IP Library Granted Patent US 12,469,865
Granted Patent B2
US 12,469,865 · App. 17/893,551 · Granted Nov 11, 2025

Apparatus for fuel cell system

Inventor: Yong Hee Lee (Yongin-si, KR)
Assignees: HYUNDAI MOTOR COMPANY; Kia Corporation
H01M8/04753H01M8/04201H01M8/04373H01M8/04425
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,469,865
App. No.
17/893,551
Granted
Nov 11, 2025
Kind
B2
Abstract

Provided is an apparatus for a fuel cell system according to an embodiment, which is associated with a distributed control module for the fuel cell system, the apparatus including a master controller and at least one slave controller connected to the master controller.

Claims (41)

1 . An apparatus for a fuel cell system, the apparatus comprising:

a master controller;

at least one slave controller connected to the master controller; and

a fuel cell controller configured to transmit a control command regarding a corresponding hydrogen tank valve to the master controller,

wherein the at least one slave controller comprises a first slave controller and a second slave controller,

wherein the first slave controller is connected to a first hydrogen tank valve,

wherein the second slave controller is connected to a second hydrogen tank valve, and

wherein, when DTC (Diagnostic Trouble Code) of the at least one slave controller is not zero, the fuel cell controller is configured to transmit an alarm for checking hydrogen tanks or valves, connected to a slave controller having the DTC that is not zero.

2 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the at least one slave controller is connected to a valve connected to a corresponding hydrogen tank.

3 . The apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising:

a first hydrogen tank connected to the first hydrogen tank valve; and

a second hydrogen tank connected to the second hydrogen tank valve.

4 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the master controller comprises a master connector for connection to the at least one slave controller.

5 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the at least one slave controller comprises a slave connector for connection to the master controller.

6 . The apparatus of claim 5 , wherein the at least one slave controller further comprises a hydrogen tank valve connector for connection to a corresponding hydrogen tank valve.

7 . A control device for a fuel cell system, the control device comprising:

a master controller configured to manage the fuel cell system;

at least one slave controller configured to manage a fuel cell of the fuel cell system; and

a fuel cell controller configured to transmit a control command regarding a corresponding hydrogen tank valve to the master controller,

wherein the at least one slave controller is connected to the master controller,

wherein the at least one slave controller comprises a first slave controller and a second slave controller,

wherein the first slave controller is connected to a first hydrogen tank valve,

wherein the second slave controller is connected to a second hydrogen tank valve, and

wherein when DTC (Diagnostic Trouble Code) of the at least one slave controller is not zero, wherein the fuel cell controller configured is to transmit an alarm for checking hydrogen tanks or valves, connected to the slave controller having the DTC that is not zero.

8 . The control device of claim 7 , wherein the at least one slave controller manages a hydrogen tank or a valve connected to the hydrogen tank.

9 . The control device of claim 8 , wherein the at least one slave controller manages the valve or the hydrogen tank on the basis of temperature or pressure of the hydrogen tank.

10 . The control device of claim 8 , wherein the at least one slave controller transmits information about the valve or the hydrogen tank to the master controller.

11 . The control device of claim 10 , wherein the master controller manages the fuel cell system on the basis of the information about the valve or the hydrogen tank received from the at least one slave controller.

12 . A control method of a fuel cell system, the method comprising:

managing the fuel cell system using a master controller;

managing a fuel cell of the fuel cell system using at least one slave controller; and

transmitting an alarm for checking hydrogen tanks or valves, connected to at least one slave controller having DTC (Diagnostic Trouble Code) that is not zero using a fuel cell controller when the DTC of at least one slave controller is not zero,

wherein the at least one slave controller is connected to the master controller,

wherein the at least one slave controller comprises a first slave controller and a second slave controller,

wherein the first slave controller is connected to a first hydrogen tank valve, and

wherein the second slave controller is connected to a second hydrogen tank valve.

13 . The control method of claim 12 , wherein the managing of the fuel cell comprises managing a hydrogen tank or a valve connected to the hydrogen tank.

14 . The control method of claim 13 , wherein the managing of the fuel cell comprises managing the valve or the hydrogen tank on the basis of temperature or pressure of the hydrogen tank.

15 . The control method of claim 13 , wherein the managing of the fuel cell comprises transmitting information about the valve or the hydrogen tank to the master controller.

16 . The control method of claim 15 , wherein the managing of the fuel cell system comprises managing the fuel cell system on the basis of the information about the valve or the hydrogen tank received from the at least one slave controller.

17 . The control method of claim 13 , further comprising transmitting a control command about the valve to the master controller using the fuel cell controller.

Assignments (2)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Sep 24, 2024
From: HYUNDAI MOBIS CO., LTD.
To: HYUNDAI MOTOR COMPANY; KIA CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 068672/0692 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Aug 24, 2022
From: LEE, YONG HEE
To: HYUNDAI MOBIS CO., LTD.
Reel/Frame 060884/0448 →
Priority Claims (1)
KR 10-2022-0052468 · Apr 28, 2022 · national
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20230352710A1 · Nov 2, 2023
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