Systems including replaceable fuel cell apparatus and methods of using replaceable fuel cell apparatus

• US 7,632,584 B2
• Filed: 06/16/2003
• Issued: 12/15/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 10/29/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Intelligent Energy Limited (Lb-shell Plc)
• Original Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. (HP Inc.)
• Inventors: Bullock, Michael L., Childers, Winthrop D.
• Primary Examiner(s): HODGE, ROBERT W
• Application Number:
  US10/462,193
• Publication Number:
  US 20030207158A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,374 Days
• Field of Search: 429/12, 429/13, 429/50
• US Class Current: 429/462
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 2250/30 Fuel cells in portable systems, e.g. mobile phone, laptop
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 8/04 Auxiliary arrangements, e.g. for control of pressure or for circulation of fluids
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 8/04208 Cartridges, cryogenic media or cryogenic reservoirs
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 90/10 Applications of fuel cells in buildings
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/50 Fuel cells

Abstract

A system in accordance with a present invention includes a host device and a fuel cell apparatus with an information storage device. A method of operating a host device in accordance with a present invention includes the step(s) of writing data to, and/or accessing data on, a fuel cell apparatus information storage device.

Claims

1. A method operating a host device that is configured to receive a fuel cell apparatus that includes a fuel reservoir and an information storage device, the method comprising the steps of:

accessing fuel type data stored on the fuel cell apparatus information storage device; and

rejecting the fuel cell apparatus in response to the accessed fuel type data.

2. method operating a host device that includes a fuel cell, the method comprising the steps of:

accessing data stored on an information storage device carried by a removable fuel cartridge that includes a fuel reservoir and is configured to be releasably connected to the host device; and

performing a predetermined host device function in response to the accessed data.

3. A method as claimed in claim 2, wherein the step of accessing data comprises accessing fuel data.

4. A method as claimed in claim 3, wherein the step of performing a predetermined function comprises rejecting the removable fuel cartridge in response to the accessed fuel data.

5. A method as claimed in claim 3, wherein the host device includes at least one of an audible communication device and a visible communication device and the step of performing a predetermined host device function comprises producing at least one of an audible indication and a visible indication related to the accessed fuel data.

6. A method as claimed in claim 3, wherein the host device includes at least one of an audible communication device and a visible communication device and the step of performing a predetermined host device function comprises producing at least one of an audible and a visible fuel level indication.

7. A method as claimed in claim 3, wherein the step of performing a predetermined host device function comprises adjusting a host device fuel consumption rate.

8. A method as claimed in claim 2, wherein the host device includes at least one of an audible communication device and a visible communication device and the step of performing a predetermined host device function comprises producing at least one of an audible indication and a visible indication related to the accessed data.

9. A method as claimed in claim 8, wherein the step of performing a predetermined host device function further comprises facilitating communication with a predetermined remote device.

10. A method as claimed in claim 2, wherein step of accessing data comprises accessing the data structure of the information storage device and the step of performing a predetermined host device function comprises accessing additional data based on the data structure.