Resonant circuit arrangement powered by a supercapacitor and a toroidal inductor

Abstract

This disclosure describes an electrical circuit for powering a connectable load. The electrical circuit includes a supercapacitor configured to be connected in parallel with a removable power source capable of charging the supercapacitor, a toroid inductor having a primary winding and a secondary winding, a base bias resistor, and a transistor. The secondary winding is connected in series with the base bias resistor and the base, the primary is connected to the collector, the emitter is connected to the supercapacitor, and the load is connected across the collector-emitter junction of the transistor. As the charged supercapacitor discharges, the primary and secondary windings induce the transistor to alternate between saturation and cutoff regions at a resonant frequency, conducting current through the supercapacitor through the collector-emitter junction of the transistor during the saturation region and conducting current at a high voltage to the load during the cutoff region.

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present disclosure relates generally to the use of resonant circuits including toroid inductors, and more particularly to increasing the voltage output and duration that power can be supplied to a load through the number of turns in the primary and secondary windings of the toroid inductor in the resonant circuit. [Background technology]

[0002] A resonant circuit can extract energy from a nearly depleted battery and increase the output voltage at the expense of a higher current draw. Some problems associated with this process are the difficulty of getting the voltage output high enough to be able to supply the voltage for an extended period of time while using minimal power from the power source.

[0003] Furthermore, although resonant circuits may have different arrangements of components, they are limited in that they always require a power source to be connected to the resonant circuit, and therefore the weight of the power source must also be considered, which may limit the portability of the resonant circuit. Summary of the Invention

[0004] According to various aspects of the present invention, an electrical circuit is provided. The electrical circuit includes a supercapacitor configured to be connected in parallel with a removable power source capable of charging the supercapacitor, the supercapacitor having a positive terminal and a negative terminal. The electrical circuit also includes a toroid inductor configured to receive current from the positive terminal of the supercapacitor when the supercapacitor is operated to discharge, the toroid inductor having a primary winding and a secondary winding, the primary winding and the secondary winding having multiple turns. The circuit further includes a transistor including a collector, a base, an emitter, and a collector-emitter junction. The electrical circuit further includes a base bias resistor configured to ensure that the base of the transistor receives a safe current. The toroid inductor, the base bias resistor, the transistor, and a connectable load are connected in parallel with the supercapacitor. The secondary winding of the toroid inductor is connected in series with a base bias resistor, which is connected to the base of the transistor, the primary winding of the toroid inductor is connected in series with the collector of the transistor, the emitter of the transistor is connected to the negative terminal of the supercapacitor, and a connectable load is connected across the collector-emitter junction of the transistor. Once charged, the supercapacitor is operable to discharge, such that the primary and secondary windings induce the transistor to alternate between saturation and cutoff regions at a resonant frequency, conducting current through the collector-emitter junction of the transistor to the supercapacitor while the transistor is in the saturation region, and conducting current to the load at a high voltage while the transistor is in the cutoff region.

[0005] The number of turns around the primary and secondary windings of the toroid inductor may be directly proportional to the operating time of the load.

[0006] The number of turns around the primary and secondary windings of a toroid inductor may be inversely proportional to the resonant frequency.

[0007] The operating time of the load may be inversely proportional to the resonant frequency.

[0008] The diameter of the toroid core of the toroid inductor may be directly proportional to the operating time of the load.

[0009] The diameter of the toroid core of a toroid inductor may be inversely proportional to the resonant frequency.

[0010] The electrical circuit may further include an input current sensing resistor connected between the emitter of the transistor and the negative terminal of the supercapacitor, the input current sensing resistor configured to assist in measuring a current input flowing through the supercapacitor.

[0011] The electrical circuit may also include an output current sensing resistor connected in series with the output of the load, the output current sensing resistor and the load connected across the collector-emitter junction of the transistor, the output current sensing resistor configured to assist in measuring the current output supplied to the load.

[0012] The number of turns around the primary and secondary windings of a toroid inductor may be directly proportional to the average power coefficient of the electrical circuit.

[0013] The number of turns around the primary and secondary windings of the toroid inductor may be directly proportional to the peak power factor in the electrical circuit while the transistor is in the cutoff region.

[0014] In one embodiment of the electrical circuit, the removable power source is a depleted battery.

[0015] Additionally, the depleted batteries are alkaline AA batteries having a voltage of 1.3 volts or less.

[0016] In another embodiment of the electrical circuit, the removable power source is an AA battery having a voltage between 1.0 volts and 1.5 volts.

[0017] In another embodiment of the electrical circuit, the supercapacitor has a capacitance between 10 Farads and 25 Farads.

[0018] In another embodiment, the supercapacitor is an electric double layer capacitor.

[0019] In yet another embodiment, the supercapacitor is a hybrid supercapacitor.

[0020] In yet another embodiment, before the supercapacitor is actuated to discharge, a power source is connected in parallel with the supercapacitor for a duration of at least 7 seconds to charge the supercapacitor, after which the power source is disconnected.

[0021] In one embodiment, the removable power source may be a removable battery having a voltage between 1.25 volts and 1.3 volts.

[0022] Further, in an embodiment, the supercapacitor may be charged by connecting the removable battery for a duration of at least 9 seconds and then disconnecting the removable battery.

[0023] Additionally, the supercapacitor may have a capacitance of 10 Farads.

[0024] Furthermore, the primary and secondary windings may each have between 4 and 35 turns.

[0025] Furthermore, the resonance frequency may be 120 kHz to 7.35 kHz.

[0026] In an alternative embodiment, the supercapacitor may have a capacitance of 25 Farads.

[0027] Furthermore, the primary and secondary windings may each have 25 to 35 turns.

[0028] Furthermore, the resonance frequency may be 2.40 kHz to 1.62 kHz.

[0029] According to various aspects of the present invention, a method of powering a load is provided. The method includes providing a supercapacitor configured for connection in parallel with a removable power source, the supercapacitor having a positive terminal and a negative terminal. The method further includes providing a toroid inductor, a base bias resistor, a transistor, and a connectable load connected in parallel with the supercapacitor, the toroid inductor connected to the positive terminal of the supercapacitor, the toroid inductor having a primary winding and a secondary winding, the primary winding and the secondary winding having a plurality of turns, and the transistor having a collector, a base, an emitter, and a collector-emitter junction. The method further includes connecting the secondary winding of the toroid inductor in series with the base bias resistor, the base bias resistor connected to the base of the transistor, the primary winding of the toroid inductor connected to the collector of the transistor, the emitter of the transistor connected to the negative terminal of the supercapacitor, and the connectable load across the collector-emitter junction of the transistor. The method further includes charging the supercapacitor by connecting the removable power source for a predetermined duration and then disconnecting the removable power source. The method further includes discharging current from the charged supercapacitor to a toroid inductor. The method also includes inducing a transistor to alternate between a saturation region and a cutoff region at a resonant frequency using a primary winding and a secondary winding of the toroid inductor. The method further includes conducting current to the supercapacitor through a collector-emitter junction of the transistor while the transistor is in the saturation region. The method further includes conducting current to a load at a high voltage while the transistor is in the cutoff region.

[0030] The number of turns around the primary and secondary windings of the toroid inductor may be directly proportional to the operating time of the load.

[0031] The number of turns around the primary and secondary windings of a toroid inductor may be inversely proportional to the resonant frequency.

[0032] The operating time of the load may be inversely proportional to the resonant frequency.

[0033] The diameter of the toroid core of the toroid inductor may be directly proportional to the operating time of the load.

[0034] The diameter of the toroid core of a toroid inductor may be inversely proportional to the resonant frequency.

[0035] The number of turns around the primary and secondary windings of a toroid inductor may be directly proportional to the average power coefficient of the electrical circuit.

[0036] The number of turns around the primary and secondary windings of the toroid inductor may be directly proportional to the peak power factor in the electrical circuit while the transistor is in the cutoff region.

[0037] In one embodiment, the removable power source is a depleted battery.

[0038] Additionally, the depleted battery may be an alkaline battery having a voltage of 1.3 volts or less.

[0039] In another embodiment, the removable power source is an AA battery having a voltage between 1.0 volts and 1.5 volts.

[0040] In yet another embodiment, the supercapacitor may have a capacitance between 10 Farads and 25 Farads.

[0041] In yet another embodiment, the predetermined duration during which the removable power source is connected to charge the supercapacitor is at least 7 seconds.

[0042] In yet another embodiment, the predetermined duration is between 9 and 12 seconds.

[0043] In yet another embodiment, the predetermined duration is between 9 and 10 seconds.

[0044] According to various aspects of the present invention, an electrical circuit is provided. The electrical circuit includes a supercapacitor having a capacitance between 10 Farads and 25 Farads, the supercapacitor configured to be connected in parallel with a removable power source capable of charging the supercapacitor. The removable power source has a voltage of less than 1.3 volts, and the supercapacitor has a positive terminal and a negative terminal. The electrical circuit also includes a toroid inductor configured to receive current from the positive terminal of the supercapacitor when the supercapacitor is operated to discharge, the toroid inductor having a primary winding and a secondary winding, the primary winding and the secondary winding each having between 4 and 35 turns. The circuit further includes a transistor including a collector, a base, an emitter, and a collector-emitter junction. The electrical circuit further includes a base bias resistor configured to ensure that the base of the transistor receives a safe current. The toroid inductor, the base bias resistor, the transistor, and a connectable load are connected in parallel with the supercapacitor. The secondary winding of the toroid inductor is connected in series with a base bias resistor, the base bias resistor is connected to the base of the transistor, the primary winding of the toroid inductor is connected in series with the collector of the transistor, the emitter of the transistor is connected to the negative terminal of the supercapacitor, and a connectable load is connected across the collector-emitter junction of the transistor. When charged by a removable power source for a duration of at least 9 seconds, the supercapacitor is operable to discharge, whereby the primary and secondary windings induce the transistor to alternate between saturation and cutoff regions at a resonant frequency, conducting current through the supercapacitor via the collector-emitter junction of the transistor while the transistor is in the saturation region, and conducting current to the load at a high voltage while the transistor is in the cutoff region.

[0045] In another embodiment of the electrical circuit, the supercapacitor has a capacitance of 10 Farads and the primary and secondary windings each have 4 to 35 turns.

[0046] In yet another embodiment of the electrical circuit, the supercapacitor has a capacitance of 25 Farads and the primary and secondary windings each have 25 to 35 turns. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0047] Embodiments of the present invention will be more clearly understood in connection with the following detailed description of embodiments of the invention taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

[0048] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a circuit diagram of a resonant circuit powered by a supercapacitor and a toroidal inductor according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0049] [Figure 2] FIG. 2 is an isolated view of a toroidal inductor included in the circuit shown in FIG. 1.

[0050] [Figure 3] 1 illustrates the waveform of the output resonant frequency curve of the circuit of FIG. 1, with measurements taken between the transistor and the secondary winding of the toroidal inductor after a battery is attached to the circuit for 10 seconds and then removed from the circuit, the supercapacitor discharging power to the load, and the toroidal inductor including 32 turns of wire around a toroid core in the primary and secondary windings, with the x-axis representing time and the y-axis representing voltage.

[0051] [Figure 4] Illustrating an expanded view of the waveform of FIG. 3, the cycle of the waveform has been divided into separate regions for calculation of the area under the waveform to determine the average output voltage.

[0052] [Figure 5] The waveform of the output resonant frequency curve of the circuit of Figure 1 is plotted, with measurements taken across the output current sense resistor under the same conditions as those of Figure 3, with the x-axis representing time and the y-axis representing current.

[0053] [Figure 6]5 depicts an expanded view of the waveform, with the waveform cycles divided into separate regions for calculation of the area under the waveform to determine the average output current.

[0054] [Figure 7] The waveform of the input resonant frequency curve for the circuit of Figure 1 is plotted, with measurements taken across the input current sense resistor under the same conditions as those in Figure 3, with the x-axis representing time and the y-axis representing current.

[0055] [Figure 8] 7 depicts an expanded view of the waveform of FIG. 7, where the cycle of the waveform has been divided into separate regions for calculation of the area under the waveform to determine the average input current. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0056] The following description and the embodiments described therein are provided as examples of the principles and aspects of the present invention, or as illustrations of specific embodiments. These examples are provided for purposes of illustration, not limitation, of those principles of the present invention. In the following description, like reference numerals are used throughout the specification and drawings to refer to like parts.

[0057] In general overview, an apparatus is provided for providing electrical charge to a load, such as a light-emitting diode (LED) or a mobile device, by using energy harvested from the residual energy of a battery that is considered nearly depleted after use. The apparatus includes a resonant circuit, the resonant circuit including a supercapacitor and a toroidal inductor. An advantage of using a supercapacitor and a toroidal inductor is that after a resonant frequency is induced by the toroidal inductor in the circuit 100 configuration, the supercapacitor and the toroidal inductor maintain the resonant frequency throughout the circuit, maintaining power in the circuit to power the load even when the battery or power supply voltage is removed, thereby allowing for more efficient use of the harvested energy.

[0058] Furthermore, the advantage of having a supercapacitor as part of the resonant circuit is that it allows the battery to be removed, thus allowing for further efficiency to be gained by using a separate power unit and saving further power in the battery when removed. Furthermore, removing the battery reduces the weight of the resonant circuit, thereby making it more portable and allowing it to power different loads in different locations.

[0059] However, further efficiency can be obtained through the design of a toroidal inductor (also referred to herein as a toroid inductor). More specifically, the number of turns in the primary and secondary windings of the toroid inductor can be adjusted to achieve a higher peak voltage output and maximize the total time that a high output voltage is provided after the battery is removed. The size of the toroid inductor can also provide further efficiency. Furthermore, efficiency can also be obtained by varying the capacitance size of the supercapacitor. The present disclosure provides an apparatus using a circuit involving a toroid inductor and a supercapacitor, where the size of the toroid inductor and the number of turns in the primary and secondary windings are optimized, and the capacitance size of the supercapacitor is optimized, to provide a peak voltage over a longer operating time.

[0060] FIG. 1 illustrates a circuit 100 for harvesting energy from a nearly depleted battery and using that energy to power a load. More specifically, circuit 100 includes a resonant circuit configured to be powered by a supercapacitor and a toroid inductor, where the supercapacitor is used to store the energy provided by the nearly depleted battery and the toroid inductor is used to ensure the circuit remains at a specific resonant frequency for efficient energy use. Circuit 100 includes a battery 104 as a power source, connected in parallel with a supercapacitor 108 and the remainder of the circuit. The remainder of the circuit includes a toroid inductor 120, resistors 112, 116, and 128, a transistor 132, and a load 136, connected in a configuration as seen in FIG. 1. As can be seen, toroid inductor 120, resistors 112, 116, and 128, transistor 132, and load 136 are connected in parallel with supercapacitor 108 and battery 104, forming a loop / closed circuit (and described further below in the loop configuration). The configuration of the components is further described below.

[0061] The circuit 100 is designed to store energy from the battery 104 using a supercapacitor 108. The battery 104 may then be removed after charging the supercapacitor 108. The supercapacitor 108 may be fully or partially charged depending on the type of battery 104 and the length of time the battery 104 remains connected to the circuit 100 that powers the supercapacitor 108. Due to current flowing through the transistor 132 and the toroid inductor 120 alternating between on and off states, multiple high-voltage output pulses are delivered to the load 136. This extends the period of time that power is supplied to the load 136 compared to a circuit having a capacitor discharging into a load without the toroid inductor 120.

[0062] In this embodiment, where AA batteries are used as the battery 104 and a low-power LED is used as the load 136, if the circuit 100 is powered by the battery 104 for 9-10 seconds to charge the supercapacitor 108, the low-power LED load 136 can be powered for approximately 15-18 minutes within the circuit configuration of the circuit 100 from the discharge of the supercapacitor 108. More specifically, depending on the configuration of the toroid inductor 120, the LED may be powered for approximately 10 minutes at a normal brightness level, and then 5-8 minutes at a lower brightness level. The configuration of the toroid inductor 120 is further described below.

[0063] Battery 104 is a power source that provides voltage to circuit 100. Battery 104 may be any power source that provides voltage to circuit 100, including, but not limited to, an electrical outlet, or a battery or other energy storage device such as a fuel cell, generator, alternator, or solar power converter. Specifically, in this embodiment, battery 104 is a direct current (“DC”) energy source, although battery 104 may also be an alternating current (“AC”) energy source. If an AC energy source, such as an electrical outlet, is used, an AC-DC power converter may be provided in series between battery 104 and the rest of the circuit, thereby enabling AC power to be converted to DC power before being fed through circuit 100. In this embodiment, battery 104 is preferably a depleted alkaline AA battery, which may be considered to be an alkaline AA battery having a voltage of 1.3 volts or less, preferably between 1 volt and 1.3 volts, more preferably between 1.1 volts and 1.3 volts, and even more preferably between 1.2 volts and 1.3 volts. More specifically, a depleted alkaline AA battery may be considered to be an alkaline AA battery that is less than or equal to about 87% of its rated voltage, preferably between 67% and 87% of its rated voltage, more preferably between 73% and 87% of its rated voltage, and even more preferably between 80% and 87% of its rated voltage.

[0064] While using depleted batteries is preferred, those skilled in the art will appreciate that circuit 100 will continue to operate with alkaline AA batteries having a voltage between 1.3 volts and 1.5 volts. Those skilled in the art will also appreciate that circuit 100 will continue to operate with alkaline AA batteries having a voltage between 1.0 volts and 1.5 volts.

[0065] Additionally, in alternative embodiments, the battery 104 may be of any voltage and type, including, but not limited to, a AAA battery, a D-cell battery, a 9-volt battery, or a 12-volt battery. Additionally, in alternative embodiments, the battery 104 may be a rechargeable battery, such as a NiMH battery or a Li-ion battery. Those skilled in the art will also recognize that, depending on the battery type and voltage of the battery 104, each such battery has its own threshold for depletion. Those skilled in the art will recognize the various configurations and different types of power sources available for powering the circuit 100 and charging the supercapacitor 108.

[0066] While the circuit 100 continues to operate with an undepleted battery or other power source, the benefits of the circuit 100 are most readily realized when it is difficult to extract a power source due to low voltage, such as from a nearly depleted battery, and used to power the load 136. In a preferred embodiment, a nearly depleted battery 104 may be placed in the circuit 100 to charge the supercapacitor 108 during normal operation. The battery 104 may be removed and reinstalled multiple times, and each time the battery 104 is connected, the battery charges the supercapacitor 108, after which the battery 104 may be removed from the circuit 100. Once fully depleted, the battery 104 may be replaced with another nearly depleted battery 104 to continue charging the supercapacitor 108. In an alternative embodiment, multiple batteries 104 may be placed in parallel or series with respect to the power supply circuit 100 and charging the supercapacitor 108.

[0067] The battery 104 is connected in parallel with the supercapacitor 108. In this embodiment, the supercapacitor 108 has a higher capacitance value, on the order of farads, and is therefore able to store and maintain charge from the battery 104. This stored charge may then be discharged to the remainder of the circuit as needed. As will be appreciated by those skilled in the art, different capacitance values ​​for the supercapacitor 108 may be used, and the capacitance value of the supercapacitor 108 may vary depending on component variables and operation of the circuit 100, including, but not limited to, the type of battery 104 being used, the load on the circuit 100, and the length of time the battery 104 powers the circuit 100 to charge the supercapacitor 108 before being disconnected. Charging and discharging control is further described below. When charging the supercapacitor 108, a single battery 104, multiple batteries 104, or a series of batteries 104 may be used, with each battery 104 being replaced when it is completely depleted and can no longer supply charge to the supercapacitor 108.

[0068] The supercapacitor 108 may be any form of supercapacitor, including electric double layer capacitors ("EDLC") and hybrid supercapacitors. Embodiments involving EDLC supercapacitors and alternative embodiments involving hybrid supercapacitors are further described below. Those skilled in the art will recognize different configurations that can be used with different types of supercapacitors 108 to store energy to be discharged to the remainder of the circuit 100.

[0069] Although not shown in FIG. 1 , a parallel configuration of batteries 104 may supply charge to supercapacitor 108 and isolate the rest of the circuit with a switch. The switch may be located between the parallel branch including supercapacitor 108 and the remaining components of circuit 100. More specifically, the switch may be located along the second parallel branch including toroid inductor 120, resistors 112, 116, and 128, transistor 132, and load 136. An example location for the switch may include area 124A. The switch allows for connection and disconnection of the batteries from the rest of circuit 100, thus allowing interruption of charging of supercapacitor 108 from charged batteries 104.

[0070] Also, although not shown, it is contemplated that a switch may be placed on either side of the battery 104 to disconnect the battery 104 from the supercapacitor 108 when the supercapacitor 108 is fully discharged and its charge needs to be released to the rest of the circuit 100 and the load 136. Alternatively, if a switch is not used, the battery 104 may be removed from the circuit when the supercapacitor 108 needs to be fully discharged. Those skilled in the art will recognize different configurations of the circuit 100 or components that may be added to the circuit 100 to ensure that the battery 104 is electrically isolated from the circuit 100 when the supercapacitor 108 needs to be fully discharged.

[0071] Referring now to the toroid inductor 120, the toroid inductor 120 is connected in series with the supercapacitor 108. More specifically, the toroid inductor 120 includes a secondary winding 204 and a primary winding 208, with the positive end of the supercapacitor 108 connected to the junction of the secondary winding 204 and the primary winding 208, the secondary winding 204 connected in series with a base bias resistor 128, and the primary winding 208 connected to the collector of the transistor 132, designated "C" in the transistor 132. The base bias resistor 128 is then connected to the base of the transistor 132, designated "B" in the transistor 132. Essentially, the transistor 132, the toroid inductor 120, and the base bias resistor are part of a loop (also referred to herein as the third leg), specifically the secondary winding 204, the base bias resistor 128, the transistor 132, and the primary winding 208 of the toroid inductor 120. The flow of current through the loop and base bias resistor 128 is further described below. The toroid inductor 120 uses a toroidal-shaped magnetic core wound with wire. The magnetic core is formed from a ferromagnetic material, such as laminated iron, iron powder, or ferrite. In this embodiment, the toroid inductor 120 includes a toroidal ferrite core with copper wire windings. More specifically, the toroidal ferrite core is an epoxy N87 ferrite core with a width of 10.80 millimeters, a diameter of 4.75 millimeters, and a height of 4.0 millimeters, wound with 30 American wire gauge ("AWG") enameled copper wire. The advantage of using a toroidal-shaped inductor is that, unlike other core shapes, such as rectangular cores, its shape is symmetrical and does not include bends, reducing magnetic flux loss. Therefore, the toroidal inductor 120 is more efficient and radiates less electromagnetic interference. As previously indicated, the toroid inductor 120 includes two windings, a secondary winding 204 and a primary winding 208, that are inductively coupled in both directions. An equal number of turns between the primary and secondary windings is preferred, as using unequal turns will produce suboptimal results and resonance will not be achieved. Resonance is discussed further below.2, in this embodiment, the toroid inductor 120 includes a secondary winding 204 and a primary winding 208. As will be appreciated by those skilled in the art, various configurations of the toroid inductor 120 may be used, including toroid inductors 120 with cores of different materials and sizes. By way of example, toroid inductors having outer diameters of 10.80 mm, 20 mm, 22.1 mm, and 25.3 mm are described below.

[0072] 1 , transistor 132 may be any NPN bipolar junction transistor. As seen in FIG. 1 , transistor 132 is positioned within circuit 100 with the base of transistor 132 connected in series with base bias resistor 128 and secondary winding 204, the collector of transistor 132 connected to primary winding 208, and the emitter of transistor 132, designated "E" on transistor 132, connected to the negative terminal of the supercapacitor through input current sense resistor 112. The combination of transistor 132 and toroid inductor 120 in the configuration shown in FIG. 1 allows high voltage spikes (also referred to herein as high voltage pulses) to pass through to load 136, the voltage spikes having a much higher voltage than the voltage supplied by battery 104 or supercapacitor 108 when operating without toroid inductor 120 and transistor 132.

[0073] Resistor 128 is a base bias resistor. In this embodiment, resistor 128 has a value of 1 kilohm and a power rating of 1 watt. Base bias resistor 128 is configured for safe operation of transistor 132 by limiting the amount of current supplied to transistor 132. As will be appreciated by those skilled in the art, the power rating of resistor 128 may be adjusted based on the type, size, and specifications of transistor 132.

[0074] In circuit 100, load 136 is an LED. However, load 136 may be any form of electrical load or component that consumes power and is not limited to low-power devices such as LEDs. For example, load 136 may be a USB port for charging a mobile device. Also, as will be appreciated by those skilled in the art, depending on the voltage specifications of load 136, an additional battery 104 (in series) may be required to supply the voltage. In this embodiment, the series combination of load 136 and output current sense resistor 116 is connected across the collector-emitter junction of transistor 132. Output current sense resistor 116 is described further below.

[0075] The output current sense resistor 116 is a current sensing resistor that allows current to be measured by monitoring the voltage drop across the output sense resistor 116. As previously mentioned, the output current sense resistor 116 is connected in series with the load 136. By connecting in series with the load 136, the current downstream of the load 136 can be measured.

[0076] The input current sense resistor 112 is also a current sensing resistor and similarly allows for measurement of current by monitoring the voltage drop across the input current sense resistor 112. The input current sense resistor 112 is connected in series with the supercapacitor 108 along the input current path to measure the current entering / flowing through the input side of the supercapacitor 108.

[0077] In this embodiment, current sense resistors 112 and 116 both have a value of 1 ohm and a power rating of 1 watt. However, different power ratings may be used, as long as the resistor specifications and values ​​are known to calculate the current based on the voltage drop, and the power rating is not so critical as to affect the functionality of circuit 100. For example, in this embodiment, if the resistance value is known, the value of the voltage measured across the resistor may allow the current to be calculated.

[0078] As will be appreciated by those skilled in the art, output current sense resistor 116 and input current sense resistor 112 are used to measure current at different locations along circuit 100 and are optional for the functionality of circuit 100. Additionally, as will be appreciated by those skilled in the art, any number of current sense resistors may be placed at any location along circuit 100 to measure current, so long as the placement of the current sense resistors does not affect the functionality of circuit 100.

[0079] Operation of the circuit 100 has two phases: a charging phase and a discharging phase. The charging phase of the circuit 100 involves attaching the battery 104 to the circuit to charge the supercapacitor 108. The battery 104 may be removed after a period of charging the supercapacitor 108, or the battery 104 may be removed after being fully depleted. The capacitance of the supercapacitor 108 may affect the length of time the battery 104 can be connected to a fully charged supercapacitor 108, but the supercapacitor 108 does not need to be fully charged for operation of the circuit 100. Once the supercapacitor 108 reaches a charge threshold, power discharged from the supercapacitor 108 can power the load 136. No effect on the load 136 is observable before the supercapacitor 108 reaches the charge threshold. As one skilled in the art will appreciate, the charge threshold is dependent on the load 136. For example, if load 136 is an LED that requires 2.9 volts to be powered, supercapacitor 108 will continue to charge and discharge, but load 136 will not be powered until it reaches a charge threshold of at least 2.9 volts to power load 136. In effect, the LED will not light up, and therefore no effect on load 136 will be observable, until supercapacitor 108 reaches the charge threshold of 2.9 volts. Once the charge threshold is met, if the LED also lights up and load 136 requires a higher voltage to power up, charge threshold supercapacitor 108 will need to be charged to match that higher voltage. The level of charge received by supercapacitor 108 can affect the output voltage and length of operation of the circuit when powering load 136.

[0080] The discharge phase of circuit 100 involves supercapacitor 108 discharging the current from the charge phase of circuit 100 toward toroid inductor 120. In this embodiment, supercapacitor 108 does not need to be fully charged before beginning to discharge into the remainder of circuit 100, but may continue to charge during discharge. However, it will occur to those skilled in the art that in other embodiments, components (such as switches) may be added to circuit 100 to allow supercapacitor 108 to be fully charged before being discharged into the remainder of circuit 100. Thus, it will occur to those skilled in the art that in various configurations, the charge and discharge states of supercapacitor 108 may be in separate, distinct states or may operate simultaneously.

[0081] While the supercapacitor 108 is in a discharging state, current from the supercapacitor 108 flows through the secondary winding 204 of the toroid inductor 120. The current flowing through the secondary winding 204 and the base bias resistor 128 provides a positive voltage to the base of the transistor 132. The transistor 132 begins operating in its linear region, generating a collector current. This current then begins to flow through the primary winding 208. When the primary winding 208 and the secondary winding 204 are inductively coupled in both directions, a positive voltage is induced in the secondary winding 204, further creating a higher bias in the base-B transistor 132. Thus, current increases in the primary winding 208. The increasing positive feedback creates a magnetic field that drives the transistor 132 into the saturation region (also referred to herein as the transistor 132 being fully "on"), effectively turning the transistor on and closing the collector-emitter junction of the transistor 132. In this state, no current flows to the load 136 because the path of least resistance for current is through the collector-emitter junction of the transistor 132. This leaves the load 136 unpowered. The current in the primary winding 208 increases until it becomes proportional to the input voltage from the supercapacitor 108, at which point the current reaches its maximum and plateaus. As the increase in current through the primary winding 208 plateaus, the positive feedback magnetic field collapses, causing the base-emitter voltage to fall below its threshold voltage. Eventually, the transistor 132 enters its cutoff region, thereby opening the circuit between the emitter and collector of the transistor 132 (also referred to herein as the transistor 132 being in the "OFF" state). Because the residual energy stored in the secondary winding 204 cannot pass through the transistor 132, current flows through the only available path: the load 136. The collapse of the magnetic field causes a voltage spike and, therefore, a higher voltage across the load 136, much higher than the voltage between the positive and negative terminals of the supercapacitor 108. Once the energy stored in the secondary winding 204 has been completely dissipated in the load 136, the entire sequence of transistor 132 turning on and off is repeated.

[0082] As the energy dissipates and the magnetic field returns to zero, the sequence repeats, and the voltage across the supercapacitor 108 increases the current through the secondary winding 204, moving the transistor 132 from the cutoff region toward the saturation region. Thus, the transistor 132 alternates between the on and off states, or more specifically, between the saturation and cutoff regions. The transition between the on and off states is at a fixed frequency, also known as the resonant frequency. The resonant frequency alternates quickly enough that the load 136 appears to the naked eye to be continuously powered, even though current only flows through the load 136 in high-voltage pulses.

[0083] This sequence is repeated until all energy in the supercapacitor 108 is discharged or the frequency of resonance falls below the resonant frequency threshold, at which point the supercapacitor 108 requires additional charge from the battery 104 to power the load 136. The resonant frequency threshold depends on the load 136. In this embodiment, where the load 136 is an LED, the resonant frequency threshold is 12 kHz. As will be appreciated by those skilled in the art, different loads 136 will have different resonant frequency thresholds. Alternatively, the switch may be opened and closed to allow the supercapacitor 108 to be recharged by the battery 104 again, as long as the battery 104 continues to charge. If the battery 104 is completely depleted, it may be replaced with another battery 104.

[0084] By cycling transistor 132 between its saturation and cutoff regions, turning it on and off at the resonant frequency, pulses of power can be delivered to load 136 at higher voltages, and the power appears continuous until there is no charge left to maintain the resonant frequency.

[0085] The operation of the circuit at the resonant frequency is a result of the combination of the supercapacitor 108 and the toroid inductor 120 affecting the transistor 132. If the resonant frequency is not reached, the high voltage pulse will not be delivered to the load 136 and sufficient current will not reach the load 136. As one skilled in the art will appreciate, only certain combinations of the toroid inductor 120 and the supercapacitor 108 will reach the resonant frequency and allow the high voltage pulse to reach the load 136 for an extended period of time. The configuration of the toroid inductor 120 can vary depending on variables including the size of the toroid inductor 120 and the number of turns around the secondary winding 204 and the primary winding 208. Similarly, the configuration of the supercapacitor 108 will include its capacitance value.

[0086] 3 depicts a waveform 300, with the x-axis being time and the y-axis being voltage. As can be seen, the waveform at the resonant frequency exhibits high voltage spikes as transistor 132 alternates between on and off states.

[0087] As previously mentioned, ensuring that the toroid inductor 120 sets and maintains the proper resonant frequency allows the circuit 100 to continue to function and power the load 136 .

[0088] To maximize efficiency, the toroid inductor 120 may be optimized based on the number of turns in the primary winding 204 and secondary winding 208 around the toroid core.

[0089] Example

[0090] Below is an example circuit using the number of turns around the secondary winding 204 and the primary winding 208, the size of the toroid core, and the capacitance of the supercapacitor 108:

[0091] Example 1

[0092] The following table (Table 1) shows the results from Example 1, specifically, values ​​measured across the circuit shown in FIG. 1 , including the peak voltage, the total operating time of the LEDs in the circuit, and the initial frequency of resonance in the circuit, as the number of turns of wire in the primary and secondary windings 204 and 208 around the toroidal ferrite core in the toroidal inductor 120 is varied. As previously mentioned, equal turns are optimal for the secondary winding 204 and the primary winding 208. Thus, for the first row of Table 1, four turns are for the secondary winding 204 and four turns are for the primary winding 208. Measurements were taken after the circuit 100 was powered and the supercapacitor 108 was charged using a battery 104 having a voltage of 1.25 to 1.3 volts for a duration of 9 to 10 seconds, after which the battery 104 was removed from the circuit 100. In this embodiment, the supercapacitor 108 was an EDLC-type supercapacitor with a capacitance of 10 Farads. Also, in this embodiment, the toroid inductor had an outer diameter of 10.80 mm, an inner diameter of 5.25 mm, and a height of 4.75 mm. The time that the LED remained on was then recorded, along with the peak voltage and initial frequency of resonance. For clarity, the total operating time provided in Tables 1-4 and referenced herein refers to the total time that the LED is on, regardless of the brightness of the LED.

[0093] [Table 1]

[0094] As can be seen in Table 1 above, as the number of turns on each winding on the toroid core increases, the frequency of resonance decreases and the amount of time the LED operates increases. Additionally, as the number of turns on each winding on the toroid core increases, the peak voltage also increases. Increasing the number of turns on each winding on the toroid core is directly proportional to the operating time and output peak voltage of the LED. Additionally, increasing the number of turns on each winding on the toroid core is inversely proportional to the frequency of resonance.

[0095] LEDs require a voltage greater than 2.7 volts to operate at a sufficient level of brightness. After the circuit is powered for 9 to 10 seconds, if the number of turns is greater than 30, the LED is observed to remain bright for approximately 10 minutes before beginning to dim. Therefore, if the number of turns on the toroid inductor is greater than 30, a voltage greater than 2.7 volts is observed to be generated for 10 minutes. As the voltage falls below 2.7 volts, the LED begins to dim and the resonant frequency also increases. For example, referring to Table 1 with 30 turns, the observed total operating time was 15 minutes and 10 seconds, of which the LED was bright (its output did not decrease) and the voltage was greater than 2.7 volts for the first 10 minutes. Therefore, for the remaining 5 minutes and 10 seconds, the voltage of the circuit 100 was less than 2.7 volts. It was also observed that at the point where the LED dimmed, the resonant frequency was approximately 50 kHz.

[0096] Example 2

[0097] The proportional relationship between the number of turns of load and operating time continues to be maintained as the diameter of the toroid inductor increases. Similarly, the inverse proportional relationship between the number of turns and the frequency of resonance also continues to be maintained as the diameter of the toroid inductor increases. The results for Examples 2, 3, and 4, shown in Tables 2, 3, and 4, vary the size of the toroid core of the toroid inductor 120, include a fixed supercapacitor 108 capacitance of 25 Farads, and the supercapacitor 108 is a hybrid supercapacitor. Similar to the variables in Example 1, the provided battery 104 had a voltage between 1.25 volts and 1.29 volts and was connected to the circuit 100 for a duration of 9 to 10 seconds before being disconnected from the circuit 100. For Example 2, as can be seen in Table 2 below, a toroid inductor with a toroid core outer diameter of 20 mm, an inner diameter of 15 mm, and a height of 7 mm was used, and the number of turns of wire in the primary and secondary windings was incrementally increased, and the peak voltage, total operating time, and frequency of resonance were measured.

[0098] [Table 2]

[0099] As can be seen from the values ​​in Table 2, as the number of turns / windings around the toroid core of the 20mm outer diameter toroid inductor increased, the total operating time of the load also increased. Furthermore, as the number of turns / windings around the toroid core of the 20mm outer diameter toroid inductor increased, the frequency of resonance decreased.

[0100] Example 3

[0101] This is also confirmed in the toroid inductor having a toroid core with an outer diameter of 22.1 mm, an inner diameter of 13.7 mm, and a height of 6.35 mm used in Example 3. Table 3 below shows that the toroid core with an outer diameter of 22.1 mm was used, and the number of turns of wire in the primary and secondary windings was incrementally increased, and the peak voltage, total operating time, and frequency of resonance were measured.

[0102] [Table 3]

[0103] Example 4

[0104] Furthermore, the results of Example 4, specific to a 25.3 mm outer diameter toroid inductor, confirm the same relationship. Table 4 below shows that a toroid core having an outer diameter of 25.3 mm, an inner diameter of 14.8 mm, and a height of 15 mm was used, and the number of turns of wire in the primary and secondary windings was incrementally increased, and the peak voltage, total operating time, and frequency of resonance were measured.

[0105] [Table 4]

[0106] Example 1 utilized a supercapacitor 108 having a capacitance of 10 Farads, while Examples 2-4 utilized a supercapacitor 108 having a capacitance of 25 Farads. Other supercapacitors 108 having different levels of capacitance are contemplated. In particular, supercapacitors 108 of 25 Farads or less are contemplated for use in alternative embodiments of circuit 100.

[0107] Additionally, in Examples 1-4, the battery 104 was attached to the circuit 100 for a duration of 9-10 seconds to charge the supercapacitor 108 and then disconnected. It has been found that the battery 104 is preferably attached for a duration of at least 9 seconds or more to charge the supercapacitor 108 before being disconnected. In certain preferred embodiments, the battery 104 may be attached for a duration of 9-12 seconds to charge the supercapacitor 108 before being disconnected. While it may be possible to attach the battery 104 to charge the supercapacitor 108 for a duration of less than 9 seconds (and as little as 7 seconds), this may reduce the overall operating time of the circuit 100. However, as will be appreciated by those skilled in the art, the battery 104 may be connected to the circuit 100 for any length of time to charge the supercapacitor 108.

[0108] Power Coefficient

[0109] The power factor represents the ratio of output power to input power. For example, for a toroid inductor 120 having 32 turns on the secondary winding 204 and 32 turns on the primary winding 208, the output voltage waveform can be viewed as waveform 300 as shown in Figure 3, where the x-axis represents the period and the y-axis represents the voltage in volts. The following calculations show that the peak power factor and average power factor are calculated for a toroid inductor 120 in a circuit 100 having 32 turns on the secondary winding 204 and primary winding 208.

[0110] The peak power factor may be calculated as follows:

number

[0111] The peak power factor represents the power factor achieved during a high voltage output pulse when transistor 132 is in the cutoff region or in its "OFF" state.

[0112] Based on the waveform 300 and values ​​provided from circuit observations, for this embodiment having 32 turns for the secondary winding 204 and primary winding 208, the peak power factor is:

number

[0113] As can be seen, the peak power factor is greater than 1 during the high voltage output pulse, exceeds 1 during the high voltage output pulse, and returns to 0 when transistor 132 is in the saturation region and load 136 is not receiving power.

[0114] In calculating the average power coefficient for the same toroid inductor 120 in circuit 100 having 32 turns, the average power coefficient can be calculated as follows:

number

[0115] The calculation of the average output power may be calculated by multiplying the average output voltage and the average output current.

number

[0116] 4 depicts screenshot 400, an enlarged, isolated shot of waveform 300 from FIG. 3, in which the area of ​​the waveform can be calculated. When calculating the area under the waveform, approximations are used for simplification. For example, although there is a curve in region 404, the area under the curve is approximated as the area of ​​a triangle. This simplification is also used in other calculations below.

[0117] More specifically, the triangular area below the waveform in region 404, region 408, and the free area below the waveform in region 412 can be calculated, with the period across regions 404 and 408 being 40 μs (the on-time of the transistors) and the period across region 412 being 78 μs. This provides a total time of 118 μs. Furthermore, as specified, the height of region 404 is approximately 1100 mV and the height of region 408 is approximately 2500 mV. Therefore, to calculate the average voltage,

number

[0118] To determine the average output current,

number

[0119] FIG. 5 depicts a waveform 500 showing output current over time, with the x-axis representing period and the y-axis representing mA. FIG. 6 depicts a screenshot 600, which is an enlarged, isolated shot of waveform 500 from FIG. 5, allowing the area of ​​the waveform to be calculated. More specifically, the lower triangular area of ​​the waveform in region 604 has a period of 40 μs and a height of 40 mA, while region 608 has a period of 84 μs and a height of 0 mA. This results in a total period of 124 μs. Therefore, the average output current is calculated as follows:

number

[0120] To determine the input voltage, the voltage across the input terminals of the circuit can be measured with the battery removed, which is measured to be in the range of 900mV to 940mV.

[0121] To determine the input current, the area under the input current waveform can be determined. FIG. 7 depicts an input current waveform 700, with the x-axis showing the period and the y-axis showing the current in mA. FIG. 8 shows a screenshot 800 that is an enlarged, isolated region of waveform 700. In calculating the area under the curve, region 804 has a period of 30 μs and a height of 35 mA, and region 808 has a period of 97.5 μs and a similar height of 35 mA. Therefore, the total period in the cycle is 127.5 μs. The average input current is calculated as follows:

number

[0122] Therefore, the average power coefficient can be calculated using the above formula as follows:

number

[0123] As can be seen, the average power coefficient includes cycles in which transistor 132 is first in the saturation region and then in which transistor 132 is in the cutoff region, meaning that the average power coefficient includes both periods in which high voltage pulses are being delivered to load 136 and periods in which no power is being delivered to load 136.

[0124] It is believed that as the number of turns around the secondary winding 204 and the primary winding 208 increases, both the average and peak power coefficients also increase, indicating that as the number of turns increases, the efficiency of the circuit also increases.

Claims

1. a supercapacitor configured for connection in parallel with a removable power source capable of charging the supercapacitor, the supercapacitor having a positive terminal and a negative terminal; a toroid inductor configured to receive current from the positive terminal of the supercapacitor when the supercapacitor is operated to discharge, the toroid inductor having a primary winding and a secondary winding, the primary winding and the secondary winding having a plurality of turns; a transistor including a collector, a base, an emitter, and a collector-emitter junction; a base bias resistor configured to ensure that the base of the transistor receives a safe current; Equipped with the toroid inductor, the base bias resistor, and the transistor are connected in parallel with the supercapacitor, and a load can be connected in parallel with the supercapacitor; the secondary winding of the toroid inductor is connected in series with the base bias resistor, the base bias resistor is connected to the base of the transistor, the primary winding of the toroid inductor is connected in series with the collector of the transistor, the emitter of the transistor is connected to the negative terminal of the supercapacitor, and the connectable load is connectable across the collector-emitter junction of the transistor; Once charged, the supercapacitor is operable to discharge, whereby the primary winding and the secondary winding induce the transistor to alternate between saturation and cutoff regions at a resonant frequency, thereby conducting current through the collector-emitter junction of the transistor to the supercapacitor while the transistor is in the saturation region, and conducting current to the load at a high voltage while the transistor is in the cutoff region.

2. 2. The electric circuit of claim 1, wherein the number of turns around the primary winding and the secondary winding is directly proportional to the operating time of the load.

3. 3. An electric circuit as claimed in claim 1 or 2, wherein the number of turns around the primary and secondary windings is inversely proportional to the resonant frequency.

4. 4. The electric circuit according to claim 1, wherein the operating time of the load is inversely proportional to the resonant frequency.

5. 5. The electric circuit of claim 1, wherein the diameter of the toroid core of the toroid inductor is directly proportional to the operating time of the load.

6. 6. The electric circuit of claim 1, wherein the diameter of the toroid core of the toroid inductor is inversely proportional to the resonant frequency.

7. 7. The electric circuit of claim 1, further comprising an input current sensing resistor connected between the emitter of the transistor and the negative terminal of the supercapacitor, the input current sensing resistor configured to assist in measuring a current input flowing through the supercapacitor.

8. 8. The electric circuit of claim 1, further comprising an output current sense resistor connected in series with an output of the load, the output current sense resistor and the load being connected across a collector-emitter junction of the transistor, the output current sense resistor being configured to assist in the measurement of a current output supplied to the load.

9. 9. An electric circuit as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 8, wherein the number of turns around the primary and secondary windings is directly proportional to the average power coefficient in the electric circuit.

10. 10. The electric circuit of claim 1, wherein the number of turns around the primary winding and the secondary winding while the transistor is in the cutoff region is directly proportional to a peak power coefficient in the electric circuit.

11. 11. The electrical circuit of claim 1, wherein the removable power source is a depleted battery.

12. 12. The electrical circuit of claim 11, wherein the depleted battery is an alkaline AA battery having a voltage of 1.3 volts or less.

13. 11. The electric circuit of claim 1, wherein the removable power source is an AA battery having a voltage between 1.0 volt and 1.5 volts.

14. 14. The electric circuit of claim 1, wherein the supercapacitor has a capacitance of between 10 Farads and 25 Farads.

15. 15. The electric circuit of claim 1, wherein the supercapacitor is an electric double layer capacitor.

16. 15. The electric circuit of claim 1, wherein the supercapacitor is a hybrid supercapacitor.

17. 17. The electric circuit of claim 1, wherein the power source is connected in parallel with the supercapacitor for a duration of at least 7 seconds to charge the supercapacitor before the supercapacitor is operated to discharge, and then the power source is subsequently disconnected.

18. 11. The electric circuit of claim 1, wherein the removable power source is a removable battery having a voltage between 1.25 volts and 1.3 volts.

19. 20. The electrical circuit of claim 18, wherein the supercapacitor is charged by connecting the removable battery for a duration of at least 9 seconds and then disconnecting the removable battery.

20. 20. The electrical circuit of claim 19, wherein the supercapacitor has a capacitance of 10 Farads.

21. 21. The electric circuit of claim 20, wherein the primary winding and the secondary winding each have between 4 and 35 turns.

22. 22. The electric circuit of claim 21, wherein the frequency of the resonance was between 120 kHz and 7.35 kHz.

23. 20. The electrical circuit of claim 19, wherein the supercapacitor has a capacitance of 25 Farads.

24. 24. The electric circuit of claim 23, wherein the primary winding and the secondary winding each have between 25 and 35 turns.

25. 25. The electric circuit of claim 24, wherein the frequency of the resonance was between 2.40 kHz and 1.62 kHz.

26. 1. A method of powering a load, comprising: the supercapacitor configured for connection in parallel with a removable power source, the supercapacitor having a positive terminal and a negative terminal; providing a toroid inductor, a base bias resistor, a transistor, and a connectable load connected in parallel with the supercapacitor; the toroid inductor is connected to the positive terminal of the supercapacitor, the toroid inductor has a primary winding and a secondary winding, the primary winding and the secondary winding have a plurality of turns; the transistor includes a collector, a base, an emitter, and a collector-emitter junction; the secondary winding of the toroid inductor is connected in series with the base bias resistor, the base bias resistor is connected to the base of the transistor, the primary winding of the toroid inductor is connected to the collector of the transistor, the emitter of the transistor is connected to the negative terminal of the supercapacitor, and the connectable load is connected across the collector-emitter junction of the transistor; charging the supercapacitor by connecting the removable power source for a predetermined duration and subsequently disconnecting the removable power source; discharging current from a charged supercapacitor into the toroid inductor; using the primary and secondary windings of the toroid inductor to induce the transistor to alternate between saturation and cutoff regions at a resonant frequency; conducting current through the collector-emitter junction of the transistor to the supercapacitor while the transistor is in the saturation region; conducting a current at a high voltage to the load while the transistor is in a cutoff region; A method comprising:

27. 27. The method of claim 26, wherein the number of turns around the primary winding and the secondary winding is directly proportional to the operating time of the load.

28. 28. A method according to claim 26 or 27, wherein the number of turns around the primary and secondary windings is inversely proportional to the resonant frequency.

29. 29. The method of any one of claims 26 to 28, wherein the operating time of the load is inversely proportional to the resonant frequency.

30. 30. The method of any one of claims 26 to 29, wherein the diameter of the toroid core of the toroid inductor is directly proportional to the operating time of the load.

31. 31. The method of any one of claims 26 to 30, wherein a diameter of a toroid core of the toroid inductor is inversely proportional to the resonant frequency.

32. 32. A method according to any one of claims 26 to 31, wherein the number of turns around the primary and secondary windings is directly proportional to an average power coefficient in the electrical circuit.

33. 33. The method of any one of claims 26 to 32, wherein the number of turns around the primary winding and the secondary winding is directly proportional to a peak power factor in the electrical circuit while the transistor is in the cutoff region.

34. 34. The method of any one of claims 26 to 33, wherein the removable power source is a depleted battery.

35. 35. The method of claim 34, wherein the depleted battery is an alkaline AA battery having a voltage of 1.3 volts or less.

36. 34. The method of any one of claims 26 to 33, wherein the removable power source is an AA battery having a voltage between 1.0 volts and 1.5 volts.

37. 37. The method of any one of claims 26 to 36, wherein the supercapacitor has a capacitance of 10 Farads to 25 Farads.

38. 38. The method of any one of claims 26 to 37, wherein the predetermined duration is at least 7 seconds.

39. 38. A method according to any one of claims 26 to 37, wherein the predetermined duration is between 9 seconds and 12 seconds.

40. 38. A method according to any one of claims 26 to 37, wherein the predetermined duration is between 9 and 10 seconds.

41. a supercapacitor having a capacitance between 10 Farads and 25 Farads, configured for connection in parallel with a removable power source capable of charging the supercapacitor, the removable power source having a voltage less than 1.3 volts, the supercapacitor having a positive terminal and a negative terminal; a toroid inductor configured to receive current from the positive terminal of the supercapacitor when the supercapacitor is operated to discharge, the toroid inductor having a primary winding and a secondary winding, the primary winding and the secondary winding having a plurality of turns; a transistor including a collector, a base, an emitter, and a collector-emitter junction; a base bias resistor configured to ensure that the base of the transistor receives a safe current; Equipped with the toroid inductor, the base bias resistor, and the transistor are connected in parallel with the supercapacitor, and a load can be connected in parallel with the supercapacitor; the secondary winding of the toroid inductor is connected in series with the base bias resistor, the base bias resistor is connected to the base of the transistor, the primary winding of the toroid inductor is connected in series with the collector of the transistor, the emitter of the transistor is connected to the negative terminal of the supercapacitor, and the connectable load is connectable across the collector-emitter junction of the transistor; the supercapacitor is operable to discharge when charged by the removable power source for a duration of at least 9 seconds, whereby the primary winding and the secondary winding induce the transistor to alternate between a saturation region and a cutoff region at a resonant frequency, thereby conducting current through the supercapacitor through the collector-emitter junction of the transistor while the transistor is in the saturation region, and conducting current to the load at a high voltage while the transistor is in the cutoff region.

42. 42. The electric circuit of claim 41, wherein the supercapacitor has a capacitance of 10 Farads, and the primary winding and the secondary winding each have between 4 and 35 turns.

43. 42. The electric circuit of claim 41, wherein the supercapacitor has a capacitance of 25 Farads, and the primary winding and the secondary winding each have between 25 and 35 turns.

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