MTI MicroFuel Cells Inc. unveiled a new embedded micro fuel cell prototype design for handheld global positioning system ("GPS") devices at the 10th
Annual International Small Fuel Cells Conference in Atlanta.
MTI Micro is showing a micro fuel cell powered GPS prototype alongside its full range of functional prototypes for use in
handheld electronic devices.
MTI Micro's new Mobion
powered GPS prototype provides three times as much energy as GPS
devices powered by four disposable AA batteries. On a model with a
large, full-color screen, this fuel cell design generates up to 60
hours of continuous power and provides weeks instead of days of typical
usage.
The new Mobion powered
GPS prototype includes a USB interface, allowing the prototype to also
be used as an independent energy source for a variety of purposes,
including for recharging mobile phones, digital cameras, portable media
players and other handheld electronic devices. The Mobion powered GPS prototype can be immediately recharged by refilling it with methanol.
“MTI Micro is exploring the integration of our Mobion
platform with GPS devices as part of our strategy to bring micro fuel
cell technology to a wide range of portable consumer electronic device
market segments,” said Peng Lim, President and CEO of MTI. “Battery
life is a key issue with handheld GPS devices, especially as
manufacturers add advanced energy-hungry features to new models, such
as larger full color screens. Our Mobion
powered GPS prototype will provide handheld GPS users such as hikers
and campers, travelers, boaters, pilots and other sports enthusiasts
the peace of mind of much longer usage time and will help them do away
with the expense, bulk and environmental unfriendliness of conventional
batteries.”
MTI Micro’s
new embedded micro fuel cell prototype design for GPS devices will be
the second prototype unveiled by the company in two months. In
February, MTI Micro announced a Mobion
powered camera-grip attachment for digital SLR cameras designed to
provide twice as much energy as existing battery pack camera-grips of
the same size. MTI Micro is seeking to commercialize its Mobion
direct methanol fuel cell technology to bring the benefits of longer
run-time and instantaneous recharging capabilities to consumers, while
also providing handheld device manufacturers with a new power supply
platform that both enhances performance and creates new opportunities
for increased functionality by enabling a wider array of desired
features to be incorporated into overall product design.
At the 10th Annual International Small Fuel Cells Conference, MTI Micro will showcase its Mobion external power charger prototypes, its Mobion attached power source camera-grip prototype and its embedded Mobion powered GPS prototype and smartphone concept model. For more information about the 10th Annual International Small Fuel Cells Conference, visit www.knowledgefoundation.com.