Heat and/or light producing unit powered by a lithium secondary cell battery with high charge and discharge rate capability
First Claim
1. An apparatus comprising:
- a portable heating or lighting unit,a lithium ion battery;
a housing;
a rectifier or inverter;
an electrical device adapted to use electrical energy from said lithium ion battery,wherein said electrical device comprises a resistive heating element;
a control system comprising control hardware and embedded software, said control system being adapted to automatically control the resistive heating element;
a regulator adapted to receive fuel from an associated fluid fuel source;
an air inlet in the housing adapted to admit air into the housing;
a burner region in fluid communication with the regulator and in fluid communication with the air inlet, said burner region being adapted to produce thermal energy by combustion of an air and fuel mixture;
a thermoelectric element adapted to convert at least some of said thermal energy to produce electrical energy, said thermoelectric element comprising a BiTe alloy; and
a system adapted to sense levels of carbon monoxide or other indoor air pollution in the local vicinity of the heater, said system being adapted to stop the combustion of the air and fuel mixture at some level of said carbon monoxide or other indoor air pollution.
4 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A portable heating or lighting unit may comprise a housing, a handle, a shield or grid, a source of electric energy, a rectifier, an electrical device adapted to use electrical energy from the source of electric energy, and a control system comprising control hardware and embedded software, where the control system may be adapted to automatically control the electric heating element. A source of electric energy may comprise a battery adapted to store energy and to output stored energy as electrical energy, a fuel cell, a thermoelectric component, or a plug adapted to draw electrical energy from a wall outlet or other source of electrical energy. A battery may be at least partially enclosed by the housing. A thermoelectric component may comprise a thermoelectric material or a thermoelectric generator. An electrical device may comprise a resistive heating element adapted to emit thermal energy.
33 Citations
14 Claims
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1. An apparatus comprising:
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a portable heating or lighting unit, a lithium ion battery; a housing; a rectifier or inverter; an electrical device adapted to use electrical energy from said lithium ion battery, wherein said electrical device comprises a resistive heating element; a control system comprising control hardware and embedded software, said control system being adapted to automatically control the resistive heating element; a regulator adapted to receive fuel from an associated fluid fuel source; an air inlet in the housing adapted to admit air into the housing; a burner region in fluid communication with the regulator and in fluid communication with the air inlet, said burner region being adapted to produce thermal energy by combustion of an air and fuel mixture; a thermoelectric element adapted to convert at least some of said thermal energy to produce electrical energy, said thermoelectric element comprising a BiTe alloy; and a system adapted to sense levels of carbon monoxide or other indoor air pollution in the local vicinity of the heater, said system being adapted to stop the combustion of the air and fuel mixture at some level of said carbon monoxide or other indoor air pollution. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3)
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4. A portable heating unit comprising:
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a housing; a regulator adapted to receive fuel from an associated fluid fuel source; air inlet in the housing adapted to admit air into the housing; a burner region in fluid communication with the regulator and in fluid communication with the air inlet, said burner region being adapted to produce thermal energy by combustion of an air and fuel mixture; a thermoelectric element adapted to convert at least some of said thermal energy to produce electrical energy; a lithium ion battery adapted to store at least some of said electrical energy produced by said thermoelectric element and further adapted to output stored energy as electrical energy; an electrical device adapted to use electrical energy from said battery or from said thermoelectric element; and a system adapted to sense levels of carbon monoxide or other indoor air pollution in the local vicinity of the heater, said system being adapted to stop the combustion of the air and fuel mixture at some level of said carbon monoxide or other indoor air pollution. - View Dependent Claims (5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. A method of providing heat comprising:
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providing a portable heating unit, said portable heating unit comprising; a housing; a regulator adapted to receive fuel from an associated fluid fuel source; air inlet in the housing adapted to admit air into the housing; a burner region in fluid communication with the regulator and in fluid communication with the air inlet, said burner region being adapted to produce thermal energy by combustion of an air and fuel mixture; a thermoelectric element adapted to convert at least some of said thermal energy to produce electrical energy, wherein said thermoelectric element comprises a BiTe alloy; a lithium ion battery adapted to store at least some of said electrical energy produced by said thermoelectric element and further adapted to output stored energy as electrical energy; a rectifier or inverter; an electrical device adapted to use electrical energy from said battery or from said thermoelectric element, said electrical device comprising a resistive heating element, and a fluorescent light, an incandescent light, a light emitting diode, a fan, a blower, a thermostat, an electric igniter, an electric energy outlet, or a combination thereof; a system adapted to sense levels of carbon monoxide or other indoor air pollution in the local vicinity of the heater, said system being adapted to stop the combustion of the air and fuel mixture at some level of said carbon monoxide or other indoor air pollution; and a control system comprising control hardware and embedded software, said control system being adapted to automatically control the resistive heating element; providing an associated fluid fuel source; fluidly engaging said associated fuel source with said regulator; supplying fluid fuel to said regulator; mixing air and fuel to form an air and fuel mixture; combusting said air and fuel mixture in the burner region to produce thermal energy; converting at least some of said thermal energy into electrical energy using aid thermoelectric element; providing at least some of said electrical energy to said resistive heating element; and converting said electrical energy to heat with said resistive heating element. - View Dependent Claims (14)
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Specification