Systems and methods to combine strings of solar panels
First Claim
1. A photovoltaic system, comprising:
- at least one photovoltaic panel connected to provide a direct current input generated by the at least one photovoltaic panel;
a set of output terminals;
a first receptacle having at least three contacts; and
circuitry connecting the direct current input to a first subset of the contacts of the first receptacle and connecting a second subset of the contacts of the first receptacle to the set of output terminals;
wherein the first receptacle is configured to receive a removable module having a circuit connected among the contacts of the first receptacle when the removable module is inserted into the first receptacle; and
wherein when no removable module is in the first receptacle, the direct current input is not connected to the set of output terminals.
6 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Apparatuses, systems and methods for configuring and managing the combination of strings of photovoltaic energy generators to improve the energy production performance of such generators. The strings of photovoltaic energy generators are connected to terminals in a combiner box having receptacles for receiving removable modular units of various types. Removable modular units with measurement capabilities are used in the combiner boxes to measure the direct current input provided by the strings; and in light of the measurements, the removable modular units can be selectively downgraded to simpler units that do not have measurement capabilities to reduce cost, and/or selectively upgraded to more sophisticated units that can adjust the output of the respective strings, such as upconverting the output voltage of the respective strings, to improve the performance of the strings.
91 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A photovoltaic system, comprising:
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at least one photovoltaic panel connected to provide a direct current input generated by the at least one photovoltaic panel; a set of output terminals; a first receptacle having at least three contacts; and circuitry connecting the direct current input to a first subset of the contacts of the first receptacle and connecting a second subset of the contacts of the first receptacle to the set of output terminals; wherein the first receptacle is configured to receive a removable module having a circuit connected among the contacts of the first receptacle when the removable module is inserted into the first receptacle; and wherein when no removable module is in the first receptacle, the direct current input is not connected to the set of output terminals. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. A removable circuit module, comprising:
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a circuit board having a plurality of contacts, a portion of the circuit board having the contacts disposed thereon configured to be removably inserted into a receptacle having a plurality of connectors to engage the plurality of contacts and establish electric connections between the contacts and the connectors, wherein the plurality of contacts include a first subset to receive a direct current input and a second subset to provide a direct current output; a local controller mounted on the circuit board and connected to a third subset of the contacts, wherein when the circuit board is inserted into the receptacle, the third subset is connected to a controller bus via the receptacle; and a switch mounted on the circuit board and controlled by the local controller, the switch controllable via the local controller to selectively disconnect or connect an electric path between the direct current input and the direct current output. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. A removable circuit module, comprising:
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a circuit board having a plurality of contacts, a portion of the circuit board having the contacts disposed thereon configured to be removably inserted into a receptacle having a plurality of connectors to engage the plurality of contacts and establish electric connections between the contacts and the connectors, wherein the plurality of contacts include a first subset to receive a direct current input and a second subset to provide a direct current output; a local controller mounted on the circuit board and connected to a third subset of the contacts, wherein when the circuit board is inserted into the receptacle, the third subset is connected to a controller bus via the receptacle; and a power conversion unit mounted on the circuit board and controlled by the local controller to convert the direct current input to the direct current output. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20)
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Specification