Power module for providing impulses of various levels by charging or discharging capacitors therewith

• US 6,753,673 B2
• Filed: 03/27/2003
• Issued: 06/22/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 05/14/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Luxon Energy Devices Corporation
• Original Assignee: Luxon Energy Devices Corporation
• Inventors: Cheng, Jen-Chieh, Shiue, Lih-Ren, Sun, Abel, Chung, Hsing-Chen
• Primary Examiner(s): Tso, Edward H.
• Application Number:
  US10/249,258
• Publication Number:
  US 20030214270A1
• Time in Patent Office: 453 Days
• Field of Search: 320/116, 320/117, 320/118, 320/119, 320/166
• US Class Current: 320/117
• CPC Class Codes: H03K 3/53 by the use of an energy-accumulating element discharged through the load by a switching device controlled by an external signal and not incorporating positive feedback H03K3/335 takes precedence

Abstract

Using the combination of batteries and supercapacitors to provide impulse, various all-in-one power tools driven by the impulse are devised. The impulse may be utilized in three ways, namely, to launch an object, to create an impact force, and to form a peak current that can be greater than 100A. While the supercapacitors greatly enhance the power output of the power module, the supercapacitors are disposed in-parallel for charging and switched to series connection for discharging on depressing the triggers of the tools. Therefore, the batteries required to drive the portable power tools can be minimized & reduced, and the circuitry for conducting the parallel-to-series switch is simple and economical. Using interchangeable attachments or accessories, and power module of the invention, one tool body can be applied to many types of work and maintenance at homes and in the fields.

Claims

1. A power module comprising:

a DC voltage source;

a switching element electrically coupled to the DC voltage source;

a plurality of capacitors electrically coupled to the switching element, the capacitors arranged in parallel connection for charging, the capacitors switched into series connection via the switching element for discharging;

a switch electrically coupled to the switching element for switching the switching element; and

a step-up IC electrically coupled to the DC voltage source and connected in parallel with the capacitors in the mode where the capacitors are switched into series connection via the switching element for discharging.

2. A power module in accordance with claim 1, further comprising a power-level regulator electrically coupled to the DC voltage source for controlling the power level of the output from the power module.

3. A power module in accordance with claim 2, wherein the power-level regulator comprises:

a plurality of resistors, one of which is switched to be electrically coupled to the DC voltage source;

a pulse width modulator electrically coupled to the resistors, the output of the pulse width modulator controlled by switching one of the resistors to be electrically coupled to the DC voltage source; and

a transistor, a gate terminal of which is electrically coupled to the pulse width modulator for deciding the open time of the transistor and controlling the output from the power module by the output of the pulse width modulator.

4. A power module in accordance with claim 1, wherein said DC voltage source is selected from a group consisting of primary batteries, secondary batteries, fuel cells, metal-air batteries, solar cells, wind cells, and rectified AC power.

5. A power module in accordance with claim 1, wherein said switching element is selected from a group consisting of electromagnetic relay, solid state relay, and solenoid.

6. A power module in accordance with claim 1, wherein the capacitors are selected from a group consisting of supercapacitors, ultracapacitors and electric double layer capacitors.

7. A power module comprising:

a DC voltage source;

a switching element electrically coupled to the DC voltage source;

a plurality of capacitors electrically coupled to the switching element, via which the capacitors are switched into parallel connection for charging or into series connection for discharging; and

a switch electrically coupled to the switching element for switching the switching element.

8. A power module in accordance with claim 7, further comprising a power-level regulator electrically coupled to the DC voltage source for controlling the power level of the output from the power module.

9. A power module in accordance with claim 8, wherein the power-level regulator comprises:

a plurality of resistors, one of which is switched to be electrically coupled to the DC voltage source;

a pulse width modulator electrically coupled to the resistors, the output of the pulse width modulator controlled by switching one of the resistors to be electrically coupled to the DC voltage source; and

a transistor, a gate terminal of which is electrically coupled to the pulse width modulator for deciding the open time of the transistor and controlling the output from the power module by the output of the pulse width modulator.

10. A power module in accordance with claim 7, wherein said DC voltage source is selected from a group consisting of primary batteries, secondary batteries, fuel cells, metal-air batteries, solar cells, wind cells, and rectified AC power.

11. A power module in accordance with claim 7, wherein said switching element is selected from a group consisting of electromagnetic relay, solid state relay, and solenoid.

12. A power module in accordance with claim 7, wherein the capacitors are selected from a group consisting of supercapacitors, ultracapacitors and electric double layer capacitors.

13. A power module comprising:

a DC voltage source;

a first switching element electrically coupled to the DC voltage source;

a second switching element electrically coupled to the DC voltage source;

a plurality of capacitors electrically coupled to the first switching element, the capacitors arranged in parallel connection for charging, the capacitors switched into series connection via the first switching element for discharging;

a first switch electrically coupled between the first switching element and the second switching element;

a second switch electrically coupled between the first switching element and the second switching element; and

a step-up IC electrically coupled to the second switching element,

wherein the power module is switched into a first mode or a second mode by switching the second switching element, in the first mode where the step-up IC is electrically coupled to the DC voltage source and connected in parallel with the capacitors in the mode where the capacitors are switched into series connection via the first switching element for discharging and the first switch is electrically coupled to the DC voltage via the second switching element for switching the first switching element while the second switch is electrically disconnected from the DC voltage source, in the second mode where the step-up IC is electrically disconnected from the DC voltage source and the second switch is electrically coupled to the DC voltage via the second switching element for switching the first switching element while the first switch is electrically disconnected from the DC voltage source.

14. A power module in accordance with claim 13, further comprising a power-level regulator electrically coupled to the DC voltage source for controlling the power level of the output from the power module.

15. A power module in accordance with claim 14, wherein the power-level regulator comprises:

a plurality of resistors, one of which is switched to be electrically coupled to the DC voltage source;

a pulse width modulator electrically coupled to the resistors, the output of the pulse width modulator controlled by switching one of the resistors to be electrically coupled to the DC voltage source; and

a transistor, a gate terminal of which is electrically coupled to the pulse width modulator for deciding the open time of the transistor and controlling the output from the power module by the output of the pulse width modulator.

16. A power module in accordance with claim 13, wherein said DC voltage source is selected from a group consisting of primary batteries, secondary batteries, fuel cells, metal-air batteries, solar cells, wind cells, and rectified AC power.

17. A power module in accordance with claim 13, wherein said first switching element is selected from a group consisting of electromagnetic relay, solid state relay, and solenoid.

18. A power module in accordance with claim 13, wherein the capacitors are selected from a group consisting of supercapacitors, ultracapacitors and electric double layer capacitors.