Dual-Supercapacitor Clock Power Switching for Low-Light Runtime

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Solution Overview

Problem

Supercapacitors in existing clock designs undergo frequent charge/discharge cycles due to artificial lighting, leading to reduced capacity and shorter operating times in the absence of lighting, requiring manual or external synchronization for reset.

Innovation Solution

Incorporating a dual supercapacitor system where a second supercapacitor is only used when the primary supercapacitor's voltage falls below a certain threshold, allowing the clock to maintain energy and extend operating time during prolonged darkness, with a mixer controlling the charging strategy to minimize the second supercapacitor's wear.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Duration of action of moving object

If a single supercapacitor is used to power the clock during darkness, then the clock can operate without lighting, but the supercapacitor undergoes frequent charge/discharge cycles that reduce its capacity and operating time

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveoperating time of the clock in the absence of lightingVSAvoidcapacity retention of the supercapacitor

Core Design Contradiction:

Duration of action of moving objectVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The single supercapacitor is segmented into two separate supercapacitors (first and second supercapacitors). The first supercapacitor handles normal operation during darkness, while the second supercapacitor serves as a backup. This segmentation allows the system to maintain operating time while preserving the reliability of at least one supercapacitor by reducing its charge/discharge cycle frequency.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The system recovers the second supercapacitor from frequent use by designating it as a backup unit that remains idle during normal operation. It is only activated when the first supercapacitor's voltage drops below a threshold, thereby recovering its capacity and extending the overall system reliability without sacrificing operating time.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #34Discarding and recovering

2Duration of action of moving object

If the second supercapacitor is used frequently to maintain operating time, then the clock can run longer in darkness, but the second supercapacitor's capacity degrades faster

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveoperating time extension in prolonged darknessVSAvoidcapacity degradation of the second supercapacitor

Core Design Contradiction:

Duration of action of moving objectVSLoss of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The second supercapacitor is prepared in advance as a charged backup unit that remains idle during normal operation. This preliminary charging and idle state preservation ensures that when it is needed, it can immediately extend operating time without having undergone capacity-degrading frequent charge/discharge cycles.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The first supercapacitor effectively becomes a 'disposable' or sacrificial component that undergoes frequent charge/discharge cycles and degrades over time. The second supercapacitor, by contrast, is preserved and can extend the system's operational life multiple times, effectively creating a replaceable/sacrificial component strategy that protects the overall system reliability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #27Cheap short-living objects (Disposable)

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

This approach reduces the degradation of the second supercapacitor's capacity, enabling the clock to maintain functionality and accuracy over a longer period without frequent recharging, even in prolonged darkness.

Implementation Method 1

a photovoltaic panel; and a charging system designed to charge the first supercapacitor from the photovoltaic panel

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectPhotovoltaic effect: Photovoltaic Effect

Data Source

PatentEP4307521A1Supercapacitor clock

Publication Date: 2024.01.17 BODET TIME & SPORT

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AI summary

The clock (100) includes: - a time tracking and display system (122, 110); - a first supercapacitor (SC1); - a photovoltaic panel (106); and - a charging system (128) from the photovoltaic panel (106).The clock (100) further comprises: - a second supercapacitor (SC2); and - a mixer (134) designed to, when a voltage (U1) of the first supercapacitor (SC1) is greater than a certain level (U2), connect the first supercapacitor (SC1), but not the second supercapacitor (SC2), to the tracking and display system (122, 110) to power the latter electrically from the first supercapacitor (SC1), and, when the voltage (U1) of the first supercapacitor (SC1) is equal to the level (U2), connect the second supercapacitor (SC2) in addition to the first supercapacitor (SC1) to the tracking and display system (122, 110) to power the latter electrically from the first and second supercapacitors (SC1, SC2).