Means for measuring the liquid level in a reservoir for a fuel cell

• US 20030010115A1
• Filed: 07/16/2001
• Published: 01/16/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 07/16/2001
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Google Technology Holdings LLC (Alphabet Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Google Technology Holdings LLC (Alphabet Inc.)
• Inventors: Muthuswamy, Sivakumar, Pratt, Steven D., Kelley, Ronald J., Pennisi, Robert W.
• Application Number:
  US09/906,266
• Publication Number:
  US 20030010115A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 73/290V
• CPC Class Codes: G01F 23/02 by gauge glasses or other apparatus involving a window or transparent tube for directly observing the level to be measured or the level of a liquid column in free communication with the main body of the liquid
• CPC Class Codes: G01F 23/24 by measuring variations of resistance of resistors due to contact with conductor fluid
• CPC Class Codes: G01F 23/26 by measuring variations of capacity or inductance of capacitors or inductors arising from the presence of liquid or fluent solid material in the electric or electromagnetic fields
• CPC Class Codes: G01F 23/296 Acoustic waves
• CPC Class Codes: G01F 23/30 by floats
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 8/04425 at auxiliary devices, e.g. reformers, compressors, burners
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 8/0612 from carbon-containing material
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/50 Fuel cells

Abstract

A small fuel cell (10) powers a portable electronic device (12) and contains a fuel reservoir (14) and a device (16) that measures the amount of liquid fuel (18) that is in the reservoir. The fuel cell operates on hydrogen that is obtained from a liquid hydrocarbon fuel, such as alcohol or other hydrocarbons. The liquid fuel is typically converted into hydrogen by a reforming process. The reservoir that is connected to the fuel cell has an indicia (19) that is readable by a human user of the portable electronic device, for measuring the amount of liquid hydrocarbon fuel that is present in the reservoir. Typically, the indicia consist of a sight glass, a capacitive element, a resistive element, a transparent portion of the reservoir, a float, or an acoustic transmitter coupled with an acoustic receiver.

Claims

1. A fuel cell system for a portable electronic device, comprising:

a fuel cell capable of operating on hydrogen that is obtained from methanol;

a reservoir for storing a supply of methanol, suitably connected to the fuel cell; and

the reservoir further comprising a fuel quantity measuring means.

2. The fuel cell as described in claim 1, wherein the fuel quantity measuring means comprises a sight glass.

3. The fuel cell as described in claim 1, wherein the fuel quantity measuring means comprises a float.

4. The fuel cell as described in claim 1, wherein the fuel quantity measuring means comprises a transparent reservoir.

5. The fuel cell as described in claim 1, wherein the fuel quantity measuring means comprises a resistive element.

6. The fuel cell as described in claim 1, wherein the fuel quantity measuring means comprises a capacitive element.

7. The fuel cell as described in claim 1, wherein the fuel quantity measuring means comprises an acoustic transmitter and an acoustic receiver.

8. A fuel cell system for a portable electronic device, comprising:

a fuel cell that operates on hydrogen obtained from a liquid hydrocarbon fuel;

a reservoir for containing a supply of the liquid hydrocarbon fuel, said reservoir connected to the fuel cell; and

the reservoir further comprising an indicia readable by a human user of the portable electronic device, for measuring the amount of liquid hydrocarbon fuel that is present in the reservoir.

9. The fuel cell as described in claim 8, wherein the indicia comprises a sight glass.

10. The fuel cell as described in claim 8, wherein the indicia comprises a float.

11. The fuel cell as described in claim 8, wherein the indicia comprises a transparent reservoir.

12. The fuel cell as described in claim 8, wherein the indicia further comprises a sensing means.

13. The fuel cell as described in claim 12, wherein the sensing means comprises a resistive element.

14. The fuel cell as described in claim 12, wherein the sensing means comprises a capacitive element.

15. The fuel cell as described in claim 12, wherein the sensing means comprises an acoustic transmitter and an acoustic receiver.

16. The fuel cell system as described in claim 8, wherein the indicia comprises a liquid crystal display.

18. The fuel cell system as described in claim 17, wherein the fuel quantity measuring means comprises a liquid crystal display in the portable electronic device.

19. The fuel cell system as described in claim 17, wherein the fuel quantity measuring means comprises a liquid crystal display disposed on the fuel cell.

17. A fuel cell system for powering a portable electronic device, comprising:

a portable electronic device having a radio transmitter and a radio receiver;

a fuel cell electrically and mechanically coupled to said portable electronic device, said fuel cell capable of operating on hydrogen that is obtained from methanol;

a reservoir for storing a supply of methanol, suitably connected to the fuel cell; and

the reservoir further comprising a fuel quantity measuring means.