US6140820A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Measuring cell voltages of a fuel cell stack
Assignee: Plug Power Inc
•
Filing: 1999-12-27
•
Granted: 2000-10-31
•
Expires: 2019-12-27
Abstract
Abstract A system that is usable with a stack of fuel cells that have cell terminals includes scanning units and a circuit. The scanning units are coupled to the stack and establish different groups of the fuel cells. Each scanning unit has a ground that is referenced to a different one of the cell terminals, and each scanning unit is adapted to measure the voltages of the fuel cells in an associated one of the groups and indicate the measured voltages. The circuit is adapted to communicate with the scanning units to receive the indicated voltages.
Inventors
- 👤 David E. James
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-07 14:02
CPC Classifications
G; G01; G01R; G01R19/00; G01R19/165; G01R19/16533; G01R19/16538; G01R19/16542; G01R31/00; G01R31/36; G01R31/3644; G01R31/3648; G01R31/382; G01R31/3835; G01R31/396
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 30
Claim 1
Independent Claim
79 words
A system usable with a stack of fuel cells that have cell terminals, comprising: scanning units coupled to the stack and establishing different groups of the fuel cells, each scanning unit having a ground referenced to a different one of the cell terminals and being adapted to measure the voltages of the fuel cells in an associated one of the groups and indicate the measured voltages; and a circuit adapted to receive the indicated voltages from the scanning units.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
79 words
A system usable with a stack of fuel cells that have cell terminals, comprising: scanning units coupled to the stack and establishing different groups of the fuel cells, each scanning unit having a ground referenced to a different one of the cell terminals and being adapted to measure the voltages of the fuel cells in an associated one of the groups and indicate the measured voltages; and a circuit adapted to receive the indicated voltages from the scanning units.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
16 words
The system of claim 1, wherein the circuit and the stack have a common ground connection.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
31 words
The system of claim 1, wherein the ground of at least one of the scanning units is connected to the cell terminal of one of the cells in the associated group.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
46 words
The system of claim 1, wherein at least one of the scanning units has an associated maximum input voltage that is less than the voltage of at least one of the terminals of the associated group with respect to a ground of the fuel cell stack.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
17 words
The system of claim 4, wherein the maximum input voltage is between approximately 16 to 30 volts.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
17 words
The system of claim 4, wherein the stack provides a voltage between approximately 90 and 150 volts.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
17 words
The system of claim 1, wherein the stack provides a voltage between approximately 90 and 150 volts.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
15 words
The system of claim 1, wherein the stack provides a voltage greater than 150 volts.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
42 words
The system of claim 1, further comprising: voltage regulators, each regulator providing power to at least one of the scanning units and having a ground in common with the ground associated with one of said at least one of the scanning units.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
50 words
The system of claim 1, wherein at least one of the scanning units comprises: a differential amplifier adapted to measure the voltages of the fuel cells in the associated group; and multiplexing circuitry to selectively couple the terminals of the fuel cells in the associated group to the differential amplifier.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
55 words
The system of claim 10, wherein said at least one of the scanning units further comprises: a processing unit adapted to operate the multiplexing circuitry to selectively couple the terminals of the fuel cells in the associated group to the differential amplifier and receive a signal from the differential amplifier indicative of the measured voltages.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
24 words
The system of claim 1, wherein at least one of the scanning units comprises: optical isolation circuitry to communicate the indication to the circuit.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
30 words
The system of claim 1, further comprising: a bus coupled between the scanning units and the circuit, the bus being used by the circuit to communicate with the scanning units.
Claim 15
Independent Claim
81 words
A system usable with a serially coupled array of voltage sources that have terminals, comprising: scanning units coupled to the array and establishing different groups of the voltage sources, each scanning unit having a ground referenced to a different one of the terminals and being adapted to measure the voltages of the voltage sources in an associated one of the groups and indicate the measured voltages; and a circuit adapted to communicate with the scanning units to receive the indicated voltages.
Claim 16
Independent Claim
81 words
A system usable with a serially coupled array of voltage sources that have terminals, comprising: scanning units coupled to the array and establishing different groups of the voltage sources, each scanning unit having a ground referenced to a different one of the terminals and being adapted to measure the voltages of the voltage sources in an associated one of the groups and indicate the measured voltages; and a circuit adapted to communicate with the scanning units to receive the indicated voltages.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
16 words
The system of claim 14, wherein the circuit and the array have a common ground connection.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
32 words
The system of claim 14, wherein the ground of at least one of the scanning units circuit is connected to the terminal of one of the voltage sources in the associated group.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
43 words
The system of claim 14, wherein at least one of the scanning units has an associated maximum input voltage that is less than the voltage of at least one of terminals of the associated group with respect to a ground of the array.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
13 words
The system of claim 14, wherein the array comprises a fuel cell stack.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
12 words
The system of claim 14, wherein the array comprises a battery bank.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
42 words
The system of claim 14, further comprising: voltage regulators, each regulator providing power to at least one of the scanning units and having a ground in common with the ground associated with one of said at least one of the scanning units.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
50 words
The system of claim 14, wherein at least one of the scanning units comprises: a differential amplifier adapted to measure the voltages of the voltage sources in the associated group; and multiplexing circuitry to selectively couple the terminals of the voltage sources in the associated group to the differential amplifier.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
55 words
The system of claim 21, wherein said at least one of the scanning units further comprises: a processing unit adapted to operate the multiplexing circuitry to selectively couple the terminals of the voltage sources in the associated group to the differential amplifier and receive a signal from the differential amplifier indicative of the measured voltages.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
24 words
The system of claim 14, wherein at least one of the scanning units comprises: optical isolation circuitry to communicate the indication to the circuit.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
30 words
The system of claim 14, further comprising: a bus coupled between the scanning units and the circuit, the bus being used by the circuit to communicate with the scanning units.
Claim 27
Independent Claim
52 words
A method usable with a stack of fuel cells, comprising: dividing the fuel cells into groups; establishing ground references at the different terminals of the cells, each ground reference being associated with one of the groups; and measuring the voltages of the fuel cells in each group using the associated ground reference.
Claim 28
Independent Claim
52 words
A method usable with a stack of fuel cells, comprising: dividing the fuel cells into groups; establishing ground references at the different terminals of the cells, each ground reference being associated with one of the groups; and measuring the voltages of the fuel cells in each group using the associated ground reference.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
34 words
The method of claim 25, wherein the ground reference that is associated with at least one of the scanning units is connected to the terminal of one of the cells in the associated group.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
21 words
The method of claim 25, wherein the measuring comprises: for each group, sequentially measuring the cell voltages one at a time.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2003-10-31 | 2004-05-01 | 2004-10-31 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2007-10-31 | 2008-05-01 | 2008-10-31 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2011-10-31 | 2012-05-01 | 2012-10-31 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |