INTEGRATED STARTER ELEMENT FOR A FUEL CELL IN A HANDHELD DEVICE

• US 20130065088A1
• Filed: 09/12/2011
• Published: 03/14/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 09/12/2011
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Malikie Innovations Limited (Key Patent Innovations Limited)
• Original Assignee: Research In Motion Limited (Blackberry Limited)
• Inventors: RICH, David Gerard
• Application Number:
  US13/229,895
• Publication Number:
  US 20130065088A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 429/9
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/0525 Rocking-chair batteries, i.e. batteries with lithium insertion or intercalation in both electrodes; Lithium-ion batteries
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 16/006 of fuel cells with rechargeable batteries
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 2250/30 Fuel cells in portable systems, e.g. mobile phone, laptop
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 8/0432 Temperature; Ambient temperature
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 8/0438 Pressure; Ambient pressure; Flow
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 8/04492 Humidity; Ambient humidity; Water content
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 90/10 Applications of fuel cells in buildings
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/10 Energy storage using batteries
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/50 Fuel cells

Abstract

The current disclosure is directed at a method and apparatus for starting of a fuel cell within a mobile communication device under emergency. In one embodiment, the emergency starting apparatus includes a fuel cell starter, such as a piezoelectric element, as an integrated fuel cell starter.

Claims

1. Apparatus comprising:

a fuel cell;

a fuel cell tank, connected to the fuel cell, for supplying fuel to the fuel cell;

a fuel cell starter connected to the fuel cell and fuel cell tank; and

a processor, in communication with the fuel cell starter;

wherein when the processor transmits a start signal to the fuel cell starter, and wherein the fuel cell starter starts the fuel cell in response to the start signal.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the fuel cell starter comprises an energy generating element that generates electric energy.

3. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein the energy generating element is a piezoelectric element.

4. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein the energy generating element is electrically coupled to an energy storage device that stores at least some energy generated by the energy generating element.

5. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a set of fuel cell sensors for monitoring fuel cell operating characteristics and transmitting the characteristics to the processor.

6. The apparatus of claim 5 wherein the fuel cell operating characteristics comprise pressure, temperature or relative humidity associated with the fuel cell.

7. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the start signal is initiated via a user input.

8. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a DC/DC convertor connected to an output of the fuel cell to regulate the output of the fuel cell.

9. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a set of effective systems for assisting operation of the fuel cell.

10. The apparatus of claim 9 wherein the effective systems comprise pumps, fans, heaters or a dessicator.

11. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a power management unit for controlling delivery of fuel cell output.

12. A method of starting a fuel cell comprising:

receiving an input signal to start of the fuel cell;

transmitting a start signal to a fuel cell starter to start the fuel cell; and

when the fuel cell is started, directing energy from the fuel cell to an electronic component.

13. The method of claim 12 wherein the input signal is received from user input.

14. The method of claim 12 wherein the input signal is received from sensors monitoring fuel cell operating characteristics.

15. The method of claim 12 further comprising:

determining if a particular amount of fuel is remaining in the fuel tank after receiving the input signal.

16. The method of claim 15 further comprising:

producing an alert if the remaining amount of fuel in the fuel tank is less than the particular amount.

17. The method of claim 12 wherein transmitting the start signal comprises supplying energy to the fuel cell.

18. The method of claim 12 wherein transmitting the start signal initiates a fuel cell starting sequence.