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. 16, 2006
Filed:
Aug. 14, 2002
Peter Mardilovich, Corvallis, OR (US);
Gregory S Herman, Albany, OR (US);
David Champion, Lebanon, OR (US);
James O'neil, Corvallis, OR (US);
Peter Mardilovich, Corvallis, OR (US);
Gregory S Herman, Albany, OR (US);
David Champion, Lebanon, OR (US);
James O'Neil, Corvallis, OR (US);
Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P., Houston, TX (US);
Abstract
A fuel cell or battery has an integral multifunction heater element operable as an integral heater, an integral temperature sensor, and/or an integral aid to current collection from the fuel cell. The integral multifunction heater element is embedded within the electrolyte, anode, or cathode, disposed in thermal contact with at least one of the electrolyte, anode, or cathode, and is formed of a thin film of material of suitable resistivity, such as a refractory metal or conductive oxide, patterned in a suitable pattern. Conductive terminals provide electrical contact to the thin film. The integral multifunction heater element may include a thermistor or thermocouple. Methods are disclosed for fabricating and using the fuel cell with an integral multifunction heater element.