JP4686995B2 - Electronics - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to an electronic device, and more particularly, to an electronic device including a fuel supply device that compresses gas or the like and conveys and supplies fuel.

  In small electronic devices such as mobile phones, notebook computers, digital cameras, watches, PDAs (Personal Digital Assistance), electronic notebooks, etc., primary batteries such as alkaline dry batteries, manganese dry batteries or nickel-cadmium storage batteries, nickel-hydrogen storage batteries, nickel-hydrogen storage batteries, Secondary batteries such as lithium ion batteries are used.

  However, the power consumption has increased due to the recent multi-functionalization of small electronic devices and the color display of liquid crystal displays, etc., and the driving time of the batteries has been shortened. These primary batteries and secondary batteries do not necessarily have high energy efficiency. It cannot be said that is planned.

  Therefore, research and development of fuel cells are actively conducted today because they have the characteristics that high energy utilization efficiency can be realized as an alternative to the primary battery and the secondary battery and the environmental load is low. A fuel cell is an element that directly takes out electric energy from chemical energy by electrochemically reacting fuel and oxygen in the atmosphere. As these fuel cells, a polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cell (PEMFC: Polymer Electrolyte Membrane Fuel) is used. Cell) etc. are generally known.

In a fuel cell, regardless of which method is used, a cell composed of an electrolyte sandwiched between a fuel electrode and an air electrode is connected to a fuel cell through a separator that serves to secure and electrically connect the fuel passage. Electricity is generated by extracting hydrogen from fuel, water, methanol, or the like into a stacked cell stack (fuel cell main body) and chemically reacting with oxygen. As such a fuel supply means, for example, as provided in Patent Document 1, a pressure adjustment mechanism is provided in the fuel container to adjust the negative pressure, and a fuel inlet connected to the vaporizer is connected to a capillary tube. Reduced power generated by adopting a non-powered fuel supply device that fills with a porous material having pores with sufficient force to work and appropriately supplies fuel according to the vaporization of fuel in the vaporizer There are provided a liquid fuel container for a fuel cell and a fuel cell for preventing the above.
JP 2001-93551 A

However, in the fuel supply device using the capillary force of the porous material provided at the fuel inlet, the gaseous fuel is kept almost saturated by the reaction heat of the cell reaction in the fuel vaporization layer in the fuel cell, and the cell reaction The liquid fuel is vaporized from the fuel permeation layer by the amount of gaseous fuel consumed in the fuel vaporized layer, and the liquid fuel is further introduced into the cell by capillary force by the vaporized layer, but the fuel cell is supplied with fuel. The battery reaction that always causes power generation occurs in the state where the power is supplied, so the fuel supplied even when the electronic equipment that operates with the power generated by the fuel cell is not used and the power is not consumed by the electronic equipment Thus, the fuel cell continues to generate power, and the liquid fuel is consumed indefinitely by repeated generation of the fuel cell and vaporization by the reaction heat of the cell. For this reason, in order to stop the power generation, the liquid fuel container must be detached from the fuel cell each time, which is inefficient.
An object of the present invention is to provide an electronic device that selectively supplies fuel to a power generation device when the electronic device is used.

In order to solve the above problems, the electronic device according to claim 1 is:
In an electronic device with a built-in power generation device that generates electrical energy from fuel,
A lid housing and a main body, each end of which is connected to be openable and closable,
A fuel supply means provided between the connecting portion of the main body and the lid body,
Equipped with a,
The fuel supply means has a hollow body whose internal pressure increases when the lid housing and the main body are opened, and when the lid housing and the main body are opened, the fuel is supplied to the power generator side by the hollow body. To supply
The fuel container includes a gas intake port that is built in either the lid housing or the main body and communicates with the hollow body, and a fuel discharge port that communicates with the power generation device .

According to the present invention, the fuel supply means, power generation can be quickly because the fuel is supplied to the generator unit side when the present body and the lid body is opened.
Thus, in the electronic device according to claim 1 ,
The fuel supply means has a hollow body wherein the body and the lid body becomes higher when opened pressure, the power generation device the fuel by said hollow body when said lid body and the body is opened To the side,
And having a fuel container provided with a said cover housing or fuel outlet and a gas inlet in communication with the hollow body built in one of the body communicating with the power generator.
Therefore, in order to use the electronic device, the hollow body contracts in conjunction with the movement when the lid housing and the main body are opened, and the built-in gas is compressed, and the compressed gas is compressed into the hollow The fuel stored in the fuel container communicating with the body via the gas intake port can be immediately pumped to the power generation device via the fuel discharge port, and the electric power generated by the pumped fuel is generated. By using the electronic device, it is possible to provide an electronic device that is activated immediately upon use.

The electronic device according to claim 2, in the electronic device according to claim 1, the outer periphery of the hollow body, and closed to shrink, at least one-way valve is provided to open when extending It is characterized by that.

  Since at least one one-way valve is provided on the outer periphery of the hollow body so as to close when contracted and open when extended, the opening and closing of the lid housing and the main body during use of the electronic device is interlocked. In addition, when the gas is discharged, the airtightness necessary for compression can be ensured according to the contraction of the hollow body, and when the gas is inhaled, the gas to be sucked can be ensured according to the expansion of the hollow body.

The electronic device according to claim 3 is the electronic device according to claim 1 or 2 , wherein the hollow body is connected over each end of the lid housing and the main body on the connecting portion side. It is characterized by that.

  The hollow body is connected to each end of the lid housing and the main body on the connecting portion side, so that when the lid housing and the main body are opened to the maximum extent, When the hollow body is maximally contracted and discharged, the amount of gas discharged is maximized, and when the lid housing and the main body are completely closed, the amount of gas that is drawn into the hollow body as much as possible by one movement. Can be maximized.

The electronic device according to claim 4 is the electronic device according to any one of claims 1 to 3 , wherein the hollow body is formed in a bellows shape that expands and contracts in an opening / closing direction of the lid housing and the main body. It is characterized by being.

The hollow body is formed in a bellows shape that expands and contracts in the opening and closing direction of the lid housing and the main body, so that the expansion and contraction interlocked with the opening and closing of the lid housing and the main body becomes smooth, and gas is discharged and sucked. It can be suitably performed.
Furthermore, the structure formed in the shape of a bellows exhibits pressure resistance against the pressure change in the hollow body that occurs during the discharge and inhalation of the gas, and the gas can be reliably discharged and inhaled.

Electronic device of the present invention can if Futakatami body and the body is opened for use, to power rapidly so that supply fuel to the power generation apparatus.

  The best mode for carrying out the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. However, various technically preferable limitations for carrying out the present invention described below do not limit the scope of the present invention.

  FIG. 1 shows an embodiment in which an electronic apparatus according to the present invention is applied to a mobile phone 1. 1A shows a configuration in which the lid housing 2 and the main body 3 of the mobile phone 1 are opened, FIG. 1B shows a closed state, and FIG. 2 shows a main configuration in the closed state. FIG.

  The lid housing 2 is attached to the main body 3 so that the ends in the direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction can be opened and closed by a plurality of hinges 6 at about 180 degrees. The lid housing 2 is provided with a display unit 4 made of a liquid crystal display device or the like, and the main body 3 is provided with operation buttons 5.

  Both ends of a bellows-like hollow body 7 are connected between the lid housing 2 and the main body 3, and this hollow body is interlocked with the opening / closing of the lid housing 2 and the main body 3. And it can be stretched.

  The hollow body 7 is preferably made of an elastic body because it can freely expand and contract, has durability in the number of times the mobile phone 1 is opened and closed, and needs to ensure airtightness during gas compression. More preferably, natural rubber, synthetic rubber, polyvinyl chloride, and the like may be used, and more specifically, isoprene rubber, butyl rubber, nitrile rubber, silicon rubber, polyvinyl chloride, or a combination thereof.

  Further, the hollow body 7 has a one-way valve 8 at an outer peripheral portion located farthest from the cellular phone 1 in which the hollow body 7 expands and contracts in a substantially semi-cylindrical shape when the cellular phone 1 is closed. (See FIG. 2).

  As shown in FIG. 3A, the one-way valve 8 is opened when the cellular phone 1 is closed and the hollow body 7 is extended.

  On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 3 (b), in the process of opening the cellular phone 1 to use the cellular phone 1, the outer peripheral distance of the hollow body 7 is reduced, and the one-way valve 8 is closed, A system in which the inside of the hollow body 7 is closed, and the pressure in the hollow body 7 increases as the volume in the hollow body 7 decreases accordingly.

  Further, the one-way valve 8 is narrowed by the lid housing and the main body when the cellular phone 1 is opened and the hollow body 7 is contracted as shown in FIG. Thus, the air is not pushed back by the increase in air pressure due to the compression inside the hollow body 7, and the mouth is kept closed to prevent air leakage.

Here, FIG. 4 shows the main components of the fuel container and the power generation device of the mobile phone 1 in the present embodiment. The gas compressed by the hollow body 7 is sent to the second fuel container 12 from a gas intake port 11 provided between the main body 3 and the hollow body 7.
The second fuel container 12 has a shape in which a pipe meanders, and the gas intake port 11 and the fuel exhaust port are provided at two locations, the compressed air introduction side (inlet) and the fuel supply side (outlet), respectively. It has an outlet 14. The area of the second fuel container 12 in the cross section orthogonal to the fuel traveling direction is smaller than the area of the cross section orthogonal to the expansion and contraction direction of the hollow body 7.

  A separator 9 is provided on the gas inlet 11 side of the second fuel container 12, and the air compressed by the hollow body 7 presses the separator 9, and the fuel 10 moves toward the fuel outlet 14. The fuel is supplied to the power generation device.

  Since the separator 9 is in direct contact with the fuel 10, it is preferably a liquid having a low affinity, a non-volatile sol or gel, a highly viscous liquid having a higher viscosity than the fuel 10 and insoluble in the fuel 10. Further, the separator 9 has the property of a structural viscous fluid in which the apparent stress decreases as the shear stress or the shear rate increases. Specifically, polybutene, liquid paraffin, spindle oil, other silicone oils, combinations thereof, and the like are preferable.

  As shown in FIG. 4, a check valve 13 that can flow only in one direction from the fuel discharge port 14 side to the carburetor 17 side is provided at the fuel discharge port 14 of the second fuel container.

  FIG. 5A is a side view showing the configuration of the main part of the check valve 13. The check valve has a hollow duckbill shape, and is provided with a cut 13c so as to penetrate from the approximate center of the front end surfaces 13a and 13b to the hollow portion 13d in the rear end surface direction. Moreover, FIG.5 (b) is the front view which showed the non-return valve 13 from the front end surface direction, and FIG.5 (c) shows a vertical side view.

  In the check valve 13, the pressure of the fuel 10 pumped by the separator 9 acts on the side walls 13 e and 13 f in the vertical direction T in the transport direction of the side walls 13 e and 13 f inclined so as to be throttled with respect to the transport direction. The fuel is circulated through the checker valve 13 through the check valve 13. On the other hand, the fuel 10 flowing backward from the generator side acts on the side walls 13e and 13f of the check valve 13 in the direction opposite to the direction T perpendicular to the reverse flow direction of the fuel 10, and the side walls 13e and 13f are closed. Therefore, the backflow to the second fuel container 12 is blocked.

  The first fuel container 15 is provided with a flow path through which the fuel 10 is supplied to the carburetor 17, and an electric pump 21 that sends the fuel 10 is provided in the flow path. Between the flow path connected to the electric pump 21 and the vaporizer 17, the flow path of the fuel 10 circulated through the check valve 13 is joined.

  The fuel 10 vaporized by the vaporizer 17 is supplied to the reformer 18. In the reformer 18, the vaporized fuel 10 is reformed, and the reformed mixture is supplied to the carbon monoxide remover 19. The carbon monoxide remover 19 includes a catalyst that oxidizes the carbon monoxide by-produced in the reformer 18 to generate carbon dioxide, and a mixture of the reformed fuel and carbon dioxide is a fuel cell. 20 is conveyed. The fuel cell 20 is provided with a fuel electrode and an air electrode that generate electrical energy by an electrochemical reaction between the reformed fuel and a gas taken from the outside of the mobile phone.

  Next, the operation principle of the power generation device equipped with the fuel supply device configured as described above will be described. FIG. 6A is a block diagram showing a basic configuration of a fuel reforming power generator applied to the present embodiment.

  As shown in FIG. 6 (a), the power generation device 22 including the electric pump 21, the vaporizer 17, the reformer 18, the carbon monoxide remover 19, and the fuel cell 20 includes the first fuel container 15 or the The fuel 10 is supplied from the second fuel container 12 to generate electric energy. The fuel 10 is a mixture of liquid chemical fuel and water. As the chemical fuel, alcohols such as methanol, ethanol and propanol, ethers such as diethyl ether, hydrazine, or compounds containing hydrogen elements such as gasoline can be applied. It is. In the present embodiment, a mixed liquid of methanol and water is used as the fuel 10.

  The fuel 10 stored in the first fuel container 15 is first supplied to the vaporizer 17. In the vaporizer 17, the supplied fuel 10 is heated and vaporized (evaporated) to become a mixture of methanol and water (water vapor). The air-fuel mixture generated in the vaporizer 17 is supplied to the reformer 18.

In the reformer 18, hydrogen and carbon dioxide are generated from the fuel 10 vaporized in the vaporizer 17. Specifically, as shown in chemical reaction formula (1), methanol and water vapor mixed in the vaporizer 17 react to generate carbon dioxide and carbon monoxide.
CH ₃ OH + H ₂ O → 3H ₂ + CO ₂ (1)

In the reformer 18, the methanol and steam mixed in the vaporizer 17 may not be completely reformed to carbon dioxide and hydrogen. In this case, the methanol and steam are converted into the chemical reaction formula (2). It reacts to produce carbon dioxide and carbon monoxide.
2CH ₃ OH + H ₂ O → 5H ₂ + CO + CO ₂ (2)

The carbon monoxide remover 19 selectively oxidizes carbon monoxide contained in the air-fuel mixture supplied from the reformer 18 to remove carbon monoxide from the air-fuel mixture. Specifically, as shown in the chemical reaction formula (3), carbon monoxide specifically selected from the gas mixture supplied from the reformer 18 reacts with oxygen in the taken-in air by a catalyst. As a result, carbon dioxide is generated.
2CO + O ₂ → 2CO ₂ (3)
Thereafter, the air-fuel mixture from which carbon monoxide has been removed is supplied to the fuel cell 20.

In the fuel electrode of the fuel cell 20, as shown in the electrochemical reaction formula (4), hydrogen gas in the mixture supplied from the carbon monoxide remover 19 is subjected to the action of the catalyst of the fuel electrode to generate hydrogen ions. Separated into electrons. Hydrogen ions are conducted to the air electrode through the ion conductive membrane, and electrons are taken out by the fuel electrode.
3H ₂ → 6H ⁺ + 6e- (4)

Air is taken in and supplied to the air electrode of the fuel cell 20. Then, as shown in the electrochemical reaction formula (5), oxygen in the air, hydrogen ions that have passed through the ion conductive membrane, and electrons taken out by the fuel electrode react to generate water as a by-product. It has become so.
6H ⁺ + 3 / 2O ₂ + 6e− → 3H ₂ O (5)

  As described above, electric energy is generated by the electrochemical reactions shown in the above (4) and (5) in the fuel cell 20. The produced air-fuel mixture such as water, carbon dioxide, and air is discharged into the first fuel container 15. It is the electric pump 21 that causes the flow of the fuel 10 and the product as described above. The electric pump 21 is operated by being supplied with a part of the electric power generated by the fuel cell 20.

  Next, the operation of the electronic apparatus equipped with the fuel supply device and the power generation device configured as described above will be described.

  The hollow body 7 is expanded to the maximum when the cellular phone 1 is folded, and the hollow body 7 is held in a substantially semi-cylindrical shape and compressed by the holding force of the bellows structure of the hollow body 7. A space for storing the amount of gas is secured.

  Further, the one-way valve 8 opens when the hollow body 7 is extended into a substantially semi-cylindrical shape, communicates with the outside, stores gas inside the hollow body 7, and sets the internal pressure of the hollow body 7 to the external pressure. It is in an equal state. At this time, the force due to the internal pressure of the hollow body 7 and the drag of the separator 9 and the fuel 10 repelling against this force are balanced, and the separator 9 and the fuel 10 are stationary in the second fuel container 12. ing.

  In the process in which the cellular phone 1 is opened and the lid housing 2 and the main body 3 are separated from the hinge 6 as a fulcrum, the force that has opened the one-way valve 8 decreases in conjunction with the contraction of the hollow body 7. And closed by the self-healing force of the hollow body 7 itself. Even after the one-way valve is closed, the shrinkage of the hollow body 7 is continued by the lid housing 2 and the main body 3, and the amount of gas that increases in density due to the shrinkage is supplied to the gas inlet 11 provided in the second fuel container 12. By exceeding the amount of gas discharged, the gas in the hollow body 7 is compressed.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 3C, the one-way valve 8 is opened to the angle limit of about 180 degrees when the lid casing 2 of the mobile phone 1 is opened and the lid casing 2 and the main body 3 are expanded. When this is done, the hollow body 7 is narrowed by the lid housing 2 and the main body 3, so that the gas is leaked while keeping the mouth closed without being pushed back to an increase in atmospheric pressure due to compression inside the hollow body 7. It is to be prevented.

  In the hollow body 7, the pressure increases, the balance between the drag of the separator 9 and the fuel 10 is broken, and the compressed gas is supplied from the gas inlet 11 provided in the second fuel container 12 to the second fuel. The separator 9 is sent to the container 12 and pressed in the second fuel container 12. The fuel 10 filled in the second fuel container 12 is pumped by the pressure applied to the separator 9.

  Here, the separator 9 is durable against the backflow of the fuel 10 in the second fuel container 12 to the hollow body 7 due to the viscosity, and on the other hand, the cellular body 1 is gasified in the process of closing the cellular phone 1. Even when the air is re-inhaled, the air pressure inside the hollow body 7 is durable until the one-way valve 8 is opened, and is not returned to the hollow body 7 side. Furthermore, by providing the desired viscosity, excessive fuel supply due to abrupt operation is prevented.

  The second fuel container 12 is formed such that the area of the cross section orthogonal to the fuel traveling direction is smaller than the area of the cross section orthogonal to the expansion and contraction direction of the hollow body 7. Can be compressed and the desired compression force can be maintained. As a result, the fuel is efficiently pressed at a constant rate. Furthermore, since the second fuel container is formed in a tubular shape, it is possible to ensure the fuel loading amount by meandering the tube in a limited space in the mobile phone.

  A check valve 13 is provided in the fuel discharge port 14 provided on the outlet side of the second fuel container so as to be able to pass only in the direction of the carburetor 17, and the fuel 10 from the carburetor 17 side is provided. Back flow is prevented.

  The fuel 10 supplied from the fuel discharge port 14 provided in the second fuel container 12 to the power generation device 22 via the check valve 13 flows in the order of the vaporizer 17, the reformer 18, and the carbon monoxide remover 19. The fuel cell 20 is divided into water, carbon dioxide, and electric power energy by a chemical reaction, and the electronic device is operated by the electric power energy.

  Further, a part of the electric power energy operates the electric pump 21, and fuel is supplied from the fuel container 21 to the carburetor 17. Thereby, even if the pressure of the gas by the said hollow body 7 falls and it becomes impossible to supply the new fuel 10, electric power required for continuous use of an electronic device is ensured by the continuous fuel supply of the electric pump 21. be able to.

Therefore, in the cellular phone according to the present embodiment, when the cellular phone 1 is folded without being used, the fuel 10 is not moved, and the electrochemical reaction formulas (4) and (5) are generated in the fuel cell 20. When the lid housing 2 is opened to use the mobile phone 1, the hollow body 7 is stretched in conjunction with the opening and closing of the lid housing 2 and the main body 3, thereby compressing the inside of the hollow body 7. The generated gas presses the fuel 10 stored in the second fuel container 12, and the fuel is quickly and forcibly supplied to the power generation device, so that the power required for starting is reliably generated. By making the cross-sectional area of the fuel container 12 smaller than the cross-sectional area of the hollow body 7, it is possible to compress the hollow body 7 and to secure the desired compressive force. The effect of being able to press fuel efficiently and reliably at a rate To do.
Furthermore, the provision of the viscous separator 9 on the gas inlet 11 side of the second fuel container 12 has an effect of reliably preventing excessive fuel supply due to sudden expansion and contraction of the hollow body 7.
In addition, by adopting a configuration in which the power required at the time of activation is generated when the mobile phone 1 is used, standby current when not in use can be reduced, and it is not necessary to replenish and replace the fuel 10 for a long period of time. There is an effect of operating the mobile phone.

  Although the best embodiment for carrying out the present invention has been described above, the electronic apparatus according to the present invention is not limited to the above embodiment.

  For example, in the present embodiment, a fuel reforming power generation device is adopted as the power generation device, but a direct methanol power generation device that does not require a reformer or a carbon monoxide remover as shown in FIG. 6B. In this case, the above effect is sufficiently exhibited.

  Further, even in the hollow body 7 required for the fuel supply, the object of the present invention can be achieved without using the opening and closing of the lid housing and the main body as long as the conditions for contracting the hollow body 7 are satisfied. For example, even if the start button of the electronic device or the operation button 5 shown in FIG. 1A is interlocked with the hollow body 7, the fuel can be forcibly supplied when the electronic device is used. is there.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a front view showing the overall configuration of a foldable mobile phone according to an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 1 (a) shows a state in which the mobile phone is opened, and FIG. 1 (b) shows a folded mobile phone. Indicates the state. It is the side view which showed the structure of the foldable mobile telephone which is one Example of this invention. FIG. 3A is a side view showing a deformation process of a hollow body in one embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 3A shows a state in which the mobile phone is folded, and FIG. 3B shows a state in which the mobile phone is being opened. FIG. 3 (c) shows a state where the cellular phone is opened to the maximum. It is the schematic which showed the principal part structure of the electric power generating apparatus in one Example of this invention. It is the schematic which showed the principal part structure of the non-return valve in one Example of this invention, Fig.5 (a) is a side view of a nonreturn valve, FIG.5 (b) is a front view of a nonreturn valve. FIG. 5C is a longitudinal sectional view of the check valve. FIG. 6 is a block diagram showing a basic configuration of a power generator built in an electronic device according to the present invention, and FIG. 6A is a block diagram showing a basic configuration of a fuel reforming power generator, and FIG. b) is a block diagram showing a direct methanol power generator.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Cellular phone 2 Lid case 3 Main body 6 Hinge 7 Hollow body 8 One-way valve 9 Separator 10 Fuel 11 Gas inlet 12 Second fuel container 13 Check valve 14 Fuel outlet 15 First fuel container 17 Vaporizer 18 reformer 19 carbon monoxide remover 20 fuel cell

Claims (4)

In an electronic device with a built-in power generation device that generates electrical energy from fuel,
A lid housing and a main body, each end of which is connected to be openable and closable,
A fuel supply means provided between the connecting portion of the main body and the lid body,
Equipped with a,
The fuel supply means has a hollow body whose internal pressure increases when the lid housing and the main body are opened, and when the lid housing and the main body are opened, the fuel is supplied to the power generator side by the hollow body. To supply
An electronic apparatus comprising: a fuel container including a gas intake port that is built in either the lid housing or the main body and communicates with the hollow body; and a fuel discharge port that communicates with the power generation device . The electronic device according to claim 1 , wherein at least one one-way valve that closes when contracted and opens when expanded is provided on an outer periphery of the hollow body. It said hollow body, an electronic device according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that it is connected across the ends of each of the connecting portion side of the cover housing and the body. The electronic device according to any one of claims 1 to 3 , wherein the hollow body is formed in a bellows shape that expands and contracts in the opening and closing direction of the lid housing and the main body.

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