Patents by Inventor Gerard F. McLean
Gerard F. McLean has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).
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Patent number: 10374449Abstract: A smart electronic system is disclosed. The system can analyze any input voltage to determine whether the input voltage is sufficient to charge the battery of an electronic device and/or to operate the electronic device. If not, the cable is capable of transforming the input voltage to a voltage sufficient to charge and/or operate. The electronic device may be incorporated into the housing of the smart electronic system, and can be any known mobile devices.Type: GrantFiled: October 11, 2017Date of Patent: August 6, 2019Assignee: Societe BICInventors: Steve Burkhart, Gerard F. McLean, Jean-Louis Iaconis
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Patent number: 10283796Abstract: A complete fuel cell system (10) is disclosed. The fuel cell system (10) comprises at least two fuel precursors (16, 18) that react to create hydrogen. A solid fuel precursor (18) can be carried in disposable fuel cartridges (100). A passive pressure control system including a dose pump (22) and a pressure equalization system (24, 300, 504) is provided to dose a liquid fuel precursor (16) to the solid fuel precursor (18) in the fuel cartridge (100). The solid fuel precursor (18) may include larger metallic particles coated by another fine metallic particles such that multiple micro galvanic cells are formed on the surface of the larger metallic particles. The fuel cell system (10) may also include a gas buffer (40) that stores produced hydrogen that is unneeded by the fuel cell, a water trapping mechanism (604) and an electronic vent (46) that consumes unneeded hydrogen.Type: GrantFiled: February 10, 2012Date of Patent: May 7, 2019Assignee: INTELLIGEN ENERGY LIMITEDInventors: Gerard F. McLean, Laura Gill, Jean-Louis Iaconis, Jeremy Schrooten, Mikhail Gurin, Benjamin Tam, Sally Seaman, Joerg Zimmermann
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Patent number: 10096845Abstract: 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.Type: GrantFiled: November 16, 2012Date of Patent: October 9, 2018Assignee: Intelligent Energy LimitedInventors: Olen Richard Vanderleeden, Gerard F McLean, Jeremy Schrooten, Martin Lagroix, Jean-Louis Iaconis, Anna Stukas
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Patent number: 9954235Abstract: Described herein are articles, systems, and methods relating to fuel cell systems that include anode chambers with variable volumes. The volume of the anode chamber may be relatively small or essentially zero upon start up to prevent influx of contaminants that would have to be purged from the system. As fuel is directed into the anode chamber, the chamber volume increases to accommodate the flow of fuel.Type: GrantFiled: December 22, 2014Date of Patent: April 24, 2018Assignees: INTELLIGENT ENERGY LIMITED, COMMISSARIAT A L'ENERGIE ET AUX ENERGIES ALTERNATIVESInventors: Vincent Faucheux, Antoine Latour, Jessica Thery, Bruno Valon, Gerard F McLean
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Publication number: 20180034308Abstract: A smart electronic system is disclosed. The system can analyze any input voltage to determine whether the input voltage is sufficient to charge the battery of an electronic device and/or to operate the electronic device. If not, the cable is capable of transforming the input voltage to a voltage sufficient to charge and/or operate. The electronic device may be incorporated into the housing of the smart electronic system, and can be any known mobile devices.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 11, 2017Publication date: February 1, 2018Inventors: Steve Burkhart, Gerard F. McLean, Jean-Louis Iaconis
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Patent number: 9876240Abstract: The present invention relates to a connector or cable between the fuel supply and the fuel cell that in addition to transporting fuel and electrical power can also communicate control signals between the fuel cell and the cartridge to instruct the fuel cartridge or the fuel cell or both to commence or cease the operation of one or more functions. Control signals can be electrical, fluidic/hydraulic and/or mechanical. The connector or cable may also transport electricity produced by the fuel cell to power an electronic device, and/or to the fuel cartridge to power a component(s) on the cartridge or to re-charge a battery. The connector or cable may have universal connectors that can attach to multiple fuel cells, fuel cartridges and electronic devices, even when manufactured by different manufacturers.Type: GrantFiled: April 7, 2014Date of Patent: January 23, 2018Assignee: Intelligent Energy LimitedInventors: Gerard F. McLean, Jean-Louis Iaconis, Andrew J. Curello, Aaron Joseph MacDonald, Sven Sturm
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Patent number: 9800075Abstract: A smart charging cable and a method of operating the cable are disclosed. The cable can analyze any input voltage to determine whether the input voltage is sufficient to charge the battery of an electronic device and/or to operate the electronic device. If not, the cable is capable of transforming the input voltage to a voltage sufficient to charge and/or operate.Type: GrantFiled: June 4, 2014Date of Patent: October 24, 2017Assignee: Societe BICInventors: Gerard F. McLean, Jean-Louis Iaconis
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Patent number: 9728796Abstract: 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.Type: GrantFiled: July 14, 2015Date of Patent: August 8, 2017Assignee: Intelligent Energy LimitedInventors: Gerard F. McLean, Joerg Zimmermann, Jeremy Schrooten, Paul Sobejko
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Patent number: 9673476Abstract: 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.Type: GrantFiled: June 25, 2014Date of Patent: June 6, 2017Assignee: Intelligent Energy LimitedInventors: Jeremy Schrooten, Paul Sobejko, Gerard F McLean
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Patent number: 9569762Abstract: 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.Type: GrantFiled: September 25, 2006Date of Patent: February 14, 2017Assignee: Intelligent Energy LimitedInventors: Gerard F. McLean, Olen Richard Vanderleeden, Anna Stukas, Denis J. Connor
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Patent number: 9472817Abstract: 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.Type: GrantFiled: February 27, 2009Date of Patent: October 18, 2016Assignee: Intelligent Energy LimitedInventors: Jeremy Schrooten, Gerard F. McLean, Paul Sobejko
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Publication number: 20160181634Abstract: Described herein are articles, systems, and methods relating to fuel cell systems that include anode chambers with variable volumes. The volume of the anode chamber may be relatively small or essentially zero upon start up to prevent influx of contaminants that would have to be purged from the system. As fuel is directed into the anode chamber, the chamber volume increases to accommodate the flow of fuel.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 22, 2014Publication date: June 23, 2016Inventors: Vincent Faucheux, Antoine Latour, Jessica Thery, Bruno Valon, Gerard F. McLean
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Publication number: 20160065057Abstract: 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.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 14, 2015Publication date: March 3, 2016Applicant: Intelligent Energy LimitedInventors: Gerard F. MCLEAN, Jean-Louis IACONIS, Jadon M. HARRISON
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Publication number: 20150357834Abstract: A smart charging cable and a method of operating the cable are disclosed. The cable can analyze any input voltage to determine whether the input voltage is sufficient to charge the battery of an electronic device and/or to operate the electronic device. If not, the cable is capable of transforming the input voltage to a voltage sufficient to charge and/or operate.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 4, 2014Publication date: December 10, 2015Inventors: Gerard F. McLean, Jean-Louis Iaconis
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Publication number: 20150318566Abstract: 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.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 14, 2015Publication date: November 5, 2015Applicant: INTELLIGENT ENERGY LIMITEDInventors: Gerard F. McLean, Joerg Zimmermann, Jeremy Schrooten, Paul Sobejko
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Patent number: 9178244Abstract: 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.Type: GrantFiled: December 23, 2010Date of Patent: November 3, 2015Assignee: intelligent Energy LimitedInventors: Jeremy Schrooten, Paul Sobejko, Gerard F. McLean
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Publication number: 20150288010Abstract: The present invention relates to a connector or cable between the fuel supply and the fuel cell that in addition to transporting fuel and electrical power can also communicate control signals between the fuel cell and the cartridge to instruct the fuel cartridge or the fuel cell or both to commence or cease the operation of one or more functions. Control signals can be electrical, fluidic/hydraulic and/or mechanical. The connector or cable may also transport electricity produced by the fuel cell to power an electronic device, and/or to the fuel cartridge to power a component(s) on the cartridge or to re-charge a battery. The connector or cable may have universal connectors that can attach to multiple fuel cells, fuel cartridges and electronic devices, even when manufactured by different manufacturers.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 7, 2014Publication date: October 8, 2015Inventors: Gerard F. McLean, Jean-Louis Iaconis, Andrew J. Curello, Aaron Joseph MacDonald, Sven Sturm
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Patent number: 9118042Abstract: 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.Type: GrantFiled: February 21, 2012Date of Patent: August 25, 2015Assignee: Intelligent Energy LimitedInventors: Gerard F. McLean, Joerg Zimmermann, Jeremy Schrooten, Paul Sobejko
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Publication number: 20150118588Abstract: A complete fuel cell system (10) is described. The fuel cell system (10) comprises at least two fuel precursors (16, 18) that react to create hydrogen. A solid fuel precursor (18) can be carried in disposable fuel cartridges (100). A passive pressure control system including a dose pump (22) and a pressure equalization system (24, 300, 504) is provided to dose a liquid fuel precursor (16) to the solid fuel precursor (18) in the fuel cartridge (100). An outer wall (102) of the fuel cartridge can form a part of the passive pressure control system. The solid fuel precursor may include larger metallic particles coated by another fine metallic particles such that multiple micro galvanic cells are formed on the surface of the larger metallic particles. The fuel cell system may also include a gas buffer (40) that stores produced hydrogen that in unneeded by the fuel cell, and a water trapping mechanism (604). The fuel cell system may also have an electronic vent (46) that consumes unneeded hydrogen.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 10, 2012Publication date: April 30, 2015Applicant: SOCIETE BICInventors: Gerard F. McLean, Laura Gill, Jean-Louis Iaconis, Jeremy Schrooten, Mikhail Gurin, Benjamin Tam, Sally Seaman, Joerg Zimmermann
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Patent number: 9017892Abstract: 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.Type: GrantFiled: January 10, 2014Date of Patent: April 28, 2015Assignee: Societe BICInventors: Gerard F McLean, Anna Stukas, Jeremy Schrooten