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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."

3 of 117 comments (clear)

  1. Oh well then... by l0ungeb0y · · Score: 4, Insightful

    "The patent covers other electronic devices generally, but is clearly directed toward DSLR cameras, given the diagrams and examples used."

    Canon and Nikon et al are pillars of openness and are renowned for sharing their technology freely. This will in no way hinder the adoption of fuel cell technology in electronic devices at all.

    *cough*

  2. As with fuel cell powered laptops ... by oldspewey · · Score: 5, Insightful

    As with fuel cell powered laptops, I have to wonder how exactly I would get this through airport security.

    Big tubes of toothpaste and sticks of deodorant get confiscated, but they're going to let me waltz through toting a canister of (m)ethanol?

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  3. Hydrogen? by orzetto · · Score: 3, Insightful

    I am a fuel-cell researcher and when I RTFA'd I gasped—it seems they want to run this on hydrogen. They must be kidding. Normal H2 fuel cells run at about 80 C and require a hell of good cooling. Portable electronics is the domain of passive direct-methanol FCs.

    Good luck selling people a can of explosive pressurised gas they have to hold close to their body, and a machine that has to heat up to 80 Celsius before it starts delivering power.

    Anyway, I fail to see the inventive step in the camera. Fuel cells are not new. This type in particular does not seem new. The only new thing is that they stuffed it into a camera. Doesn't that qualify for trivial? Or can I file a patent for FC-powered drills and mixers?

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