JP2005174774A - Camera and portable device using fuel cell - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a portable device using a fuel cell capable of surely operating retention and evacuation of water generated at the fuel cell with high portability and suitable for a small size camera or the like. <P>SOLUTION: A material with elasticity and capable of retaining moisture is fixed to a cover structured so as to be capable of taking in and out the fuel cell of the portable device, when the fuel cell is put into a camera, a water outlet of the fuel cell is structured to be pressed by the material. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2005,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to the structure of a battery chamber of a portable device such as a digital camera that uses a fuel cell as a power source.

  Recently, various portable devices using a fuel cell as a power source have been devised.

  In particular, for portable fuel cells, fuel cells have been devised that generate electricity while supplying organic fuel such as methanol directly to the anode. Since this does not require a reformer for reforming organic fuel such as methanol into hydrogen-rich reformed gas, it has a simple configuration and is expected as a power source for portable devices. The details of this type of fuel cell are described in Patent Document 1. This type of fuel cell (DMFC) will be briefly described. Usually, an organic fuel is supplied to the anode side and air is supplied to the cathode side, and the reaction occurs as shown in the following formula.

^{CH3OH + H2O → CO2 + 6H +} + 6e -
Then, protons (H ⁺ ) generated on the anode side pass through the solid polymer membrane as an electrolyte and move to the cathode side, and react with oxygen in the air as expressed by the following formula: O 2 + 4H ⁺ + 4e ⁻ → 2H2O
Carbon dioxide and water are generated simultaneously with power generation.

  Fuel cells not only have the advantage of being able to generate electricity simply by supplying fuel and oxidant, but they can also generate electricity continuously if the fuel is changed, and the secondary battery can be charged for several hours. If you think about it, it means that a new battery will be brought up almost instantly. It can be said that this system is extremely advantageous for the operation of portable devices with low power consumption.

  An example in which a fuel cell is used as a power source of a portable personal computer is described in Patent Document 2.

Patent Document 3 uses a fuel cell in a personal computer, and describes the structure of a water recovery device to protect the personal computer from water. Patent Document 4 describes the application of a fuel cell to a mobile phone. ing.
JP 2002-0568857 A JP 09-213359 A JP 2002-049440 A JP 2002-100376 A

  However, the conventional example has the following drawbacks.

  A fuel cell essentially generates water. For this reason, this water is vaporized or discharged to the outside. However, in a portable device such as a camera that is carried around, there is a risk that the water may enter the device and cause the device to break down.

  The said patent document 2 has a water holding means inside, and makes it hold water there. However, if it still does not catch up, there is a tank for water retention, and it describes the removal of the tank and the replacement of the water retention means.

However, in such a configuration, a space for the water retaining means and a space for the water retaining tank are necessary. If the size is about the size of a portable device or a personal computer, such a space can be secured even with the fuel cell configuration of such means. This is very difficult to take up in a camera or mobile phone. Further, although it is described that a large amount of air is blown by a fan in order to improve start-up characteristics at startup, nothing is described about a specific shape or configuration. Although it is a battery, it has a method of discharging purified water to the outside so as not to affect the computer, but because it uses a drain hose, it is not possible to use it for cameras and mobile phones. This method cannot be applied.

  Furthermore, Patent Document 4 is an application of a fuel cell to a mobile phone, but it is a configuration for accumulating fuel, and there is no description about a means for discharging water.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and can reliably retain and discharge water generated from a fuel cell, and can be used for a portable device using a fuel cell that is highly portable and suitable for a small camera or the like. The purpose is to provide.

  In order to solve the above problems, the present invention is configured as follows.

  The portable device according to claim 1 has a structure in which a fuel cell unit having a water discharge port is used as a power source for a camera or a portable device, and a battery chamber for inserting and removing the fuel cell and a lid for preventing the dropout are configured. Moisture discharged from the water discharge port is configured by fixing an elastic material with many holes, such as malt plain, to the lid and pressing the battery unit from the water discharge port side of the battery to the inner side of the battery chamber. The water is retained by the malt plane to prevent water from flowing into the portable device. By configuring the power contact of the fuel cell unit on the surface opposite to the water discharge port, the malt plane also serves to prevent contact failure by pressing the section of the portable device against the contact of the battery unit. In addition, the battery unit is pressed against the malt plane to prevent the battery from rattling in the battery chamber due to vibration or the like.

  In addition, the portable device according to claim 2 prevents the water retained by the malt plane from flowing to a place other than the battery lid by providing a protrusion on the rib around the malt plane attached to the battery lid. It is out.

  Further, the portable device according to claim 3 is different from the portable device according to claim 1 in that vaporized water such as a malt plane holding water discharged from the battery unit passes outside the portable device. Thus, a hole is made in the lid of the battery. In addition, a functional membrane is attached to the hole of the battery lid to prevent water droplets and dust entering from the outside. However, this functional film has a structure such that, for example, Gore-Tex passes humidity and does not pass water drops, water, and dust.

  According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a portable device having a structure in which a fuel cell unit having a water discharge port is used as a power source for a camera or a portable device, and a battery chamber for inserting and removing the fuel cell and a lid for preventing the dropout are configured. By fixing an elastic substance such as a ring-shaped rubber to the lid, and pressing the battery unit from the water outlet side of the battery to the inner side of the battery chamber, moisture discharged from the water outlet can be reduced. The rubber compressed by the battery unit and the battery lid prevents the water from flowing into the portable device as a sealed space. By configuring the power contact of the fuel cell unit on the surface opposite to the water discharge port, the elastic member (rubber) on the circumference serves to press the section of the portable device against the contact of the battery unit and prevent contact failure Also plays. In addition, the battery unit is pressed against the rubber to prevent the battery from rattling in the battery chamber due to vibration or the like.

  Further, the portable device according to claim 5 is different from the portable device according to claim 4 in that water vaporized in a space such as rubber storing water discharged from the battery unit passes outside the portable device. Thus, a hole is made in the lid of the battery.

  In addition, the portable device according to claim 6 is configured not to send the air necessary for the battery but also to warm the air that is warmed on the outer periphery of the battery. The moisture absorbed by the malt plain and the like is not only dried quickly, but is also configured to be exposed to the outside, so humidity does not accumulate in the battery chamber, Short circuit due to humidity is eliminated.

  According to another aspect of the present invention, the portable device generates power by cutting the wind blown by the fan diagonally at the wall of the battery chamber body, bending the wind, and constantly applying fresh air to the air intake of the fuel cell. It is configured to be promoted.

  According to the present invention, in the portable device according to claim 1, a material capable of retaining moisture such as malt plain is fixed to the battery lid, and thus the water discharge port of the battery is suppressed and the battery is pressed to the opposite side. The contact of the contacts is stable, and it also prevents the content of water that has oozed out from the water outlet into the camera or portable device.

  Furthermore, in claim 2, by attaching a rib around the malt plane of the battery cover to which the malt plane is attached, the water retained by the malt plane does not fall outside the cover even when the camera is inclined. It becomes like this.

  Further, according to claim 3, a hole is made in the malt plane part of the battery lid to which the malt plane is pasted, and a functional film that allows moisture and air to pass but does not allow water droplets and water to pass is pasted so that the humidity is smooth. Get out of the mobile device.

  Further, in the portable device according to claim 4, it is possible to attach a ring-shaped rubber to the battery cover, create a substantially sealed space with the battery cover, the rubber and the battery, and store the discharged water therein. .

  According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, a hole is formed in the battery lid so that moisture is discharged only outside. Therefore, naturally, a functional film is attached so that extra moisture, water, and dust do not enter from the outside.

  In the sixth aspect of the present invention, since the motor and the fan are attached so that the discharged water is vaporized and discharged outside, air can be blown into the battery and the battery chamber.

  Further, according to the seventh aspect of the present invention, an effect is provided in which a large amount of air that is absolutely necessary for the fuel cell is efficiently applied to the fuel cell by forming a wall that reflects oblique air on a part of the wall of the main body. I was able to get it.

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

  Examples of the present invention will be described below.

  Below, the 1st Example of this invention is described based on FIGS. 1-3. Further, since the details of the configuration of the fuel cell for portable devices are described in the above-mentioned Patent Documents 1 and 2, etc., description in this embodiment is omitted. In the present embodiment, a camera is illustrated as a portable device, but the present invention is not limited to this.

  1, 1 is a camera body, 2 is a lens, 3 is a viewfinder, 4 is a strobe, 5 is a release button, 6 is a display, 7 is a recording medium insertion lid, 10 is a battery lid, 50 is a fuel cell, 51 and 52 Is a terminal, and 53 is an air supply unit.

  FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the battery chamber, wherein 1a is a battery chamber, and 10a is configured to surround the malt plane 12 with ribs protruding from the battery lid 10. FIG. Further, the rib 10a is formed with a gap 10b between the rib 10a and the malt plane when no battery is inserted. 11 is a hole. Reference numeral 13 denotes a functional film, and this material allows air and humidity to pass through but does not allow water droplets or water to pass through. Reference numerals 21 and 22 denote power supply terminals, which are provided with codes 23 and 24, and are attached to a substrate (not shown).

  FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view when a fuel cell is inserted into the battery chamber 1a and the battery lid 10 is closed. By closing the battery cover 10, the malt plane 12 is pushed by the battery and deforms and spreads laterally. It deform | transforms so that the clearance gap 10b of the malt plane 12 and the rib 10a of the lid | cover 10 may be filled up as shown in the figure. At this time, the water discharge port 54 of the fuel cell is closely attached to the malt plane 12. The power supply terminals 51 and 52 on the upper surface of the battery 50 are in pressure contact with the terminals 21 and 22 on the main body side and are pressed from below by the malt plane 12. Moisture discharged from the water discharge port 54 of the battery 50 soaks into the malt plane 12. Although the water soaked here accumulates below, the ribs 10a are all around the lid, so that the water does not go outside. Further, the soaked water dries and evaporates in the meantime, and meets the functional film 13 and the hole 11 and is dispersed in the air.

  Next, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG.

  Reference numeral 1 denotes a camera body, 1a denotes a battery compartment, 10 denotes a battery cover, 11 denotes a hole, and a functional film 13 through which air and humidity pass but cannot pass water drops and water is attached. An elastic member 15 such as rubber having a spherical shape presses the battery 50 upward, and the rubber is deformed. Therefore, even if water comes out from the water discharge port 54 of the battery, it accumulates in a space surrounded by the battery lid 10, the elastic material 15, and the battery 50. When this water evaporates, it goes out of the functional film 13. The upper terminals 51 and 52 of the battery are in pressure contact with the terminals 21 and 22 on the main body side. Therefore, even if water is discharged from the fuel cell, there is no adverse effect on the camera.

  A third embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG.

  Reference numeral 201 denotes a camera body. 201b is a hole, 251 is a motor, and a fan 252 is attached to the end. By rotating, air is blown into the battery chamber from the hole 201b of the main body. This blown air is sent to the bottom by sewing the gap between the battery and the battery chamber.

  Air also escapes from between the battery chamber and the battery lid through a route such as M1 to M9, and from the hole 211 attached to the battery lid through the malt plane attached to the battery lid.

  As a result, the moisture in the malt plane 12 is promoted to vaporize. Also, high humidity air in the battery compartment is released. Further, a part of the air blows against the slanted wall 201c in the battery chamber and becomes an air flow M10, M11 so that fresh air hits the air intake 53 of the fuel cell.

1 is a perspective view showing a mobile device according to a first embodiment of the present invention. It is principal part sectional drawing of the 1st Example which concerns on this invention. It is principal part sectional drawing at the time of inserting the fuel cell of 1st Example which concerns on this invention. It is principal part sectional drawing of the portable apparatus of 2nd Example which concerns on this invention. It is principal part sectional drawing of the portable apparatus of the 3rd Example concerning this invention.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Camera body 2 Lens 3 Finder 5 Release button 50 Fuel cell 51, 52 Power supply terminal 53 Air intake port 54 Water discharge port 10 Battery cover 11 Hole 12 Malt plane 13 Functional film 21, 22 Power supply terminal 15 Rubber packing 251 Motor 252 Fan

Claims (7)

  In a portable device using a fuel cell having a water discharge port, an elastic and water-retaining substance is fixed to a lid configured to take in and out the fuel cell in the portable device, and the fuel cell is A portable device configured to press the water discharge port of the fuel cell with the substance when loaded in a camera.   The portable device according to claim 1, wherein a protrusion-like wall is formed around the substance capable of retaining moisture in the lid.   2. The camera and portable device using a fuel cell according to claim 1, wherein the lid is configured to allow humidity to pass therethrough.   In a portable device using a fuel cell having a water discharge port, an elastic member is configured so as to substantially surround the water discharge port in a lid configured to insert and remove the fuel cell of the portable device, and the substance A portable device characterized in that the water discharge port side of the fuel cell is pressed on the side.   5. The camera and portable device using a fuel cell according to claim 4, wherein the lid is configured to allow humidity to pass therethrough.   A portable device such as a camera using a fuel cell having a water discharge port, wherein a device for blowing air is provided in a space in which the fuel cell is stored.   A portable device such as a camera using a fuel cell is equipped with a device for blowing air in a space in which the fuel cell is stored, and a part of the wall in the battery chamber to be blown is formed obliquely, and air is blown into the air intake port of the battery. A portable device characterized by being configured to hit.

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