The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Dec. 25, 2018
Filed:
Aug. 05, 2013
Ford Global Technologies, Llc, Dearborn, MI (US);
Hasdi R. Hashim, Ann Arbor, MI (US);
Craig Winfield Peterson, West Bloomfield, MI (US);
Raymond Anthony Spiteri, Rochester Hills, MI (US);
Ford Global Technologies, LLC, Dearborn, MI (US);
Abstract
An apparatus for heating a fuel cell stack in a cold start mode is provided. The apparatus comprises a fuel cell stack, a boost converter, and a controller. The fuel cell stack powers a vehicle. The boost converter includes a power switch that is thermally coupled to the fuel cell stack. The controller is configured to receive a signal indicative of a temperature during a vehicle startup and to compare the temperature to a predetermined temperature value. The controller is further configured to activate the power switch if the temperature is below the predetermined temperature value such that the power switch generates heat to apply to the fuel cell stack and generates a voltage for powering a power circuit to enable the vehicle to driveaway while the fuel cell stack receives the heat.