Optically-controlled shunt circuit for maximizing photovoltaic panel efficiency
First Claim
1. An optically-controlled shunt (OCS) circuit for a photovoltaic cell, comprising:
- a switch; and
a light sampler coupled to the switch, the light sampler configured to sample light at the photovoltaic (PV) cell and to turn on the switch when the sampled light comprises insufficient light for the PV cell, to partially turn on the switch when the sampled light comprises adequate light for the PV cell, and to turn off the switch when the sampled light comprises full light for the PV cell.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An optically-controlled shunt (OCS) circuit includes a switch and a light sampler. The light sampler is coupled to the switch and is configured to sample light at a photovoltaic (PV) cell corresponding to the OCS circuit and to turn on the switch when the sampled light comprises insufficient light for the PV cell. The light sampler may also be configured to turn off the switch when the sampled light comprises sufficient light for the PV cell. The light sampler may further be configured to partially turn on the switch when the sampled light comprises adequate light for the PV cell and to turn off the switch when the sampled light comprises full light for the PV cell. The switch could include a transistor, and the light sampler could include a photodiode.
50 Citations
12 Claims
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1. An optically-controlled shunt (OCS) circuit for a photovoltaic cell, comprising:
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a switch; and a light sampler coupled to the switch, the light sampler configured to sample light at the photovoltaic (PV) cell and to turn on the switch when the sampled light comprises insufficient light for the PV cell, to partially turn on the switch when the sampled light comprises adequate light for the PV cell, and to turn off the switch when the sampled light comprises full light for the PV cell. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5)
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6. A bypassable photovoltaic cell, comprising:
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a photovoltaic (PV) cell; and an optically-controlled shunt (OCS) circuit coupled to the PV cell, the OCS circuit including a switch; a light sampler coupled to the switch; the OCS circuit configured to turn on the switch to bypass the PV cell when insufficient light is available for the PV cell, to partially turn on the switch when the sampled light comprises adequate light for the PV cell, and to turn off the switch when the sampled light comprises full light for the PV cell. - View Dependent Claims (7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A method for bypassing a photovoltaic (PV) cell, comprising:
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sampling light corresponding to the PV cell; and bypassing the PV cell using an optically controlled shunt (OCS) circuit, including activating the OCS circuit when the sampled light comprises insufficient light for the PV cell to bypass the PV cell; partially activating the OCS circuit when the sampled light comprises adequate light for the PV cell; and deactivating the OCS circuit when the sampled light comprises full light for the PV cell. - View Dependent Claims (12)
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Specification