CAP-XX new-generation supercapacitors will
soon be providing a significant audio power boost for some of the
best-known names in mobile devices. Recently the company announced its
BriteSound power architecture for mobile phones, and in December it
will publicly unveil its next-generation supercapacitors.
"In a BriteSound mobile phone," said CAP-XX CEO Anthony Kongats, "our supercapacitor provides a boost in peak power which can double and sometimes triple audio power for higher quality sound - while eliminating the buzzing and distortion that's common when transmitting wireless data while listening to music. We are currently working with leading mobile-phone manufacturers and expect the first designs that are power-boosted by our new supercapacitors to enter the world market in the second half of 2008."
10,000x More Energy
Supercapacitors deliver 100 times the power of batteries and store
10,000 times more energy than conventional capacitors. They store
electrical energy during periods of low-load power, and then release it
in quick "bursts" during peak-power events to supplement power from the
source and smooth out voltage fluctuations.
"Our supercapacitors are tiny but powerful. They benefit from a unique nanotechnology construction which packs the highest energy and power densities into thin, lightweight, prismatic packages that will fit into slim portable devices," said Kongats. "They store charge on nanoporous carbon electrodes on aluminum foil, arranged in multiple layers and connected in parallel to minimize the resistance, optimize the surface area of the carbon and maximize the capacitance of the device."
Better Power Management
In BriteSound power architecture, a 2.4mm-thin, 0.55F, 85mOhm dual-cell
CAP-XX supercapacitor delivers 5W power-bursts to drive peak-power
functions such as audio and LED Flash.
A battery covers the phone's average audio power needs of 0.5 to 1W, recharging the supercapacitor between bursts. This leaves enough battery power to handle data transfers and network polls without compromising audio power, eliminating both distortion and clicks.
The supercapacitor powers the audio amp at 5V, compared to 3.6V directly from a battery, thereby doubling peak audio power for full-sounding music with a strong bass. It also reduces noise by supplying peak power with less voltage drop than the battery would, and eliminates any 217Hz buzz when a GSM/GPRS/EDGE phone transmits by protecting the audio amp from other peak loads the battery supplies such as the RF power amp.
Because the supercapacitor supplies high-peak currents, designers can use higher-quality 4Ohm instead of standard 8Ohm speakers, further doubling peak audio power.
HS, HW Series
CAP-XX's high temperature series of supercapacitors are similar to its
general purpose supercapacitors, but target applications that need an
increased environmental operating range and/or a higher voltage rating.
The new HS and HW series supercapacitors feature a higher-boiling-point electrolyte that enables an industry-leading high-temperature threshold of 85*C. These supercapacitors work reliably in devices where nearby components can get very hot, such as RF power amps, which can reach 120*C during transmission. The supercapacitors offer long-life performance at up to 2.75V in single-cell versions and 5.5V in dual-cell versions with two devices connected in series. All devices operate from -40 to +85*C.
by Neil Munro, Sydney
Nikkei Electronics |
Nikkei Monozukuri |
Nikkei Automotive Technology |
|---|---|---|
 |
 |
 |
| The magazine for electronics designers and managers. | Design You Won't Regret - How to Reduce the Risk of Accidents | The comprehensive automotive technology magazine. |
Copyright © 1995-2010 Nikkei Business Publications, Inc. All rights reserved.
All editorial content and graphics on this Web site may not be reproduced in whole or in part without the express permission of the copyright owner.
