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Electrical power apparatus for controlling the supply of electrical power from an array of photovoltaic cells to an electrical head

  • US 5,001,415 A
  • Filed: 06/15/1989
  • Issued: 03/19/1991
  • Est. Priority Date: 12/19/1986
  • Status: Expired due to Fees
First Claim
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1. Power transfer control apparatus for optimizing the power output from a photovoltaic array having a variable open circuit voltage, said control apparatus comprising:

  • monitoring means for providing a sample voltage which is a linear proportion of the open circuit voltage of said photovoltaic array;

    voltage scaling means for reducing the sample voltage by a constant fraction to yield a reference voltage between 0.75 and 0.8 of the sample voltage;

    array voltage detection means for providing a scaled array voltage which is the same proportion of the output voltage of said photovoltaic array under load as the sample voltage is of the open circuit voltage;

    a comparator connected to said voltage scaling means and to said array voltage detection means, said comparator being capable of comparing said reference voltage with the scaled array voltage; and

    ,regulation means responsive to said comparator wherein said comparator and said regulation means comprise a feedback control loop for regulating the output voltage of the photovoltaic array under load to said constant fraction of the open circuit voltage of the photovoltaic array.

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