Device and method for enhanced air circulation

• US 8,318,381 B2
• Filed: 06/19/2008
• Issued: 11/27/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 06/19/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Google Technology Holdings LLC (Alphabet Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Motorola Mobility LLC (Lenovo Group Ltd.)
• Inventors: Black, Greg R.
• Primary Examiner(s): Siefke, Sam P
• Assistant Examiner(s): Wecker, Jennifer
• Application Number:
  US12/142,697
• Publication Number:
  US 20090317677A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,622 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 429/515
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 2008/1095 Fuel cells with polymeric electrolytes
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 8/04007 related to heat exchange
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 8/04216 characterised by the choice for a specific material, e.g. carbon, hydride, absorbent
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 8/04365 of other components of a fuel cell or fuel cell stacks
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 8/04455 of cathode reactants at the inlet or inside the fuel cell
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 8/04492 Humidity; Ambient humidity; Water content
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 8/04559 of fuel cell stacks
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 8/04589 of fuel cell stacks
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 8/04619 of fuel cell stacks
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 8/04768 of the coolant
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/50 Fuel cells

Abstract

A wireless communication device (200) and method (300) adapted to prolong the useful life of an energy storage device is disclosed. In its simplest form, it can include: detecting (310) a first threshold of an energy conversion module comprising at least one of a temperature threshold, oxygen threshold, voltage, a current threshold, a power threshold and moisture threshold; sensing (320) a temperature in proximity to a thermal module comprising at least one of a fuel tank, an electronic computing module, and a housing; and generating (330) an air stream based on the detected first threshold (310) and the sensed temperature (320). The device (200) and method (300) can automatically and dynamically manage, for example, temperature, oxygen and/or moisture of an energy storage module, to maintain the energy storage module within desired specifications and tolerances. This can help to prolong the useful life of the energy storage module and its components and help to maintain a maximum recharging capacity.

Claims

1. A wireless communication device, comprising:

a housing including a wireless communication device including an energy conversion module, an energy conversion device including at least one of an electrochemical energy storage cell and a fuel cell and a thermal module;

a controller coupled to the housing, the controller configured to control the operations of the wireless communication device; and

a circulation module configured to detect a first threshold in an energy conversion device comprising at least one of a temperature threshold, oxygen threshold, voltage threshold, current threshold, power threshold and moisture threshold, sense a temperature in proximity to a thermal module, and generate an air stream based on the detected first threshold and the sensed temperature.

2. The wireless communication device of claim 1, wherein the circulation module is configured to:

control a direction of the air stream based on at least the sensed temperature; and

activate the air stream based on the at least detected first threshold.

3. The wireless communication method of claim 1, wherein the thermal module further comprises at least one of an operating temperature restricted device, and a heat generating device affecting the temperature of an operating temperature restricted device.

4. A wireless communication device, comprising:

a housing including a wireless communication device with a proximal vent and a distal vent and an energy conversion device;

a controller coupled to the housing, the controller configured to control the operations of the wireless communication device; and

a circulation module configured to detect a first threshold in an energy conversion device comprising at least one of a temperature threshold, oxygen threshold, voltage threshold, current threshold, power threshold and moisture threshold, sense a temperature in proximity to a thermal module comprising at least one of a fuel tank and an electronic computing module, and generate an air stream based on the detected first threshold and the sensed temperature,

the energy conversion device includes at least one of an electrochemical energy storage cell and a fuel cell.

5. The wireless communication device of claim 4, wherein the circulation module includes a first sensor in proximity to the energy conversion device and a second sensor in proximity to the thermal module, coupled to a processor, to activate a blower.

6. The wireless communication device of claim 5, wherein the blower, when activated, is configured to provide:

a down stream air flow in a direction from the proximal vent to the distal vent;

or an up stream air flow in a direction from the distal vent to the proximal vent.

7. The wireless communication device of claim 4, wherein the circulation module is configured to at least one of:

detect a temperature limit above an upper threshold; and

detect a temperature limit below a lower threshold;

detect an oxygen limit above an upper threshold; and

detect an oxygen limit below a lower threshold;

detect a moisture limit above an upper threshold; and

detect a moisture limit below a lower threshold;

detect a voltage limit above an upper threshold; and

detect a voltage limit below a lower threshold;

detect a current limit above an upper threshold; and

detect a current limit below a lower threshold; and

detect a power limit above an upper threshold; and

detect a power limit below a lower threshold.

8. The wireless communication device of claim 4, wherein the energy conversion device is configured to, at least one of:

provide a desired operating temperature range to the energy conversion device, provide a sufficient amount of moisture to the energy conversion device, and provide a desired operating temperature range to the energy conversion device.

9. The wireless communication device of claim 4, wherein the energy conversion device includes at least one of:

a battery, a fuel cell and an electrochemical capacitor.

10. The wireless communication method of claim 4, wherein the thermal module further comprises at least one of an operating temperature restricted device, and a heat generating device affecting the temperature of an operating temperature restricted device.

11. A wireless communication method, comprising:

providing a wireless communication device including an energy conversion module and a thermal module, the energy conversion module including an energy conversion device including at least one of an electrochemical energy storage cell and a fuel cell;

detecting a first threshold in an energy conversion module comprising at least one of a temperature threshold, oxygen threshold, a voltage threshold, a current threshold, a power threshold and moisture threshold;

sensing a temperature in proximity to a thermal module comprising at least one of a fuel tank, an electronic computing module, and a housing; and

generating an air stream based on the detected first threshold and the sensed temperature.

12. The wireless communication method of claim 11, wherein the generating step includes:

controlling a direction of the air stream based on at least the sensed temperature; and

activating the air stream based on the at least detected first threshold.

13. The wireless communication method of claim 11, wherein the detection step includes at least one of:

detecting a temperature limit above an upper threshold; and

detecting a temperature limit below a lower threshold;

detecting a oxygen limit above an upper threshold; and

detecting at oxygen limit below a lower threshold;

detecting a moisture limit above an upper threshold; and

detecting a moisture limit below a lower threshold;

detecting a voltage limit above an upper threshold; and

detecting a voltage limit below a lower threshold;

detecting a current limit above an upper threshold; and

current a voltage limit below a lower threshold; and

detecting a power limit above an upper threshold; and

detecting a power limit below a lower threshold.

14. The wireless communication method of claim 11, wherein the energy conversion module comprises a fuel cell.

15. The wireless communication method of claim 11, further comprising providing sufficient amount of oxygen to the energy conversion module for energy conversion.

16. The wireless communication method of claim 11, further comprising providing a sufficient amount of moisture to the energy conversion module for energy conversion.

17. The wireless communication method of claim 11, further comprising providing a desired operating temperature range to the energy conversion module for energy conversion.

18. The wireless communication method of claim 11, wherein energy conversion device includes at least one of:

a battery, a fuel cell and an electrochemical capacitor.

19. The wireless communication method of claim 11, wherein the thermal module further comprises at least one of an operating temperature restricted device, and a heat generating device affecting the temperature of an operating temperature restricted device.

20. The wireless communication method of claim 19, further comprising controlling the airstream direction to at least one of reduce the maximum temperature and increase the minimum temperature of the operating temperature restricted device.