Patent application number | Description | Published |
20080230401 | INTERFACE FOR FLEXIBLE FLUID ENCLOSURES - Embodiments of the present invention relate to a flexible fluid enclosure interface system comprising a flexible fluid enclosure, one or more components and one or more strain absorbing interfaces in contact with the flexible fluid enclosure and the one or more components. | 09-25-2008 |
20080248352 | FLUIDIC DISTRIBUTION SYSTEM AND RELATED METHODS - Embodiments of the present invention relate to a fluid distribution system. The system may include one or more electrochemical cell layers, a bulk distribution manifold having an inlet, a cell layer feeding manifold in direct fluidic contact with the electrochemical cell layer and a separation layer that separates the bulk distribution manifold from the cell feeding manifold, providing at least two independent paths for fluid to flow from the bulk distribution manifold to the cell feeding manifold. | 10-09-2008 |
20080277441 | STRAP MOUNTED ENERGY SUPPLY - Embodiments of the invention relate to a strap mounted energy supply. The strap mounted energy supply includes a strap and one or more energy components. The strap is configured to couple to an electronic device, and the more energy components are conformably coupled with the strap. At least one of the one or more energy components is configured to supply energy to the electronic device. In various embodiments, the strap mounted energy supply is portable, is configured to externally couple to the electronic device, and/or is flexible, pliable, stretchable and/or ductile. | 11-13-2008 |
20090007705 | SENSING DEVICE AND METHODS RELATED THERETO - Embodiments of the invention relate to a device for a fluid enclosure. The device includes a sensing device that responds to a change in distance relative to a fluid enclosure. The change in distance is a function of at least one dimension of the fluid enclosure. | 01-08-2009 |
20090081493 | FUEL CELL SYSTEMS INCLUDING SPACE-SAVING FLUID PLENUM AND RELATED METHODS - Fuel cell systems and methods having reduced volumetric requirements are described. The systems include, among other things, an enclosed region formed by the bonding of a fuel cell layer with a fluid manifold. The enclosed region transforms into a fluid plenum when, for example, a fluid exiting a manifold outlet pressurizes the enclosed region causing one or more portions of the fuel cell layer and/or the fluid manifold to deform away from each other. | 03-26-2009 |
20090081523 | FUEL CELL COVER - Fuel cell covers, electronic systems and methods for optimizing the performance of a fuel cell system are disclosed. In the various embodiments, a fuel cell cover includes an interface structure proximate to one or more fuel cells. The interface structure is configured to affect one or more environmental conditions proximate to the one or more fuel cells. An electronic system includes an electronic device, one or more fuel cells operably coupled to the electronic device, and an interface structure proximate to the one or more fuel cells. The interface structure affects one or more environmental conditions near or in contact with the one or more fuel cells. A method includes providing a fuel cell layer, and positioning an interface layer proximate to the fuel cell layer. | 03-26-2009 |
20090092864 | REPLENISHING FUEL CELL POWERED PORTABLE DEVICES - Portable electronic devices such as portable telephones, portable computers and the like may obtain power from fuel cells that consume fuel from fuel reservoirs of the portable devices. A network of fueling stations permits users of portable devices to main the devices operational by frequently topping up the fuel reservoirs. Payment systems combine payments for fuel with larger payments for other transactions to avoid the overhead of processing individual payments for very small amounts. | 04-09-2009 |
20090130527 | PLANAR FUEL CELL HAVING CATALYST LAYER WITH IMPROVED CONDUCTIVITY - The performance of solid polymer electrolyte fuel cells having planar architecture is improved by increasing the electrical conductivity in at least one of the catalyst layers. The conductivity is increased by incorporating a highly electrically conductive additive selected from the group consisting of graphite, carbon nanotubes, and corrosion tolerant metals. | 05-21-2009 |
20090173620 | COMBINED CHEMISTRY HYDROGEN GENERATION SYSTEM - Embodiments of the invention relate to an apparatus or hydrogen generating system including a galvanic or first hydrogen generator and a thermally-activated or second hydrogen generator connectable to one another. | 07-09-2009 |
20090191435 | COVERS FOR ELECTROCHEMICAL CELLS AND RELATED METHODS - Embodiments of the invention relate to an electrochemical cell system including a cover that affects reactant flow into an electrochemical cell array. | 07-30-2009 |
20090297895 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR MANAGING HEAT IN PORTABLE ELECTRONIC DEVICES - Embodiments of the invention relate to a heat management system for a portable electronic device. The system includes at least one fuel cell, at least one electrical power consumer electrically connected to the at least one fuel cell, an endothermic fuel system configured to provide fuel to the at least one fuel cell and at least one thermal transmission path thermally coupling the at least one electrical power consumer and the endothermic fuel system. At least a portion of heat produced by the electrical power consumer is transferred to the endothermic fuel system. | 12-03-2009 |
20100035102 | ENERGY STORAGE INTEGRATED FRAMEWORK FOR PORTABLE ELECTRONIC DEVICES - Embodiments of the invention relate to a fuel cell system for a portable electronic device including one or more fuel storage components, adapted to store and deliver a fuel, one or more electronic components and one or more fuel cells in contact with at least one of the one or more fuel storage components and one or more electronic components. The one or more fuel storage components are adapted to provide a secondary function, in addition to storing and delivering fuel. | 02-11-2010 |
20100081017 | MULTIFUNCTIONAL FUEL SYSTEM AND RELATED METHODS - Embodiments of the invention relate to a multifunctional fuel system, including a multifunctional fuel cartridge including a hydrogen carrier capable of releasing hydrogen and one or more fuel cells, removably coupled to the fuel cartridge. The one or more fuel cells are capable of producing electricity upon receiving hydrogen from the fuel cartridge and wherein the multifunctional fuel cartridge is additionally adapted to release heat. | 04-01-2010 |
20100167132 | HYDROGEN FUEL DELIVERY SYSTEMS - A method for providing hydrogen to a hydrogen-powered device comprises providing a buffer connected to supply hydrogen to the device. The buffer is filled with hydrogen by coupling the buffer to a cartridge containing a predetermined quantity of hydrogen. The hydrogen in the cartridge may be stored in a form having a higher energy density than the hydrogen in the buffer. Systems comprising hydrogen-powered devices that include such buffers are also described. | 07-01-2010 |
20110003229 | ELECTROCHEMICAL CELL AND MEMBRANES RELATED THERETO - Embodiments of the invention relate to electrochemical cells and membranes including alternating electrically conductive and dielectric regions. One embodiment describes an ion-conducting composite layer for an electrochemical cell, including two or more electrically conductive components, each electrically conductive component having one or more electrically conductive passageways and one or more dielectric components, each dielectric component having one or more ion-conducting passageways. The electrically conductive components and the dielectric components are adjacently arranged to provide a fluidically impermeable composite layer. | 01-06-2011 |
20110195336 | COMPOSITE MEMBRANE, FUEL CELL AND METHOD OF MAKING OF COMPOSITE MEMBRANE - A fuel cell includes membrane electrode assemblies disposed in a planar arrangement. Each membrane electrode assembly includes an electrolyte membrane, an anode catalyst layer, and a cathode catalyst layer disposed counter to the cathode catalyst via the electrolyte membrane. Interconnectors (conductive members) are provided on the lateral faces of the electrolyte membranes disposed counter to each another in the neighboring direction of the membrane electrode assemblies. Each interconnector includes a support portion protruding toward the central region of the electrolyte member on the cathode side of the electrolyte membrane. The support portion is in contact with the cathode-side surface of an edge of the electrolyte membrane, and the electrolyte membrane is held by the support portion. | 08-11-2011 |
20110236785 | FUEL CELL LAYER, FUEL CELL SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR FABRICATING THE FUEL CELL LAYER - A fuel cell layer includes a plurality of membrane electrode assemblies disposed in a planar array arrangement and an interconnector for electrically coupling an anode catalyst layer of one of adjacent membrane electrode assemblies to a cathode catalyst layer of the other of the adjacent membrane electrode assemblies. Each membrane electrode assembly includes an electrolyte membrane, the anode catalyst layer provided on one face of the electrolyte member and the cathode catalyst layer provided on the other face of the electrolyte membrane in such a manner that at least part of which is disposed counter to the anode catalyst layer. The interconnector is formed of at least one of a material constituting the anode catalyst layer and a material constituting the cathode catalyst layer. | 09-29-2011 |
20120058408 | COVERS FOR ELECTROCHEMICAL CELLS AND RELATED METHODS - Embodiments of the invention relate to an electrochemical cell system including a cover that affects reactant flow into an electrochemical cell array. | 03-08-2012 |
20120141892 | PORTABLE FUEL CELL POWER SOURCE - Embodiments of the present invention relate to a portable fuel cell power source including an expandable enclosure, a first reactant contained within the enclosure, one or more fuel cells and a fluid port positioned in the expandable enclosure and adapted to be in fluidic communication with the one or more fuel cells. The enclosure may also include an opening to insert a second reactant. When the first reactant is contacted with the second reactant a fuel is generated for use with one or more of the fuel cells. The volume of the portable fuel cell power source in a collapsed state may be smaller than the volume of the amount of first reactant and second reactant needed to substantially consume the first reactant in a fuel generation reaction. | 06-07-2012 |
20120148932 | FLUIDIC DISTRIBUTION SYSTEM AND RELATED METHODS - Embodiments of the present invention relate to a fluid distribution system. The system may include one or more electrochemical cell layers, a bulk distribution manifold having an inlet, a cell layer feeding manifold in direct fluidic contact with the electrochemical cell layer and a separation layer that separates the bulk distribution manifold from the cell feeding manifold, providing at least two independent paths for fluid to flow from the bulk distribution manifold to the cell feeding manifold. | 06-14-2012 |
20120198917 | STATE OF CHARGE INDICATOR AND METHODS RELATED THERETO - Embodiments of the invention relate a charge indicator for determining the mass of a fluid contained within a fluid enclosure, wherein the charge indicator responds to a deformation of a solid component in contact with the fluid and wherein the deformation is a function of the mass of fluid contained within the fluid enclosure. | 08-09-2012 |
20120288781 | FUEL CELLS AND FUEL CELL COMPONENTS HAVING ASYMMETRIC ARCHITECTURE AND METHODS THEREOF - Embodiments relate to a composite for a fuel cell layer including a plurality of electron conducting components, a plurality of ion conducting components each having a first surface and a second surface and wherein each ion conducting component is positioned between two electron conducting components. The electron conducting components and the ion conducting components form a layer and at least one of the ion conducting components or the electron conducting components is geometrically asymmetric in one or more dimensions. | 11-15-2012 |
20120301808 | PERFORMANCE ENHANCING LAYERS FOR FUEL CELLS - Embodiments relate to a performance enhancing layer for a fuel cell including one or more electrically conductive materials, at least one of the electrically conductive materials including particles which are morphologically anisotropic and oriented to impart anisotropic conductivity in the layer and a binder, wherein the binder positions the particles in contact with each other. | 11-29-2012 |
20120321918 | PORTABLE FUEL CELL SYSTEMS AND METHODS THEREFOR - A fuel cell system including, among other things, one or more of a fuel cell, a fuel reservoir, a current collecting circuit, a plenum, or a system cover. The fuel reservoir is configured to store fuel, and may include a regulator for controlling an output fuel pressure and a refueling port. A surface of the fuel reservoir may be positioned adjacent a first fuel cell portion. The current collecting circuit is configured to receive and distribute fuel cell power and may be positioned adjacent a second fuel cell portion. The plenum may be formed when the fuel reservoir and the first fuel cell portion are coupled or by one or more flexible fuel cell walls. The system cover allows air into the system and when combined when a fuel pressure in the plenum, may urge contact between the fuel cell and the current collecting circuit. | 12-20-2012 |
20130095399 | PORTABLE FUEL CELL POWER SOURCE - Embodiments of the present invention relate to a portable fuel cell power source including an expandable enclosure, a first reactant contained within the enclosure, one or more fuel cells and a fluid port positioned in the expandable enclosure and adapted to be in fluidic communication with the one or more fuel cells. The enclosure may also include an opening to insert a second reactant. When the first reactant is contacted with the second reactant a fuel is generated for use with one or more of the fuel cells. The volume of the portable fuel cell power source in a collapsed state may be smaller than the volume of the amount of first reactant and second reactant needed to substantially consume the first reactant in a fuel generation reaction. | 04-18-2013 |
20140004436 | SYSTEM FOR CONTROLLING TEMPERATURE IN A FUEL CELL | 01-02-2014 |
20140072898 | FLEXIBLE FUEL CELL STRUCTURES HAVING EXTERNAL SUPPORT - Fuel cell components provide fuel cells on a flexible sheet that defines a wall of a flexible plenum. An external support structure limits expansion of the plenum in response to forces exerted by a pressurized reactant. The external support structure may comprise a portion of a housing of a portable device. Cathodes of the fuel cells may be accessible from an outside of the flexible sheet and exposed to ambient air while anodes of the fuel cell are accessible from an inside of the flexible sheet and exposed to a fuel, such as hydrogen gas. | 03-13-2014 |
20140127601 | ELECTROCHEMICAL CELLS HAVING CURRENT-CARRYING STRUCTURES UNDERLYING ELECTROCHEMICAL REACTION LAYERS - An electrochemical cell structure has an electrical current-carrying structure which, at least in part, underlies an electrochemical reaction layer. The cell comprises an ion exchange membrane with a catalyst layer on each side thereof. The ion exchange membrane may comprise, for example, a proton exchange membrane. Some embodiments of the invention provide electrochemical cell layers which have a plurality of individual unit cells formed on a sheet of ion exchange membrane material. | 05-08-2014 |
20140272645 | FUEL CELL DC-DC CONVERTER - A method and system for supplying power to a portable electronic device includes supplying current from one or more fuel cells to a DC-DC converter and regulating a current limit of the DC-DC converter as a function of a measured temperature of at least one of the power supply system and the portable electronic device. The current limit can vary as an inverse function of the measured temperature. The current limit can be an input current limit of the DC-DC converter or an output current limit of the DC-DC converter. Current produced by the one or more fuel cells can decrease proportionally to a decrease of the current limit of the DC-DC converter, reducing the heat produced by the one or more fuel cells and thereby reducing the measured temperature. A temperature sensor can be located on or near the one or more fuel cells. A temperature sensor can be located on an internal housing of the portable electronic device. | 09-18-2014 |
20140308598 | FUEL CELL SYSTEMS INCLUDING SPACE-SAVING FLUID PLENUM AND RELATED METHODS - Fuel cell systems and methods having reduced volumetric requirements are described. The systems include, among other things, an enclosed region formed by the bonding of a fuel cell layer with a fluid manifold. The enclosed region transforms into a fluid plenum when, for example, a fluid exiting a manifold outlet pressurizes the enclosed region causing one or more portions of the fuel cell layer and/or the fluid manifold to deform away from each other. | 10-16-2014 |
20140317920 | METHODS OF FORMING FUEL CELL LAYERS - The present invention relates to electrically conductive paths in planar substrates. Various embodiments provide a method of forming one or more electrically conductive paths in a planar substrate, wherein substantially none of the substrate is removed during formation of the path. In various embodiments, by avoiding the removal of substrate during formation of the electrically conductive path, problems caused by residual substrate material can be advantageously avoided. In various embodiments, the planar substrate with the electrically conductive path can be used to make a planar fuel cell array. | 10-30-2014 |
20140339448 | Fluidic Control System and Method of Manufacture - A fluidic control system includes featured layers. The featured layers include two or more features which collectively form at least one functional component. | 11-20-2014 |
20140342265 | FUEL CELL SYSTEMS - Described herein are fuel cell systems that include fuel cell covers, as well as electronic systems and methods for optimizing the performance of a fuel cell system. In the various embodiments, a fuel cell cover includes an interface structure proximate to one or more fuel cells. The interface structure is configured to affect one or more environmental conditions proximate to the one or more fuel cells. An electronic system includes an electronic device, one or more fuel cells operably coupled to the electronic device, and an interface structure proximate to the one or more fuel cells. The interface structure affects one or more environmental conditions near or in contact with the one or more fuel cells. A method includes providing a fuel cell layer, and positioning an interface layer proximate to the fuel cell layer. | 11-20-2014 |
20140370408 | SYSTEM FOR CONTROLLING TEMPERATURE IN A FUEL CELL - Methods, articles, and systems for controlling the internal operating temperature of fuel cell systems, such as planar fuel cell arrays. The heat management system conducts heat away from the fuel cell without disturbing the flow of gases around the fuel cell layer and without the need for the equipment to disturb the flow of gases around the fuel cell layer. The present invention also provides a heat transfer system that has a low thermal mass relative to the fuel cell layer or is thermally isolated from the fuel cell layer such that the heat transfer system will not remove substantial amounts of heat from a fuel cell layer during star-up and can be activated to dissipate heat from the fuel cell only as needed. | 12-18-2014 |
20150072263 | ELECTROCHEMICAL CELLS HAVING CURRENT-CARRYING STRUCTURES UNDERLYING ELECTROCHEMICAL REACTION LAYERS - An electrochemical cell structure has an electrical current-carrying structure which, at least in part, underlies an electrochemical reaction layer. The cell comprises an ion exchange membrane with a catalyst layer on each side thereof. The ion exchange membrane may comprise, for example, a proton exchange membrane. Some embodiments of the invention provide electrochemical cell layers which have a plurality of individual unit cells formed on a sheet of ion exchange membrane material. | 03-12-2015 |