JP2004335331A - Apparatus equipped with fuel cell - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an apparatus equipped with a fuel cell capable of confirming the residual quantity of fuel regardless of the direction thereof. <P>SOLUTION: A lid 84 facing a fuel tank 12 is arranged on the front surface of a digital camera 10, and a fuel inspection window 86 and a water inspection window 88 are arranged at the lid 84, and the fuel tank 12 is a transparent container. By the above, the residual quantity of the fuel can be confirmed through the fuel inspection window 86, and the quantity of water as a by-product through the water inspection window 88. Since the fuel tank 12 is exposed on the surface and the whole part of the fuel tank 12 can be observed visually when the lid 84 is opened, residual quantity of the fuel and quantity of water can be confirmed regardless of the direction of the digital camera 10. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2005,JPO&NCIPI

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a fuel cell-equipped device that mounts a fuel cell.
[0002]
[Prior art]
Conventionally, a device equipped with a fuel cell has been devised (see, for example, Patent Document 1 or 2). In Patent Documents 1 and 2, means for detecting the remaining amount of fuel is disclosed, but both are complicated mechanisms and expensive.
[0003]
As a simple mechanism, it is conceivable to provide a gauge window in the device casing that allows the fuel to be directly observed. However, as shown in FIG. That is, when the camera 200 is turned vertically and the gauge window 202 as a gauge for checking the remaining amount of fuel is turned sideways, the liquid level of the fuel in the fuel tank 204 cannot be seen. Cannot be confirmed.
[0004]
[Patent Document 1]
JP-A-9-213359 [Patent Document 2]
Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2003-36879
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
The present invention has been made in consideration of the above-described facts, and an object thereof is to provide a configuration in which the remaining amount of fuel can be confirmed regardless of the orientation of the fuel cell-equipped device.
[0006]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
The fuel cell-equipped device according to claim 1, a transparent fuel tank that stores fuel, a fuel cell that is supplied with fuel from the fuel tank and generates electric power consumed by the device, and the fuel tank. A fuel peep lid for checking the remaining amount of fuel in the fuel tank, a fuel gauge window for checking the liquid level of the fuel provided on the fuel peep lid, It is characterized by having.
[0007]
In the fuel cell-equipped device according to the first aspect, the fuel stored in the fuel tank is supplied from the fuel tank to the fuel cell, and electric power consumed by the device is generated. Since the fuel tank is transparent and the stored fuel can be seen through, the liquid level of the fuel in the fuel tank can be confirmed from the fuel gauge window, and the remaining amount of fuel can be confirmed.
[0008]
Here, if the fuel cell-equipped device is a device with a non-constant orientation, such as a camera, depending on the orientation of the device and the remaining amount of fuel, the fuel level in the fuel tank cannot be seen from the fuel gauge window, and the remaining fuel The amount cannot be confirmed.
[0009]
However, the fuel gauge window is provided on a fuel peep lid that is openable and closable facing the fuel tank, and when the fuel peep lid is opened, the fuel tank is exposed to the surface. For this reason, the remaining amount of fuel can be confirmed regardless of the orientation of the device.
[0010]
The fuel cell-equipped device according to claim 2 is the fuel cell-equipped device according to claim 1, wherein the fuel cell-equipped device is provided facing the fuel peep lid and collects a by-product generated by the fuel cell. A transparent by-product tank; and a by-product gauge window provided on the fuel peep lid for confirming a liquid level of the by-product in the by-product tank. .
[0011]
In the fuel cell-equipped device according to the second aspect, the by-product generated by the fuel cell is collected in the by-product tank. The by-product tank is transparent, and the recovered by-product can be seen through, so the liquid level of the by-product in the by-product tank can be confirmed from the by-product gauge window, and the amount of by-product can be reduced. I can confirm.
[0012]
The by-product gauge window is provided in the by-product sight cover, and this by-product sight cover is provided so as to be openable and closable so as to face the by-product tank. The product tank is exposed on the surface. For this reason, the amount of by-products can be confirmed regardless of the orientation of the device and the amount of by-products.
[0013]
A fuel cell-equipped device according to a third aspect is the fuel cell-equipped device according to the first aspect, wherein a transparent by-product tank that collects a by-product generated by the fuel cell, and the by-product A by-product viewing lid for checking the amount of by-products in the by-product tank, and a by-product viewing lid provided to the product tank so as to be openable and closable. And a by-product gauge window for confirming the liquid level of the liquid.
[0014]
In the fuel cell-equipped device according to the third aspect, the fuel viewing lid and the byproduct viewing lid are provided separately. As a result, the degree of freedom of arrangement of the fuel sight cover and the by-product sight cover increases, and it can be applied to various devices.
[0015]
The fuel cell-equipped device according to claim 4 is the fuel cell-equipped device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the fuel sight lid or the byproduct sight lid is locked in a closed state; Control means for operating the lock means when the device is in a predetermined state.
[0016]
In the fuel cell-equipped device according to the fourth aspect, when the device is in a predetermined state such as during photographing, the control device activates the locking device, and the fuel viewing lid or the byproduct viewing lid is locked in the closed state. For this reason, it is possible to prevent the fuel sight cover or the by-product sight cover from being accidentally opened when it is not convenient to open the fuel sight cover or the by-product sight cover when the device is activated.
[0017]
A fuel cell-equipped device according to a fifth aspect is the fuel cell-equipped device according to the fourth aspect, wherein the control means activates the locking means during photographing.
[0018]
In the fuel cell-equipped device according to the fifth aspect, the lock means is actuated by the control means at the time of photographing, and the fuel sight cover or the byproduct sight cover is locked in the closed state. For this reason, for example, it can be prevented that an open fuel peep lid blocks the front of the lens and the subject is not photographed.
[0019]
The fuel cell-equipped device according to claim 6 is the fuel cell-equipped device according to claim 4 or 5, wherein the lock means includes a motor operated by the control means,
It has a lock shaft reciprocated by the motor, and a hook provided on the back surface of the fuel peep lid or the byproduct peep lid and engaged with the lock shaft.
[0020]
In the fuel cell-equipped device according to claim 6, the lock shaft is reciprocated by a motor operated by the control means, and engages with a hook provided on the back surface of the fuel sight cover or the byproduct sight cover, or Get out of the hook. When the lock shaft is engaged with the hook, the fuel peep lid or by-product peep lid is locked, and when the lock shaft is pulled out of the hook, the fuel peep lid or by-product peep lid can be opened and closed. .
[0021]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
A first embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.
[0022]
As shown in FIG. 1, in a digital camera 10 as a fuel cell-equipped device, a fuel tank 12 filled with an aqueous methanol solution (CH ₃ OH + H ₂ O) is inserted into a storage unit 14 provided in the digital camera 10 from above. Loaded. A methanol direct fuel cell (hereinafter referred to as a fuel cell) 16 that generates power by a chemical reaction between an aqueous methanol solution and oxygen (O ₂ ) and generates water (H ₂ O) as a by-product at the bottom of the storage unit 14. Is provided.
[0023]
The fuel tank 12 has a two-tank structure including a fuel storage unit 12A for storing fuel and a water recovery unit 12B for recovering water generated by the fuel cell 12. The fuel tank 12 and the fuel cell 16 are connected in a watertight state by fitting the fuel supply port 18 to the liquid supply port 20 and the water recovery port 22 to the drain port 24. The fuel is supplied from the fuel reservoir 12A to the fuel electrode (not shown) of the fuel cell 12 through the fuel supply port 18 and the liquid supply port 20, and the water is generated at the air electrode (not shown) of the fuel cell 12. The water is recovered into the water recovery unit 12B via the drain port 24 and the water recovery port 22.
[0024]
FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a circuit configuration of the digital camera 10 of the present embodiment.
[0025]
The digital camera 10 includes a photographic lens 26, a shutter 28, and a CCD image sensor 30. A subject image formed on the CCD image sensor 30 via the photographing lens 26 and the shutter 28 is converted into an analog image signal by the CCD image sensor 30. Here, the occurrence of smear when the analog image signal is read from the CCD image sensor 30 is suppressed by the shutter 28.
[0026]
The digital camera 10 also includes a flash device 32. The flash device 32 emits flash when low illuminance or when necessary other than low illuminance, and irradiates the subject with auxiliary light.
[0027]
The digital camera 10 also includes an analog signal processing unit 34, an A / D conversion unit 36, a digital signal processing unit 38, a temporary memory 40, a compression / decompression unit 42, a built-in memory (or memory card) 44, an image monitor 46, and A drive circuit 48 is provided.
[0028]
The CCD image pickup device 30 is driven at a timing generated by a timing generation circuit (not shown) in the drive circuit 48 and outputs an analog image signal. The drive circuit 48 also includes a drive circuit that drives the photographing lens 26, the shutter 28, and the like.
[0029]
The analog image signal output from the CCD image pickup device 30 is analog signal processed by the analog signal processing unit 34, A / D converted by the A / D conversion unit 36, and digital signal processed by the digital signal processing unit 38. . Digital image data that has undergone digital signal processing is temporarily stored in the temporary memory 40.
[0030]
The digital image data stored in the temporary memory 40 is compressed by the compression / decompression unit 42 and recorded in the built-in memory (or memory card) 44. Depending on the shooting mode, the compression process may be omitted and the recording may be performed directly in the built-in memory 44. Then, the digital image data stored in the temporary memory 40 is read out to the image monitor 46 and a subject image is displayed on the image monitor 46.
[0031]
The digital camera 10 also includes a CPU 50 that controls the entire digital camera 10, an operation switch group 52 including a zoom operation switch, and a shutter button 54. The operation switch group 52 is operated to set a desired shooting state, and when the shutter button 54 is pressed, a photograph is taken.
[0032]
Further, the digital camera 10 is provided with a secondary battery 51, a converter 53, and a fuel cell 16, and each part constituting the digital camera 10 is operated by electric energy buffered in the secondary battery 51. When the electric energy buffered in the secondary battery 51 is insufficient, the CPU 50 operates the converter 53 to generate power in the fuel cell 16. When electric energy is supplied from the fuel cell 16 and the charging of the secondary battery 51 is completed, the operation of the converter 53 is stopped and the power generation of the fuel cell 16 is stopped.
[0033]
As shown in FIG. 3, a finder 56, a finder LED 58, a shooting / playback mode selection switch 60, a shooting mode selection dial 62, a multi-function cross key 64, a camera operation mode and a cross key 64 are provided on the back of the digital camera 10. A dot matrix liquid crystal display 66 for displaying the above functions and the like with characters and icons, a back switch 68, a menu / OK switch 70, an image monitor 46, a speaker 72, and the like are provided.
[0034]
A power switch 74 and a shutter button 54 are provided on the top surface of the digital camera 10, and an audio / video (A / V) output terminal 76, a digital (USB) terminal 78, and a DC are provided on the side surface of the digital camera 10. An input terminal 80 is provided.
[0035]
The digital camera 10 can select a shooting mode or a playback mode by a shooting / playback mode selection switch 60. In the shooting mode, each mode of manual shooting, auto shooting, moving image, voice recorder, etc. can be selected by a shooting mode selection dial 62. Can be selected. The voice recorder is a mode for recording only sound. In addition, it has a voice memo function that can record audio after taking a still image.
[0036]
The image monitor 46 can be used as an electronic viewfinder and can display a reproduced image read from the built-in memory (or memory card) 44. The image monitor 46 also displays information such as the number of frames that can be shot and the number of playback frames, the presence / absence of flash emission, macro mode display, recording image quality (quality) display, pixel number display, and various menus. Displayed in response to the operation of the menu / OK button 70 or the cross key 64.
[0037]
As shown in FIG. 4, a slide-type lid 82 is provided on the upper surface of the digital camera 10 for taking the fuel tank 12 into and out of the storage unit 14. A lid 84 different from the lid 82 is provided, It is provided in front of the digital camera 10 so as to face the fuel tank 12. When the lid 84 is opened, the entire fuel tank 12 is exposed on the front surface of the digital camera 10.
[0038]
The lid 84 is provided with a fuel gauge window 86 facing the fuel storage part 12A of the fuel tank 12 and a by-product gauge window 88 facing the water recovery part 12B. The fuel gauge window 86 and the by-product gauge window 88 are elongated and transparent windows extending in the vertical direction when the digital camera 10 is in the horizontal direction (normal direction). The fuel tank 12 is a transparent container. For this reason, the remaining amount of fuel can be confirmed from the fuel gauge window 86, and the amount of water can be confirmed from the water removal window 88.
[0039]
However, as shown in FIG. 5, when the digital camera 10 is oriented vertically, the fuel level in the fuel storage section 12 </ b> A cannot be seen from the fuel gauge window 86, and the water recovery section from the byproduct gauge window 88. Since the liquid level of water in 12B becomes invisible, it becomes impossible to confirm the amount of fuel and water.
[0040]
For this reason, as shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, the lid 84 can be opened and closed so that the fuel and water can be seen from the fuel gauge window 86 and the by-product gauge window 88 to an invisible range. It has become. Therefore, regardless of the orientation of the digital camera 10, the remaining amount of fuel and the amount of collected water can be confirmed.
[0041]
Further, as shown in FIG. 8, a hinge 90 is provided at one end of the back surface of the lid 84, and a U-shaped hook 92 is provided at the other end. One end of the lock shaft 94 is inserted into the hook 92, and the lid 84 cannot be opened. The lock shaft 94 is supported so as to be movable in the extending direction of the lock shaft 94, and a rack 94 </ b> A is formed at the other end of the lock shaft 94. A motor 96 meshes with the rack 94A.
[0042]
Thus, when the motor 96 is operated, the lock shaft 94 enters and exits the hook 92, and the lid 84 is locked, or the lid 84 is unlocked and can be opened and closed as shown in FIG.
[0043]
The lid 84 is provided close to the photographing lens 26, and when the lid 84 is opened, the front surface of the photographing lens 26 is closed. For this reason, when the photographing mode is selected by the photographing / reproducing mode selection switch 60, the CPU 50 operates the motor 96 to insert the lock shaft 94 into the hook 92 so that the lid 84 is not opened. Thus, the lid 84 does not block the front of the photographing lens 26 during photographing. The lid 84 may be locked not only during photographing but also during charging.
[0044]
Next, a second embodiment will be described.
[0045]
As shown in FIGS. 10 and 11, a camera-equipped cellular phone (hereinafter, cellular phone) 100 including a camera 101 includes a fuel tank 102 filled with an aqueous methanol solution (CH ₃ COOH + H ₂ O). The storage unit 104 provided on the main body side 100A is loaded from above. A methanol direct fuel cell (hereinafter referred to as a fuel cell) 106 that generates power by a chemical reaction between an aqueous methanol solution and oxygen (O ₂ ) and generates water (H ₂ O) as a by-product at the bottom of the storage unit 104. Is provided.
[0046]
The fuel tank 102 and the fuel cell 106 are formed in a thin casing in accordance with the thin main body 100A. The fuel storage portion 102A of the fuel tank 102 and the fuel electrode 106A of the fuel cell 106 are provided facing one side surface of the main body 100A. The water recovery portion 102B of the fuel tank 102 and the air electrode 106B of the fuel cell 106 are It is provided facing the other side surface of 100A.
[0047]
Further, a lid 108 different from the lid 107 for taking the fuel tank 102 into and out of the storage unit 104 is provided on one side surface of the main body 100A so as to be openable and closable so as to face the fuel storage unit 102A. The lid 108 is provided with a fuel gauge window 110 serving as a gauge. The fuel gauge window 110 is a vertically long transparent window extending from the top to the bottom of the storage unit 104. Further, since the fuel tank 102 is a transparent container, the remaining amount of fuel in the fuel storage portion 102A can be confirmed from the fuel gauge window 110.
[0048]
When the lid 108 is opened, the entire fuel storage portion 102A is exposed on the surface, so that the remaining amount of fuel can be confirmed regardless of the orientation of the mobile phone 100. Further, a lid 112 and a by-product gauge window 114 are provided on the other side surface of the main body 100A so as to face the water recovery unit 102B so that the amount of water recovered in the water recovery unit 102B can be confirmed. It has become.
[0049]
In the present embodiment, the digital camera 10 and the camera-equipped mobile phone 100 have been described as examples. However, the present invention can also be applied to other devices such as an analog camera and a laptop computer.
[0050]
Although the methanol direct fuel cell has been described, the present invention can be applied to other types of fuel cells.
[0051]
【The invention's effect】
Since the present invention has the above configuration, the remaining amount of fuel can be confirmed regardless of the orientation of the fuel cell-equipped device.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a perspective view illustrating a digital camera according to a first embodiment.
FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a circuit configuration of the digital camera according to the first embodiment.
FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing the digital camera of the first embodiment.
FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing the digital camera of the first embodiment.
FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing the digital camera of the first embodiment.
FIG. 6 is a perspective view showing the digital camera of the first embodiment.
FIG. 7 is a perspective view showing the digital camera of the first embodiment.
FIG. 8 is a perspective view showing locking means of the digital camera of the first embodiment.
FIG. 9 is a perspective view showing locking means of the digital camera of the first embodiment.
FIG. 10 is a perspective view showing a camera-equipped mobile phone according to a second embodiment.
FIG. 11 is a perspective view showing a camera-equipped mobile phone according to a second embodiment.
FIG. 12 is a perspective view showing a camera-equipped mobile phone according to a second embodiment.
FIG. 13 is a plan view showing a digital camera equipped with a conventional fuel cell.
[Explanation of symbols]
10 Digital camera (equipment with fuel cell)
12 Fuel tank 12A Fuel reservoir (fuel tank)
12B Water recovery unit (by-product tank)
16 Fuel cell 50 CPU (control means)
84 Lid (Fuel Peeping Lid)
86 Fuel gauge window 88 By-product gauge window 92 Hook (locking means)
94 Lock shaft (locking means)
96 Motor (locking means)
100 Mobile phone with camera (equipment with fuel cell)
102 Fuel tank 102A Fuel storage part (fuel tank)
102B Water recovery unit (by-product tank)
106 Fuel Cell 108 Lid (Fuel Peeping Lid)
110 Fuel gauge window 112 Lid (Byproduct peep lid)
114 By-product gauge window

Claims (6)

A transparent fuel tank for storing fuel,
A fuel cell that is supplied with fuel from the fuel tank and generates electric power consumed by the device;
A fuel peep lid that is provided so as to be openable and closable facing the fuel tank, and for checking the remaining amount of fuel in the fuel tank;
A fuel gauge window provided on the fuel peep lid for checking the liquid level of the fuel;
A fuel cell-equipped device comprising: A transparent by-product tank that is provided facing the fuel peep lid and collects by-products generated in the fuel cell;
A by-product gauge window provided on the fuel peep lid for confirming the liquid level of the by-product in the by-product tank;
The fuel cell-equipped device according to claim 1, comprising: A transparent by-product tank that collects by-products generated in the fuel cell;
A by-product viewing lid for checking the amount of the by-product in the by-product tank provided to be openable and closable facing the by-product tank;
A by-product gauge window provided on the by-product viewing lid for confirming the liquid level of the by-product;
The fuel cell-equipped device according to claim 1, comprising: Lock means for locking the fuel peep lid or the byproduct peep lid in a closed state;
Control means for operating the locking means when the device is in a predetermined operating state;
4. The fuel cell-equipped device according to claim 1, wherein: The fuel cell-equipped device according to claim 4, wherein the control unit operates the lock unit during photographing. The locking means is
A motor operated by the control means;
A lock shaft reciprocated by the motor;
A hook provided on a back surface of the fuel peep lid or the by-product peep lid and engaged with the lock shaft;
The fuel cell-equipped device according to claim 4, wherein the device has a fuel cell.

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