SOLANTRO SEMICONDUCTOR CORP. Patent applications |
Patent application number | Title | Published |
20160018456 | DISCHARGE RATIO STRING CONTINUITY MONITORING - A method for determining continuity in a PV panel string by calculating a discharge ratio includes operatively coupling a PV panel to a PV panel string; measuring a first voltage between points of coupling of the PV panel to the PV panel string; disconnecting the PV panel from the PV panel string; waiting for a discharge period to expire; measuring a second voltage at an expiration of the discharge period; calculating a discharge ratio of the second voltage to the first voltage; and comparing the discharge ratio to a predetermined threshold ratio. An apparatus for determining continuity in a PV panel string includes a discharge resistance serially connected in the PV panel string; a capacitance parallel connected to the discharge resistance; a voltage sensor parallel connected to the discharge resistance; and a first switch parallel connected to the discharge resistance. | 01-21-2016 |
20150355239 | ISOLATING INTERCHIP COMMUNICATION CIRCUIT AND METHOD - An electrical circuit and method includes a transmitter in a first power domain with a first supply voltage referenced to a first voltage reference. The transmitter has an oscillator generating a first carrier signal, and an analog modulator receiving an input sensor signal and the first carrier signal and generating a modulated carrier signal. A receiver is in a second power domain with a second supply voltage referenced to a second voltage reference. The second voltage reference is different from the first voltage reference. The receiver includes a demodulator that receives and demodulates the modulated carrier signal and generates an output sensor signal. At least one coupler includes a pair of galvanically isolated elements with one galvanically isolated element in each of the first and second power domains. The modulated carrier signal couples from the first power domain to the second power domain through the at least one coupler. | 12-10-2015 |
20150326108 | DUAL SOURCE DC TO DC CONVERTER - A system includes a first buck type direct current (DC) to DC converter having: a first control switch; a first synchronized switch; an inductor; and a capacitor. The system further includes a second buck type DC to DC converter having: a second control switch; a second synchronized switch; the inductor; and the capacitor. The system further includes a controller operatively connected to the first buck type DC to DC converter and the second buck type DC to DC converter, wherein the controller controls a conduction state of the first control switch and the second control switch; and an output terminal pair operatively connected to the capacitor. | 11-12-2015 |
20150145336 | MODULAR POWER CONVERSION SYSTEM AND METHOD - A method for converting electrical power includes providing a modular power converter having a mode control module and a plurality of autonomously operating power conversion modules operatively connected to a first power bus; selecting, by the mode control module, individual modes of operation for the plurality of power conversion modules to meet a power conversion requirement; receiving electrical power of a first power type from the first power bus by at least one of the power conversion modules; and converting the received electrical power into electrical power of a second power type by the at least one power conversion module. | 05-28-2015 |
20150036395 | INTERNAL INVERTER COMMUNICATIONS - Inverter internal communication features are disclosed. A multiple-stage inverter includes DC to DC and DC to AC converter switches in different power domains, which share no common return path connection. Operating parameters for converter switches in both power domains are determined by a single controller, located in one of the power domains. Converter control signals are communicated from the controller across an interface between the power domains. Respective, separate controllers in each power domain are not required. Components on each side of the interface could be integrated into respective integrated circuits. A planar transformer implemented in wiring levels of a Printed Circuit Board (PCB) that carries components of the inverter could be provided to enable communications between the power domains while reducing component count and physical space requirements. | 02-05-2015 |
20140306533 | VIRTUAL INVERTER FOR POWER GENERATION UNITS - A gateway controller allows a plurality of individual power generation units coupled to an electrical distribution grid to be controlled in a coordinated fashion. The gateway controller allows control of the plurality of individual power generation units as a single power generation unit. The gateway controller may determine required control parameters of the power generation units that will provide a desired combined behavior, such as combined alternating current injected into the grid, and issues commands to the power generation units based on the determined control parameters. | 10-16-2014 |
20140265603 | STRING CONTINUITY MONITORING - A system and method of monitoring a photovoltaic (PV) installation includes providing a string of multiple panel interface device enabled PV panels; operatively connecting an inverter to the string; operatively connecting at least one PV panel to the string; discharging an input capacitance of the inverter; comparing a current in the string to a predetermined current threshold value; and controlling connection of the at least one PV panel to the string based on the comparing of the current in the string to the predetermined current threshold value. A panel interface device may be used to discharge the input capacitance of the inverter. | 09-18-2014 |
20140265601 | PHOTOVOLTAIC BYPASS SWITCHING - A PhotoVoltaic (PV) panel bypass switching arrangement includes first and second switches. The first switch is to be coupled between a power system and a first end of a circuit path of the PV panel in which a PV cells are connected, and is controllable to connect the first end of the circuit path to a power system and to disconnect the first end of the circuit path from the power system. The second switch is to be coupled between (i) a point between the first switch and the power system and (ii) a point between a second end of the circuit path and the power system, and is controllable to open and close a bypass circuit path that bypasses the circuit path. The first and second switches are controlled based on a determination as to whether the circuit path of the PV panel is to be bypassed. | 09-18-2014 |
20140098572 | FORWARD BOOST POWER CONVERTERS AND METHODS - Forward boost power converters, and related methods, are disclosed. In a switching mode power converter coupled between a first terminal pair and a second terminal pair, a first inductance is coupled to a first switch in a first circuit path across the first terminal pair. A capacitance is coupled to a second inductance in a second circuit path, and to the first inductance in a third circuit path. During their respective conduction periods, the first switch couples the first inductance across the first terminal pair, a second switch completes a circuit between the second terminal pair and one of: the second circuit path or the third circuit path, and a third switch completes the other of: the second circuit path and the third circuit path. Energy transfer involves both substantially linearly varying currents and substantially half sinusoidal current pulses. | 04-10-2014 |
20140029308 | INVERTER HAVING EXTENDED LIFETIME DC-LINK CAPACITORS - An inverter having extended lifetime DC-link capacitors for use with a DC power source such as a photovoltaic panel is described. The inverter uses a plurality of switchable capacitors to control the voltage across the capacitors. The expected lifetime of the capacitors can be extended by disconnecting unnecessary capacitors from a voltage. The capacitors may be periodically connected to a voltage in order to maintain an oxide dielectric layer of the capacitor. | 01-30-2014 |
20130342389 | SELF MAPPING PHOTOVOLTAIC ARRAY SYSTEM - A photovoltaic (PV) panel is described that can be used in a PV installation, in cooperation with a central control unit to provide a map of locations of individual PV panels. The map can be determined by the central control unit based on measurements of a characteristic made at the plurality of PV panels. The characteristic provides an indication of adjacent PV panels, allowing the map of locations of individual PV panels to be constructed. | 12-26-2013 |
20130342216 | POWER GENERATING COMPONENT CONNECTIVITY TESTING - Power generating component connectivity testing methods and apparatus are disclosed. At a power generating component, a connectivity testing condition is detected. A connectivity testing procedure is performed on detection of the connectivity testing condition, to test connectivity in a system that includes the power generating component and an unpowered electrical system. Connectivity is tested before the electrical system is connected to a power grid. An indication of connectivity can be provided by receiving connectivity information indicating connectivity between power generating components and the unpowered electrical system; and providing a representation of the connectivity between the power generating testing procedure components and the electrical system. This representation could include, for example, one or more of: a connectivity alert, a visual representation of the power generating components; and a visual representation of the electrical system. | 12-26-2013 |
20130342017 | PHOTOVOLTAIC SYSTEM MAXIMUM POWER POINT TRACKING - Photovoltaic system maximum power point tracking methods and apparatus are disclosed. Output power samples from one or more photovoltaic (PV) cells are obtained. The output power samples include perturbed samples for which a perturbation is applied to an operating voltage or current of the PV cell(s) and non-perturbed samples for which no perturbation is applied to the operating voltage or current. A control output, to change the operating voltage or current of the PV cell(s) for a next perturbed sample by a next perturbation, is generated. The next perturbation could be based on an estimated change in output power due to a previous perturbation. The next perturbation could also or instead be in a direction based on a change in output power samples, and of a magnitude based on the direction and a direction of perturbations applied for one or more perturbed samples preceding the next perturbed sample. | 12-26-2013 |