irrespective of the charging mode and the surroundings, without the need for a special battery structure. In the method, pulse vibrations generated inside a secondary battery being charged are detected, and when the obtained characteristic value of the pulse vibrations, for example, incidence of generation of the vibrations reaches a predetermined value, the secondary battery is determined to be in fully charged condition.

Abstract: A bus controller includes a plurality of bus connectors provided in a bus so as to respectively and selectively connect a plurality of bus agents to the bus and disconnect the plurality of bus agents from the bus; and a bus connection controller for monitoring the bus and for controlling the plurality of bus connectors so as to disconnect any bus agent not accessed for a predetermined period of time.

Abstract: A positive electrode active material and a positive electrode for an alkaline storage battery are disclosed which exhibit high charge efficiency at a high temperature. The positive electrode active material comprises particles formed by agglomeration of crystals of nickel hydroxide active material, at least the surface layer of the particles containing a solid solution nickel hydroxide with manganese incorporated therein. The solid solution is present as crystals growing on the crystal surface of said nickel hydroxide active material and/or crystals independent of crystals of the nickel hydroxide active material. The content of manganese in the solid solution is at least one mole percent on the whole metal ions in the solid solution and not higher than 10 mole percent on the combined total amount of the metal ions in the nickel hydroxide active material and the solid solution.

Abstract: The present invention provides a high performance composite hydroxide active material which facilitates charging at high temperatures. It comprises a solid solution nickel hydroxide material having additive elements incorporated therein. The additive elements comprise at least one element selected from group A consisting of Fe, Cr, V, Ti, Y, La, Ce, Al, and Pb, and at least one element selected from group B consisting of Mn and Co.

Abstract: A nickel positive electrode for an alkaline storage battery having an improved utilization is disclosed. It comprises a nickel hydroxide powder and a cobalt hydroxide powder, wherein the cobalt hydroxide powder has a specific surface area of 10 m.sup.2 /g or larger and a particle diameter of one-half or less of that of the nickel hydroxide powder. A nickel-metal hydroxide storage battery having this nickel positive electrode is also disclosed.

Abstract: An optical pickup includes an object lens; a lens holder for holding the object lens; a visco-elastic suspender for suspending the lens holder so as to be movable in a focusing direction and a tracking direction; a driving section for driving the lens holder in the focusing direction and the tracking direction, the driving section including a magnet, a yoke and a driving coil provided on the lens holder. The magnet and the yoke form a magnetic circuit. A heat-insulating area is located between the object lens and the driving coil, and the heat-insulating area includes a heat-insulating material which has a thermal conductivity lower than that of the lens holder.