# US 11,027,604 B2 · Hydrogen detection apparatus, fuel cell vehicle, hydrogen leak monitoring system, compound sensor module, hydrogen detection method, and recording medium > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 11,027,604 B2 - Document ID: US11027604B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 16/468,558 - Filed: 2017-12-08 - Published: 2020-03-12 - Granted: 2021-06-08 - Earliest claimed: 2016-12-15 - Assignees: Panasonic Semiconductor Solutions Co., Ltd. - Applicants: Panasonic Intellectual Property Management Co., Ltd. - Inventors: Ken Kawai; Shinichi Yoneda - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11027604B2 ## CPC - B60K 1/04: of the electric storage means for propulsion - B60L 3/0053: {relating to fuel cells} - G01M 3/16: using electric detection means ({G01M3/045,} G01M3/06, G01M3/12, G01M3/20, G01M3/24, G01M3/26 take precedence) - G01N 27/12: of a solid body in dependence upon absorption of a fluid; of a solid body in dependence upon reaction with a fluid {, for detecting components in the fluid} - G01N 33/005: {H2} - H01M 8/04: Auxiliary arrangements, e.g. for control of pressure or for circulation of fluids - H01M 8/04298: Processes for controlling fuel cells or fuel cell systems - B60L 50/71: Arrangement of fuel cells within vehicles specially adapted for electric vehicles - B60Y 2200/91: Electric vehicles - B60Y 2400/202: Fuel cells - Y02E 60/50: Fuel cells - Y02T 90/40: Application of hydrogen technology to transportation, e.g. using fuel cells - B60K: ARRANGEMENT OR MOUNTING OF PROPULSION UNITS OR OF TRANSMISSIONS IN VEHICLES; ARRANGEMENT OR MOUNTING OF PLURAL DIVERSE PRIME-MOVERS IN VEHICLES; AUXILIARY DRIVES FOR VEHICLES; INSTRUMENTATION OR DASHBOARDS FOR VEHICLES; ARRANGEMENTS IN CONNECTION WITH COOLING, AIR INTAKE, GAS EXHAUST OR FUEL SUPPLY OF PROPULSION UNITS IN VEHICLES - B60L: PROPULSION OF ELECTRICALLY-PROPELLED VEHICLES (arrangements or mounting of electrical propulsion units or of plural diverse prime-movers for mutual or common propulsion in vehicles B60K1/00, B60K6/20; arrangements or mounting of electrical gearing in vehicles B60K17/12, B60K17/14; preventing wheel slip by reducing power in rail vehicles B61C15/08; dynamo-electric machines H02K; control or regulation of electric motors H02P); SUPPLYING ELECTRIC POWER FOR AUXILIARY EQUIPMENT OF ELECTRICALLY-PROPELLED VEHICLES (electric coupling devices combined with mechanical couplings of vehicles B60D1/64; electric heating for vehicles B60H1/00); ELECTRODYNAMIC BRAKE SYSTEMS FOR VEHICLES IN GENERAL (control or regulation of electric motors H02P); MAGNETIC SUSPENSION OR LEVITATION FOR VEHICLES; MONITORING OPERATING VARIABLES OF ELECTRICALLY-PROPELLED VEHICLES; ELECTRIC SAFETY DEVICES FOR ELECTRICALLY-PROPELLED VEHICLES - G01M: TESTING STATIC OR DYNAMIC BALANCE OF MACHINES OR STRUCTURES; TESTING OF STRUCTURES OR APPARATUS, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR - G01N: INVESTIGATING OR ANALYSING MATERIALS BY DETERMINING THEIR CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL PROPERTIES (measuring or testing apparatus or processes other than immunoassay, involving enzymes or microorganisms C12M, C12Q) - H01M: PROCESSES OR MEANS, e.g. BATTERIES, FOR THE DIRECT CONVERSION OF CHEMICAL ENERGY INTO ELECTRICAL ENERGY - B60Y: INDEXING SCHEME RELATING TO ASPECTS CROSS-CUTTING VEHICLE TECHNOLOGY - Y02E: REDUCTION OF GREENHOUSE GAS [GHG] EMISSIONS, RELATED TO ENERGY GENERATION, TRANSMISSION OR DISTRIBUTION - Y02T: CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION TECHNOLOGIES RELATED TO TRANSPORTATION ## Abstract A hydrogen detection apparatus includes a hydrogen sensor, a sensor control circuit configured to sense a resistance value of the hydrogen sensor, and a microcomputer configured to set an off time that differs depending on an operating environment and intermittently drive the sensor control circuit. The hydrogen sensor includes a first electrode; a metal-oxide layer on the first electrode, and in which a resistance value is configured to change in response to contacting hydrogen atoms; a second electrode on the metal-oxide layer; and an insulating film that covers at least a portion of lateral surfaces of the first electrode, the metal-oxide layer, and the second electrode. A portion of at least one of: (i) a first interface between the first electrode and the metal-oxide layer; and (ii) a second interface between the second electrode and the metal-oxide layer is uncovered by the insulating film and exposed to a detection space. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A hydrogen detection apparatus, comprising: a hydrogen sensor in which a resistance value is configured to fluctuate in response to a presence of a hydrogen gas; a sensor control circuit configured to sense the resistance value of the hydrogen sensor; and a microcomputer configured to set an off time that differs depending on an operating environment, and intermittently drive the sensor control circuit, wherein the hydrogen sensor includes: a first electrode; a metal-oxide layer that is disposed on the first electrode, and in which a resistance value is configured to change in response to contacting hydrogen atoms; a second electrode disposed on the metal-oxide layer and the first electrode such that the metal-oxide layer is sandwiched in between the first electrode and the second electrode in a thickness direction of the hydrogen sensor; and an insulating film that covers at least a portion of lateral surfaces of the first electrode, the metal-oxide layer, and the second electrode, and wherein a portion of at least one of: (i) a first interface between the first electrode and the metal-oxide layer; and (ii) a second interface between the second electrode and the metal-oxide layer is uncovered by the insulating film and exposed to a detection space. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The hydrogen detection apparatus according to claim 1, wherein at least one of the first electrode and the second electrode, having the at least one of the first interface with the metal-oxide layer and the second interface with the metal-oxide layer, includes a material having a catalytic action configured to cause the hydrogen atoms to be dissociated from gas molecules. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The hydrogen detection apparatus according to claim 2, wherein: the at least one of the first electrode and the second electrode includes platinum; and the metal-oxide layer includes tantalum oxide. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) A fuel cell vehicle, comprising: the hydrogen detection apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the operating environment is a state of the fuel cell vehicle. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The fuel cell vehicle according to claim 4, wherein the microcomputer is configured to set the off time when the fuel cell vehicle is driving as t3, and the off time when the fuel cell vehicle is parked as t1 that is longer than t3. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The fuel cell vehicle according to claim 5, wherein the microcomputer is configured to set the off time when the fuel cell vehicle is parked in an enclosed space as t1b that is longer than t3, and the off time when the fuel cell vehicle is parked in an open space as t1a that is longer than t1b. ### Claim 7 (depends on 4) The fuel cell vehicle according to claim 4, wherein the microcomputer is configured to set the off time when the fuel cell vehicle is driving as t3, and the off time when the fuel cell vehicle is stopped as t2 that is longer than t3. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) A pipeline for transporting hydrogen gas, the pipeline comprising: the hydrogen detection apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the operating environment is a state of the pipeline. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The pipeline according to claim 8, wherein the microcomputer is configured to set the off time when an anomaly in at least one of a temperature, a humidity, an oscillation, and a pressure is detected in the pipeline as t5, and the off time when an anomaly is not detected as t4 that is longer than t5. ### Claim 10 (depends on 4) The fuel cell vehicle of claim 4, further comprising: a passenger compartment; a gas tank compartment including a tank of the hydrogen gas; and a fuel cell compartment including a fuel cell, wherein the hydrogen sensor of the hydrogen detection apparatus is disposed in at least one of the gas tank compartment and the fuel cell compartment. ### Claim 11 (depends on 8) A hydrogen leak monitoring system, comprising: the pipeline according to claim 8, a communication module that is connected to the hydrogen detection apparatus, and configured to transmit a signal indicating a hydrogen detection result provided by the hydrogen detection apparatus; and a user terminal configured to obtain the signal, and present to a user the hydrogen detection result indicated in the signal, wherein the hydrogen sensor of the hydrogen detection apparatus is disposed in an upper part of a hydrogen transport pipe. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) A compound sensor module, comprising: the hydrogen detection apparatus according to claim 1; an environmental sensor configured to detect at least one of a temperature, a humidity, an oscillation, a pressure, and a submersion; and a power source configured to supply operating power to the hydrogen detection apparatus and the environmental sensor, wherein the microcomputer is configured to change the off time in the hydrogen detection apparatus in accordance with a detection result of the environmental sensor. ### Claim 13 A hydrogen detection method using a hydrogen sensor in which a resistance value fluctuates in response to a presence of a hydrogen gas, wherein the hydrogen sensor includes: a first electrode; a metal-oxide layer that is disposed on the first electrode, and in which a resistance value changes in response to contacting hydrogen atoms; a second electrode disposed on the metal-oxide layer and the first electrode such that the metal-oxide layer is sandwiched in between the first electrode and the second electrode in a thickness direction of the hydrogen sensor; and an insulating film that covers at least a portion of lateral surfaces of the first electrode, the metal-oxide layer, and the second electrode, wherein a portion of at least one of: (i) a first interface between the first electrode and the metal-oxide layer; and (ii) a second interface between the second electrode and the metal-oxide layer is uncovered by the insulating film and exposed to a detection space, and wherein the hydrogen detection method comprises: setting an off time that differs depending on an operating environment; and setting the off time, and intermittently driving a sensor control circuit that senses the resistance value of the hydrogen sensor. ### Claim 14 A non-transitory computer-readable recording medium having stored thereon a computer program for causing a microcomputer to execute a hydrogen detection method using a hydrogen sensor in which a resistance value fluctuates in response to a presence of a hydrogen gas, wherein the hydrogen sensor includes: a first electrode; a metal-oxide layer that is disposed on the first electrode, and in which a resistance value changes in response to contacting hydrogen atoms; a second electrode disposed on the metal-oxide layer and the first electrode such that the metal-oxide layer is sandwiched in between the first electrode and the second electrode in a thickness direction of the hydrogen sensor; and an insulating film that covers at least a portion of lateral surfaces of the first electrode, the metal-oxide layer, and the second electrode, wherein a portion of at least one of: (i) a first interface between the first electrode and the metal-oxide layer; and (ii) a second interface between the second electrode and the metal-oxide layer is uncovered by the insulating film and exposed to a detection space, and wherein the hydrogen detection method comprises: setting an off time that differs depending on an operating environment; and setting the off time, and intermittently driving a sensor control circuit that senses the resistance value of the hydrogen sensor.