Portable fuel cell power source and methods related thereto

• US 20080090109A1
• Filed: 08/10/2007
• Published: 04/17/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 08/10/2006
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Societe BIC
• Original Assignee: Angstrom Power Incorporated (BIC, Inc.)
• Inventors: McLean, Gerard
• Application Number:
  US11/891,637
• Publication Number:
  US 20080090109A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 429/431
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 2250/30 Fuel cells in portable systems, e.g. mobile phone, laptop
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 8/04089 of gaseous reactants
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 8/04201 Reactant storage and supply, e.g. means for feeding, pipes
• 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 8/2475 Enclosures, casings or containers of fuel cell stacks
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 90/10 Applications of fuel cells in buildings
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/50 Fuel cells
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49108 Electric battery cell making

Abstract

Embodiments of the invention relate to a fuel cell power source comprising one or more fuel cells, one or more power conditioning components in contact with the one or more fuel cells, fuel storage, an exterior casing in contact with one or more of the fuel cells, power conditioning components or fuel storage, and two or more outputs, wherein at least a portion of the exterior casing is conformed to fit within an existing battery enclosure of an electronic device, such that the outputs are in contact with connections of the existing battery enclosure.

Claims

1. A fuel cell power source comprising:

one or more fuel cells;

one or more power conditioning components, in contact with the one or more fuel cells;

fuel storage; and

an exterior casing, in contact with one or more of the fuel cells, power conditioning components or fuel storage; and

two or more outputs;

wherein at least a portion of the exterior casing is conformed to fit within an existing battery enclosure of an electronic device, such that the outputs are in contact with connections of the existing battery enclosure.

2. The fuel cell power source of claim 1, further comprising a refueling port, in contact with the fuel storage.

3. The fuel cell power source of claim 1, further comprising a modified cover, adapted to enclose the fuel cell power source within the existing battery enclosure.

4. The fuel cell power source of claim 3, wherein one or more of the fuel cells, power conditioning components or fuel storage are external to the casing and near the modified cover.

5. The fuel cell power source of claim 3, wherein one or more of the fuel cells, power conditioning components or fuel storage are external to the casing and integrated into the modified cover.

6. The fuel cell power source of claim 3, wherein the modified cover allows air to pass through the cover and contact the one or more fuel cells.

7. The fuel cell power source of claim 1, wherein the electrical properties are substantially the same as equivalent batteries manufactured to function in the existing battery enclosure.

8. The fuel cell power source of claim 7, wherein electrical properties include current, voltage, power, state of charge indication or encryption capabilities.

9. The fuel cell power source of claim 1, wherein the one or more power conditioning components comprise a DC/DC converter, hybridizing battery, capacitor or combinations thereof.

10. The fuel cell power source of claim 1, wherein the outputs comprises electrical outputs, encryption/security outputs, state of charge indicators or a combination thereof.

11. The fuel cell power source of claim 1, wherein the fuel cell power source protrudes from the existing battery enclosure.

12. The fuel cell power source of claim 11, wherein the portion that protrudes comprises expanded fuel storage.

13. The fuel cell power source of claim 11, wherein the portion that protrudes comprises one or more fuel cells.

14. The fuel cell power source of claim 1, wherein the fuel cell power source actively contacts air with the one or more fuel cells.

15. The fuel cell power source of claim 14, wherein actively comprises using an air pump or blower.

16. The fuel cell power source of claim 1, wherein air passively contacts the one or more fuel cells.

17. The fuel cell power source of claim 1, further comprising a latch, strap, snap, clip, buckle, spring, groove, protrusion or combinations thereof, adapted to hold the fuel cell power source within the existing battery enclosure.

18. The fuel cell power source of claim 1, wherein the fuel cell power source is sized substantially the same as equivalent batteries manufactured to function in the existing battery enclosure.

19. The fuel cell power source of claim 1, wherein the fuel cell power source is sized smaller than the equivalent batteries manufactured to function in the existing battery enclosure.

20. The fuel cell power source of claim 1, wherein the fuel cell power source is shaped substantially the same as the equivalent batteries manufactured to function in the existing battery enclosure.

21. The fuel cell power source of claim 1, wherein the fuel cell power source is conformed to fit within an existing battery enclosure designed for one or more primary or secondary batteries.

22. The fuel cell power source of claim 1, wherein the fuel cell power source is conformed to fit within an existing battery enclosure designed for one or more AA batteries.

23. The fuel cell power source of claim 1, wherein the fuel cell power source is conformed to fit within an existing battery enclosure designed for one or more AAA batteries.

24. The fuel cell power source of claim 1, wherein the fuel cell power source is conformed to fit within an existing battery enclosure designed for one or more C batteries.

25. The fuel cell power source of claim 1, wherein the fuel cell power source is conformed to fit within an existing battery enclosure designed for one or more D batteries.

26. The fuel cell power source of claim 1, wherein the fuel cell power source is conformed to fit within an existing battery enclosure designed for one or more lithium-ion batteries.

27. The fuel cell power source of claim 1, wherein the fuel cell power source is conformed to fit within an existing battery enclosure designed for one or more lithium metal batteries.

28. The fuel cell power source of claim 26, wherein the one or more lithium-ion batteries comprise CR-123A or CR-V3 type secondary batteries.

29. The fuel cell power source of claim 27, wherein the one or more lithium metal batteries comprise CR2 or PL123A type primary batteries.

30. A fuel cell power source system comprising:

an electronic device; and

a fuel cell power source, comprising;

one or more fuel cells;

one or more power conditioning components, in contact with the one or more fuel cells;

fuel storage; and

an exterior casing, in contact with one or more of the fuel cells;

power conditioning components or fuel storage;

two or more outputs;

wherein at least a portion of the exterior casing is conformed to fit within an existing battery enclosure of the electronic device, such that the outputs are in contact with connections of the existing battery enclosure.

31. The fuel cell power source system of claim 30, wherein the electronic device comprises a cellular phone, satellite phone, PDA, laptop computer, ultra mobile personal computer, computer accessory, display, personal audio or video player, medical device, television, transmitter, receiver, lighting device, electronic toy, camera, radio, or scanner.

32. A method of making a fuel cell power source comprising:

forming one or more fuel cells;

forming a fuel storage;

forming an exterior casing;

coupling the exterior casing to the one or more fuel cells; and

forming two or more outputs in the exterior casing;

wherein at least a portion of the exterior casing is conformed to fit within an existing battery enclosure of an electronic device, such that the outputs are in contact with connections of the existing battery enclosure.

33. The method of claim 32, further comprising forming one or more power conditioning components.

34. A method of using a fuel cell power source comprising:

electrically connecting a fuel cell power source to an electronic device;

wherein the fuel cell power source comprises,

one or more fuel cells;

one or more power conditioning components, in contact with the one or more fuel cells;

fuel storage;

an exterior casing, in contact with one or more of the fuel cells;

power conditioning components or fuel storage; and

two or more outputs;

wherein at least a portion of the exterior casing is conformed to fit within an existing battery enclosure of the electronic device, such that the outputs are in contact with connections of the existing battery enclosure.