Systems and Methods for Charging Super Capacitors

Abstract

Systems and methods are provided for charging a super capacitor bank. One method provides for determining a charge voltage for the super capacitor bank, providing a charging current, limiting the charging current according to a corresponding worst case temperature within the super capacitor bank operating temperature range, limiting the charge voltage according to the worst case temperature, and turning off the charging current once the super capacitor bank is charged. One system provides a super capacitor bank for storing energy providing specified power demand to a circuit, a current charger providing charging current to the super capacitor bank, the charging current limited in accordance with a corresponding worst case temperature within the super capacitor bank operating temperature range, a voltage sense circuit to detect the super capacitor bank voltage, and a control to disconnect the current charger from the super capacitor bank once the super capacitor bank is charged.

1 . A method for charging a super capacitor bank, the method comprising:
 determining a desired charge voltage for the super capacitor bank;   providing a charging current to the super capacitor bank;   limiting the charging current according to a corresponding worst case temperature within the super capacitor bank operating temperature range;   limiting the charge voltage according to the worst case temperature within the super capacitor bank operating temperature range; and   turning off the charging current upon a determination that the super capacitor bank has been charged to the desired charge voltage.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising turning on the charging current upon a determination that the super capacitor bank charge voltage has dropped a specified percentage below the desired charge voltage. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 maintaining the charging current below a specified maximum charging current for the super capacitor bank; and   limiting a charge time below a corresponding maximum allowable charge time for the super capacitor bank.   
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising maintaining the charging current at a constant value. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein energy capacity and voltage rating of the super capacitor bank are configured to store energy sufficient for a specified application. 
     
     
         6 . A method for charging a super capacitor bank, the method comprising:
 determining a charging current limit for the super capacitor bank, wherein the charging current limit is the maximum charging current for the super capacitor bank at worst case temperature within the super capacitor bank operating temperature range;   determining a charging voltage limit for the super capacitor bank, wherein the charging voltage limit is the maximum voltage for the super capacitor bank at worst case temperature within the super capacitor bank operating temperature range;   providing a charging current to the super capacitor bank, wherein the charging current is less than the charging current limit;   maintaining the charging voltage below the charging voltage limit; and   turning off the charging current upon determining that the super capacitor bank has charged to a specified charge voltage.   
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 6 , further comprising turning on the charging current upon a determination that the super capacitor bank charge voltage has dropped a specified percentage below the specified charge voltage. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 6 , further comprising limiting a charge time for the charging current, wherein the limited charge time is below a corresponding maximum allowable charge time for the super capacitor bank. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 6 , further comprising maintaining the charging current at a constant value. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein energy capacity and voltage rating of the super capacitor bank are configured to store energy sufficient for a specified application. 
     
     
         11 . A method for charging a super capacitor bank, the method comprising:
 providing a regulated voltage, wherein the regulated voltage is the maximum voltage for the super capacitor bank at worst case temperature within the super capacitor bank operating temperature range;   providing a charging current to the super capacitor bank; and   limiting the charging current below a specified maximum charging current, wherein the maximum charging current is specified for the super capacitor bank according to worst case temperature within the super capacitor bank operating temperature range.   
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11 , further comprising limiting a charge time for the charging current, wherein the limited charge time is below a corresponding maximum allowable charge time for the super capacitor bank. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 11 , further comprising maintaining the charging current at a constant value. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein energy capacity and voltage rating of the super capacitor bank are configured to store energy sufficient for a specified application. 
     
     
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