Photovoltaic module monitoring and control
First Claim
1. A photovoltaic array apparatus, comprising:
- a photovoltaic string having plurality of photovoltaic units, each photovoltaic unit having respective pairs of first and second power terminals connected in series, each photovoltaic unit including;
a photovoltaic current source connected between the first and second power terminals, the photovoltaic current source including one or more photovoltaic cells configured and arranged to generate a current between the first and second power terminals in response to exposure to a light source, anda bypass switch connected in parallel with the photovoltaic current source and configured and arranged to provide a bypass of the photovoltaic current source in response to a respective switch control signal;
a detection circuit, configured and arranged to measure one or more electrical characteristics exhibited by the series connection of the plurality of photovoltaic units; and
a control circuit, configured and arranged to determine the one or more electrical characteristics exhibited by one or more of the plurality of photovoltaic units by;
operating the bypass switches of other ones of the plurality of photovoltaic units to provide the bypass of the photovoltaic current sources of the other ones of the plurality of photovoltaic units, andmeasuring the one or more electrical characteristics exhibited by the series connection of the plurality of photovoltaic units using the detection circuit.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
In one embodiment, an apparatus includes a plurality of photovoltaic units having respective pairs of first and second power terminals connected in series. Each photovoltaic unit in the series includes a bypass switch connected in parallel with the photovoltaic current source of the photovoltaic unit. The bypass switch is configured to provide a bypass of the photovoltaic current source in response to a respective switch control signal. A control circuit determines electrical characteristics of the one or more of the plurality of photovoltaic units by operating the bypass switches of one or more of the photovoltaic units in an open state and operating the bypass switches of the other ones of the photovoltaic units in a closed state. Electrical characteristics exhibited by the series connection of the plurality of photovoltaic units are measured using a detection circuit.
8 Citations
25 Claims
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1. A photovoltaic array apparatus, comprising:
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a photovoltaic string having plurality of photovoltaic units, each photovoltaic unit having respective pairs of first and second power terminals connected in series, each photovoltaic unit including; a photovoltaic current source connected between the first and second power terminals, the photovoltaic current source including one or more photovoltaic cells configured and arranged to generate a current between the first and second power terminals in response to exposure to a light source, and a bypass switch connected in parallel with the photovoltaic current source and configured and arranged to provide a bypass of the photovoltaic current source in response to a respective switch control signal; a detection circuit, configured and arranged to measure one or more electrical characteristics exhibited by the series connection of the plurality of photovoltaic units; and a control circuit, configured and arranged to determine the one or more electrical characteristics exhibited by one or more of the plurality of photovoltaic units by; operating the bypass switches of other ones of the plurality of photovoltaic units to provide the bypass of the photovoltaic current sources of the other ones of the plurality of photovoltaic units, and measuring the one or more electrical characteristics exhibited by the series connection of the plurality of photovoltaic units using the detection circuit. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. An apparatus, comprising:
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a plurality of photovoltaic units having respective pairs of first and second power terminals connected in series, each photovoltaic unit including; a photovoltaic current source connected between the first and second power terminals, the photovoltaic current source including one or more photovoltaic cells configured and arranged to generate a current between the first and second power terminals in response to exposure to a light source, and a bypass switch connected in parallel with the photovoltaic current source and configured and arranged to provide a bypass of the photovoltaic current source in response to a respective switch control signal; and a control circuit configured and arrange to adjust the switch control signals to; operate the bypass switches in a plurality of different configurations, and determine a select configuration of the bypass switches in which the plurality of photovoltaic units generate the most power based on electrical characteristics exhibited by the series connection of photovoltaic units while operated in the plurality of different configurations. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24)
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25. A method of operating a plurality of photovoltaic circuits connected in series, comprising:
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determining one or more electrical characteristics of a first one of the plurality of photovoltaic circuits, by performing operations including; operating a first one of a plurality of bypass switches, which are connected in parallel with respective ones of the plurality of photovoltaic circuits, in an open state, the first one of the plurality of bypass switches being connected in parallel with the first one of the plurality of photovoltaic circuits; operating other ones of the plurality of bypass switches in a closed state; and measuring the one or more electrical characteristics exhibited by the series connection of the plurality of photovoltaic circuits using a detection circuit; and determining one or more electrical characteristics of a second one of the plurality of photovoltaic circuits, by performing operations including; operating a second one of the plurality of bypass switches, which are connected in parallel with respective ones of the plurality of photovoltaic circuits, in the open state, the second one of the plurality of bypass switches being connected in parallel with the second one of the plurality of photovoltaic circuits; operating other ones of the plurality of bypass switches in the closed state; and measuring the one or more electrical characteristics exhibited by the series connection of the plurality of photovoltaic circuits using a detection circuit.
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Specification