Modular photovoltaic power supply assembly

• US 9,263,183 B2
• Filed: 11/25/2013
• Issued: 02/16/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 04/27/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Enphase Energy Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Sunpower Corporation (Totalenergies Se)
• Inventors: Chapman, Patrick L., Van Dell, William R.
• Primary Examiner(s): Dole, Timothy J
• Assistant Examiner(s): LABOY ANDINO, IVAN A
• Application Number:
  US14/089,425
• Publication Number:
  US 20140084702A1
• Time in Patent Office: 813 Days
• Field of Search: 323/906, 363/34, 363/37, 363/65, 363/67, 363/71, 363/74, 363/101, 363131-132, 307/64, 307/66, 307/82, 307/104
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: H01F 38/14 Inductive couplings for wireless supply or distribution of electric power using inductive coupling H02J50/10
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 2300/24 of photovoltaic origin
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 3/381 Dispersed generators
• CPC Class Codes: H02M 3/003 Constructional details, e.g. physical layout, assembly, wiring or busbar connections
• CPC Class Codes: H02M 3/155 using semiconductor devices only
• CPC Class Codes: H02M 3/158 including plural semiconductor devices as final control devices for a single load
• CPC Class Codes: H02M 7/003 Constructional details, e.g. physical layout, assembly, wiring or busbar connections
• CPC Class Codes: H02M 7/44 by static converters
• CPC Class Codes: H02M 7/48 using discharge tubes with control electrode or semiconductor devices with control electrode
• CPC Class Codes: H02M 7/537 using semiconductor devices only, e.g. single switched pulse inverters
• CPC Class Codes: H02S 40/32 comprising DC/AC inverter means associated with the PV module itself, e.g. AC modules
• CPC Class Codes: H02S 40/34 comprising specially adapted electrical connection means to be structurally associated with the PV module, e.g. junction boxes
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 70/10 Technologies improving the efficiency by using switched-mode power supplies [SMPS], i.e. efficient power electronics conversion e.g. power factor correction or reduction of losses in power supplies or efficient standby modes
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 10/56 Power conversion systems, e.g. maximum power point trackers
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 323/906 Solar cell systems

Abstract

An apparatus, device, and system for generating an amount of output power in response to a direct current (DC) power input includes a configurable power supply, which may be electrically coupled to the DC power input. The configurable power supply is selectively configurable between multiple circuit topologies to generate various DC power outputs and/or and AC power output. The system may also include one or more DC power electronic accessories, such as DC-to-DC power converters, and/or one or more AC power electronic accessories such as DC-to-AC power converters. The power electronic accessories are couplable to the configurable power supply to receive the corresponding DC or AC power output of the configurable power supply.

Claims

1. A power supply for generating an amount of output power in response to a direct current (DC) power input signal, the power supply comprising:

a configurable power supply circuit configured to receive the DC power input signal at a DC input, wherein the configurable power supply circuit comprises an H-bridge circuit formed from a plurality of electronic switches and a circuit topology switch electrically coupled to two of the plurality of electronic switches of the H-bridge circuit, wherein the configurable power supply circuit is selectively configurable, based on a state of the circuit topology switch, to (i) a first circuit topology, while the circuit topology switch is in a first state, to generate a boosted DC power signal at a DC output of the configurable power supply only while configured in the first circuit topology, wherein the configurable power supply circuit is configured as a DC-to-DC buck-boost converter in the first circuit topology and wherein the DC output is different from the DC input, and (ii) a second circuit topology, while the circuit topology switch is in a second state different from the first state, to generate an alternating current (AC) power signal at an AC output of the configurable power supply different from the DC input and the DC output, wherein the configurable power supply circuit is configured as a DC-to-AC inverter circuit in the second circuit topology and wherein the AC output comprises a primary coil and wherein the primary coil is configured as an inductor in the first circuit topology to generate the boosted DC power signal.

2. The power supply of claim 1, further comprising:

a power supply housing, wherein the configurable power supply circuit is located in the power supply housing, and

a DC electronic accessory device having a housing configured to couple to the power supply housing, wherein the DC electronic accessory device includes an internal DC circuit located in the housing and configured to electrically connect to the DC output of the configurable power supply circuit to receive the boosted DC power signal when the housing of the DC electronic accessory device is coupled to the power supply housing.

3. The power supply of claim 1, further comprising:

a power supply housing, wherein the configurable power supply circuit is located in the power supply housing, and

an AC electronic accessory device having a housing configured to couple to the power supply housing, wherein the AC electronic accessory device includes an internal AC circuit located in the housing and configured to electrically connect to the AC output of the configurable power supply circuit to receive the AC power signal when the housing of the AC electronic accessory device is coupled to the power supply housing.

4. The power supply of claim 1, wherein the configurable power supply circuit is further selectively configurable, based on the state of the circuit topology switch, to a DC pass-through circuit topology to generate a DC power signal, different from the boosted DC power signal, at the DC output of the configurable power supply circuit.

5. A power supply for generating an amount of output power in response to a direct current (DC) power input signal, the power supply comprising:

an input converter to receive the DC power input signal at a DC input, the input converter comprising an H-bridge circuit formed from a plurality of electronic switches and a circuit topology switch electrically coupled to two of the plurality of electronic switches of the H-bridge circuit,

wherein the input converter is selectively configurable, based on a state of the circuit topology switch, to (i) a DC-to-DC buck-boost converter circuit to generate a boosted DC power signal at a DC output of the input converter different from the DC input while the circuit topology switch is in a first state and (ii) a DC-to-AC inverter circuit to generate an alternating current (AC) power signal at an AC output of the configurable power supply different from the DC output and the DC input while the circuit topology switch is in a second state different from the first state, wherein the AC output comprises a primary coil and wherein the primary coil is configured as an inductor in the DC-to-DC buck-boost converter circuit to generate the boosted DC power signal.

6. The power supply of claim 5, wherein the input converter is selectively configured to the DC-to-DC buck-boost converter circuit while the circuit topology switch is in an off state.

7. The power supply of claim 5, wherein the input converter is selectively configured to the DC-to-AC inverter circuit while the circuit topology switch is in an on state.

8. The power supply of claim 5, wherein the circuit topology switch comprises a semiconductor switch.

9. The power supply of claim 5, wherein the state of the circuit topology switch is dependent upon a sensed DC output current of the input converter.

10. The power supply of claim 5, wherein the input converter is further selectively configurable, based on the state of the circuit topology switch, to a DC pass-through circuit to generate a DC power signal, different from the boosted DC power signal, at the DC output of the input converter.

11. The power supply of claim 5, wherein the H bridge circuit includes an input leg and an output leg, wherein the circuit topology switch is electrically connected to the input leg of the H-bridge at a first connection and electrically connected to the output leg of the H-bridge at a second connection.

12. The power supply of 11, wherein the input converter further comprises an inductor electrically connected to the input leg of the H-bridge at a third connection and electrically connected to the output leg of the H-bridge at a fourth connection.

13. A power supply for generating an amount of output power in response to a direct current (DC) power input signal, the power supply comprising:

a housing;

a DC input;

a DC receptacle coupled to the housing and different from the DC input;

an AC receptacle coupled to the housing and different from the DC input and the DC receptacle; and

a configurable power supply circuit located in the housing and configured to receive the DC power input signal at the DC input, wherein the configurable power supply circuit comprises an H-bridge circuit formed from a plurality of electronic switches and a circuit topology switch electrically coupled to two of the plurality of electronic switches of the H-bridge circuit, wherein the configurable power supply circuit is selectively configurable, based on a state of the circuit topology switch, to (i) a first circuit topology, while the circuit topology switch is in a first state, to generate a boosted DC power signal at the DC receptacle, wherein the configurable power supply circuit is configured as a DC-to-DC buck-boost converter in the first circuit topology and (ii) a second circuit topology, while the circuit topology switch is in a second state different from the first state, to generate an alternating current (AC) power signal at a primary coil of the AC receptacle, wherein the configurable power supply circuit is configured as a DC-to-AC inverter circuit in the second circuit topology and, wherein the primary coil is configured as an inductor in the first circuit topology to generate the boosted DC power signal.

14. The power supply of claim 13, wherein the DC receptacle comprises a plurality of DC cables extending from the housing.

15. The power supply of claim 13, wherein the DC receptacle comprises a plurality of DC coupling receptacles defined in a sidewall of the housing.

16. The power supply of claim 13, wherein the AC receptacle comprises an inductive coupling receptacle defined in a sidewall of the housing.

17. The power supply of claim 16, wherein:

the inductive coupling receptacle comprises a plurality of receptacle sidewalls attached to a rear wall that is inset relative to the sidewall of the housing, and

the configurable power supply circuit comprises a coil wound around the plurality of sidewalls of the inductive coupling receptacle.