Abstract:
The present invention provides a fuel-cell-equipped apparatus equipped with a fuel cell, comprising: a holding part which holds a fuel cartridge in which a fuel that is supplied to the fuel cell is sealed, wherein the holding part is capable of being in a first holding state holding the fuel cartridge in a position incapable of supplying the fuel to the fuel cell, and being in a second holding state holding the fuel cartridge in a position capable of supplying the fuel to the fuel cell, in order to solve the problem that the fuel-cell-equipped apparatuses become large in size by the amount of the spaces for them.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0001]     1. Field of the Invention  
         [0002]     The present invention relates to a fuel-cell-equipped apparatus and a fuel cartridge, and particularly relates to an apparatus equipped with a fuel cell such as a direct methanol fuel cell using a methanol solution (fuel), and a fuel cartridge in which the fuel is sealed.  
         [0003]     2. Description of the Related Art  
         [0004]     A fuel-cell-equipped apparatus in which a fuel cell is mounted on a portable electronic apparatus such as a digital camera, and a camera-equipped portable telephone to drive the portable electronic apparatus by electric power obtained from the fuel cell is known (for example, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2004-355871).  
         [0005]     As the fuel cell which is mounted on such a portable electronic apparatus, a direct methanol fuel cell which supplies a methanol solution being the fuel to a fuel electrode (anode) of the fuel cell and supplies oxygen to an air electrode (cathode) of the fuel cell, and thereby obtains electric power via an electrolyte membrane such as a proton conductive membrane is known.  
         [0006]     Besides, a portable electronic apparatus which includes a fuel pack and a sub pack in a digital camera equipped with a fuel cell, and supplies a fuel sealed in these packs to the fuel cell by a driving force of a pump provided at the digital camera is proposed (for example, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2004-139742). Further, a portable apparatus which has a delivery pump incorporated therein and supplies a fuel in a fuel cartridge to a fuel cell by a driving force of the delivery pump is proposed (for example, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2004-119027).  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0007]     However, the above described conventional portable electronic apparatuses which supply the fuel sealed in the packs and the fuel cartridges to the fuel cells by the pumps have the disadvantage that since they have the pumps incorporated in the apparatus bodies, they are large in size and heavy in weight, and thus they are unsuitable for being carried.  
         [0008]     Since in the conventional fuel-cell-equipped apparatuses, the packs and the fuel cartridges are held in the same locations, it cannot be visually checked whether the held packs and fuel cartridges are in the state before the fuel is supplied or in the state where the fuel is supplied, thus causing the problem of replacing the pack before supply with a new pack, and removing the pack under supply from the holding part.  
         [0009]     Furthermore, the conventional fuel-cell-equipped apparatuses hold the packs and the fuel cartridges, and therefore, they have the problem that the fuel-cell-equipped apparatuses become large in size by the amount of the spaces for them.  
         [0010]     The present invention is made in view of the above circumstances, and has an object to provide a fuel-cell-equipped apparatus which is compact and light in weight and can visually recognize a state of a fuel cartridge, and the fuel cartridge suitable for this.  
         [0011]     In order to achieve the above described object, the invention of a first aspect is, in a fuel-cell-equipped apparatus equipped with a fuel cell, characterized by including a holding part which holds a fuel cartridge in which a fuel that is supplied to the fuel cell and compressed air are sealed.  
         [0012]     According to the fuel-cell-equipped apparatus of the first aspect, the holding part which holds the fuel cartridge in which the fuel that is supplied to the fuel cell and the compressed air are sealed is provided. When the fuel sealed in the fuel cartridge is supplied to the fuel cell of the portable electronic apparatus after the fuel cartridge is held in this holding part, the fuel is supplied by being rapidly pumped by the pressure of the compressed air also sealed in the fuel cartridge. Thereby, the fuel can be supplied to the fuel cell without providing a pump, and therefore, a compact and light fuel-cell-equipped apparatus can be provided. Besides, a reserve fuel cartridge can be held in the above described holding part.  
         [0013]     In order to achieve the above described object, the invention according to a second aspect is, in a fuel-cell-equipped apparatus equipped with a fuel cell, characterized by including a holding part which holds a fuel cartridge in which a fuel that is supplied to the fuel cell is sealed, and characterized in that the holding part is capable of being in a first holding state holding the fuel cartridge in a position incapable of supplying the fuel to the fuel cell, and being in a second holding state holding the fuel cartridge in a position capable of supplying the fuel to the fuel cell.  
         [0014]     According to the invention described in the second aspect, the holding part of the fuel cartridge is constructed to be able to be in the first holding state holding the fuel cartridge in the position incapable of supplying the fuel to the fuel cell and in the second holding state holding the fuel cartridge in the position capable of supplying the fuel to the fuel cell, and therefore, the state of the fuel-cell-equipped apparatus can be visually recognized.  
         [0015]     In order to achieve the above described object, the invention according to a third aspect is, in a fuel-cell-equipped apparatus equipped with a fuel cell, characterized by including a holding part which holds a fuel cartridge in which a fuel that is supplied to the fuel cell is sealed, and characterized in that the holding part is provided in a hinge part of the fuel-cell-equipped apparatus.  
         [0016]     According to the invention of the third aspect, the holding part of the fuel cartridge is provided in the hinge part which is a dead space of the fuel-cell-equipped apparatus, and therefore, the fuel cartridge can be held without increasing the fuel-cell-equipped apparatus in size.  
         [0017]     The invention according to a fourth aspect is, in the invention of the first, second and third aspects, characterized by further including a control unit which causes a display part to indicate that the fuel cartridge is required to be held to the holding part when the fuel in the fuel cell lowers from a predetermined amount, and causes the display part to indicate that the fuel of the fuel cartridge is supplied to the fuel cell when the fuel in the fuel cell lowers from an amount required at generating electrical power.  
         [0018]     According to the invention of the fourth aspect, it is indicated in the display part that the fuel cartridge is required to be held to the holding part when the fuel in the fuel cell lowers from a predetermined amount, and it is indicated in the display part that the fuel in the fuel cartridge is supplied to the fuel cell when. Therefore, an insertion operation of the fuel cartridge into the holding part, and the fuel supply operation of the fuel cartridge can be smoothly performed.  
         [0019]     Also, the invention according to a fourth aspect is, in the invention of the first, second and third aspects, characterized by further including a control unit which causes a display part to indicate that the fuel cartridge is required to be held to the holding part when generated voltage of the fuel cell lowers from a predetermined voltage, and causes the display part to indicate that the fuel of the fuel cartridge is supplied to the fuel cell when the generated voltage of the fuel cell lowers from a limit voltage.  
         [0020]     According to the invention of the fourth aspect, it is indicated in the display part that the fuel cartridge is required to be held to the holding part when the generated voltage of the fuel cell lowers from the predetermined voltage, and it is indicated in the display part that the fuel in the fuel cartridge is supplied to the fuel cell when the generated voltage of the fuel cell lowers from a limit voltage.  
         [0021]     The invention according to a fifth aspect is, in the invention of the first, second and third aspects, characterized in that a fuel supply section is provided at the holding part of the fuel-cell-equipped apparatus, and the fuel in the fuel cartridge is supplied to the fuel cell by the fuel supply section.  
         [0022]     According to the fuel-cell-equipped apparatus of the fifth aspect, the fuel of the fuel cartridge is supplied to the fuel cell via the fuel supply section by the pressure of the compressed air.  
         [0023]     The invention according to a sixth aspect is, in the invention of the fifth aspect, characterized in that a fuel feeding pipe is provided at the fuel supply section of the fuel-cell-equipped apparatus, and a base end portion of the fuel feeding pipe is allowed to communicate with the fuel cell and a sharpened part which pierces the fuel cartridge is formed at a tip end portion of the fuel feeding pipe.  
         [0024]     According to the fuel-cell-equipped apparatus of the sixth aspect, when the fuel cartridge is pushed in by being held in the holding part, by this operation, the fuel cartridge is pierced by the sharpened part of the fuel feeding pipe provided at the fuel supply section, and therefore, the fuel in the fuel cartridge is supplied to the fuel cell via the fuel feeding pipe. Thereby, with the extremely simple structure, the fuel in the fuel cartridge can be supplied to the fuel cell.  
         [0025]     The invention according to a seventh aspect is, in the fuel cartridge which is used for the fuel-cell-equipped apparatus of the second aspect, characterized in that a first positioning portion for positioning the fuel cartridge in the first holding state, and a second positioning portion for positioning the fuel cartridge in the second holding state are formed.  
         [0026]     According to the fuel-cell-equipped apparatus of the seventh aspect, when the fuel cartridge is in the first holding state, the fuel cartridge is positioned in the first holding state by the first positioning portion formed in itself, and is positioned in the second holding state by the second positioning portion formed in itself. Therefore, the fuel cartridge is reliably positioned in the first holding state and the second holding state.  
         [0027]     According to the invention described in an eighth aspect, the fuel cartridge is, in the fuel cartridge which is used for the fuel-cell-equipped apparatus of the sixth aspect, characterized in that the fuel cartridge is constructed by a rigid portion and an elastic portion, and the sharpened part of the fuel feeding pipe pierces the elastic portion.  
         [0028]     According to the fuel cartridge described in the eighth aspect, by making the portion pierced by the sharpened part of the fuel feeding pipe described in the sixth aspect the elastic portion, it can be easily pierced by the sharpened part, and after being pierced, the elastic portion closely contacts the outer peripheral surface of the fuel feeding pipe by the elastic restoring force of the elastic portion. Therefore, leakage of the fuel can be prevented. By making the other portion the rigid portion, rigidity can be given to the fuel cartridge.  
         [0029]     According to the invention described in a ninth aspect, in the fuel cartridge which is used for the fuel-cell-equipped apparatus of the sixth aspect, the fuel cartridge is characterized in that the fuel cartridge is constructed to be of a double bag body structure, the fuel is sealed in an inner bag body, and compressed air which applies pressure to the inner bag body is sealed in an outer bag body.  
         [0030]     According to the fuel cartridge described in the ninth aspect, the fuel is sealed in the inner bag body and the compressed air which applies the pressure to the inner bag body is sealed in the outer bag body, whereby when the sharpened part of the fuel feeding pipe described in the sixth aspect pierces the fuel cartridge, the fuel sealed in the inner bag body is pushed out into the fuel feeding pipe and supplied by the pressure of the compressed air which is sealed in the outer bag body. By separately preparing the bag bodies in which the fuel and the compressed air are sealed as above, the pressure of the compressed air in the outer bag body can be applied to the surface of the inner bag body substantially uniformly, and therefore, reliability of refueling is enhanced.  
         [0031]     As described above, according to the fuel-cell-equipped apparatus of the present invention, the holding part which holds the fuel cartridge in which the fuel which is supplied to the fuel cell and the compressed air are sealed is provided, and the fuel can be supplied to the fuel cell without providing a pump. Therefore, a compact and light fuel-cell-equipped apparatus can be provided.  
         [0032]     Besides, according to the fuel-cell-equipped apparatus of the present invention, the holding part of the fuel cartridge is constructed to be capable of being in the first holding state holding the fuel cartridge in the position incapable of supplying the fuel to the fuel cell and in the second holding state holding the fuel cartridge in the position capable of supplying the fuel to the fuel cell, and therefore, the state of the fuel-cell-equipped apparatus can be visually recognized.  
         [0033]     Further, according to the fuel-cell-equipped apparatus of the present invention, the holding part of the fuel cartridge is provided in the hinge part which is the dead space of the fuel-cell-equipped apparatus, and therefore; the fuel cartridge can be held without increasing the fuel-cell-equipped apparatus in size.  
         [0034]     According to the fuel cartridge of the present invention, the fuel cartridge is positioned in the first holding state by the first positioning portion formed in itself, and is positioned in the second holding state by the second positioning portion formed in itself, and therefore, the fuel cartridge can be reliably positioned in the first holding state and the second holding state.  
         [0035]     Besides, according to the fuel cartridge of the present invention, the fuel cartridge is constructed by the rigid portion and the elastic portion, and the sharpened part of the fuel feeding pipe pierces the elastic portion. Therefore, leakage of the fuel after piercing can be prevented, and since the other portion is made the rigid body, rigidity of the fuel cartridge can be enhanced.  
         [0036]     Further, according to the fuel cartridge of the present invention, the fuel cartridge is constructed to be of the double bag body structure, the fuel is sealed in the inner bag body, and the compressed air which applies the pressure to the inner bag body is sealed in the outer bag body. Therefore, the pressure of the compressed air in the outer bag body can be applied to the surface of the inner bag body substantially uniformly, and thereby, reliability of refueling is enhanced. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0037]      FIG. 1 a  general perspective view showing a camera-equipped portable telephone of an embodiment;  
         [0038]      FIG. 2  is a block diagram showing a construction of the camera-equipped portable telephone shown in  FIG. 1 ;  
         [0039]      FIG. 3  is an explanatory view showing a section of a fuel cartridge and a hinge shaft of the embodiment;  
         [0040]      FIG. 4  is a sectional view showing a state in which the fuel cartridge is housed into the hinge shaft in  FIG. 3 ;  
         [0041]      FIG. 5  is a sectional view showing a state in which the fuel cartridge is completely housed in the hinge shaft in  FIG. 3 ;  
         [0042]      FIG. 6  is a sectional view of the hinge shaft showing a first position of a holding part;  
         [0043]      FIG. 7  is a sectional view of the hinge shaft showing a second position of the holding part;  
         [0044]      FIG. 8  is a sectional view showing a section of a fuel cartridge of another embodiment and the hinge shaft;  
         [0045]      FIG. 9  is a sectional view showing a state in which the fuel cartridge is inserted into the hinge shaft in  FIG. 8 ;  
         [0046]      FIG. 10  is a sectional view showing a state in which the fuel cartridge is completely inserted in the hinge shaft in  FIG. 8 ;  
         [0047]      FIG. 11  is a sectional view showing a contracted action of the fuel cartridge in  FIG. 8 ;  
         [0048]      FIG. 12  is a schematic view showing another embodiment of a fuel supply section which supplies the fuel to a fuel cell;  
         [0049]      FIG. 13  is a sectional view of a holding part in which the fuel cartridge is held in the first holding state by frictional resistance;  
         [0050]      FIG. 14  is a sectional view of the holding part in which the fuel cartridge is held in the second holding state by the frictional resistance;  
         [0051]      FIG. 15  is a sectional view showing another embodiment of the fuel supply device;  
         [0052]      FIG. 16  is a sectional view showing another embodiment of the fuel supply device;  
         [0053]      FIG. 17  is a sectional view showing another embodiment of the fuel supply device;  
         [0054]      FIG. 18  is a perspective view of a camera showing one example of a camera in which the fuel cartridge is loaded; and  
         [0055]      FIG. 19  is a flowchart showing a use method of the fuel cartridge in the camera shown in  FIG. 18 . 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
       [0056]     Preferred embodiments of a fuel-cell-equipped apparatus and a fuel cartridge of the present invention will be described in detail in accordance with the attached drawings hereinafter.  
         [0057]      FIG. 1  is a general perspective view of a camera-equipped portable telephone  10  according to an embodiment to which the fuel-cell-equipped apparatus of the present invention is applied.  
         [0058]     The camera-equipped portable telephone  10  shown in the drawing is a folding portable telephone in which a body  12  is folded to be openable and closable via a hinge shaft (hinge part)  14  at a central portion, and a fuel cell is mounted in a hollow portion of the hinge shaft  14 . The fuel cell will be described later.  
         [0059]     The body  12  of the camera-equipped portable telephone  10  is constructed by an operation section  24  on which various kinds of operation buttons such as a power supply button  16 , a talk button  18 , a dial button  20 , and a cross button  22  which is a menu selecting button are exposed and a display section  28  on which a main display  26  is exposed when the body  12  is opened with the hinge shaft  14  as a center. The main display  26  is, for example, a transmission type TFT liquid crystal display with QVGA (Quarter Video Graphics Array: 240 by 320 dots) of about 2.2 inches, which displays an image with high definition in accordance with the number of pixels of a camera module  30  provided adjacently to the hinge shaft  14  is mounted. The camera module  30  is, for example, a camera such as a CCD, C-MOS or the like of one million pixels having an auto-focus function and an electronic zoom function of seven times at the maximum.  
         [0060]     A sub display (not shown) is provided at a back surface of the display section  28 . The sub display is, for example, a semitransmissive TFT liquid crystal display of about 1.1 inches (120 by 120 dots), where time, radio sensitivity and the like are displayed when the camera-equipped portable telephone  10  is in the talk mode, and an image which is picked up by the camera module  30  is displayed when it is switched to the camera mode from the talk mode. Switching of the talk mode and the camera mode is performed by operating the cross button  22  of the operation section  24 .  
         [0061]     At an image picking up time of the camera-equipped portable telephone  10 , the main display  26  and the sub display of the display section  28  function as an electronic view finder when the camera-equipped portable telephone  10  is switched to the camera mode from the talk mode by the operation of the cross button  22 . When the photographer performs a pressing operation of a release switch  32 , a subject image taken by the camera module  30  is picked up, and the picked-up image is displayed on the main display  26  and the sub display as a static image. The image data of the picked-up subject image is recorded in an external memory slot  34  of 64 MB, for example, such as a memory stick and a memory card as an electronic data by a registration operation by the cross button  22 . The release switch  32  and an insertion port  36  of the external memory slot  34  are adjacently disposed respectively on a side surface of the operation section  24 .  
         [0062]      FIG. 2  is a block diagram showing a construction of the camera-equipped portable telephone  10 .  
         [0063]     According to the drawing, when the release switch  32  is pressed, a shutter  38  of the camera module  30  opens, subject light incident from the lens  40  is focused on an image formation surface of a CCD (or C-MOS)  42 , and the optical data is converted into an electric image data. After the image data is image-processed by an image processing section  44 , the image data is stored in the external memory slot  34  as the image data.  
         [0064]     Each section constructing the camera-equipped portable telephone  10  is collectively controlled by a CPU  46 . A secondary battery (battery)  48  is connected to the CPU  46 , and each section constructing the camera-equipped portable telephone  10  is driven by the electric power charged in the secondary battery  48 . The secondary battery  48  is detachably mounted to a back surface of the operation section  24 .  
         [0065]     The CPU  46  performs power generation of a fuel cell  52  by operating a converter  50  when the electric power charged in the secondary battery  48  becomes insufficient. Then, the electric power is supplied to the secondary battery  48  from the fuel cell  52  to charge the secondary battery  48 . When the charge is completed, the CPU  46  stops the power generation of the fuel cell  52  by stopping the operation of the converter  50 . The fuel cell  52  is mounted in the hollow portion of the hinge shaft  14  shown in  FIG. 1  as described above.  
         [0066]     Next, the fuel cell  52  will be described.  
         [0067]     The fuel cell  52  of the embodiment is a direct methanol fuel cell, and a casing  54  of the fuel cell  52  is divided into a fuel chamber  58  and an air chamber  60  by a battery cell  56  as shown in  FIG. 3 . A base end part  62 A of a fuel feeding pipe  62  constructing a fuel supply section is connected to the fuel chamber  58 , a tip end part  62 B of the fuel feeding pipe  62  is extensively provided in a cartridge holding chamber (holding section)  66  through a partition wall  64  formed inside the hinge shaft  14 . The tip end part  62 B of the fuel feeding pipe  62  is formed into a sharpened shape so as to be able to pierce a fuel cartridge  68  which will be described later. The cartridge holding chamber  66  is constructed integrally with the hinge shaft  14  by forming the hinge shaft  14  to be hollow as shown in  FIG. 1 , where the cylindrical cartridge holding chamber  66  is formed coaxially with the hinge shaft  14 .  
         [0068]     Meanwhile, a water storage part  70  is provided adjacently to the air chamber  60  as shown in  FIG. 3 . The water storage part  70  communicates with the air chamber  60  via a water discharge port  72 . Thereby, water which is generated in the air chamber  60  is stored in the water storage part  70  via the water discharge port  72 . The water stored in the water storage part  70  is heated by heat of a heater  74  adjacent to the storage part  70 , then becomes water vapor and is released to outside air via a filter  76 . The water storage part  70  and the heater  74  are housed in the hollow portion of the hinge shaft  14 , and the filter  76  is attached in a through hole  78  formed in the hinge shaft  14 . The heater  74  is also driven when the camera-equipped portable telephone  10  is used in a low-temperature environment. Namely, the fuel cell  52  usually cannot cause chemical reaction in a low-temperature environment at a below-freezing temperature or the like, but it causes chemical reaction and generates power by being heated by the heater  74 . Accordingly, the one heater  74  provides the functions of the heater which vaporizes water and the heater which heats the fuel cell  52 .  
         [0069]     The battery cell  56  is constructed by a fuel electrode  80  which constructs a wall surface of the fuel chamber  58 , an air electrode  82  which constructs a wall surface of the air chamber  60 , and a proton conductive membrane  84  sandwiched by the fuel electrode  80  and the air electrode  82 .  
         [0070]     When a methanol solution (hereinafter called “fuel”) is supplied to the fuel chamber  58 , and voltage is applied to the fuel electrode  80 , the fuel is decomposed into carbon dioxide, ions of hydrogen and electrons by a catalytic reaction in the fuel electrode  80 . The carbon dioxide is released to the outside air from the fuel chamber  58  via a gas-liquid separating filter (not shown) provided on the wall surface of the fuel chamber  58  and an air-vent hole (not shown) formed in the hinge shaft, and the ions of hydrogen pass through the proton conductive membrane  84  and move to the air electrode  82 . The electrons flow to the secondary battery  48  by the converter  50 , and thereby the secondary battery  48  is charged.  
         [0071]     The ions of hydrogen which move to the air electrode  82  pass through the gas-liquid separating filter (not shown) provided on the wall surface of the air chamber  60 , and thereafter, combine with oxygen and electrons which flow into the air chamber  60  via an air intake hole  86  (see  FIG. 1 ) of the hinge shaft  14  to be water. The water is stored in the water storage part  70  via the water discharge port  72 , and thereafter, becomes water vapor by the heat of the heater  74  as described above to be released to the outside air.  
         [0072]     The fuel cartridge  68  is constructed by a substantially cylindrical cartridge body  90  and a cap  92 . The cartridge body  90  is an extensible and contractible bag body made of an alcohol-resistant material such as Teflon rubber, is formed into a size capable of being housed in the cartridge holding chamber  66  as shown in  FIG. 4 , and has a fuel  94  that is the fuel and a compressed air  96  at a predetermined pressure sealed inside.  
         [0073]     When the cartridge body  90  is completely housed in the cartridge holding chamber  66  as shown in  FIG. 5 , the cartridge body  90  is pierced by the tip end portion (sharpened portion)  62 B of the fuel feeding pipe  62 . By this operation, the fuel  94  sealed in the cartridge body  90  is pumped (supplied) to the fuel chamber  58  of the fuel cell  52  via the fuel feeding pipe  62  by the pressure of the compressed air  96 . The cap  92  is formed into the size which is fitted into an open end portion  67  of the cartridge holding chamber  66  when the fuel cartridge  68  is completely housed in the cartridge holding chamber  66  as shown in  FIG. 5 . The cap  92  may be constructed to be a separate piece from the cartridge body  90 . It is preferable to provide a check-valve in the fuel feeding pipe  62  and prevent backflow of the fuel  94  supplied to the fuel chamber  58  to the cartridge body  90 . Further, in the case of the fuel cartridge in which only the fuel  94  is sealed, a pump is provided separately and the fuel  94  is supplied to the fuel chamber  58  by the pump.  
         [0074]     Incidentally, the cartridge holding chamber  66  is provided with a lock claw  98  which prevents the fuel cartridge  68  from unexpectedly falling off from the cartridge holding chamber  66  as shown in  FIG. 5 . The lock claw  98  is disposed in an opening  100  which is formed in the cartridge holding chamber  66 , is formed integrally with an arm  102  disposed outside the cartridge holding chamber  66 , and is made capable of advancing and retreating with respect to the cartridge holding chamber  66  by the arm  102  being rotatably supported by the body  12  via a shaft  104 . The lock claw  98  is biased in a direction to advance with respect to the cartridge holding chamber  66  as shown in  FIG. 3  by a biasing force of a spring  106  attached to the hinge shaft  14  and the arm  102 , and is made to abut on a base portion of the cartridge body  90  with a predetermined biasing force when the fuel cartridge  68  is completely housed in the cartridge holding chamber  66  as shown in  FIG. 5 . Thereby, the fuel cartridge  68  is prevented from slipping off unexpectedly. When the fuel cartridge  68  is removed from the cartridge holding chamber  66 , by picking and extracting the cap  92 , the lock claw  98  retreats from the cartridge holding chamber  66  against the biasing force of the spring  106  by the extracting force, and therefore, the fuel cartridge  68  can be removed from the cartridge holding chamber  66  without any problem.  
         [0075]     A micro switch  108  is connected to the lock claw  98  via the arm  102 . The micro switch  108  has a pair of contact pieces  110  and  112  which are turned ON/OFF by a projected part  103  which is provided to project at an end portion of the arm  102 . Namely, as shown in  FIGS. 3 and 5 , the micro-switch  108  is turned ON by providing continuity between the contact pieces  110  and  112  by the contact piece  110  being pressed by the projected part  103 , and is turned OFF by the projected part  103  retreating from the contact piece  110  as shown in  FIG. 4  to provide discontinuity between the contact pieces  110  and  112 . The ON/OFF signals of the micro-switch  108  are outputted to the CPU  46  shown in  FIG. 2 . The CPU  46  detects complete insertion of the fuel cartridge  68  by the ON signal from the micro-switch  108 , and thereafter, inputs a power supply to each section which constructs the camera-equipped portable telephone  10 . When the CPU  46  detects the OFF signal from the micro-switch  108  at the time of the power supply being turned ON of the camera-equipped portable telephone  10 , namely, when the CPU  46  detects the fuel cartridge  68  being housed as shown in  FIG. 4 , it forcefully turns OFF the power supply of the camera-equipped portable telephone  10  in order to prevent the fuel  94  from being supplied at the time of the power supply being turned ON. The present invention is not limited to the signal from the micro-switch  108 , and in the case of the cartridge holding chamber  66  having a lid, the CUP  46  may forcefully turn OFF the power supply of the camera-equipped portable telephone  10  when it detects an opening operation of the lid by a sensor.  
         [0076]     An observation window  116  in which a transparent plastic plate  114  is fitted is formed at the hinge shaft  14  as shown in  FIG. 1 , and the residual amount of the fuel  94  in the cartridge body  90  can be visually recognized via the observation window  116 . Thereby, when the fuel  94  in the cartridge body  90  is used up and the cartridge body  90  becomes completely empty of the fuel  94 , the fuel cartridge  68  can be replaced with a new fuel cartridge  68 .  
         [0077]     According to the camera-equipped portable telephone  10  constructed as described above, the cartridge holding chamber  66  which holds the fuel cartridge  68  in which the fuel  94  to be supplied to the fuel cell  52  and the compressed air  96  are sealed is provided. When the fuel cell  52  is held in the cartridge holding chamber  66  and the fuel  94  sealed in the fuel cartridge  68  is supplied to the fuel cell  52  of the camera-equipped portable telephone  10 , the supply of the fuel  94  is performed by rapidly pumping the fuel  94  via the fuel feeding pipe  62  by the pressure of the compressed air  96  which is similarly sealed in the fuel cartridge  68 . Thereby, the fuel  94  can be supplied to the fuel cell  52  without providing a pump, and therefore, the compact and light camera-equipped portable telephone  10  can be provided.  
         [0078]     According to the fuel cartridge  68  of the embodiment, the fuel  94  can be reliably supplied to the fuel cell  52  with the simple construction in which the fuel  94  and the compressed air  96  are only sealed in the cartridge body  90 .  
         [0079]     Further, according to the camera-equipped portable telephone  10 , the cartridge holding chamber  66  is formed in the hollow portion of the hinge shaft  14  which is a dead space of the camera-equipped portable telephone  10 , and therefore, the cartridge holding chamber  66  can be included in the camera-equipped portable telephone  10  without increasing the camera-equipped portable telephone  10  in size. If there is an allowance in a cylindrical space of the hinge shaft  14 , a reserve tank may be formed between the fuel cell  52  and the cartridge holding chamber  66 , and the fuel of the fuel cartridge  68  may be temporarily stored in the reserve tank and then supplied to the fuel cell  52 .  
         [0080]      FIG. 6  is a sectional view showing a state in which a fuel cartridge  168  of another embodiment is held and positioned in a first holding state in the cartridge holding chamber  66  of the hinge shaft  14 , and  FIG. 7  is a sectional view showing a state in which the fuel cartridge  168  is held and positioned in a second holding state in the cartridge chamber  66 .  
         [0081]     A cartridge body  190  of the fuel cartridge  168  is constructed by a rigid member (rigid body portion)  192  of a transparent plastic or the like in most part of it, and a portion which is pierced by the fuel feeding pipe  62  is constructed by an elastic member (elastic body portion)  194  of rubber or the like.  
         [0082]     In the first holding state shown in  FIG. 6 , the lock claw  98  is engaged with a constricted portion (first positioning portion)  191  formed at the cartridge body  190  of the fuel cartridge  168 . In this first holding state, the fuel cartridge  168  is held in the position immediately before it is pierced by the fuel feeding pipe  62 . The first holding state can be visually recognized by recognizing the insertion position of the fuel cartridge  168 . In the second holding state shown in  FIG. 7 , the lock claw  98  is engaged with a rear end curved portion  193  of the cartridge body  190 . In the second holding state, the fuel cartridge  168  is held in the state in which it is pierced by the fuel feeding pipe  62 . The second holding state can be visually recognized by recognizing the insertion position of the fuel cartridge  168  and the lock claw  98 .  
         [0083]     According to the fuel cartridge  168  thus constructed, by holding and positioning the fuel cartridge  168  in the first holding state in  FIG. 6 , the fuel cartridge  168  can be held in the camera-equipped portable telephone  10  in the state in which the fuel cartridge  168  does not fall off the camera-equipped portable telephone  10  and the reserve fuel  94  is not supplied. When the residual amount of the secondary battery  48  runs out thereafter, and a battery warning light (not shown) which is provided at the camera-equipped portable telephone  10  is lit, the fuel  94  is supplied to the fuel cell  52 . In this case, the fuel cartridge  168  is moved to the position of the second holding state in  FIG. 7  from the position of the first holding state. By this movement, the elastic member  194  of the cartridge body  190  is pierced by the sharpened part  62 B of the fuel feeding pipe, and therefore, the fuel  94  in the fuel cartridge  168  is pumped to the fuel cell  52  via the fuel feeding pipe  62  by the pressure of the compressed air  96 . Thereby, the fuel  94  in the fuel cartridge  168  can be supplied to the fuel cell  52  by the extremely simple structure.  
         [0084]     The shape of the cartridge body  190  may be changed so that it is difficult for the cartridge body to be housed in the cartridge holding chamber  66  from an opposite end portion, by making the end portion with the elastic member  194  thin and by making the diameter of the opposite end portion slightly larger than the diameter of the open end portion  67  of the cartridge holding chamber  66  so that the cartridge body  190  may be inserted with the elastic member  194  in the forefront. Namely, it is preferable to give the directional property of insertion to the fuel cartridge  168 .  
         [0085]     Furthermore, the portion which is pierced by the sharpened part  62 B of the fuel feeding pipe  62  is made the elastic member  194 , whereby it can be easily pierced by the sharpened part  62 B, and after being pierced, the elastic member  194  closely contacts the outer peripheral surface of the fuel feeding pipe  62  by the elastic restoring force of the elastic member  194 , thus making it possible to prevent leakage of the fuel  94 . By making the other portion the rigid member  192 , rigidity can be given to the fuel cartridge  168 .  
         [0086]     A fuel cartridge  268  of another embodiment is shown in FIGS.  8  to  11 . A cartridge body  290  of this fuel cartridge  268  is constructed to be of a double bag body structure constituted of an inner bag  292  and an outer bag  294 . The fuel  94  is sealed in the inner bag  292 , and the compressed air  96  which gives pressure to the inner bag  292  is sealed in the outer bag  294 .  
         [0087]     When this fuel cartridge  268  is inserted into the cartridge holding chamber  66  as shown in  FIG. 9 , and the sharpened part  62 B of the fuel feeding pipe  62  is caused to pierce the inner bag  292  from the outer bag  294  as shown in  FIG. 10 , the fuel  94  sealed in the inner bag  292  is pushed out to the fuel feeding pipe  62  by the pressure of the compressed air  96  sealed in the outer bag  294 , and is pumped to the fuel cell  52 . By separately preparing the bag bodies  292  and  294  in which the fuel  94  and the compressed air  96  are sealed, the pressure of the compressed air  96  in the outer bag  294  can be applied to the surface of the inner bag  292  substantially uniformly as shown in  FIG. 11 , and therefore, reliability of refueling is enhanced.  
         [0088]      FIG. 12  is a schematic diagram showing another embodiment of a fuel supply device which supplies a fuel to the fuel cell  52 . A fuel supply device  300  includes the fuel feeding pipe  62  at which the sharpening part  62 B is formed, a buffer tank  302 , a pump  304  and the like. The pump  304  is constructed by a pair of rollers  308  which deform a rubber tube  306  connecting the buffer tank  302  and the fuel cell  52  to pump the fuel  94  in the rubber tube  306  to the fuel cell  52 , and a motor  310  which rotates these rollers  308  around a shaft  309 .  
         [0089]     When the elastic member  370  of a fuel cartridge  368  is pierced by the sharpened part  62 B of the fuel feeding pipe  62 , the pump  304  is driven. Thereby, the fuel  94  in the fuel cartridge  368  is sucked by the pump  304 , and is stored in the buffer tank  302  from the fuel feeding pipe  62 , after which the fuel  94  is supplied to the fuel cell  52  via the tube  306 . The fuel  94  which is stored in the buffer tank  302  is prevented from flowing back by a check valve  312  provided inside the fuel feeding pipe  62 .  
         [0090]     In  FIGS. 6 and 7 , the first holding state and the second holding state can be obtained by forming the lock claw  98  and the constricted portion  191  or the like at the fuel cartridge  168 , but the present invention is not limited to this. As shown in  FIG. 13 , by bringing an outer peripheral surface of the fuel cartridge  168  into contact with an inner peripheral surface of the cartridge holding chamber  66 , the fuel cartridge  168  may be held and positioned in the first holding state by the frictional resistance caused by this, and as shown in  FIG. 14 , the fuel cartridge  168  may be held and positioned in the second holding state by the above described frictional resistance. In this case, in order that the frictional resistance effectively occurs, it is preferable to form the inner peripheral surface of the cartridge holding chamber  66  and/or the outer peripheral surface of the fuel cartridge  68  into a pear skin form.  
         [0091]     FIGS.  15  to  18  are sectional views showing one example of a fuel supply device  402  of a fuel cartridge  400  in which only the fuel  94  is sealed, and the same or similar members as or to those of the fuel supply device  300  shown in  FIG. 12  are explained by being given the same reference numerals.  
         [0092]     The fuel supply device  402  is constructed by a holding chamber  404  which holds the fuel cartridge  400 , a switch  406  which detects that the fuel cartridge  400  is in the first holding state, a switch  408  which detects that the fuel cartridge  400  is in the second holding state, an air introducing pipe  410 , an eject lever  412  for taking out the fuel cartridge and the like.  
         [0093]     The holding chamber  404  is provided in the vicinity of a release button  416  on a top surface of a camera  414  as shown in  FIG. 18 , and a holding part  404 A (see  FIG. 17 ) which holds the fuel cartridge  400  is formed at an inner periphery of the holding chamber  404 . The fuel cartridge  400  is taken in and out with respect to the holding chamber  404  from the top surface of the camera  414 . At this time, the holding part  404 A holds the fuel cartridge  400  by the frictional force. An LCD (display part)  418  is provided on a back surface of the camera  414 , and the LCD  418  is utilized as a warning display.  
         [0094]     As shown in  FIG. 15 , the switch  406  is a switch which is closed by being depressed by a pin  420  when the fuel cartridge  400  is pushed into the holding part  402  and is in the first holding state. As shown in  FIG. 16 , the switch  408  is a switch which is closed by depressed by a pin  422  when the fuel cartridge  400  is further pushed in from the first holding state and is in the second holding state. ON/OFF signals of the switches  406  and  408  are outputted to a CPU (control unit)  425  shown in  FIG. 16 , and the CPU  425  selectively displays a message which is displayed on the LCD  418  based on the signals.  
         [0095]     The air introducing pipe  410  is the pipe which is caused to pierce the fuel cartridge  400  with the fuel feeding pipe  62  and at the time of fuel sucking operation by the pump  304 , introduces air in the same volume as this into the fuel cartridge  400 .  
         [0096]     The eject lever  412  is held in the position shown in  FIGS. 15 and 16  by a biasing force of a spring  424 , but when the fuel cartridge  400  is extracted from the holding part  402 , the eject lever  412  is operated in an extracting direction against the biasing force of the spring  424  as shown in  FIG. 17 . Since a hook part  413  formed at an end portion of the eject lever  412  presses an end portion of the fuel cartridge  400  as a result, the fuel cartridge  400  is extracted from the air introducing pipe  410  and the fuel feeding pipe  62 , and is extracted from the holding part  402 .  
         [0097]      FIG. 19  is a flowchart showing one example of a method of using the fuel cartridge  400  in the camera  414  shown in  FIG. 18 .  
         [0098]     First, in S (Step)  100 , the operation state of the fuel cell such as generated voltage is checked. Next, when the generated voltage V lowers from a predetermined voltage (voltage at which the camera  414  can be stably operated) V 1  in S 110 , or the residual amount of the fuel of the fuel cell becomes smaller than a predetermined amount, the CPU  425  in  FIG. 16  causes the LCD  418  to display the message that “Insert the reserve fuel cartridge”, and performs warning display of insertion of the reserve fuel cartridge in S 120 . This message is displayed until the switch  406  is turned ON in S 130 . When the switch  406  is turned ON, namely, when the reserve fuel cartridge  400  is held in the first holding state as shown in  FIG. 15 , the CPU  425  erases the above described message from the LCD  418 .  
         [0099]     Next, the CPU  425  checks the operation state of the fuel cell such as generated voltage in S 140 . Next, when the generated voltage V lowers from a limit voltage (voltage at which the operation of the camera  414  becomes unstable) V 2  in S 150 , the CPU  425  causes the LCD  418  to display the message that “push the reserve fuel cartridge to the back” in S 160  to make warning display of the fuel supply operation of the reserve fuel cartridge. This message is displayed until the switch  408  is turned ON in S 170 . When the switch  408  is turned ON, namely, when the reserve fuel cartridge  400  is held in the second holding state as shown in  FIG. 16 , the CPU  425  erases the above described message from the LCD  418 .  
         [0100]     Next, in S 180 , the pump  304  in  FIG. 15  is driven, and the fuel  94  of the fuel cartridge  400  is supplied to the fuel cell. This operation is continued until the generated voltage V rises to be higher than the predetermined voltage V 1  in S 190 .  
         [0101]     According to this flow, the inserting operation of the reserve fuel cartridge  400 , and the fuel supply operation of the reserve fuel cartridge  400  can be smoothly performed.  
         [0102]     In the embodiments, the camera-equipped portable telephone  10  is mainly described as the fuel-cell-equipped apparatus, but the fuel cell may be mounted on a multifunctional portable electronic communication apparatus such as an ordinary camera using a silver salt film, a digital camera or a PDA (Personal Digital Assistant), and a holding part which holds the fuel cartridge may be provided at the fuel-cell-equipped apparatus.