Electric double layer capacitor

• US 5,453,909 A
• Filed: 10/05/1994
• Issued: 09/26/1995
• Est. Priority Date: 10/06/1993
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: NEC Corporation
• Original Assignee: NEC Corporation
• Inventors: Kobayashi, Yoshihiro
• Primary Examiner(s): Reynolds, Bruce A.
• Assistant Examiner(s): SWITZER, MICHAEL
• Application Number:
  US08/318,478
• Time in Patent Office: 356 Days
• Field of Search: 361/502, 29/25.03, 429/247, 429/254
• US Class Current: 361/502
• CPC Class Codes: H01G 11/26 characterised by their structure, e.g. multi-layered, porosity or surface features
• CPC Class Codes: H01G 11/32 Carbon-based
• CPC Class Codes: H01G 11/52 Separators
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/13 Energy storage using capacitors

Abstract

An electric double layer capacitor includes a pair of opposing polarized electrodes, a separator, a pair of external electrodes, and an insulating molding case. The pair of opposing polarized electrodes consist of activated carbon. The separator has characteristics which allow the separator to transmit ions but not to transmit electrons, and isolates the polarized electrodes from each other. The separator has an uneven shape for increasing a surface area of the separator. Each of the pair of external electrodes has one terminal electrically connected to a corresponding one of the polarized electrodes. The insulating molding case externally extracts the other terminal of each of the external electrodes to accommodate the polarized electrodes together with an electrolytic solution.

Claims

1. An electric double layer capacitor comprising:

a pair of opposing polarized electrodes consisting of activated carbon;

a separator, having characteristics which allow said separator to transmit ions but not to transmit electrons, for isolating said polarized electrodes from each other, said separator having an uneven shape in the form of a large number of dimples for increasing a surface area of said separator;

a pair of external electrodes each having one terminal electrically connected to a corresponding one of said polarized electrodes; and

an insulating molding case for externally extracting the other terminal of each of said external electrodes to accommodate said polarized electrodes together with an electrolytic solution.

2. A capacitor according to claim 1, wherein uneven surfaces are respectively formed in opposing surfaces of said polarized electrodes to conform to the uneven shape of said separator, and said separator is arranged between the opposing surfaces of said polarized electrodes such that the uneven surfaces are fitted on the uneven portion of said separator, thereby isolating said polarized electrodes from each other.

3. A capacitor according to claim 1, wherein said separator consisting of an insulating film having a large number of fine pores which transmit ions but do not transmit electrons.

4. An electric double layer capacitor comprising:

a pair of opposing polarized electrodes consisting of activated carbon;

a separator having a large number of fine pores which transmit ions but do not transmit electrons and consisting of an insulating film, said separator being processed to have dimples so as to increase a surface area of said separator;

a pair of external electrodes each having one terminal electrically connected to a corresponding one of said polarized electrodes; and

an insulating molding case for externally extracting the other terminal of each of said external electrodes to accommodate said polarized electrodes together with an electrolytic solution,

wherein dimple-like uneven surfaces are respectively formed in opposing surfaces of said polarized electrodes to conform to a dimple-like uneven portion of said separator, and said separator is arranged such that the dimple-like uneven portion is fitted on the opposing surfaces of said polarized electrodes, thereby isolating said polarized electrodes from each other.