Systems and methods to balance solar panels in a multi-panel system
US8860246B2 · kind B2 · utility
176Cited by
46References
9Claims
0Family size
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Sep 25, 2009 |
| Grant date | Oct 14, 2014 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Jan 4, 2032 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
- CPC primaryY02E10/56
- WIPO fieldElectrical machinery, apparatus, energy
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
Systems and methods to balance currents among a plurality of photovoltaic units connected in series. In aspect, a management unit is coupled between a photovoltaic energy production unit and a string of energy production units. The management unit has an energy storage element (e.g., a capacitor) connected to the photovoltaic energy production unit. The management unit further has a switch to selectively couple to the energy storage element and the photovoltaic energy production unit to the string. The management unit allows the current in the string to be larger than the current in the photovoltaic energy production unit.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.