System and method for power-efficient charging and discharging of a capacitive load from a single source
First Claim
1. A system for efficiently charging and discharging a capacitive load from a single voltage source of a first potential consisting of:
- a first switch for selectively charging the load;
a second switch for selectively discharging the load;
plural capacitive elements; and
switch means for selectively connecting each of the capacitive elements to the capacitive load to gradually charge or discharge the capacitive load.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A system and method for efficiently charging and discharging a capacitive load from a single voltage source. The system includes a first switch for selectively connecting the voltage source to the load and a second switch for selectively providing a short across the load as may be common in the art. A particularly novel aspect of the invention resides in the provision of plural capacitive elements and a switching mechanism for selectively connecting each of the capacitive elements to the load whereby the load is gradually charged or discharged. In the illustrative embodiment, the switching mechanism includes a set of switches for selectively connecting each of the capacitive elements to the capacitive load and a switch control mechanism for selectively activating the switches.
70 Citations
27 Claims
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1. A system for efficiently charging and discharging a capacitive load from a single voltage source of a first potential consisting of:
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a first switch for selectively charging the load;
a second switch for selectively discharging the load;
plural capacitive elements; and
switch means for selectively connecting each of the capacitive elements to the capacitive load to gradually charge or discharge the capacitive load. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A method for efficiently charging and discharging a capacitive load from a single voltage source including the steps of:
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providing a first switch for selectively connecting the voltage source to the load;
providing a second switch for selectively providing a short across the load;
providing plural capacitive elements;
providing plural third switches for selectively connecting each of the capacitive elements to the capacitive load; and
selectively activating the first, second and third switches to gradually charge or discharge the capacitive load.
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12. A method for driving a capacitive load, comprising:
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minimizing power dissipation by discharging the capacitive load by incremental voltage steps using a switching system which includes a switch for selectively discharging the load; and
electrically coupling a capacitive storage system to the capacitive load at an electrically floating node for discharging the capacitive load by one of the incremental voltage steps. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14)
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15. A system for driving a capacitive load, comprising:
means for minimizing power dissipation by discharging the capacitive load by incremental voltage steps using a switching system which includes a switch for selectively discharging the load; and
means for electrically coupling a capacitive storage system to the capacitive load at an electrically floating node for discharging the capacitive load by one of the incremental voltage steps.- View Dependent Claims (16, 17)
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18. A method for driving a load, the method comprising:
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charging the load to a first level;
discharging the load to a second level using a switching system which includes a switch for selectively discharging the load, wherein during discharging to the second level, a first capacitor is charged to the second level by using the discharging charge of the load;
discharging the load to a third level using a switch; and
re-charging the load by using the charge of the first capacitor, wherein the first level is higher from the second level and the second level is higher that the third level. - View Dependent Claims (19)
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20. A system for charging and discharging a capacitive load in N steps, N being greater than 1, comprising:
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N−
1 capacitive devices; and
a first switching device operable to selectively couple and de-couple the N−
1 capacitive devices to and from the capacitive load during a charging and a discharging of the capacitive load;
a switching system including a switch for selectively discharging the load, whereby energy is recovered from the capacitive load and whereby the recovered energy is always stored substantially only in capacitance. - View Dependent Claims (21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26)
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27. A method for charging and discharging a capacitive load comprising:
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selectively coupling and de-coupling a capacitive device to and from the capacitive load to cause the charging and the discharging of the capacitive load to occur in a plurality of steps using a switching system which includes a switch for selectively discharging the load, whereby energy is recovered from the capacitive load and whereby the recovered energy is always stored substantially only in capacitance.
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Specification