Systems, circuits, and methods for generating a solar cell string of an adaptive solar power system
First Claim
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1. A system for configuring and re-configuring solar cells, the system comprising:
- an interconnect circuit, on a back sheet, comprising programmable circuit routes for interconnecting a plurality of solar cells on the back sheet, wherein the solar cells are arranged in a plurality of rows and a plurality of columns and wherein the interconnect circuit is programmable to connect any one of the solar cells from any row and column to any other of the solar cells from any row and column to generate at least one solar cell string, wherein a solar cell string comprises a plurality of operable solar cells coupled in series; and
a control circuit, coupled to the interconnect circuit, for;
receiving output measurements for each of the solar cells;
grouping, based on the output measurements, the solar cells into a plurality of groups; and
configuring the programmable circuit routes to create a plurality of solar cell strings, one for each of the groups of solar cells.
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Abstract
A back sheet comprises an interconnect circuit coupling a plurality of solar cell tiles. A tiled solar cell, comprising a solar cell and encapsulating and glass layers, is inserted into the solar cell tiles. Each solar cell is individually addressable through the use of the interconnect circuit, The interconnect circuit is programmable and allows for dynamic interconnect routing between solar cells. As such, the dynamic interconnect routing may be configured so as to create strings of solar cells such that solar cells with an output specification are matched to solar cells with similar output specifications.
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20 Claims
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1. A system for configuring and re-configuring solar cells, the system comprising:
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an interconnect circuit, on a back sheet, comprising programmable circuit routes for interconnecting a plurality of solar cells on the back sheet, wherein the solar cells are arranged in a plurality of rows and a plurality of columns and wherein the interconnect circuit is programmable to connect any one of the solar cells from any row and column to any other of the solar cells from any row and column to generate at least one solar cell string, wherein a solar cell string comprises a plurality of operable solar cells coupled in series; and a control circuit, coupled to the interconnect circuit, for; receiving output measurements for each of the solar cells; grouping, based on the output measurements, the solar cells into a plurality of groups; and configuring the programmable circuit routes to create a plurality of solar cell strings, one for each of the groups of solar cells. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. A method for configuring and re-configuring solar cells on a back sheet, the method comprising:
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interconnecting, by programmable circuit routes, a plurality of solar cells on the back sheet, wherein the solar cells are arranged in a plurality of rows and a plurality of columns and wherein the interconnect circuit is programmable to connect any one of the solar cells from any row and column to any other of the solar cells from any row and column to generate at least one solar cell string, wherein a solar cell string comprises a plurality of operable solar cells coupled in series; receiving output measurements for the solar cells; grouping, based on the output measurements, the solar cells into a plurality of groups; and configuring the programmable circuit routes to create a plurality of solar cell strings, one for each of the groups of solar cells. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A system for configuring and re-configuring solar cells, the system comprising:
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an interconnect circuit comprising programmable circuit routes for interconnecting a plurality of solar cells, wherein the solar cells are arranged in a plurality of rows and a plurality of columns and wherein the interconnect circuit is programmable to connect any one of the solar cells from any row and column to any other of the solar cells from any row and column to generate at least one solar cell string, wherein a solar cell string comprises a plurality of operable solar cells coupled in series; and a control circuit, coupled to the interconnect circuit, for controlling the programmable circuit routes so as to create a first solar cell string and a second solar cell string, the first solar cell string comprises solar cells with outputs that meet a specification, the second solar cell string comprises solar cells that do not meet the specification. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification