Retrofittable power supply

• US 6,781,249 B2
• Filed: 08/29/2001
• Issued: 08/24/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 08/29/2001
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Intelligent Energy Limited (Lb-shell Plc)
• Original Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. (HP Inc.)
• Inventors: Holder, Helen Ann, Goebel, Sandra
• Primary Examiner(s): Hguyen, Tuan
• Assistant Examiner(s): Gonzalez, Julio C.
• Application Number:
  US09/941,268
• Publication Number:
  US 20030042740A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,091 Days
• Field of Search: 290/1.R, 290/1.A, 173/217, 173/1, 305/00, 307/64, 307/66, 429/96, 429/98, 429/90, 429/247, 429/179, 320/103, 361/686, 364/200
• US Class Current: 290/1.00A
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/26 Power supply means, e.g. regulation thereof for memories G11C
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/0436 Small-sized flat cells or batteries for portable equipment
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 2250/10 Fuel cells in stationary systems, e.g. emergency power source in plant
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 2250/30 Fuel cells in portable systems, e.g. mobile phone, laptop
• CPC Class Codes: H02S 40/38 Energy storage means, e.g. batteries, structurally associated with PV modules
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 90/10 Applications of fuel cells in buildings
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 10/50 Photovoltaic [PV] energy
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/10 Energy storage using batteries
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/50 Fuel cells
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 70/30 Systems combining energy storage with energy generation of non-fossil origin
• CPC Class Codes: Y02P 70/50 Manufacturing or production processes characterised by the final manufactured product

Abstract

A retrofittable power supply allows an electronic device that is initially designed to be non-portable (in the sense that such electronic and electrical devices require a wired connection to an AC or DC power supply) to operate in geographical regions, or under conditions, in which a wired power supply is not available. The retroffitable power supply can simply plug into an existing case or frame of the non-portable electronic device, and can then serve as a means for powering both the non-portable electronic device, as well as a means for powering peripheral devices that may be coupled to the non-portable electronic device.

Claims

1. A retrofittable, wireless power supply device, not requiring a wired connection to an external source of electrical power, for powering a personal computer, comprising:

a power generation module housing having a form factor equal to a form factor of a conventional wired power supply device that the retrofittable power supply device is adapted to replace the conventional wired power supply device being adapted to receive electrical power from the external source of electrical power over a wired connection;

a self-contained power generation module disposed within the power generation module housing, the power generation module comprising;

a DC power generator capable of generating DC power for use in an electronic device including for use in the personal computer, the DC power generator comprising a liquid catalytic proton exchange membrane module fuel cell and a water retention mechanism, and

a DC/AC converter that generates AC output power using the generated DC power for use in the personal computer or peripheral devices connected with the personal computer; and

one or more AC power output connections,

wherein the retrofittable wireless power supply device being retrofittably insertable into the framework of the personal computer normally occupied by the conventional wired power supply after removal, does not require a wired connection to an external source of electrical power, and replaces the wired power supply device during operation of the personal computer.

3. A retrofittable, wireless power supply as in claim 1, wherein when the power supply ceases to be able to generate power due to depletion of a fuel for the fuel cell, the retrofittable power supply being either replace with a second replacement retrofittable power supply having a fully charged fuel cell, or being removed from the personal computer, refilled with fuel and then replaced in the personal computer.

4. A retrofittable, wireless power supply as in claim 3, wherein the fuel comprises methanol.

2. A retrofittable power supply not requiring a wired connection to an external source of electrical power for use in a personal computer electronic device, comprising:

means for housing the retrofittable power supply device, the means for housing having a form factor equal to that of a wired power supply device used in the electronic device that the retrofittable power supply device is adapted to replace;

means for generating power for use in the personal computer electronic device, comprising;

self-contained liquid catalytic proton exchange membrane module fuel cell means for generating DC power and a water retention means, and

means for converting the generated DC power to AC power for use in the personal computer electronic device or peripheral devices connected with the personal computer electronic device; and

means for outputting the AC power;

the retrofittable wireless power supply device being retrofittable insertable into the framework of the personal computer electronic device normally occupied by the conventional wired power supply after removal, does not require a wired connection to an external source of electrical power and replaces the wired power supply device during operation of the personal computer electronic device.

5. A retrofittable, wireless power supply as in claim 2, wherein when the power supply ceases to be able to generate power due to depletion of a fuel for the fuel cell, the retrofittable power supply being either replaced with a second replacement retrofittable power supply having a fully charged fuel cell, or being removed from the personal computer, refilled with fuel and then replaced in the personal computer.

6. A retrofittable, wireless power supply as in claim 5, wherein the fuel comprises methanol.