Integrated photovoltaic panel circuitry
First Claim
1. An apparatus comprising:
- a photovoltaic panel comprising a plurality of photovoltaic cells;
a casing that holds the photovoltaic cells; and
a converter circuit comprising first and second input terminals, the first input terminal directly connected to the casing by the first input terminal being bonded to the casing, and the second input terminal directly connected to the photovoltaic panel, and the converter circuit comprising first and second output terminals galvanically isolated from the first and second input terminals and electrically disconnected from the first and second input terminals, wherein the converter circuit converts first direct current (DC) power on the second input terminal to second DC power on the first output terminal, wherein the first output terminal of the converter circuit outputs power received by the converter circuit,wherein the first and second input terminals of the converter circuit are integrated with the casing and the photovoltaic panel, respectively.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A photovoltaic module is presented, which may include a photovoltaic panel and a converter circuit having a primary input connected to the photovoltaic panel and a secondary output galvanically isolated from the primary input. The primary input may be connectible to multiple input terminals within a junction box and at least one of the input terminals may be electrically connected to a ground. The photovoltaic module may include multiple interconnected photovoltaic cells connected electrically to multiple connectors (for example bus-bars). The photovoltaic module may include input terminals operable for connecting to the connectors and an isolated converter circuit. The isolated converter circuit may include a primary input connected to the input terminals and a secondary output galvanically isolated from the primary input.
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Citations
21 Claims
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1. An apparatus comprising:
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a photovoltaic panel comprising a plurality of photovoltaic cells; a casing that holds the photovoltaic cells; and a converter circuit comprising first and second input terminals, the first input terminal directly connected to the casing by the first input terminal being bonded to the casing, and the second input terminal directly connected to the photovoltaic panel, and the converter circuit comprising first and second output terminals galvanically isolated from the first and second input terminals and electrically disconnected from the first and second input terminals, wherein the converter circuit converts first direct current (DC) power on the second input terminal to second DC power on the first output terminal, wherein the first output terminal of the converter circuit outputs power received by the converter circuit, wherein the first and second input terminals of the converter circuit are integrated with the casing and the photovoltaic panel, respectively. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. An apparatus comprising:
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a photovoltaic panel configured to generate a first voltage at output terminals, the photovoltaic panel comprising a plurality of photovoltaic cells; a casing that holds the photovoltaic cells; and a converter circuit comprising a first input terminal directly connected to the casing by the first input terminal being bonded to the casing, and a second input terminal directly connected to the photovoltaic panel and configured to receive the first voltage, the converter circuit including first and second output terminals galvanically isolated from the first and second input terminals and electrically disconnected from the first and second input terminals, wherein the casing is connected to ground, wherein the first and second input terminals of the converter circuit are integrated with the casing and the photovoltaic panel, respectively. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. A method comprising:
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attaching a photovoltaic panel comprising a plurality of photovoltaic cells to a casing, to thereby hold the photovoltaic panel by way of the casing; housing a DC/DC converter circuit within a junction box, wherein the DC/DC converter circuit includes first and second input terminals, first and second output terminals, and a transformer that galvanically isolates the first and second input terminals from the first and second output terminals, wherein the first and second input terminals are electrically disconnected from the first and second output terminals; directly connecting the first input terminal of the DC/DC converter circuit to the casing by bonding the first input terminal of the DC/DC converter circuit to the casing, and directly connecting the second input terminal of the DC/DC converter circuit to the photovoltaic panel; and integrating the DC/DC converter circuit with the photovoltaic panel by directly attaching the junction box to an outer surface of the photovoltaic panel. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21)
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Specification