System for a fuel cell power and management system
First Claim
1. A fuel cell system, comprising:
- a power unit comprising;
a fuel cell operable to generate power from a fuel;
a power unit control system operable to determine, monitor, manage and/or control a parameter; and
a power unit interface comprising;
a power unit mechanical interface; and
a power unit communications interface; and
a fuel storage unit comprising;
a removable fuel vessel operable to store the fuel;
a fuel storage unit control system operable to determine, monitor, manage and/or control the parameter; and
a fuel storage unit interface comprising;
a fuel storage unit mechanical interface; and
a fuel storage unit communications interface,wherein the power unit mechanical interface and the fuel storage unit mechanical interface are respectively operable to permit holding, retention and/or engagement between the power unit and the fuel storage unit, and a fluid interface therebetween permits fluid communication of the fuel between the fuel storage unit and the power unit, andwherein the communications interface of the power unit and the communications interface of the fuel storage unit are respectively operable to provide communications between the control system of the power unit and the control system of the fuel storage unit;
a refill unit comprising;
a fluid input port to receive the fuel from a fuel source;
a refill unit control system operable to determine, monitor, manage and/or control the parameter; and
a refill unit interface comprising;
a refill unit mechanical interface; and
a refill unit communications interface,wherein the refill unit mechanical interface and the fuel storage unit mechanical interface are respectively operable to permit holding, retention and/or engagement between the refill unit and the fuel storage unit, and a fluid interface therebetween permits fluid communication of the fuel between the refill unit and the fuel storage unit,wherein the refill unit communications interface and the fuel storage unit communications interface are respectively operable to provide communications between the refill unit control system and the fuel storage unit control system; and
wherein a transmission and/or reception of the parameter and/or data relating to the parameter between the fuel storage unit control system and the control system of any one of the power unit and/or the refill unit defines a message protocol.
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Accused Products
Abstract
There are many inventions described and illustrated herein. In one aspect, the present invention is directed to a portable fuel cell power and management system (for example, hydrogen and/or methanol based systems), components and/or elements thereof, as well as techniques for controlling and/or operating such systems. The fuel cell power management system (and method of controlling and/or operating same) actively monitors, manages and/or controls one or more operating parameter(s) of the fuel cell system. For example, the system monitors, manages and/or controls the consumption and/or the rate of consumption of fuel by the system, and in response thereto, may provide and/or alert the user to amount of fuel remaining, consumed, the rate of consumption and/or the time (or estimation thereof) remaining until all of the fuel is spent. In this way, the user may schedule or plan accordingly.
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Citations
50 Claims
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1. A fuel cell system, comprising:
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a power unit comprising; a fuel cell operable to generate power from a fuel; a power unit control system operable to determine, monitor, manage and/or control a parameter; and a power unit interface comprising; a power unit mechanical interface; and a power unit communications interface; and a fuel storage unit comprising; a removable fuel vessel operable to store the fuel; a fuel storage unit control system operable to determine, monitor, manage and/or control the parameter; and a fuel storage unit interface comprising; a fuel storage unit mechanical interface; and a fuel storage unit communications interface, wherein the power unit mechanical interface and the fuel storage unit mechanical interface are respectively operable to permit holding, retention and/or engagement between the power unit and the fuel storage unit, and a fluid interface therebetween permits fluid communication of the fuel between the fuel storage unit and the power unit, and wherein the communications interface of the power unit and the communications interface of the fuel storage unit are respectively operable to provide communications between the control system of the power unit and the control system of the fuel storage unit; a refill unit comprising; a fluid input port to receive the fuel from a fuel source; a refill unit control system operable to determine, monitor, manage and/or control the parameter; and a refill unit interface comprising; a refill unit mechanical interface; and a refill unit communications interface, wherein the refill unit mechanical interface and the fuel storage unit mechanical interface are respectively operable to permit holding, retention and/or engagement between the refill unit and the fuel storage unit, and a fluid interface therebetween permits fluid communication of the fuel between the refill unit and the fuel storage unit, wherein the refill unit communications interface and the fuel storage unit communications interface are respectively operable to provide communications between the refill unit control system and the fuel storage unit control system; and wherein a transmission and/or reception of the parameter and/or data relating to the parameter between the fuel storage unit control system and the control system of any one of the power unit and/or the refill unit defines a message protocol. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28)
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29. A fuel cell system, comprising:
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a power unit comprising; a fuel cell operable to generate power from a fuel; a power unit control system operable to determine, monitor, manage and/or control a parameter; and a power unit interface comprising; a power unit mechanical interface; and a power unit communications interface; and a fuel storage unit comprising; a removable fuel vessel operable to store the fuel; a fuel storage unit control system operable to determine, monitor, manage and/or control the parameter; and a fuel storage unit interface comprising; a fuel storage unit mechanical interface; and a fuel storage unit communications interface, wherein the power unit mechanical interface and the fuel storage unit mechanical interface are respectively operable to permit holding, retention and/or engagement between the power unit and the fuel storage unit, and a fluid interface therebetween permits fluid communication of the fuel between the fuel storage unit and the power unit, and wherein the communications interface of the power unit and the communications interface of the fuel storage unit are respectively operable to provide wireless communications between the control system of the power unit and the control system of the fuel storage unit; a refill unit comprising; a fluid input port to receive the fuel from a fuel source; a refill unit control system operable to determine, monitor, manage and/or control the parameter; and a refill unit interface comprising; a refill unit mechanical interface; and a refill unit communications interface, wherein the refill unit mechanical interface and the fuel storage unit mechanical interface are respectively operable to permit holding, retention and/or engagement between the refill unit and the fuel storage unit, and a fluid interface therebetween permits fluid communication of the fuel between the refill unit and the fuel storage unit, wherein the refill unit communications interface and the fuel storage unit communications interface are respectively operable to provide wireless communications between the refill unit control system and the fuel storage unit control system. - View Dependent Claims (30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50)
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Specification