Fuel cartridge interconnect for portable fuel cells

• US 7,862,926 B2
• Filed: 01/23/2009
• Issued: 01/04/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 07/09/2003
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Duracell U.S. Operations, Inc. (Berkshire Hathaway Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Gillette Company (The Procter & Gamble Company)
• Inventors: Rotondo, John, Gilicinski, Andrew G., Bourilkov, Jordan T., Klein, David N.
• Primary Examiner(s): Ryan; Patrick
• Assistant Examiner(s): Parsons; Thomas H.
• Application Number:
  US12/358,320
• Publication Number:
  US 20090128088A1
• Time in Patent Office: 711 Days
• Field of Search: 429/9, 429/34, 429/23, 429/121, 429/122, 320/103, 320/138, 320/140
• US Class Current: 429/121
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/05 Accumulators with non-aqueous electrolyte H01M10/39 takes precedence
• 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 8/04089 of gaseous reactants
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 8/04208 Cartridges, cryogenic media or cryogenic reservoirs
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 8/04544 Voltage
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 8/04574 Current
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 8/04947 of auxiliary devices, e.g. batteries, capacitors
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 8/04955 Shut-off or shut-down of fuel cells
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 8/1007 with both reactants being gaseous or vaporised 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: H02J 2300/30 The power source being a fuel cell
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/34 Parallel operation in networks using both storage and other dc sources, e.g. providing buffering H02J7/14 takes precedence
• 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

Abstract

A hybrid power supply includes a fuel cell and an interface between the fuel cell and a fuel cartridge or external battery and a switching type DC/DC boost type converter that receives energy from the fuel cell or external battery and is arranged to deliver the energy to a rechargeable cell. The hybrid power supply also includes a fuel cell current sensor/comparator, included in a feedback control loop disposed about the DC/DC converter, which controls in part operation of the converter to provide constant current discharge on the fuel battery side of the hybrid power supply. An adapter that couples a source of AC power such as a charger to the interconnect is also disclosed.

Claims

1. A hybrid power supply comprises:

an interface to receive at separate times either a fuel cartridge to couple to a fuel cell system or a battery;

a fuel cell; and

a switching type DC/DC boost type converter coupled to the interface, the DC/DC boost type converter configured to receive energy from the fuel cell or from an external battery connected to the interface, with the switching type DC/DC converter configured to deliver the energy to a rechargeable cell, with the DC/DC converter further configured to provide substantially constant current drain from the fuel cell.

2. The hybrid power supply of claim 1, further comprising:

a circuit disposed to sense when a voltage is present across terminals of the interface to cause power to be supplied to the rechargeable battery from an external battery when the external battery is connected to the interface or from a fuel cell when the external battery is not connected to the interface and a source of fuel for the fuel cell is connected to the interface.

3. The hybrid power supply of claim 2 wherein the circuit includes a diode coupled between an output terminal of the fuel cell and a terminal of the interconnect that connects an external battery to the hybrid supply.

4. The hybrid power supply of claim 2 the circuit includes:

a first transistor having a gate, drain and source, the first transistor biased through a resistor to conduct power from the fuel cell to a load; and

a second transistor arranged where if an external battery is inserted, a gate voltage of the first transistor turns the first transistor off, preventing connection of the fuel cell to the battery through the drain and source of the first transistor, and the second transistor is biased through a second resistor to conduct power from the battery to the load.

5. The hybrid power supply of claim 2, further comprising:

a circuit including a fuel cell current control that senses fuel cell current, and controls in part operation of the converter to provide constant current discharge on the fuel cell side of the hybrid power supply.

6. The hybrid power supply of claim 1 wherein the interface includes:

a pair of mating fittings disposed on the common surface of the interface to allow a battery or to a source of fuel for a fuel cell to connect to the interface through the same pair of mating fittings.

7. The hybrid power supply of claim 1 wherein the interface includes:

a pair of mating fittings disposed on the common surface of the interface; and

a port disposed between the pair of mating fittings to allow a battery or to a fuel cartridge for a fuel cell to connect to the interface through the same pair of mating fittings and allow fuel to flow to a fuel cell through the port.

8. The hybrid power supply of claim 1, further comprising:

a diode coupled between the fuel cell and an external battery terminal of the interconnect such that when the fuel cell supplies the power, the diode is forward biased, and the external battery terminals are at open circuit and if an external battery is connected to the mating fittings the diode is reverse biased, and the battery supplies power to the load.

9. A hybrid power supply comprises:

a fuel cell;

an interface to receive either a fuel cartridge for a fuel cell or external battery; and

a switching type DC/DC boost type converter that receives energy from the fuel cell or an external battery connected to the interface and, the switching type DC/DC boost type converter is arranged to deliver the energy to a rechargeable cell; and

a circuit including a current sensor/comparator, disposed in a feedback control loop about the DC/DC converter to sense current from the fuel cell, and in which the circuit controls in part operation of the converter to provide constant current discharge on the fuel cell.

10. The hybrid power supply of claim 9 wherein the current sensor/comparator draws a constant current that is about equal to an optimal level of current to draw from the fuel cell to maximize fuel efficiency.

11. The hybrid power supply of claim 9 wherein the hybrid power supply is configured so that the fuel cell provides a power level that is just above expected average power consumption for a particular device that the hybrid supply is coupled to application, and the rechargeable battery provides a power level that to peak power requirements of the particular device.

12. The hybrid power supply of claim 9 wherein the rechargeable cell is Li-Ion or Li-Polymer rechargeable cell.

13. The hybrid power supply of claim 9 wherein the circuit delivers an output voltage that corresponds to about 90% charge of the rechargeable cell.

14. The hybrid power supply of claim 9 wherein when neither the fuel source nor the external battery is present on the interface, power is delivered to a load from the rechargeable battery.

15. The hybrid power supply of claim 9 wherein the interface includes:

a pair of mating fittings disposed on the common surface of the interface to allow a battery or to a fuel cartridge for a fuel cell to connect to the interface through the same pair of mating fittings.

16. The hybrid power supply of claim 9 wherein the interface includes:

a pair of mating fittings disposed on the common surface of the interface; and

a port disposed between the pair of mating fittings to allow a battery or to a fuel cartridge for a fuel cell to connect to the interface through the same pair of mating fittings and allow fuel to flow to a fuel cell through the port.

17. The hybrid power supply of claim 9 further comprising:

a circuit disposed to sense when a voltage is present across terminals of the interface to cause power to be supplied to the rechargeable battery from an external battery when the external battery is connected to the interface or from a fuel cell when the external battery is not connected to the interface and a source of fuel for the fuel cell is connected to the interface.

18. A hybrid power supply comprises:

a fuel cell;

an interconnect configured to receive a fuel cartridge, a battery, or a power adapter at separate times;

a rechargeable cell;

a DC/DC boost type converter that receives energy from the fuel cell, battery or adapter, and is arranged to deliver the energy to the rechargeable cell with the DC/DC boost type converter configured to deliver the energy to the rechargeable cell and provide substantially constant current drain from the fuel cell.

19. The hybrid power supply of claim 18 further comprising:

a diode coupled between the fuel cell and an external battery terminal of the interconnect that receives a battery or the power adapter, such that when the fuel cell supplies the power, the diode is forward biased, and the external battery terminals are at open circuit and if an external battery or power adapter is connected to contacts on the interface the diode is reverse biased, and the battery supplies power to the load.

20. The hybrid power supply of claim 19 wherein the diode prevents charging of the fuel cell from the battery or power adapter.

21. The hybrid power supply of claim 19 wherein the DC-DC converter is coupled across the external battery terminals.

22. The hybrid power supply of claim 19 wherein the DC-DC converter is a step-up (boost) DC/DC converter to provide optimal operation for the fuel cell.

23. The hybrid power supply of claim 18, further comprising:

a first transistor biased through a resistor to conduct power from the fuel cell to a load; and

a second transistor arranged where if an external battery is inserted, the gate voltage of the first transistor turns the transistor off, preventing connection of the fuel cell to the battery, and the second transistor is biased through a second resistor to conduct power from the battery to the load.

24. The hybrid power supply of claim 18 wherein the interface includes a pair of mating fittings disposed on the common surface of the interface to allow a battery or to a source of fuel for a fuel cell to connect to the interface through the same pair of mating fittings.

25. The hybrid power supply of claim 18 wherein the interface includes a port disposed between a pair of mating fittings disposed on the common surface of the interface to allow a battery or to a source of fuel for a fuel cell to connect to the interface through the same pair of mating fittings and allow fuel to flow to a fuel cell through the port.