Circuit for storing electrical energy

• US 9,184,614 B2
• Filed: 11/17/2011
• Issued: 11/10/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 11/19/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Flextronics International Limited
• Original Assignee: Flextronics International Limited
• Inventors: Tiritoglu, Okan
• Primary Examiner(s): WILLIAMS, ARUN C
• Application Number:
  US13/298,734
• Publication Number:
  US 20120126757A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,454 Days
• Field of Search: 320/167
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/007 Regulation of charging or discharging current or voltage
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/345 using capacitors as storage or buffering devices
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49716 Converting

Abstract

A circuit for storing electrical energy, in particular for installation within a motor vehicle, comprises at least one capacitor and a temperature-dependent resistor by means of which the at least one capacitor can be charged. The circuit may be included in a motor vehicle. Alternatively, a motor vehicle may be retrofit to include the circuit.

Claims

1. A circuit for storing electrical energy, in particular for installation within a motor vehicle, comprising

at least one capacitor;

a temperature-dependent resistor by means of which the at least one capacitor is charged and which limits the flow of current during the charging process; and

a diode by means of which the at least one capacitor is discharged without the current being limited by the temperature-dependent resistor, wherein the at least one capacitor is permanently coupled to be in direct electrical contact with the temperature-dependent resistor and the diode.

2. The circuit according to claim 1 having an additional resistor connected to the temperature-dependent resistor in parallel or in series.

3. The circuit according to claim 1 wherein the at least one capacitor is a double layer capacitor.

4. The circuit according to claim 1 wherein the temperature-dependent resistor is a PTC thermistor.

5. The circuit according to claim 1 wherein the at least one capacitor and the temperature-dependent resistor are arranged on a lead frame.

6. The circuit according to claim 2 wherein the at least one capacitor is a double layer capacitor.

7. The circuit according to claim 2 wherein the temperature-dependent resistor is a PTC thermistor.

8. The circuit according to claim 6 wherein the temperature-dependent resistor is a PTC thermistor.

9. The circuit according to claim 7 wherein the at least one capacitor and the temperature-dependent resistor are arranged on a lead frame.

10. A motor vehicle including a circuit for storing electrical energy, the circuit comprising

at least one capacitor;

a temperature-dependent resistor by means of which the at least one capacitor is charged and which limits the flow of current during the charging process; and

a diode by means of which the at least one capacitor is discharged without the current being limited by the temperature-dependent resistor, wherein the diode permanently couples with the temperature-dependent resistor in parallel as a lower resistant bypass during a discharging process.

11. The motor vehicle of claim 10 further including in the circuit an additional resistor connected to the temperature-dependent resistor in parallel or in series.

12. The motor vehicle of claim 10 wherein the at least one capacitor is a double layer capacitor.

13. The motor vehicle of claim 10 wherein the temperature-dependent resistor is a PTC thermistor.

14. The motor vehicle of claim 10 further including a lead frame and the at least one capacitor and the temperature-dependent resistor are arranged on the lead frame.

15. A method of retrofitting a motor vehicle comprising

removing a battery that stores electrical energy, and replacing the battery with a circuit that comprises

at least one capacitor;

a temperature-dependent resistor by means of which the at least one capacitor is charged and which limits the flow of current during the charging process; and

a diode by means of which the at least one capacitor is discharged without the current being limited by the temperature-dependent resistor, wherein the at least one capacitor is permanently coupled to be in direct electrical contact with the temperature-dependent resistor and the diode.

16. The method of claim 15 wherein the circuit further includes an additional resistor connected to the temperature-dependent resistor in parallel or in series.

17. The method of claim 15 wherein the at least one capacitor is a double layer capacitor.

18. The method of claim 15 wherein the temperature-dependent resistor is a PTC thermistor.

19. The method of claim 15 further including arranging the at least one capacitor and the temperature-dependent resistor on the lead frame.

20. The method of claim 19 wherein the temperature-dependent resistor is a PTC thermistor.