David J Leach

US Patent:

6590370, Jul 8, 2003

Filed:

Oct 1, 2002

Appl. No.:

10/261823

Inventors:

David H. Leach - Albany NY

Assignee:

MTI MicroFuel Cells Inc. - Albany NY

International Classification:

G05F 500

US Classification:

323299, 320101

Abstract:

This invention presents a method and apparatus for controlling the operating point, i. e. the output voltage or current, of a fuel cell to a desired value, efficiently transferring the available fuel cell power to a rechargeable battery and load, and isolating the fuel cell from the battery and load. Active control of the operating point of the fuel cell allows for optimized power output and fuel cell efficiency. This invention uses feedback from the input to regulate the input voltage or current. The output of the DC-DC converter either charges the battery or helps the battery supply the load, and is maintained equal to the battery voltage as the output of the DC-DC converter is directly connected to the battery.

US Patent:

7306869, Dec 11, 2007

Filed:

Dec 2, 2003

Appl. No.:

10/726162

Inventors:

David H. Leach - Albany NY, US

Assignee:

MTI MicroFuel Cells Inc. - Albany NY

International Classification:

H01M 8/04

US Classification:

429 34, 429 23, 1376235

Abstract:

A wide-area electrostatically-actuated shutter is provided that includes a thin, flexible, diaphragm that is placed between two rigid electrode structures. In one embodiment of the invention, the diaphragm has a set of openings in it. These openings overlap with corresponding openings in one of the rigid electrodes such that when the diaphragm is contiguous to that electrode, the openings provide apertures through which vaporous fuel can flow. The opposite electrode does not have overlapping openings, thus it forms a seal that prevents gas or vapor from passing through it when the diaphragm is in contact with the opposite electrode. The shutter is actuated electrostatically by an associated driver that applies a voltage to the diaphragm such that when the high voltage is applied to the diaphragm, the diaphragm is attracted to the fixed electrode that is tied to ground. Alternatively, when is desired to place the shutter in the opposite position, the diaphragm is placed at ground, which, in turn, pulls it towards the fixed electrode that is at a high voltage, to adjust the shutter. The shutter can be rapidly opened and closed at a high frequency in a PWM mode or a PFM mode.

US Patent:

7745025, Jun 29, 2010

Filed:

Feb 14, 2006

Appl. No.:

11/353755

Inventors:

David H. Leach - Albany NY, US
Russel Marvin - Goshen CT, US

Assignee:

MTI Microfuel Cells Inc. - Albany NY

International Classification:

H01M 12/00
H01M 8/04
H01M 2/00
H01M 10/44
H02J 7/00
H02J 7/04

US Classification:

429 9, 429 22, 429 61, 429149, 320101, 320103, 320119, 320140

Abstract:

A power pack system for charging a set of isolated batteries is provided. In an illustrative embodiment of the invention, a single fuel cell, a single DC-DC converter and a single system controller device comprises the power-generation side of the power pack. A set of switches is used to connect the power-generation side of the Power pack to one of the isolated batteries in the power pack, thereby recharging that particular battery in the battery power pack set. A battery protection and powerpath control device communicates with the system controller to determine which switches are to be closed depending upon which battery requires recharging. During normal operation the switches will follow the direction from the system controller. If a fault is detected by the battery protection circuit, the protection circuit will take priority and turn off the appropriate switch(es).

US Patent:

20070285048, Dec 13, 2007

Filed:

Jun 12, 2006

Appl. No.:

11/451293

Inventors:

David H. Leach - Albany NY, US
Russel Marvin - Goshen CT, US
Peter S. Opela - Lake Worth FL, US

International Classification:

H02J 7/00
H01M 10/46
H01M 16/00

US Classification:

320101, 320107, 429 7

Abstract:

A fuel cell-based powerpack for use with an electronic device that requires multiple voltages is provided. The power pack includes an interface between a direct oxidation fuel cell and one or more rechargeable batteries coupled to supply power to the electronic application device. The interface is connected to receive the output of the fuel cell and includes one or more DC-DC converters that not only boost power to said one or more batteries, but are further coupled to the electronic device such that the fuel cell can be used to directly provide one or more subvoltages, at required voltage rails, directly to said electronic device. The output voltage can also be linearly regulated if needed in a particular application.