System and method for establishing communication with an array of inverters
First Claim
1. A method for establishing communication between a controller and a plurality of inverters, the inverters configured to convert direct current (DC) power from an alternative energy source to AC power, the method comprising:
- receiving with an inverter of the plurality of inverters a response request transmitted by the controller via an AC line, the response request including a length of a response time window;
determining a random response time for the inverter based on the length of the response time window;
transmitting a response to the controller at the response time, the response including an identification of the inverter;
andin response to receiving an acknowledgement from the controller in response to the transmitted response, updating the inverter'"'"'s operation to ignore subsequent response requests from the controller.
3 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A system and method for establishing communication between a controller and a plurality of inverters comprises determining a response time window length and broadcasting a response request to the array of inverters that includes the response time window length. Each inverter, in response to receiving the response requests, transmits a response to the controller at a randomly determined response time within the response time window. In response to receiving an acknowledgement from the controller, the responding inverter may ignore subsequent response requests. The controller may adjust the response time window and broadcasts the new response time window until no inverter response is received for a pre-determined number of response time windows.
-
Citations
13 Claims
-
1. A method for establishing communication between a controller and a plurality of inverters, the inverters configured to convert direct current (DC) power from an alternative energy source to AC power, the method comprising:
-
receiving with an inverter of the plurality of inverters a response request transmitted by the controller via an AC line, the response request including a length of a response time window; determining a random response time for the inverter based on the length of the response time window; transmitting a response to the controller at the response time, the response including an identification of the inverter; and in response to receiving an acknowledgement from the controller in response to the transmitted response, updating the inverter'"'"'s operation to ignore subsequent response requests from the controller. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
-
-
8. An inverter to convert direct current (DC) power from an alternative energy source to alternating current (AC) power, the inverter comprising:
-
a processor; and a memory device communicatively coupled with the processor and having stored therein a plurality of instructions, which when executed by the processor, result in the processor; receiving a response request transmitted by a controller over an AC power line, the response request including a length of a response time window; determining a random response time for the inverter based on the length of the response time window; transmitting a response to the controller at the response time, the response including an identification of the inverter; and in response to receiving an acknowledgement from the controller in response to the transmitted response, updating the inverter'"'"'s operation to ignore subsequent response requests from the controller. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
-
Specification