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:
Jun. 01, 2004
Filed:
Jul. 26, 2001
William A. Fuglevand, Spokane, WA (US);
Relion, Inc., Spokane, WA (US);
Abstract
A fuel cell power system includes a fuel cell which has an optimal voltage; an energy storage device having a nominal voltage substantially similar to the optimal voltage of the fuel cell; and an electrical switch that, in operation, selectively electrically couples the fuel cell and the energy storage device to charge the energy storage device. A method includes providing a fuel cell having a nominal voltage; providing an energy storage device having a nominal voltage which is substantially similar to the nominal voltage of the fuel cell and electrically coupling the energy storage device to a load; and selectively electrically coupling the fuel cell to the energy storage device to substantially maintain the energy storage device above a predetermined voltage threshold.