Maximum power transfer system for a solar cell array
First Claim
1. In a system for transferring power from a solar array to a load, an improved means for operating said solar array at its maximum power point comprising:
- means for sampling the open circuit voltage of the solar array;
means for sensing the operating voltage of said solar array;
means responsive to the open circuit voltage and the operating voltage of said solar array for providing an error signal;
means responsive to said error signal for altering a condition of said load to operate the solar array at its maximum power point.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A system for transferring maximum power from a solar cell array by loading the array in a manner which forces it to operate at its maximum power point. The system samples the open circuit voltage of the solar cell array to provide a signal proportional to the voltage of the array at its maximum power point. The sampled open circuit voltage is compared to the operating voltage of the solar cell array to provide an error signal which is proportional to the difference between the maximum power point voltage and the operating voltage of the array. The amount of power transferred from the array to a load is altered in accordance with the error signal to operate the array at its maximum power point.
175 Citations
12 Claims
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1. In a system for transferring power from a solar array to a load, an improved means for operating said solar array at its maximum power point comprising:
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means for sampling the open circuit voltage of the solar array; means for sensing the operating voltage of said solar array; means responsive to the open circuit voltage and the operating voltage of said solar array for providing an error signal; means responsive to said error signal for altering a condition of said load to operate the solar array at its maximum power point. - View Dependent Claims (2)
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3. In a system for transferring power from a solar array to a load, an improved means for operating the solar array at its maximum power point comprising:
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means for sampling the open circuit voltage of the solar array to provide a signal proportional to the voltage of the solar array at its maximum power point; means for sensing the operating voltage of said solar array; means responsive to the open circuit voltage and the operating voltage of said solar array for providing an error signal proportional to the difference between said maximum power point voltage and said operating voltage; and means responsive to said error signal for altering the amount of power transferred to said load to operate the solar array at its maximum power point. - View Dependent Claims (4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. In a system for transferring power from a solar array to a first and a second load, an improved means for operating said solar array at its maximum power point comprising:
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means for sampling the open circuit voltage of the solar array; means for sensing the operating voltage of the solar array; means responsive to the open circuit voltage and the operating voltage of said solar array for providing an error signal; and means responsive to said error signal for altering the amount of power transferred to said first load to operate said solar array at its maximum power point. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12)
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Specification