Telematic method and apparatus with integrated power source

• US 20050167172A1
• Filed: 07/23/2003
• Published: 08/04/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 07/23/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Dennis Fernandez
• Original Assignee: Dennis Fernandez
• Inventors: Fernandez, Dennis S.
• Granted Patent: US 7,353,897 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 180/65.800
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 1/00 Supplying electric power to auxiliary equipment of vehicles circuit arrangements for charging batteries H02J7/00
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 15/2045 for optimising the use of energy
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2240/622 by satellite navigation
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2250/10 by alarm
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2250/30 by voice
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 58/30 for monitoring or controlling fuel cells
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 58/33 by cooling
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 58/34 by heating
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/64 Electric machine technologies in electromobility
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/72 Electric energy management in electromobility
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 90/16 Information or communication technologies improving the operation of electric vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 90/40 Application of hydrogen technology to transportation, e.g. using fuel cells
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 903/944 Characterized by control of fuel cell

Abstract

Telematic method and apparatus adaptively uses fuel cell power source in vehicle with integrated power system, electrical system, telematic system, and body powertrain system. Telematic communications systems including internet, digital video broadcast entertainment, digital audio broadcast, digital multimedia broadcast, global positioning system navigation, safety services, intelligent transportation systems, and/or universal mobile telecommunications system. Network-accessible software enables integrated modular function for automated control and provision of fuel cell resources for telematic appliance and/or other vehicle electromechanical devices.

Claims

1. Vehicle power and telematic control system comprising:

an electronic controller;

a fuel cell module; and

a telematic appliance,

wherein the electronic controller couples electrical power from the fuel cell module adaptively to the telematic appliance.

2. The control system of claim 1 wherein:

the electronic controller stores the electrical power from the fuel cell module by recharging a lithium-ion battery.

3. The control system of claim 1 wherein:

the electronic controller configures the fuel cell module to generate a 42-volt or 14-volt electrical power.

4. The control system of claim 1 wherein:

the electronic controller couples to the fuel cell module or the telematic appliance through a shared connection through which a control signal and a power signal is provided.

5. The control system of claim 1 wherein:

the electronic controller couples electrical power from a generator to the telematic appliance.

6. The control system of claim 1 wherein:

the electronic controller controls the electrical power in response to a sensor signal provided by the telematic appliance.

7. The control system of claim 6 wherein:

the sensor signal represents a fault or error condition in the telematic appliance.

8. The control system of claim 6 wherein:

the sensor signal represents a media format or load in the telematic appliance.

9. The control system of claim 6 wherein:

the sensor signal represents a location or jurisdiction of the telematic appliance.

10. The control system of claim 1 wherein:

the electronic controller controls the electrical power in response to a measured quality of an electrical power signal.

11. The control system of claim 1 wherein:

the electronic controller controls the electrical power according to a predicted function or scheduled service in the telematic appliance.

12. Vehicle power and telematic control method comprising steps of:

coupling an electronic controller to a fuel cell module and a telematic appliance; and

controlling adaptively by the electronic controller the fuel cell module electrical power to generate electrical power for the telematic appliance.

13. Automotive electrical apparatus comprising:

a multi-level voltage source; and

a telematic system, coupled to the multi-level voltage unit for accessing a first and second voltage source.

14. The apparatus of claim 13 wherein:

the first voltage source comprises a 36-42 volt-source or bus, and the second voltage source comprises a 12-14 volt-source or bus.

15. The apparatus of claim 13 wherein:

a DC-DC converter couples the first voltage source to the second voltage source.

16. The apparatus of claim 13 wherein:

the telematic system is coupled adaptively to the voltage unit, thereby enabling such voltage unit to provide multi-level voltages to one or more telematic appliances from the group consisting of a wireless or satellite network or communications device, a digital video or audio media or entertainment device, a global positioning or navigational locator or guidance device, and an image camera, radar or biometric sensor device.

17. The apparatus of claim 13 wherein:

the first or second voltage source comprises a fuel cell stack, whereby such stack enables multi-level voltages to be generated by one or more fuel cells from the group consisting of a proton exchange membrane fuel cell, a tubular solid oxide fuel cell, an alkaline fuel cell, a phosphoric acid fuel cell, and a molten carbonate fuel cell.

18. The apparatus of claim 13 further comprising:

a body or power train controller, coupled to the multi-level voltage unit for accessing the first and second voltage source.

19. The apparatus of claim 13 wherein:

the multi-level voltage unit is coupled to a vehicle multimedia bus or a human-machine interface.

20. The apparatus of claim 13 wherein:

the telematic system comprises an optical, magnetic or biometric sensor.