JP2007109442A - Portable equipment, fuel replenishing pack, and tripod - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide small portable equipment driven by a fuel cell of a power source and allowing continuous use without making the power source off, and to provide a fuel replenishing pack used for it and a tripod. <P>SOLUTION: The fuel cell 23 is exposed from the back surface of a camera body 11, and a replenishing hole 24 is installed in the exposed part on the top of the fuel cell 23. The replenishing hole 24 is connected to a cell body 25 through a check valve 28. The fuel replenishing pack 30 has a supply hole 33 for supplying fuel installed on the top of a pack body 31, and the supply hole 33 is connected to a tank 32 through a check valve 34. A pipe 35 is installed in the bottom of the pack body 31. By inserting the pipe 35 into the replenishing hole 24 and connecting to the check valve 28, the fuel replenishing pack 30 is connected to the fuel cell 23. By connecting the pipe 35 to the supply hole 33, the pack bodies 11 are connected each other. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2007,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a portable device driven by using a fuel cell as a power source, a fuel supply pack for supplying fuel to the fuel cell, and a tripod.

  In recent years, rechargeable secondary batteries have been used in mobile devices such as mobile phones, notebook computers, and digital cameras. In addition, such a portable device is very inconvenient because it cannot be used immediately if the battery runs out during outdoor use.

As a mobile phone that solves the above-described problem, a battery that can be replaced without stopping the power during a call or without turning off the power even during standby is known (see, for example, Patent Document 1). This mobile phone is equipped with two batteries. When one battery voltage drops, it is used by switching to the other battery and replacing one battery while using the other battery. , Enabling continuous use.
JP-A-7-283775

  However, in the mobile phone described in Patent Document 1, it is necessary to provide two batteries, and there is a problem that the apparatus becomes large.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and provides a small portable device that is driven using a fuel cell as a power source and can be used continuously without turning off the power source, a fuel supply pack used therefor, and a tripod. For the purpose.

    In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, the portable device of the present invention is a portable device driven by using a fuel cell as a power source, and the fuel cell is exposed to the outside of the device main body and has a replenishment hole for replenishing fuel. And a check valve for preventing the fuel from flowing out from the supply hole.

  The fuel supply pack of the present invention is a fuel supply pack for supplying fuel to the fuel cell of the portable device, a pipe for supplying the fuel to the fuel cell, a supply hole to which the fuel is supplied, A check valve that prevents the fuel supplied from the supply hole from flowing out of the pack body, and the pack bodies are connected by inserting the pipe into a supply hole of another pack body. It is characterized by this.

  The pipe is disposed on a lower surface of the pack body, the supply hole is disposed on an upper surface of the pack body, and the pack body is connected in series vertically upward with respect to the fuel cell. preferable.

  Moreover, an electric pump that sends the fuel to the pack body or the fuel cell on the downstream side may be provided, and the electric pump is preferably supplied with power from the fuel cell.

  Furthermore, the portable device of the present invention is a portable device including a fuel cell that is replenished with the fuel replenishment pack, and includes a remaining amount detecting unit that detects a remaining amount of the fuel cell and the remaining amount detecting unit. Display means for displaying the detected remaining amount, and connection detection means for detecting that the fuel supply pack is connected to the fuel cell, and when the connection is detected by the connection detection means, the remaining The remaining amount obtained by subtracting the fuel consumed by the electric pump from the remaining amount detected by the amount detecting means is displayed on the display hand.

  Also, a tripod to which a camera driven by a fuel cell as a power source is attached, and one end is inserted into a fixing screw for fixing the camera to the pan head, and the camera is placed on the pan head by the fixing screw. When fixed, the pipe connected to the fuel cell, the other end of the pipe is connected, the fuel storage cell filled with fuel of the fuel cell, and the pipe are provided in the fuel supply pack. And a pump for delivering fuel toward the fuel cell.

  Moreover, it is preferable that the said pump is a manual pump driven by the adjustment lever operated when adjusting the height of the said pan head.

  According to the fuel cell of the present invention, the replenishment hole for replenishing the fuel does not turn off the power of the portable device driven by the fuel cell as a power source, and the fuel cell is supplied with the fuel while the power is on. It can be replenished and the portable device can be used continuously. Further, since it is not necessary to provide a spare fuel cell in order to enable continuous use, the portable device can be reduced in size.

  According to the fuel supply pack of the present invention, a plurality of fuel supply packs can be connected to each other, and even if the fuel in the downstream fuel supply pack is exhausted, the fuel in the upstream fuel supply pack is supplied to the fuel cell. Since the fuel is supplied sequentially, it is not necessary to reconnect the fuel supply pack, so that the labor required for the connection work can be omitted, which is convenient for supplying a large amount of fuel.

  Also, by arranging a pipe on the lower surface of the pack body and arranging a supply hole on the upper surface of the pack body, the fuel flows down to the downstream pack body or the fuel cell by gravity, so a pump or the like is not necessary. The manufacturing cost of the fuel supply pack can be reduced.

  Since the electric pump that sends the fuel to the downstream pack body or the fuel cell is provided, the degree of freedom in the connecting direction of the fuel supply pack is increased as compared with the case where the fuel is caused to flow down by gravity. Further, since the electric pump is supplied with power from the fuel cell, the pack body does not increase in size.

  According to the portable device of the present invention, when the refueling pack is connected, the remaining amount after subtracting the fuel consumed by the electric pump is displayed on the display means. Can be prevented.

  According to the tripod of the present invention, when the camera is attached to the tripod, the fuel cell provided in the camera can be refueled, and the camera body can be enlarged without turning off the power of the camera. Without using the camera, the camera can be used continuously.

  In addition, since the manual pump is driven by an adjustment lever that is operated when adjusting the height of the pan head, it is not necessary to provide a power source or a new operation member on the tripod, thereby reducing the manufacturing cost of the tripod. be able to.

  A digital camera 10 shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 is provided with a photographing lens 12, an objective finder window 13, and a strobe light emitting unit 14 on the front surface of a substantially rectangular parallelepiped camera body 11. In addition, an eyepiece finder window 15 and an LCD 16 serving as a display means for displaying an image are provided on the back surface of the camera body 11.

  A shutter button 17 and a power button 18 are provided on the upper surface of the camera body 11. Further, a slot 21 in which a memory card for storing image data is detachably loaded is provided on the right side surface of the camera body 11.

  The digital camera 10 is driven with the fuel cell 23 as a power source, and a part of the fuel cell 23 is exposed on the back surface of the camera body 11. As the fuel cell 23, for example, a direct methanol fuel cell is used. This direct methanol fuel cell is mainly used in a portable device, generates electricity using a mixture of water and methanol as fuel, and discharges water and carbon dioxide.

  The fuel cell 23 has a substantially rectangular parallelepiped shape, and a replenishment hole 24 for replenishing fuel (a mixture of water and methanol) is provided in an exposed portion of the upper surface. Fuel is supplied from a fuel supply pack, which will be described later, through the supply hole 24 described above.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 3, the fuel cell 23 is provided with a battery main body 25 for generating electric power and a water recovery tank 26 for storing water generated in the battery main body 25. 27. The replenishment hole 24 is connected to the battery body 25 through a check valve 28.

  Next, the configuration of the fuel supply pack 30 according to the first embodiment will be described. As shown in FIG. 4, a tank 32 filled with fuel is provided in a pack body 31 having a substantially rectangular parallelepiped shape. A supply hole 33 is provided on the upper surface of the pack body 31, and the supply hole 33 is connected to the tank 32 via a check valve 34.

  On the lower surface, one end of a pipe 35 for sending fuel to another fuel supply pack 30 or the fuel cell 23 is provided so as to protrude, and the other end is connected to the tank 32. The pipe 35 is provided with an opening / closing valve 36, which is opened and closed by operating a handle (not shown). A pipe 35 of another fuel supply pack 30 is inserted into the aforementioned supply hole 33 and connected to the check valve 28. The check valve 28 prevents the fuel in the tank 32 from flowing out of the pack body 31.

  Next, the operation of the fuel supply pack 30 configured as described above will be described. When fuel is supplied to the fuel cell 23 using the fuel supply pack 30, the fuel supply pack 30 is placed on the upper surface of the fuel cell 23 so that the pipe 35 is inserted into the supply hole 24 as shown in FIG. Install. At this time, the tip of the pipe 35 is connected to the check valve 28.

  As a result, fuel can be supplied from the fuel supply pack 30 to the fuel cell 23. By opening the opening / closing valve 36, the fuel filled in the tank 32 moves vertically downward by gravity, and the pipe 35 and the reverse The fuel is supplied by being sent to the tank in the battery body 25 through the stop valve 28.

  Therefore, it is possible to refuel without turning off the power of the digital camera 10, and it is possible to refuel even when the digital camera 10 is being used.

  Further, another fuel supply pack 30 is installed on the upper surface of the fuel supply pack 30 so that the pipe 35 is inserted into the supply hole 33. At this time, the tip of the pipe 35 is connected to the check valve 34. As described above, when the fuel supply pack 30 is connected in the vertical direction (vertical direction), the fuel moves from the upper side to the lower fuel supply pack 30 by gravity, and the fuel cell 23 is supplied with fuel.

  When a plurality of fuel supply packs 30 are connected in the vertical direction, even if there is no fuel in the fuel supply pack 30 disposed below, the fuel in the fuel supply pack 30 disposed above is sequentially supplied to the fuel cell 23. In addition, since it is not necessary to reconnect the fuel supply pack 30, it is possible to save the labor required for the connection work. This is convenient for replenishing a large amount of fuel.

  Next, the configuration of the fuel supply pack 40 according to the second embodiment will be described. As shown in FIG. 6, the fuel supply pack 40 is provided with an electric pump 42 in the pack body 41. The electric pump 42 is disposed above the tank 32 and is connected to the tank 32 via a pipe 43. Further, the electric pump 42 is connected to a pipe 44 for sending fuel to the outside of the pack body 41. The pipe 44 protrudes from the upper surface of the pack body 41, is connected to another fuel supply pack 40 or the fuel cell 23, and sends fuel to them. The other configuration is the same as that of the fuel supply pack 30, and the same parts are denoted by the same reference numerals and detailed description thereof is omitted.

  Next, the operation of the fuel supply pack 40 having the above configuration will be described. As shown in FIG. 7, when fuel is supplied to the fuel cell 23 using the fuel supply pack 40, the fuel supply pack 40 contacts the back surface of the fuel cell 23 so that the pipe 44 is inserted into the supply hole 33. Let At this time, a contact (see FIG. 8) 45 provided in the fuel cell 23 and a contact (see FIG. 8) 46 provided in the fuel supply pack 40 are electrically connected, and the fuel cell 23 is connected to the electric pump 42. On the other hand, power is supplied and the electric pump 42 is driven.

  The fuel in the tank 32 is sent to the fuel cell 23 via the pipes 43 and 44 by the electric pump 42, and the fuel is replenished to the tank in the battery body 25. As described above, when the electric pump is provided in the fuel supply pack 40, electric power for driving the electric pump is required. However, the direction of connection is more than in the case of supplying fuel by gravity as in the fuel supply pack 30. The position of the supply hole 24 of the fuel cell 23 can be changed as appropriate.

  Further, since the fuel supply pack 40 supplies fuel to the fuel cell 23 using the electric pump 42, the power supply of the digital camera 10 is prevented from being turned off due to power shortage while the electric pump 42 is being driven. There is a need. For this reason, on the LCD 16 of the digital camera 10, a value in anticipation of the power consumed by the electric pump 42 is displayed as the remaining battery level. Hereinafter, the electrical configuration of the digital camera 10 will be described with reference to FIG.

  The digital camera 10 includes a CPU 50 that is a control unit that controls the entire camera. The imaging unit 51 includes a CCD image sensor, a CDS (correlated double sampling circuit), an AMP, an A / D converter, and the like. The CPU 50 acquires image data by controlling the imaging unit 51.

  In addition, a media controller 52, an LCD driver 53, and a remaining amount detection unit 54 are connected to the CPU 50. The media controller 52 is controlled by the CPU 50 and reads / writes image data from / to the memory card 55. The LCD driver 53 is controlled by the CPU 50 and causes the LCD 16 to display an image, various setting screens, and the like. Further, the remaining amount detection unit 54 detects the remaining amount of the fuel cell 23 and outputs the detected value to the CPU 50.

  In addition, a connection detector 57 that detects that the fuel supply pack 40 is connected is provided in the fuel cell 23. The connection detection unit 57 detects that the contact 45 and the contact 46 are connected, and outputs a detection signal to the CPU 50.

  Based on the detection value acquired from the remaining amount detecting unit 54, the CPU 50 displays a remaining amount display mark 58 indicating the remaining amount of the fuel cell 23 on the LCD 16, as shown in FIG. Further, when the CPU 50 acquires the detection signal from the connection detection unit 57, the CPU 50 calculates not only the detection value acquired from the remaining amount detection unit 54 but also a value obtained by subtracting the power consumed by the electric pump 42 from the detection value. The remaining amount display mark 58 is displayed on the LCD 16 with this value as the remaining amount of the fuel 23.

  As described above, since the value obtained by subtracting the power consumed by the electric pump 42 is displayed as the remaining amount, it is possible to prevent the digital camera 10 from being turned off due to power shortage while the electric pump 42 is being driven.

  Next, a tripod capable of supplying fuel to the fuel cell 23 will be described. As shown in FIG. 9, the tripod 60 includes a main body 61, three legs 62 a to 62 c, a column 63, a pan head 64, a fixing screw 65, a fuel storage cell 66, and the fuel storage cell 66. And a tube 67 for supplying fuel to the fuel cell 71 in the digital camera 70.

  The three legs 62a to 62c are attached to the main body 61, and the main body 61 is supported by these legs 62a to 62c. The column 63 has a pan head 64 attached to the top thereof, and is held by the main body 61 so as to be movable in the vertical direction. The column 63 moves in the vertical direction by rotating the height variable lever 68.

  A digital camera 70 is installed on the camera platform 64 and is fixed by screwing a fixing screw 65 into a screw hole 72 formed on the lower surface of the digital camera 70. The fuel storage cell 66 is filled with fuel (for example, a mixture of methanol and water) used by a fuel cell 71 provided in the digital camera 70, and is detachably fixed to the main body 61. The tube 67 is inserted into the support column 63, one end is connected to the fuel storage cell 66, and the other end is inserted into the fixing screw 65 and protrudes from the tip of the fixing screw 65.

  Further, a manual pump 69 is provided in the main body 61, and this manual pump 69 is connected to a tube 67 as shown in FIG. The manual pump 69 is driven by rotating the variable height lever 68, and the fuel in the fuel storage cell 66 flows through the pipe 67 and is delivered toward the tip of the fixing screw 65.

  As described above, the fuel cell 71 is provided in the digital camera 70. The fuel cell 71 is a direct methanol fuel cell similar to the fuel cell 23 described above, and includes a battery main body 73 and a water recovery cartridge 74. The water generated in the battery main body 73 flows in through the pipe 75 and is stored in the water recovery cartridge 74.

  A replenishment hole 76 for replenishing fuel to a tank in the battery main body 73 is provided on the lower surface of the fuel cell 71. The supply hole 76 is connected to the battery main body 73 through a check valve 77.

  Next, the operation of the tripod 60 having the above configuration will be described. After the digital camera 70 is installed on the camera platform, the camera body 71 is fixed on the camera platform 64 by screwing a fixing screw 65 into a screw hole 72 provided on the lower surface of the camera body 71.

  At this time, the tube 67 is inserted into the supply hole 73 and the tip of the tube 67 is connected to the check valve 77. Thereafter, by rotating the height variable lever 68, the manual pump 69 is driven, and the fuel in the fuel storage cell 66 flows through the tube 67 and is replenished to the battery body 73 as shown in FIG.

  In the above embodiment, the case where a mixture of water and methanol is filled in the fuel supply pack and the fuel storage cell as an example has been described. However, the present invention is not limited to this and corresponds to the fuel of the fuel cell. The type of fuel to be filled in the fuel supply pack and the fuel storage cell may be changed.

  In the above-described embodiment, the case where the fuel cell provided in the digital camera is replenished with fuel has been described as an example. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and any portable device that is driven using the fuel cell as a power source may be used.

It is a perspective view which shows the structure of the front side of a digital camera. It is a perspective view which shows the structure of the back side of a digital camera. It is a side view which shows the structure of a fuel cell. It is a side view which shows the structure of the fuel supply pack which sends out a fuel by gravity. It is a side view which shows the effect | action of the fuel supply pack which sends out a fuel by gravity. It is a side view which shows the structure of the fuel supply pack which sends out fuel with an electric pump. It is a side view which shows the effect | action of the fuel supply pack which sends out fuel with an electric pump. It is a block diagram which shows the electric constitution of a digital camera. It is a side view which shows the structure of a tripod. It is explanatory drawing which shows the effect | action of a tripod.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10,70 Digital camera 11 Camera main body 23,71 Fuel cell 24,76 Supply hole 28,34,77 Check valve 30,40 Fuel supply pack 31,41 Pack body 33 Supply hole 35,44,67 Pipe 42 Electric pump 60 Tripod 66 Fuel storage cell 68 Height variable lever 69 Manual pump

Claims (8)

In portable devices driven by a fuel cell as a power source,
The fuel cell includes a replenishment hole that is exposed to the outside of the device body and replenishes fuel, and a check valve that prevents the fuel from flowing out of the replenishment hole. Portable device. In the fuel supply pack which supplies fuel to the fuel cell of the portable device according to claim 1,
A pipe for replenishing the fuel cell with the fuel;
A supply hole through which the fuel is supplied;
A check valve for preventing the fuel supplied from the supply hole from flowing out of the pack body, and the pack bodies are connected by inserting the pipe into a supply hole of another pack body. A refueling pack characterized by that.   The pipe is disposed on the lower surface of the pack body, the supply hole is disposed on the upper surface of the pack body, and the pack body is connected in series vertically upward with respect to the fuel cell. 3. The refueling pack according to claim 2, wherein   The refueling pack according to claim 2, further comprising an electric pump that sends the fuel to the pack body or the fuel cell on the downstream side.   The refueling pack according to claim 4, wherein the electric pump is supplied with power from the fuel cell. A portable device comprising a fuel cell that is refueled by the refueling pack according to claim 4 or 5,
A remaining amount detecting means for detecting the remaining amount of the fuel cell;
Display means for displaying the remaining amount detected by the remaining amount detecting means;
Connection detecting means for detecting that the fuel supply pack is connected to the fuel cell;
When the connection is detected by the connection detection unit, a remaining amount obtained by subtracting fuel consumed by the electric pump from the remaining amount detected by the remaining amount detection unit is displayed on the display hand. Portable device. In a tripod to which a camera driven with a fuel cell as a power source is attached,
One end is inserted into a fixing screw for fixing the camera to a pan head, and when the camera is fixed on the pan head by the fixing screw, a pipe connected to the fuel cell;
A fuel storage cell connected to the other end of the pipe and filled with fuel of the fuel cell;
A tripod comprising a pump provided on the pipe and for sending fuel in the fuel supply pack toward the fuel cell. The tripod according to claim 7, wherein the pump is a manual pump driven by an adjusting lever operated when adjusting the height of the pan head.

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