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:
Nov. 17, 2015
Filed:
Jan. 04, 2013
Lilliputian Systems, Inc., Wilmington, MA (US);
Bradley C. Kaanta, Cambridge, MA (US);
Jacob P. Lipcon, Arlington, MA (US);
Alan P. Ludwiszewski, Andover, MA (US);
Other;
Abstract
A fuel cell system for providing power to a load, and having a safety mode, is disclosed. The system includes a fuel cell configured to convert fuel to electrical power and coupled so as to provide electrical power at a fuel cell power output, a system power port having a power connection and a data connection, configured to be reversibly coupled to the load, a power connection controller, coupled to the fuel cell power output and to the system power port, and configured to enable and disable the power connection, and a fuel cell system controller coupled to the fuel cell, the data connection and the power connection controller. The fuel cell system controller has a normal mode and a safety mode. A user selection determines whether the fuel cell system controller is in the normal mode or the safety mode. If the load has a smart power port, the data connection is configured to communicate over the smart power port. In the normal mode, the fuel cell system controller is configured to enable the power connection independent of the data connection. In the safety mode, the fuel cell system controller is configured to enable the power connection only when an approved communication is received over the data connection from the load. A related method for operating the fuel cell system is also disclosed.