Fuel cell supply including information storage device and control system

• US 10,090,547 B2
• Filed: 02/05/2016
• Issued: 10/02/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 12/01/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Intelligent Energy Limited (Lb-shell Plc)
• Original Assignee: Intelligent Energy Limited (Lb-shell Plc)
• Inventors: Adams, Paul, Curello, Andrew J., Fairbanks, Floyd
• Primary Examiner(s): D'Aniello, Nicholas P
• Application Number:
  US15/016,980
• Publication Number:
  US 20160190621A1
• Time in Patent Office: 970 Days
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 16/003 of fuel cells with other electrochemical devices, e.g. capacitors, electrolysers
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 2250/30 Fuel cells in portable systems, e.g. mobile phone, laptop
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 2300/0082 Organic polymers
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 8/04089 of gaseous reactants
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 8/04194 Concentration measuring cells
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 8/04201 Reactant storage and supply, e.g. means for feeding, pipes
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 8/04208 Cartridges, cryogenic media or cryogenic reservoirs
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 8/04388 of anode reactants at the inlet or inside the fuel cell
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 8/04447 of anode reactants at the inlet or inside the fuel cell
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 8/04604 Power, energy, capacity or load
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 8/04753 of fuel cell reactants
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 8/04798 of fuel cell reactants
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 8/0494 of fuel cell stacks
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 8/04992 characterised by the implementation of mathematical or computational algorithms, e.g. feedback control loops, fuzzy logic, neural networks or artificial intelligence
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 8/0687 Reactant purification by the use of membranes or filters
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 8/1011 Direct alcohol fuel cells [DAFC], e.g. direct methanol fuel cells [DMFC]
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 8/1018 Polymeric electrolyte materials
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 90/10 Applications of fuel cells in buildings
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/50 Fuel cells

Abstract

The present invention is directed to a fuel cell system with various features for optimal operations of an electronic device, a battery charger or a fuel refilling device. The fuel cell system includes an information storage device associated with the fuel supply, pump and/or refilling device. The information storage device can be any electronic storage device including, but not limited to, an EEPROM or a PLA. The information storage device can include encrypted information. The information storage device can include software code for confirming the identification of the cartridge before operation of the electronic device and/or refilling device. The information storage device can include instructions for a hot swap operation to shut down properly when the fuel supply is ejected while the electronic device is in operation. The present invention is also directed to system architecture for a fuel cell system that utilizes information storage devices. The system architecture may have flow regulators, which include a regulating valve.

Claims

1. A fuel cell system to power an electronic device, the system comprising:

a fuel supply,

a pump,

a controller operatively connected to an information storage device and a fuel cell,

wherein the information storage device contains information relating to the fuel cell system including a fuel regulator and the fuel cell, and the controller is configured to read and write to the information storage device,

wherein the fuel supply is in fluid communication with the fuel regulator and the fuel regulator is in fluid communication with the fuel cell, such that fuel from the fuel supply is transportable to the fuel cell for conversion to electricity,

wherein the fuel regulator comprises a regulating valve, and

wherein the controller is further configured to increase or decrease power consumption of the electronic device in response to information read from the information storage device;

wherein the information on the information storage device comprises information for the storage device, information for the fuel supply, and at least one other protectable information,

wherein the information for the storage device comprises one or more of date the information storage device was manufactured;

lot number for the information storage device;

sequential identification number assigned to the information storage device;

machine identification number for the information storage device;

shift during which the fuel supply information storage device was produced;

country where the information storage device was produced; and

facility code identifying the factory where the information storage device was produced;

wherein the information for the fuel supply comprises one or more of machine identification number for the fuel supply;

shift during which the fuel supply was produced;

country where the fuel supply was produced;

facility code identifying the factory where the fuel supply was produced; and

an expiration date of the fuel supply; and

wherein the other protectable information comprises one or more of materials used in manufacturing;

anti-counterfeit information;

intellectual property information;

security password;

shut-down sequence;

hot swap procedure;

fuel gage type;

fluid sensor information;

type of the pump;

date of the pump manufacture;

lot number for the pump;

sequential identification number assigned to the pump;

the country where the pump was produced;

the facility code identifying the factory where the pump was produced; and

the pump rate.

4. The system of claim 1 wherein the information storage device is located on the fuel supply.

5. The system of claim 4 wherein the fuel supply is one of refillable and replaceable.

7. The system of claim 1 wherein the information on the information storage device further comprises a current ion level in the fuel.

8. The system of claim 1 wherein the controller is further configured to increase or decrease power generated from the fuel cell in response to information read from the information storage device.

11. The system of claim 1 wherein the fuel cell system is in a housing.

13. The system of claim 1 wherein the fuel cell system is within the electronic device.

14. The system of claim 13 wherein the fuel supply is within the electronic device.

15. The system of claim 14 wherein the controller is the cpu of the electronic device.

18. The system of claim 14 wherein the electronic device is selected from the group consisting of mobile phones, cell phones, calculators, power tools, personal digital assistants, gardening tools, digital cameras, portable music players, global positioning systems, camping equipment.

19. The system of claim 14 wherein the electronic device is selected from the group consisting of a laptop computer, computer game system, and a personal computer.

2. A fuel cell system to power an electronic device, the system comprising:

a proton exchange membrane (PEM) fuel cell system configured to provide electricity from a fuel;

a fuel supply in fluid communication with the fuel cell system;

at least one information storage device;

a pump;

a controller in communication with at least one of the fuel supply, fuel cell system, and an electronic device; and

,

wherein the controller is configured to control one or more functions of one of the fuel cell system and the electronic device based on information stored on the information storage device; and

wherein the controller is further configured to increase or decrease power consumption of the electronic device based on the information stored on the information storage device;

wherein the information on the information storage device comprises information for the storage device, information for the fuel supply, and at least one other protectable information,

wherein the information for the storage device comprises one or more of date the information storage device was manufactured;

lot number for the information storage device;

sequential identification number assigned to the information storage device;

machine identification number for the information storage device;

shift during which the information storage device was produced;

country where the information storage device was produced; and

facility code identifying the factory where the information storage device was produced;

wherein the information for the fuel supply comprises one or more of machine identification number for the fuel supply;

shift during which the fuel supply was produced;

country where the fuel supply was produced;

facility code identifying the factory where the fuel supply was produced; and

an expiration date of the fuel supply; and

wherein the other protectable information comprises one or more of materials used in manufacturing;

anti-counterfeit information;

intellectual property information;

security password;

shut-down sequence;

hot swap procedure;

fuel gage type;

fluid sensor information;

type of the pump;

date of the pump manufacture;

lot number for the pump;

sequential identification number assigned to the pump;

the country where the pump was produced;

the facility code identifying the factory where the pump was produced; and

the pump rate.

3. The system of claim 2 wherein the controller is the cpu of a computer of the electronic device.

6. The system of claim 2 wherein the controller is configured to read or write to the information storage device.

9. The system of claim 2 wherein the controller is configured to provide bidirectional communication with the information storage device.

10. The system of claim 9 wherein the information on the information storage device further comprises a current ion level in the fuel.

12. The system of claim 10 wherein the controller is further configured to increase or decrease power generated from the fuel cell in response to information read from the information storage device.

16. The system of claim 10 wherein the controller is configured to assure the fuel supply and the electronic device are compatible.

17. The system of claim 16 wherein the controller is configured to cause an audible or visual alert to be generated if the fuel supply is incompatible with the electronic device.

20. A fuel cell system to power an electronic device, the system comprising:

a fuel supply;

a pump;

an information storage device;

an electronic device; and

a fuel cell system separate from the electronic device comprising;

a housing with a power system comprising;

a fuel cell stack;

a controller; and

at least one link interface comprising;

a power line; and

a bidirectional communication link between the electronic device and the controller, the bidirectional communication link configured to communicate;

fuel cell state information from the fuel cell system to the electronic device; and

,

fuel cell control information from the electronic device to the fuel cell system,

wherein electronic device is configured to perform at least one operation associated with controlling the fuel cell system;

wherein the controller is further configured to increase or decrease power consumption of the electronic device based on the fuel cell state information;

wherein the information on the information storage device comprises information for the storage device, information for the fuel supply, and at least one other protectable information,

wherein the information for the storage device comprises one or more of date the information storage device was manufactured;

lot number for the information storage device;

sequential identification number assigned to the information storage device;

machine identification number for the information storage device;

shift during which the information storage device was produced;

country where the information storage device was produce; and

facility code identifying the factory where the information storage device was produced;

wherein the information for the fuel supply comprises one or more of machine identification number for the fuel supply;

shift during which the fuel supply was produced;

country where the fuel supply was produced;

facility code identifying the factory where the fuel supply was produced; and

an expiration date of the fuel supply; and

wherein the other protectable information comprises one or more of materials used in manufacturing;

anti-counterfeit information;

intellectual property information;

security password;

shut-down sequence;

hot swap procedure;

fuel gage type;

fluid sensor information;

type of the pump;

date of the pump manufacture;

lot number for the pump;

sequential identification number assigned to the pump;

the country where the pump was produced;

the facility code identifying the factory where the pump was produced; and

the pump rate.

21. The system of claim 20 wherein the at least one operation is to control the flow of fuel to the fuel cell.

22. The system of claim 20 wherein the at least one operation is to execute a shut-down procedure.

23. The system of claim 20 wherein the electronic device is a portable computer.

24. The system of claim 20 wherein:

the electronic device further comprises an information storage device;

the bidirectional communication link is further configured to communicate read or write instructions between the controller and the electronic device to read data from or write data to the information storage device.

25. The system of claim 20 wherein the information on the information storage device further comprises a current ion level in the fuel.