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:
Dec. 13, 2016
Filed:
Mar. 15, 2012
Masaaki Matsusue, Mishima, JP;
Kotaro Ikeda, Susono, JP;
Yumi Inoue, Numazu, JP;
TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA, Toyota-Shi, JP;
Abstract
A fuel cell system according to the present invention comprises: a fuel cell including a membrane-electrode assembly in which electrodes, each having a catalyst layer, are arranged on both surfaces of a polymer electrolyte membrane; and a control apparatus which controls an output voltage of the fuel cell. If a target voltage of the fuel cell is set so as to be equal to or higher than a catalyst dissolution voltage at which a catalyst in the catalyst layer is dissolved and the amount of an oxide film formed on the catalyst layer is estimated to be less than a first predetermined amount, the control apparatus controls the output voltage of the fuel cell so as to be equal to an oxide film formation voltage, being lower than the catalyst dissolution voltage, until the amount of the oxide film is estimated to be equal to or greater than the first predetermined amount and then controls the output voltage so as to be equal to the target voltage.