A Study of Fuel Cell Patenting Activity in Canada€¦ · consensus that global fuel cell research and development activity has risen dramatically over the past few decades. Much

A Study of Fuel CellPatenting Activity in CanadaBy Br ian Y. Lee, Gowl ing La f leur Henderson LLP

Montréal Ottawa Toronto Hamilton Waterloo Region Calgary Vancouver Moscow

The Power of Original Thoughtgowlings.com

Supported and partially funded by:

Table of Contents

Acknowledgements . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2

Executive Summary . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2

Introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2

A Year in Review: Canadian Fuel Cell Patenting Activity in 2001 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3

Recent Patenting Trends: 1989-2003 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5

A Who’s Who in the Canadian Fuel Cell Industry . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6

Patent Landscape by Fuel Cell Technology . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9

Conclusions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11

Appendix A: A Brief Explanation of Search Methodology . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12

Appendix B: Issued Fuel Cell Patents, by Technology, 1989-2003 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12

Appendix C: 2001 Granted Patents and Filed Applications, H01M 8 . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13

Appendix D: Fuel Cell Patent Portfolios of Canadian Applicants . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18

i. Ballard Power Systems . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18

ii. Government of Canada . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22

iii. Alcan International Ltd. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22

iv. Hydrogenics Corporation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22

v. Estco Battery Management Inc. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23

vi. Cellex Power Products . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23

vii. ACEP Inc. / Université de Montréal . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23

viii. Gimbie Enterprises Ltd. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23

ix. Integrated Energy Development Corporation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23

x. École Polytechnique de Montréal . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24

xi. Global Thermoelectric Inc. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24

xii. Questair Technologies Inc. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24

xiii. PowerDisc Development Corporation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24

xiv. Hydro-Quebec . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24

2 G o w l i n g L a f l e u r H e n d e r s o n L L P – A S t u d y o f F u e l C e l l P a t e n t i n g A c t i v i t y I n C a n a d a

AcknowledgementsI would like to thank Industry Canada, the National Research Council andFuel Cells Canada for providing their support for this study. In particular, Iwould like to thank Christopher Curtis, Vice President of Fuel Cells Canada,who first approached me with the idea of conducting a study of fuel cellinnovation from a uniquely Canadian perspective, and who helped reviewand interpret the data obtained for this study. I would also like to thankAnnie Desgagne, Senior Commerce Officer, Energy and Marine Branch ofIndustry Canada, who provided input into how to use patent statistics as anobjective metric to assess the somewhat subjective topic of technologicalinnovation. Finally, I would like to thank Desmond Mullan, Director B.C.Regional Innovation Initiative of the National Research Council Institute forFuel Cell Innovation, for facilitating the grant of research and fundingsupport from Industry Canada and the National Research Council that werenecessary for this study to take place.

Brian Y. LeeGowling Lafleur Henderson LLPVancouver, CanadaJune 2004

Executive SummaryFuel cell patenting activity in Canada has increased significantly over thepast decade, with the number of applications filed in 2001 having increasedalmost eight-fold over the number of applications filed in 1991. Thisincrease has far exceeded the average increase in overall patent filings inCanada over the same period. Since a patent application is generally filedshortly after completion of research and development on an innovativetechnology, these statistics provide compelling evidence that the fuel cellsector has been amongst the most active sectors for innovation.

Canadians have been global leaders in fuel cell innovation. For example,several Canadian inventors are amongst the all-time leaders in number ofUnited States and Canadian fuel cell patents, including David Wilkinson,who leads all other inventors in this category. However, Canadians haverecently fallen behind in protecting their patent rights in their homecountry; in 2001, Canadians ranked fourth behind German, American andJapanese fuel cell patent filers in the Canadian patent office. While thenumber of Canadian fuel cell filings by Canadian inventors has increasedover the past fifteen years, the increase in Canadian filings by foreigninventors over this period has far outpaced Canadian inventor filings. Onepossible explanation for this trend is the recent increase in global filings ofPatent Cooperation Treaty (PCT) international applications, and acorresponding increase in national entries by foreign companies intoCanada, which as a relatively small market would perhaps have beenbypassed by those foreign companies that previously preferred a directfiling strategy.

The heaviest concentration of patent activity in Canada is in the GreaterVancouver area of British Columbia. There is also significant activity inToronto, Ontario and Montreal, Quebec. The source of most of the patentactivity in British Columbia is from Ballard Power Systems, Inc., which ownsmore Canadian fuel cell patents than all other Canadian companiescombined. However, three companies – Hydrogenics Corporation ofToronto, Ontario, Global Thermoelectric Inc. of Calgary, Alberta, andQuestair Technologies Inc. of Burnaby, British Columbia – have emerged assignificant new players, with each company having recently filed severalpatent applications in Canada, the United States, and in the PCT for theirfuel cell technologies.

The most popular fuel cell technologies patented in recent years are in“balance of plant” technologies i.e. auxiliary processes and arrangementsof a fuel cell system. Amongst the different types of fuel cells beingdeveloped, patenting activity in solid electrolyte based fuel cells such asproton exchange membrane and solid oxide fuel cells remains strong,whereas patenting activity has dropped significantly in the areas ofaqueous and fused electrolyte type fuel cells, as well as in biochemical andregenerative fuel cells.

IntroductionWhile there is some debate about how close we are to widespreadcommercialization of fuel cell technologies, there appears to be a generalconsensus that global fuel cell research and development activity has risendramatically over the past few decades. Much of the activity appears to bedriven by the private sector rather than by government or universityinitiatives. Already, a number of automotive companies are testing theviability of fuel cell powered motor vehicles with limited demonstrationfleets of fuel cell powered buses, cars, and trucks. Oil and gas companiesseeing an opportunity to supply hydrogen to a future “hydrogen economy”are participating in hydrogen fueling station and other hydrogeninfrastructure demonstration projects. There are also reports of fuel cellpowered stationary power plants being installed at various industrialfacilities for long-term testing, and certain electronics manufacturers aredeveloping micro-fuel cell systems for powering their portable electronicproducts.

The state of technological development in established industries can bejudged by analyzing commercially available products and processes offeredfor sale by members of those industries. For example, trade shows are anexcellent opportunity to preview both existing products and upcoming newreleases. However, this approach is more difficult to apply to a nascentindustry like fuel cells, as most fuel cell companies are still largely in aresearch and development phase and do not have many or any products orprocesses that are publicly available for assessment. Fuel cell conferencesare useful forums for reporting results from academia-based research, buttend to provide only limited insight into the technological developments ofcommercially competitive companies, as such companies will be careful toguard their trade-secrets to maintain their competitive advantage.Therefore, another approach is required.

Patent publications provide a rich source of information about innovativetechnological developments, and the organizations that develop suchinnovations. Patents are a legislative scheme for promoting technologicalinnovation by providing a patent holder with exclusive rights to use itspatented technology for a time-limited period. In exchange for thisexclusive right, the patent holder must disclose the invention in sufficientdetail that a person skilled in the art of the patented technology canreproduce the technology from the description in the patent. Upon expiry ofthe patent, the disclosure becomes part of the public domain, and serves toadd to the state of the art of that technology.

Most patent offices require their patent applications to be published shortlyafter they are filed, typically eighteen months after the filing date. As apatent application is typically filed as soon as possible after completion ofresearch and development, the publicly searchable patent databases of thepatent offices throughout the world provide a relatively current snapshotinto particular aspects of the applicant’s research and development efforts.Retrieving the applicant’s entire patent portfolio can give a reader ahistorical perspective into the development of the applicant’s technologies,as well as insight into its future direction.

3G o w l i n g L a f l e u r H e n d e r s o n L L P – A S t u d y o f F u e l C e l l P a t e n t i n g A c t i v i t y I n C a n a d a

Patentable subject matter must be novel, inventive (i.e. not-obvious), anduseful. The patent disclosure must discuss the relevant background or priorart and identify the deficiencies therein that the invention is directed tosolving. Therefore, patent disclosures serve as a useful source for chartingthe evolution of a technological field; often, patents can be grouped intofamilies of related applications, wherein a first filed application covers theinitial discoveries of the invention, and later filed “daughter” applicationscover refinements and evolutionary developments of the initial research.

Inventions are by definition created by individual inventors, and thoseinventors are identified on the cover page of each patent document.Patents can be owned by and filed in the name of the inventors.Alternatively, rights in the patent can be assigned to another entity, such asthe inventors’ employer. In such case, the patent will identify the assigneeas the applicant or owner of the patent. Applicant, inventor, and ownerinformation are searchable fields in most patent databases, and therefore,useful insights can be obtained by cross-referencing these fields ofsearchable information, e.g. to determine which individuals are the mostprolific inventors in a certain type of fuel cell technology.

The World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) has developed anInternational Patent Classification (IPC) system to facilitate the review andretrieval of different patented technologies. The IPC system is structuredwith the following hierarchy, ranked from coarse to fine distinctions:section, class, subclass, group, subgroup. Data obtained for this study isbased on searches conducted using IPC definitions; in particular, this studyis restricted to fuel cell technology as defined by the IPC, namely by IPCclass “H01M” and subclass “8”.

This study focuses primarily on patenting activity in Canada by Canadiancompanies and organizations, in an attempt to understand one aspect of theCanadian fuel cell industry: innovation. Patent databases provide one metricfor objectively assessing the state of innovation in a particular technologicalsector. However, some caution must be taken against making a literalcorrelation between a company’s patent statistics and the extent of itsresearch and development efforts. Instead of patenting, many companies mayprotect some or all of their proprietary know-how by trade-secret. Subjectmatter that is particularly suitable for trade-secret protection is that which isincorporated into products that cannot be easily reversed engineered, or thatwhich is stored or practised in a place that is inaccessible to the public.Therefore, patent data should be interpreted as being suggestive but notdeterminative of the extent of a patentee’s innovative activities.

A Year in Review: Canadian FuelCell Patenting Activity in 2001

Patent applications filed at the Canadian Intellectual Property Office (CIPO)are generally published by the CIPO eighteen months after they are filed.Therefore, 2001 was the most recent full year that application data waspublicly available when this study was conducted at the end of 2003. In2001, 268 fuel cell patent applications were filed at the CIPO. Also, twelvefuel cell patents were issued by the CIPO that year.

Applicants

Of all the Canadian fuel cell applications filed in 2001, only thirty-oneapplications were filed by Canadian applicants. Germans, Americans andthe Japanese were the most frequent filers at the CIPO in 2001, each withsixty-five, sixty-four, and sixty-three fuel cell applications filed, respectively.This result is somewhat surprising, given that the Germans have historicallytrailed U.S, Japanese and Canadian applicants by a substantial margin infuel cell patent filings in Canada.

Siemens Aktiengesellschaft led all applicants with twenty-nine applicationsfiled in 2001. All of these applications were filed in the CIPO as nationalentries via the Patent Cooperation Treaty (PCT), and all claimed ParisConvention priority from an earlier filed German domestic application.About a third of the Siemens applications were filed jointly with EmitechGesellschaft Fur Emissionstechnologie MBH. These applications appear toall relate to fuel cell technologies for use in motor vehicles, and particularly,to proton exchange membrane (PEM) based technologies for use in motorvehicles. Of the remaining Siemens Aktiengesellschaft applications, thetechnologies focussed on four areas, namely: auxiliary arrangements orprocess for a fuel cell system, stack design, electrode design, and generalmanufacturing techniques.

Others 3%

Germany 24%

UnitedKingdom 7%

UnitedStates 24%

Japan 24%

Canada 11%France 3%

Netherlands 3%

Sweden 1%

Chart 1: 2001 Fuel Cell Applicants, by Nationality

Automotive manufacturers were also strongly represented amongst fuel cellpatent filers, with General Motors, Toyota, and Honda each having filedover ten applications and with Mitsubishi, Volvo, and DaimlerChrysler eachhaving filed multiple Canadian fuel cell applications.

Table 1: Leading Fuel Cell Applicants in 2001

Applicant Applications Nationality

1Siemens Aktiengesellschaft/

31 DE, USSiemens Westinghouse Power Corp.

2 Honda Giken Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha 19 CA

3 Ballard Power Systems Inc. 18 CA

4 Forschungszentrum Julich GmbH 17 DE

5 General Motors Corp. 14 US

6 Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha 10 JP

7 MTU Friedrichshafen GmbH 5 DE

8 Johnson Matthey Public Ltd. Co. 5 GB

8 Global Thermoelectric Inc. 5 CA

10 Seven other companies with 3 applications each


The leading Canadian applicant was Ballard Power Systems Inc. witheighteen applications. Other significant Canadian filers included GlobalThermoelectric Inc. and Questair Technologies Inc., who were the only othermultiple filers of Canadian applications in 2001.

Table 2: Leading Canadian Fuel Cell Applicants in 2001

Applicant Applications

1 Ballard Power Systems Inc. 18

2 Global Thermoelectric Inc.1 5

3 Questair Technologies Inc. 3

4 Five other Canadian applicants with 1 application each2

1 Global filed 6 applications but only 5 were classified as relating to fuel celltechnologies according to the IPC.

2 Schlumberger Canada Limited, The Governors of the University of Alberta, HydrogenicsCorporation, C02 Solutions Inc., and Ilhan Ulkem.

3 20 of 51 applications classified in IPC H01M 8/04 (auxiliary arrangements or processes),4 of 24 applications classified in IPC H01M 8/02 (electrodes) and 5 of 23 applicationsclassified in IPC H01M 8/10 (electrolytes) were filed after December 31, 2000.

4 Questair filed 6 applications in Canada, but only 3 were classified as fuel cell technologiesaccording to the IPC.

5 2,352,626 by CO2 Solutions Inc., and 2,351,279 by Ilhan Ulkem.

Ballard slightly favoured direct filings into the CIPO over national entries viathe PCT, with eleven of its eighteen applications being filed directly. Ballardappeared to focus its inventive efforts in 2001 on auxiliary arrangementsand processes for fuel cell systems, with eleven of its applications relatingat least in part to this area. Ballard’s other applications were primarilydirected to stack design, general manufacture, and fuel cell components.The proportion of Ballard’s filings for auxiliary aspects of the fuel cellsystem has been increasing in recent years relative to filings for directcomponents of the fuel cell, e.g. electrode or electrolyte3, and this suggeststhat Ballard’s core fuel cell design is relatively mature relative to the“balance of plant” aspects of its technology.

All of the fuel cell patent applications filed by Global Thermoelectric relatedto solid oxide fuel cells, whereas the three fuel cell patent applications filedby Questair4 related to a fuel cell coupled to a gas separation device that usespressure swing adsorption technology. Both of these companies are relativelynew players, as both have made all their Canadian filings in the last five years(1998-2003), and have not yet received any issued Canadian patents.

Filing Strategies

A large majority of fuel cell applications filed in Canada were made via thePCT. The PCT makes it possible to seek patent protection for an inventionsimultaneously in each of a large number of member countries, by filing asingle "international" PCT patent application. In order for the PCTapplication to issue to patent in a member country, the applicant mustnotify the patent office of the member country, typically within 30 monthsof the PCT filing date, that the PCT application is entering the “nationalphase” in that country. When the application enters the national phase ina country, the application’s national filing date is deemed to be the PCTinternational filing date. Therefore, PCT applications that were filed in 2001but had not yet entered the national phase in Canada when this study wasconducted have not been reported in this study.

Most applicants preferred to enter Canada entirely or mostly via the PCT in2001. This is not surprising given that the majority of fuel cell applicants inCanada are non-Canadian. However, it is somewhat surprising that besidesBallard, only two other Canadian applicants5 filed applications directly intothe CIPO. The remaining 18 fuel cell applications filed by Canadianapplicants entered the CIPO via the PCT and most of these applicationsclaimed Convention priority from an earlier-filed U.S. application. Thissuggests that Canadian companies are generally seeking to protect theirinventions in several jurisdictions worldwide, rather than to restrict theirmonopoly to just Canada. The tendency for Canadian companies to file first

in the U.S. indicates that Canadian companies see the U.S. as a primarymarket for their fuel cell technology.

Inventors

German fuel cell inventors led all nationalities for Canadian fuel cellapplications filed in 2001. Canadian inventors accounted for about 10% ofall Canadian fuel cell filings in 2001. Leading Canadian inventors includeDavid Wilkinson, Dennis Prediger, Debabrata Ghosh, Martin Perry, BowieKeefer, and Michael Pastula.

Others 2%

Germany 28%

UnitedKingdom 7%

UnitedStates 22%

Japan 24%

Canada 10%France 3%

Netherlands 3%

Sweden 1%

Chart 2: 2001 Fuel Cell Inventors, by Nationality

Technologies

Details and manufacturing techniques, auxiliary arrangements andprocesses, and solid electrolyte fuel cell design were the most active areas inwhich patent protection was sought in 2001. There was almost no patentingactivity in 2001 for biochemical, regenerative and redox / indirect fuel celltechnologies. Canadian companies focussed on protecting their innovationsin auxiliary arrangements and/or processes, with more the 40% of all theirfuel cell applications relating at least in part to this area.

(see Table 3)Grants

The CIPO issued twelve patents in 2001 that were classified as fuel celltechnology by the IPC. The nationalities of the patentees of these patentswere quite diverse, with patentees hailing from six different countries. Onlyone patent issued to a Canadian patentee: CA 2,192,170 to Ballard PowerSystems Inc. The technologies patented were also quite diverse; the mostpopular category concerned combining fuel cells with means for producingreactants or treating residues (H01 M 8/06).


The average period of time for these patents to issue from the date theywere filed was 6.3 years, with the slowest taking a lengthy eleven years6

and the quickest requiring just over four years and five months7. Given thatthe CIPO allows applicants to delay the start of examination for up to fiveyears (or seven years if an application was filed between October 1, 1989and October 1, 1996) from the filing date, it is not unusual to see suchlong pending periods for applications. In seven of the patents, examinationwas requested within one year of the filing date (or in the case of PCTnational entries, within one year of the national entry date), and in onecase, the patentee waited almost seven years before requestingexamination. The average period of time for these fuel cell patents to issuefrom the date examination was requested was 46 months (3.8 years).Considering that for 2001-2002, the average length of time between thedate examination was requested and the date of receipt of a firstexaminer’s official action was 26.3 months, and that disposal of applications

Table 3: Distribution of Patented Fuel Cell Technologies

ApplicationsAll by Canadian

Technology applications applicants

Manufacture of Fuel Cells (HO1M 8/00) 10.0% 7.5%

Details (HO1M 8/02) 20.2% 12.5%

Auxiliary arrangements or processes(HO1M 8/04) 23.5% 42.5%

Combination of fuel cell with means forproducing reactants or for treatment ofresidues (HO1M 8/06) 7.5% 15.0%

Aqueous electrolyte fuel cells (HO1M 8/08) 1.2% 2.5%

Solid electrolyte fuel cells (e.g. PEM)(HO1M 8/10) 17.0% 7.5%

High temperature solid electrolytefuel cells (e.g. SOFC) (HO1M 8/012) 4.5% 5.0%

Fused electrolyte fuel cells (HO1M 8/14) 0.7% 0%

Biochemical fuel cells (HO1M 8/16) 0.2% 0%

Regenerative fuel cells (HO1M 8/18) 1.2% 0%

Indirect fuel cells e.g. redox cells(HO1M 8/20) 0.2% 0%

Fuel cells in which the fuel is based onmaterials comprising carbon or oxygen orhydrogen and other elements; fuel cellsin which the fuel cell is based on materialscomprising only elements other thancarbon, oxygen or hydrogen (HO1M 8/22) 1.2% 0%

Grouping of fuel cells into batteries(HO1M 8/24) 12.6% 7.5%

TOTAL 100% 100%

typically occur within a year after receipt of the first official action, theturnaround time for fuel cell patent applications in the CIPO system issomewhat longer than normal.

Recent Patenting Trends: 1989-2003Fuel cell patenting activity in Canada has increased significantly over thepast fifteen years. The number of fuel cell patent applications filed in 2001was more than twelve times the number filed in 1989. While the totalnumber of Canadian filings for all technologies increased by 50% between1996 and 2001, the number of Canadian fuel cell filings increased by morethan 500% over the same time period. Since a patent application isgenerally filed shortly after research and development on an innovativetechnology has been completed, these statistics provide evidence that therate of innovation in the fuel cell sector is particularly intense relative toother industrial sectors.

The number of fuel cell patents issued in 2003 was also higher than in1989, although curiously there was a dip in the number of fuel cell patentsissuing in the mid 1990’s. One possible explanation for this dip is thecaseload backlog at the CIPO created by a change in the Patent Rules in1996 which reduced the deadline to request examination from seven yearto five years from the filing date.

89 91 93 95 97 99 01 03

Issued patents Filed applications

300

250

200

150

100

50

0

Chart 3: Fuel Cell Patents Issued andApplied For in Canada (IPC H01M 8)

The number of yearly fuel cell filings was relatively steady throughout theearly 1990’s. Then, around 1995, yearly filings began to increasedramatically. This trend continued through the late 1990’s and early 2000’sand shows no sign of slowing down. While the number of filings byCanadian inventors has increased steadily since 1989, the increase inapplications by foreign inventors over the same period has far outpacedCanadian inventor filings. One possible explanation for this trend is therecent increase in global PCT filings and the resulting increase of nationalentries into countries like Canada, which perhaps would have beenbypassed by foreign companies that previously favoured a direct filingstrategy. Another possible explanation is that Canadian inventors are fallingbehind their foreign counterparts in developing innovative new fuel celltechnologies, and/or that Canadian companies have had less resourcesthan their foreign counterparts to finance their patent protection initiatives.

(see Charts 4 and 5, next page)

6 CA 2015045 filed on April 20, 1990 and issued on August 21, 2001.7 CA 2198333 filed on February 24, 1997 and issued on August 7, 2001.


89 91 93 95 97 99 01

Applications filed, totalApplications filed by Canadian inventors

300

250

200

150

100

50

0

Chart 4: Fuel Cell Applications Filed in Canada (IPC H01M 8)

89 91 93 95 97 99 01 03

50

40

30

20

10

0

Issued patents, totalPatents issued to Canadian inventors

Chart 5: Fuel Cell Patents Issued in Canada (IPC H01M 8)

A Who’s Who in theCanadian Fuel Cell Industry

Inventors

Canadian inventors are named in 178 fuel cell patents and applicationsfiled in the CIPO, ranking them fourth behind American, Japanese andGerman inventors. However, the leading fuel inventor in both Canada andthe United States is a Canadian: David Wilkinson.

Table 4: Leading Countries, by Inventors,1920-2003, IPC H01M 8

Patents and applications with atCountry least one inventor from country

1 United States 594

2 Japan 354

3 Germany 280

4 Canada 178

5 United Kingdom 77

Table 5: Leading All-time Canadian Fuel Cell Inventors,by Issued Canadian Patents (1920-2003)

Name Number

1 David P. Wilkinson 9

2 Henry H. Voss 8

3 David S. Watkins 7

4 Boguslaw Woznizcka 5

4 Nicholas J. Fletcher 5

6 Eric Pow 4

6 Clarence Chow 4

6 Gordon Lamont 4

Table 6: All-time Leading Canadian Inventors, by Issued US Patents in H01M 8

Name Number


2 Henry H. Voss 17

3 David S. Watkins 9

4 Clarence Chow 6

4 Nicholas J. Fletcher 6

6 Mark C. Johnson 5

6 Gordon J. Lamont 5

6 Stephen A. Campbell 5

0

5

10

15

20

25

30

35

Issued patents Filed applications

Wilk

inso

n

Voss

Wat

kins

Chow

Flet

cher


Table 7: Leading All-time Fuel Cell Inventors,by Issued US Patents8

Name Number


2 Kazuhito Hatoh 29

3 Teruhisa Kanbara 28

4 Manfred Waidhas 25

5 Arno Mattejat 24

6 Hendrik Dohle 24

7 Meike Reizig 20

7 Hisaaki Gyoten 20

9 Makoto Uchida 20

10 Junji Niikura 19

11 Henry Voss 17

Applicants

Ballard Power Systems, Inc. of Burnaby, British Columbia dominates all otherCanadian fuel cell companies in fuel cell patenting activity. Over half of allCanadian fuel cell patents having Canadian inventors are owned byBallard, and the top eight fuel cell inventors9 of all time have some or all oftheir inventions patented under the name of Ballard. Ballard leads allCanadian companies with twenty-three issued Canadian patents and 105applications10. Also, Ballard is ranked first amongst U.S. patent holders ofall-time with ninety-four issued U.S. fuel cell patents, and first in the U.S. inrespect of fuel cell patents issued within the last ten years. Canadianpatentees as a whole accounted for about 12% of all U.S. fuel cell patentsowned by non-U.S. companies and organizations, ranking third behindGermany (19%) and Japan (54%)11.

(see Table 8)

Other prominent Canadian players include Hydrogenics Corporation ofToronto, Ontario, Alcan International Ltd., of Montreal, Quebec, and theGovernment of Canada via its Minister of National Defence and Minister ofMines and Energy. Each of these organizations hold multiple Canadian andU.S. fuel cell patents. Significant recent players include GlobalThermoelectric of Calgary, Alberta, and Questair Technologies of Burnaby,British Columbia; both of these companies do not yet own any issuedCanadian fuel cell patents, but they have been very active filing fuel cellapplications in recent years.

Universities

A number of Canadian universities have been conducting research anddevelopment for some years in the area of fuel cell and hydrogentechnologies. For example, there is significant R&D being done at theInstitute for Integrated Energy Systems at the University of Victoria (IESVic).However, a search of the CIPO has failed to reveal any significant numbersof fuel cell patents or applications filed or owned by Canadian universities.One possible explanation for this finding is that in many cases, ownershipof new, potentially commercially useful technologies developed by

8 January 1 1976 to December 31, 2003 in H01M 89 By number of issued Canadian patents in IPC H01M 8

10 As of December 31, 2003 for patents issued and applications filed in IPC H01 M 811 Friedman et al. “Technical Intelligence Profile: Fuel Cells”, May 2002,

Metrics Group LLC, pg.5.12 i.e. the IPC sub-class H01M “processes or means, e.g. batteries, for the direct

conversion of chemical energy into electrical energy”. Data for patent activity bygeographical region was not available for IPC groups, e.g. H01M 8 for “fuel cells”.

Table 8: Patenting Leaders in Fuel Cell Technology –Number of US Patents, 1976 -Present (H01M 8, 1976 - 2003)

CanadianUS patents

Applicant patents (applications)

1 Ballard Power Systems Inc. 92 23 (105)

2 Westinghouse Electric Corp. 83 29 (43)

3 General Motors Corp. 63 4 (52)

4 Plug Power Inc. 56 0 (2)

5 Siemens Corp. 53 9 (104)

6 Honda Motor Company 53 5 (64)

7 Fuji Electric Corporation R&D Co. Ltd. 48 0 (0)

8 UTC Fuel Cells, LLC 41 1 (1)

9 Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha 36 9 (44)

10 NGK Insulators Ltd. 31 10 (13)

11 Matsushita Electric Works Ltd. 29 4 (11)

12 Toshiba Corp. 29 1 (3)

13Ishikawajima-Harima HeavyIndustries Co. Ltd.

24 9 (13)

universities are transferred, or “spun off” to private sector organizations forthe purpose of commercializing said technologies. The patent rights in suchtechnologies may have been filed in the name of the spin-off company, withthe university retaining licensee rights to use the technology; however, suchlicences are not required to be registered in the Patent Office, and thus theirexistence is difficult to confirm by publicly available sources.

The most prominent centre of fuel cell and electrochemical battery12 activityin Canada is the Greater Vancouver region of British Columbia. This regionaccounted for all of the fuel cell and battery patenting activity in BritishColumbia over the five year period of 1998-2002, with eighty-eight filingsand twenty-three grants. Ontario was the second most active province, withforty-four filings and seventeen grants, followed by Quebec with forty-onefilings and ten grants.

The most active city over this period was Burnaby, British Columbia,followed by Montreal, Quebec, and Toronto, Ontario. Presumably, much ofthe fuel cell patenting activity in Burnaby is from Ballard, whose head officeis located in that city.

(see Tables 8 and 9, next page)


Table 9: Canadian Fuel Cell Leaders, Ranked By Total Canadian and U.S. Fuel Cell Patents*

Canadian applications Canadian patents US patents PCT applications(fuel cell**/ all (fuel cell**/ all (fuel cell**/ all (fuel cell**/ all

Country technologies) technologies) technologies) technologies)

Ballard Power Systems Inc. 105 / 137 23 / 30 94 / 181 28 / 46

Government of Canada (incl. Her Majesty theQueen in right of Canada / Minister of NationalDefence / Minister of Mines and Energy)

n/a 5 / n/a 3 / n/a n/a

Alcan International Ltd. 1 / 399 1 / 223 5 / 455 0

Hydrogenics Corp. 13 / 15 1 / 1 3 / 5 0

Estco Battery Management Inc. 0 / 2 0 / 1 2 / 4 1 / 1

Cellex Power Products Inc. 0 / 0 0 / 0 1 / 3 0 / 1

ACEP Inc. / Université de Montréal 0 / 5 0 / 0 1 / 8 0 / 0

Gimbie Enterprises Ltd. 1 / 1 0 / 0 1 / 1 0 / 0

Integrated Energy Development Corp. 0 / 0 0 / 0 1 / 3 0 / 0

École Polytechnique de Montréal 0 / 2 0 / 0 1 / 2 0 / 0

Powerdisc Development Corp. 3 / 3 1 / 1 1 / 1 1 / 2

Hydro-Québec 3 / 184 2 / 21 0 / 269 1 / 1

Global Thermoelectric Inc. 11 / 13 0 / 0 0 / 2 10 / 11

Questair Technologies Inc. 7 / 23 0 / 5 0 / 7 0

*As of December 2003, **H01M 8

Table 10: Patent filed and granted by region, H01M

1998 1999 2000 2001 2002Province City Filed Granted Filed Granted Filed Granted Filed Granted Filed Granted

AB Calgary 3 1 4

Edmonton 2 1

BC Burnaby 9 2 8 2 21 2 20 1 24 2

Chilliwack 1 1

N. Vancouver 6 2 1

Maple Ridge 6 1

Richmond 1

Vancouver 1

ON Hampton 1

Mississauga 1 1 1 1

Lakefield 1

North York 1 1 1

continued ➥


Table 10 (continued): Patent filed and granted by region, H01M

1998 1999 2000 2001 2002Province City Filed Granted Filed Granted Filed Granted Filed Granted Filed Granted

Ottawa 1 2 1

Port Colburne 1

Oakville 1

Streetsville 1

Toronto 2 4 4 8 5 7 1 4 2

Waterloo 2

Woodbridge 6

QC Dollard-des-Ormeaux 1 1

Knowlton 1

Laval 1

Lac Brome 1 2 1

Montreal 6 5 3 15 2 1 4 2

St. Lazare 1

Val Belair 1 1

NL St. John’s 1

MB Winnipeg 1

Patent Landscape byFuel Cell Technology

Between 1989 and 2003, the most frequently patented fuel cell technolo-gies in Canada were in “balance of plant” aspects, namely auxiliaryarrangements and processes, fuel cell manufacturing techniques, and tech-nologies for coupling fuel cells to means for producing reactants or treat-ing residues. These areas experienced a dip in patent grants in the mid1990’s (along with all fuel cell technologies), but by 2001, the number ofpatent grants had returned back to levels experienced in the late 1980’sand early 1990’s, and by 2003, the numbers of patent grants in these areashad reached an all-time high.

Patent activity for aqueous electrolyte, fused electrolyte, biochemical, andregenerative type fuel cells virtually dried up in the past five years, aftersome modest activity in these areas in the late 1980’s and early 1990’s.However, patenting of solid electrolyte based fuel cells (e.g. PEM fuel cellsand SOFCs) remained steady throughout the period. Assuming thatpatenting activity forecasts commercial activity, it would appear from thesepatent statistics that PEM, solid oxide, and other fuel cells based on solidelectrolyte technologies are emerging as the favoured commercialembodiments of the fuel cell.

(see charts on following page)

Fused electrolytefuel cells 2%

Biochemicalfuel cells 0%

Aqueous electrolytefuel cells 2%

Solid electrolytefuel cells 7%

Solid electrolyte fuelcells operable at hightemperature 6%

Auxiliaryarrangementsand processes25%

Fuel cells and meansfor producing reactantsor treating residues 19%

Manufacture 18%Regenerativefuel cells 2%

Fuel cells definedby fuel type 5%

Stacking 14%

Chart 6: Patented Fuel Cell Technologies 1989-2003,by IPC Sub-Group


Chart 7: Issued Canadian Patents for Details andManufacture of Fuel Cells (H01M 08/00 and 08/02)

0

5

10

15

20

25

30

89-91 92-94 95-97 98-00 01-03

22

10

1

5

27

Num

ber o

f pat

ents

Technologies in the category shown in Chart 7 include:

• details of heat exchange or temperature measuring elements;

• collectors (e.g. bipolar separators);

• details of surrounding electrodes, matrices, membranes or fuel cellelements with sealing or supporting material;

• details of membranes or electrolyte holding materials; and

• details of joining electrodes, reservoir layers, heat exchange unitsor bipolar separators to each other.

Chart 8: Issued Canadian Patents for Auxiliary Arrange-ments and Processes of Fuel Cells (H01M 08/04)

19

8

29

0

5

10

15

20

25

30

89-91 92-94 95-97 98-00 01-03

19

25

8

11

29

Num

ber o

f pat

entsChart 9: Issued Canadian Patents for Producing Reactants

and Treating Residues in Fuel Cells (H01M 08/06)

0

5

10

15

20

25

30

89-91 92-94 95-97 98-00 01-03

15

25

Num

ber o

f pat

ents

13

3

1313

3

13

Technologies in the category shown in Chart 8 include13:

• arrangements and processes related to heat exchange ortemperature measurement or control;

• arrangements for reactant control or regulation, e.g. pressureor concentration;

• arrangements related to the management of the electrolytestream, e.g. heat exchange; and

• electrolyte or water management of solid electrolyte cells.

13 Based on sub-classes defined by the Classification System of the European PatentOffice (ECLA)


• producing gaseous reactants, such as from carbon containingmaterial;

• treatment of gaseous reactants or gaseous residues, e.g. cleaning(humidifying or dehumidifying of gaseous reactants); and

• treatment of electrolyte residue, e.g. reconcentrating.

Chart 10: Issued Canadian Patents for AqueousElectrolyte Fuel Cells (H01M 08/08)

0

5

10

15

89-91 92-94 95-97 98-00 01-03

20 0 1

44

Num

ber o

f pat

ents

Chart 11: Issued Canadian Patents for SolidElectrolyte Fuel Cells (H01M 08/10)

0

5

10

15

89-91 92-94 95-97 98-00 01-03

5

1

10

3

9

3

9

Num

ber o

f pat

ents


• fuel cells with anode and cathode gas-diffusion electrodes orelectrode layers, e.g. using gaseous or vaporized reactants;

• fuel cells with one of the reactants being liquid, solid, or liquidcharged; and

• fuel cells characterized by the electrolyte material, in particular,a polymeric electrolyte material.


Chart 12: Issued Canadian Patents for High TemperatureSolid Electrolyte Fuel Cells (H01M 08/12)

0

5

10

15

89-91 92-94 95-97 98-00 01-03

11

5

1 1

5

Num

ber o

f pat

ents


• fuel cells having electrolytes consisting of oxides, such as zirconiumoxide, cerium oxide, or bismuth oxide; and

• fuel cells having electrodes consisting of oxides, such as complexedoxides, optionally doped, of the type M1MeO3, M1 being an alkalineearth metal or a rare earth, Me being a metal, e.g. perovskites.

Chart 13: Issued Canadian Patents forFused Electrolyte Fuel Cells (H01M 08/14)

0

5

10

15

89-91 92-94 95-97 98-00 01-03

6

20 0 1

Num

ber o

f pat

ents


• fuel cells wherein the anode and the cathode are gas permeableelectrodes or electrode layers; and

• fuel cells characterized by the electrolyte material, especiallycarbonates.

Chart 14: Issued Canadian Patents forBiochemical Fuel Cells (H01M 08/16)

0

5

10

15

89-91 92-94 95-97 98-00 01-03

0 0 1 0 0Num

ber o

f pat

ents

Chart 15: Issued Canadian Patents forRegenerative Fuel Cells (H01M 08/04)

0

5

10

15

89-91 92-94 95-97 98-00 01-03

5

20 0

2

Num

ber o

f pat

ents


• regeneration by thermal means; and

• regeneration by electrochemical means.

Chart 16: Issued Canadian Patents for GroupingFuel Cells into Batteries (H01M 08/04)

0

5

10

15

89-91 92-94 95-97 98-00 01-03

5

1 2

Num

ber o

f pat

ents

3

8

3

8

Results from this study indicate that the pace of innovation has risendramatically in the fuel cell sector. While Canadian companies havesignificantly increased their number of Canadian patent filings over thepast decade, they have not kept pace with the increase in Canadianfilings by foreign companies. Filing statistics show a strong presence ofautomotive companies with fuel cell filings in Canada. Somewhatsurprising is the comparatively low number of university and governmentfuel cell patenting activity, although the tendency for universities toassign patent rights to a private sector partner with license back rightsmay in part explain these low numbers.

Canadian patent filing statistics appear to support the generalsentiment that the fuel cell industry is transitioning from a research anddevelopment phase to a commercialization phase. An increasingproportion of patent filings are for balance-of-plant technologies, ratherthan for aspects of the fuel cell itself. Canadian companies appear to

direct more of their research and development efforts to such balance-of-plant technologies than their foreign counterparts.

Results also indicate that Canadian companies do not see Canada astheir primary market for their fuel cell products. With most Canadiancompanies entering Canada through the PCT national phase rather thanby direct filings, most Canadian companies appear willing to invest theadditional funds necessary for the right to secure patent rights globally.Furthermore, most Canadian companies appear to view Canada as asecondary market to the U.S., with most Canadian companies filing inthe U.S. before filing in Canada for the same invention.

Ballard Power Systems has historically dominated the Canadian fuel celllandscape. However, recent emergence of new players like GlobalThermoelectric, Questair, and Hydrogenics suggest that the Canadian fuelcell industry is entering into a new era with more diverse representation.

Conclusions


Appendix AA Brief Explanation of Search Methodology

The data used in this study was obtained from the National ResearchCouncil, Institute for Fuel Cell Innovation and from the on-line electronicdatabase of the Canadian Intellectual Property Office (CIPO)(www.cipo.gc.ca). Data was acquired during the months of November toDecember 2003.

The subject matter searched was restricted to fuel cell technologies asdefined by the 7th edition of the International Patent Classification (IPC)administered by the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO)(www.wipo.org/classifications). The IPC is a hierarchical classificationsystem comprising sections, classes, subclasses and groups (main groupsand subgroups). The 7th edition of the IPC, which is in force from January1, 2000, consists of 8 sections, 120 classes, 628 subclasses andapproximately 69,000 groups. Fuel Cells are classified in group IPC H01M8, as “electrochemical generators wherein the reactants are supplied fromthe outside”.

This study does not include hydrogen technologies, except where suchtechnologies fall within a sub-group of IPC H01M 8.

The term “fuel cell” patents or patent applications as used in this study aredefined as patents and applications classified in IPC group H01M 8.

An “owner” of a patent or application as referred to in this study is theowner as named on the patent document, i.e. the owner as of the date ofpublication or issue of the patent. This study does not consider any newowner that may have acquired patent rights after issuance of the patent.

All reasonable attempts have been made to report data accurately in thisstudy; however, the accuracy of this study depends on a number of factorsincluding the accuracy of the patent databases from which data wasobtained.

Nothing in this study shall be construed to constitute legal advice. Theopinions expressed by the author do not necessarily reflect the opinions ofGowling Lafleur Henderson LLP.

Appendix BIssued Fuel Cell Patents 1989-2003, by Technology

Technology 1989-1991 1992-1994 1995-1997 1998-2000 2001-2003

Details and manufacture (H01M 8/00 and 8/02) 22 10 1 5 27

Auxiliary arrangements or processes,e.g .for control of pressure, for circulation of fluids (H01M 8/04) 19 25 8 11 29

Combination of fuel cell with means for production of reactantsor for treatment of residues (H01M 8/06) 13 15 3 13 25

Fuel cells with aqueous electrolytes (H01M 8/08) 4 2 0 0 1

Fuel cells with solid electrolytes (H01M 8/10) 3 9 5 1 10

Fuel cells with solid electrolytes operating at high temperature,e.g. with stabilized ZrO2 electrolyte (H01M 8/12) 11 5 1 1 5

Fuel cells with fused electrolyte (H01M 8/14) 6 2 0 0 1

Biochemical fuel cells, i.e. cells in which micro-organisms functionas catalysts (H01M 8/16) 0 0 1 0 0

Regenerative fuel cells (H01M 8/18) 5 2 0 0 2

Fuel cells in which the fuel is based on the materials comprisingcarbon or oxygen or hydrogen and other elements other than carbon,oxygen or hydrogen (H01M 8/22) 3 5 1 2 8

Grouping of fuel cells into batteries (H01M 8/24) 20 10 4 7 13


Appendix C2001 Granted Patents andFiled Applications, H01M 8

1. 2297610 Ultra-High Efficiency Turbine And Fuel Cell Combination

2. 2214769 Fuel-Cells Generator System And Method Of GeneratingElectricity From Fuel Cells

3. 2165085 High-Temperature Fuel Cell System

4. 2152651 Ion Selective Ceramic Membrane

5. 2237632 High Temperature Electrochemical Converter ForHydrocarbon Fuels

6. 2225728 Water Management System For Solid Polymer ElectrolyteFuel Cell Power Plants

7. 2218895 Lower-Energy Hydrogen Methods And Structures

8. 2206207 Ion-Conductive Polymers

9. 2198333 Method Of And Apparatus For Reforming Fuel And FuelCell System With Fuel-Reforming Apparatus IncorporatedTherein

10. 2192170 Electrochemical Fuel Cell Stack With ConcurrentlyFlowing Coolant And Oxidant Streams

11. 2064225 Compositions Derived From Bi4v2o11

12. 2015045 Fuel Cell Power Plant

14. 2412180 Polymer Fuel Cell Structure

15. 2408587 Fuel Cell Assembly



18. 2403938 Mixed Reactant Fuel Cells With Flow Through PorousElectrodes

19. 2403935 Mixed Reactant Fuel Cells

20. 2401562 Ion Exchange Membrane Fuel Cell

21. 2399938 Fuel Cell Block Comprising A Condensed WaterSeparator Which Is Connected To An Operating GasDelivery Line

22. 2397889 Fuel Cell Stack With Cooling Fins And Use Of ExpandedGraphite In Fuel Cells

23. 2397568 Novel Fuels

24. 2382471 Fuel Cell Apparatus

25. 2376083 Method Of Operating A Fuel Cell System, And Fuel CellSystem Operable Accordingly

26. 2349642 Fuel Cell With Variable Porosity Gas Distribution Layers

27. 2343262 Fuel Cell System Having Thermally Integrated,Isothermal Co-Cleansing Subsystem

28. 2438144 A Fuel Cell Power System

29. 2435763 Fuel Cell System

30. 2433395 Fuel Cell System Which Is Provided For MobileApplications And Which Has A Latent Heat Storage,And Method For Thermally Insulating The Same

31. 2431221 Process For Air Enrichment In Producing Hydrogen ForUse With Fuel Cells

32. 2430271 Methods And Apparatuses For Gas Separation ByPressure Swing Adsorption With Partial Gas ProductFeed To Fuel Cell Power Source

33. 2430265 Fuel Cell Module Comprising A Magnetic Shielding

34. 2429595 Fuel Cell Stack

35. 2429415 Fuel Cell Stack With Recycling


37. 2428657 System For The Humidification Of Polymer ElectrolyteMembrane Fuel Cells

38. 2428454 Solid Electrolyte Type Fuel Cell And Air ElectrodeCollector For Use Therein


40. 2428200 Electrochemical Process For Oxidation Of Alkanes ToAlkenes

41. 2427599 Multi-Function Energy System Operable As A Fuel Cell,Reformer, Or Thermal Plant

42. 2424681 A Solid Oxide Fuel Cell Component And A Method OfManufacturing A Solid Oxide Fuel Cell Component

43. 2423269 Fuel Cell Module

2001 Filed Applications H01M 8

1. 2392881 Fuel Cell System With Load Management

2. 2408592 Fuel Cell Assembly And Method For Making The Same

3. 2408041 Fuel Cell Module And Structure For Gas Supply To FuelCell

4. 2397536 Fuel Cell With Proton Conducting Membrane

5. 2447856 Fuel Cell Power System, Method Of Distributing Power,And Method Of Operating A Fuel Cell Power System

6. 2429104 The Use Of Sulfur-Containing Fuels For Direct OxidationFuel Cells


8. 2426207 Cell Assembly For An Electrochemical Energy ConverterAnd Method For Producing Such A Cell Assembly

9. 2423864 Method For Operating A Fuel Cell, Polymer-ElectrolyteMembrane Fuel Cell Which Works With This Method AndProcess For Producing It

10. 2422795 Carbon Monoxide Removal

11. 2420256 High-Temperature Fuel Cell Power Station HavingReduced Carbon Dioxide Emissions

12. 2415388 High Temperature Fuel Cell

13. 2414129 Integrated Module For Solid Oxide Fuel Cell Systems



45. 2422052 Fuel Cell System With Improved Reaction Gas Utilization

46. 2421766 Device And Method For Producing And Simulating Two-Phase Flows In Chemical Or Electrochemical ReactorsOr Heat Exchangers

47. 2420973 High Efficiency Fuel Cell Power Conditioner

48. 2419209 Bipolar Plate For Pem Fuel Cells

49. 2418944 Fuel Cell Stack With Internal Gas Connections

50. 2417164 Separator For Low-Temperature Type Fuel Cell AndProduction Method Therefor

51. 2415614 Polymer Membrane Composition

52. 2414591 Method For Operating A Pem Fuel Cell System, And AnAssociated Polymer Electrolyte Membrane (Pem) FuelCell System

53. 2414365 Gas Distributor For Fuel Cells

54. 2414003 Device For Electrically Contacting Electrodes In High-Temperature Fuel Cells

55. 2413146 Conductive Composition For Solid Polymer Type FuelCell Separator, Solid Polymer Type Fuel Cell Separator,Solid Polymer Type Fuel Cell And Solid Polymer TypeFuel Cell System Using The Separator

56. 2412558 Reduced Size Fuel Cell For Portable Applications

57. 2411711 Method For Applying A Solid Electrolytic Layer To APorous Electrode

58. 2410005 Fuel-Cell Assembly Comprising An Electrolyte Reservoir

59. 2409113 Fuel Cell For Downhole Power Systems

60. 2408785 Supply Of Electric Power Using Fuel Cell AndChargeable/Dischargeable Storage


62. 2407920 Fuel Battery

63. 2407315 End Plates And Current Collector Plates For Fuel Cells

64. 2402998 Full Cell Power Systems, Direct Current VoltageConverters, Fuel Cell Power Generation Methods, AndPower Conditioning Methods

65. 2402841 Ion Exchange Materials

66. 2402713 Finely Divided Metal Catalyst And Method For MakingSame

67. 2400633 Pressure Fluctuation Prevention Tank Structure,Electrolyte Circulation Type Secondary Battery, AndRedox Flow Type Secondary Battery

68. 2400414 Methanol Fuel Cell With A Metal-Cation-ConductingMembrane

69. 2400027 Membrane For Fuel Cells

70. 2399981 Alkaline Direct Methanol Fuel Cell

71. 2398711 Method Of Fabricating An Assembly Comprising AnAnode-Supported Electrolyte, And Ceramic CellComprising Such An Assembly

72. 2394924 Energy Efficient Gas Separation For Fuel Cells

73. 2391587 Polymer Electrolyte Fuel Cell

74. 2389276 Method And Apparatus For Supplying Hydrogen AndPortable Cassette For Supplying Hydrogen

75. 2387674 Solid Polymer Fuel Cell

76. 2385094 Microreactor For An Electrode Arrangment Of A Fuel Cell

77. 2380427 Fuel Cell

78. 2365337 Bipolar Plates For Fuel Cell Stacks

79. 2364003 Fuel Cell With A Device For Storing Water

80. 2361448 Carbon Monoxide/Water Removal From Fuel Cell FeedGas

81. 2361418 Thermally-Integrated Low Temperature Water-Gas ShiftReactor Apparatus And Process

82. 2357587 Desulfurization For Fuel Cell Systems Using SulfurSeparating Membranes

83. 2356236 Fuel Cell, Fuel Cell Generator, And Equipment UsingThe Same

84. 2352831 Method And Apparatus For Detecting Transfer Leaks InFuel Cells

85. 2345852 Fuel Cell Having Sealant For Sealing A Solid Polymer-Electrolyte Membrane

86. 2345566 Fuel Cell

87. 2342747 Fuel Cell And Fuel Cell Device

88. 2341140 Method For Activating Solid Polymer Electrolyte FuelCells


90. 2338412 Internal Fuel Staging For Improved Fuel Cell Performance

91. 2335441 Cooling Rib Arrangement For The Equalization Of TheTemperature Distribution In Air Cooled Stacks

92. 2335268 Fuel Cell With A Degassing Device

93. 2334530 A Direct Methanol Fuel Cell System With A Device ForThe Separation Of The Methanol And Water Mixture

94. 2332632 Device And Method For Evaluating Performance Of FuelCells, Device And Method For Evaluating Specific SurfaceArea Of Fuel-Cell Electrode Catalysts, Fuel-Cell ElectrodeCatalyst, And Method Of Manufacturing The Same


96. 2330404 Control Apparatus And Method For Efficiently HeatingA Fuel Processor In A Fuel Cell System

97. 2448977 A Fuel Cell Incorporating A Modified Ion ExchangeMembrane

98. 2448662 Joint-Cycle High-Efficiency Fuel Cell System With PowerGenerating Turbine

99. 2447855 Electrode-Supported Solid State Electrochemical Cell

100. 2439661 Fuel Cell Arrangement And Method For OperationThereof


101. 2437004 Method For Detecting A Leak In A Fuel Cell

102. 2435762 Motor Vechicle Having An Internal Combustion EngineAnd An On-Board Power Supply

103. 2433670 Conductive Polyamine-Based Electrolyte

104. 2433400 Method For Operating A Fuel Cell System Which CanBe Used In A Vehicle And Associated Fuel Cell System

105. 2433397 Motor Vehicle Having A Fuel Cell System

106. 2433172 Membrane Electrode Assemblies For Direct MethanolFuel Cells And Methods For Their Production

107. 2432560 Shell And Tube Reactor

108. 2432115 Low-Temperature Fuel Cell Comprising A CompositeConductor Plate That Consists Of An Alloy

109. 2430515 Method For Deposition Of A Catalyst

110. 2430443 Coolants For Cooling Systems In Fuel Cell Drives

111. 2430083 Electrochemical Polymer Electrolyte Membrane CellStacks

112. 2429495 Rotary Converting Apparatus And Method ForLaminating Cathode And Anode Of Thin-FilmElectrochemical Unit


114. 2428188 Compression Mechanism For An Electrochemical FuelCell Assembly

115. 2428043 Gas Diffusion Electrode

116. 2427891 Stacking Apparatus And Method For LaminatedProducts And Packaging

117. 2427738 Conductive Material Comprising At Least Two Phases

118. 2427635 Gas Diffusion Substrate

119. 2427501 Solid Oxide Fuel Cell Stack

120. 2427497 Electrode For Solid Polymer Type Fuel Cell

121. 2427142 Fuel Cell Unit For Users Connected To A RechargeableBattery

122. 2427140 Method For Operating An Ht-Pem Fuel Cell SystemAnd Associated Fuel Cell System


124. 2427133 Method For Regenerating Co Poisoning In Ht-Pem FuelCells, And Associated Fuel Cell System

125. 2427036 A Cathode Layer Structure For A Solid Polymer FuelCell And Fuel Cell Incorporating Such Structure

126. 2426750 Anode Assembly For An Electrochemical Cell

127. 2426355 Multilayered, Flexible, Carbon-Containing LayeredPaper Having High Flexural Strength

128. 2426224 Method Of Preparing A Solution Of A PolymerComprising Recurring Azole Units, Solutions PreparedBy This Method And Their Use

129. 2424728 Fuel Cell Interconnect

130. 2424657 DC Power Source With Fuel Cell

131. 2424615 Systems And Processes For Providing Hydrogen To FuelCells

132. 2424212 Constituent Part For Fuel Cell

133. 2424184 Method For Monitoring The Discharge Of Media OutOf A Fuel Cell, And A Fuel Cell System


135. 2423341 Fuel Cell And Production Method Therefor

136. 2423339 Electrochemical Device And Method Of ManufacturingThe Device

137. 2423330 Fuel Cell

138. 2423271 Method For Operating A Fuel Cell Arrangement AndFuel Cell Arrangement For Carrying Out The Method

139. 2422667 Ceramic/Metal Composite Article, Composite StructureFor Transporting Oxide Ion, And Composite ArticleHaving Sealing Property

140. 2422637 Method And Apparatus For Detecting Transfer Leaks InFuel Cells And Fuel Cell Stacks

141. 2422585 Method For Producing A Melt Carbonate-Fuel Cell AndTo Melt Carbonate Fuel Cells

142. 2422388 Fuel Cell Arrangement And Method For Operating AFuel Cell Arrangement

143. 2422282 Improved Membrane Electrode Assemblies Using IonicComposite Membranes

144. 2422209 Method For Operating A Fuel Cell And A Fuel CellArrangement

145. 2422083 Anode Structure

146. 2421627 Ion-Conducting Sulfonated Polymeric Materials

147. 2421205 Separator For Fuel Cell, Process For Producing TheSame, And Material Therefor

148. 2420913 Bipolar Plates For A Fuel Cell

149. 2420613 Electrode Pattern For Solid Oxide Fuel Cells

150. 2420485 Fluid Diffusion Layers For Fuel Cells

151. 2420449 Insulating And Sealing Composition

152. 2420158 Polymer Electrolyte Membrane Fuel Cell SystemComprising A Cooling Medium Distribution Space AndCooling Medium Collection Space, And With CoolingEffected By Fluidic Media

153. 2420144 Air Feed Tube Support System For A Solid Oxide FuelCell Generator


155. 2419783 Electrical Conductive Substrate

156. 2419468 Method For Operating A Fuel Cell System, AndAssociated Fuel Cell Installation

157. 2419467 Method For Separating Fuel Out Of An Off-Gas AndAssociated Device

158. 2419465 Method For Mixing A Fuel With Water, ACorresponding Device And The Use Thereof


159. 2419452 Method For Controlling The Fuel Concentration In TheAnode Liquid Of A Fuel Cell, And Associated Device

160. 2419448 Method For Separating Carbon Dioxide Out Of AMixture Of Water And Fuel, And Corresponding Device

161. 2419445 Method For Removing Carbon Dioxide From AWater/Fuel Mixture And Corresponding Device

162. 2419391 Conductive Composite Material And Fuel CellElectrode Using Same

163. 2419384 Production Of Catalyst Coated Membranes

164. 2419334 High Temperature Gas Seals

165. 2419136 Epoxy Nitrile Insulator And Seal For Fuel CellAssemblies

166. 2418719 Integrated Sofc

167. 2418714 Sealless Radial Solid Oxide Fuel Cell Stack Design

168. 2418358 Flow Distributor

169. 2417906 Method For Coating A Membrane-Electrode Unit WithA Catalyst And Apparatus Therefor

170. 2417896 Hydrogen Permeable Membrane For Use In Fuel Cells,And Partial Reformate Fuel Cell System HavingReforming Catalysts In The Anode Fuel CellCompartment

171. 2417869 Method And Apparatus For Humidification AndTemperature Control Of Incoming Fuel Cell ProcessGas

172. 2417753 Stainless Steel Substrate Treatment

173. 2417149 Gas Sensors

174. 2417013 Mixed Oxide Material, Electrode And Method OfManufacturing The Electrode And ElectrochemicalCell Comprising It

175. 2416892 Conductive Composite Material And Electrode ForFuel Cell Using Said Material Formed By Thermo-Compression

176. 2415861 Thermoelectric Reformer Fuel Cell Process

177. 2415391 Aluminous Interconnector For Fuel Cells

178. 2415355 Hybrid Material, Use Of Said Hybrid Material AndMethod For Making Same

179. 2414616 Dual Use Hydrocarbon Fuel Composition

180. 2414356 Electrochemical Structure

181. 2414226 Method For Regulating Operation Of Fuel CellInstallations Controlled According To Heat And/OrPower Requirement

182. 2412869 Constituent Part For Fuel Cell

183. 2411112 A Method And A Device For Controlling Fuel Cells

184. 2410459 Fuel Cell Fuel Supply System And Mobile Body

185. 2410211 Nanocomposite For Fuel Cell Bipolar Plate

186. 2409544 Method And Apparatus For Embossing ExpandedGraphite Sheet Material Under Reduced Pressure

187. 2408565 Method For Cold Starting Fuel Cells Of A Fuel CellFacility And Corresponding Fuel Cell Facility

188. 2408381 Polymer Membranes

189. 2408077 Integrated Reactor

190. 2407333 Electrochemical Cell And Assembly For Same

191. 2406214 Deposited Thin Films And Their Use In SeparationAnd Sarcrificial Layer Applications

192. 2405927 Fuel Processor

193. 2405542 Process For The Preparation Of Ion ExchangeMembranes

194. 2405488 Method And Apparatus For Thermal Management OfFuel Cell Systems

195. 2405318 Gas Diffusion Substrate

196. 2404918 Multi-Stage Combustion For Fuel Processing For UseWith Fuel Cell

197. 2404777 Compounds Derived From La2mo2o9 And Their UseAs Ionic Conductors

198. 2404346 Method Of Operating A Fuel Cell

199. 2403604 Plate, Plate Assembly And Electrochemical Cell Stack

200. 2403598 Production Of Low-Temperature Fuel Cell Electrodes

201. 2403517 Membrane Electrode Assembly Having AnnealedPolymer Electrolyte Membrane

202. 2403269 Liquid Hydrogen Stratospheric Aircraft

203. 2403213 Novel Alkaline Fuel Cell

204. 2403146 Proton Conducting Polymer Membrane ForElectrochemical Cell

205. 2403128 Proton Conducting Polymer Membrane ForElectrochemical Cell


207. 2402840 Composite Ion Exchange Material

208. 2402838 Ion-Exchange Materials

209. 2402552 Electrocatalyst Powders, Methods For ProducingPowders And Devices Fabricated From Same

210. 2401838 Novel Polymer Blend Membranes For Use In FuelCells

211. 2401758 Fuel Cell Power Generation Method And System

212. 2400677 Membrane Exchange Humidifier

213. 2400624 Power Supply System, Fuel Pack Constituting TheSystem, And Device Driven By Power Generator AndPower Supply System

214. 2400146 Method For Preparing Electrode - Electrode AndMembrane - Membrane - Electrode, AssembliesObtained Thereof And Fuel Cells Devices ComprisingSame

215. 2398777 Wicking Strands For A Polymer Electrolyte MembraneFuel Cell


216. 2398174 Fluid Permeable Flexible Graphite Article WithEnhanced Electrical And Thermal Conductivity

217. 2397682 Multipurpose Reversible Electrochemical System

218. 2396944 Press Separator For Fuel Cell

219. 2396936 Method Of Surface Treatment For Stainless SteelProduct For Fuel Cell

220. 2394089 Method And Device For Recovering Water From A FuelCell

221. 2392945 Fuel Cell Apparatus And Method Of Cooling The Same

222. 2389610 Method And Device For Recovering Water Produced ByA Fuel Cell

223. 2389559 Method And Installation For Blowing Out Water In AFuel Cell Hydrogen Circuit

224. 2387817 Scalable, All-Polymer Fuel Cell

225. 2383892 Method And Apparatus For Measuring DisplacementOf A Fuel Cell Stack During Assembly

226. 2377445 Methodology And Apparatus For Supply Of ReactantFluids To And Purging Of Product And Inert FluidsFrom Cells Of Fuel Cell Stack

227. 2374293 Fuel Cell Stack Assembly

228. 2369614 Polyelectrolyte, Polyelectrolyte Membrane And FuelCell

229. 2366172 Solid Polymer Electrolyte Material, Liquid Composition,Solid Polymer Fuel Cell And Fluoropolymer

230. 2365877 Corrugated Flow Field Plate Assembly For A Fuel Cell

231. 2365815 Recovery System Of Heat Energy In A Fuel Cell System

232. 2365534 Improved Oxidant Flow Field For Solid PolymerElectrolyte Fuel Cell

233. 2364303 Fuel Cell

234. 2364010 Method And Apparatus For Operating AnElectrochemical Fuel Cell

235. 2361090 Encapsulating Seals For Electrochemical Cell StacksAnd Methods Of Sealing Electrochemical Cell Stacks

236. 2359712 Method For Mounting Seals For Fuel Cell And FuelCell

237. 2358676 Active Solid Polymer Electrolyte Membrane For SolidPolymer Electrolyte Fuel Cell


239. 2357960 Single-Pipe Cylinder Type Reformer

240. 2357627 Fuel Cell System Using Pressure Swing Adsportion AndVariable Oxygen Enrichment



243. 2356615 External Metering Valve For A Fuel Cell

244. 2356094 Pem Fuel Cell Stack

245. 2355977 Improved Expanded Graphite Fluid Flow Field PlatesAnd Method For Making Same


247. 2354910 Fuel Cell With Convoluted Mea

248. 2354343 Integrated Selective Oxidation Reactor Apparatus AndProcess

249. 2353803 Fuel Cell

250. 2353761 A Membrane Electrode Unit For Polymer ElectrolyteFuel Cells And A Process For The Production Thereof

251. 2353637 Fuel Cell

252. 2353210 Fuel Cell Apparatus

253. 2352626 Coupling For Linking A Hydrogen Fuel Cell To AnEnzyme Bioreactor For Processing And SequesteringCo2

254. 2352356 Electrolyte Membrane/Electrode Assembly Of SolidPolymer Electrolyte Fuel Cell

255. 2351871 Liquid Reactant Flow Field Plates For Liquid Feed FuelCells

256. 2351453 Fuel Cell Separator And Polymer Electrolyte Fuel Cell

257. 2351279 Fuel Cell Gas Sensors

258. 2349965 Water Management System For ElectrochemicalEngine

259. 2349746 Polymer Electrolyte Fuel Cell And Method For ItsProduction

260. 2349651 Compressor Arrangement For The Operation Of A FuelCell System

261. 2349090 Apparatus For Warming-Up Fuel Cell

262. 2347543 Method Of Producing Fuel Cell Separator, Fuel CellSeparator, And Polymer Elctrolyte Fuel Cell

263. 2347203 Flow Fields For Supporting Fluid Diffusion Layers InFuel Cells

264. 2347199 Differential Pressure Fluid Flow Fields For Fuel Cells

265. 2344073 Fuel Cell Separator, Manufacturing Method ThereofAnd Fuel Cell

266. 2340272 Cell Structure Mounting Container And AssemblyThereof

267. 2339906 Fuel Cell, And Collector Plate Thereof

268. 2339587 Fuel Cell System Having A Compact Water Separator

269. 2339585 Fuel Cell Having Dynamically Regulated Backpressure

270. 2336720 Block Polymer, Process For Producing A Polymer, AndPolymer Electrolyte Fuel Cell

271. 2331434 Oxide Ceramic

272. 2331026 Mold For Producing Fuel Cell Separator

273. 2330339 Staged Venting Of Fuel Cell System During RapidShutdown


23. 2315325 Direct Dimethyl Ether Fuel Cells

24. 2311757 Method And Apparatus For Distributing Water To AnIon-Exchange Membrane In A Fuel Cell

25. 2296384 Resilient Seal For Membrane Electrode Assembly (MEA)In An Electrochemical Fuel Cell And Method Of MakingSame

26. 2288160 Polymer Electrolyte Membrane Fuel Cell With FluidDistribution Layer Having Integral Sealing Capability

27. 2274974 Integrated Reactant And Coolant Fluid Flow Field LayerFor A Fuel Cell With Membrane Electrode Assembly

28. 2257302 Method And Apparatus For Commencing Operation OfA Fuel Cell Electric Power Generation System Below TheFreezing Temperature Of Water

29. 2233440 Polymer Electrolyte Membrane Electrochemical CellsAnd Stacks With Adhesively Bonded Layers

30. 2229234 Electrochemical Fuel Cell With An Electrode SubstrateHaving An In-Plane Nonuniform Structure For ControlOf Reactant And Product Transport

31. 2228383 Device Provided With An Opening To Regulate The FlowOf Humidified Gas Streams Of Electrochemical FuelCells

32. 2172167 Method And Apparatus For Oxidizing Carbon MonoxideIn The Reactant Stream Of An Electrochemical Fuel Cell

33. 2172166 Electrochemical Fuel Cell Assembly With IntegralSelective Oxidizer

34. 2446176 Double Belt Bonding Process And Apparatus ForManufacturing Membrane El Ectrode Assemblies

35. 2446001 Abraded Fluid Diffusion Layer For An ElectrochemicalFuel Cell

36. 2445996 Method Of Making Fluid Diffusion Layers AndElectrodes Having Reduced Surface Roughness

37. 2429598 Conditioning And Maintenance Methods For Fuel Cells

38. 2428188 Compression Mechanism For An Electrochemical FuelCell Assembly

39. 2425226 Flow Field Plate Assembly For An Electrochemical FuelCell

40. 2422637 Method And Apparatus For Detecting Transfer Leaks InFuel Cells And Fuel Cell Stacks

41. 2420485 Fluid Diffusion Layers For Fuel Cells

42. 2413591 Fuel Cell System For Operation At Pressures Below ThePressure Of The Surrounding Environment And MethodOf Operation Thereof

43. 2409544 Method And Apparatus For Embossing ExpandedGraphite Sheet Material Under Reduced Pressure

44. 2407951 Method For Compressing A Fuel Cell Stack DuringAssembly

45. 2400677 Membrane Exchange Humidifier

46. 2399658 Electrochemical Fuel Cell With Fluid Distribution LayerHaving Non-Uniform Perforations

Appendix DFuel Cell Patent Portfolios

of Canadian Applicants

i. BALLARD POWER SYSTEMS

A. Pending CA applications

1. 2436298 Non-Noble Metal Catalysts For The Oxygen ReductionReaction

2. 2429602 Conditioning Method For Fuel Cells

3. 2414658 Indirect Measurement Of Fuel Concentration In A LiquidFeed Fuel Cell

4. 2412717 Evaporative Edge Cooling Of A Fuel Cell

5. 2409126 Electrochemical Fuel Cell With Non-Uniform Fluid FlowDesign

6. 2405253 Fuel Cell System And Method For Operating The Same

7. 2392555 Method And Apparatus For Operating A Fuel Cell

8. 2387547 Method Of Improving The Performance Of A Direct FeedFuel Cell

9. 2380976 Fuel Cell Anode Structures For Voltage Reversal Tolerance

10. 2377604 Method And Apparatus For Increasing The TemperatureOf A Fuel Cell With Polymer Electrolyte

11. 2357928 Fuel Cell Fluid Flow Field Plate And Methods OfMaking Fuel Cell Flow Field Plates

12. 2354513 Volume Efficient Layered Manifold Assembly ForElectrochemical Fuel Cell Stacks

13. 2352831 Method And Apparatus For Detecting Transfer Leaks InFuel Cells

14. 2349206 Fuel Cell System With Improved Starting Capability

15. 2336359 Fuel Cell Stack Made Of Tube Cells, And InternalCooling Arrangement Therefor

16. 2336354 A Printed Circuit Board Separator For AnElectrochemical Fuel Cell

17. 2336314 Internal Cooling Arrangement For Undulate MEA FuelCell Stack

18. 2336087 Internal Support Structure For An Undulate MembraneElectrode Assembly In An Electrochemical Fuel Cell

19. 2336085 Fuel Cell Separator Plate Providing Interconnection OfReactant Gas Flowpaths In Fuel Cell Stacks

20. 2330946 Fuel Cell Stack Assembly

21. 2329729 Fuel Cell Flow-Field Structure Formed By LayerDeposition

22. 2316380 Method And Apparatus For Operating AnElectrochemical Fuel Cell With Periodic Fuel StarvationAt The Anode


47. 2392823 Integrated Fuel Cell And Pressure Swing AdsorptionSystem

48. 2392457 Fuel Cell Separator Plate With Discrete FluidDistribution Features

49. 2390949 Systems, Apparatus And Methods For Bonding And/OrSealing Electrochemical Cell Elements And Assemblies

50. 2386635 Fuel Cell Electric Power Generation System

51. 2384863 Methods For Improving The Cold Starting Capability OfAn Electrochemical Fuel Cell

52. 2383892 Method And Apparatus For Measuring Displacement OfA Fuel Cell Stack During Assembly

53. 2381547 Fuel Cell Anode Structures For Voltage ReversalTolerance

54. 2379363 Methods And Apparatus For Improving The ColdStarting Capability Of A Fuel Cell

55. 2377556 Method And Apparatus For Operating AnElectrochemical Fuel Cell With Periodic ReactantStarvation

56. 2372417 System And Method For Cooling A Fuel Cell Arrangement

57. 2369316 Catalytic Reactor With U-Tubes For Improved HeatTransfer

58. 2365877 Corrugated Flow Field Plate Assembly For A Fuel Cell

59. 2365534 Improved Oxidant Flow Field For Solid PolymerElectrolyte Fuel Cell

60. 2364010 Method And Apparatus For Operating AnElectrochemical Fuel Cell

61. 2361090 Encapsulating Seals For Electrochemical Cell Stacks AndMethods Of Sealing Electrochemical Cell Stacks

62. 2357627 Fuel Cell System Using Pressure Swing Adsportion AndVariable Oxygen Enrichment

63. 2355977 Improved Expanded Graphite Fluid Flow Field PlatesAnd Method For Making Same

64. 2355110 Fuel Cell (Methanol) Sensor With Small Load ResistanceAnd High Oxidant Supply

65. 2352067 Method And Apparatus For Controlling The TemperatureWithin An Electrochemical Fuel Cell

66. 2352057 Fuel Cell Power Generation System With AutothermalReformer

67. 2351871 Liquid Reactant Flow Field Plates For Liquid Feed FuelCells

68. 2347203 Flow Fields For Supporting Fluid Diffusion Layers InFuel Cells

69. 2347199 Differential Pressure Fluid Flow Fields For Fuel Cells

70. 2347033 Ionomer Impregnation Of Electrode Substrates ForImproved Fuel Cell Performance

71. 2346409 Electrode Treatment Method For Improving PerformanceIn Liquid Feed Fuel Cells

72. 2344856 Antifreeze Cooling Subsystem

73. 2336126 Sensor Cell For An Electrochemical Fuel Cell Stack

74. 2335955 Membrane Electrode Assembly Providing InterconnectionOf Reactant Gas Flowpaths In Undulate Layer Fuel CellStacks

75. 2329466 Fuel Cell Assembly With An Improved Gas Sensor

76. 2322692 Impregnation Of Microporous Electrocatalyst Particles ForImproving Performance In An Electrochemical Fuel Cell

77. 2321548 Liquid Fuel Cell System

78. 2320766 Liquid Feed Solid Polymer Fuel Cell System

79. 2312162 Continuous Method For Manufacturing A LaminatedElectrolyte And Electrode Assembly

80. 2310665 Compression Assembly For An Electrochemical Fuel CellStack

81. 2309631 Graft Polymeric Membranes And Ion-ExchangeMembranes Formed Therefrom

82. 2303572 Methacrylate Impregnated Carbonaceous Parts

83. 2292993 Method For Operating Fuel Cells On Impure Fuels

84. 2290089 Electrochemical Fuel Cell With An Electrode Having AnIn-Plane Nonuniform Structure

85. 2287288 Burner Exhaust Gas Collection Assembly For A CatalyticReformer

86. 2274975 Porous Electrode Substrate For An Electrochemical FuelCell

87. 2271706 Electrochemical Fuel Cell Stack With Compression Bands

88. 2266671 Method And Apparatus For Detecting And LocatingPerforations In Membranes Employed InElectrochemical Cells

89. 2243370 Electrochemical Fuel Cell Stack With An ImprovedCompression Assembly

90. 2243355 Electrochemical Fuel Cell Stack With Improved ReactantManifolding And Sealing

91. 2242176 Solid Polymer Fuel Cell System And Method ForHumidifying And Adjusting The Temperature Of AReactant Stream

92. 2240661 Method And Apparatus For Reducing ReactantCrossover In An Electrochemical Fuel Cell

93. 2208644 Edge Manifold Assembly For An Electrochemical FuelCell Stack

94. 2206588 Electrochemical Fuel Cell System With A RegulatedVacuum Ejector For Recirculation Of The Fluid FuelStream

95. 2198346 Electrochemical Fuel Cell Stack With CompressionMechanism Extending Through Interior ManifoldHeaders

96. 2197863 Method And Apparatus For The Oxidation Of CarbonMonoxide

97. 2197433 Internal Manifold Assembly For An Eletrochemical FuelCell Stack Array



99. 2179034 Electrochemical Fuel Cell Employing Ambient Air As TheOxidant And Coolant

100. 2171298 Trifluorostyrene And Substituted TrifluorostyreneCopolymeric Compositions And Ion-ExchangeMembranes Formed Therefrom

101. 2146326 Hydrocarbon Fueled Solid Polymer Fuel Cell ElectricPower Generation System

102. 2146325 Solid Polymer Fuel Cell Systems Incorporating WaterRemoval At The Anode

103. 2131387 Constant Voltage Fuel Cell With Improved ReactantSupply And Control System

104. 2102695 Gasketed Membrane Electrode Assembly ForElectrochemical Fuel Cells

105. 2099886 Method And Apparatus For Removing Water FromElectrochemical Fuel Cells

B. Issued CA Patents

1. 2274974 Integrated Reactant And Coolant Fluid Flow Field LayerFor A Fuel Cell With Membrane Electrode Assembly

2. 2233440 Polymer Electrolyte Membrane Electrochemical Cells AndStacks With Adhesively Bonded Layers

3. 2229234 Electrochemical Fuel Cell With An Electrode SubstrateHaving An In-Plane Nonuniform Structure For Control OfReactant And Product Transport

4. 2172167 Method And Apparatus For Oxidizing Carbon MonoxideIn The Reactant Stream Of An Electrochemical Fuel Cell

5. 2172166 Electrochemical Fuel Cell Assembly With IntegralSelective Oxidizer

6. 2287288 Burner Exhaust Gas Collection Assembly For A CatalyticReformer

7. 2274975 Porous Electrode Substrate For An Electrochemical FuelCell

8. 2271706 Electrochemical Fuel Cell Stack With Compression Bands

9. 2266671 Method And Apparatus For Detecting And LocatingPerforations In Membranes Employed In ElectrochemicalCells

10. 2243355 Electrochemical Fuel Cell Stack With Improved ReactantManifolding And Sealing

11. 2208644 Edge Manifold Assembly For An Electrochemical FuelCell Stack

12. 2206588 Electrochemical Fuel Cell System With A RegulatedVacuum Ejector For Recirculation Of The Fluid FuelStream

13. 2198346 Electrochemical Fuel Cell Stack With CompressionMechanism Extending Through Interior ManifoldHeaders

14. 2197863 Method And Apparatus For The Oxidation Of CarbonMonoxide

15. 2197433 Internal Manifold Assembly For An Eletrochemical FuelCell Stack Array


17. 2179034 Electrochemical Fuel Cell Employing Ambient Air As TheOxidant And Coolant

18. 2171298 Trifluorostyrene And Substituted TrifluorostyreneCopolymeric Compositions And Ion-ExchangeMembranes Formed Therefrom

19. 2146326 Hydrocarbon Fueled Solid Polymer Fuel Cell ElectricPower Generation System

20. 2146325 Solid Polymer Fuel Cell Systems Incorporating WaterRemoval At The Anode

21. 2131387 Constant Voltage Fuel Cell With Improved ReactantSupply And Control System

22. 2102695 Gasketed Membrane Electrode Assembly ForElectrochemical Fuel Cells

23. 2099886 Method And Apparatus For Removing Water FromElectrochemical Fuel Cells

C. Issued US Patents

1 6,670,060 Fuel Cell System

2 6,670,059 Fuel Cell System Having Flow-Diverting Element

3 6,667,127 Fluid Diffusion Layers For Fuel Cells

4 6,667,122 Fuel Cell System Having A Heat Exchanger

5 6,662,633 Method And Apparatus For Locating Internal TransferLeaks Within Fuel Cell Stacks

6 6,660,416 Self-Inerting Fuel Processing System

7 6,660,415 Method For Improving The Light-Off Performance OfMobile Fuel Cell Systems

8 6,656,619 Fuel Cell System And Method For Operating A Fuel Cell



11 6,645,652 Fuel Cell Electric Power Generation System

12 6,638,658 Fuel Cell Separator Plate Providing Interconnection OfReactant Gas Flowpaths In Undulate Layer Fuel CellStacks

13 6,638,650 Method And Apparatus For Detecting Transfer Leaks InFuel Cells And Fuel Cell Stacks

14 6,632,555 Proton Electrolyte Membrane Fuel Cell With Anti-Freeze Coolant And Humidifiers

15 6,632,551 Fuel Cell Arrangement And Gas Supply System AndMethod For Operating The Same

16 6,627,341 Device For Compensating For Fluctuations In FuelConcentration In Fuel Cell Systems

17 6,627,338 Integrated Fuel Cell And Pressure Swing AdsorptionSystem



19 6,613,466 Fuel Cell System And Method For Operating The Process

20 6,613,464 Method And Apparatus For Reducing ReactantCrossover In A Liquid Feed Electrochemical Fuel Cell

21 6,610,432 Impregnation Of Microporous Electrocatalyst ParticlesFor Improving Performance In An Electrochemical FuelCell

22 6,596,427 Encapsulating Seals For Electrochemical Cell StacksAnd Methods Of Sealing Electrochemical Cell Stacks


24 6,593,022 Membrane Electrode Assembly ProvidingInterconnection Of Reactant Gas Flowpaths InUndulate Layer Fuel Cell Stacks

25 6,586,128 Differential Pressure Fluid Flow Fields For Fuel Cells


27 6,576,361 Method And Apparatus For Isolating A Fuel CellAssembly From Its Surroundings

28 6,571,897 Vehicle With A Fuel Cell System And Method ForOperating The Same

29 6,555,989 Efficient Load-Following Power Generating System

30 6,555,260 Fuel Cell System Having A Fuel Cell Stack WithIntegrated Polarity Reversal Protection Diode

31 6,544,681 Corrugated Flow Field Plate Assembly For A Fuel Cell

32 6,541,145 Flow Fields For Supporting Fluid Diffusion Layers InFuel Cells

33 6,537,691 Container For Receiving An Operating Means For TheOperation Of Fuel Cells

34 6,534,208 Device For Generating Electrical Energy, Having A FuelCell

35 6,521,364 Flame Colorant Additive For Methanol For TheOperation Of A Fuel Cell System

36 6,517,962 Fuel Cell Anode Structures For Voltage ReversalTolerance

37 6,500,572 Method for operating fuel cells on impure fuels

38 6,495,278 Polymer electrolyte membrane electrochemical fuelcells and stacks with adhesively bonded layers

39 6,492,043 Method and apparatus for detecting a leak within afuel cell

40 6,479,177 Method for improving the cold starting capability ofan electrochemical fuel cell

41 6,475,651 Method and apparatus for detecting transfer leaks infuel cells

42 6,472,090 Method and apparatus for operating an electrochemicalfuel cell with periodic reactant starvation

43 6,461,751 Method and apparatus for operating a fuel cell

44 6,416,895 Solid polymer fuel cell system and method forhumidifying and adjusting the temperature of areactant stream

45 6,413,664 Fuel cell separator plate with discrete fluiddistribution features

46 6,410,175 Fuel cell system with improved starting capability

47 6,350,538 Fuel cell with fluid distribution layer having intergralsealing capability

48 6,329,089 Method and apparatus for increasing the temperatureof a fuel cell

49 6,322,914 Method and apparatus for distributing water in anarray of fuel cell stacks

50 6,316,134 Fuel cell electric power generation system

51 6,306,536 Method of reducing fuel cell performance degradationof an electrode comprising porous components

52 6,284,397 Rotary piston blower for supplying an oxidant streamto a fuel cell

53 6,210,820 Method for operating fuel cells on impure fuels

54 6,190,793 Electrochemical fuel cell stack with an improvedcompression assembly

55 6,153,323 Electrode treatment method for improving performancein liquid feed fuel cells

56 6,106,964 Solid polymer fuel cell system and method forhumidifying and adjusting the temperature of areactant stream

57 6,096,448 Method and apparatus for operating an electrochemicalfuel cell with periodic fuel starvation at the anode

58 6,080,503 Polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cells and stackswith adhesively bonded layers

59 6,063,515 Integrated fuel cell electric power generation systemfor submarine applications

60 6,057,053 Compression assembly for an electrochemical fuel cellstack

61 5,993,987 Electrochemical fuel cell stack with compressionbands

62 5,976,726 Electrochemical cell with fluid distribution layerhaving integral sealing capability

63 5,935,726 Method and apparatus for distributing water to anion-exchange membrane in a fuel cell

64 5,928,807 Integrated seal for a PEM fuel cell

65 5,874,182 Method and apparatus for reducing reactant crossoverin a liquid feed electrochemical fuel cell

66 5,840,438 Electrochemical fuel cell with an electrode substratehaving an in-plane nonuniform structure for control ofreactant and product transport

67 5,804,326 Integrated reactant and coolant fluid flow field layerfor an electrochemical fuel cell

68 5,798,186 Method and apparatus for commencing operation of afuel cell electric power generation system below thefreezing temperature of water

69 5,789,091 Electrochemical fuel cell stack with compressionbands


70 5,773,160 Electrochemical fuel cell stack with concurrent flow ofcoolant and oxidant streams and countercurrent flowof fuel and oxidant streams

71 5,750,281 Edge manifold assembly for an electrochemical fuelcell stack

72 5,686,200 Electrochemical fuel cell assembly with compliantcompression mechanism

73 5,547,776 Electrochemical fuel cell stack with concurrentlyflowing coolant and oxidant streams

74 5,521,018 Embossed fluid flow field plate for electrochemicalfuel cells

75 5,514,487 Edge manifold assembly for an electrochemical fuelcell stack

76 5,486,430 Internal fluid manifold assembly for anelectrochemical fuel cell stack array

77 5,484,666 Electrochemical fuel cell stack with compressionmechanism extending through interior manifold headers

78 5,482,680 Electrochemical fuel cell assembly with integralselective oxidizer

79 5,470,671 Electrochemical fuel cell employing ambient air as theoxidant and coolant

80 5,464,700 Gasketed membrane electrode assembly forelectrochemical fuel cells

81 5,441,821 Electrochemical fuel cell system with a regulatedvacuum ejector for recirculation of the fluid fuel stream

82 5,441,819 Method and apparatus for removing water fromelectrochemical fuel cells by controlling thetemperature and pressure of the reactant streams

83 5,432,021 Method and apparatus for oxidizing carbon monoxidein the reactant stream of an electrochemical fuel cell

84 5,382,478 Electrochemical fuel cell stack with humidificationsection located upstream from the electrochemicallyactive section

85 5,366,821 Constant voltage fuel cell with improved reactantsupply and control system

86 5,366,818 Solid polymer fuel cell systems incorporating waterremoval at the anode

87 5,360,679 Hydrocarbon fueled solid polymer fuel cell electricpower generation system

88 5,300,370 Laminated fluid flow field assembly for electrochemicalfuel cells

89 5,284,718 Fuel cell membrane electrode and seal assembly

90 5,260,143 Method and apparatus for removing water fromelectrochemical fuel cells

91 5,252,410 Lightweight fuel cell membrane electrode assemblywith integral reactant flow passages

92 5,230,966 Coolant flow field plate for electrochemical fuel cells

93 5,200,278 Integrated fuel cell power generation system

94 5,176,966 Fuel cell membrane electrode and seal assembly

iii. ALCAN INTERNATIONAL LTD.


1. 1331482 Metal/Air Battery With Recirculating Electrolyte


1. 1331482 Metal/Air Battery With Recirculating Electrolyte


1 5,260,144 Metal/air battery with seeded recirculating electrolyte

2 5,156,925 Hydrogen removal system for metal/air cell

3 5,147,736 Metal/air fuel cell with electrolyte flow equalizationmanifold

4 5,093,213 Metal-air battery with recirculating electrolyte

5 4,908,281 Metal/air battery with recirculating electrolyte

ii. GOVERNMENT OF CANADA


n/a


1. 2149015 Load-Following Vaporizer Apparatus And Method

2. 2096724 Application Of Fuel Cells To Power Generation Systems

3. 2064031 Method And Apparatus For Monitoring Fuel CellPerformance

4. 1314306 Fuel Cell Fluid Flow Field Plate

5. 1305212 Method For Operating A Fuel Cell On Carbon MonoxideContaining Fuel Gas


1 5,108,849 Fuel cell fluid flow field plate

2 4,988,583 Novel fuel cell fluid flow field plate

3 4,724,191 Bonded hydrogen conducting solid electrolytes

iv. HYDROGENICS CORPORATION


1. 2451182 Manifold For A Fuel Cell System

2. 2315139 Catalytic Humidifier And Heater For The Fuel Stream OfA Fuel Cell

3. 2315138 Fuel Cell With Dual End Plate Humidifiers


v. ESTCO BATTERY MANAGEMENT INC.


n/a


n/a


1 6,541,941 Fuel cell manager

2 6,339,313 Fuel cell manager

vi. CELLEX POWER PRODUCTS

A. Pending CA applicationsn/a

B. Issued CA Patentsn/a


1 6,649,290 Fuel cell thermal management system and method

vii. ACEP INC. / UNIVERSITÉ DE MONTRÉAL




1 6,593,019 Ionic perfluorovinyl compounds and their uses ascomponents of ionic conductors of the polymer type,of selective membranes or of catalysts

4. 2315135 Method And Apparatus For Humidification AndTemperature Control Of Incoming Fuel Cell Process Gas

5. 2315134 Water Recovery In The Anode Side Of A Proton ExchangeMembrane Fuel Cell

6. 2315133 Catalytic Humidifier And Heater, Primarily ForHumidification Of The Oxidant Stream For A Fuel Cell

7. 2451183 Chemical Hydride Hydrogen Generation System And AnEnergy System Incorporating The Same

8. 2448866 Fuel Cell Voltage Monitoring System And MethodThereof

9. 2447433 Apparatus For And Method Of Forming Seals In FuelCells And Fuel Cell Stacks

10. 2417869 Method And Apparatus For Humidification AndTemperature Control Of Incoming Fuel Cell Process Gas

11. 2404685 System And Method For Management Of Gas AndWater In Fuel Cell System

12. 2315576 Water Recovery, Primarily In The Cathode Side, Of AProton Exchange Membrane Fuel Cell

13. 2219553 Hybrid Self-Contained Heating And Electrical PowerSupply Incorporating A Hydrogen Fuel Cell, AThermoelectric Generator And A Catalytic Burner


1. 2219553 Hybrid Self-Contained Heating And Electrical PowerSupply Incorporating A Hydrogen Fuel Cell, AThermoelectric Generator And A Catalytic Burner


1 6,602,625 Fuel cell with dual end plate humidifiers

2 6,541,141 Water recovery in the anode side of a proton exchangemembrane fuel cell

3 6,436,563 Water recovery, primarily in the cathode side, of aproton exchange membrane fuel cell

viii. GIMBIE ENTERPRISES LTD.


1. 2440537 Fuel Cell Powered Magnetically Driven Shaft Assembly



1 6,580,191 Fuel cell powered magnetically driven shaft assembly

ix. INTEGRATED ENERGYDEVELOPMENT CORPORATION




1 5,342,702 Synergistic process for the production of carbon dioxideusing a cogeneration reactor


x. ÉCOLE POLYTECHNIQUE DE MONTRÉAL


n/a


n/a


1 5,298,343 Electrocatalysts for H.sub.2 /O.sub.2 fuel cells cathode

xi. GLOBAL THERMOELECTRIC INC.


1. 2435988 Metal Foam Interconnect

2. 2433065 Fuel Cell Insulating Heat Exchanger

3. 2414129 Integrated Module For Solid Oxide Fuel Cell Systems

4. 2373876 Fuel Cell Manifold Base


6. 2431238 Sofc Stack With Thermal Compression

7. 2431231 Redox Solid Oxide Fuel Cell

8. 2424728 Fuel Cell Interconnect


10. 2390969 Afterburner Igniter

11. 2352391 Composite Electrodes For Solid State ElectrochemicalDevices


n/a


n/a

xii. QUESTAIR TECHNOLOGIES INC.


1. 2394924 Energy Efficient Gas Separation For Fuel Cells

2. 2325072 Gas Separation For Molten Carbonate Fuel Cell

3. 2324702 Reformate Purification And Heat Recovery For Fuel Cell

4. 2324699 Carbon Monoxide Removal From Hydrogen Feed To FuelCell

5. 2439506 Electronic Current Generation System Comprising A FuelCell And A Rotary Pressure Swing Absorption Unit

xiii. POWERDISC DEVELOPMENTCORPORATION


1. 2380637 Fuel Cell Plates And Assemblies

2. 2329058 Fuel Cell Powered Electrical Motor



1. 2380637 Fuel Cell Plates And Assemblies


1 6,664,693 Fuel Cell Powered Electrical Motor

6. 2424615 Systems And Processes For Providing Hydrogen To Fuel Cells

7. 2274240 Electrical Current Generation System


n/a


n/a

xiv. HYDRO-QUEBEC


1. 2283132 Crosslinkable Bi-Sulphonyl Derivatives And Their UsesFor Preparing Ion-Exchanging Membranes

2. 2242555 Nanocrystalline Composite For Hydrogen Storage

3. 1223034 You Conducting Macromolecular Material, And ItsManufacture


1. 2242555 Nanocrystalline Composite For Hydrogen Storage

2. 1223034 You Conducting Macromolecular Material, And ItsManufacture


n/a

Supported and partially funded by:

© Gowlings 2005.10

For more information about fuel cellsand the legal applications, please contact:

G. Henry Ellis(604) [email protected]

Brian Y. Lee(604) [email protected]

Xiang Lu(613) [email protected]

David J. McFadden(416) [email protected]

Rudy Morrone(416) [email protected]

Peter R. Murphy(416) [email protected]

Mark W. Sajewycz(416) [email protected]

Ingrid E. Schmidt(905) [email protected]

Gowlings is a leading Canadian law firm offering a diverserange of services to help domestic and internationalorganizations achieve their business objectives. Recognizedfor excellence in business, advocacy and intellectualproperty law, Gowlings provides dedicated industry expertisein a number of sectors including energy, infrastructure, lifesciences, financial services and technology. The Firmcombines traditional legal services with innovative solutionsin areas such as transfer pricing and tax, governmentrelations and occupational health and safety, to providebusiness entities with a competitive advantage.Characterized by national strength and regional focus,Gowlings has 700 professionals across offices in Montréal,Ottawa, Toronto, Hamilton, Waterloo Region, Calgary andVancouver. The Firm also provides intellectual propertyservices in Russia and the CIS through its office in Moscow.

Visit us at gowlings.com.

Documents

A Study of Fuel Cell Patenting Activity in Canada€¦ · consensus that global fuel cell research and development activity has risen dramatically over the past few decades. Much