Method and apparatus for charging partitioned capacitors

An apparatus, comprising:

• a case;
• a plurality of capacitors disposed in the case, the plurality of capacitors comprising a stack of substantially planar electrodes comprising:
• a first capacitor element disposed in the case and comprising interconnected anodes of the stack of substantially planar electrodes, the anodes coupled to anode connection members that are in alignment to define a substantially planar connection surface inside the case along which the anodes of the first capacitor element are interconnected;
• a second capacitor element disposed in the case, with an electrical insulator disposed between the first capacitor element and the second capacitor element, and comprising additional interconnected anodes of the stack of substantially planar electrodes, the additional anodes coupled to additional anode connection members that are in alignment to additionally define the substantially planar connection surface inside the case, wherein the additional interconnected anodes of the first capacitor element are electrically isolated, within the case, from the anodes of the first capacitor element;
• and
• cathodes electrically interconnected and interspersed among the first capacitor element and the second capacitor element, with the first capacitor element having a first capacitance and the second capacitor element having a second capacitance smaller than the first capacitance;
• an electrolyte disposed in the case and contacting the cathodes, the anodes and the additional anodes;
• a charger;
• and
• a switching circuit adapted to couple the first capacitor to the charger in a first mode and to couple the first capacitor and the second capacitor to the charger in a second mode;
• wherein the switching circuit is adapted to selectively charge the first and second capacitors for use in a defibrillator.

An implantable apparatus, comprising:

• a case;
• a stack of substantially planar electrodes including cathodes and anodes, with the anodes partitioned into a first capacitor partition disposed in the case and comprising interconnected anodes, and a second capacitor partition disposed in the case and comprising additional interconnected anodes, with an electrical insulator disposed between the first capacitor partition and the second capacitor partition, wherein the first partition has a first capacitance and the second partition has a second capacitance smaller than the first capacitance, with the first capacitor partition including a plurality of connection members in alignment to define a substantially planar connection surface inside the case along which the plurality of connection members are interconnected, and with the second capacitor partition including an additional plurality of connection members to additionally define the substantially planar connection surface inside the case, wherein the additional plurality of interconnected plurality of connection members are electrically isolated, within the case, from the anodes of the first partition;
• an electrolyte disposed in the case and contacting the cathodes and the anodes;
• and
• a switching circuit coupled to the first capacitor partition and second capacitor partition, the switching circuit adapted to charge the first capacitor partition in a first state and to charge the first capacitor partition and the second capacitor partition in a second state.