Fuel Cartridge Interconnect for Portable Fuel Cells
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A hybrid power supply includes a fuel cell and an interface between the fuel cell and a fuel cartridge or external battery and a switching type DC/DC boost type converter that receives energy from the fuel cell or external battery and is arranged to deliver the energy to a rechargeable cell. The hybrid power supply also includes a fuel cell current sensor/comparator, included in a feedback control loop disposed about the DC/DC converter, which controls in part operation of the converter to provide constant current discharge on the fuel battery side of the hybrid power supply. An adapter that couples a source of AC power such as a charger to the interconnect is also disclosed.
21 Citations
34 Claims
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1-9. -9. (canceled)
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10. A hybrid power supply comprises:
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an interface between a fuel cell system and a fuel cartridge or battery, with either the fuel cartridge or battery connected to the interface at a common planar surface; and a switching type DC/DC boost type converter coupled to the interface and which receives energy from a fuel cell or from an external battery connected to the interface, and which is arranged to deliver the energy to a rechargeable cell, the DC/DC converter configured to provide substantially constant current drain from the fuel cell. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 26, 27, 28)
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15. A hybrid power supply comprises:
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a fuel cell; an interface between the fuel cell and a fuel cartridge or external battery; and a switching type DC/DC boost type converter that receives energy from the fuel cell or an external battery connected to the interface and is arranged to deliver the energy to a rechargeable cell; and a circuit including a fuel cell current sensor/comparator, disposed in a feedback control loop about the DC/DC converter, which controls in part operation of the converter to provide constant current discharge on the fuel battery side of the hybrid power supply. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 29, 30, 31, 32)
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20. A hybrid power supply comprises:
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a fuel cell; an interconnect that can receive a fuel cartridge, a battery, or a power adapter; a rechargeable cell; a DC/DC boost type converter that receives energy from the fuel cell, battery or adapter, and is arranged to deliver the energy to the rechargeable cell. - View Dependent Claims (33, 34)
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- 21. The hybrid power supply of claim 21 wherein a diode is coupled between the fuel cell and an external battery terminal of the interconnect that receives a battery or the power adapter, such that when the fuel cell supplies the power, the diode is forward biased, and the external battery terminals are at open circuit and if an external battery or power adapter is connected to contacts on the interface the diode is reverse biased, and the battery supplies power to the load.
Specification