Fuel supply device and fuel supply system

• US 7,674,536 B2
• Filed: 06/27/2003
• Issued: 03/09/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 06/27/2003
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Nokia Corporation
• Original Assignee: Nokia Corporation
• Inventors: Shogo, Nakade, Chipchase, Jan
• Primary Examiner(s): RHEE, JANE J
• Application Number:
  US10/608,172
• Publication Number:
  US 20040265671A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,447 Days
• Field of Search: 429/12, 429/13, 429/34, 429/22, 429/23
• US Class Current: 429/515
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 2008/1095 Fuel cells with polymeric electrolytes
• 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 8/04201 Reactant storage and supply, e.g. means for feeding, pipes
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 90/10 Applications of fuel cells in buildings
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/50 Fuel cells

Abstract

A refueling system for an electronic device, comprising a fuel reservoir in a fuel supply device; a fuel cell having a refillable fuel store in a mobile electronic device; a first fuel interface to the fuel supply device for releasable connection with a second fuel interface to the mobile electronic device; and a transfer mechanism for transferring fuel from the fuel reservoir across the first and second fuel interfaces, when connected, into the refillable fuel store.

Claims

1. A fuel supply device comprising:

a data interface configured to receive data from a mobile electronic device;

a fuel reservoir configured to store fuel comprising hydrogen;

a fuel interface configured to connect with the mobile electronic device; and

a transfer mechanism configured to transfer fuel comprising hydrogen from the reservoir to the fuel interface and into a fuel storage portion of the connected mobile electronic device in dependence upon the data received from the mobile electronic device.

2. The fuel supply device according to claim 1, wherein the fuel supply device is configured to automatically transfer fuel comprising hydrogen to the mobile electronic device when the fuel interface connects with a corresponding fuel interface of the mobile electronic device.

3. The fuel supply device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the fuel reservoir is user-refillable.

4. The fuel supply device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the fuel reservoir is a user replaceable container.

5. The fuel supply device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the fuel comprising hydrogen is a liquid.

6. The fuel supply device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the data interface is comprised in the fuel interface.

7. The fuel supply device as claimed in claim 1, arranged for use with multiple different mobile electronic devices, wherein the data interface is configured to transfer an identifier between a mobile electronic device to which fuel is supplied and the fuel supply device.

8. The fuel supply device as claimed in claim 7, wherein the identifier is configured to identify the mobile electronic device to which fuel is supplied.

9. The fuel supply device as claimed in claim 7, wherein the identifier is configured to identify the type of fuel for supply to the mobile electronic device.

10. The fuel supply device as claimed in claim 7, further comprising a meter configured to control the amount of fuel dispensed.

11. The fuel supply device as claimed in claim 1, embodied in a supporting stand for the mobile electronic device, wherein the supporting stand comprises a cradle for receiving the mobile electronic device.

12. The fuel supply device as claimed in claim 11 further comprising a detector configured to detect when the cradle receives a mobile electronic device;

and a controller, responsive to the detector, configured to enable transfer of fuel from the fuel reservoir to the mobile electronic device.

13. The fuel supply device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the data interface is a wireless interface.

14. The fuel supply device, as claimed in claim 8, wherein the identifier is configured to authenticate the mobile electronic device.

15. The fuel supply device as claimed in claim 8, wherein the identifier is configured to charge for transferred fuel to an account.

16. The fuel supply device as claimed in claim 15, wherein the account is a cellular phone bill account.

17. A fuel supply device comprising:

a data interface configured to receive data from a mobile electronic device;

a fuel reservoir configured to store fuel comprising hydrogen;

a fuel interface configured to connect with the mobile electronic device;

a transfer mechanism configured to transfer fuel comprising hydrogen from the reservoir to the fuel interface and into a fuel storage portion of the connected mobile electronic device in dependence upon the data received from the mobile electronic device; and

an input/output interface configured to transmit the data to an authenticator, and to receive an authorization to dispense the fuel into the fuel storage portion of the connected mobile electronic device.

18. The fuel supply device as claimed in claim 17, further comprising a meter configured to control the amount of fuel dispensed.

19. The fuel supply device as claimed in claim 17, wherein the data is configured to charge for transferred fuel to an account.

20. The fuel supply device as claimed in claim 19, wherein the account is a phone bill account.