Sunpower Corporation

Leland Stanford Junior University

Enphase Energy, Inc.

Darren Hau

Andrew Joseph Ponec

Benjamin Alexander Johnson

William James Dally

Tuan Truong

Mark Albers

Daniel J M Maren

Vivek Choksi

Christopher Ling

Daniel JM Maren

A photovoltaic system includes voltage limiting devices that are connected in series. A voltage limiting device clips a corresponding photovoltaic string to limit a voltage of the photovoltaic string. Unclipping of clipped photovoltaic strings is coordinated by a central controller or in a distributed fashion by the voltage limiting devices based on monitored string conditions.

Photovoltaic systems with voltage limiting devices

A photovoltaic (PV) module can include a plurality of solar cells and circuitry configured to switch between a first state in which output voltage from the PV module includes voltage from the plurality of solar cells and a second state in which the output voltage includes voltage from fewer that all the plurality of solar cells.

Voltage clipping

A method includes measuring one or more performance metrics of a set of solar cells coupled to an inverter. Based at least on the performance metrics meeting a first criterion, a first subset of the set of solar cells are disabled, reducing a voltage, power, or current provided to the inverter. Based at least on the performance metrics meeting a second criterion, a second subset of the set of solar cells are disabled, further reducing a voltage, power, or current provided to the inverter.

Photovoltaic system protection

Methods and systems include moving a mobile communication unit along a plurality of module units, and exchanging data with one of the plurality of module units based at least upon the mobile communication unit being in proximity to the one of the plurality of module units.

Communicating with arrays of module units

Various example embodiments are directed to methods and apparatuses for diverting current from a Photovoltaic (PV) module. In particular embodiments, the PV module can be part of a series connection (or string) of PV modules. The series connection provides a primary current path through which generated current flows. Current diversion circuit(s) can be used in connection with one or more PV modules. The current diversion circuit detects when the current through the primary current path is less than the desired current level for a corresponding PV module (e.g., the maximum power point). In response to this detection, the current diversion circuit can provide an alternate pathway for current from the corresponding PV module. This results in an overall increase in the current from the PV module and a corresponding increase in efficiency.

Growing community of inventors

San Jose, CA, United States of America

Darren Hau