Abstract: A fuel cell power source (100) for use in electronic systems includes a fuel cell system (130) and a controller (150). The controller (150) computes net power requirements of a load device from one or more power functional information sources; and determines an operating point of the fuel cell system (130) by matching the net power requirements with the power characteristics of the fuel cell system (130).

Abstract: A direct methanol fuel cell system 100 uses dissolved catalyst to promote a fuel cell reaction that takes place in an anode sub-chamber 110 of a fuel cell 102. According to the preferred embodiment the dissolved catalyst comprises a macro cyclic coordinated compound of platinum. The dissolved catalyst is preferably continuously circulated through the anode sub-chamber 110, and is preferably mixed in a mixing valve 118 with methanol and water in order to promote its catalytic action.

Abstract: A fuel cell device has a composite particle electrode (200) formed using particles (210) having a combination of ion conductor material, electron conductor material, and catalyst material. Each composite particle (210) is preferably formed to have a substantially spherical outer layer (480) of ion conductor material (481) with conductive and catalyst particles (482, 484) are dispersed throughout the outer layer (480). An array of composite particles (210) is layered in a substantially structured or ordered manner on a membrane support structure (220) to form the fuel cell electrode. A fuel cell electrode so formed has interstitial gaps between the composite particles that result in a structure permeable to oxygen and other fluids.

Abstract: Rewritable signs (100, 1300) that include bistable cholesteric liquid crystal layers (102, 1402, 1404, 1406) are provided. According to one embodiment a rewritable sign (100) is devoid of circuitry for establishing electric fields in localize regions for writing information to the rewritable sign (100), and is consequently inexpensive. In the latter embodiment, a separate information writer (400) that includes an array of pixel electrodes (404) that is driven by an active matrix (602) is used to write information on the rewritable sign. According to another embodiment a rewritable sign (1300) includes three cholesteric liquid layers (1402, 1404, 1406) each of which reflects a different primary color. The three cholesteric liquid crystal layers (1402, 1404, 1406) are interleaved with sets of conductive lines (1316, 1320, 1322, 1324) that are used to apply signals to the cholesteric liquid crystal layers (1402, 1404, 1406) for the purpose of writing information.

Abstract: A small fuel cell (10) powers a portable electronic device (12) and contains a fuel reservoir (14) and a device (16) that measures the amount of liquid fuel (18) that is in the reservoir. The fuel cell operates on hydrogen that is obtained from a liquid hydrocarbon fuel, such as alcohol or other hydrocarbons. The liquid fuel is typically converted into hydrogen by a reforming process. The reservoir that is connected to the fuel cell has an indicia (19) that is readable by a human user of the portable electronic device, for measuring the amount of liquid hydrocarbon fuel that is present in the reservoir. Typically, the indicia consist of a sight glass, a capacitive element, a resistive element, a transparent portion of the reservoir, a float, or an acoustic transmitter coupled with an acoustic receiver.

Abstract: A compound curved shaped housing part (104) includes integrated activatable electrochromic indicia (114, 116, 118, 120). The indicia are formed by coating an internal surface (302) of a transparent plastic shell (402) with a sequence of layers including: optionally a separate transparent conductor (408), an electrochromic material layer (410), an electrolyte layer (412), optionally a separate ion donor layer (414), optionally an insulator layer 418 and a second conductive layer. Laser etching is used to provide access to the transparent conductor layer. The insulator layer is patterned to provide access for electrodes to underlying layers. Laser etching is used to pattern the second conductive layer to define interconnected electrodes (322-332), traces (314-318), and electrical contacts (304-312).

Abstract: A direct methanol fuel cell system 100 uses dissolved catalyst to promote a fuel cell reaction that takes place in an anode sub-chamber 110 of a fuel cell 102. According to the preferred embodiment the dissolved catalyst comprises a macro cyclic coordinated compound of platinum. The dissolved catalyst is preferably continuously circulated through the anode sub-chamber 110, and is preferably mixed in a mixing valve 118 with methanol and water in order to promote its catalytic action.

Abstract: An improved hydrogen storage medium in the form of a fabric (124, 504, 704) comprises a yarn (300, 400) that includes carbon nanofibers or carbon nanotubes (302, 404) and elastomeric fibers (304, 402). The fabric (124, 504, 704) is volume efficient arrangement of the he carbon nanofibers or carbon nanotubes (302, 404) and is consequently characterized as a high density energy storage medium. According a preferred embodiment an hydrogen storage device (100) comprises a flexible container (104) that includes the fabric (124). The flexibility of the container (104) in combination with the flexibility of the fabric (124) allows the hydrogen storage device 100 to be accommodate in irregularly shaped spaces. According to an embodiment of the invention a battery (700) that uses the fabric (704) as a hydrogen storing anode is provided.

Abstract: Rewritable signs (100, 1300) that include bistable cholesteric liquid crystal layers (102, 1402, 1404, 1406) are provided. According to one embodiment a rewritable sign (100) is devoid of circuitry for establishing electric fields in localize regions for writing information to the rewritable sign (100), and is consequently inexpensive. In the latter embodiment, a separate information writer (400) that includes an array of pixel electrodes (404) that is driven by an active matrix (602) is used to write information on the rewritable sign. According to another embodiment a rewritable sign (1300) includes three cholesteric liquid layers (1402, 1404, 1406) each of which reflects a different primary color. The three cholesteric liquid crystal layers (1402, 1404, 1406) are interleaved with sets of conductive lines (1316, 1320, 1322, 1324) that are used to apply signals to the cholesteric liquid crystal layers (1402, 1404, 1406) for the purpose of writing information.

Abstract: A fuel cell device has a composite particle electrode (200) formed using particles (210) having a combination of ion conductor material, electron conductor material, and catalyst material. Each composite particle (210) is preferably formed to have a substantially spherical outer layer (480) of ion conductor material (481) with conductive and catalyst particles (482, 484) are dispersed throughout the outer layer (480). An array of composite particles (210) is layered in a substantially structured or ordered manner on a membrane support structure (220) to form the fuel cell electrode. A fuel cell electrode so formed has interstitial gaps between the composite particles that result in a structure permeable to oxygen and other fluids.

Abstract: Oxides of carbon and other impurities are removed from a hydrogen fuel supply stream (12) for a fuel cell (30). A getter element (20) sufficient for chemisorbing the oxides of carbon from the hydrogen is removably connected to the fuel cell anode side. The fuel stream is passed through the getter element so as to chemisorb the oxides of carbon onto the getter, thereby providing a purified stream of hydrogen (26) to the fuel cell anode. The getter is removed from the fuel cell when the getter is spent and replaced with a fresh getter.

Abstract: An air-breathing fuel cell device (100) has an integral filter system (160) for removing pollutants and contaminants. The fuel cell device (100) has a membrane electrode assembly (140) captured by a housing (101) that has an inlet (102) for receiving ambient environmental air. The filter assembly (160) is captured by the housing (101), and is interposed between the membrane electrode assembly (140) and the inlet (102) such that the membrane electrode assembly (140) is exposed to purified air through the filter assembly (160), and is otherwise sealed from the ambient environmental air.

Abstract: A fuel cell device (100) has a configuration for easy activation to quickly achieve steady-state operation performance. The fuel cell device (100) has a membrane electrode assembly (MEA) (120) and fuel (115) housed in separate sealed compartments (112, 114). The MEA (120) is pre-hydrated to have a predetermined water content selected for proper steady-state operation of the fuel cell. Prior to activation, the MEA (120) is sealed from air and sealed from the fuel (115). An integral fuel cell activator mechanism (105, 106, 140) is provided to unseal the MEA compartment (112) and expose the MEA (120) to air, and to initiate a flow of fuel (115) from the fuel compartment (114) to the MEA (120).

Abstract: A small fuel cell (10) powers a portable electronic device (12) and contains a fuel reservoir (14) and a device (16) that measures the amount of liquid fuel (18) that is in the reservoir. The fuel cell operates on hydrogen that is obtained from a liquid hydrocarbon fuel, such as alcohol or other hydrocarbons. The liquid fuel is typically converted into hydrogen by a reforming process. The reservoir that is connected to the fuel cell has an indicia (19) that is readable by a human user of the portable electronic device, for measuring the amount of liquid hydrocarbon fuel that is present in the reservoir. Typically, the indicia consist of a sight glass, a capacitive element, a resistive element, a transparent portion of the reservoir, a float, or an acoustic transmitter coupled with an acoustic receiver.

Abstract: A small fuel cell (10) powers a portable electronic device (12) and contains a fuel reservoir (14) and a device (16) that measures the amount of liquid fuel (18) that is in the reservoir. The fuel cell operates on hydrogen that is obtained from a liquid hydrocarbon fuel, such as alcohol or other hydrocarbons. The liquid fuel is typically converted into hydrogen by a reforming process. The reservoir that is connected to the fuel cell has an indicia (19) that is readable by a human user of the portable electronic device, for measuring the amount of liquid hydrocarbon fuel that is present in the reservoir. Typically, the indicia consist of a sight glass, a capacitive element, a resistive element, a transparent portion of the reservoir, a float, or an acoustic transmitter coupled with an acoustic receiver.

Abstract: A device housing (20) for a portable electronic device (10) includes an outer visible surface (30). At least one portion (35) of the outer visible surface (30) is composed of one or more optical fibers (40). The one or more optical fibers (40) are illuminated using a light source coupled to at least one end of the one or more optical fibers (40) to provide decorative characteristics and operational functions.

Abstract: A fuel cell power source (100) for use in electronic systems includes a fuel cell system (130) and a control means (150). The control means (150) computes net power requirements of a load device from one or more power functional information sources; and determines an operating point of the fuel cell system (130) by matching the net power requirements with the power characteristics of the fuel cell system (130).

Abstract: A housing (12) for use in a portable electronic device (10) includes an outer visible surface (14). The outer visible surface (14) is composed of an appearance changing substance responsive to an environmental stimulus.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for measuring the quantity of hydrogen in a hydrogen storage vessel of a hydrogen fuel cell using the Pressure, Composition, Temperature (PCT) relationship of the storage media is disclosed. The method of measuring the quantity of hydrogen involves, measuring the temperature 310 of the hydrogen storage media at one or more points on the hydrogen storage vessel 300, measuring the mechanical strain 320 at one or more points on the hydrogen storage vessel, computing the pressure 330 inside the vessel based on the strain measurements, referring to a lookup table 340 or an equation representing the discharge PCT curve for the particular composition of the hydrogen storage media at the measured temperature and computing the hydrogen concentration at the measured pressure.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for temperature regulation of a fuel cell using differential heat capacity of the fuel storage media is disclosed. The method of regulating the temperature involves measuring the temperature of one or more fuel cells, comparing the temperature against target values, selecting a control method from a set of available control methods based on the result of comparison and using that control method to initiate and control a regulation cycle, and actuating a flow control means using the selected control method to alter the flow of fuel between one or more fuel storage containers, each containing fuel storage media which exhibit different enthalpies of formation and dissociation. The regulation process starts with measuring temperature (110) of a fuel cell system (100). The measured temperature is then compared (120) to a predetermined set of ideal target values designed to provide peak fuel cell performance.