Device and method for enhanced air circulation

• US 8,506,368 B2
• Filed: 10/25/2012
• Issued: 08/13/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 06/19/2008
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Motorola Mobility LLC (Lenovo Group Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Motorola Mobility LLC (Lenovo Group Ltd.)
• Inventors: Black, Greg R.
• Primary Examiner(s): Sines, Brian J.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Wecker, Jennifer
• Application Number:
  US13/659,940
• Publication Number:
  US 20130052931A1
• Time in Patent Office: 292 Days
• Field of Search: 429/24, 429/26, 429/515, 454/184, 454/258
• US Class Current: 454/258
• 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 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 proximity to the 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 the thermal module comprising at least one of a fuel tank, an electronic computing module, and a housing; and

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

2. The wireless communication method of claim 1, 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.

3. The wireless communication method of claim 1, 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.

4. The wireless communication method of claim 1, wherein the energy conversion module comprises a fuel cell.

5. The wireless communication method of claim 1, further comprising providing sufficient amount of oxygen to the energy conversion module for energy conversion.

6. The wireless communication method of claim 1, further comprising providing a sufficient amount of moisture to the energy conversion module for energy conversion.

7. The wireless communication method of claim 1, further comprising providing a desired operating temperature range to the energy conversion module for energy conversion.

8. The wireless communication method of claim 1, wherein energy conversion module includes at least one of:

a battery, a fuel cell and an electrochemical capacitor.

9. 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.

10. The wireless communication method of claim 9, 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.

11. The wireless communication method of claim 1, wherein the method is used in at least one of a wireless telephone, a cellular telephone, a tablet, a personal digital assistant, a pager, a personal computer, a selective call receiver, and a device that is capable of sending and receiving communication signals on a wireless network.