Electronic apparatus and method of controlling operation of the same

• US 20040170876A1
• Filed: 01/21/2004
• Published: 09/02/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 01/21/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Numonyx BV (Micron Technology, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba (Toshiba Corporation)
• Inventors: Ozeki, Akihiro
• Granted Patent: US 7,247,399 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 429/22
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 16/006 of fuel cells with rechargeable batteries
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 2250/30 Fuel cells in portable systems, e.g. mobile phone, laptop
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 8/04186 of liquid-charged or electrolyte-charged reactants
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 8/04313 characterised by the detection or assessment of variables; characterised by the detection or assessment of failure or abnormal function
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 8/1009 with one of the reactants being liquid, solid or liquid-charged H01M8/12 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 8/1011 Direct alcohol fuel cells [DAFC], e.g. direct methanol fuel cells [DMFC]
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 90/10 Applications of fuel cells in buildings
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/10 Energy storage using batteries
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/50 Fuel cells
• CPC Class Codes: Y02P 90/40 Fuel cell technologies in production processes

Abstract

An electronic apparatus includes a body, a fuel cell capable of generating power by chemical reaction and supplying the power to the body, a sensor to sense a tilt of the fuel cell, and a notifying portion to notify a user of information of the tilt sensed by the sensor.

Claims

1. An electronic apparatus, comprising:

a body;

a fuel cell capable of generating power by chemical reaction and supplying the power to the body;

a sensor to sense a tilt of the fuel cell; and

a notifying portion to notify a user of information of the tilt sensed by the sensor.

2. The electronic apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the body is rotatably connected to a unit with the fuel cell.

3. The electronic apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a display, and wherein the notifying portion causes the display to display the information of the tilt of the fuel cell.

4. The electronic apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the notifying portion causes the display to display information of a direction of the tilt of the fuel cell.

5. The electronic apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the notifying portion gives a warning when a value of the tilt is larger than a predetermined value.

6. The electronic apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the notifying portion stops the warning when a value of the tilt is smaller than the predetermined value.

7. A method of controlling an operation of an electronic apparatus operable using a fuel cell capable of generating power by chemical reaction, the method comprising:

sensing a tilt of the fuel cell; and

notifying information of the tilt.

8. The method according to claim 7, further comprising displaying the information of the tilt of the fuel cell on a screen of the electronic apparatus.

9. The method according to claim 8, further comprising displaying information of a direction of the tilt of the fuel cell on the screen of the electronic apparatus.

10. The method according to claim 7, wherein the notifying includes giving a first warning when a value of the tilt is larger than a first value.

11. The method according to claim 10, further comprising stopping the first warning when a value of the tilt is smaller than the first value.

12. The method according to claim 10, further comprising stopping an operation of the fuel cell when a value of the tilt is larger than a second value or when a value of the tilt is not smaller than the first value after the first warning is given.

13. The method according to claim 12, further comprising giving a second warning by driving a secondary battery after the fuel cell stops operating.