Fuel container, fuel supply method, fuel filling method, and fuel cell system

• US 7,314,069 B2
• Filed: 12/06/2004
• Issued: 01/01/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 12/11/2003
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha (Canon Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha (Canon Inc.)
• Inventors: Tanaka, Shuya
• Primary Examiner(s): Douglas; Steven O.
• Application Number:
  US11/005,072
• Publication Number:
  US 20050189035A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,121 Days
• Field of Search: 141/94, 141/192, 141/83, 141/98, 700/241, 700/244, 705/14, 705/26
• US Class Current: 141/94
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 15/00 Arrangement in connection with fuel supply of combustion engines or other fuel consuming energy converters, e.g. fuel cells; Mounting or construction of fuel tanks tanks in general B65D, F17C; supplying combustion engines with combustible mixtures or constituents F02M
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 15/03 Fuel tanks chassis frame comprising fluid storage compartment B62D21/16 ; Details of the fuel feeding system related to the fuel tank F02M37/0076
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2015/03197 Systems for exchanging data
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 8/04201 Reactant storage and supply, e.g. means for feeding, pipes
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 8/04373 of auxiliary devices, e.g. reformers, compressors, burners
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 8/04425 at auxiliary devices, e.g. reformers, compressors, burners
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 8/04604 Power, energy, capacity or load
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 8/04686 of auxiliary devices, e.g. batteries, capacitors
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 8/04776 at auxiliary devices, e.g. reformer, compressor, burner
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/50 Fuel cells

Abstract

A fuel cartridge includes a fuel tank which stores fuel to be supplied to a fuel cell of a main device, and a storage unit which stores information on type of fuel, remaining amount of fuel in the fuel tank, and number of times the fuel tank has been used. The fuel cartridge is formed separate from the fuel cell.

Claims

1. A fuel cell system comprising:

a portable device having a fuel cell unit mounted thereto and driven electrically by the fuel cell unit;

a fuel container separate from the portable device, the fuel container comprising;

a fuel tank adapted to store the fuel to be supplied to the fuel cell unit of the portable device;

a storage unit configured to store information on at least one of type of fuel, remaining amount of fuel in the fuel tank, and number of times the fuel tank has been used; and

a communication unit wirelessly communicating the information to the portable device; and

a control unit controlling supply of the fuel from the fuel container to the fuel cell unit based on the information.

2. A fuel container supplying fuel to a fuel cell unit, the fuel container comprising:

a fuel tank adapted to store the fuel to be supplied to the fuel cell unit;

a connection portion detachably connected to a portable device driven electrically by the fuel cell unit;

a supply port facilitating supplying the fuel to the fuel cell unit;

a storage unit configured to store information on at least one of type of fuel, remaining amount of fuel in the fuel tank, and number of times the fuel tank has been used; and

a wireless communication unit wirelessly communicating the information to the portable device.

3. A method of filling fuel to a fuel container having a fuel tank mounted thereto, comprising:

when the fuel container is connected to a fuel filling unit loading a fuel for filling, sending to the fuel filling unit, via a wireless communication unit mounted to a fuel container, from among information stored in a storage unit mounted to the fuel container, information on at least one of type of fuel, remaining amount of fuel in the fuel tank, and number of times the fuel tank has been used;

receiving, via a wireless communication unit mounted to the fuel filling unit, the information sent in the sending step; and

determining, via a control unit mounted in the fuel filling unit, whether to supply the fuel from the fuel filling unit to the fuel cell container, based on the information received in the receiving step,

wherein the determining step includes determining whether an amount of fuel remaining in the fuel tank is a predetermined amount or less, and

responsive to determining that the amount of fuel remaining in the fuel tank is the predetermined amount or less, filling the fuel tank with the fuel for filling.

4. A method of filling fuel to a fuel container having a fuel tank mounted thereto, comprising:

when the fuel container is connected to a fuel filling unit loading a fuel for filling, sending to the fuel filling unit, via a wireless communication unit mounted to a fuel container, from among information stored in a storage unit mounted to the fuel container, information on at least one of type of fuel, remaining amount of fuel in the fuel tank, and number of times the fuel tank has been used;

receiving, via a wireless communication unit mounted to the fuel filling unit, the information sent in the sending step; and

determining, via a control unit mounted in the fuel filling unit, whether to supply the fuel from the fuel filling unit to the fuel cell container, based on the information received in the receiving step,

wherein the determining step includes determining whether a number of usage of the fuel tank is a predetermined number or less, and

responsive to determining that the number of usage is the predetermined number or less, filling the fuel tank with the fuel for filling.