U.S. patent application number 14/535472 was filed with the patent office on 2015-03-05 for capacitor.
The applicant listed for this patent is Core Wireless Licensing S.A.R.L.. Invention is credited to Matti Naskali, Samuli Wallius, Lassi Yla-Soininmaki.
Application Number | 20150062860 14/535472 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 41444070 |
Filed Date | 2015-03-05 |
United States Patent
Application |
20150062860 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Naskali; Matti ; et
al. |
March 5, 2015 |
CAPACITOR
Abstract
A device including a first electrical conductor, a second
electrical conductor, dielectric material connecting the first and
second conductors to each other, and an output or ground terminal
section. The first electrical conductor has a first terminal
section and a first plate section. The second electrical conductor
includes a second terminal section and a second plate section. The
second terminal section is connected to a first end of the second
plate section. The second plate section includes a coil shaped
section. The output terminal section is connected to an opposite
second end of the second plate section. The dielectric material
connects the first and second plate sections to each other.
Inventors: |
Naskali; Matti; (Tokyo,
JP) ; Wallius; Samuli; (Turku, FI) ;
Yla-Soininmaki; Lassi; (Turku, FI) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Core Wireless Licensing S.A.R.L. |
Luxembourg |
|
LU |
|
|
Family ID: |
41444070 |
Appl. No.: |
14/535472 |
Filed: |
November 7, 2014 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
|
|
|
|
|
|
Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
12215261 |
Jun 25, 2008 |
8908350 |
|
|
14535472 |
|
|
|
|
Current U.S.
Class: |
362/3 ; 323/364;
361/270 |
Current CPC
Class: |
H01J 61/56 20130101;
H02M 2001/0048 20130101; H01F 17/02 20130101; H01G 4/40 20130101;
H01G 4/232 20130101; H02M 1/00 20130101; G03B 15/05 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
362/3 ; 323/364;
361/270 |
International
Class: |
H01G 4/232 20060101
H01G004/232; H01F 17/02 20060101 H01F017/02; H02M 1/00 20060101
H02M001/00; G03B 15/05 20060101 G03B015/05; H01J 61/56 20060101
H01J061/56 |
Claims
1. An apparatus comprising: an electrical component having a
plurality of electrical conductors; and a flash connected to the
conductors, wherein the flash comprises a flash lamp and an
electrical device, wherein the electrical device comprises a
capacitor and an inductor with a common electrical conductor which
forms a plate of the capacitor and a inductor conductor of the
inductor.
2. An apparatus as in claim 1 wherein the common electrical
conductor has a winding roll shaped section which forms the plate
of the capacitor as a winding plate shape and forms the inductor
conductor of the inductor as a coil shaped conductor.
3. An apparatus as in claim 1 wherein the capacitor comprises a
ceramic capacitor.
4. An apparatus as in claim 1 wherein the electrical component
comprises a flex cable, and wherein the apparatus forms a flash
subassembly configured to be assembled into another apparatus.
5. An apparatus as in claim 1 wherein the apparatus comprises a
camera connected to the electrical component.
6. An apparatus as in claim 1 wherein the apparatus comprises a
mobile telephone handset.
7. An apparatus comprising: a switch mode power supply; and an
electrical device connected to an input or an output of the switch
mode power supply, wherein the electrical device comprises a
capacitor and an inductor with a common electrical conductor having
a winding roll shaped section which forms a winding plate of the
capacitor and a coil of the inductor.
8. An apparatus as in claim 7 wherein the electrical device
comprises at least three terminals, and wherein at least two of the
terminals are connected to opposite ends of the common electrical
conductor.
9. A device comprising: a first electrical conductor comprising a
first terminal section and a first plate section; a second
electrical conductor comprising a second terminal section and a
second plate section, wherein the second terminal section is
connected to a first end of the second plate section, and wherein
the second plate section comprises a coil shaped section; a third
terminal section connected to an opposite second end of the second
plate section; and dielectric material connecting the first and
second plate sections to each other.
10. A device as in claim 9 further comprising a fourth terminal
section connected to the first plate section proximate an opposite
end from the first terminal section.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] 1. Field of the Invention
[0002] The invention relates to an electrical device and method
and, more particularly, to capacitance and inductance.
[0003] 2. Brief Description of Prior Developments
[0004] A capacitor can be used for a power supply for an apparatus,
such as a Switch Mode Power Supply (SMPS) or a xenon flash for a
camera for example.
[0005] In a switch mode power supply (SMPS), energy flow is
controlled with power semiconductors that are continuously
switching ON and OFF with high frequency. The "switchers" offer
greater efficiency compared with linear supplies because an ideal
switch does not dissipate power. They also have smaller size and
lighter weight due to reduced passive components size and lower
heat generation.
[0006] Switch mode operation contributes to lower power
losses--when a switch is "off" the current through it is near zero,
when it is "on" the voltage across it is low. However, it
introduces additional electrical noise (EMI) whose acceptable
limits vary with the frequency. The switcher's frequency is
normally selected based on size, efficiency, cost and EMI
considerations.
[0007] To reduce noise of SMPS an input noise reduction filter is
used in addition to a SMPS input capacitor. This is achieved by
adding another capacitor and a resistor or inductance between the
two capacitors. The additional capacitor can also work as an input
capacitor, but the resistor or inductance has no other use other
than filtering the noise.
[0008] In a capacitor a serial inductance has an harmful impact.
That is why the terminals are design so that the inductance is
minimized. The serial inductance and serial resistance, ESR, is
considered a negative characteristic of a capacitor.
[0009] A three-terminal capacitor consists of two active electrodes
surrounded by a third, or shield, conductor. The direct capacitance
between the two active electrodes is the capacitance of interest,
and, when shielded leads are used, it is independent of the
location of all other conductors except the shield.
[0010] A common construction of capacitors is use of windings as
plates. A winding roll tends to have inductance, and in order to
reduce the inductance the terminals are connected in the center of
the electrodes, so the current flowing into and from the ends of
the electrodes compensate their magnetic fields; thus reducing the
inductance.
SUMMARY
[0011] The following summary is merely intended to be exemplary.
The summary is not intended to limit the scope of the claimed
invention.
[0012] In accordance with one aspect of the invention, an apparatus
is provided comprising an electrical component having a plurality
of electrical conductors; and a flash connected to the conductors.
The flash comprises a flash lamp and an electrical device. The
electrical device comprises a capacitor and an inductor with a
common electrical conductor having a winding roll shaped section
which forms a winding plate of the capacitor and a coil of the
inductor.
[0013] In accordance with another aspect of the invention, an
apparatus is provided comprising a switch mode power supply; and an
electrical device connected to an input of the switch mode power
supply. The electrical device comprises a capacitor and an inductor
with a common electrical conductor having a winding roll shaped
section which forms a winding plate of the capacitor and a coil of
the inductor.
[0014] In accordance with another aspect of the invention, a device
is provided including a first electrical conductor, a second
electrical conductor, dielectric material connecting the first and
second conductors to each other, and an output or ground terminal
section. The first electrical conductor has a first terminal
section and a first plate section. The second electrical conductor
includes a second terminal section and a second plate section. The
second terminal section is connected to a first end of the second
plate section. The second plate section includes a coil shaped
section. The output terminal section is connected to an opposite
second end of the second plate section. The dielectric material
connects the first and second plate sections to each other.
[0015] In accordance with another aspect of the invention, a device
is provided comprising a capacitor and an output terminal. The
capacitor comprises a first coil shaped plate connected to a first
terminal, a second coil shaped plate connected to a second
terminal, and dielectric material connecting the first and second
plates to each other in a spaced inter-rolled fashion. The output
terminal is connected to the second plate at a location spaced from
the second terminal. The second terminal, the second plate and the
output terminal form an inductor such that the second coil shaped
plate is a common member of both the capacitor and the
inductor.
[0016] In accordance with another aspect of the invention, a device
is provided comprising a capacitor comprising an first terminal and
a winding roll plate connected to the first terminal; and an
inductor comprising an input, an output and the winding roll plate.
The input comprises the first terminal of the capacitor, and the
output comprises an output terminal extending from the winding roll
plate proximate an opposite end of the plate relative to the first
terminal.
[0017] In accordance with another aspect of the invention, a method
is provided comprising providing an electrical apparatus
subassembly; and connecting a device to the an electrical apparatus
subassembly. The device comprises a capacitor and an inductor
having a common member forming a winding roll plate of the
capacitor and a coil of the inductor. The common member is
configured to provide inductance to reduce noise of the an
electrical apparatus subassembly.
[0018] In accordance with another aspect of the invention, a method
is provided comprising turning ON current to an apparatus from a
combined capacitor and inductor device, wherein a capacitor and an
inductor of the device comprise a common member forming a winding
roll plate of the capacitor and a coil of the inductor; and turning
OFF the current from the capacitor to the apparatus, wherein a
slope of the current from ON to OFF is increased by inductance from
the combined capacitor and inductor device to delay a current turn
off point of the current from the capacitor.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0019] The foregoing aspects and other features of the invention
are explained in the following description, taken in connection
with the accompanying drawings, wherein:
[0020] FIG. 1 is a block diagram of an apparatus comprising
features of the invention;
[0021] FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing some of the components of
the apparatus shown in FIG. 1;
[0022] FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a subassembly used in the
apparatus shown in FIGS. 1 and 2;
[0023] FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the capacitor/inductor
device in FIG. 3;
[0024] FIG. 5 is a cross sectional view of the device shown in FIG.
4;
[0025] FIG. 6 is a perspective view of some of the components of
the device shown in FIG. 5;
[0026] FIG. 7 is a circuit diagram of the device shown in FIGS.
4-6;
[0027] FIG. 8 is a diagram showing the increased duration from ON
to OFF of the device shown in FIGS. 4-7;
[0028] FIG. 9 is a block diagram illustrating use of the
capacitor/inductor device with another apparatus, such as a switch
mode power supply (SMPS) for example;
[0029] FIG. 10 is an end view of an alternate embodiment of the
invention;
[0030] FIG. 11 is a perspective view of another alternate
embodiment of the invention;
[0031] FIG. 12 is a flow chart of steps of one method of the
invention;
[0032] FIG. 13 is a flow chart of steps of another method of the
invention; and
[0033] FIG. 14 is a perspective view of components of another
alternate embodiment of the invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS
[0034] Referring to FIG. 1, there is shown a diagram of a device 10
incorporating features of the invention shown. Although the
invention will be described with reference to the embodiments shown
in the drawings, it should be understood that the invention can be
embodied in many alternate forms of embodiments. In addition, any
suitable size, shape or type of elements or materials could be
used.
[0035] In one embodiment, the device 10 is an imaging device, such
as a digital camera. Alternatively, the device 10 could be any
suitable type of device having a capacitor as further understood
from the description below. For example, in one embodiment the
device 10 is a mobile telephone handset having a digital camera
feature. The device 10 generally comprises a battery 18, circuitry
12, one or more capacitors 40, and a function 14. For the imaging
device 10 in this embodiment, the function 14 comprises suitable
hardware and perhaps software for taking a digital photograph.
However, any suitable function which uses a capacitor could be
provided.
[0036] Referring also to FIG. 2, the function 14 can include a
controller 32 and a memory 34. The device 10 can comprise a user
control 36, such as a keypad or a touch screen for example, which
is connected to the controller 32. In this embodiment the function
14 includes a camera 22 and a flash 30. The camera 22, flash 30 and
battery 18 are connected to the controller 32. The controller 32 is
configured, such as with software programming, to take a digital
picture with the camera 22 and store the digital information in the
memory 34. The controller 32 can also control actuation of the
flash 30. In one type of embodiment, actuation of the flash 30
might be automatic when the camera 22 is used.
[0037] Referring also to FIG. 3, the flash 30 comprises a flash
lamp 38, the capacitor(s) 40 and a trigger 42. The flash lamp 38 is
a xenon flash lamp. However, any suitable flash lamp could be
provided. In this embodiment, the circuitry 12 includes a flex
cable 44 which electrically connects the capacitor 40 to the
battery 18, electrically connects the capacitor 40 to the flash
lamp 38, and electrically connects the trigger 42 to the controller
32, the capacitor 40 and the flash lamp 38. In alternate
embodiments any suitable connection among the components could be
provided.
[0038] Referring also to FIGS. 4-6, the capacitor 40 generally
comprises a body or housing 46, a first anode terminal 48, a second
cathode terminal 50, dielectric material 52, and a third output or
ground terminal 54. It should be noted that in some regions, use of
"anode" and "cathode" are reversed. For example, in Japan "anode"
might be considered a "cathode", and visa versa. In the embodiment
shown in FIGS. 4-6, the first terminal 48 is a positive/input
terminal, the second terminal 50 is a negative terminal, and the
third terminal 54 is a positive/output terminal (or ground
terminal). FIG. 6 shows the capacitor without showing the housing
and the dielectric material. The capacitor 40 can be connected to
the flex cable 44 with the first terminal 48, second terminal 50
and the third terminal 54 being electrically, directly connected to
conductors of the cable, such as by solder. The housing 46 is
comprised of electrically conductive metal, such as in the form of
a can. The housing 46 has an aperture 58 into the housing. A seal
or closure 60 is provide at the aperture 58. The three terminals
48, 50, 54 extend through the closure at a first end side of the
capacitor.
[0039] The capacitor 40 also includes two plates 62, 64. The first
plate 62 is connected to the first terminal 48 to form a first
electrical conductor for the capacitor. The second plate 64 is
connected to the second terminal 50 to form a second electrical
conductor for the capacitor. In this embodiment, the two plates 62,
64 are provided with a general coil shape or winding roll shape. In
this embodiment the two plates 62, 64 are inter-rolled with each
other with the dielectric material therebetween. As seen by arrow
66 in FIG. 6, capacitance can be provided between the first and
second terminals 48, 50.
[0040] First terminal 48 is connected to a first end of the first
plate 62. The third terminal 54 is connected to a second opposite
end of the first plate 62. Because of the coiled shape of the first
plate 62, this can provide an inductor with inductance between the
first and third electrodes 48, 54 as indicated by arrow 68 in FIG.
6. Thus, the device 10 can function as both a capacitor and a coil
inductor.
[0041] In camera flash generation, the timing of especially short
flashes in close imaging are very important and difficult to
arrange. Adding inductance can make the timing more accurate.
Adding inductance to the circuitry can also impact the flash color
temperature; moving it to a better area. However, for hand held
devices such as a digital camera or camera in a telephone handset,
an inductor having suitably large inductance that can handle the
huge current of a camera flash cannot have ferrite core because the
size of the inductor would be too big for modern designs.
[0042] The invention can add one or more terminals to a capacitor
so that the natural inductance of the capacitor, beneficially a
roll, impacts between the input and output rather than between the
capacitor itself and the terminal (where it would otherwise have a
harmful impact in some cases). Furthermore, with the invention the
output terminal 54 can be used for grounding the capacitor. This
can add extra noise reduction and electric radiation immunity. A
circuit diagram illustrating the new combined capacitor and
inductor device 40 is shown in FIG. 7. As can be seen, the inductor
is one of the plates of the capacitor. Thus, the inductor is not
arranged in series with the capacitor. The parallel
capacitor-inductor arrangement is intertwined or intermixed, and
are not spaced from each other.
[0043] The invention can comprise a three to four legged capacitor
(for example electrolytic or ceramic). Two of the contact points or
terminals are placed proximate opposite ends of a first one of the
capacitor plates, and the other capacitor plate can have either one
or two terminals. The invention can comprise the concept of having
an inductance component in a capacitor body; the construction of a
such capacitor; the method of utilizing such a capacitor in both
separating power networks (Radio Frequency, for example) and using
it in controlling the timing of turn-off point and noise.
[0044] In a xenon flash, it is important to control the turn-on
point and turn-off point of the current. Referring also to FIG. 8,
in the past, with a short light pulse the turn-off point 70 is on
the area where stray inductance makes it difficult to tune the
amount of light. It would be good to have magnitudes smaller
inductance so the current could settle before turning OFF. Because
so much has been done to compensate for the stray inductances in
the past, there is nothing much one can due, but live with level of
stray inductances. However, remarkable higher inductance would be
good so that the current is clearly ON with an increasing slope
towards the turn-off point.
[0045] With a dominating inductance inside the capacitor, the
timing of the turn-off point can be changed to a far later turn-off
point 72 in time than the turn-off point 70 of a conventional
capacitor, and this can gain much more accuracy in the system.
Under normal understanding, adding an inductance into a circuit
would not have seemed practical; because there is no space for such
a component. However, it was discovered that using the roll of a
capacitor plate for the inductor coil was possible.
[0046] Also in SPMS the inductance of the capacitor would reduce
noise. Referring also to FIG. 9, the invention can comprise use of
one or more of the capacitors 40 as an input or output to an
apparatus 74 (or part of an apparatus) such as when the apparatus
74 is a SPMS for example. So, there are at least two applications
benefiting of the roll inductance of a capacitor.
[0047] Advantages of the invention can include: [0048] Additional
inductance and resistance between an input and an output can reduce
noise in a Switch Mode Power Supply. [0049] Currently, a discrete
resistor or inductance and a second capacitor are used for noise
reduction in a Switch Mode Power Supply. These two components can
be eliminated. This can provided a noticeable cost reduction.
[0050] A Second ground or output terminal can enable a separate
ground pin configuration. [0051] In a xenon flash grounding is
needed. Currently the grounding is made by gluing the can (housing)
to a ground. By eliminating this type of manufacturing step, there
can be a remarkable cost reduction. [0052] Additional inductance
benefits a xenon flash by improving the accuracy of short flash
pulses. [0053] Additional inductance benefits a xenon flash by
changing the color temperature to more beneficial area.
[0054] The invention can be used for a power capacitor construction
that is used, for example, in a Switch Mode Power Supply (SMPS) or
a xenon flash for a camera.
[0055] As noted above, a second ground or output terminal (in other
words a fourth terminal) can enable a separate ground pin
configuration. One example of this is shown in FIG. 10. The device
80 comprises the first, second and third terminals 48, 50, 54, and
a fourth terminal 82. The fourth terminal 82 is a ground or output
terminal connected to an end of the second plate at the opposite
end of the plate from the second terminal 50. FIG. 11 shows another
embodiment where the fourth terminal 82 is connected to the housing
46 at the opposite end of the housing from the aperture 58.
[0056] In accordance with one aspect of the invention, an apparatus
is provided comprising an electrical component and a flash. The
electrical component includes a plurality of electrical conductors.
For example, the electrical component could be a printed circuit
board or the flex cable 44. The flash is connected to the
conductors, The flash comprises a flash lamp 38 and an electrical
device 40. The electrical device 40 comprises a capacitor and an
inductor with a common electrical conductor having a winding roll
shaped section 62 which forms a winding plate of the capacitor and
a coil of the inductor. The electrical component could be any
suitable electrical component having electrical conductors. The
apparatus could be the subassembly shown in FIG. 3, or the
apparatus 10 shown in FIG. 1, for example. The electrical device
could be directly connected to the conductors of the flash
lamp.
[0057] In accordance with another aspect of the invention, an
apparatus is provided including a first electrical conductor (48,
62), a second electrical conductor (50, 64), dielectric material 52
connecting the first and second conductors to each other, and an
output or ground terminal section 54. The first electrical
conductor has a first terminal section 48 and a first plate section
62. The second electrical conductor includes a second terminal
section 50 and a second plate section 64. The second terminal
section is connected to a first end of the second plate section.
The second plate section includes a coil shaped section. The output
terminal section is connected to an opposite second end of the
second plate section. The dielectric material connects the first
and second plate sections to each other.
[0058] In accordance with another aspect of the invention, an
apparatus is provided comprising a capacitor and an output terminal
54. The capacitor comprises a first coil shaped plate 62 connected
to a first terminal 48, a second coil shaped plate 64 connected to
a second terminal 50, and dielectric material 52 connecting the
first and second plates to each other in a spaced inter-rolled
fashion. The output terminal is connected to the second plate at a
location spaced from the second terminal. The second terminal, the
second plate and the output terminal form an inductor such that the
second coil shaped plate is a common member of both the capacitor
and the inductor.
[0059] In accordance with another aspect of the invention, an
apparatus is provided comprising a capacitor comprising a first
terminal 48 and a winding roll plate 62 connected to the first
terminal; and an inductor comprising an input 48, an output 54 and
the winding roll plate 62. The input comprises the first terminal
of the capacitor, and the output comprises an output terminal
extending from the winding roll plate proximate an opposite end of
the plate relative to the first terminal.
[0060] Referring also to FIG. 12, in accordance with another aspect
of the invention, a method is provided comprising providing an
electrical device as indicated by block 84; and connecting an
apparatus to the electrical device as indicated by block 86. The
apparatus comprises a capacitor and an inductor having a common
member forming a winding roll plate of the capacitor and a coil of
the inductor. The common member is configured to provide inductance
to reduce noise of the electrical device.
[0061] Referring also to FIG. 13, in accordance with another aspect
of the invention, a method is provided comprising turning ON
current to an apparatus from a combined capacitor and inductor
device as indicated by block 88, wherein a capacitor and an
inductor of the device comprise a common member forming a winding
roll plate of the capacitor and a coil of the inductor; and turning
OFF the current from the capacitor to the apparatus as indicated by
block 90, wherein a slope of the current from ON to OFF is
increased as indicated by block 92 by inductance from the combined
capacitor and inductor device to delay a current turn off point of
the current from the capacitor.
[0062] The invention can be used to provide a ground when the
capacitor is manufactured. Thus, there is no need for the xenon
flash supplier to perform an extra manufacturing process to provide
a grounding connection for a capacitor. The capacitor is
automatically grounded when the terminal 54 is connected to
ground.
[0063] With the invention, the invention can be provided by a
camera module manufacturer or a flash module manufacturer to a
device manufacturer, such as a manufacturer of a mobile telephone
handset for example. The invention could be used in suitable
multifunction devices having a camera function with a flash. The
invention can also be used in a stand alone digital camera rather
than a multifunction device. The invention can also be used in a
device other than for a camera function. The invention could be
provided as a flash module configured to be inserted into a device
as a single subassembly, such as shown in FIG. 3 for example.
[0064] As noted above, the invention could be used in a ceramic
capacitor. An example of this is shown in FIG. 14. The device 100
comprises positive capacitor plates 102 and negative capacitor
plates 104 with ceramic material (not shown) therebetween. The
ceramic material functions as the dielectric material among the
plates 102/104. In this embodiment the plates 102, 104 are
substantially flat and straight. Thus, the plates do not need to
have a roll or coil shape. A negative terminal 106 is connected to
a first end of the negative plates 104. A positive/input terminal
108 is connected to a first end of the positive plates 102, and a
positive/output terminal 110 is connected to an opposite second end
of the plates 102.
[0065] As illustrated by arrows 112, capacitance can be provided
between the negative terminal 106 and the positive terminals 108,
110. Inductance can be provided between the positive/input terminal
108 and the positive/output terminal 110 as indicated by arrow 114.
Thus, the invention can be used in a capacitor other than a coiled
plate electrolytic capacitor design, and other than a coiled
conductor inductor design.
[0066] It should be understood that the foregoing description is
only illustrative of the invention. Various alternatives and
modifications can be devised by those skilled in the art without
departing from the invention. For example, features recited in the
various dependent claims could be combined with each other in any
suitable combination(s). In addition, features from different
embodiments described above could be selectively combined.
Accordingly, the invention is intended to embrace all such
alternatives, modifications and variances which fall within the
scope of the appended claims.
* * * * *