Systems and methods for using a power converter for transmission of data over the power feed

• US 8,860,241 B2
• Filed: 07/21/2009
• Issued: 10/14/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 11/26/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Tigo Energy, Inc
• Original Assignee: Tigo Energy, Inc
• Inventors: Hadar, Ron, Arditi, Shmuel, Avrutsky, Mordechay
• Primary Examiner(s): Fleming, Fritz M
• Application Number:
  US12/506,929
• Publication Number:
  US 20100127570A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,911 Days
• Field of Search: 307 1- 3, 307/77, 307/78, 307/82
• US Class Current: 307/1
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 13/00016 using a wired telecommunication network or a data transmission bus
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 2300/24 of photovoltaic origin
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 3/381 Dispersed generators
• CPC Class Codes: H02M 3/28 using discharge tubes with control electrode or semiconductor devices with control electrode to produce the intermediate ac
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 2203/5458 Monitor sensor; Alarm systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 3/548 the power on the line being DC arrangements for feeding power H04L12/10; extracting feeding power from signals H04L25/02
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 10/56 Power conversion systems, e.g. maximum power point trackers
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 40/70 Smart grids as climate change mitigation technology in the energy generation sector
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 10/123 the energy generation units being or involving renewable energy sources

Abstract

Apparatuses and methods include a photovoltaic energy production unit to generate electricity. A local management unit is coupled between the photovoltaic energy production unit and a connection of energy production units forming a string bus. The local management unit includes a controller and switching circuitry. The controller provide a control for the switching circuitry to deliver electrical energy to the string bus. A communication transmission modulator is associated with the local management unit. The communication transmission modulator modulates the control with data to be transmitted from the local management unit over the string bus.

Claims

1. An apparatus, comprising:

a photovoltaic energy production unit to generate electricity; and

a local management unit, coupled between the photovoltaic energy production unit and a connection of energy production units forming a string bus, the local management unit having

a controller,

a voltage converter having switching circuitry, and

a communication transmission modulator;

wherein the controller provides a control for the switching circuitry to cause the voltage converter to deliver electrical energy generated by the photovoltaic energy production unit to the string bus; and

wherein the communication transmission modulator modulates the control, provided by the controller to the switching circuitry of the voltage converter, with data to be transmitted from the local management unit over the string bus.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the controller employs pulse width modulation (PWM) to control delivery of the electrical energy by the switching circuitry.

3. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the communication transmission modulator modulates the control according to MFM (modified frequency modulation).

4. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the communication transmission modulator modulates the control according to Manchester encoding.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the local management unit is a series resonant converter.

6. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein the local management unit includes a transformer coupled to a rectifier circuit.

7. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a notch filter connected to the local management unit.

8. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a receiver, coupled to the string bus and a combiner box associated with an inverter, the receiver for receiving modulated signals from the local management unit.

9. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the receiver includes a receiving path separate from the string bus.

10. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the controller is configured to control the switching circuitry based on at least one of a duty cycle, a phase shift, and a synchronization pulse.

11. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a single chip microcontroller, and wherein the controller is a module driver.

12. A method, comprising:

providing a local management unit to couple a solar energy production unit to a connection of energy production units forming a string bus, the local management unit having

a controller,

a voltage converter having switching circuitry, and

a communication transmission modulator;

providing, by the controller, a control for the switching circuitry to cause the voltage converter to deliver electrical energy generated by the photovoltaic energy production unit to the string bus; and

modulating, by the communication transmission modulator, the control, provided by the controller to the switching circuitry of the voltage converter, with data to be transmitted from the local management unit over the string.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the providing a local management unit comprises:

employing pulse width modulation (PWM) to control delivery of the electrical energy by the switching circuitry.

14. The method of claim 12, wherein the providing a communication transmission modulator comprises:

modulating the control according to MFM (modified frequency modulation).

15. The method of claim 12, wherein the providing a communication transmission modulator comprises:

modulating the control according to Manchester coding.

16. The method of claim 12, wherein the local management unit is a series resonant converter.

17. The method of claim 12, further comprising:

receiving modulated signals from the local management unit.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein the receiving modulated signals further comprises:

receiving the modulated signals on a separate path from the string bus.

19. The method of claim 12, wherein the providing a local management unit further comprises:

controlling the switching circuitry based on at least one of a duty cycle, a phase shift, and

a synchronization pulse.

20. An energy generation system, comprising:

a plurality of energy production units to generate electricity;

a string bus providing a connection for the plurality of energy production units, wherein each of the plurality of energy production units includes;

a photovoltaic energy production unit, and

a local management unit, coupled between the photovoltaic energy production unit and the string bus, the local management unit including;

a controller;

a voltage converter having switching circuitry, wherein the controller provides a control for the switching circuitry to cause the voltage controller to deliver electrical energy generated by the photovoltaic energy production unit to the string bus;

a communication transmission modulator configured to modulate the control, provided by the controller to the switching circuitry of the voltage converter, with data to be transmitted from the local management unit over the string bus; and

a receiver connected between the string bus and a combiner box, the receiver configured to recover the data transmitted over the string bus.