Appeal 2007-1259
Application 10/054,213
III. Findings of fact
The record supports the following findings of fact as well as any other
findings of fact set forth in this decision by a preponderance of the evidence.
1. According to the ‘213 Specification “[t]he present object of the
present invention is to provide a fuel cell in which power losses
caused by contaminants [such as carbon monoxide] adsorbed at the
anode catalyst can be avoided inexpensively and reliably.”
(Specification at 4).
2. To achieve this object, a fuel cell having an anode-cathode unit is
provided along with “means which impress a positive voltage pulse
on the anode” of the cell. (Specification at 4).
3. According to the ‘213 Specification:
To produce a suitable positive voltage pulse, means which
produce a temporary short circuit between the anode and
cathode are provided for example. Alternatively, means which
bring about a pulsed feeding in of external electrical energy,
which is supplied to the anode, are provided…The variant first
described, with the short circuit, has the advantage over the
feeding in of external energy in that there is no need for an
external energy source.
(Specification at 4).
4. Claim 1 is representative and is as follows:
A fuel cell, comprising:
An anode-electrolyte-cathode unit having an anode
catalyst; and
means for impressing a positive voltage pulse on the
anode, wherein the fuel cell has a voltage that does not change
sign and at most becomes zero so that U (fuel cell) = U
(cathode) – U (anode) ≥ 0.
3
Page: Previous 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 Next
Last modified: September 9, 2013