Configurable power supply assembly

• US 8,174,856 B2
• Filed: 07/11/2011
• Issued: 05/08/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 04/27/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Enphase Energy Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Solarbridge Technologies Incorporated (Totalenergies Se)
• Inventors: Chapman, Patrick
• Primary Examiner(s): BERHANE, ADOLF D
• Application Number:
  US13/180,170
• Publication Number:
  US 20110267858A1
• Time in Patent Office: 302 Days
• Field of Search: 363/16, 363/17, 363/34, 363/37, 363/67, 363/71, 363/101, 363/132, 307/64, 307/66, 307/82
• US Class Current: 363/132
• CPC Class Codes: H01F 38/14 Inductive couplings for wireless supply or distribution of electric power using inductive coupling H02J50/10
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 2300/24 of photovoltaic origin
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 3/381 Dispersed generators
• CPC Class Codes: H02M 3/003 Constructional details, e.g. physical layout, assembly, wiring or busbar connections
• CPC Class Codes: H02M 3/155 using semiconductor devices only
• CPC Class Codes: H02M 3/158 including plural semiconductor devices as final control devices for a single load
• CPC Class Codes: H02M 7/003 Constructional details, e.g. physical layout, assembly, wiring or busbar connections
• CPC Class Codes: H02M 7/44 by static converters
• CPC Class Codes: H02M 7/48 using discharge tubes with control electrode or semiconductor devices with control electrode
• CPC Class Codes: H02M 7/537 using semiconductor devices only, e.g. single switched pulse inverters
• CPC Class Codes: H02S 40/32 comprising DC/AC inverter means associated with the PV module itself, e.g. AC modules
• CPC Class Codes: H02S 40/34 comprising specially adapted electrical connection means to be structurally associated with the PV module, e.g. junction boxes
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 70/10 Technologies improving the efficiency by using switched-mode power supplies [SMPS], i.e. efficient power electronics conversion e.g. power factor correction or reduction of losses in power supplies or efficient standby modes
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 10/56 Power conversion systems, e.g. maximum power point trackers
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 323/906 Solar cell systems

Abstract

An apparatus, device, and system for generating an amount of output power in response to a direct current (DC) power input includes a configurable power supply, which may be electrically coupled to the DC power input. The configurable power supply is selectively configurable between multiple circuit topologies to generate various DC power outputs and/or and AC power output. The system may also include one or more DC power electronic accessories, such as DC-to-DC power converters, and/or one or more AC power electronic accessories such as DC-to-AC power converters. The power electronic accessories are couplable to the configurable power supply to receive the corresponding DC or AC power output of the configurable power supply.

Claims

1. A photovoltaic module comprising:

a direct current (DC) power source comprising a plurality of solar cells configured to generate DC power at a DC output of the DC power source in response to receiving an amount of sun light; and

a configurable power supply electrically coupled to the DC power source, the configurable power supply comprising;

(i) an input converter having an input electrically coupled to the DC output of the DC power source, the input converter being selectively configurable between a first circuit topology to generate a DC power output and a second circuit topology to generate an alternating current (AC) power output, the input converter comprising;

an H-bridge circuit having a first input leg comprising a first electronic switch, a second input leg electrically coupled to the first input leg at a first node and comprising a second electronic switch, a third output leg comprising a third electronic switch, and a fourth output leg electrically coupled to the third output leg at a second node and comprising a fourth electronic switch,

an inductor electrically coupled between the first node and the second node, and

fifth electronic switch electrically coupled between the first input leg and the third output leg, the fifth electronic switch having an on state and an off state, wherein the state of the fifth electronic switch configures the input converter into a corresponding one of the first circuit topology and the second circuit topology; and

(ii) an input controller electrically connected to the input converter to control the input converter to select one of the first circuit topology and the second circuit topology.

2. The photovoltaic module of claim 1, wherein the input converter comprises a buck-boost converter when configured in the first circuit topology.

3. The photovoltaic module of claim 1, wherein the input converter comprises a pass-through circuit when configured in the first circuit topology, the pass-through circuit passing the DC power generated by the DC power source to a DC output of the input converter with substantially no processing.

4. The photovoltaic module of claim 1, wherein the input converter comprises a DC-AC inverter circuit when configured in the second circuit topology.

5. The photovoltaic module of claim 1, wherein the input converter is further selectively configurable into a third circuit topology to generate a DC power output different from the DC power output of the first circuit topology.

6. The photovoltaic module of claim 5, wherein:

the input converter comprises a buck-boost converter when configured in the first circuit topology,

the input converter comprises a DC-AC inverter circuit when configured in the second circuit topology, and

the input converter comprises a pass-through circuit when configured in the third circuit topology.

7. The photovoltaic module of claim 1, wherein the state of the fifth electronic switch is dependent upon a sensed DC output current of the input converter.

8. The photovoltaic module of claim 1, wherein when the input converter is configured in the second circuit topology the inductor comprises a primary coil.

9. A power supply circuit comprising:

an input converter having an input to receive a direct current (DC) power input, the input converter comprising;

an H-bridge circuit having a first input leg comprising a first electronic switch, a second input leg electrically coupled to the first input leg at a first node and comprising a second electronic switch, a third output leg comprising a third electronic switch, and a fourth output leg electrically coupled to the third output leg at a second node and comprising a fourth electronic switch,

an inductor electrically coupled between the first node and the second node, and

a fifth electronic switch electrically coupled between the first input leg and the third output leg and having an on state and an off state,

wherein the input converter is selectively configurable between a first circuit topology to generate a DC power output and a second circuit topology to generate an AC power output based on the state of the fifth electronic switch; and

an input controller electrically connected to the input converter to supply a control signal to the fifth electronic switch to select the state of the fifth electronic switch.

10. The power supply of claim 9, wherein the input converter comprises a buck-boost converter when configured in the first circuit topology.

11. The power supply of claim 9, wherein the input converter comprises a pass-through circuit when configured in the first circuit topology, the pass-through circuit passing the DC power input to a DC output of the input converter with substantially no processing.

12. The power supply of claim 9, wherein the input converter comprises a DC-AC inverter circuit when configured in the second circuit topology.