Solar array peak power tracker
US6316925A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | May 29, 1996 |
| Grant date | Nov 13, 2001 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | May 29, 2016 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
- CPC primaryY02E10/56
- WIPO fieldControl
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
A method for operating a pulse width modulated switching power converter (1), and a pulse width modulated switching power converter that is constructed to operate in accordance with the method. The power converter has an input coupled to an output of a solar array (10) and an output providing an output current, the output being coupled to battery (14) for applying a charging current I.sub.CHARGE to the battery while also supplying a current I.sub.LOAD to a load. The method includes the steps of: (a) incrementally increasing (18, C1) a duty cycle of the pulse width modulated switching power converter so as to incrementally increase a magnitude of the output current of the switching power converter; (b) sensing (14a) a first magnitude of both I.sub.CHARGE and I.sub.LOAD ; (c) storing (20) the sensed magnitude; (d) sensing a second magnitude of both I.sub.CHARGE and I.sub.LOAD ; and (e) comparing (22) the stored first magnitude to the sensed second magnitude. If the stored first magnitude is determined to be less than the sensed second magnitude, the method maintains the duty cycle at a current duty cycle increment. If instead the stored first magnitude is determined to be greater tha…
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.