IP Library Granted Patent US 7,239,206
Granted Patent B2
US 7,239,206 · App. 11/112,511 · Granted Jul 3, 2007

Ultracapacitor audio amplifier

Assignee: Rockford Corporation
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 7,239,206
App. No.
11/112,511
Granted
Jul 3, 2007
Kind
B2
Abstract

An amplifier that employs ultracapacitors to accommodate the peak power needs of an electrical system, such as car audio system. The amplifier operates off of a primary power source for average signal power levels and then uses the ultracapacitors when operating at peak power levels. As such, the amplifier can operate off of a primary power supply that supplies less than the peak power required by the amplifier.

Claims (24)

1. An amplifier coupled to a power source and a load, said amplifier comprising:

a power supply that forms an input section to said amplifier; and

an internal ultracapacitor power supply, said amplifier using power from said power source on an averaging basis, said amplifier charging said internal ultracapacitor power supply when an instantaneous power usage of said amplifier is less than said averaging basis, said amplifier using power from said internal ultracapacitor power supply when said instantaneous power usage of said amplifier is more than said averaging basis.

2. The amplification system of claim 1 , said power source supplying at least ⅛ th of the power consumed by said load when said load is operating at its full rated power.

3. The amplification system of claim 1 , said internal ultracapacitor power supply storing energy sufficient to support rated output power of said load for at least 0.5 seconds.

4. The amplification system of claim 1 , further comprising a control unit altering the voltage across said internal ultracapacitor power supply, thereby varying a rate at which said internal ultracapacitor stores a charge.

5. The amplification system of claim 1 , said internal ultracapacitor power supply storing energy sufficient to support a rated output power within ±20 percent of the rated output power of said load.

6. An amplifier for amplifying a signal that uses power from a power source, said amplifier comprising:

a voltage regulated power supply that uses current from said power source on an averaging basis;

an ultracapacitor, said ultracapacitor stores a charge when said amplifier uses less than the averaging basis to amplify said signal, said amplifier uses power from said ultracapacitor when said amplifier's power needs exceed said averaging basis, said ultracapacitor coupled to said voltage regulated power supply; and

an output section coupled to said ultracapacitor.

7. The amplifier of claim 6 , said ultracapacitor stores energy sufficient to support a rated output power within ±20 percent of the rated output power of a load coupled to said output section.

8. The amplifier of claim 6 , said voltage regulated power supply uses at least ⅛ th of the power consumed by a load from said power source when said load is operating at its full rated power.

9. The amplifier of claim 6 , further comprising a control unit that alters the voltage across said ultracapacitor, thereby varying a rate at which said ultracapacitor stores said charge.

10. The amplifier of claim 6 , said ultracapacitor stores energy sufficient to support rated output power of a load for at least 0.5 seconds.

11. A process for amplifying a signal for use by a load, comprising:

using a current from a power source on an averaging basis, said current is used by a voltage regulated power supply contained within said amplifier;

storing charge from at least a potion of said current in an ultracapacitor when an amplifier requires less than said current to amplify said signal; and

using power from said ultracapacitor when said amplifier requires more power than provided by said current to amplify said signal.

12. The process of claim 11 , said ultracapacitor is coupled to a high voltage output section of said voltage regulated power supply.

13. The process of claim 11 , said averaging basis is ⅛ th the rated output power consumed by said load coupled to said amplifier.

14. The process of claim 11 , said ultracapacitor stores sufficient energy to support rated output power of said load within ±20 percent.

15. The process of claim 11 , further comprising altering a rate at which said ultracapacitor charges with a control unit.

16. The process of claim 11 , said ultracapacitor stores energy sufficient to support rated output power of said load for at least 0.5 seconds.

Assignments (6)
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Dec 19, 2022
From: BANKERS TRUST COMPANY
To: ROCKFORD CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 062141/0615 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Oct 13, 2021
From: WELLS FARGO BANK, N.A.
To: ROCKFORD CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 060135/0805 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded May 27, 2020
From: ROCKFORD CORPORATION
To: BANKERS TRUST COMPANY
Reel/Frame 052758/0927 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Nov 16, 2012
From: ROCKFORD CORPORATION
To: WELLS FARGO BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION
Reel/Frame 029311/0265 →
FIRST AMENDMENT TO COLLATERAL ASSIGNMENT OF PATENTS (SECURITY AGREEMENT) Recorded Mar 23, 2009
From: ROCKFORD CORPORATION
To: WACHOVIA CAPITAL FINANCE CORPORATION (CENTRAL)
Reel/Frame 022427/0492 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded May 5, 2005
From: D'AMORE, ANTHONY
To: ROCKFORD CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 016192/0538 →
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20060238258A1 · Oct 26, 2006