IP Library Granted Patent US 8,703,359
Granted Patent B2
US 8,703,359 · App. 12/667,181 · Granted Apr 22, 2014

Fuel cell and electronic device

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 8,703,359
App. No.
12/667,181
Granted
Apr 22, 2014
Kind
B2
Abstract

A fuel cell capable of being thinned while maintaining a stable electric power supply is provided. A fuel cell includes a power generation section, a fuel tank, a fuel supply section (pump), and a fuel vaporization section. The power generation section has a structure in which a combined body is sandwiched between a cell plate and a cell plate. The combined body has a structure in which an anode electrode and a cathode electrode are oppositely arranged with an electrolyte film in between. In particular, the fuel supply section and the fuel vaporization section are integrally provided, and are connected by a nozzle section buried therein. A fuel contained in the fuel tank is pumped by the fuel supply section according to the state of the power generation section, and then is vaporized by the fuel vaporization section, and is supplied to the power generation section side.

Claims (19)

1. A fuel cell comprising:

a power generation section in which a pair of electrodes are oppositely arranged with an electrolyte film in between;

a fuel tank containing a liquid fuel;

a fuel supply section supplying the liquid fuel from the fuel tank to the power generation section side, and being able to adjust a supply amount thereof; and

a fuel vaporization section vaporizing the liquid fuel supplied by the fuel supply section, wherein the fuel supply section and the fuel vaporization section are integrally provided by a first side of the fuel vaporization section being configured to vaporize the fuel and a second side of the fuel vaporization section, opposite the first side, defining a portion of a flow path in which the fuel supply section is disposed.

2. The fuel cell according to claim 1 , wherein the fuel supply section includes a piezoelectric body.

3. The fuel cell according to claim 1 , wherein a plurality of the power generation sections are arranged, and the power generation sections are electrically connected in series.

4. The fuel cell according to claim 3 wherein the flow path is configured to transport a fuel from the fuel supply section and the fuel vaporization section to the power generation section side, wherein the flow path is provided for each of the plurality of power generation sections.

5. The fuel cell according to claim 1 comprising:

a heat conductive member for connecting the fuel vaporization section and the power generation section side.

6. The fuel cell according to claim 1 , wherein a total of a thickness of the fuel supply section and a thickness of the fuel vaporization section is within 2 mm.

7. An electronic device including a fuel cell, wherein the fuel cell comprises:

a power generation section in which a pair of electrodes are oppositely arranged with an electrolyte film in between;

a fuel tank containing a liquid fuel;

a fuel supply section supplying the liquid fuel from the fuel tank to the power generation section side, and being able to adjust a supply amount thereof; and

a fuel vaporization section vaporizing the liquid fuel supplied by the fuel supply section, wherein the fuel supply section and the fuel vaporization section are integrally provided such that a side of the fuel vaporization section defines a portion of a flow path in which the fuel supply section is disposed.

8. The fuel cell according to claim 1 , further comprising a nozzle section integrally formed with the fuel vaporization section, the nozzle section being configured to eject fuel from the fuel supply section to the first side of the fuel vaporization section.

9. The fuel cell according to claim 1 , wherein the fuel vaporization section includes a plate that forms a side of the fuel flow path of the fuel supply section.

10. The fuel cell according to claim 1 , wherein a section of the flow path includes a first side that is defined by the second side of the fuel vaporization section and a second side that is defined by a membrane pump.

Assignments (3)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jan 22, 2018
From: TOHOKU MURATA MANUFACTURING CO., LTD
To: MURATA MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.
Reel/Frame 045103/0835 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jan 22, 2018
From: SONY CORPORATION
To: TOHOKU MURATA MANUFACTURING CO.,LTD
Reel/Frame 045104/0001 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Feb 16, 2010
From: FUKUSHIMA, KAZUAKI; GOTO, SHUJI; SHIMURA, JUSUKE
To: SONY CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 023942/0248 →