DYNAMIC SWITCH POWER CONVERTER

• US 20070273351A1
• Filed: 09/26/2006
• Published: 11/29/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 07/01/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Apparent Labs LLC
• Original Assignee: Atira Technologies, LLC
• Inventors: Matan, Stefan
• Granted Patent: US 8,013,583 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 323/299
• CPC Class Codes: G05F 1/67 to the maximum power available from a generator, e.g. from solar cell
• CPC Class Codes: H02M 1/007 Plural converter units in cascade push-pull DC/DC converters with pre-regulator H02M3/3374; DC-AC converters following a DC-DC stage including a high frequency transformer H02M7/4807; DC-AC converters following a DC-DC conversion stage generating periodically varying voltages H02M7/4826
• CPC Class Codes: H02M 3/33515 with digital control

Abstract

The present invention provides a dynamic switch power conversion circuit to improve the efficiency of a solar cell array, and specifically to operate the solar cell array under various sunlight intensities, especially under low light conditions. In an embodiment of the invention, the dynamic switch power conversion circuit comprises: a processor to continuously monitor the power output of a solar panel under varying sunlight conditions, and a switching converter circuit comprising a plurality of circuit operations for different optimum power conversion. The processor gathers the output power from the solar panel and then uses predetermined power curves related to maximum generated power versus sunlight conditions of that particular solar panel to switch the switching converter circuit to a circuit operation particular suited to that sunlight condition to achieve the maximum power generated from the solar panel.

Claims

1. A dynamic switch power converter circuit for improving power utilization of a solar panel under different sunlight conditions, the dynamic switch power converter circuit comprising a variable input DC to DC converter wherein the input of the DC to DC converter changes to match the maximum power output of the solar panel.

2. A circuit as in claim 1, wherein the DC to DC converter comprises a voltage booster, a current booster circuit, or a combination of voltage booster and current booster circuit.

3. A dynamic switch power converter circuit for improving power utilization of a solar panel under different sunlight conditions, the dynamic switch power converter circuit comprising:

a DC to DC converter; and

a controller receiving feedback from the output power of the solar panel and controlling the DC to DC converter,

wherein the controller adjusts the DC to DC converter to match the maximum power output of the solar panel.

4. A circuit as in claim 3, wherein the DC to DC converter comprises a voltage booster, a current booster circuit, or a combination of voltage booster and current booster circuit.

5. A circuit as in claim 3 wherein the DC to DC converter comprises a Cuk converter.

6. A circuit as in claim 3 wherein the DC to DC converter is controlled by a pulse signal generator having a predetermined frequency supplied by an oscillator.

7. A circuit as in claim 3 wherein the DC to DC converter comprises a plurality of switches, each optimized for different solar panel power.

8. A circuit as in claim 3 wherein the DC to DC converter is a variable input DC to DC converter.

9. A circuit as in claim 8 wherein the controller controls the DC to DC converter by adjusting the input of the DC to DC converter.

10. A circuit as in claim 3 wherein the controller monitors the power of the solar panel to help making adjustment decision.

11. A circuit as in claim 3 wherein the controller monitors the current and voltage of the solar panel to help making adjustment decision.

12. A circuit as in claim 3 wherein the controller monitors the current and voltage at the output of the solar panel.

13. A circuit as in claim 3 wherein the controller monitors the current and voltage at the input of a load.

14. A circuit as in claim 3 wherein the controller monitors the current and voltage within the circuit of the DC to DC converter.

15. A circuit as in claim 3 wherein the controller further comprises predetermined power curves for the solar panel to help making adjustment decision.

16. A circuit as in claim 3 wherein the controller further comprises predetermined values of maximum power output of the solar panel for different sunlight conditions to help making adjustment decision.

17. A dynamic switch power converter circuit for improving power utilization of a solar panel under different sunlight conditions, the dynamic switch power converter circuit comprising:

a DC to DC converter circuit comprising a power extractor circuit, the power extractor circuit comprising;

an electrical accumulator; and

a power accumulation circuit connected between the power source and the accumulator for charging the accumulator to at least a load-operatable or battery-chargeable power,

wherein the power extractor circuit extracts power from the solar panel during low light conditions; and

a controller receiving feedback from the solar panel and controlling the DC to DC converter, wherein the controller monitors the output of the solar panel to adjust the DC to DC converter to match the maximum power output of the solar panel.

18. A circuit as in claim 17 wherein the DC to DC converter is a variable input DC to DC converter.

19. A circuit as in claim 17 wherein the controller controls the DC to DC converter by adjusting the input of the DC to DC converter.

20. A circuit as in claim 17 wherein the controller monitors the power of the solar panel to help making adjustment decision.