DISTRIBUTED POWER POINT CONTROL
First Claim
1. A system to control power generated by a photovoltaic array, the system comprising:
- a plurality of distributed power point control units configured to receive power from the photovoltaic array, wherein each one of the distributed power point control units is configured to supply a portion of the power received from the photovoltaic array to a corresponding one of a plurality of loads; and
a distributed power point control controller in communication with the distributed power point control units, wherein the distributed power point control controller is configured to generate a control signal for each respective one of the distributed power point control units, and wherein each of the control signals indicates a relationship between an input voltage and an output voltage of each respective one of the distributed power point control units, the control signals controlling the portions of the power such that the photovoltaic array generates a target current at a target voltage when the distributed power point control units power the loads.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A system to control power generated by a photovoltaic array is provided that may include multiple distributed power point control (DPPC) units and a distributed power point control (DPPC) controller. The DPPC units may receive power from a photovoltaic array and supply a portion of that power to a corresponding one of multiple loads. The DPPC controller may generate a control signal for each respective one of the DPPC units such that the photovoltaic array generates a target power when the DPPC units power the loads. In addition, the DPPC controller may adjust the loads and the control signal so that the photovoltaic array generates the target power.
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Citations
21 Claims
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1. A system to control power generated by a photovoltaic array, the system comprising:
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a plurality of distributed power point control units configured to receive power from the photovoltaic array, wherein each one of the distributed power point control units is configured to supply a portion of the power received from the photovoltaic array to a corresponding one of a plurality of loads; and a distributed power point control controller in communication with the distributed power point control units, wherein the distributed power point control controller is configured to generate a control signal for each respective one of the distributed power point control units, and wherein each of the control signals indicates a relationship between an input voltage and an output voltage of each respective one of the distributed power point control units, the control signals controlling the portions of the power such that the photovoltaic array generates a target current at a target voltage when the distributed power point control units power the loads. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. A distributed power point control circuit comprising:
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a control signal generator circuit configured to generate a control signal for each respective one of a plurality of distributed power point control units, wherein the distributed power point control units are configured to receive power from a photovoltaic array, wherein each one of the distributed power point control units is configured to supply a portion of the power received from the photovoltaic array to a corresponding load, and wherein the control signal indicates a relationship between current received and current supplied by each respective one of the distributed power point controls; and a controller module that directs the control signal generator circuit to generate the control signal for each respective one of the distributed power point control units such that the photovoltaic array generates a target power when each of the distributed power point control units powers the corresponding load. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A method to control an operating point of a photovoltaic array, the method comprising:
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powering each of a plurality of loads from the photovoltaic array; and controlling at least one of a voltage and a current provided to each of the loads, the controlling being as a function of the operating point of the photovoltaic array, the at least one of the voltage and the current being controlled by a processor with a plurality of control signals that correspond to the loads. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19)
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20. A tangible non-transitory computer-readable medium comprising instructions executable with a processor, the instructions comprising:
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a controller module configured to transmit a control signal to each respective one of a plurality of distributed power point control units, wherein the distributed power point control units are configured to receive power from a photovoltaic array, each one of the distributed power point control units is configured to supply a portion of the power received from the photovoltaic array to a corresponding one of a plurality of loads, and the controller module determines the control signal for each respective one of the distributed power point control units that causes the photovoltaic array to generate a target power when the distributed power point control units power the loads. - View Dependent Claims (21)
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Specification