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:
Oct. 19, 2010
Filed:
Dec. 15, 2005
Satoshi Mogi, Yamato, JP;
Masaaki Shibata, Tokyo, JP;
Satoshi Mogi, Yamato, JP;
Masaaki Shibata, Tokyo, JP;
Canon Kabushiki Kaisha, Tokyo, JP;
Abstract
A fuel cell apparatus includes a fuel cell stack of a plurality of fuel cells electrically connected in series with each other and a controller configured to control the fuel cell stack by using a part of electric power generated by the fuel cell stack. The controller is electrically connected in parallel with at least one of the fuel cells constituting the fuel cell stack, and short-circuit current of the at least one of the fuel cells is larger than that of at least one of the fuel cells constituting the fuel cell stack and not being electrically connected in parallel with the control means. With such a structure, a large electromotive force can be obtained by connecting the fuel cells in series and, simultaneously, the power generation characteristics of each fuel cell can be sufficiently utilized. Thus, the fuel cell apparatus having high power generation density can be provided.