Apparatus and method for integrating a fuel supply and a fuel level sensing pressure sensor

• US 7,788,048 B2
• Filed: 04/24/2003
• Issued: 08/31/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 04/24/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Intelligent Energy Limited (Lb-shell Plc)
• Original Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. (HP Inc.)
• Inventors: Thielman, Jeffrey L., Wilson, Rhonda L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Lau, Tung S
• Application Number:
  US10/423,161
• Publication Number:
  US 20040215407A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,686 Days
• Field of Search: 702/55, 702/50, 702/138, 702/140, 429/13, 429/17, 429/22, 731/15, 731/19.A, 737/00, 737/14, 737/56
• US Class Current: 702/55
• CPC Class Codes: G01F 17/00 Methods or apparatus for determining the capacity of containers or cavities, or the volume of solid bodies measuring linear dimensions to determine volume G01B
• CPC Class Codes: G01F 22/02 involving measurement of pressure
• CPC Class Codes: G01F 23/14 by measurement of pressure
• CPC Class Codes: G01F 23/18 Indicating, recording or alarm devices actuated electrically

Abstract

A fuel supply includes a fuel container having an interior chamber for containing fuel, and a pressure sensing unit disposed within the interior chamber of the fuel container. The pressure sensing unit is configured to provide an output signal indicative of an amount of fuel remaining in the fuel container.

Claims

1. A fuel supply comprising:

a fuel container having an interior chamber for containing fuel;

a pressure sensing unit disposed within said interior chamber, wherein said pressure sensing unit is configured to provide an output signal indicative of an amount of fuel remaining in said fuel container;

a fuel bag to contain said fuel disposed within said fuel container, wherein said fuel bag is fluidly coupled to a system coupling device;

a pressurized inert propellant to provide pressure to said fuel, said inert propellant filling an area between said fuel bag and said fuel container; and

a pressure access lumen situated in said system coupling device, wherein said pressure access lumen provides pressure from said fuel to said pressure sensing unit;

wherein said pressure sensing unit comprises a differential pressure transducer configured to sense a differential pressure between a pressure of said fuel and a pressure of said pressurized inert propellant.

2. A fuel supply comprising:

a fuel container having an interior chamber for containing fuel; and

a pressure sensing unit disposed within said interior chamber;

wherein said pressure sensing unit is configured to provide an output signal indicative of an amount of fuel remaining in said fuel container;

wherein said fuel further comprises;

a fuel disposed within said interior chamber of said fuel container; and

an inert propellant also disposed within said interior chamber of said fuel container to pressurize said fuel;

wherein said pressure sensing unit comprises an absolute pressure transducer configured to sense an absolute pressure of said fuel.

3. The fuel supply of claim 2, further comprising a fuel bag containing said fuel in said interior chamber, said inert propellant being disposed outside said fuel bag.

4. A fuel gauge comprising:

a fuel container configured to contain both a quantity of fuel and a quantity of an inert propellant for pressurizing said fuel, wherein a pressure of said propellant is sufficient to drive said fuel from said fuel container;

a pressure sensor disposed within said fuel container, wherein said pressure sensor is configured to provide an output signal indicative of an amount of fuel remaining in said fuel container, said pressure sensor being a differential pressure sensor sensing a difference in pressure between said fuel and said inert propellant; and

a computing device communicatively coupled to said pressure sensor, wherein said computing device is configured to convert said output signal of said pressure sensor into a user readable representation of the amount of fuel remaining in said fuel container;

wherein said pressure sensor further comprises;

a rigid substrate;

a pressure transducer coupled to said rigid substrate;

a flexible circuit communicatively coupled to said pressure transducer; and

a communications path communicatively coupled to said flexible circuit, wherein said communications path is configured to transmit said output signal to said computing device.

5. A fuel cell system comprising:

a fuel cell;

a fuel source;

a fuel flow path fluidly coupling said fuel cell and said fuel source;

a fuel level sensing device disposed within said fuel source wherein said fuel level sensing device includes a pressure sensing unit that is configured to provide an output signal indicative of an amount of a fuel remaining in said fuel source; and

a communications path communicatively for transmitting said output signal to a computing device;

wherein said communications path further comprises a radio frequency transmitter completely disposed within said fuel source; and

the radio frequency transmitter transmits pressure temperature compensate data to a remote location.

6. A fuel cell system comprising:

a fuel cell;

a fuel source configured to contain fuel;

a fuel flow path fluidly coupling said fuel cell and said fuel source;

a fuel level sensing device disposed within said fuel source wherein said fuel level sensing device includes a pressure sensing unit that is configured to provide an output signal indicative of an amount of a fuel remaining in said fuel source;

a fuel disposed within said fuel source; and

an inert propellant also disposed within fuel source to pressurize said fuel.

7. The fuel cell system of claim 6, wherein said pressure sensing unit comprises an absolute pressure transducer configured to sense an absolute pressure of said fuel.

8. The fuel cell system of claim 6, further comprising a fuel bag containing said fuel in said fuel source, said inert propellant being disposed outside said fuel bag.

9. A fuel supply comprising:

fuel containing means defining an interior chamber configured for containing fuel;

pressure sensing means disposed within said interior chamber of said fuel containing means;

a fuel bag to contain said fuel disposed within said fuel containing means, wherein said fuel bag is fluidly coupled to a system coupling means;

a pressurized inert propellant to provide pressure to said fuel, said inert propellant filling an area between said fuel bag and an interior wall of said fuel containing means; and

a pressure access lumen situated in said system coupling means, wherein said pressure access lumen provides pressure from said fuel to said pressure sensing means

wherein said pressure sensing means is configured to provide an output signal indicative of an amount of fuel remaining in said fuel containing means.

10. The fuel supply of claim 9, wherein said pressure sensing means further comprises:

conductive leads communicatively coupled to a pressure transducer; and

conductive contacts communicatively coupled to said conductive leads, wherein said conductive contacts are located outside of said fuel containing means.

11. The fuel supply of claim 9, wherein said pressure sensing means further comprises a radio frequency transmitter completely disposed within said interior chamber of said fuel containing means.

12. A method of sensing the fuel level in a pressurized fuel container of a fuel cell system comprising:

providing fuel from a fuel container to a fuel cell, said fuel container containing both a quantity of fuel and a separate fuel inert propellant;

measuring the differential pressure directly inside said fuel container between said fuel and said fuel inert propellant; and

comparing said pressure to a known pressure/volume characteristic to determine a volume of fuel contained in said fuel container, and outputting an indication of said volume of fuel contained in said fuel container.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein measuring the pressure directly inside a fuel container further comprises:

disposing a pressure sensing device within said fuel container, wherein said pressure sensing device is configured to transmit an output signal indicative of an amount of fuel remaining in said fuel container; and

transmitting said output signal from said pressure sensing device to a computing device.

14. A fuel supply comprising:

a fuel container having an interior chamber for containing fuel;

a pressure sensing unit comprising a pressure sensor disposed within said interior chamber; and

a memory unit disposed on said pressure sensing unit and configured to store data for said pressure sensing unit;

wherein said pressure sensing unit is configured to provide an output signal indicative of an amount of fuel remaining in said fuel container;

wherein said memory unit stores pressure data collected by said pressure sensing unit; and

wherein said memory unit is configured to output said pressure data when said fuel container is moved from a first host system to a second host system; and

where pressure data including temperature compensate data.

15. The fuel supply of claim 14, further comprising:

a communications path for transmitting said output signal, said communications path comprising a radio frequency transmitter;

wherein said radio frequency transmitter is at least partially disposed within said interior chamber of said fuel container.

16. A fuel supply comprising:

a fuel container having an interior chamber for containing fuel;

a pressure sensing unit comprising a pressure transducer disposed within said interior chamber, wherein said pressure sensing unit is configured to provide an output signal indicative of an amount of fuel remaining in said fuel container via a communications path;

wherein said communications path comprises;

conductive leads communicatively coupled to said pressure transducer; and

conductive contacts communicatively coupled to said conductive leads,

wherein said conductive contacts comprise conductive pads located outside of said fuel container and disposed on said pressure sensing unit such that said conductive contacts interface said pressure sensing unit with a host device when said fuel supply is installed in said host device; and

a memory unit connected to said pressure sensing unit and configured to store data for said pressure sensing unit; and

where pressure data including temperature compensate data.

17. The fuel supply of claim 16, wherein said memory unit is configured to output said data when said pressure sensing unit is moved from a first host system to a second host system.

18. The fuel supply of claim 16, wherein said pressure transducer comprises a differential pressure transducer.

19. The fuel supply of claim 16, wherein said pressure transducer comprises an absolute pressure transducer.

20. A fuel supply comprising:

a fuel container having an interior chamber for containing fuel;

a pressure sensing unit comprising a pressure sensor disposed within said interior chamber; and

a memory unit disposed on said pressure sensing unit and configured to store data for said pressure sensing unit;

wherein said pressure sensing unit is configured to provide an output signal indicative of an amount of fuel remaining in said fuel container;

wherein said memory unit is integrated with said pressure sensing unit such that said pressure sensing unit and memory unit can be moved between different fuel containers as a single unit; and

where pressure data including temperature compensate data.

21. The fuel supply of claim 20, wherein said pressure sensing unit comprises an absolute pressure transducer configured to sense an absolute pressure of said fuel.

22. The fuel supply of claim 20, further comprising a computing device communicatively coupled to said pressure sensing unit, wherein said computing device converts said output signal of said pressure sensing unit into a user readable representation of an amount of fuel remaining in said fuel container based on said output signal.

23. The fuel supply of claim 20, wherein said memory unit stores pressure/volume characteristics for said fuel container.

24. The fuel supply of claim 20, wherein said memory unit stores calibration data for said pressure sensing unit.

25. The fuel supply of claim 20, wherein said memory unit stores freshness date information for fuel in said fuel supply.

26. The fuel supply of claim 20, wherein said memory unit stores temperature compensation values.

27. The fuel supply of claim 20, wherein said memory unit stores warranty data.

28. A fuel cell system comprising:

a fuel cell;

a fuel source;

a fuel flow path fluidly coupling said fuel cell and said fuel source;

a fuel level sensing device disposed within said fuel source wherein said fuel level sensing device includes a pressure sensing unit that is configured to provide an output signal indicative of an amount of a fuel remaining in said fuel source; and

a fuel bag to contain a fuel disposed within said fuel source, wherein said fuel bag is fluidly coupled to said fuel flow path;

a pressurized propellant to provide pressure to said fuel, wherein said pressurized propellant occupies an area between said fuel bag and an interior wall of said fuel source; and

a pressure access lumen situated in said fuel flow path, wherein said pressure access lumen provides pressure from said fuel to said pressure sensing unit.

29. The fuel cell system of claim 28, wherein said pressure sensing unit comprises a differential pressure transducer configured to sense a differential pressure between a pressure of said fuel and a pressure of said pressurized propellant.