Fuel cartridge interconnect for portable fuel cells
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A hybrid power supply comprises:
- an interface to receive at separate times either a fuel cartridge to couple to a fuel cell system or a battery;
a fuel cell; and
a switching type DC/DC boost type converter coupled to the interface, the DC/DC boost type converter configured to receive energy from the fuel cell or from an external battery connected to the interface, with the switching type DC/DC converter configured to deliver the energy to a rechargeable cell, with the DC/DC converter further configured to provide substantially constant current drain from the fuel cell.
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Abstract
A hybrid power supply includes a fuel cell and an interface between the fuel cell and a fuel cartridge or external battery and a switching type DC/DC boost type converter that receives energy from the fuel cell or external battery and is arranged to deliver the energy to a rechargeable cell. The hybrid power supply also includes a fuel cell current sensor/comparator, included in a feedback control loop disposed about the DC/DC converter, which controls in part operation of the converter to provide constant current discharge on the fuel battery side of the hybrid power supply. An adapter that couples a source of AC power such as a charger to the interconnect is also disclosed.
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Citations
25 Claims
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1. A hybrid power supply comprises:
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an interface to receive at separate times either a fuel cartridge to couple to a fuel cell system or a battery; a fuel cell; and a switching type DC/DC boost type converter coupled to the interface, the DC/DC boost type converter configured to receive energy from the fuel cell or from an external battery connected to the interface, with the switching type DC/DC converter configured to deliver the energy to a rechargeable cell, with the DC/DC converter further configured to provide substantially constant current drain from the fuel cell. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. A hybrid power supply comprises:
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a fuel cell; an interface to receive either a fuel cartridge for a fuel cell or external battery; and a switching type DC/DC boost type converter that receives energy from the fuel cell or an external battery connected to the interface and, the switching type DC/DC boost type converter is arranged to deliver the energy to a rechargeable cell; and a circuit including a current sensor/comparator, disposed in a feedback control loop about the DC/DC converter to sense current from the fuel cell, and in which the circuit controls in part operation of the converter to provide constant current discharge on the fuel cell. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. A hybrid power supply comprises:
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a fuel cell; an interconnect configured to receive a fuel cartridge, a battery, or a power adapter at separate times; a rechargeable cell; a DC/DC boost type converter that receives energy from the fuel cell, battery or adapter, and is arranged to deliver the energy to the rechargeable cell with the DC/DC boost type converter configured to deliver the energy to the rechargeable cell and provide substantially constant current drain from the fuel cell. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25)
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Specification