US 12,211,648 B2Granted

Ultracapacitor assembly

AssigneeKYOCERA AVX Components Corporation

InventorJoseph M. Hock

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Abstract

An ultracapacitor assembly is provided. The ultracapacitor assembly includes a plurality of ultracapacitors. The ultracapacitor assembly further includes a first bus bar and a second bus bar. The second bus bar is spaced apart from the first bus bar. The ultracapacitor assembly includes a discharge resistor coupled between the first bus bar and the second bus bar. The ultracapacitor assembly further includes a first plurality of switching devices and a second plurality of switching devices. Each switching device in the first plurality of switching devices is coupled between the first bus bar and a corresponding ultracapacitor of the plurality of ultracapacitors to selectively couple the corresponding ultracapacitor the discharge resistor via the first bus bar. Each switching device in the second plurality of switching devices is coupled between the second bus bar and a corresponding ultracapacitor to selectively couple the corresponding ultracapacitor the discharge resistor via the second bus bar.

Claims15

Dependent claims

An ultracapacitor assembly, comprising:

a first bus bar;
a second bus bar spaced apart from the first bus bar;
a plurality of ultracapacitors positioned between the first bus bar and the second bus bar;
a discharge resistor coupled between the first bus bar and the second bus bar;
a first plurality of switching devices, each switching device in the first plurality of switching devices coupled between the first bus bar and a corresponding ultracapacitor of the plurality of ultracapacitors to selectively couple the corresponding ultracapacitor to the discharge resistor via the first bus bar;
and a second plurality of switching devices, each switching device in the second plurality of switching devices coupled between the second bus bar and the corresponding ultracapacitor to selectively couple the corresponding ultracapacitor to the discharge resistor via the second bus bar;
wherein the first plurality of switching devices and the second plurality of switching devices configurable in a configuration such that the plurality of ultracapacitors is decoupled from the discharge resistor when the first plurality of switching devices and the second plurality of switching devices are in the configuration;
wherein the plurality of ultracapacitors are positioned between the first bus bar and the second bus bar along an axial direction, wherein:
each switching device in the first plurality of switching devices is positioned between the first bus bar and the plurality of ultracapacitors along the axial direction;
and each switching device in the second plurality of switching devices is positioned between the second bus bar and the plurality of ultracapacitors along the axial direction.

7 more elements

A method of discharging one or more ultracapacitors, the method comprising:

controlling operation of a first switching device to couple one or more ultracapacitors to a discharge resistor via a first bus bar;
controlling operation of a second switching device to couple the one or more ultracapacitors to the discharge resistor via a second bus bar that is spaced apart from the first bus bar;
and providing a current from the one or more ultracapacitors to the discharge resistor when the one or more ultracapacitors are coupled to the discharge resistor via the first bus bar and the second bus bar;
wherein the one or more ultracapacitors positioned between the first bus bar and the second bus bar;
the discharge resistor coupled between the first bus bar and the second bus bar;
and wherein the first switching device and the second switching device configurable in a configuration such that the one or more ultracapacitors is decoupled from the discharge resistor when the first switching device and the second switching device are in the configuration;
wherein:
controlling operation of the first switching device comprises providing one or more control signals to couple a first ultracapacitor to the discharge resistor via the first bus bar;
and controlling operation of the second switching device comprises providing one or more control signals to couple a second ultracapacitor to the discharge resistor via the second bus bar, the second ultracapacitor being coupled to the first ultracapacitor in a series configuration, and providing a current from the one or more ultracapacitors to the discharge resistor comprises:
providing a first current from the first ultracapacitor to the discharge resistor;
and providing a second current from the second ultracapacitor to the discharge resistor.

8 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 17/330,624Filed 26 May 2021 · us provisional application
Priority: 2 Jun 2020
Published: US 2021/0375557 A12 Dec 2021
Granted: 28 Jan 2025
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification14 codes

H01G 11/08
Hybrid capacitors, i.e. capacitors having different positive and negative electrodes; Electric double-layer [EDL] capacitors; Processes for the…:…
H01G 11/10
Hybrid capacitors, i.e. capacitors having different positive and negative electrodes; Electric double-layer [EDL] capacitors; Processes for the…:…
H01G 11/76
Terminals, e.g. extensions of current collectors: specially adapted for integration in multiple or stacked hybrid or EDL capacitors
H01G 15/00
Structural combinations of capacitors or other devices covered by at least two