Patent ID: 6447945
Filing Date: 2002-09-10
Classification: G06F,H01M,Y02E,Y10T

Abstract:
A portable electronic device which is powered by a proton exchange membrane (PEM) fuel cell that produces water as a by-product of electricity generation, which device comprisesa two-piece case, a CPU in a first piece of said case, a display screen in a second piece of said case, a fuel cell for providing electric power which creates water as a by-product in one of said pieces of said case, which piece also contains an exit opening to the exterior, and a hydrophilic water transporter for transferring said by-product water away from said fuel cell, which water transporter is located along a perimeter boundary of said piece of said case that contains said fuel cell, said water transporter including a perforated outer generally tubular holder which is associated with said exit opening and a generally coaxial perforated inner tube of lesser diameter with elongated hydrophilic wick material disposed within said inner tube, whereby said water transporter adsorbs water in the vicinity of said fuel cell and said adsorbed water is distributed along and throughout said hydrophilic wick, aiding its evaporation into air in the annular region between said perforated inner and outer tubes, and subsequently exits from said case as water vapor via said exit opening.