Electronic apparatus using fuel cell assembly

• US 6,649,298 B2
• Filed: 07/31/2001
• Issued: 11/18/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 08/01/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba (Toshiba Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba (Toshiba Corporation)
• Inventors: Sato, Fumitaka, Fujiwara, Naoki, Nakamura, Nobutaka, Hayashi, Kyoji
• Primary Examiner(s): Gulakowski, Randy
• Assistant Examiner(s): Scaltrito, Donald V.
• Application Number:
  US09/917,688
• Publication Number:
  US 20020055029A1
• Time in Patent Office: 840 Days
• Field of Search: 429/13, 429/34, 429/35, 429/36, 429/37, 429/38, 429/39
• US Class Current: 429/433
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1616 with folding flat displays, e.g. laptop computers or notebooks having a clamshell configuration, with body parts pivoting to an open position around an axis parallel to the plane they define in closed position
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1632 External expansion units, e.g. docking stations
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1635 Details related to the integration of battery packs and other power supplies such as fuel cells or integrated AC adapter
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1637 Details related to the display arrangement, including those related to the mounting of the display in the housing
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/203 for portable computers, e.g. for laptops
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 8/04014 Heat exchange using gaseous fluids; Heat exchange by combustion of reactants
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 8/04089 of gaseous reactants
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 8/04156 with product water removal
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/50 Fuel cells

Abstract

In this invention, a fuel cell assembly and an air channel for supplying air to the fuel cell assembly are arranged in a display unit of an electronic apparatus. A drain hole for draining water produced by the fuel cell assembly is formed in a side surface of the display unit. When a drain tool is connected to the drain hole and the electronic apparatus is in the OFF state, the operation mode switches to a fuel cell assembly mode for using the fuel cell assembly.

Claims

1. An electronic apparatus, comprising:

a display unit having a display panel;

a fuel cell assembly arranged in the display unit, which supplies power to the electronic apparatus;

an air channel, arranged between the display panel and the fuel cell assembly, which supplies air to the fuel cell assembly;

a first vent provided to a bottom surface of the display unit; and

a second vent provided to an upper surface of the display unit.

2. The apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a shield, located between the fuel cell assembly and the display panel, configured to prevent conduction of heat generated by the fuel cell assembly to the display panel.

3. The apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a shield, located between the fuel cell assembly and the display panel, configured to prevent a failure caused by electromagnetic waves generated by the display panel.

4. The apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a shield, located between the fuel cell assembly and the display panel, configured to prevent water produced by the fuel cell assembly from entering the display panel.

5. The apparatus according to claim 2, wherein a drain hole for draining water produced by the fuel cell assembly, which is formed in a side surface of the display unit.

6. The apparatus according to claim 3, wherein a drain hole for draining water produced by the fuel cell assembly, which is formed in a side surface of the display unit.

7. The apparatus according to claim 4, wherein a drain hole for draining water produced by the fuel cell assembly, which is formed in a side surface of the display unit.

8. The apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the apparatus further comprises a sensor for detecting that a drain unit is connected to the drain hole;

and

the fuel cell assembly is used when the sensor detects that the drain unit is connected to the drain hole.

9. The apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the apparatus further comprises a sensor for detecting that a drain unit is connected to the drain hole;

and

the fuel cell assembly is used when the sensor detects that the drain unit is connected to the drain hole.

10. The apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the apparatus further comprises a sensor for detecting that a drain unit is connected to the drain hole;

and

the fuel cell assembly is used when the sensor detects that the drain unit is connected to the drain hole.

11. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein

a fuel supply channel for supplying fuel to the fuel cell assembly is formed between the fuel cell assembly and the display unit;

and

a cross-sectional area of the air channel is larger than that of the fuel supply channel.

12. The apparatus according to claim 5, further comprising:

a detection unit detecting that a tool for collecting water produced by the fuel cell assembly is connected to the drain hole; and

a unit causing the apparatus to operate in a low power consumption mode when using the fuel cell assembly as a power supply, if the detection unit detects that the tool is connected to the drain hole and a power supply of the electronic apparatus is in an OFF state.

13. The apparatus according to claim 6, further comprising:

a detection unit detecting that a tool for collecting water produced by the fuel cell assembly is connected to the drain hole; and

a unit causing the apparatus to operate in a low power consumption mode when using the fuel cell assembly as a power supply, if the detection unit detects that the tool is connected to the drain hole and a power supply of the electronic apparatus is in an OFF state.

14. The apparatus according to claim 7, further comprising:

a detection unit detecting that a tool for collecting water produced by the fuel cell assembly is connected to the drain hole; and

a unit causing the apparatus to operate in a low power consumption mode when using the fuel cell assembly as a power supply, if the detection unit detects that the tool is connected to the drain hole and a power supply of the electronic apparatus is in an OFF state.

22. The apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a fuel cartridge for supplying a fuel to the fuel cell assembly, mounted on the upper surface of the display unit.

24. The apparatus according to claim 22, wherein the fuel cartridge has a through hole for exhausting air supplied from the air channel.

15. A method of driving an electronic apparatus including an electronic apparatus body, and a display unit rotatably mounted on the electronic apparatus body, the display unit having a fuel cell assembly for supplying power to the electronic apparatus and a drain hole for draining water produced by the fuel cell assembly, comprising:

detecting that a tool for collecting water produced by the fuel cell assembly is connected to the drain hole and a power supply of the electronic apparatus is in an OFF state;

switching to a fuel cell assembly mode for using the fuel cell assembly, when it is detected that a tool for collecting water produced by the fuel cell assembly is connected to the drain hole, and a power supply of the electronic apparatus is in an OFF state; and

executing a power supply ON sequence unique to the fuel cell assembly mode when the power supply of the electronic apparatus is turned on, and a power of the fuel cell assembly reaches a predetermined output value.

16. The method according to claim 15, wherein the apparatus operates in a low power consumption mode in the fuel cell assembly mode.

17. The method according to claim 15, wherein a predetermined application program is executed in the fuel cell assembly mode.

18. An apparatus according to claim 15, wherein a predetermined peripheral device is driven in the fuel cell assembly mode.

19. An electronic apparatus comprising:

a display panel provided in a display unit;

a fuel cell assembly arranged in parallel with the display panel;

an air channel which is arranged between the display panel and fuel cell assembly such that the air channel faces the fuel cell assembly and which has openings at upper and lower end portions of the display unit, respectively; and

a shield, arranged between the air channel and display panel, configured to shield the display panel from water generated by the fuel cell assembly.

20. The apparatus according to claim 19,

wherein the shield is configured to shield the fuel cell assembly from an electromagnetic wave generated from the display panel.

21. The apparatus according to claim 19, wherein the display unit has a drain hole, which is formed at lower portion of the display unit, configured to drain water produced from said fuel cell assembly.

23. The apparatus according to claim 19, further comprising a fuel cartridge for supplying a fuel to the fuel cell assembly, mounted on the upper surface of the display unit.

25. The apparatus according to claim 23, wherein the fuel cartridge has a through hole for exhausting air supplied from the air channel.

26. An electronic apparatus comprising:

a display unit having a display panel;

a fuel cell assembly arranged in the display unit, which supplies power to the electronic apparatus;

a fuel supply channel, provided in the display unit, for supplying fuel to the fuel cell assembly;

an air channel, arranged between the display panel and the fuel cell assembly, which supplies air to the fuel cell assembly;

a first vent provided to a bottom surface of the display unit;

a second vent provided to an upper surface of the display unit; and

a fuel cartridge supplying a fuel to the fuel cell assembly, mounted on the upper surface of the display unit.

27. The apparatus according to claim 26, wherein the fuel supply channel is formed between the fuel cell assembly and the display unit.