Energy storage and discharge system

Claim 2

The combination for providing a controlled discharge of energy, a plurality of capacitors, first means for providing for the introduction of electrical energy to the capacitors, a plurality of unidirectional members each connected in a series branch with an individual one of the capacitors and each series branch forming a parallel branch with a different one of the capacitors, each of the unidirectional members being connected to provide for the introduction of electrical energy by the first means to the capacitors, a multi-position switch having a series of contacts each individually connected to a different one of the capacitors in the plurality to provide for the progressive addition of at least one capacitor to the total number of capacitors capable of being discharged through the preceding contact in the series, and means for receiving the discharge of the electrical energy from the capacitors.

Claim 3

The combination set forth in claim 1 for operation by a camera, the receiving means constituting a flashtube, and means including an additional capacitor and an additional switch connected to the flashtube to trigger the flashtube for instituting the discharge of the capacitors.

Claim 4

In combination for providing a controlled discharge of energy, a plurality of capacitors, a plurality of unidirectional members each connected in series with an individual one of the capacitors each series combination is connected in the plurality anD in parallel with a preceding capacitor in the plurality, each of the unidirectional members being connected to its series in a direction providing for the charging of its series capacitor, a switch having a movable contact and a plurality of stationary contacts each connected to a different one of the unidirectional members and its series capacitor, the switch being operative in each position of the movable contact to provide for the discharge of the capacitor associated with the activated stationary contact and the discharge of the preceding capacitors in the plurality, means for providing for the charging of the capacitors in the plurality, and means for receiving the energy discharged by the capacitors.

Claim 5

In combination for providing a controlled discharge of energy, a plurality of capacitors, a plurality of unidirectional members each connected in series with an individual one of the capacitors each series combination is connected in the plurality anD in parallel with a preceding capacitor in the plurality, each of the unidirectional members being connected to its series in a direction providing for the charging of its series capacitor, a switch having a movable contact and a plurality of stationary contacts each connected to a different one of the unidirectional members and its series capacitor, the switch being operative in each position of the movable contact to provide for the discharge of the capacitor associated with the activated stationary contact and the discharge of the preceding capacitors in the plurality, means for providing for the charging of the capacitors in the plurality, and means for receiving the energy discharged by the capacitors.

Claim 6

The combination set forth in claim 3 operable by a camera and including: the receiving means including a flashtube, and means including an additional capacitor and an additional switch connected to the flashtube to trigger the flashtube for instituting the discharge of the capacitor in accordance with the operation of the additional switch.

Claim 7

In combination for providing a controlled discharge of energy, switching means having a plurality of operative relationships, a plurality of unidirectional means each having a relatively low impedance in a forward direction and a relatively high impedance in a reverse direction, means for providing electrical energy, a plurality of capacitors each connected in series with the energy-providing means, a particular different one of the unidirectional means and all the preceding unidirectional means in the plurality to provide a low impedance from the energy-providing means to the series capacitor for a charging of the series capacitor, each capacitor and particular unidirectional member in series being connected in parallel with the preceding capacitor in the plurality, the switching means being connected to the capacitors and the unidirectional members to provide for a discharge of an individual number of capacitors in the plurality in each of the operative relationships in the plurality, and means for receiving the energy discharged from the capacitors.

Claim 8

In combination for providing a controlled discharge of energy, switching means having a plurality of operative relationships, a plurality of unidirectional means each having a relatively low impedance in a forward direction and a relatively high impedance in a reverse direction, means for providing electrical energy, a plurality of capacitors each connected in series with the energy-providing means, a particular different one of the unidirectional means and all the preceding unidirectional means in the plurality to provide a low impedance from the energy-providing means to the series capacitor for a charging of the series capacitor, each capacitor and particular unidirectional member in series being connected in parallel with the preceding capacitor in the plurality, the switching means being connected to the capacitors and the unidirectional members to provide for a discharge of an individual number of capacitors in the plurality in each of the operative relationships in the plurality, and means for receiving the energy discharged from the capacitors.

Claim 9

The combination set forth in claim 5 operable by a camera, the receiving means including a flashtube, an additional capacitor, and switching means operative to provide a discharge of the additional capacitor through the switch to trigger the flashtube for discharge of the capacitors in the plurality through the flashtube.

Claim 10

In combination for providing a controlled discharge of energy, at least a pair of energy-storage members, at least one unidirectional member having a relatively low impedance in a forward direction and a relatively high impedance in a reverse direction, the unidirectional member being connected to series with a first one of the energy-storage members across the other one of the energy-storage members, the unidirectional member being connected to the forward direction to the first energy-storage member to provide for the storage of energy in the first energy-storage member, means connected to the other energy-storage member to provide for a storage of energy in the first and the other energy-storage members, a switch having first and second operative relationships and operative in the first relationship to provide for the discharge of the energy in the other storage member and to inhibit the discharge of the energy in the first storage member by the operation of the unidirectional member in the reverse direction, the switching means being operative in the second relationship to provide for the discharge of the energy in the first and the other capacitors by the operation of the unidirectional member in the forward direction, and means for receiving the energy discharged by the first and second energy-storate means.

Claim 11

In combination for providing a controlled discharge of energy, at least a pair of energy-storage members, at least one unidirectional member having a relatively low impedance in a forward direction and a relatively high impedance in a reverse direction, the unidirectional member being connected to series with a first one of the energy-storage members across the other one of the energy-storage members, the unidirectional member being connected to the forward direction to the first energy-storage member to provide for the storage of energy in the first energy-storage member, means connected to the other energy-storage member to provide for a storage of energy in the first and the other energy-storage members, a switch having first and second operative relationships and operative in the first relationship to provide for the discharge of the energy in the other storage member and to inhibit the discharge of the energy in the first storage member by the operation of the unidirectional member in the reverse direction, the switching means being operative in the second relationship to provide for the discharge of the energy in the first and the other capacitors by the operation of the unidirectional member in the forward direction, and means for receiving the energy discharged by the first and second energy-storate means.

Claim 12

The combination set forth in claim 7 wherein the energy storage means are capacitors and the switch has a pair of stationary contacts iNdividually connected to the first and the other capacitors and has a movable contact connected to the receiving means.

Claim 13

The combination set forth in claim 7 for operation by, in conjunction with the operation of the camera, a camera, the receiving means including a flashtube capacitor, an additional capacitor, and switching means operative to provide a discharge of the additional capacitor through the flashtube for obtaining a discharge of the capacitors in the plurality through the flashtube.

Claim 14

In combination for providing a controlled discharge of energy: first means providing a source of operating potential; second means providing a reference potential; a plurality of unidirectional members connected in a series relationship and having properties of passing current in one direction and inhibiting the flow of current in the opposite direction, said series of unidirectional members connected to said first means in a current-passing direction and having a plurality of terminals each disposed between each successive pair of said unidirectional members; a plurality of third means for receiving the operating potential from and for storing a charge in accordance with said operating potential by said first means, each of said third means being connected between a different one of said terminals and the reference potential; a load; fourth means for switching said third means through the load, said fourth means having a movable terminal and a plurality of stationary terminals an individual one of which is in contact with said movable terminal, in accordance with the movement of the movable terminal each of said stationary terminals being in contact with an individual one of said terminals between the successive pairs of unidirectional members; said fourth means being operable to discharge through the load the particular third means which is in contact with said movable terminal through the unidirectional members oriented in the current-passing direction.

Claim 15

In combination for providing a controlled discharge of energy: first means providing a source of operating potential; second means providing a reference potential; a plurality of unidirectional members connected in a series relationship and having properties of passing current in one direction and inhibiting the flow of current in the opposite direction, said series of unidirectional members connected to said first means in a current-passing direction and having a plurality of terminals each disposed between each successive pair of said unidirectional members; a plurality of third means for receiving the operating potential from and for storing a charge in accordance with said operating potential by said first means, each of said third means being connected between a different one of said terminals and the reference potential; a load; fourth means for switching said third means through the load, said fourth means having a movable terminal and a plurality of stationary terminals an individual one of which is in contact with said movable terminal, in accordance with the movement of the movable terminal each of said stationary terminals being in contact with an individual one of said terminals between the successive pairs of unidirectional members; said fourth means being operable to discharge through the load the particular third means which is in contact with said movable terminal through the unidirectional members oriented in the current-passing direction.

Claim 16

The combination as defined in claim 10 for controlling the operation of a camera flash unit, said load comprising: a flashtube connected between said movable terminal and said reference potential; and fifth means connected between said first means and said flashtube for triggering said flashtube thereby enabling the discharge of at least one of said third means through said flashtube.

Claim 17

A combination for providing a controlled discharge of energy comprising: first means for providing a source of electrical potential, said first means having first and second terminals for providing the electrical potential between said terminals; a multi-position switch having a plurality of stationary contacts and a movable contact connected to an individual of said stationary contacts dependent upon the movement of the movable contact, a first one of said stationary contacts being connected to the first terminal of said first means; a plurality of energy-storing devices having properties of being charged by said first means, a different one of said energy-storing devices being connected between each individual one of said stationary contacts and the second terminal of said first means; a plurality of unidirectional members each having a relatively low impedance in a forward direction and a relatively high impedance in a reverse direction, a different one of said unidirectional members connected to an individual one of said stationary contacts in a forward direction from a first one of said stationary contacts; a load connected between the movable contact of said switch and the second terminal of said first means; said energy-storage devices being simultaneously charged by said first means and each being discharged when the movable contact is connected to its associated stationary contact or any stationary contact displaced in the forward direction from the associated stationary contact.

Claim 18

A combination for providing a controlled discharge of energy comprising: first means for providing a source of electrical potential, said first means having first and second terminals for providing the electrical potential between said terminals; a multi-position switch having a plurality of stationary contacts and a movable contact connected to an individual of said stationary contacts dependent upon the movement of the movable contact, a first one of said stationary contacts being connected to the first terminal of said first means; a plurality of energy-storing devices having properties of being charged by said first means, a different one of said energy-storing devices being connected between each individual one of said stationary contacts and the second terminal of said first means; a plurality of unidirectional members each having a relatively low impedance in a forward direction and a relatively high impedance in a reverse direction, a different one of said unidirectional members connected to an individual one of said stationary contacts in a forward direction from a first one of said stationary contacts; a load connected between the movable contact of said switch and the second terminal of said first means; said energy-storage devices being simultaneously charged by said first means and each being discharged when the movable contact is connected to its associated stationary contact or any stationary contact displaced in the forward direction from the associated stationary contact.

Claim 19

The combination as defined in claim 12 for controlling the operation of a camera flash unit, said load comprising: a flashtube connected between said movable contact and the second terminal of said first means; and second means connected between said first means and said flashtube for triggering said flashtube thereby enabling the discharge of a number of said energy-storing devices through said flashtube in accordance with the positioning of the movable contact.