Direct Current Power Combiner

• US 20160233673A1
• Filed: 04/19/2016
• Published: 08/11/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 05/05/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Solaredge Technologies Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Solaredge Technologies Incorporated
• Inventors: Gazit, Meir, Glovinsky, Tzachi
• Granted Patent: US 10,468,878 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 1/00 Circuit arrangements for dc mains or dc distribution networks
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 1/08 Three-wire systems; Systems having more than three wires
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 1/10 Parallel operation of dc sources
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 1/102 being switching converters H02J1/108, H02J1/12 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 1/12 Parallel operation of dc generators with converters, e.g. with mercury-arc rectifier
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 2300/24 of photovoltaic origin
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 3/381 Dispersed generators

Abstract

A circuit for combining direct current (DC) power including multiple direct current (DC) voltage inputs; multiple inductive elements. The inductive elements are adapted for operatively connecting respectively to the DC voltage inputs. Multiple switches connect respectively with the inductive elements. A controller is configured to switch the switches periodically at a frequency sufficiently high so that direct currents flowing through the inductive elements are substantially zero. A direct current voltage output is connected across one of the DC voltage inputs and a common reference to both the inputs and the output.

Claims

1-17. -17. (canceled)

18. A method, comprising:

connecting at least two input direct current (DC) voltages to at least two primary inductors via at least two primary switches and to at least two secondary inductors via at least two secondary switches of a circuit, wherein the at least two primary inductors are coupled to the at least two secondary inductors, wherein a first DC voltage is connected to a first primary inductor via a first primary switch and to a first secondary inductor via a first secondary switch, and a second DC voltage is connected to a second primary inductor via a second primary switch and to a second secondary inductor via a second secondary switch, wherein at least one input terminal is shared between the at least two input DC voltages;

switching the at least two primary switches and the at least two secondary switches at different times; and

outputting a combined voltage at an output of the circuit, the combined voltage being a sum of the at least two input DC voltages.