Power Backup Application for Computer’s Memory

by Janick Serrallonga

Submitted : Fall 2011

One critical problem on computer based products, from Desktop computers and laptops to Industrial Controllers is how to protect and save the real time data during a power outage of the device. Real time data mean the current information that is being under process by the device during a given time. A Resistance-Capacitor circuit (RC Circuit) could be a simple solution to work as a power backup of the memory program, called RAM memory, where actual program instruction and data reside to avoid the problems of losing data or memory loss after running out of battery. This power backup circuit provides the amount of energy need it while the batteries are replaced and/or connected to the battery charger. For programs and applications running on computer based devices, users find this an important issue due to the risk of losing data when battery runs out and no charger is connected.

In a RC circuit the capacitor work as an energy storage element and the resistance allowed to define the voltage appropriate up to the capacitor must be charged. I felt encouraged of finding the exact time interval of the capacitor’s current charge since the device’s battery runs out of power and the capacitor deliver the power to the memory circuit until release all the storage energy and itself runs out as well. By using differential equations, I was able to calculate the values that were necessary in order to find that time interval. After the project was done, very interesting results were found, giving me the knowledge to state the exact time a person has in order to plug a laptop or any portable electronic device before suffering a data loss.

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