Power supply using batteries undergoing great voltage variations
First Claim
1. A power supply using batteries undergoing great voltage variations, said power supply comprising:
- a plurality of batteries whose terminal voltages drop as energy is taken from said batteries;
a switching means for switching said batteries from a parallel connection to a series connection as said terminal voltages drop;
a pulse-width modulated switching means for switching voltage from the series or parallel connected batteries to a load;
a control means powered by said batteries and acting to control the pulse-width modulated switching means, so that an effective value of voltage or current fed to the load from the batteries connected in series is kept constant in response to changes in the terminal voltages of the batteries and an effective value of voltage or current fed to the load from the batteries connected in parallel is kept constant in response to changes in terminal voltages of batteries.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A power supply using electric double layer capacitors whose output voltages undergo great variations. The power supply further includes first, second, and third switches for switching the capacitors from a parallel connection to a series connection, and a regulating circuit powered by the capacitors. As the output voltages from the capacitors drop, the regulating circuit switches the capacitors from the parallel connection to the series connection. For example, the switches are composed of semiconductor devices. The second and third switches are operated complementarily in relation to the first switch. Electric double layer capacitors producing low terminal voltages can be used. The step-up or step-down ratio can be made smaller. High voltage hazard can be avoided and the efficiency of the power supply can be improved.
79 Citations
12 Claims
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1. A power supply using batteries undergoing great voltage variations, said power supply comprising:
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a plurality of batteries whose terminal voltages drop as energy is taken from said batteries; a switching means for switching said batteries from a parallel connection to a series connection as said terminal voltages drop; a pulse-width modulated switching means for switching voltage from the series or parallel connected batteries to a load; a control means powered by said batteries and acting to control the pulse-width modulated switching means, so that an effective value of voltage or current fed to the load from the batteries connected in series is kept constant in response to changes in the terminal voltages of the batteries and an effective value of voltage or current fed to the load from the batteries connected in parallel is kept constant in response to changes in terminal voltages of batteries. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. A power supply using batteries undergoing great voltage variations, said power supply comprising:
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a plurality of batteries whose terminal voltages drop as energy is taken from said batteries; a switching means for switching said batteries from a parallel connection to a series connection as said terminal voltages drop; a pulse-width modulated switching means for switching voltage from the series or parallel connected batteries to a load; and a control means powered by said batteries and acting to control the pulse-width modulated switching means, wherein said control means detects an effective or mean value of the voltage or current fed to the load and controls said pulse-width modulated switching means according to the detected value.
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9. A power supply using batteries undergoing great voltage variations, said power supply comprising:
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a plurality of batteries whose terminal voltages drop as energy is taken from said batteries; a switching means for switching said batteries from a parallel connection to a series connection as said terminal voltages drop; a pulse-width modulated switching means for switching voltage from the series or parallel connected batteries to a load; and a control means powered by said batteries and acting to control the pulse-width modulated switching means, wherein; (a) said switching means has first, second and third switches; (b) a series combination of one of said batteries and said second switch is connected in parallel with a series combination of the other battery and said third switch; (c) said first switch is connected between the junction of the one of said batteries and said second switch and the junction of the other battery and said third switch; and (d) said second and third switches are operated complementarily to said first switch. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12)
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Specification