Capacitor apparatus

• US 20070216425A1
• Filed: 02/20/2007
• Published: 09/20/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 03/16/2006
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Power Systems Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Power Systems Incorporated
• Inventors: Shimizu, Atsushi, Okamura, Michio, Muto, Takao
• Application Number:
  US11/708,026
• Publication Number:
  US 20070216425A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 324/678
• CPC Class Codes: H01G 11/08 Structural combinations, e.g. assembly or connection, of hybrid or EDL capacitors with other electric components, at least one hybrid or EDL capacitor being the main component
• CPC Class Codes: H01G 11/14 Arrangements or processes for adjusting or protecting hybrid or EDL capacitors emergency protective circuit arrangements specially adapted for capacitors, and effecting automatic switching in the event of an undesired change from normal working conditions H02H7/16; emergency protective circuit arrangements for limiting excess current or voltages without disconnection H02H9/00
• CPC Class Codes: H01G 9/14 Structural combinations or circuits for modifying, or compensating for, electric characteristics of electrolytic capacitors
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0016 using shunting, discharge or bypass circuits
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/345 using capacitors as storage or buffering devices
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/13 Energy storage using capacitors
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/70 Energy storage systems for electromobility, e.g. batteries

Abstract

A capacitor apparatus according to the present invention is configured to charge electric charge in capacitors C1 and C2 and discharge electric charge from the capacitors C1 and C2 at normal operation time. The capacitor apparatus includes an internal resistance detection means 2 for detecting the internal resistance value of the capacitors C1 and C2 and an inter-capacitor charging/discharging control means 1 for controlling charging/discharging operation between the capacitors C1 and C2. When the internal resistance detection means 2 detects a resistance value more than a predetermined value, the inter-capacitor charging/discharging control means 1 performs charging/discharging control between the capacitors C1 and C2 to cause the capacitors C1 and C2 to self-heat.

Claims

1. A capacitor apparatus which has a charge storage section including a first capacitor and is configured to charge electric charge in the first capacitor and discharge electric charge from the first capacitor, comprising:

internal resistance detection means for detecting the internal resistance value of the first capacitor; and

inter-capacitor charging/discharging control means having at least a second capacitor other than the first capacitor, wherein

when the internal resistance detection means detects a resistance value more than a predetermined value, the inter-capacitor charging/discharging control means performs charging/discharging control between the first and second capacitors.

3. The capacitor apparatus according to claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the internal resistance detection means detects the internal 5 resistance value of the capacitor using an IR drop.

4. The capacitor apparatus according to claim 1 or claim 2, wherein

the inter-capacitor charging/discharging control means includes a buck-boost converter.

5. The capacitor apparatus according to claim 1 or claim 2, wherein

the inter-capacitor charging/discharging control means includes a switching regulator.

6. The capacitor apparatus according to claim 3, wherein

the inter-capacitor charging/discharging control means includes a buck-boost converter.

7. The capacitor apparatus according to claim 3, wherein

the inter-capacitor charging/discharging control means includes a switching regulator.

2. A capacitor apparatus which has a charge storage section including a plurality of capacitors and is configured to charge electric charge in the capacitors and discharge electric charge from the capacitors, comprising:

internal resistance detection means for detecting the internal resistance value of the capacitors; and

inter-capacitor charging/discharging control means for performing charging/discharging control between the capacitors, wherein

when the internal resistance detection means detects a resistance value more than a predetermined value, the inter-capacitor charging/discharging control means performs charging/discharging control between the capacitors.