# 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

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- Number: US 2004/0072048 A1
- Document ID: US20040072048A1
- Status: Published application
- Kind: A1
- Application number: 10/673,963
- Filed: 2003-09-29
- Published: 2004-04-15
- Earliest claimed: 1999-06-26
- Assignees: ABB Research Ltd.
- Inventors: Guntram Scheible; Jurgen Fuchs; Kai Garrels; Dagfin Brodtkorb; Snorre Kjesbu
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20040072048A1

## CPC

- H01M 16/006: {of fuel cells with rechargeable batteries}
- H01M 8/00: Fuel cells; Manufacture thereof
- H01M 8/04298: Processes for controlling fuel cells or fuel cell systems
- H01M 8/04992: characterised by the implementation of mathematical or computational algorithms, e.g. feedback control loops, fuzzy logic, neural networks or artificial intelligence
- H01M 8/1009: with one of the reactants being liquid, solid or liquid-charged (H01M8/12 takes precedence)
- H01M 8/1011: Direct alcohol fuel cells [DAFC], e.g. direct methanol fuel cells [DMFC]
- H01M 8/1097: Fuel cells applied on a support, e.g. miniature fuel cells deposited on silica supports
- H01M 2250/00: Fuel cells for particular applications; Specific features of fuel cell system
- Y02E 60/10: Energy storage using batteries
- Y02E 60/50: Fuel cells
- Y02P 70/50: Manufacturing or production processes characterised by the final manufactured product
- H01M: PROCESSES OR MEANS, e.g. BATTERIES, FOR THE DIRECT CONVERSION OF CHEMICAL ENERGY INTO ELECTRICAL ENERGY
- Y02E: REDUCTION OF GREENHOUSE GAS [GHG] EMISSIONS, RELATED TO ENERGY GENERATION, TRANSMISSION OR DISTRIBUTION
- Y02P: CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION TECHNOLOGIES IN THE PRODUCTION OR PROCESSING OF GOODS

## 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.

## Claims

### Claim 1

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.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The control system according to claim 1, wherein the machine is an automatic production machine.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The control system according to claim 1, wherein said transmitting device and said receiving device is a combination transmitting and receiving device.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The control system according to claim 1, wherein said central transmitting device and said central receiving device is a combination transmitting and receiving device.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The control assembly according to claim 1, wherein the fuel is methanol.

### Claim 6 (depends on 5)

The control assembly according to claim 5, including an electric energy store connected to said fuel cell.