Portable computing device for external fuel cell control

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10790561-B2
Application number	US-201815886573-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Feb 1, 2018
Priority date	Jun 16, 2010
Publication date	Sep 29, 2020
Grant date	Sep 29, 2020

Abstract

The disclosed embodiments relate to the design of a portable and cost-effective fuel cell system for a portable computing device. This fuel cell system includes a fuel cell stack which converts fuel into electrical power. It also includes a fuel source for the fuel cell stack and a controller which controls operation of the fuel cell system. The fuel system also includes an interface to the portable computing device, wherein the interface comprises a power link that provides power to the portable computing device, and a bidirectional communication link that provides bidirectional communication between the portable computing device and the controller for the fuel cell system.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A portable computing device configured to control an external fuel cell system, the portable computing device comprising:
a processor;
a memory; and
an interface to the external fuel cell system, wherein the interface comprises,
a power link that provides power from the external fuel cell system to the portable computing device; and
a communication link that provides communication between the portable computing device and a controller for the external fuel cell system;

wherein the memory stores instructions that when executed by the processor cause the portable computing device to:
receive fuel cell state information from the external fuel cell system through the communication link;
send fuel cell control information to the external fuel cell system through the communication link.

2. The portable computing device of claim 1 , wherein the fuel cell state information specifies one or more of the following:
how much power is available from the fuel cell system;
a state-of-charge of an internal rechargeable battery within the fuel cell system.

3. The portable computing device of claim 1 wherein the fuel cell state information specifies one or more of a temperature of the fuel cell stack, a pressure at an inlet of the fuel cell stack, and a pressure at an outlet of the fuel cell stack.

4. The portable computing device of claim 1 wherein the fuel cell state information specifies a cell voltage for one or more cells in the fuel cell stack.

5. The portable computing device of claim 1 wherein the fuel cell state information specifies an amount of fuel remaining in the external fuel cell system.

6. The portable computing device of claim 1 , wherein the fuel cell control information specifies one or more of the following:
a request for a specified amount of power from the fuel cell system;
a fuel cell stack current to be pulled off a fuel cell stack within the fuel cell system.

7. The portable computing device of claim 1 wherein the fuel cell control information specifies a fan speed within the fuel cell system.

8. The portable computing device of claim 7 wherein the fuel cell control information includes a command to run diagnostics for the fuel cell system.

9. The portable computing device of claim 1 , wherein the power link comprises a wireless link.

10. The portable computing device of claim 1 , wherein the communication link comprises a wireless link.

11. The portable computing device of claim 1 , wherein the communication link also communicates:
computing device state information from the portable computing device to the fuel cell system; and
computing device control information from the fuel cell system to the portable computing device.

12. The portable computing device of claim 11 , wherein the computing device state information specifies one or more of the following:
a power requirement for the portable computing device; and
a state-of-charge of a rechargeable battery within the portable computing device.

13. The portable computing device of claim 11 , wherein the computing device control information specifies a power state for the portable computing device, wherein the portable computing device uses the power state to control power usage of components within the portable computing device.

Assignees

• Apple Inc

Inventors

• Spare Bradley L
• Iyer Vijay M
• Lee Jean L
• Tice Gregory L
• Hillman Michael D
• Simon David I

Classifications

• H01M8/04656

  of auxiliary devices, e.g. batteries, capacitors · CPC title

• Y02E60/50

  Fuel cells · CPC title

• H01M8/0494

  of fuel cell stacks · CPC title

• H01M8/04014

  Heat exchange using gaseous fluids; Heat exchange by combustion of reactants · CPC title

• H01M8/0438

  Pressure; Ambient pressure; Flow · CPC title