Circuit and method for regulating discharge of a capacitor
First Claim
1. A circuit comprising:
- a first capacitor having a terminal for connection to a power source that is external to the circuit, wherein the first capacitor stores a charge from the power source when the terminal of first capacitor is connected to the power source;
a second capacitor having a terminal for connection to an electronic device to provide power to the electronic device;
a plurality of switched capacitors configured to transfer a charge stored by the first capacitor to the second capacitor, wherein the charge transferred to the second capacitor from the first capacitor serves as the power provided to the electronic device via the terminal of the second capacitor; and
a control circuit configured to control switching of the plurality of switched capacitors based on a voltage of the second capacitor,wherein the plurality of switched capacitors are switched at a frequency that is inversely proportional to a voltage of the first capacitor.
4 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Embodiments of the present invention include techniques for regulating discharge of a capacitor. In one embodiment, the circuit may be used to store power on a capacitor and regulate the discharge of the capacitor to power a load, such as system electronics, circuitry, or electronic devices. In one embodiment, a first capacitor is charged from a power source and stores energy for powering an electronic device. A second capacitor is coupled to the electronic device for providing power to the electronic device. Switched capacitors are configured to transfer charge from the first capacitor to the second capacitor. A control circuit controls switching of the switched capacitors in response to voltage on the first capacitor. The switching frequency may be increased as the voltage on the first capacitor decreases so that a steady flow of charge is provided across all capacitor voltage levels.
-
Citations
20 Claims
-
1. A circuit comprising:
-
a first capacitor having a terminal for connection to a power source that is external to the circuit, wherein the first capacitor stores a charge from the power source when the terminal of first capacitor is connected to the power source; a second capacitor having a terminal for connection to an electronic device to provide power to the electronic device; a plurality of switched capacitors configured to transfer a charge stored by the first capacitor to the second capacitor, wherein the charge transferred to the second capacitor from the first capacitor serves as the power provided to the electronic device via the terminal of the second capacitor; and a control circuit configured to control switching of the plurality of switched capacitors based on a voltage of the second capacitor, wherein the plurality of switched capacitors are switched at a frequency that is inversely proportional to a voltage of the first capacitor. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 20)
-
-
7. An electronic system comprising:
-
electronic circuitry; and a capacitive power supply having a first capacitor Configured for connection to a power source that is external to the capacitive power supply, wherein the first capacitor is configured to store a charge from the power source when the first capacitor is connected to the power source; a second capacitor coupled to the electronic circuitry for providing power to the electronic circuitry; a plurality of switched capacitors configured to transfer the charge stored at the first capacitor to the second capacitor, wherein the charged transferred to the second capacitor from the first capacitor serves as the power provided to the electronic circuitry; and a control circuit configured to control switching of the plurality of switched capacitors based on a voltage of the second capacitor, wherein the plurality of switched capacitors are switched at an increasing frequency when a voltage of the first capacitor decreases, wherein the voltage of the second capacitor increases as the charge is transferred from the first capacitor to the second capacitor, and wherein the voltage of the first capacitor decreases as the charge is transferred from the first capacitor to the second capacitor. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
-
-
14. A method of powering an electronic device, the method comprising:
-
charging a first capacitor with a charge received from an power source that is external to the electronic device, wherein the first capacitor is charged to achieve a supply voltage; during a first phase, arranging a plurality of switched capacitors in parallel with the first capacitor, and transferring charge from the first capacitor to the plurality of switched capacitors; during a second phase, arranging the plurality of switched capacitors in series, wherein one of the plurality of switched capacitors arranged in series is coupled to a second capacitor, and transferring charge from the plurality of switched capacitors arranged in series to the second capacitor; and transferring a charge stored at the second capacitor to the electronic device, wherein the plurality of switched capacitors are switched between the first phase and the second phase based on a voltage of the second capacitor, and wherein a switching frequency of the plurality of switched capacitors increases as the supply voltage of the first capacitor decreases. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
-
Specification