Supercapacitor and charger for secondary power

• US 7,772,720 B2
• Filed: 12/03/2007
• Issued: 08/10/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 12/03/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: SPX Corporation
• Original Assignee: SPX Corporation
• Inventors: Ermer, Corey, McGee, Phillip
• Primary Examiner(s): Paladini; Albert W
• Assistant Examiner(s): AMAYA, CARLOS DAVID
• Application Number:
  US11/949,427
• Publication Number:
  US 20090140575A1
• Time in Patent Office: 981 Days
• Field of Search: 307/10.1, 307/66, 320/104
• US Class Current: 307/66
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/345 using capacitors as storage or buffering devices

Abstract

A secondary power source system, includes a first unit receiving a primary power input and restricting a current used for charging to a predetermined amount, a second unit including a device providing capacitance, receiving a first output from the first unit with restricted current, a third unit generating a second output of a certain voltage, and a fourth unit performing a logical OR operation with the primary power input, first output from the first unit and second output from the second unit, to generate a single third output of a certain voltage.

Claims

1. A secondary power source system for a communication device, comprising:

a first unit configured to receive a primary power input and restrict a current used for charging to a predetermined amount, wherein the current is part of a first output of the first unit;

a second unit comprising a device that stores electrical energy, the second unit configured to receive the first output from the first unit with restricted current and generate a second output;

a third unit configured to receive the second output from the second unit and generate a third output; and

a fourth unit configured to perform a logical OR operation with the primary power input, first output from the first unit and third output from the third unit, and to generate a single fourth output.

2. The secondary power source system of claim 1, wherein the device that stores electrical energy is a capacitor.

3. The secondary power source system of claim 1, wherein the device that stores electrical energy is a super capacitor or ultra capacitor with an energy density.

4. The secondary power source system of claim 1, wherein the first unit comprising a charging unit that receives the primary power input and regulates the first power output.

5. The secondary power source system of claim 4, wherein the charging unit limits the current.

6. The secondary power source system of claim 1, wherein the device that stores electrical energy includes a plurality of capacitors in series.

7. The secondary power source system of claim 1, wherein the device that stores electrical energy includes a plurality of super capacitors in series.

8. The secondary power source system of claim 1, wherein the primary power source, first power output, third power output and fourth power output being in a range between and including 3.3 volts to 5 volts.

9. The secondary power source system of claim 1, wherein the first unit comprises a charger that accommodates the restriction of current to the predetermined amount and includes thermal regulation.

10. The secondary power source system of claim 1, wherein a logic circuit of the communication device between a vehicle and a computing device, being any one of a personal computer, and diagnostic tool, maintains a power in the fourth power output when the primary power source is reduced from a predetermined power.

11. A secondary power source system for a first device communicating between a vehicle and a computing device, comprising:

a means for charging receiving a primary power input and restricting a current used for charging to a predetermined amount, wherein the current is part of a first output of the means for charging;

a means for providing capacitance being charged by the first output of the means for charging and generating a second output;

a means for regulating a voltage generating a third output from the second output from the means for providing capacitance; and

a means for selecting via a logical OR operation between the primary power input, the first output from the charging means, and the third output from the means for regulating the voltage, and to generate a single fourth output.

12. The secondary power source system of claim 11, wherein an output from the means for selecting being forwarded to a logic circuit of the first device to be used as a secondary power source when a primary power source has been reduced, enabling communication between the vehicle and the computing device, when the primary power source has been reduced.

13. The secondary power source system of claim 11, further comprising a logic circuit receiving a predetermined power from the means for selecting when a primary power source is reduced from the power.

14. The secondary power source system of claim 11, wherein the means for providing capacitance includes a super capacitor.

15. The secondary power source system of claim 11, wherein the means for providing capacitance includes a plurality of super capacitors in series.

16. The secondary power source system of claim 11, wherein the means for charging includes a charging device controlling the current.

17. The secondary power source system of claim 11, wherein the means for charging restricts the current used for charging to a predetermined current.

18. The secondary power source system of claim 11, wherein a voltage from the means for regulating the voltage provides a voltage less than the power input of the means for charging.

19. The secondary power source system of claim 11, wherein the secondary power source providing the output power from the means for selecting operates online with a vehicle power source to provide uninterrupted power source during a cold cranking incident.

20. The secondary power source system of claim 11, wherein the output from the means for selecting accommodating only a power to a communication and memory operation of the first device being powered by the secondary power source system.

21. A method of providing a secondary power source to a device, comprising:

receiving a primary power input and restricting a current used for charging to a predetermined amount by a first unit including a charging unit, wherein the current is part of a first output of the first unit;

receiving the first output from the first unit with restricted current and storing a power in a second unit including a capacitance unit;

generating a second output by the second unit;

receiving the second output from the second unit by a third unit;

generating a third output by the third unit; and

performing a logical OR operation by a fourth unit with the primary power input, the first output from the first unit, and the third output from the third unit to generate a single fourth output.

22. The method of claim 21, further comprising of providing the device, linking a computing device with a vehicle, uninterrupted power supply from the single third output when there is a cold cranking incident with the vehicle.

23. The method of claim 21, wherein the capacitance unit is a super capacitor or ultra capacitor with an energy density.

24. The method of claim 21, wherein the charging unit receives the primary power input and regulates the first power output.

25. The method of claim 21, further comprises placing the device being powered by the secondary power source in a lowered power state when a primary power is lost or reduced, and the charging unit includes current and thermal regulation.