Photo-voltaic safety de-energizing device
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A safety mechanism for a solar cell group, the safety mechanism comprising:
- a signal receiver arranged to assert a permissive signal indicative of reception by said signal receiver of a predetermined signal;
an electronically controlled switch arranged to provide in a first state an effective short circuit across the output of the solar cell group responsive to the absence of the asserted permissive signal of said signal receiver; and
a power harvester in communication with the solar cell group and arranged to provide an electric power to said signal receiver when said electronically controlled switch is in the first state, said power harvester comprising a direct current (DC) to DC amplifier arranged to amplify the voltage drop across said electronically controlled switch when said electronically controlled switch is in the first state so as to thereby provide the electric power to said signal receiver when said electronically controlled switch is in the first state.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A safety mechanism for a solar cell group, the safety mechanism constituted of: a signal receiver arranged to assert a permissive signal indicative of reception by the signal receiver of a predetermined signal; an electronically controlled switch arranged to provide in a closed state an effective short circuit across the output of the solar cell group responsive to the absence of the asserted permissive signal of the signal receiver; and a power harvester in communication with the solar cell group and arranged to provide electric power to the signal receiver when the electronically controlled switch is the closed state.
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Citations
16 Claims
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1. A safety mechanism for a solar cell group, the safety mechanism comprising:
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a signal receiver arranged to assert a permissive signal indicative of reception by said signal receiver of a predetermined signal; an electronically controlled switch arranged to provide in a first state an effective short circuit across the output of the solar cell group responsive to the absence of the asserted permissive signal of said signal receiver; and a power harvester in communication with the solar cell group and arranged to provide an electric power to said signal receiver when said electronically controlled switch is in the first state, said power harvester comprising a direct current (DC) to DC amplifier arranged to amplify the voltage drop across said electronically controlled switch when said electronically controlled switch is in the first state so as to thereby provide the electric power to said signal receiver when said electronically controlled switch is in the first state. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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7. A safety mechanism for a solar cell group, the safety mechanism comprising:
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a signal receiver arranged to assert a permissive signal indicative of reception by said signal receiver of a predetermined signal; an electronically controlled switch arranged to provide in a first state an effective short circuit across the output of the solar cell group responsive to the absence of the asserted permissive signal of said signal receiver; a polarity control circuit; and a power harvester in communication with the solar cell group and arranged to provide an electric power to said signal receiver when said electronically controlled switch is in the first state, wherein said power harvester comprises a direct current (DC) to DC amplifier, and wherein the solar cell group exhibits a cathode terminal and anode terminal, and wherein said polarity control circuit is arranged to connect the DC to DC amplifier to the respective cathode terminal and anode terminal of the solar cell group alternately in a first polarity and in a second polarity. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10)
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11. A method of providing safety for a solar cell group, the method comprising:
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asserting a permissive signal output from a signal receiver responsive to reception of a predetermined signal by the signal receiver; providing an effective short circuit across the output of the solar cell group responsive to the absence of the asserted permissive signal; harvesting power from across the solar cell group; and supplying at least a portion of said harvested power to the signal receiver when said effective short circuit is provided, wherein said harvesting power comprises; coupling the cathode terminal of the solar cell group to an amplifier in a first polarity to harvest said power; and amplifying the voltage potential difference between the cathode terminal and the anode terminal, said coupling in the first polarity responsive to; the solar cell group cathode potential being greater than the solar cell group anode potential; and the absence of the asserted permissive signal of the signal receiver, and coupling the cathode terminal of the solar cell group to the amplifier in a second polarity so as to harvest said power, the second polarity opposing the first polarity, responsive to; the solar cell group anode terminal potential being greater than the solar cell group cathode terminal potential;
orthe presence of the asserted permissive signal of the signal receiver. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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Specification