TechJapan

DoCoMo announces experimental fuel cell unit for FOMA phones

Mobile Phones / NTT DoCoMo
Posted by zmcnulty on Sep 30, 2004 - 05:56 PM

They won't be releasing it to the public yet, so I believe this is referred to as a "Proof of Concept" device.



NTT DoCoMo Corporation, along with Fujitsu Laboratories Corporation, has announced the development of an experimental cradle-type micro fuel cell battery for FOMA phones. Development should be completed by the end of 2005.

This fuel cell was jointly developed by NTT DoCoMo and Fujitsu Laboratories. The specifications are so that it can recharge all FOMA phones introduced in the Fall of 2004, regardless of which model it is.

The circumstances for developed a micro fuel cell battery for FOMA is, due to the inclusion of TV phone functions, packet transfer rapidly growing due to unlimited plans, power consumption has risen drastically; this is said to support that rise. DoCoMo has also said that they are currently dealing with trying to raise the capacity to parallel that of lithium ion batteries.

This experimental unit is not intended to provide a direct power source for cellular phones; instead, it is a system that simply recharges phones using fuel cells. The output is 5.4V, 700mA. It contains o­ne cartridge storing 18cc of a 30% methanol concentration. The size is 152 x 57 x 16mm, and it weighs 190g.

The fuel cell itself does not provide power; the "power generator" uses the methanol as a fuel, which when it reacts with the air's oxygen, will generate electricity. The scale also various, and applications ranging from cars to home electronics are planned.

[1] [2] [3] [4]

Inspired by:
http://k-tai.ascii24.com/k-tai/news/2004/09/30/651802-000.html [5]

News Release (English):
http://www.nttdocomo.com/presscenter/pressreleases/press/pressrelease.html?param[no]=486 [6]

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Links in this article
  [1] http://www.techjapan.com/images/0904/093004/microfuelcell_a.jpg
  [2] http://www.techjapan.com/images/0904/093004/microfuelcell_b.jpg
  [3] http://www.techjapan.com/images/0904/093004/microfuelcell_f.jpg
  [4] http://www.techjapan.com/images/0904/093004/microfuelcell_s.jpg
  [5] http://k-tai.ascii24.com/k-tai/news/2004/09/30/651802-000.html
  [6] http://www.nttdocomo.com/presscenter/pressreleases/press/pressrelease.html?param[no]=486