IP Library Granted Patent US 7,071,668
Granted Patent B2
US 7,071,668 · App. 10/367,813 · Granted Jul 4, 2006

Power circuit and method for controlling same

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 7,071,668
App. No.
10/367,813
Granted
Jul 4, 2006
Kind
B2
Abstract

A power circuit is provided which has a small current peak value from a power source even when a load current repeats periodically, and a burst flow in a burst period and a non-burst flow in a non-burst period alternates. The power circuit includes a power source section, a power controlling section, and an energy storing section having a storage capacitor being connected to an output terminal, a current controlling circuit to control values of detecting a voltage input from a power source section and a control switching device having a field effect transistor switch and a circuit made up of a capacitor in which a flowing period of an output current is controlled by exerting the field effect transistor switch according to a control signal being produced by detecting a change in an input power voltage using a voltage occurring at another terminal of the detecting resistor.

Claims (72)

1. A power circuit for feeding a load current to a load in which said load current repeats periodically and alternates a burst flow in a burst period and a non-burst flow in a non-burst period comprising:

a power source section made up of a direct current power source having one terminal connected to a negative polarity;

a source power controlling section to control a current fed from a second terminal of said power source section connected to an input terminal to limit voltage drop in said power source section and to feed said current to a load connected to an output terminal; and

an energy storing section having a storage capacitor connected between said output terminal and a negative polarity;

wherein said source power controlling section is provided with a current controlling circuit to control a resistance value of a detecting resistor section, said detecting resistor section having one terminal connected to said negative polarity, according to a result of detection of a voltage input from said power source section, and a switching circuit which has a circuit part comprising a switching device connected between an input terminal and an output terminal of said source power controlling section and a capacitor connected between said output terminal of said source power controlling section and a negative polarity, and which controls a flowing period of an output current by exerting control on said switching device according to a control signal produced by detecting a change in an input power voltage using a voltage value occurring at another terminal of said detecting resistor; and

wherein a circuit constant of said source power controlling section, electrostatic capacity and internal resistance of said storage capacitor are determined by following equations:

T 1+ T 2 ≦T load

 where “T 1 +T 2 ” denotes a flowing period (Sec) of a power current and “Tload” denotes a load period (Sec):

Vo /2 ≧IC×{Rc +( T load× D on)/( C× 100)}= Vo 3

 where “Vo” denotes a voltage (V) of said storage capacitor when there is no load current, “IC” denotes a current (A) of said storage capacitor, “Rc” denotes an internal resistance (Ω) of said storage capacitor, “Don” denotes a duty ratio (%) of a load, “C” denotes a capacity (F) of a storage capacitor, and “Vo 3 ” denotes an amount of a voltage drop (V) of a storage capacitor voltage occurring during a burst period.

2. The power circuit according to claim 1 , wherein said power source section comprises a secondary cell connected between an output terminal and said negative polarity and connected to a charging power source through a charging circuit, and a primary cell being connected to said negative polarity and to said output terminal through a charging preventing circuit used to prevent charging from said charging power source.

3. The power circuit according to claim 1 , wherein said power source section comprises a secondary cell connected between an output of a charging circuit and said negative polarity and connected to an output terminal through a charging preventing switch, and a primary cell being connected between said output terminal and said negative polarity.

4. The power circuit according to claim 1 , wherein said power source section comprises a fuel tank, a fuel cell to generate power using fuel fed from said fuel tank, and a direct current smoothing controlling section to stabilize a voltage output from said fuel cell and to feed it to an output terminal.

5. The power circuit according to claim 1 , wherein said power source section comprises a current setting resistor to set a value of an output current, an operational amplifier to amplify a detected voltage of said current setting resistor, and a switching circuit to control a power current according to an output of said operational amplifier.

6. The power circuit according to claim 1 , wherein a storage capacitor in said energy storing section comprises an electric double layer capacitor.

7. The power circuit according to claim 6 , wherein said storage capacitor has a capacitor discharging circuit used to cause a charge of said storage capacitor to be shorted through a discharging resistor when a predetermined relationship, determined by comparing a terminal voltage of said storage capacitor with a power voltage, exists.

8. A power circuit for feeding a load current to a load in which said load current repeats periodically and alternately a burst flow in a burst period and a non-burst flow in a non-burst period comprising:

a power source section made up of a direct current power source having one terminal connected to a negative polarity;

a source power controlling section to control a current fed from a second terminal of said power source section being connected to an input terminal to limit voltage drop in said power source section and to feed said current to a load connected to an output terminal; and

an energy storing section having a storage capacitor connected between said output terminal and a negative polarity;

wherein said source power controlling section is provided with a current controlling circuit to control a resistance value of a detecting resistor section, said detecting resistor section having one terminal connected to said negative polarity, according to a result of detection of a voltage input from said power source section, and a switching circuit which has a step-up DC—DC (direct current to direct current) converter circuit comprising a voltage detecting circuit to detect a voltage of an output terminal, a coil and diode connected in series between an input terminal and an output terminal of said source power controlling section, a capacitor connected between said output terminal of said source power controlling section and a negative polarity, and a switching device connected between a connection point of said coil and said diode and another terminal of said detecting resistor section, and which controls a flowing period of an output current by exerting control on said switching device according to a control signal produced by detecting a change in a current through said switching device using a voltage value at said other terminal of said detecting resistor section and a voltage at said output terminal; and

wherein a circuit constant of said source power controlling section, electrostatic capacity and internal resistance of said storage capacitor are determined by following equations:

T 1+ T 2≦ T load

 where “T 1 +T 2 ” denotes a flowing period (Sec) of a power current and “Tload” denotes a load period (Sec):

Vo /2 ≧IC×{Rc +( T load× D on)/( C× 100)}= Vo 3

 where “Vo” denotes a voltage (V) of said storage capacitor when there is no load current, “IC” denotes a current (A) of said storage capacitor, “Rc” denotes an internal resistance (Ω) of said storage capacitor, “Don” denotes a duty ratio (%) of a load, “C” denotes a capacity (F) of a storage capacitor, and “Vo 3 ” denotes an amount of a voltage drop (V) of a storage capacitor voltage occurring during a burst period.

9. The power circuit according to claim 8 , wherein said power source section comprises a secondary cell being connected between an output terminal and said negative polarity and being connected to a charging power source through a charging circuit, and of a primary cell being connected to said output terminal and said negative polarity through a charging preventing circuit used to prevent charging caused by an output from said charging power source.

10. The power circuit according to claim 8 , wherein said power source section comprises a secondary cell being connected between an output of a charging circuit and said negative polarity and being connected to an output terminal through a charging preventing switch and of a primary cell being connected between said output terminal and said negative polarity.

11. The power circuit according to claim 8 , wherein said power source section comprises a fuel tank, a fuel cell to generate power using fuel fed from said fuel tank, and a direct current smoothing controlling section to stabilize a voltage output from said fuel cell and to feed it to an output terminal.

12. The power circuit according to claim 8 , wherein said power source section comprises a current setting resistor to set a value of an output current, an operational amplifier to amplify a detected voltage of said current setting resistor, and a switching circuit to control a power current according to an output of said operational amplifier.

13. The power circuit according to claim 8 , wherein a storage capacitor in said energy storing section comprises an electric double layer capacitor.

14. The power circuit according to claim 13 , wherein said storage capacitor has a capacitor discharging circuit used to cause a charge of said storage capacitor to be shorted through a discharging resistor when a predetermined relationship, determined by comparing a terminal voltage of said storage capacitor with a power voltage, exists.

15. A power circuit for feeding a load current to a load in which said load current repeats periodically and alternately a burst flow in a burst period and a non-burst flow in a non-burst period comprising:

a power source section made up of a direct current power source-having one terminal connected to a negative polarity;

a source power controlling section to control a current fed from a second terminal of said power source section connected to an input terminal to limit voltage drop in said power source section and to feed said current to a load connected to an output terminal;

an energy storing section having a storage capacitor connected between said output terminal and a negative polarity; and

wherein said source power controlling section is provided with a current controlling circuit to control a resistance value of a detecting resistor section, said detecting resistor section having one terminal connected to an input terminal of said source power controlling section, according to a result of detection of a voltage input from said power source section, and a switching circuit which has a step-down DC—DC converter circuit comprising a voltage detecting circuit for detecting a voltage of an output terminal, a switching device and a coil connected in series between another terminal of said detecting resistor section and an output terminal, a capacitor connected between the output terminal and said negative polarity, and a diode connected between said negative polarity and a connection point between said switching device and said coil, and which controls a flowing period of an output current by exerting control on said switching device according to a control signal produced by detecting a change in an input current based on a voltage across said detecting resistor section, and a voltage at said output terminal; and

wherein a circuit constant of said source power controlling section, electrostatic capacity and internal resistance of said storage capacitor are determined by following equations:

T 1+ T 2 ≦T load

 where “T 1 +T 2 ” denotes a flowing period (Sec) of a power current and “Tload” denotes a load period (Sec):

Vo /2 ≧IC ×{Rc +( T load× D on)/( C× 100)}= Vo 3

 where “Vo” denotes a voltage (V) of said storage capacitor when there is no load current, “IC” denotes a current (A) of said storage capacitor, “Rc” denotes an internal resistance (Ω) of said storage capacitor, “Don” denotes a duty ratio (%) of a load, “C” denotes a capacity (F) of a storage capacitor, and “Vo 3 ” denotes an amount of a voltage drop (V) of a storage capacitor voltage occurring during a burst period.

16. The power circuit according to claim 15 , wherein said power source section comprises a secondary cell being connected between an output terminal and said negative polarity and being connected to a charging power source through a charging circuit, and of a primary cell being connected to said output terminal and said negative polarity through a charging preventing circuit used to prevent charging caused by an output from said charging power source.

17. The power circuit according to claim 15 , wherein said power source section comprises a secondary cell being connected between an output of a charging circuit and said negative polarity and being connected to an output terminal through a charging preventing switch and of a primary cell being connected between said output terminal and said negative polarity.

18. The power circuit according to claim 15 , wherein said power source section comprises a fuel tank, a fuel cell to generate power using fuel fed from said fuel tank, and a direct current smoothing controlling section to stabilize a voltage output from said fuel cell and to feed it to an output terminal.

19. The power circuit according to claim 15 , wherein said power source section comprises a current setting resistor to set a value of an output current, an operational amplifier to amplify a detected voltage of said current setting resistor, and a switching circuit to control a power current according to an output of said operational amplifier.

20. The power circuit according to claim 15 , wherein a storage capacitor in said energy storing section comprises an electric double layer capacitor.

21. The power circuit according to claim 20 , wherein said storage capacitor has a capacitor discharging circuit used to cause a charge of said storage capacitor to be shorted through a discharging resistor when a predetermined relationship, determined by comparing a terminal voltage of said storage capacitor with a power voltage, exists.

22. A method for controlling a power circuit to feed a load current to a load, in which said load current repeats periodically and alternately a burst flow in a burst period and a non-burst flow in a non-burst period, which has a power source section made up of a direct current power source with one terminal connected to a negative polarity, a source power controlling section to control a current fed from said power source section, connected to an input terminal, and to feed said current to a load connected to an output terminal, and an energy storing section having a storage capacitor connected between said output terminal and a negative polarity, said method comprising:

a step of controlling a resistance value of a detecting resistor section, said detecting resistor section having one terminal connected to said negative polarity, according to a result of detection of a voltage input from said power source section; and

a step of controlling a flowing period of an output current by exerting control on a switching device in response to a control signal produced by detecting a change in an input power voltage using a voltage value occurring at another terminal of said detecting resistor section, wherein said switching device is connected between an input terminal and an output terminal and a capacitor is connected between said output terminal and a negative polarity; and

wherein a circuit constant of said source power controlling section, electrostatic capacity and internal resistance of said storage capacitor are determined by following equations:

T 1+ T 2 ≦T load

 where “T 1 +T 2 ” denotes a flowing period (Sec) of a power current and “Tload” denotes a load period (Sec):

Vo /2 ≧IC×{Rc +( T load× D on)/( C× 100)}= Vo 3

where “Vo” denotes a voltage (V) of said storage capacitor when there is no load current, “IC” denotes a current (A) of said storage capacitor, “Rc” denotes an internal resistance (Ω) of said storage capacitor, “Don” denotes a duty ratio (%) of a load, “C” denotes a capacity (F) of a storage capacitor, and “Vo 3 ” denotes an amount of a voltage drop (V) of a storage capacitor voltage occurring during a burst period.

23. A method for controlling a power circuit to feed a load current to a load, in which said load current repeats periodically and alternately a burst flow in a burst period and a non-burst flow in a non-burst period, which has a power source section made up of a direct current power source having one terminal connected to a negative polarity, a source power controlling section to control a current fed from said power source section and connected to an input terminal of said source power controlling section, and to feed said current to a load connected to an output terminal of said source power controlling section, and an energy storing section having a storage capacitor connected between said output terminal and a negative polarity, said method comprising:

a step of controlling a resistance value of a detecting resistor section having one terminal connected to said negative polarity, according to a result of detection of a voltage input from said power source section; and

a step of controlling a flowing period of an output current by exerting control on a switching device according to a control signal produced by detecting a change in a current of said switching device using a voltage value at another terminal of said detecting resistor section, and a voltage at said output terminal in a step-up DC—DC converter circuit comprising a coil and diode connected in series between an input terminal and an output terminal, a capacitor connected between said output terminal and a negative polarity, and a switching device connected between a connection point of said coil and said diode and said other terminal of said detecting resistor section; and

wherein a circuit constant of said source power controlling section, electrostatic capacity and internal resistance of said storage capacitor are determined by following equations:

T 1+ T 2 ≦T load

 where “T 1 +T 2 ” denotes a flowing period (Sec) of a power current and “Tload” denotes a load period (Sec):

Vo /2 ≧IC×{Rc +( T load× D on)/( C× 100)}= Vo 3

 where “Vo” denotes a voltage (V) of said storage capacitor when there is no load current, “IC” denotes a current (A) of said storage capacitor, “Rc” denotes an internal resistance (Ω) of said storage capacitor, “Don” denotes a duty ratio (%) of a load, “C” denotes a capacity (F) of a storage capacitor, and “Vo 3 ” denotes an amount of a voltage drop (V) of a storage capacitor voltage occurring during a burst period.

24. A method for controlling a power circuit to feed a load current to a load, in which said load current repeats periodically and alternately a burst flow in a burst period and a non-burst flow in a non-burst period, which has a power source section made up of a direct current power source having one terminal connected to a negative polarity, a source power controlling section to control a current fed from said power source section connected to an input terminal of said power controlling section, and to feed said current to a load connected to an output terminal of said power controlling section, and an energy storing section having a storage capacitor connected between said output terminal and said negative polarity, said method comprising:

a step of controlling a resistance value of a detecting resistor section having one terminal connected to an input terminal according to a result of detection of a voltage input from said power source section; and

a step of controlling a flowing period of an output current by exerting control on a switching device according to a control signal produced by detecting a change in an input current based on a voltage across said detecting resistor section, and a voltage at said output terminal of a step-down DC—DC converter circuit comprising a switching device and a coil connected in series between another terminal of said detecting resistor and an output terminal, a capacitor connected between the output terminal and said negative polarity, and a diode connected between a connection point between said switching device and said coil and said negative polarity; and

wherein a circuit constant of said source power controlling section, electrostatic capacity and internal resistance of said storage capacitor are determined by following equations:

T 1+ T 2 ≦T load

 where “T 1 +T 2 ” denotes a flowing period (Sec) of a power current and “Tload” denotes a load period (Sec):

Vo /2 ≧IC×{Rc +( T load× D on)/( C× 100)}= Vo 3

 where “Vo” denotes a voltage (V) of said storage capacitor when there is no load current, “IC” denotes a current (A) of said storage capacitor, “Rc” denotes an internal resistance (Ω) of said storage capacitor, “Don” denotes a duty ratio (%) of a load, “C” denotes a capacity (F) of a storage capacitor, and “Vo 3 ” denotes an amount of a voltage drop (V) of a storage capacitor voltage occurring during a burst period.

Assignments (1)
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Jun 19, 2017
From: NEC TOKIN CORPORATION
To: TOKIN CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 042879/0135 →