Portable Fuel Cell System for Lightweight Computing Devices
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Summary
Problems
Designing hydrogen fuel cell systems that are both portable and cost-effective for powering portable computing devices is challenging due to the need for bulky and heavy batteries, which hinders their adoption in the market.
Innovation solutions
A fuel cell system that integrates a fuel cell stack, a controller, and communication and power links to regulate power between the fuel cell system and a rechargeable battery, allowing for efficient power management and eliminating the need for an internal battery, thereby reducing size, weight, and cost.
TRIZ Analysis
Specific contradictions:
General conflict description:
Principle concept:
If a hydrogen fuel cell system is designed to power portable electronic devices, then renewable energy capability is achieved, but the system becomes bulky and heavy due to the need for internal batteries
Why choose this principle:
The patent extracts the battery component from the fuel cell system, allowing the fuel cell to directly power the portable electronic device without requiring an internal battery. The fuel cell system is coupled to the device's existing rechargeable battery, eliminating the need for a separate battery in the fuel cell assembly and significantly reducing overall system weight.
Principle concept:
If a hydrogen fuel cell system is designed to power portable electronic devices, then renewable energy capability is achieved, but the system becomes bulky and heavy due to the need for internal batteries
Why choose this principle:
The patent utilizes the existing rechargeable battery in the portable electronic device for dual purposes: as the device's power storage and as the fuel cell system's power storage. This multi-functional use eliminates redundant components and reduces system weight while maintaining renewable energy capability.
Application Domain
Data Source
AI summary:
A fuel cell system that integrates a fuel cell stack, a controller, and communication and power links to regulate power between the fuel cell system and a rechargeable battery, allowing for efficient power management and eliminating the need for an internal battery, thereby reducing size, weight, and cost.
Abstract
The disclosed embodiments relate to the design of a fuel cell system which is capable of both providing power to and receiving power from a rechargeable battery in a portable computing device. This eliminates the need for a bulky and heavy battery within the fuel cell system, which can significantly reduce the size, weight and cost of the fuel cell system. This fuel cell system includes a fuel cell stack which converts fuel into electrical power. It also includes a controller which controls operation of the fuel cell system. The fuel cell system additionally includes a power link that transfers electrical power between the fuel cell system and the portable computing device, and a communication link that provides communication between the portable computing device and the controller for the fuel cell system. The controller can regulate both the electrical power provided by the fuel cell system to the portable computing device and the electrical power provided by the rechargeable battery to the fuel cell system.