System and Method for Enhanced Watch Dog in Solar Panel Installations
First Claim
1. A photovoltaic panel, comprising:
- at least one photovoltaic cell;
a control unit installed on the photovoltaic panel, the control unit having;
a power converter coupled to the least one photovoltaic cell to receive electric power generated by the at least one photovoltaic cell; and
a controller coupled to the power converter;
wherein the power converter generates a power output of the photovoltaic panel using the electric power generated by the at least one photovoltaic cell;
wherein the controller controls operations of the power converter based on communications with a remote unit that is disposed at a location remote from the control unit;
wherein a sensor is monitored for an anomaly; and
wherein after the sensor detects the anomaly and based on a communication with the remote unit, the controller controls the power converter to shut down or reduce the power output of the photovoltaic panel.
4 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A system and method for automated shutdown, disconnect, or power reduction of solar panels. A system of solar panels includes one or more master management units (MMUs) and one or more local management units (LMUs). The MMUs are in communication with the LMUs with the MMUs and LMUs “handshaking” when the system is in operation. The MMUs are connected to one or more controllers which in turn are connected to emergency detection sensors. Upon a sensor detection of an emergency, the associated MMU is notified which in turn instructs associated LMUs to take appropriate action. In the event that communication with the MMUs has been cut off, the LMUs take the initiative to shut down, disconnect, or reduce the output of associated string(s) of solar panels.
4 Citations
20 Claims
-
1. A photovoltaic panel, comprising:
-
at least one photovoltaic cell; a control unit installed on the photovoltaic panel, the control unit having; a power converter coupled to the least one photovoltaic cell to receive electric power generated by the at least one photovoltaic cell; and a controller coupled to the power converter; wherein the power converter generates a power output of the photovoltaic panel using the electric power generated by the at least one photovoltaic cell; wherein the controller controls operations of the power converter based on communications with a remote unit that is disposed at a location remote from the control unit; wherein a sensor is monitored for an anomaly; and wherein after the sensor detects the anomaly and based on a communication with the remote unit, the controller controls the power converter to shut down or reduce the power output of the photovoltaic panel. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
-
-
10. A control unit for a photovoltaic panel having at least one photovoltaic cell, the control unit comprising:
-
a voltage regulator configured to receive electric power generated by the at least one photovoltaic cell of the photovoltaic panel; and a controller coupled to the voltage regulator; wherein the voltage regulator is configured to generate a power output of the photovoltaic panel using the electric power received from the at least one photovoltaic cell; wherein the controller is configured to control operations of the voltage regulator based at least in part on communications with a remote unit disposed at a location remote from the photovoltaic panel, the communications including heartbeat signals from the remote unit; and wherein, after the controller detects an anomaly in the heartbeat signals from the remote unit, the controller causes the voltage regulator to reduce or shut down the power output of the photovoltaic panel. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14)
-
-
15. A method, comprising:
-
generating, by photovoltaic cells of a photovoltaic panel, electric power; and converting, by a power converter of the photovoltaic panel, the electric power generated by the photovoltaic cells of the photovoltaic panel into a power output of the photovoltaic panel; communicating, by a controller of the photovoltaic panel, with a remote unit disposed at a location remote from the photovoltaic panel, including receiving heartbeat signals from the remote unit; detecting an anomaly in the heartbeat signals from the remote unit; and reducing, after the anomaly, the power output of the photovoltaic panel. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
-
Specification