Abstract: A fuel cell (1) includes an electromotive unit (2) having a membrane electrode assembly (MEA) (12), a fuel storage unit (4) storing a liquid fuel, and a fuel supply mechanism (3) supplying the fuel from the fuel storage unit (4) to a fuel electrode (7) of the membrane electrode assembly (12). The membrane electrode assembly (12) has a gas vent hole (17) provided in a manner to penetrate through at least an electrolyte membrane (11) to let a gas component generated on a side of the fuel electrode (7) escape to a side of an air electrode (10).

Abstract: The present invention relates to a fuel cell including: a membrane electrode assembly (2) having a fuel electrode (13), an air electrode (16), and an electrolyte membrane (17) sandwiched therebetween; and a fuel storage unit (4) storing a liquid fuel. The fuel cell is capable of continuously generating electricity for long hours only by being replenished with a fuel, and therefore, attempts have been made to miniaturize the fuel cell to use it as a power source of portable electronic devices. When the membrane electrode assembly and the fuel storage unit in the fuel cell are connected via a flow path, a fuel supply state becomes uneven depending on the shape and the like of the flow path even though a supply amount of the fuel can be adjusted, which causes a problem such as a decrease in an output of the fuel cell.

Abstract: According to one embodiment, a fuel cell includes a membrane electrode assembly including a plurality of anodes, a plurality of cathodes each forming a pair with a corresponding one of the plurality of anodes, and an electrolyte membrane interposed between the anodes and the cathodes, a current collector configured to interpose the membrane electrode assembly in between, a fuel supply mechanism arranged on the side of the anodes of the membrane electrode assembly and configured to supply the anodes with a fuel, and a moisturizing layer arranged on the side of the cathodes of the membrane electrode assembly. The current collector includes a slit arranged so as to face a region between the cathodes.

Abstract: In electronic equipment using a fuel cell as a power source, an antenna and a fuel cell, which are provided in a lower case of a main body receiving electronic parts, are arranged at a given distance from each other. An acceptable communication state can be established in the electronic equipment.

Abstract: A PDA, which functions as an electronic unit, includes power supply which includes a fuel cell unit and an auxiliary power supply which is charged by an output of the fuel cell unit. A non-use state of the PDA is detected by non-use detection unit. Upon detection of the non-use state by the non-use detection unit, the output from the fuel cell unit is stopped and an output of the auxiliary power supply is shut off.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a fuel cell including: a membrane electrode assembly (2) having a fuel electrode (13), an air electrode (16), and an electrolyte membrane (17) sandwiched therebetween; and a fuel storage unit (4) storing a liquid fuel. The fuel cell is capable of continuously generating electricity for long hours only by being replenished with a fuel, and therefore, attempts have been made to miniaturize the fuel cell to use it as a power source of portable electronic devices. When the membrane electrode assembly and the fuel storage unit in the fuel cell are connected via a flow path, a fuel supply state becomes uneven depending on the shape and the like of the flow path even though a supply amount of the fuel can be adjusted, which causes a problem such as a decrease in an output of the fuel cell.

Abstract: A fuel cell (1) includes an electromotive unit (2) having a membrane electrode assembly (MEA) (12), a fuel storage unit (4) storing a liquid fuel, and a fuel supply mechanism (3) supplying the fuel from the fuel storage unit (4) to a fuel electrode (7) of the membrane electrode assembly (12). The membrane electrode assembly (12) has a gas vent hole (17) provided in a manner to penetrate through at least an electrolyte membrane (11) to let a gas component generated on a side of the fuel electrode (7) escape to a side of an air electrode (10).

Abstract: A fuel cell (10) has a fuel electrode, an air electrode, an electrolyte film (15) held between the fuel electrode and the air electrode, a liquid fuel tank (21) for containing liquid fuel, and a gas-liquid separation film (22) provided between the liquid fuel tank (21) and the fuel electrode. The gas-liquid separation film (22) exchanges heat between water vapor diffused from the fuel cell and the liquid fuel (F) and allows a vaporized component of the liquid fuel (F) to pass to the fuel electrode side.

Abstract: An electronic device is provided with an electronic device main unit, a power supply unit which has a power generator having a fuel cell unit, and supplies electric power to the main unit, and a switching unit which is connected between the main unit and the power supply unit, and controls turning on and off of the electric power supplied from the power generator to the main unit. The electronic device is provided with a power supply control signal detection unit to detect an external power supply control signal, and a control unit to control turning on and off of the power supply with the switching unit by detection of the power supply control signal with the power supply control signal detection unit.

Abstract: In electronic equipment using a fuel cell as a power source, an antenna and a fuel cell, which are provided in a lower case of a main body receiving electronic parts, are arranged at a given distance from each other. An acceptable communication state can be established in the electronic equipment.

Abstract: The fuel cell includes a membrane electrode assembly including a cathode catalyst layer, an anode catalyst layer and a proton conducting film provided between the cathode catalyst layer and the anode catalyst layer, a cathode conductive layer electrically connected to the cathode catalyst layer, an anode conductive layer electrically connected to the anode catalyst layer, a liquid fuel storage chamber which contains a liquid fuel, a gas-liquid separation film which selectively transmit a gasified component of the liquid fuel from the liquid fuel storage chamber to the anode catalyst layer, and a gasified fuel storage chamber formed at a section between the gas-liquid separation film and the anode conductive layer, and the distance L1 from the gas-liquid separation film to the anode conductive layer is set to 0 mm or more but 2 mm or less.

Abstract: A PDA, which functions as an electronic unit, includes power supply which includes a fuel cell unit and an auxiliary power supply which is charged by an output of the fuel cell unit. A non-use state of the PDA is detected by non-use detection unit. Upon detection of the non-use state by the non-use detection unit, the output from the fuel cell unit is stopped and an output of the auxiliary power supply is shut off.

Abstract: The present invention provides a fuel cell comprising: a cathode catalyst layer 2; an anode catalyst layer 3; a proton conductive membrane 6 disposed between the cathode catalyst layer 2 and the anode catalyst layer 3; a liquid fuel tank 9 for storing a liquid fuel L; a fuel vaporizing layer 10 for supplying a vaporized component of the liquid fuel L to the anode catalyst layer 3; a surface layer 15 having an air intake port 14 for supplying an air to the cathode catalyst layer 2; and a moisture retention plate 13A, disposed between the surface layer 15 and the cathode catalyst layer 2, for preventing water generated at the cathode catalyst layer from being evaporated, wherein the moisture retention plate is composed of a laminated body comprising at least two kind of porous members 13a and 13b each having different moisture permeability (moisture retention property).

Abstract: An uninterruptible power supply comprises a power supply unit for generating DC power at a predetermined voltage from AC power supplied from the outside to supply the DC power to an electronic device, and a rechargeable battery unit including rechargeable battery cells for storing the power supplied thereto from the power supply unit for supplying the electronic device with the power stored in the rechargeable battery upon service interruption of the AC power. Particularly, the rechargeable battery unit comprises a battery state monitoring unit for monitoring a state of the rechargeable battery cells, and communicating means for notifying the electronic device of information indicative of the state of the rechargeable battery detected by the battery state monitoring unit, thereby securely guaranteeing the operation of the electronic device upon power failure, and sufficiently improve the operational reliability of the entire system.

Abstract: An uninterruptible power supply comprises a power supply unit for generating DC power at a predetermined voltage from AC power supplied from the outside to supply the DC power to an electronic device, and a rechargeable battery unit including rechargeable battery cells for storing the power supplied thereto from the power supply unit for supplying the electronic device with the power stored in the rechargeable battery upon service interruption of the AC power. Particularly, the rechargeable battery unit comprises a battery state monitoring unit for monitoring a state of the rechargeable battery cells, and communicating means for notifying the electronic device of information indicative of the state of the rechargeable battery detected by the battery state monitoring unit, thereby securely guaranteeing the operation of the electronic device upon power failure, and sufficiently improve the operational reliability of the entire system.

Abstract: An uninterruptible power supply includes a power supply unit for generating DC power at a predetermined voltage from AC power supplied from the outside to supply the DC power to an electronic device, and a rechargeable battery unit including rechargeable battery cells for storing the power supplied thereto from the power supply unit for supplying the electronic device with the power stored in the rechargeable battery upon service interruption of the AC power. The rechargeable battery unit includes a battery state monitoring unit for monitoring a state of the rechargeable battery cells and a communicating unit for notifying the electronic device of information indicative of the state of the rechargeable battery detected by the battery state monitoring unit. The rechargeable battery cells include nickel-metal hydride rechargeable batteries.

Abstract: A battery pack having a plurality of battery cells stored side by side in a case. The case, in particular, includes a bottomed trough and a lid, the trough having a space as a cell storage portion defined between inner and outer wall portions paired to form a loop and a space as a hollow surrounded by the inner wall portion and penetrating the trough from top to bottom, the lid closing a top opening of the cell storage portion. The battery cells are arranged in a loop along the inner and outer wall portions, whereby a rise and variation in their temperature can be restrained.

Abstract: An uninterruptible power supply comprises a power supply unit for generating DC power at a predetermined voltage from AC power supplied from the outside to supply the DC power to an electronic device, and a rechargeable battery unit including rechargeable battery cells for storing the power supplied thereto from the power supply unit for supplying the electronic device with the power. stored in the rechargeable battery upon service interruption of the AC power. Particularly, the rechargeable battery unit comprises a battery state monitoring unit for monitoring a state of the rechargeable battery cells, and communicating means for notifying the electronic device of information indicative of the state of the rechargeable battery detected by the battery state monitoring unit, thereby securely guaranteeing the operation of the electronic device upon power failure, and sufficiently improve the operational reliability of the entire system.