Portable disposable fuel-battery unit for a fuel cell system
AssigneeHewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
InventorMarzio Leban
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
The present invention provides methods for providing a portable disposable fuel-battery unit, a portable disposable fuel-battery unit for a fuel cell system having at least one fuel cell, a fuel cell stack, and a handheld device having a fuel cell system with a portable disposable fuel-battery unit. In one embodiment, the portable disposable fuel-battery unit provides a fuel compartment, for providing fuel for the at least one fuel cell and a disposable power battery, affixed to the fuel compartment, for providing start-up energy for the at least one fuel cell.
Claims25
A portable disposable fuel-battery unit for use with a system including a fuel cell, a system fuel connector operably connected to the fuel cell, and a system electrical connector, the portable disposable fuel-battery unit comprising:
- a fuel-battery container including a fuel compartment having fuel stored therein and a battery compartment having a battery stored therein;
- a fuel-battery unit fuel connector, operably connected to the fuel compartment, adapted to be connected to the system fuel connector such that fuel can flow out of the fuel-battery container;
- and
- a fuel-battery unit electrical connector, operably connected to the battery, adapted to be connected to the system electrical connector.
An apparatus, comprising:
- a fuel cell system including
- at least one fuel cell,
- a system fuel connector operably connected to the fuel cell, and
- a system electrical connector;
- and
- a portable disposable fuel-battery unit including
- a fuel-battery container including a fuel compartment having fuel stored therein and a battery compartment having a battery stored therein,
- a fuel-battery unit fuel connector, operably connected to the fuel compartment, adapted to be connected to the system fuel connector such that fuel can flow out of the fuel-battery container to the at least one fuel cell, and
- a fuel-battery unit electrical connector, operably connected to the battery, adapted to be connected to the system electrical connector.
A device, comprising:
- an electrical load;
- a fuel cell system including
- at least one fuel cell connected to the electrical load,
- a system fuel connector operably connected to the fuel cell, and
- a system electrical connector;
- and
- a portable disposable fuel-battery unit including
- a fuel-battery container including a fuel compartment having fuel stored therein and a battery compartment having a battery stored therein,
- a fuel-battery unit fuel connector, operably connected to the fuel compartment, adapted to be connected to the system fuel connector such that fuel can flow out of the fuel-battery container to the at least one fuel cell, and
- a fuel-battery unit electrical connector, operably connected to the battery, adapted to be connected to the electrical load.
A method of fueling an apparatus that includes a fuel cell and an electrical load connected to the fuel cell, the method comprising the steps of:
- connecting a single fuel-battery cartridge that includes both fuel and a battery to the fuel cell and to the electrical load;
- supplying power to the electrical load with the battery;
- and
- transferring fuel from the fuel-battery cartridge to the fuel cell.
A portable disposable fuel-battery unit for use with a system including a fuel cell, a system fuel connector operably connected to the fuel cell, and a system electrical connector, the portable disposable fuel-battery unit comprising:
- a fuel container including a fuel compartment having fuel stored therein;
- a battery carried by the fuel container;
- a fuel-battery unit fuel connector, operably connected to the fuel compartment, adapted to be connected to the system fuel connector such that fuel can flow out of the fuel container;
- and
- a fuel-battery unit electrical connector, operably connected to the battery, adapted to be connected to the system electrical connector.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.