US 2004/0072048 A1 · Configuration for wire-free supply of electric power to a large number of sensors and/or actuators,sensor or actuator for this purpose and system for a machine having a large number of sensors and/or actuators

Abstract

A configuration and method for the wire-free supply of electric power to a large number of sensors and/or actuators mounted on a machine includes a micro fuel cell with associated fuel tank integrated into the sensors/actuators and converting the stored fuel, preferably methanol, into electric power to supply the sensor. Also included is a sensor or actuator with such an integrated micro fuel cell and fuel tank. Further included is a system for a machine, in particular an automatic production machine, having a large number of sensors/actuators equipped with a transmitting device and/or receiving device communicating through radio signals with a central transmitting and/or receiving device connected to a process computer belonging to the machine, and a micro fuel cell with associated fuel tank integrated into the sensors/actuators and converting the stored fuel into electric power to supply the sensor.

Claims6

Dependent claims

In a machine having a process computer, a control system comprising:

a central transmitting device connected to the process computer;
a central receiving device connected to the process computer;
a plurality of controllers including at least one of the group consisting of sensors and actuators;
and
said controllers each having:
a transmitting device communicating with said central receiving device through radio signals;
a receiving device communicating with said central transmitting device through radio signals;
an integrated fuel tank for storing fuel;
and
an integrated micro fuel cell associated with said fuel tank, said fuel cell converting stored fuel into electric power and supplying the electric power to a respective one of said controllers.

7 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application

10/673,963Filed 29 Sep 2003

Priority

DE 199 29 343.026 Jun 1999

Published

15 Apr 2004

Term ends

Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification14 codes

H01M 16/006
Of fuel cells with other electrochemical devices, e.g. capacitors, electrolysers: of fuel cells with rechargeable batteries
H01M 8/00
Fuel cells
H01M 8/04298
Auxiliary arrangements, e.g. for control of pressure or for circulation of fluids: processes for controlling fuel cells or fuel cell systems
H01M 8/04992
Processes for controlling fuel cells or fuel cell systems: characterised by the implementation of mathematical or computational algorithms, e.g.…

Configuration for wire-free supply of electric power to a large number of sensors and/or actuators,sensor or actuator for this purpose and system for a machine having a large number of sensors and/or actuators

Life of this patent

Configuration for wire-free supply of electric power to a large number of sensors and/or actuators,sensor or actuator for this purpose and system for a machine having a large number of sensors and/or actuators

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims6