Power supply that uses a supercapacitive device
A power supply ( 1 ) for powering a load, the load being in the form of a flash driver circuit ( 4 ) for a digital camera (not shown). The power supply includes a supercapacitive device, in the form of a supercapacitor ( 8 ), for powering circuit ( 4 ). A regulator unit, in the form of an inductive regulator ( 10 ), charges supercapacitor ( 8 ).
1. A power supply for a cellular telephone having a first load and an LED flash, the power supply including:
an input for connecting to a power source;
a first output for connecting to the first load;
a second output for connecting to the LED flash;
a supercapacitive device that is connected to the second output for powering the LED flash; and
a regulator unit connected to the input for charging the supercapacitive device.
2. A power supply according to claim 1 wherein the regulator is in series with the power source, and together these are in parallel with the supercapacitive device.
3. A power supply according to claim 1 wherein the supercapacitive device is in series with the input such that the supercapacitive device and the power source are together in parallel with the LED flash.
4. A power supply according to claim 1 that is operable in a plurality of modes including:
a charging mode for charging the supercapacitive device; and
a discharging for discharging the supercapacitive device to power the LED flash.
5. A power supply according to claim 4 wherein the charging and discharging modes operate simultaneously.
6. A power supply according to claim 4 wherein the charging and discharging mode modes selectively operate mutually exclusively.
7. A power supply according to claim 4 wherein the first load is powered irrespective of whether the power supply is in the charging or discharging mode.
8. A power supply according to claim 1 wherein the regulator unit limits the charging current for the supercapacitor to less than a predetermined value.
9. A power supply according to claim 8 wherein the predetermined value is about 2 Amps.
10. A power supply according to claim 8 wherein the predetermined value is about 1 Amp.
11. A power supply according to claim 1 that limits the current drawn from the power source to less than a predetermined value.
12. A power supply according to claim 11 wherein the predetermined value is about 2 Amps.
13. A power supply according to claim 11 wherein the predetermined value is about 1 Amp.
14. A power supply according to claim 1 wherein the first output defines the second output.
15. A power supply according to claim 1 wherein the first output selectively defines the second output.
16. A power supply according to claim 1 wherein the first load is a communications module.
17. A power supply according to claim 1 wherein the first load is a power amplifier.
18. A power supply for an LED flash, the power supply including:
an input for connecting to a power source that provides an input voltage;
an output for connecting to the LED flash;
a supercapacitive device that is connected to output for powering the LED flash; and;
a regulator unit that boosts the input voltage, the regulator unit being connected to the input for charging the supercapacitive device.
19. A power supply for a plurality of loads that draw respective load currents I 1 , I 2 , . . . I N , where N≧2, the power supply including:
an input for connecting to a power source that provides a minimum source voltage V s ;
an output for selectively connecting with one or more of the loads for providing the load currents I 1 , I 2 , . . . I N at respective predetermined load voltages V 1 , V 2 , . . . V N , wherein V 1 ≠V 2 , and, . . . , and V 1 ≠ V N ;
a supercapacitive device in parallel with the output; and
a control circuit disposed between the input and the output for selectively applying one of V 1 , V 2 , . . . V N to the output.
20. A power supply according to claim 19 wherein one or more of V 1 , V 2 , . . . and V N ≧V s .