Systems and methods for prevention of open loop damage during or immediately after manufacturing

• US 8,415,552 B2
• Filed: 09/14/2011
• Issued: 04/09/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 06/18/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Tigo Energy, Inc
• Original Assignee: Tigo Energy, Inc
• Inventors: Hadar, Ron, Arditi, Shmuel, Kikinis, Dan
• Primary Examiner(s): Berdichevsky, Miriam
• Application Number:
  US13/232,887
• Publication Number:
  US 20120000515A1
• Time in Patent Office: 573 Days
• Field of Search: 136/293, 327/214
• US Class Current: 136/243
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 31/02021 for solar cells electrical connection means, e.g. junction boxes, specially adapted for structural association with photovoltaic modules H02S40/34
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 31/03767 presenting light-induced characteristic variations, e.g. Staebler-Wronski effect
• CPC Class Codes: H02S 50/00 Monitoring or testing of PV systems, e.g. load balancing or fault identification
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 10/50 Photovoltaic [PV] energy
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 136/293 Circuits

Abstract

A solar cell having an open loop voltage that approaches a critical voltage range when exposed to light. A circuit, connected to the solar cell, is configured to load the solar cell when the open loop voltage of the solar cell reaches a threshold within a predetermined range of the critical voltage range.

Claims

1. A solar energy generation system, comprising:

a solar cell to produce a voltage;

a circuit comprising an FET transistor, the circuit connected to the solar cell to load the solar cell when the voltage of the solar cell reaches a threshold; and

a controller, connected to the FET transistor, configured to turn off the FET transistor when the controller determines that a value of a load connected to the solar cell is more than a preset threshold.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the controller can be programmed to store the preset threshold.

3. The system of claim 1, further comprising a resistor, connected to the controller, to indicate the value of the load.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the controller is configured to measure the voltage of the solar cell.

5. The system of claim 4, wherein the controller is configured to measure the value of the load.

6. The system of claim 5, wherein the controller is configured to turn on the FET transistor according to the voltage of the solar cell when the value of the load connected to the solar cell is less than the preset threshold.

7. The system of claim 5, wherein the FET transistor is a first FET transistor;

and the circuit further includes a second FET transistor connected in parallel with the first FET transistor.

8. The system of claim 5, wherein the controller includes a programmable microcontroller.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein the preset threshold is programmable via laser.

10. The system of claim 8, further comprising:

a protective cover mounted to cover the controller to reduce or eliminate light sensitivity.

11. A method, comprising:

providing a solar cell to produce a voltage;

providing a circuit comprising an FET transistor;

connecting the circuit to the solar cell to load the solar cell when the voltage of the solar cell reaches a first threshold; and

turning off, by a controller coupled with the FET transistor, the FET transistor when the controller determines that a value of a load connected to the solar cell is more than a second preset threshold.

12. The method of claim 11, further comprising programming the controller to store one of the first threshold and the second threshold.

13. The method of claim 11, further comprising providing a resistor, connected to the controller, to indicate the value of the load.

14. The method of claim 11, further comprising measuring, by the controller, the voltage of the solar cell.

15. The method of claim 14, further comprising measuring, by the controller, the value of the load.

16. The method of claim 15, further comprising turning on, by the controller, the FET transistor according to the voltage of the solar cell when the value of the load connected to the solar cell is less than the second threshold.

17. The method of claim 15, wherein the FET transistor is a first FET transistor;

and the circuit further includes a second FET transistor connected in parallel with the first FET transistor.

18. The method of claim 15, wherein the controller includes a programmable microcontroller.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein the preset threshold is programmable via laser.

20. The method of claim 18, further comprising providing a cover over the controller to reduce or eliminate light sensitivity.