# US 11,908,631 B2 · Capacitor aging apparatus and capacitor aging method > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 11,908,631 B2 - Document ID: US11908631B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 17/890,645 - Filed: 2022-08-18 - Published: 2022-12-08 - Granted: 2024-02-20 - Earliest claimed: 2020-03-12 - Assignees: Murata Manufacturing Co., Ltd. - Applicants: Murata Manufacturing Co., Ltd. - Inventors: Tomohiko Sato - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11908631B2 ## CPC - H01G 9/004: Details - H01G 9/14: Structural combinations {or circuits} for modifying, or compensating for, electric characteristics of electrolytic capacitors - G01R 31/26: Testing of individual semiconductor devices (testing of photovoltaic devices H02S50/10; testing or measuring during manufacture or treatment {H10P74/00}) - H01G 9/0029: {Processes of manufacture} - H01G 9/28: Structural combinations of electrolytic capacitors, rectifiers, detectors, switching devices with other electric components not covered by this subclass - H02J 7/575: {Parallel/serial switching of connection of batteries to charge or load circuit} - H02J 7/80: including monitoring or indicating arrangements - H01G 13/00: Apparatus specially adapted for manufacturing capacitors; Processes specially adapted for manufacturing capacitors not provided for in groups H01G4/00 - H01G11/00 - H02J 2207/50: Charging of capacitors, supercapacitors, ultra-capacitors or double layer capacitors - H01G: CAPACITORS; CAPACITORS, RECTIFIERS, DETECTORS, SWITCHING DEVICES, LIGHT-SENSITIVE OR TEMPERATURE-SENSITIVE DEVICES OF THE ELECTROLYTIC TYPE (selection of specified materials as dielectric H01B3/00; capacitors having potential barriers H10D1/62, H10K10/10) - G01R: MEASURING ELECTRIC VARIABLES; MEASURING MAGNETIC VARIABLES (indicating correct tuning of resonant circuits H03J3/12) - H02J: ELECTRIC POWER NETWORKS; CIRCUIT ARRANGEMENTS OR SYSTEMS FOR SUPPLYING OR DISTRIBUTING ELECTRIC POWER; SYSTEMS FOR STORING ELECTRIC ENERGY ## Abstract A capacitor aging apparatus that includes continuity check pads configured to be electrically connected to positive electrodes of a plurality of capacitors in one-to-one correspondence to check electrical continuity with the plurality of capacitors a plurality of first terminals electrically connected to the plurality of continuity check pads; a plurality of second terminals electrically connected to the plurality of first terminals in one-to-one correspondence; and a plurality of connectors configured to be electrically connected to and disconnected from the plurality of first terminals and the plurality of second terminals, and configured to electrically connect the positive electrodes of the plurality of capacitors, the plurality of connectors each allowing a second terminal corresponding to one capacitor of corresponding two capacitors among the plurality of capacitors to be electrically connected to a first terminal corresponding to another capacitor. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A capacitor aging apparatus comprising: a plurality of continuity check pads configured to be electrically connected to positive electrodes of a plurality of capacitors in a one-to-one correspondence to check electrical continuity with the plurality of capacitors, respectively; a plurality of first terminals electrically connected to the plurality of continuity check pads in a one-to-one correspondence; a plurality of second terminals electrically connected to the plurality of first terminals in a one-to-one correspondence; and a plurality of connectors configured to be electrically connected to and disconnected from the plurality of first terminals and the plurality of second terminals, and configured to electrically connect the positive electrodes of the plurality of capacitors, wherein the plurality of connectors are each configured to allow a second terminal corresponding to a first capacitor of a corresponding pair of capacitors among the plurality of capacitors to be electrically connected to a first terminal corresponding to a second capacitor of the pair of capacitors, and wherein when the plurality of capacitors are subjected to aging, in a state where in order to connect the plurality of connectors in series, each of the plurality of connectors is electrically connected to the second terminal corresponding to the first capacitor and the first terminal corresponding to the second capacitor of respective pairs of capacitors, and where the positive electrodes of the plurality of capacitors are electrically connected to the plurality of continuity check pads, a continuity check pad, among the plurality of continuity check pads, located on a first end side of the plurality of connectors connected in series is applied with a voltage, such that the voltage is applied to all of the plurality of capacitors via the plurality of connectors. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The capacitor aging apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising: a first member that includes the plurality of continuity check pads, the plurality of first terminals, and the plurality of second terminals; and a second member that includes the plurality of connectors, and that is attachable to and detachable from the first member. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The capacitor aging apparatus according to claim 2, wherein: by attaching the second member to the first member, each of the plurality of connectors is electrically connected to the second terminal corresponding to the first capacitor and the first terminal corresponding to the second capacitor of the respective pairs of capacitors, and by detaching the second member from the first member, each of the plurality of connectors is electrically disconnected from the second terminal corresponding to the first capacitor and the first terminal corresponding to the second capacitor of the respective pairs of capacitors. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The capacitor aging apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a mechanical switch configured to electrically connect and disconnect each of the plurality of connectors to and from the second terminal corresponding to the first capacitor and the first terminal corresponding to the second capacitor of the respective pairs of capacitors. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The capacitor aging apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a semiconductor switch configured to electrically connect and disconnect each of the plurality of connectors to and from the second terminal corresponding to the first capacitor and the first terminal corresponding to the second capacitor of the respective pairs of capacitors. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The capacitor aging apparatus according to claim 1, wherein: a first terminal and a second terminal, among the plurality of first terminals and the plurality of second terminals, located on the first end side of the plurality of connectors connected in series are integrated to form a single terminal, and a first terminal and a second terminal, among the plurality of first terminals and the plurality of second terminals, located on a second end side of the plurality of connectors connected in series are integrated to form a single terminal. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The capacitor aging apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a lighting unit connected to a position electrically connected to a continuity check pad among the plurality of continuity check pads, located on a second end side of the plurality of connectors connected in series, and configured to turn on in response to application of the voltage to the continuity check pad located on the first end side of the plurality of connectors connected in series. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The capacitor aging apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of continuity check pads and the plurality of connectors are determined to be properly electrically connected when a voltage measured at one of the plurality of second terminals is a same voltage as the voltage applied to the continuity check pad. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The capacitor aging apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a voltage comparator configured to compare a voltage measured at one of the plurality of second terminals with a predetermined threshold voltage to determine a proper electrical connection of the plurality of continuity check pads and the plurality of connectors when the measured voltage is greater than the predetermined threshold voltage. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) A capacitor aging method, using the capacitor aging apparatus according to claim 1, for subjecting the plurality of capacitors to aging, the capacitor aging method comprising: checking whether electrical continuity is established between the plurality of continuity check pads and the positive electrodes of the plurality of capacitors in a state where the positive electrodes of the plurality of capacitors are electrically connected to the plurality of continuity check pads, and where each of the plurality of connectors is electrically disconnected from the second terminal corresponding to the first capacitor and the first terminal corresponding to the second capacitor of the respective pairs of capacitors; after the check of establishment of electrical continuity between the plurality of continuity check pads and the positive electrodes of the plurality of capacitors, electrically connecting each of the plurality of connectors to the second terminal corresponding to the first capacitor and the first terminal corresponding to the second capacitor of the respective pairs of capacitors, and in this state, applying a voltage to the continuity check pad located on the first end side of the plurality of connectors connected in series, and measuring a voltage at a position electrically connected to a continuity check pad, among the plurality of continuity check pads, located on a second end side of the plurality of connectors connected in series; and checking whether the voltage is applied to each of the plurality of capacitors based on the voltage measured. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The capacitor aging method according to claim 10, wherein the checking comprises comparing the voltage measured with a predetermined threshold voltage. ### Claim 12 (depends on 7) A capacitor aging method, using the capacitor aging apparatus according to claim 7, for subjecting the plurality of capacitors to aging, the capacitor aging method comprising: checking whether electrical continuity is established between the plurality of continuity check pads and the positive electrodes of the plurality of capacitors in a state where the positive electrodes of the plurality of capacitors are electrically connected to the plurality of continuity check pads, and where each of the plurality of connectors is electrically disconnected from the second terminal corresponding to the first capacitor and the first terminal corresponding to the second capacitor of the respective pairs of capacitors; after the check of establishment of electrical continuity between the plurality of continuity check pads and the positive electrodes of the plurality of capacitors, electrically connecting each of the plurality of connectors to the second terminal corresponding to the first capacitor and the first terminal corresponding to the second capacitor of the respective pairs of capacitors, and in this state, applying a voltage to the continuity check pad located on the first end side of the plurality of connectors connected in series, and checking whether the lighting unit is turned on; and checking whether the voltage is applied to each of the plurality of capacitors based on whether the lighting unit is turned on. ### Claim 13 A capacitor aging apparatus comprising: a plurality of continuity check pads configured to be electrically connected to a plurality of capacitors, respectively, and to check electrical continuity of the plurality of capacitors; a plurality of first terminals electrically connected to the plurality of continuity check pads, respectively; a plurality of second terminals electrically connected to the plurality of first terminals, respectively; and a plurality of connectors that are each configured to be electrically connected to and disconnected from a first terminal of the plurality of first terminals and a second terminal of the plurality of second terminals, wherein the plurality of connectors are each configured to electrically connect the respective second terminal corresponding to one capacitor among the plurality of capacitors to the respective first terminal corresponding to another capacitor among the plurality of capacitors, and wherein, when the plurality of capacitors are subjected to aging, in a state where in order to connect the plurality of connectors in series, each of the plurality of connectors is electrically connected to the respective second terminal and the respective first terminal, and where the plurality of capacitors are electrically connected to the plurality of continuity check pads, a continuity check pad, among the plurality of continuity check pads, located on a first end side of the plurality of connectors connected in series is applied with a voltage, such that the voltage is applied to all of the plurality of capacitors via the plurality of connectors. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The capacitor aging apparatus according to claim 13, further comprising: a first member that includes the plurality of continuity check pads, the plurality of first terminals, and the plurality of second terminals; and a second member that includes the plurality of connectors, and that is attachable to and detachable from the first member. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The capacitor aging apparatus according to claim 14, wherein: by attaching the second member to the first member, each of the plurality of connectors is electrically connected to the respective second terminal and the respective first terminal, and by detaching the second member from the first member, each of the plurality of connectors is electrically disconnected from the respective second terminal and the respective first terminal. ### Claim 16 (depends on 13) The capacitor aging apparatus according to claim 13, further comprising a mechanical switch configured to electrically connect and disconnect each of the plurality of connectors to and from the respective second terminals and the respective first terminals. ### Claim 17 (depends on 13) The capacitor aging apparatus according to claim 13, further comprising a semiconductor switch configured to electrically connect and disconnect each of the plurality of connectors to and from the respective second terminals and the respective first terminals. ### Claim 18 (depends on 13) The capacitor aging apparatus according to claim 13, wherein: a first terminal and a second terminal, among the plurality of first terminals and the plurality of second terminals, located on the first end side of the plurality of connectors connected in series are integrated to form a single terminal, and a first terminal and a second terminal, among the plurality of first terminals and the plurality of second terminals, located on a second end side of the plurality of connectors connected in series are integrated to form a single terminal. ### Claim 19 (depends on 13) The capacitor aging apparatus according to claim 13, further comprising a lighting unit connected to a position electrically connected to a continuity check pad among the plurality of continuity check pads, located on a second end side of the plurality of connectors connected in series, and configured to turn on in response to application of the voltage to the continuity check pad located on the first end side of the plurality of connectors connected in series. ### Claim 20 (depends on 13) The capacitor aging apparatus according to claim 13, further comprising a voltage comparator configured to compare a voltage measured at one of the plurality of second terminals with a predetermined threshold voltage to determine a proper electrical connection of the plurality of continuity check pads and the plurality of connectors when the measured voltage is greater than the predetermined threshold voltage.