System and apparatuses with multiple power extractors coupled to different power sources
First Claim
Patent Images
1. An apparatus comprising:
- a first node;
a photovoltaic power source coupled to the first node;
a second node to couple to a load; and
a power extractor to transfer power from the photovoltaic power source between the first and second nodes, wherein the power extractor, the first node, the power source, and the second node are each part of a single integrated circuit, andwherein the power extractor is to be operated such that impedances of the power extractor are dynamically changed both in response to detected power changes at the source and a capacity of the load to receive power generated by the power source,an output impedance as seen from the second node to be dynamically changed when the load cannot receive all power generated by the power source, to approach matching a first impedance outside the power extractor as seen from the second node, the first impedance including an impedance of the power extractor and the power source coupled to the first node;
an input impedance as seen from the first node to be dynamically changed when the load can receive more power than generated by the power source, to approach matching a second impedance outside the power extractor as seen from the first node, the second impedance including an impedance of the power extractor and the load coupled to the second node; and
both output and input impedances of the power extractor to be dynamically changed when the load can receive all power generated by the power source.
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Abstract
In some embodiments, an apparatus or system may include multiple power extractors each coupled to a different power source. The power extractors may be in parallel or in series. The extractors and power supplies may be joined together in a frame. A power source and power extractor may be included in an integrated circuit. Other embodiments are described and claimed.
117 Citations
36 Claims
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1. An apparatus comprising:
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a first node; a photovoltaic power source coupled to the first node; a second node to couple to a load; and a power extractor to transfer power from the photovoltaic power source between the first and second nodes, wherein the power extractor, the first node, the power source, and the second node are each part of a single integrated circuit, and wherein the power extractor is to be operated such that impedances of the power extractor are dynamically changed both in response to detected power changes at the source and a capacity of the load to receive power generated by the power source, an output impedance as seen from the second node to be dynamically changed when the load cannot receive all power generated by the power source, to approach matching a first impedance outside the power extractor as seen from the second node, the first impedance including an impedance of the power extractor and the power source coupled to the first node; an input impedance as seen from the first node to be dynamically changed when the load can receive more power than generated by the power source, to approach matching a second impedance outside the power extractor as seen from the first node, the second impedance including an impedance of the power extractor and the load coupled to the second node; and both output and input impedances of the power extractor to be dynamically changed when the load can receive all power generated by the power source. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4)
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5. An apparatus comprising:
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a first node, a second node, a third node, and a fourth node, the second node to couple to a first load and the fourth node to couple to a second load; and a first power source coupled to the first node and a second power source coupled to the third node; a first power extractor to transfer first power between the first and second nodes including providing a first current to the second node, and wherein the first power extractor includes first power change analysis circuitry to detect first power changes from the first power source, and wherein the first power extractor transfers the first power at magnitudes that are at least partially dependent on the detected first power changes; wherein the first power extractor is to be operated such that impedances of the power extractor are dynamically changed both in response to the detected first power changes and a capacity of the first load to receive power generated by the first power source, an output impedance as seen from the second node to be dynamically changed when the first load cannot receive all power generated by the first power source, to approach matching a first impedance outside the first power extractor as seen from the second node, the first impedance including an impedance of the first power extractor and the first power source coupled to the first node; an input impedance as seen from the first node to be dynamically changed when the first load can receive more power than generated by the first power source, to approach matching a second impedance outside the first power extractor as seen from the first node, the second impedance including an impedance of the first power extractor and the first load coupled to the second node; and both output and input impedances of the first power extractor to be dynamically changed when the first load can receive all power generated by the first power source; and a second power extractor to transfer second power between the third and fourth nodes including providing a second current to the fourth node, and wherein the second power extractor includes second power change analysis circuitry to detect second power changes from the second power source, and wherein the second power extractor transfers the second power at magnitudes that are at least partially dependent on the detected second power changes; wherein the second power extractor is to be operated to dynamically change impedance of the second power extractor in response to the detected second power changes and a capacity of the second load to receive power generated by the second power source, an output impedance as seen from the fourth node to be dynamically changed when the second load cannot receive all power generated by the second power source, to approach matching a third impedance outside the second power extractor as seen from the fourth node, the third impedance including an impedance of the second power extractor and the second power source coupled to the third node; an input impedance as seen from the third node to be dynamically changed when the second load can receive more power than generated by the second power source, to approach matching a fourth impedance outside the second power extractor as seen from the third node, the fourth impedance including an impedance of the second power extractor and the second load coupled to the fourth node; and both output and input impedances of the second power extractor to be dynamically changed when the second load can receive all power generated by the second power source; and a frame to hold the first and second power sources and the first and second power extractors. - View Dependent Claims (6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A system comprising:
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a first direct current (DC) power source and a second DC power source; a first node, a second node, and a third node, wherein the second node is to couple to a load; a first power extractor coupled to the first power source through the first node to transfer DC power from the first power source through the first node to the second node; wherein the first power extractor is to be operated such that impedances of the power extractor are dynamically changed both in response to detected first power changes and a capacity of the load to receive power generated by the first power source, an output impedance as seen from the second node to be dynamically changed when the load cannot receive all power generated by the first power source, to approach matching a first impedance outside the first power extractor as seen from the second node, the first impedance including an impedance of the first power extractor and the first power source coupled to the first node; an input impedance as seen from the first node to be dynamically changed when the load can receive more power than generated by the first power source, to approach matching a second impedance outside the first power extractor as seen from the first node, the second impedance including an impedance of the first power extractor and the load coupled to the second node; and both output and input impedances of the first power extractor to be dynamically changed when the load can receive all power generated by the first power source; and a second power extractor coupled to the second power source through the third node to transfer DC power from the second power source through the third node to the second node, wherein a first current from the first power extractor is combined with a second current from the second power extractor at the second node; and wherein the second power extractor is to be operated to dynamically change impedance of the second power extractor in response to detected second power changes and a capacity of the load to receive power generated by the second power source, an output impedance as seen from the second node to be dynamically changed when the load cannot receive all power generated by the second power source, to approach matching a third impedance outside the second power extractor as seen from the second node, the third impedance including an impedance of the second power extractor and the second power source coupled to the third node; an input impedance as seen from the third node to be dynamically changed when the load can receive more power than generated by the second power source, to approach matching a fourth impedance outside the second power extractor as seen from the third node, the fourth impedance including an impedance of the second power extractor and the load coupled to the second node; and both output and input impedances of the second power extractor to be dynamically changed when the load can receive all power generated by the second power source. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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20. A system comprising:
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a node; a group of direct current (DC) power sources arranged in a frame; and a group of power extractors to each provide DC electrical power from only one of the power sources to the node, each power extractor to separately monitor a maximum power point of only the one of the power sources and impedance match to the node. wherein each power extractor is to be operated such that impedances of the power extractor are dynamically changed both in response to detected power changes and a capacity of a load coupled to the node to receive power generated by a respective power source, an output impedance as seen from the node to be dynamically changed when the load cannot receive all power generated by the power source, to approach matching a first impedance outside the power extractor as seen from the node, the first impedance including an impedance of the power extractor and the respective power source coupled to the power extractor; an input impedance as seen from the respective power source to be dynamically changed when the load can receive more power than generated by the respective power source, to approach matching a second impedance outside the power extractor as seen from the respective power source, the second impedance including an impedance of the power extractor and the load coupled to the node; and both output and input impedances of the power extractor to be dynamically changed when the load can receive all power generated by the respective power source. - View Dependent Claims (21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30)
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31. A system including:
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first, second, and third nodes; a direct current (DC) power source to provide DC power to the first node; a first power extractor to transfer DC power from the first node to the second node; and a second power extractor to transfer DC power from the second node to the third node and increase the voltage of the DC power at the second node; wherein the second power extractor is to be operated such that impedances of the second power extractor are dynamically changed both in response to detected power changes and a capacity of a load coupled to third node to receive power generated by the DC power source, an output impedance as seen from the third node to be dynamically changed when the load cannot receive all power generated by the DC power source, to approach matching a first impedance outside the second power extractor as seen from the third node, the first impedance including an impedance of the first and second power extractors and the DC power source; an input impedance as seen from the second node to be dynamically changed when the load can receive more power than generated by the DC power source, to approach matching a second impedance outside the second power extractor as seen from the second node, the second impedance including an impedance of the second power extractor and the load coupled to the third node; and both output and input impedances of the second power extractor to be dynamically changed when the load can receive all power generated by the DC power source. - View Dependent Claims (32, 33, 34, 35, 36)
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Specification