Power supply adapter and power supply system

• US 7,608,943 B2
• Filed: 06/24/2004
• Issued: 10/27/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 07/03/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Inventors: Sekai, Koji
• Primary Examiner(s): Jackson; Stephen W
• Assistant Examiner(s): Amrany; Adi
• Application Number:
  US10/876,292
• Publication Number:
  US 20050007063A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,951 Days
• Field of Search: 307 64- 66, 361600-601, 361/641, 361/643
• US Class Current: 307/64
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/263 Arrangements for using multiple switchable power supplies, e.g. battery and AC G06F1/30 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/46 Accumulators structurally combined with charging apparatus circuits for charging H02J7/00
• 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 8/04559 of fuel cell stacks
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 8/04947 of auxiliary devices, e.g. batteries, capacitors
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 8/0618 Reforming processes, e.g. autothermal, partial oxidation or steam reforming
• 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

Electronic devices are intended to be small-sized and lightweight. A fuel cell 54 is provided for a power supply adapter 3. Power generated by the fuel cell 54 can be supplied to an electronic device 2. Accordingly, the electronic device 2 can be made more compact and lightweight than a conventional electronic device mounted with a fuel cell as a power supply source.

Claims

1. A power supply adapter to supply power to an electronic device and/or an internal battery of the electronic device, the power supply adapter comprising:

a portable housing capable of being hand carried by an individual having at least a connection for a fuel cell that provides a DC voltage output based on an electrochemical reaction;

an AC/DC converter contained within the portable housing providing a DC voltage based on conversion of an AC voltage;

the portable housing having an AC voltage input connection and a DC voltage output;

a control circuit contained within the portable housing for providing selection control signals based at least in part upon inputs from first, second, and third detection circuits so that the electronic device and/or the internal battery is selectively supplied with either the DC voltage generated by the fuel cell or the DC voltage provided by the AC/DC converter; and

a switching circuit contained within the portable housing which receives the DC voltage from the fuel cell and the AC/DC converter directly or indirectly, and which under the control of the control circuit operates, such that in a first state, the switching circuit provides the DC voltage from the AC/DC converter as an output and disconnects the fuel cell, and in a second state, provides the DC voltage output from the fuel cell as an output,

wherein the control circuit provides control to drive the fuel cell and supply power generated by the fuel cell to the electronic device and/or the internal battery of the electronic device when power supplied from the AC/DC converter is unavailable and only when it is determined that the power supply adapter is currently connected to the electronic device and/or an internal battery of the electronic device; and

wherein said first detection circuit detects a voltage from the AC/DC converter and provides a corresponding first detection signal to the control circuit, the second detection circuit determines whether the electronic device is connected and provides a corresponding second detection signal to the control circuit, and the third voltage detection circuit detects a voltage on the output of the fuel cell and provides a corresponding third detection signal to the control circuit.

2. The power supply adapter according to claim 1, wherein the fuel cell has a power generation element comprising a layer of a hydrogen electrode and an oxygen electrode and an electrochemical reaction occurs between the hydrogen electrode and the oxygen electrode to generate power to be supplied to the electronic device and/or the secondary battery.

3. The power supply adapter according to claim 1, wherein the fuel cell has reforming means for reforming fuel when generating power.

4. The power supply adapter according to claim 1, wherein said fuel cell further contains at least two pressure adjustment members, each positioned at an inlet portion of the fuel cell, for controlling the flow rate of a fuel through the fuel cell, and wherein said control circuit controls the operation of said pressure members to adjust the flow rate of fuel through the fuel cell.

5. The power supply adapter according to claim 1, wherein each of said detection circuits includes an analog to digital conversion circuit and each of said first, second, and third detection signals is a digital signal.

6. The power supply adapter according to claim 1, wherein said control circuit controls the switching circuit so as to prevent the switching circuit from driving the output of the power supply adapter with either one of said external power supply or said fuel cell when said second voltage detection circuit detects that the electronic device is not connected to the power supply.

7. A power supply system comprising:

a portable housing capable of being hand carried by an individual having at least a connection for a fuel cell that provides a DC voltage output based on an electrochemical reaction;

an AC/DC converter contained within the portable housing providing a DC voltage based on conversion of an AC voltage;

the portable housing having an AC voltage input connection and a DC voltage output provided on a connection for

an electronic device and/or an internal battery of an electronic device; and

a control circuit for providing selection control based at least in part upon inputs from first, second, and third detection circuits so that the electronic device and/or the internal battery is supplied with either the DC voltage generated by the fuel cell or the DC voltage provided by the AC/DC converter; and

a switching circuit which under the control of the control circuit provides as an output either the DC voltage from the fuel cell or the DC voltage from the AC/DC converter, and

wherein the control circuit provides control to drive the fuel cell and supply power generated by the fuel cell to the electronic device and/or the internal battery of the electronic device when power supplied from the external power supply becomes insufficient or unavailable and only when it is determined that the power supply adapter is currently connected to the electronic device and/or an internal battery of the electronic device; and

wherein said the first voltage detection circuit detects a voltage from the external supply and provides a corresponding first detection signal to the control circuit, the second voltage detection circuit detects a voltage which determines whether the electronic device is connected and provides a corresponding second detection signal to the control circuit, and the third voltage detection circuit detects a voltage on the output of the fuel cell and provides a corresponding third detection signal to the control circuit.

8. The power supply system according to claim 7, wherein the fuel cell has a power generation element comprising a layer of a hydrogen electrode and an oxygen electrode and an electrochemical reaction occurs between the hydrogen electrode and the oxygen electrode to generate power to be supplied to the electronic device and/or the secondary battery.

9. The power supply system according to claim 7, wherein the power supply adapter has a production outlet for exhausting a reaction product generated by the electrochemical reaction.

10. The power supply system according to claim 7, wherein the power supply adapter has reforming means for reforming fuel to be supplied to the fuel cell.

11. The power supply system according to claim 7, wherein said fuel cell further contains at least two pressure adjustment members, each positioned at an inlet portion of the fuel cell, for controlling the flow rate of a fuel through the fuel cell, and wherein said control circuit controls the operation of said pressure members to adjust the flow rate of fuel through the fuel cell.

12. The power supply system according to claim 7, wherein each of said detection circuits includes an analog to digital conversion circuit and each of said first, second, and third detection signals is a digital signal.

13. The power supply system according to claim 7, wherein said control circuit controls the switching circuit so as to prevent the switching circuit from driving the output of the power supply adapter with either one of said external power supply or said fuel cell when said second voltage detection circuit detects that the electronic device is not connected to the power supply.