FILM CAPACITOR CELL ELEMENT AND CAPACITOR

Abstract

A capacitor cell element includes a dielectric, which has a first metal coating on a first side and has a second metal coating on a second side. The first metal coating on the first side leaves free a first edge region, and the second metal coating on the second side leaves free a second edge region. The first edge region and the second edge region are disposed at opposite ends of the dielectric. A capacitor including the capacitor cell element is also provided. The capacitor cell element and the capacitor have a high volumetric energy density and at the same time are self-healing.

Claims

1-9. (canceled)

10. A capacitor cell element, comprising: a dielectric having opposite ends, first and second sides, a first metal coating on said first side and a second metal coating on said second side; said first metal coating leaving a first edge region free of metal coating on said first side; and said second metal coating leaving a second edge region free of metal coating on said second side; and said first edge region and said second edge region each being disposed at a respective one of said opposite ends of said dielectric.

11. The capacitor cell element according to claim 10, wherein said first and second edge regions have areas corresponding to one another.

12. The capacitor cell element according to claim 10, wherein said second metal coating leaves a third edge region free of metal coating.

13. The capacitor cell element according to claim 12, wherein said first metal coating leaves a fourth edge region free of metal coating.

14. The capacitor cell element according to claim 13, wherein said first edge region is disposed opposite said third edge region, and said second edge region is disposed opposite said fourth edge region.

15. The capacitor cell element according to claim 13, wherein said first and third edge regions have areas corresponding to one another, and said second and fourth edge regions have areas corresponding to one another.

16. The capacitor cell element according to claim 13, wherein said first and third edge regions have areas corresponding to one another, or said second and fourth edge regions have areas corresponding to one another.

17. The capacitor cell element according to claim 10, which further comprises at least one of said first or second metal coatings being a metal film or a metal foil, and said dielectric being a polymer film.

18. A capacitor, comprising: at least two capacitor cell elements according to claim 10; said at least two capacitor cell elements being disposed next to one another; and said edge regions of said at least two capacitor cell elements including adjacent edge regions overlapping one another.

19. The capacitor according to claim 18, which further comprises a contact metal foil disposed between two of said capacitor cell elements for making contact between said two of said capacitor cell elements.

Description

[0025] The above-described properties, features and advantages of this invention and the way in which they are achieved will become clearer and more readily understandable in connection with the description below of the exemplary embodiments, which are explained in more detail in connection with the drawings, in which:

[0026] FIG. 1 shows a schematic illustration of a detail of a capacitor comprising two capacitor cell elements in accordance with a first embodiment; and

[0027] FIG. 2 shows a schematic illustration of a detail of a capacitor comprising four capacitor cell elements in accordance with a second embodiment.

[0028] FIG. 1 shows a schematic illustration of a capacitor comprising a capacitor cell element 1 in accordance with a first embodiment of the invention. The capacitor cell element 1 in this case has a dielectric 2. The dielectric 2 can be in the form of a polymer film. The dielectric 2 has a first metal coating 3 on a first side and a second metal coating 4 on a second side.

[0029] In this case, the first metal coating 3 leaves free a first edge region 5. The second metal coating 4 leaves free a second edge region 6. The first edge region 5 is arranged at a first longitudinal end 7 of the dielectric 2. The second edge region 6 is arranged at a second longitudinal end 8 of the dielectric 2. The first edge region 5 and the second edge region 6 denote regions on the dielectric 2 which are not covered by the first metal coating 3 and the second metal coating 4, respectively. These regions extend from the first longitudinal end 7 and the second longitudinal end 8, respectively, in the direction of a center of the dielectric 2.

[0030] The first edge region 5 is in this case arranged on the first side of the dielectric 2, and the second edge region 6 is arranged on the second side of the dielectric 2. Furthermore, the first edge region 5 and the second edge region 6 are arranged at the opposite longitudinal ends 7, 8 of the dielectric 2.

[0031] This embodiment has the advantage that it does not have any superfluous space which would need to be filled with an insulating fluid in order to avoid weak points, as may occur in conventional non-metal-coated film-foil designs. This embodiment has the highest possible volumetric energy density which can be achieved with available materials. It is furthermore self-healing since the first metal coating 3 and/or the second metal coating 4 is or are thin.

[0032] In the capacitor illustrated schematically in FIG. 1, two capacitor cell elements 1 are illustrated. These two capacitor cell elements 1 are arranged adjacent to one another. The arrangement is in this case designed in such a way that a first edge region 5 is arranged adjacent to a second edge region 6 at the second longitudinal end 8.

[0033] FIG. 2 shows a schematic illustration of a capacitor comprising the capacitor cell element 1 in accordance with a second embodiment. Identical reference symbols herein denote in principle the same technical features.

[0034] In the embodiment shown in FIG. 2, the first metal coating 3 leaves free a first edge region 5 on the first side of the dielectric 2, which is opposite a third edge region 9 on the second side of the dielectric 2. The third edge region 9 is left free by the second metal coating 4. Likewise, the first metal coating 3 leaves free a fourth edge region 10 on the first side of the dielectric 2, which is opposite the second edge region 6 on the second side. The fourth edge region 10 is left free by the first metal coating 3. The first edge region 5 is opposite the third edge region 9, and the second edge region 6 is opposite the fourth edge region 10.

[0035] This embodiment has the advantage that it does not have any superfluous space which needs to be filled with an insulating fluid in order to avoid weak points, as may occur in conventional non-metal-coated film-foil designs. This embodiment has the highest possible volumetric energy density which can be achieved with available materials. It is furthermore self-healing since the first metal coating 3 and/or the second metal coating 4 is or are thin.

[0036] A contact metal foil 11 is arranged between two capacitor cell elements 1. This foil serves to make contact between the capacitor cell elements 1. It can be formed from a thin metal foil. The contact metal foil 11 results in an increased peak current capacity. This is due to its low resistance.

[0037] In the capacitor illustrated schematically in FIG. 2, four capacitor cell elements 1 are illustrated. These capacitor cell elements 1 are arranged adjacent to one another. In this case, the arrangement is designed in such a way that a first edge region 5 is arranged adjacent to a third edge region 9 at the first longitudinal end 7. A second edge region 6 is formed adjacent to a fourth edge region 10 at the second longitudinal end 8.

[0038] Although the invention has been illustrated and described in more detail by preferred exemplary embodiments, the invention is not restricted by the disclosed examples, and other variations can be derived herefrom by a person skilled in the art without departing from the scope of protection of the invention.

LIST OF REFERENCE SYMBOLS

[0039] 1 capacitor cell element [0040] 2 dielectric [0041] 3 first metal coating [0042] 4 second metal coating [0043] 5 first edge region [0044] 6 second edge region [0045] 7 first end [0046] 8 second end [0047] 9 third edge region [0048] 10 fourth edge region [0049] 11 contact metal foil