Method and system for activating and deactivating an energy generating system
First Claim
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1. A system for activating and deactivating at least one of a plurality of local converters for a specified one of a plurality of energy generating devices in an energy generating array, the system comprising:
- a corresponding local controller configured to perform maximum power point tracking for its own corresponding specified energy generating device of the plurality of energy generating devices and to turn on and off a power stage of the corresponding local converter for the corresponding energy generating device; and
an activator coupled to the corresponding local controller, the activator configured to automatically activate and deactivate the corresponding local controller responsive to a device voltage measured from the specified corresponding energy generating device;
wherein the activator comprises a power supply configured to generate a supply voltage and to provide the supply voltage to the corresponding local controller, wherein;
the power supply comprises a shutdown node; and
the power supply is configured to generate a non-zero supply voltage when a voltage level at the shutdown node is greater than a specified voltage and to generate a zero supply voltage when the voltage level at the shutdown node is less than the specified voltage, the power supply further comprises an input node and an output node;
the activator further comprises a first resistor, a second resistor, a third resistor and a diode;
the first and second resistors are coupled in series between the input node and a ground;
the third resistor and the diode are coupled in series between the output node and a node at which the first and second resistors are coupled together; and
the shutdown node is coupled to the node at which the first and second resistors are coupled together.
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Abstract
A method for activating a local converter for one of a plurality of energy generating devices in an energy generating array is provided. The local converter includes a power stage and a local controller. The method includes comparing a device voltage for the energy generating device to a voltage activation level. The local converter is automatically activated when the device voltage exceeds the voltage activation level.
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Citations
11 Claims
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1. A system for activating and deactivating at least one of a plurality of local converters for a specified one of a plurality of energy generating devices in an energy generating array, the system comprising:
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a corresponding local controller configured to perform maximum power point tracking for its own corresponding specified energy generating device of the plurality of energy generating devices and to turn on and off a power stage of the corresponding local converter for the corresponding energy generating device; and an activator coupled to the corresponding local controller, the activator configured to automatically activate and deactivate the corresponding local controller responsive to a device voltage measured from the specified corresponding energy generating device; wherein the activator comprises a power supply configured to generate a supply voltage and to provide the supply voltage to the corresponding local controller, wherein; the power supply comprises a shutdown node; and
the power supply is configured to generate a non-zero supply voltage when a voltage level at the shutdown node is greater than a specified voltage and to generate a zero supply voltage when the voltage level at the shutdown node is less than the specified voltage, the power supply further comprises an input node and an output node;the activator further comprises a first resistor, a second resistor, a third resistor and a diode; the first and second resistors are coupled in series between the input node and a ground; the third resistor and the diode are coupled in series between the output node and a node at which the first and second resistors are coupled together; and the shutdown node is coupled to the node at which the first and second resistors are coupled together. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 9)
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5. A plurality of local converters for a plurality of energy generating devices in an energy generating array, each of the plurality of local converters comprising:
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a power stage configured to reshape a voltage-to-current relationship of a device voltage and a device current from one of the plurality of energy generating devices; a corresponding local controller configured to perform maximum power point tracking for its own corresponding energy generating device of the plurality of energy generating devices and to turn on and off the power stage for the corresponding local converter for the corresponding energy generating device; and an activator configured to automatically activate and deactivate the corresponding local controllers responsive to the device voltage from the corresponding energy generating device; wherein the activator comprises a power supply configured to generate a supply voltage and to provide the supply voltage to the corresponding local controller, the power supply comprises a shutdown node; and the power supply is configured to generate a non-zero supply voltage when a voltage level at the shutdown node is greater than a specified voltage and to generate a zero supply voltage when the voltage level at the shutdown node is less than the specified voltage, wherein;
the power supply further comprises an input node and an output node;the activator further comprises a first resistor, a second resistor, a third resistor and a diode; the first and second resistors are coupled in series between the input node and a ground; the third resistor and the diode are coupled in series between the output node and a node at which the first and second resistors are coupled together; and the shutdown node is coupled to the node at which the first and second resistors are coupled together. - View Dependent Claims (6, 7, 8, 10, 11)
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Specification