Portable disposable fuel-battery unit for a fuel cell system

• US 6,887,596 B2
• Filed: 01/22/2002
• Issued: 05/03/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 01/22/2002
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. (HP Inc.)
• Inventors: Leban, Marzio
• Primary Examiner(s): Le, Hoa Van
• Application Number:
  US10/056,176
• Publication Number:
  US 20030138676A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,197 Days
• Field of Search: 429/9, 429/13, 429/34, 429/38, 320/101
• US Class Current: 429/9
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 16/006 of fuel cells with rechargeable batteries
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 8/04 Auxiliary arrangements, e.g. for control of pressure or for circulation of fluids
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 8/04186 of liquid-charged or electrolyte-charged reactants
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 8/1009 with one of the reactants being liquid, solid or liquid-charged H01M8/12 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/10 Energy storage using batteries
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/50 Fuel cells

Abstract

The present invention provides methods for providing a portable disposable fuel-battery unit, a portable disposable fuel-battery unit for a fuel cell system having at least one fuel cell, a fuel cell stack, and a handheld device having a fuel cell system with a portable disposable fuel-battery unit. In one embodiment, the portable disposable fuel-battery unit provides a fuel compartment, for providing fuel for the at least one fuel cell and a disposable power battery, affixed to the fuel compartment, for providing start-up energy for the at least one fuel cell.

Claims

1. A portable disposable fuel-battery unit for use with a system including a fuel cell, a system fuel connector operably connected to the fuel cell, and a system electrical connector, the portable disposable fuel-battery unit comprising:

a fuel-battery container including a fuel compartment having fuel stored therein and a battery compartment having a battery stored therein;

a fuel-battery unit fuel connector, operably connected to the fuel compartment, adapted to be connected to the system fuel connector such that fuel can flow out of the fuel-battery container; and

a fuel-battery unit electrical connector, operably connected to the battery, adapted to be connected to the system electrical connector.

2. A portable disposable fuel-battery unit as claimed in claim 1, wherein the fuel comprises hydrogen.

3. A portable disposable fuel-battery unit as claimed in claim 1, wherein the fuel comprises methanol.

4. A portable disposable fuel-battery unit as claimed in claim 1, wherein the fuel-battery container includes only a fuel compartment and a battery compartment.

5. An apparatus, comprising:

a fuel cell system including

at least one fuel cell,

a system fuel connector operably connected to the fuel cell, and

a system electrical connector; and

a portable disposable fuel-battery unit including

a fuel-battery container including a fuel compartment having fuel stored therein and a battery compartment having a battery stored therein,

a fuel-battery unit fuel connector, operably connected to the fuel compartment, adapted to be connected to the system fuel connector such that fuel can flow out of the fuel-battery container to the at least one fuel cell, and

a fuel-battery unit electrical connector, operably connected to the battery, adapted to be connected to the system electrical connector.

6. An apparatus as claimed in claim 5, wherein the fuel comprises hydrogen.

7. An apparatus as claimed in claim 5, wherein the fuel comprises methanol.

8. An apparatus as claimed in claim 5, wherein the fuel-battery container includes only a fuel compartment and a battery compartment.

9. An apparatus as claimed in claim 5, wherein the fuel cell system includes a plurality of fuel cells.

10. An apparatus as claimed in claim 5, wherein the fuel cell system includes an outer shell defining a chamber, the fuel-battery container is located within the chamber and the at least one fuel cell is not located within the chamber.

11. An apparatus as claimed in claim 5, wherein the fuel-battery container and fuel cell system are adapted to be snap-connected to one another.

12. A device, comprising:

an electrical load;

a fuel cell system including

at least one fuel cell connected to the electrical load,

a system fuel connector operably connected to the fuel cell, and

a system electrical connector; and

a portable disposable fuel-battery unit including

a fuel-battery container including a fuel compartment having fuel stored therein and a battery compartment having a battery stored therein,

a fuel-battery unit fuel connector, operably connected to the fuel compartment, adapted to be connected to the system fuel connector such that fuel can flow out of the fuel-battery container to the at least one fuel cell, and

a fuel-battery unit electrical connector, operably connected to the battery, adapted to be connected to the electrical load.

13. A device as claimed in claim 12, wherein the fuel comprises hydrogen.

14. A device as claimed in claim 12, wherein the fuel comprises methanol.

15. A device as claimed in claim 12, wherein the fuel-battery container includes only a fuel compartment and a battery compartment.

16. A device as claimed in claim 12, wherein the fuel cell system includes a plurality of fuel cells.

17. A device as claimed in claim 12, wherein the fuel cell system includes an outer shell defining a chamber, the fuel-battery container is located within the chamber and the at least one fuel cell is not located within the chamber.

18. A device as claimed in claim 12, wherein the fuel-battery container and fuel cell system are adapted to be snap-connected to one another.

19. A method of fueling an apparatus that includes a fuel cell and an electrical load connected to the fuel cell, the method comprising the steps of:

connecting a single fuel-battery cartridge that includes both fuel and a battery to the fuel cell and to the electrical load;

supplying power to the electrical load with the battery; and

transferring fuel from the fuel-battery cartridge to the fuel cell.

20. A method as claimed in claim 19, wherein the fuel comprises hydrogen.

21. A method as claimed in claim 19, wherein the fuel comprises methanol.

22. A method as claimed in claim 19, comprising the step of:

charging the battery with energy from the fuel cell.

23. A portable disposable fuel-battery unit for use with a system including a fuel cell, a system fuel connector operably connected to the fuel cell, and a system electrical connector, the portable disposable fuel-battery unit comprising:

a fuel container including a fuel compartment having fuel stored therein;

a battery carried by the fuel container;

a fuel-battery unit fuel connector, operably connected to the fuel compartment, adapted to be connected to the system fuel connector such that fuel can flow out of the fuel container; and

a fuel-battery unit electrical connector, operably connected to the battery, adapted to be connected to the system electrical connector.

24. A portable disposable fuel-battery unit as claimed in claim 23, wherein the fuel comprises hydrogen.

25. A portable disposable fuel-battery unit as claimed in claim 23, wherein the fuel comprises methanol.