SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR LOW-COST, HIGH-EFFICIENCY SOLAR PANEL POWER FEED
First Claim
1. An apparatus, comprising:
- a plurality of voltage regulators coupled between a power source having a plurality of outputs and a supply bus, wherein each of the voltage regulators iscoupled to a respective output of the plurality of outputs of the power source to receive power input from the power source, andconfigured to output power to the supply bus when a voltage of the respective output is within a predetermined range.
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Abstract
A cascading regulation system connected to a number of serially connected power sources and uses multiple regulators having different cutoff voltages to provide an output for the local power consumption unit. Each of the regulators is connected to a subset of serially connected power sources and so configured that if the voltage generated at the lowest tap is no longer sufficient for a stable supply to the local power consumption unit, the next higher regulator takes over, and the output voltage drops in small steps reflective of that takeover of the next higher tap. When the voltage generated across a subsection grows, a lower connected tap may take over again, producing a slightly higher output voltage for the local power consumption unit. The cutover steps are chosen such that the output voltage range matches the range given as the acceptable input range for the local power consumption unit.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. An apparatus, comprising:
a plurality of voltage regulators coupled between a power source having a plurality of outputs and a supply bus, wherein each of the voltage regulators is coupled to a respective output of the plurality of outputs of the power source to receive power input from the power source, and configured to output power to the supply bus when a voltage of the respective output is within a predetermined range. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 15, 16)
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8. An apparatus, comprising:
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a plurality of power generation sections connected in series; and a plurality of voltage regulators coupled with the plurality of power generation sections and configured to regulate a supply bus, wherein each of the voltage regulators is coupled to receive input from a different subset of the plurality of power generation sections connected in series. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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17. A method, comprising:
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generating a plurality of different input voltages from a plurality of solar sections connected in series; providing the plurality of different input voltages to a plurality of voltage regulators respectively; generating, by the voltage regulators, a plurality of output voltages, wherein a first voltage regulator receiving a higher input voltage than a second voltage regulator is configured to generate a lower output voltage than the second voltage regulator when an input voltage for the second voltage regulator is sufficient to operate the second voltage regulator; and blocking lower voltage outputs of the voltage regulators from a supply bus when a higher voltage output of the voltage regulators is powering the supply bus. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20)
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Specification