POWER SUPPLY

• US 20120068542A1
• Filed: 09/21/2010
• Published: 03/22/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 09/21/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Tahoe Research Limited (f/k/a Learndale Limited) (Vector Capital Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Intel Corporation
• Inventors: ALAPPAT, KURIAPPAN P.
• Granted Patent: US 9,203,265 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 307/66
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0068 Battery or charger load switching, e.g. concurrent charging and load supply H02J7/0013 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/00712 the cycle being controlled or terminated in response to electric parameters
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/345 using capacitors as storage or buffering devices
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 9/061 for DC powered loads

Abstract

Provided is a platform with backup power and burst load power needs met using a supercapacitor.

Claims

1. An apparatus, comprising:

a mobile computing platform to be powered by a primary supply that is not sufficient to provide it with adequate burst power during a burst event; and

a supercap to provide additional power to the computing platform during the burst event and to provide a backup load with power when the primary power supply is deficient.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, in which the primary power supply is a battery.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, in which the computing platform is a portable computer with wireless communications capability.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, in which the computing platform is a smart phone.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, in which the supercap is coupled to the backup load without having to be switched to the backup load.

6. The apparatus of claim 1, in which the supercap is coupled to the backup load through a switch when the primary power source is deficient.

7. The apparatus of claim 1, comprising a switch to switch the supercap between a burst load supply rail and the primary power source.

8. The apparatus of claim 7, in which a charger is coupled between the supercap and primary power source when the switch is switched to couple the supercap to the primary power supply.

9. A computing device, comprising:

a backup supply rail;

a second supply rail;

a battery; and

a supercap coupled to the second supply rail for burst load events and to the backup supply rail when the battery is not available.

10. The device of claim 9, in which the supercap is switched away from the second supply rail when the battery is deficient.

11. The device of claim 10, in which the battery is deficient when it is discharged to a voltage level below a minimum reference level.

12. The device of claim 9, in which the second supply rail is to provide power to burst loads.

13. The device of claim 9, comprising a charger to be coupled between the battery and supercap when the battery is deficient.

14. A portable electronic device, comprising

a supercap to provide power to burst loads during burst load events and to provide power to at least one backup load when a primary power source is not available.

15. The device of claim 14, in which the supercap has sufficiently low effective series resistance to source power to the burst loads.

16. The device of claim 15, in which the supercap is capable of sourcing at least as much power as the primary power source.

17. The device of claim 14, comprising a switch to couple the supercap away from the burst loads to the at least one backup load.