Fuel cell device condition detection
First Claim
1. A fuel cell assembly comprising:
- a fuel cell device having a pair of electrical contacts, and adapted to generate a voltage between the pair of electrical contacts; and
a detector coupled to the pair of electrical contacts and adapted to produce electromagnetic radiation indicative of the voltage between the pair of electrical contacts.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
Assemblies and methods for monitoring the voltage condition of a fuel cell device. The monitoring may be provided without direct electrically conductive or mechanical contact with the fuel cell device. This may be provided by a detector coupled to a pair of electrical contacts on a fuel cell device that is adapted to produce electromagnetic energy, or radiation, indicative of the voltage between the pair of electrical contacts. Accordingly, a monitor that is spaced from the detector may be used to detect the produced electromagnetic energy and produce an output signal representative of the voltage difference. In some examples, a plurality of fuel cell devices or overlapping sets of fuel cell devices may be monitored. A digital signal may be generated, providing a simplified indication of the operating condition of one or a plurality of fuel cell devices. Multiple digital signals may be used to provide additional information.
69 Citations
67 Claims
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1. A fuel cell assembly comprising:
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a fuel cell device having a pair of electrical contacts, and adapted to generate a voltage between the pair of electrical contacts; and
a detector coupled to the pair of electrical contacts and adapted to produce electromagnetic radiation indicative of the voltage between the pair of electrical contacts. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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21. A fuel cell assembly comprising:
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a fuel cell device having a pair of electrical contacts, and adapted to generate a voltage between the pair of electrical contacts;
a detector coupled to the pair of electrical contacts and adapted to produce electromagnetic energy representative of the voltage difference; and
a monitor physically separate from the detector and adapted to detect the produced electromagnetic energy and produce an output signal representative of the voltage difference. - View Dependent Claims (22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36)
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37. A fuel cell assembly comprising:
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a fuel cell device having a pair of electrical contacts, and adapted to generate a voltage between the pair of electrical contacts;
a detector coupled to the pair of electrical contacts and adapted to produce a first level of electromagnetic energy when the voltage between the electrical contacts is at least a first voltage level, and a second level of electromagnetic energy different than the first level of electromagnetic energy when the voltage is below the first voltage level; and
a monitor responsive to the produced electromagnetic energy and adapted to produce an output digital signal representative of the level of the produced electromagnetic energy. - View Dependent Claims (38, 39, 40, 41)
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42. A method of remotely monitoring the operation of a fuel cell device that produces a voltage between a pair of electrical contacts comprising:
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detecting the voltage between the pair of electrical contacts;
producing electromagnetic energy indicative of the detected voltage; and
monitoring the produced electromagnetic energy. - View Dependent Claims (43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51, 52, 53, 54, 55)
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56. A fuel cell assembly comprising:
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means for producing a voltage between a pair of electrical contacts by electrochemical reaction of a fuel and an oxidant;
means for detecting the voltage between the pair of electrical contacts; and
means for producing electromagnetic radiation indicative of the detected voltage. - View Dependent Claims (57, 58, 59, 60, 61, 62, 63, 64, 65, 66, 67)
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Specification