Solar energy conversion arrangement utilizing photovoltaic members
US4367365A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | Jul 13, 1981 |
| Grant date | Jan 4, 1983 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Jul 13, 2001 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
- CPC primaryY10S136/293
- WIPO fieldElectrical machinery, apparatus, energy
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
An arrangement for converting solar energy directly to electrical energy is disclosed herein and utilizes a group of photovoltaic-like panel members, each of which is designed to convert solar energy into electrical energy by developing a voltage across opposite terminals thereof in response to and dependent upon its collection of solar energy. These panel members are electrically interconnected together in a specific way which combines their voltages in order to drive a given load. In addition, individual bypass circuitry is electrically connected with each photovoltaic-like member for diverting current around the latter in the event the resistance between its terminals increases above a certain level, for example due to an open circuit or undesirable shadowing. In this way, a malfunction of one photovoltaic-like member will not disrupt the operation of the overall arrangement. In order to locate these malfunctioning members, the circuitry associated with each includes means for indicating (preferably visually) when its bypass circuitry is operating in a bypass mode.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.