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:
May. 24, 2005
Filed:
May. 30, 2002
Applicants:
Nengyou Jia, Richmond, CA;
Benno Giesecke, Vancouver, CA;
Inventors:
Nengyou Jia, Richmond, CA;
Benno Giesecke, Vancouver, CA;
Assignee:
Ballard Power Systems Inc., Burnaby, CA;
Attorney:
Primary Examiner:
Assistant Examiner:
Int. Cl.
CPC ...
H01M008/00 ; H01M008/18 ; H01M002/14 ;
U.S. Cl.
CPC ...
Abstract
Certain fuel cells (e.g., solid polymer electrolyte fuel cells) may temporarily exhibit below normal performance after initial manufacture or after prolonged storage. While normal performance levels may be obtained after operating such fuel cells for a suitable time period, this process can take of order of days to fully complete. However, exposing the cathode to a reductant (e.g., hydrogen) can provide for normal performance levels without the need for a lengthy initial operating period.