CHARGER, ELECTRONIC APPARATUS, AND STORAGE CASE

• US 20110204842A1
• Filed: 12/14/2010
• Published: 08/25/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 02/19/2010
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba (Toshiba Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba (Toshiba Corporation)
• Inventors: Nagasaki, Terumasa, Tajima, Nobuyasu
• Application Number:
  US12/968,137
• Publication Number:
  US 20110204842A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 320/101
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 2250/30 Fuel cells in portable systems, e.g. mobile phone, laptop
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 8/04089 of gaseous reactants
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 8/04156 with product water removal
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 8/2475 Enclosures, casings or containers of fuel cell stacks
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 2300/30 The power source being a fuel cell
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/10 using inductive coupling
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0042 characterised by the mechanical construction
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0044 specially adapted for holding portable devices containing batteries H02J7/0045 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 7/20127 Natural convection
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 90/10 Applications of fuel cells in buildings
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/50 Fuel cells

Abstract

According to one embodiment, a charger includes a fuel cell configured to generate electricity, an intake/exhaust unit configured to supply air to the fuel cell and discharge an emission from the fuel cell, a fuel tank configured to supply fuel to the fuel cell, and a power transmission unit configured to transmit the electricity generated in the fuel cell in a non-contact manner. The power transmission unit and the intake/exhaust unit are oriented in different directions.

Claims

1. A charger comprising:

a fuel cell configured to generate electricity;

an intake/exhaust unit configured to supply air to the fuel cell and discharge an emission from the fuel cell;

a fuel tank configured to supply fuel to the fuel cell; and

a power transmission unit configured to transmit the electricity generated in the fuel cell in a non-contact manner,

the power transmission unit and the intake/exhaust unit being oriented in different directions.

2. The charger of claim 1, further comprising a housing which contains the fuel cell, the power transmission unit, and the intake/exhaust unit, the power transmission unit and the intake/exhaust unit being opposed individually to different surfaces of the housing.

3. The charger of claim 2, wherein the power transmission unit and the intake/exhaust unit are provided individually on opposite surfaces of the housing.

4. The charger of claim 1, wherein the fuel tank is located vertically above the fuel cell.

5. An electronic apparatus configured to be charged by the charger of claim 1, comprising:

a rechargeable battery in which electricity is stored; and

a power reception unit configured to receive the electricity transmitted from the power transmission unit and supply the electricity to the rechargeable battery, the power reception unit being configured to face the power transmission unit of the charger.

6. The electronic apparatus of claim 5, further comprising a main body which holds the rechargeable battery and comprises an input device and a display unit comprising a display device and movably supported on the main body, the power reception unit being provided on a back surface of the display unit.

7. A storage case configured to contain the charger and the electronic apparatus of claim 5, comprising:

an apparatus storage portion configured to contain the electronic apparatus and cover an outer periphery of the electronic apparatus; and

a charger storage portion comprising a vent portion through which air passes and configured to contain the charger in such a manner that the intake/exhaust unit of the charger and the power transmission unit face the vent portion and the power reception unit of the electronic apparatus in the apparatus storage portion, respectively.

8. The storage case of claim 7, wherein the apparatus storage portion is formed of a material without an electrical shielding property and covers the outer periphery of the electronic apparatus.

9. The storage case of claim 8, further comprising a holding member located in the apparatus storage portion and configured to hold the electronic apparatus in a position where the power reception unit faces the power transmission unit of the charger in the charger storage portion.

10. The storage case of claim 7, further comprising a holding member located in the apparatus storage portion and configured to hold the electronic apparatus in a position where the power reception unit faces the power transmission unit of the charger in the charger storage portion.