Back to results
US 7,397,217 B2Granted
Measuring fuel by counting coulombs
AssigneeHewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
InventorsAndy Van Brocklin, Andrew Koll, Makarand Gore, Shane Shivji
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Subject matter includes an electric charge counting fuel gauge that displays an amount of fuel based on electric charges obtained from a fuel. The electric charge counting fuel gauge can display an amount of fuel used in a power source and the amount of fuel remaining in a fuel supply.
Claims35
An apparatus, comprising:
- a fuel cell for producing a flow of electric charges from a fuel;
- an electric charge counter coupled with the fuel cell, wherein counted electric charges are proportional to an amount of the fuel used in the fuel cell to produce the counted electric charges, wherein the electric charge counter:
- counts electric charges by integrating the flow of electric charges with respect to time;
- counts electric charges by measuring a voltage proportional to a flow rate of the electric charges and by assigning a frequency to the voltage;
- varies the frequency in proportion to changes in the flow rate of the electric charges over time;
- and
- increments the count of the electric charges at an incrementing rate proportional to the frequency;
- and
- a display coupled with the electric charge counter to show an amount of the fuel based on corresponding counted electric charges.
6 more elements
A fuel cell, comprising:
- a means for convening a fuel into a flow of electric charges, wherein the quantity of electric charges produced over time is proportional to the quantity of fuel molecules converted;
- a means for counting the electric charges in the flow, wherein:
- the means for counting the electric charges integrates the flow of electric charges with respect to time;
- the means for counting the electric charges measures a voltage proportional to the flow of the electric charges and assigns a frequency to the voltage;
- the means for counting electric charge varies the frequency in proportion to changes in the flow rate of electric charges over time;
- and
- the electric charge counter increments the count of the electric charges at an incrementing rate proportional to the frequency;
- and
- a means for displaying an amount of fuel molecules converted.
6 more elements
A fuel supply system, comprising:
- a fuel container for holding a remaining amount of fuel;
- an electric charge counter to count an electric charge content of an amount of fuel taken from the fuel container, wherein the count of the electric charge content is proportional to the amount of the fuel taken from the fuel container, wherein the electric charge counter:
- counts electric charges by measuring a voltage proportional to a flow rate of the electric charges and by assigning a frequency to the voltage;
- varies the frequency in proportion to changes in the flow rate of the electric charges over time;
- and
- increments the count of the electric charges at an incrementing rate proportional to the frequency;
- and
- a display to show the remaining amount of fuel in the fuel container.
5 more elements
A fuel gauge, comprising:
- a charge counter to count electrical charges produced in a fuel cell by a fuel from a fuel supply, wherein the electric charge counter:
- counts electric charges by measuring a voltage proportional to a flow rate of the electric charges and by assigning a frequency to the voltage;
- varies the frequency in proportion to changes in the flow rate of the electric charges over time;
- and
- increments the count of the electric charges at an incrementing rate proportional to the frequency;
- and
- a display to show an amount of the fuel based on the counted electrical charges.
4 more elements
A method, comprising:
- producing electric charges in a fuel cell using a fuel;
- counting the electric charges to determine an amount of the fuel used to produce the electric charges, wherein counting the electrical charges comprises:
- measuring a voltage proportional to a flow rate of the electric charges and by assigning a frequency to the voltage;
- varying the frequency in proportion to changes in the flow rate of the electric charges over time;
- and
- incrementing the count of the electric charges at an incrementing rate proportional to the frequency;
- and
- displaying the amount.
5 more elements
A method, comprising:
- connecting an electric charge counter to a fuel cell, wherein the fuel cell produces electric charges from a fuel;
- counting the electric charges, wherein counting the electrical charges comprises:
- measuring a voltage proportional to a flow rate of the electric charges and by assigning a frequency to the voltage;
- varying the frequency in proportion to changes in the flow rate of the electric charges over time;
- and
- incrementing the count of the electric charges at an incrementing rate proportional to the frequency;
- and
- displaying an amount of fuel corresponding to the counted electric charges.
5 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.