Solar power management system

• US 6,624,350 B2
• Filed: 01/18/2001
• Issued: 09/23/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 01/18/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Arise Technologies Corporation (Salamon Group, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Arise Technologies Corporation (Salamon Group, Inc.)
• Inventors: Nixon, David, Cusack, Pat
• Primary Examiner(s): DIAMOND, ALAN D
• Application Number:
  US09/761,645
• Publication Number:
  US 20020108648A1
• Time in Patent Office: 978 Days
• Field of Search: 136/244, 136/293, 323/906, 323/221, 320/101
• US Class Current: 136/244
• CPC Class Codes: H02S 40/38 Energy storage means, e.g. batteries, structurally associated with PV modules
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/105 in response to determined parameters
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 10/50 Photovoltaic [PV] energy
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 70/30 Systems combining energy storage with energy generation of non-fossil origin
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 136/293 Circuits
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 323/906 Solar cell systems

Abstract

A solar power management system includes a plurality of photovoltaic cell panels, and a solar power cell manager coupled to the photovoltaic cell panels. The solar power cell manager includes an input stage for combining current draws from the photovoltaic cells, and a load manager in communication with the input stage for managing the combined current draw.

Claims

1. A solar power management system comprising:

a plurality of photovoltaic cell panels; and

a solar power cell manager coupled to the photovoltaic cell panels, the solar power cell manager including;

an input stage coupled to the photovoltaic cell panels; and

a load manager in communication with the input stage for controlling current flow between the photovoltaic cell panels and a load, the input stage including a plurality of interface stages, each said interface stage comprising;

an input port coupled to a respective one of the photovoltaic cell panels;

a unidirectional flow controller in series with the input port for isolating the one photovoltaic cell panel from the load manager in the event of a reverse connection of the one photovoltaic cell panel to the input port; and

a visual indicator coupled to the input port for providing a visual indication of the current flow from the one photovoltaic cell panel to the load manager.

3. The solar power management system of claim 1, wherein the unidirectional flow controller comprises a semiconductor diode.

4. The solar power management system of claim 3, wherein the visual indicator comprises a light emitting diode.

2. A solar power cell manager comprising:

an input stage for interfacing with a plurality of photovoltaic cell panels; and

a load manager in communication with the input stage for controlling current flow between the photovoltaic cell panels and a load, the input stage including a plurality of interface stages, each said interface stage comprising;

an input port for connecting to a respective one of the photovoltaic cell panels;

a unidirectional flow controller in series with the input port for isolating the one photovoltaic cell panel from the load manager in the event of a reverse connection of the one photovoltaic cell panel to the input port; and

a visual indicator coupled to the input port for providing a visual indication of the current flow from the one photovoltaic cell panel to the load manager.

5. The solar power cell manager of claim 2, wherein the unidirectional flow controller comprises a semiconductor diode.

6. The solar power cell manager of claim 5, wherein the visual indicator comprises a light emitting diode.