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Digital Camera Powered By a Fuel Cell

Posted by kdawson on from the green-snaps dept.

An anonymous reader notes a development from the world of photography that could spread to notebooks and cell phones. Canon has filed for a patent on a fuel cell-powered DSLR. The fuel cell would power not only the camera body but also all accessories attached to it, doing away with the need to power flashes (for example) with AA or other batteries. The patent covers other electronic devices generally, but is clearly directed toward DSLR cameras, given the diagrams and examples used. "Canon continues to push its fuel cell development by devising a method for powering not only the internal DSLR body electronics, but also external components such as lenses and hotshoe flashes."

11 of 117 comments (clear)

  1. Powering the hot shoe? by jeffb+(2.718) · · Score: 2, Funny

    How about an option to vent fuel vapor across the contacts for a really big flash?

  2. That's nothing! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Funny

    I have a digital camera powered by a steam engine. And it is portable too (depending on rail locations)!

  3. Ethanol fuel cells by Chairboy · · Score: 5, Funny

    Ethanol based fuel cells would seem to be perfect for this equipment, based on some professional photographers I've met in the past.

    "One for you," pours vodka into the camera. "And one for me," while pouring some vodka into self. Rinse, repeat.

    1. Re:Ethanol fuel cells by nganju · · Score: 4, Funny

      Judging from the photographers I've worked with, you can leave out the "Rinse" part as well.

      --
      There are 2 kinds of people in this world. Those that can keep their train of thought,
    2. Re:Ethanol fuel cells by Adrian+Lopez · · Score: 3, Funny

      So that's why Canon cameras accept image stabilizer lenses.

      --
      "In prison you just have to shut your eyes and take it. Here you have to shut your eyes and give it."
  4. Re:A patent for what? by Hektor_Troy · · Score: 2, Funny

    Shhhh ... this is just a slightly modified approach to the Amazon Patent method:

    Patent something that uses electricity by adding "from a fuel cell" instead of "via the internet".

    But don't tell anyone. Via the internet. Powered by a fuel cell.

    --
    We do not live in the 21st century. We live in the 20 second century.
  5. Re:Oh, come on.. by dotgain · · Score: 4, Funny

    Anything think it's not OBVIOUS? We've been talking about fuel cells for YEARS. Now someone's come up with the idea to - and get this - Use it somewhere.

  6. Re:A patent for what? by MiniMike · · Score: 3, Funny

    what gives them the ability to patent "using a fuel cell in a camera"

    The exciting thing about these new fuel cells is the form factor- they are proposing fuel cells in the shape of a small cylinder, about 50 mm long by 14 mm diameter, with the positive and negative terminals on opposing ends. You can even use more than one in a device, by connecting them in series or parallel. Have no doubt that this innovative idea is worthy of a patent (at least from the current patent office).

  7. Re:Why should this be pateneable at all? by dotgain · · Score: 2, Funny

    Why would putting one in a camera be patentable any more then getting a patent on using AA batteries in such a camera?

    Hey, thanks for the idea! Looks like nobody's got that one yet.

  8. Re:oh boy by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Funny

    The trick is bio-disel! Think about it.

    Ew! You bastard.

    I live in a place popular with Fat American Tourists*. It's too easy to see them all with dripping cameras from squeezing a reload from the burger in their other hand... Much shuddering.

    *Hell yes, I know you're not all like that. The loud ignorant slurpy-toting crowd is definitely just an unfortunately visible subset.

  9. You are forgetting Sony lithium battery incidents by Tanman · · Score: 3, Funny

    Hydrogen bombs are the Next Logical Step in blowing up the customer.