1. An external expanding apparatus for expanding the function of a portable electronic device having a device body provided with an inputoutput (IO) connector, the external expanding apparatus comprising:
an apparatus body having a bearing surface structured for receiving the device body;
a pair of engaging pins positioned on a portion of the bearing surface, the engaging pins being structured for being received into mating locating holes in the device body;
an expansion connector connectable with the device IO connector;
an expansion connector drive mechanism structured for moving the expansion connector relative to the bearing surface between a disengaged position spaced away from the bearing surface and an engaged position extended over the bearing surface, the expansion connector drive mechanism comprising a movable frame having an expansion connector seat that is structured for having the expansion connector mounted thereon and an edge portion having an opening therein, the movable frame being movably coupled to the apparatus body for moving the expansion connector seat relative to the bearing surface thereof; and
a safety catch operable between the opening in the frame and an aperture communicating with the bearing surface, the safety catch being movable between a first position having a first portion thereof extended from the bearing surface and having a second portion thereof engaged with the opening in the frame, and second position having the first portion thereof depressed relative to the bearing surface and having the second portion thereof disengaged from the opening in the frame.
2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the aperture communicating with the bearing surface further comprises a clearance hole sized to pass the first portion of the safety catch therethrough.
3. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein the safety catch further comprises a portion thereof positioned adjacent to a base of the first portion that is oversized relative to the aperture communicating with the bearing surface.
4. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising means for urging the second portion of the safety catch toward being engaged with the opening in the frame.
5. The apparatus of claim 4 wherein the means for urging the second portion of the safety catch toward being engaged with the opening in the frame is further structured for urging the first portion of the safety catch toward being extended from the bearing surface.
6. The apparatus of claim 5 wherein the urging means further comprises a compression spring.
7. The apparatus of claim 4 wherein the opening in the frame further comprises a substantially part circular opening; and
the second portion of the safety catch further comprises a substantially cylindrical body that is cooperatively structured to nest with the substantially part circular opening.
8. The apparatus of claim 4, further comprising means for constraining the safety catch such that the second portion thereof is substantially rotationally oriented relative to the opening in the frame.
9. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the expansion connector drive mechanism is further structured for moving the frame portion thereof along a drive axis that is substantially linearly relative to the bearing surface of the apparatus body.
10. The apparatus of claim 9 wherein the edge portion of the frame having the opening therein is further substantially aligned with the drive axis of the expansion connector drive mechanism.
11. The apparatus of claim 9 wherein the expansion connector drive mechanism further comprises a biasing mechanism coupled for urging the frame to move relative to the bearing surface of the apparatus body for moving an expansion connector coupled thereto toward the disengaged position.
12. The apparatus of claim 11, further comprising a catch mechanism operable for retaining the frame in the engaged position.
13. An external expanding apparatus operable with a portable computer of a type having a display unit having a display screen on an inner surface thereof and a hard shell backing surface opposite thereof and pivotally mounted on a substantially rigid casing having a pair of locating holes adjacent to opposite corners of a substantially planar bottom surface thereof, and an inputoutput (IO) connector positioned on a back plane thereof with a pair of positioning apertures provided on opposite sides thereof, the external expanding apparatus comprising:
a body portion adapted for mounting to an external support structure, the body portion having a substantially rigid bearing plate formed with a substantially rectangular computer bearing surface on an outer face thereof and a guide mechanism on an inner face thereof opposite from the bearing surface, a computer receiver structure fixedly positioned adjacent to a front edge of the bearing surface and projected there above, and a passage through the bearing plate communicating between the inner and outer faces thereof and positioned between the front edge of the bearing surface and a rear edge thereof;
a pair of engaging pins sized to be matingly received into the pair of locating holes in the bottom surface of the casing of the portable computer, the engaging pins being fixedly projected above the bearing surface at opposite corners thereof and adjacent to the rear edge thereof in positions for being matingly received into the pair of locating holes;
an expansion connector drive mechanism being movably coupled to the guide mechanism for moving relative to the inner face of the bearing plate, the expansion connector drive mechanism comprising:
a substantially rigid frame having a handle and a follower mechanism structured to cooperate with the guide mechanism on the inner face of the bearing plate for moving the frame relative thereto,
an integral connector seat positioned adjacent to a first end of the frame,
an integral security plate positioned opposite the passage through the bearing plate and having an opening therethrough that is relatively larger than the passage through the bearing plate,
an integral catch mechanism positioned adjacent to a second end of the frame opposite from the connector seat,
a keeper coupled to the bearing plate and being structured for retaining the frame relative to the guide mechanism, and
the frame being operable between a first disengaged position having the connector seat spaced away from the bearing plate and the rear edge of the bearing surface and having the opening of the integral security plate being spaced away from the passage through the bearing plate, and a second engaged position having the connector seat positioned adjacent to the bearing plate and the rear edge of the bearing surface and having the opening of the integral security plate being substantially aligned with the passage through the bearing plate;
a safety catch operable between the relatively larger opening of the integral security plate of the frame and the relatively smaller passage through the bearing plate and biased toward the bearing plate, the safety catch having a first sensing portion sized to pass through the relatively smaller passage through the bearing plate, and a second latching portion sized to pass through the relatively larger opening of the integral security plate and being oversized relative to the relatively smaller passage through the bearing plate; and
a latch mechanism operable between the catch mechanism of the frame and the body portion.
14. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein the frame further comprises a substantially planar interface surface having the follower mechanism formed therein.
15. The apparatus of claim 13 wherein the integral security plate further comprises a substantially linear edge portion adjacent to the opening, the substantially linear edge portion being continuously spaced in a substantially constant relationship with the passage through the bearing plate between the frame being in the first disengaged position and the second engaged position.
16. The apparatus of claim 13, further comprising a connector bracket coupled to the connector seat of the frame and projected above the bearing surface of the bearing plate, the connector bracket having a pair of substantially rigid guides in spaced-apart positions for engaging the pair of positioning apertures provided on the computer back plane on opposite sides of the peripheral component connector.
17. The apparatus of claim 16, further comprising a computer expansion connector mounted on the connector bracket between the guides thereof, the computer expansion connector being structured to mate with the IO connector of the computer.
18. The apparatus of claim 13, further comprising a resilient retraction mechanism coupled between the frame of the expansion connector drive mechanism and the body portion.
19. The apparatus of claim 13 wherein the body portion further comprises:
a peripheral device connector presentation surface having one or more interface connectors adapted to connect to one or more different peripheral devices; and
an external wire harness support positioned adjacent to the peripheral device connector presentation surface.
20. The apparatus of claim 13, further comprising a rotatable display unit support having a substantially rigid support arm structured with a first end portion that is pivotally coupled to a rear portion of the body portion adjacent to the rear edge of the bearing surface and is pivotable in a plane that is substantially perpendicular to the bearing surface of the bearing plate, and
a display unit clamping mechanism positioned on the rigid support arm spaced away from the body portion, the clamping mechanism comprising:
a substantially rigid anvil having a convexly arcuate support surface extended substantially perpendicularly to the rotation plane of the support arm, and
a substantially rigid jaw that is rotatably coupled to the anvil, the jaw having a substantially rigid finger that is spaced away from the arcuate support surface of the anvil and is rotatable between a first position opposed to the arcuate support surface of the anvil, and a second position unopposed to the arcuate support surface of the anvil.
21. An external expanding apparatus for expanding the function of a portable electronic device having a device body provided with an inputoutput (IO) connector, the external expanding apparatus comprising:
an apparatus body having a bearing surface on which the device body is to be placed, a connector presentation surface for opposing the device IO connector of the device body placed on the bearing surface, and a receiver structure positioned adjacent to a front portion of the bearing surface opposite from the connector presentation surface;
a pair of engaging pins positioned on a rear portion of the bearing surface adjacent to the connector presentation surface, the engaging pins being structured for being slidingly received into mating locating holes in the device body;
an expansion connector connectable with the device IO connector;
an expansion connector drive mechanism structured for moving the expansion connector along a drive axis relative to the connector presentation surface between a disengaged position spaced away from the bearing surface and an engaged position extended over the bearing surface, the expansion connector drive mechanism comprising:
a movable frame movably coupled to the apparatus body for motion relative to the bearing surface linearly between the connector presentation surface and the opposing front portion of the bearing surface, the frame including an integral connector seat having the expansion connector mounted thereon, an integral security plate formed with an opening therethrough, an integral catch mechanism, and a handle,
a releasable safety catch operable between the opening through the integral security plate of the frame and an aperture communicating with the bearing surface, the safety catch being movable between a locked position having a sensing portion thereof extended above the bearing surface and having a locking portion thereof interlocked with the opening through the security plate, and an unlocked position having the sensing portion thereof retracted relative to the bearing surface and having the locking portion thereof disengaged from the opening through the security plate, and
a releasable latch mechanism operable between the integral catch mechanism of the frame and a portion of the apparatus body; and
a mounting structure that is structured to adapt the body portion for mounting to an external support structure.
22. The apparatus of claim 21, further comprising a substantially automatic retraction mechanism coupled between the movable frame of the expansion connector drive mechanism and a portion of the apparatus body portion adjacent to the connector presentation surface.
23. The apparatus of claim 21 wherein the expansion connector drive mechanism further comprises one or more guides positioned on the body apparatus opposite from the bearing surface thereof and aligned between the connector presentation surface and the opposing front portion of the bearing surface, and a cooperating follower mechanism formed in an integral interface surface of the movable frame.
24. The apparatus of claim 21 wherein the integral security plate further comprises a substantially straight edge portion substantially aligned with the drive axis of the expansion connector drive mechanism and being formed with the opening therein.
25. The apparatus of claim 24 wherein the opening in the edge portion of the integral security plate further comprises a substantially part circular opening;
the locking portion of the releasable safety catch further comprises a substantially cylindrical portion sized to nest with the substantially part circular opening; and
the sensing portion of the releasable safety catch further comprises a substantially cylindrical portion sized to pass the aperture communicating with the bearing surface and clear the substantially straight edge portion of the integral security plate.
26. The apparatus of claim 21, further comprising: a display unit support having a substantially rigid support arm rotatable relative to a rear portion of the apparatus body portion adjacent to the connector presentation surface and in a plane that is substantially perpendicular to the bearing surface thereof, and a display unit clamping mechanism positioned on the rigid support arm spaced away from the apparatus body.
The claims below are in addition to those above.
All refrences to claim(s) which appear below refer to the numbering after this setence.
1. A fuel cell system comprising:
at least one fuel cell having a fuel chamber including a fuel electrode, an oxygen chamber including an oxygen electrode and an electrolyte layer interposed between the fuel electrode and the oxygen electrode;
a fuel gas discharge line for discharging residual air from the fuel chamber;
a hydrogen concentration sensor for detecting hydrogen concentration in gas exiting the fuel chamber, the hydrogen concentration sensor being provided on the fuel gas discharge line apart from the fuel cell;
a discharge valve provided on the fuel gas discharge line; and
pressure regulating means for regulating a supply pressure of a flow of the fuel gas supplied to the fuel chamber at a first pressure, higher than a second pressure used in normal power generation, during a start-up power generating state when the fuel cell starts up power generation with opening of the discharge valve, until the detected hydrogen concentration of the fuel gas in the fuel chamber which is detected by the hydrogen concentration sensor exceeds a predetermined hydrogen concentration, and for reducing the supply pressure of the flow of the fuel gas to the fuel chamber to the second pressure, lower than the first pressure, and closing the discharge valve when the detected hydrogen concentration of the fuel gas in the fuel chamber exceeds the predetermined hydrogen concentration, to thereby establish a normal power generating state in which a flow of fuel gas into the fuel chamber is maintained at the second pressure for generating electric power.
2. The fuel cell system according to claim 1, wherein the pressure regulating means includes a pressure regulating valve in the fuel gas supply line and control means for controlling the pressure regulating valve responsive to the detected hydrogen concentration of the fuel gas in the fuel chamber.
3. The fuel cell system according to claim 1, wherein the pressure regulating means includes two regulating valves that are arranged in parallel and are respectively set to provide a flow of fuel gas at different supply pressures, a switching valve arranged on the line, and switching means for switching the open and close of the switching valve.
4. The fuel cell system according to claim 1, wherein, in the normal power generation state of the fuel cell, the fuel cell is connected to an external load.
5. The fuel cell system according to claim 1, further comprising a start switch for turning on and off of the fuel cell system wherein the power generation start-up time of the fuel cell includes a predetermined period of time after the start switch is turned on.
6. The fuel cell system according to claim 5, wherein the power generation start-up time of the fuel cell is when the start switch is turned on after a lapse of a predetermined period of time after the start switch has been turned off in the normal power generation state.
7. The fuel cell system according to claim 1 further comprising a pump between the fuel chamber and the discharge valve, wherein the pressure regulating means includes a pressure regulating valve for changing the supply pressure of the fuel gas between the start-up power generating state and the normal power generating state, and control means which opens the pressure regulating valve at the same time of startup of power generation and then drives the pump to establish a negative pressure inside the fuel chamber.
8. The fuel cell system according to claim 1 wherein, during the start-up power generating state, residual air is discharged from the fuel chamber and out of the fuel cell system through the opened discharge valve and gas discharge line.
9. The fuel cell system according to claim 1, further comprising:
a gas outflow line connected at one end to the fuel chamber, the gas discharge line being connected to the gas outflow line;
a gas inflow line connected at one end to the fuel chamber and at its opposite end to the gas outflow line;
a pump located in the gas outflow line between the fuel chamber and the gas discharge line; and
the gas outflow line and the gas inflow line forming a gas circulating loop through the fuel chamber and the pump.
10. A fuel cell system comprising:
at least one fuel cell having a fuel chamber including a fuel electrode, an oxygen chamber including an oxygen electrode and an electrolyte layer interposed between the fuel electrode and the oxygen electrode;
a gas discharge line for discharging residual air from the fuel chamber;
a hydrogen concentration sensor for detecting hydrogen concentration in gas exiting the fuel chamber;
an oxygen concentration sensor for detecting oxygen concentration in gas exiting the fuel chamber;
a discharge valve in the fuel gas discharge line; and
pressure regulating means for regulating a supply pressure of a flow of fuel gas supplied to the fuel chamber at a first pressure, higher than a second pressure used in normal power generation, during a start-up power generating state when the fuel cell starts up power generation with opening of the discharge valve, until the detected concentration of the fuel gas in the fuel chamber exceeds a predetermined gas concentration, and for reducing the supply pressure of the flow of fuel gas to the fuel chamber to the second pressure, lower than the first pressure, and closing the discharge valve when the detected concentration of the fuel gas in the fuel chamber exceeds the predetermined gas concentration, to thereby establish a normal power generating state in which a flow of fuel gas into the fuel chamber is maintained at the second pressure for generating electric power;
wherein the pressure regulating means reduces the supply pressure of the flow of fuel gas to the second pressure and closes the discharge valve only when the detected oxygen concentration equal to or less than a predetermined oxygen concentration.