Fuel cell unit, control method thereof, information processing apparatus, and power supply control method thereof

• US 20070042245A1
• Filed: 08/24/2006
• Published: 02/22/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 02/27/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba (Toshiba Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba (Toshiba Corporation)
• Inventors: Nakamura, Koji, Ninomiya, Ryoji, Ozeki, Akihiro
• Granted Patent: US 7,879,473 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 429/430
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 2250/30 Fuel cells in portable systems, e.g. mobile phone, laptop
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 8/04313 characterised by the detection or assessment of variables; characterised by the detection or assessment of failure or abnormal function
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 8/04447 of anode reactants at the inlet or inside the fuel cell
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 8/04626 of auxiliary devices, e.g. batteries, capacitors
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 8/04753 of fuel cell reactants
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 8/04798 of fuel cell reactants
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 8/04992 characterised by the implementation of mathematical or computational algorithms, e.g. feedback control loops, fuzzy logic, neural networks or artificial intelligence
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 90/10 Applications of fuel cells in buildings
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/50 Fuel cells

Abstract

A fuel cell unit according to the present invention is connectable to an external apparatus and includes a fuel cell generating an electric power, an auxiliary device feeding a fuel and air to the fuel cell, and a controller controlling power generation performed using the fuel cell. After receiving an electric power supplied from the external apparatus, the controller supplies an electric power supplied from the external apparatus to the auxiliary device.

Claims

1. A fuel cell unit connectable to an external apparatus, comprising:

a fuel cell generating an electric power;

an auxiliary device feeding a fuel and air to the fuel cell; and

a controller controlling power generation performed using the fuel cell,

wherein, after the controller receives an electric power supplied from the external apparatus, the controller supplies an electric power supplied from the external apparatus to the auxiliary device.

2. The fuel cell unit according to claim 1, wherein, after the controller supplies an electric power supplied from the external apparatus to the auxiliary device, the controller controls the auxiliary device, whereby an electric power generated by the fuel cell is supplied to the external apparatus.

3. The fuel cell unit according to claim 1, further comprising a storage portion storing identification data for identifying the fuel cell unit,

wherein when the external apparatus identifies the fuel cell unit as an adequate unit by reading the identification data, the controller receives an electric power supplied from the external apparatus.

4. The fuel cell unit according to claim 1, wherein when a power source of the external apparatus is in an abnormal state, the controller receives a command which is transmitted from the external apparatus and which indicates the abnormal state of the power source of the external apparatus, and the controller stops the control of the auxiliary device.

5. The fuel cell unit according to claim 1, further comprising a sensor measuring the posture of the fuel cell unit,

wherein when the controller receives a command which is transmitted from the external apparatus and which indicates execution of calibration of the sensor, the controller executes the calibration of the sensor.

6. A fuel cell unit connectable to an external apparatus, comprising:

a fuel cell generating an electric power;

an auxiliary device feeding a fuel and air to the fuel cell;

a controller controlling power generation performed using the fuel cell;

a storage portion storing identification data for identifying the fuel cell unit; and

a connection portion connected to the external apparatus,

wherein the connection portion comprises;

a first terminal used for supplying an electric power from the external apparatus to the auxiliary device,

a second terminal used for communication between the controller and the external apparatus, and

a third terminal used for supplying an electric power from the external apparatus to the storage portion.

7. The fuel cell unit according to claim 6, wherein the connection portion further comprises a fourth terminal used for supplying an electric power generated by the fuel cell to the external apparatus.

8. The fuel cell unit according to claim 6, wherein the controller receives an electric power supplied from the external apparatus via the first terminal.

9. The fuel cell unit according to claim 6, wherein the connection portion further comprises a fifth terminal used for supplying an electric power from the external apparatus to the controller.

10. The fuel cell unit according to claim 6, further comprising a bus connecting the storage portion, the second terminal, and the controller.

11. A method for controlling a fuel cell unit which is connectable to an external apparatus and which includes a fuel cell generating an electric power, an auxiliary device feeding a fuel and air to the fuel cell, and a controller controlling power generation performed using the fuel cell,

wherein the controller receives an electric power supplied from the external apparatus, and

after the controller receives an electric power supplied from the external apparatus, the controller supplies an electric power supplied from the external apparatus to the auxiliary device.

12. The method for controlling a fuel cell unit, according to claim 11,

wherein after the controller supplies an electric power supplied from the external apparatus to the auxiliary device, the controller controls the auxiliary device, whereby an electric power generated by the fuel cell is supplied to the external apparatus.