Ultracapacitor-based power supply for an electronic device

摘要

An ultracapacitor-based power supply (Ultracapacitor Supply) and method power a portable electronic device. The Ultracapacitor Supply includes an ultracapacitor that stores energy rapidly relative to a battery-based power supply. The stored energy is used to provide primary power to the device. The electronic device includes operational electronics that require power to operate and an integral power supply. The device uses the Ultracapacitor Supply as one or both of the integral power supply and an auxiliary power source. As an auxiliary source, the Ultracapacitor Supply provides primary power to the device operational electronics from external to the device on a temporary basis when the device integral supply is depleted or otherwise unavailable. The auxiliary source serves as an emergency or back-up power supply. As the integral source, the Ultracapacitor Supply provides primary power to the operational electronics from inside the device on a relatively regular basis.