The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
May. 04, 2021
Filed:
Jul. 16, 2019
Sunpower Corporation, San Jose, CA (US);
Zachary S. Judkins, Berkeley, CA (US);
Jonathan L. Ehlmann, Austin, TX (US);
SunPower Corporation, San Jose, CA (US);
Abstract
A photovoltaic system includes groups of solar cells that can be switched in and out of the photovoltaic system. In response to detecting initiation of rapid shutdown, a control circuit controls a switch device to switch out a group of solar cells to lower the output voltage of the photovoltaic system below a safety level. In response to detecting a release trigger that indicates resumption of normal operation, the control circuit controls the switch device to switch back the group of solar cells to restore the output voltage of the photovoltaic system to a normal operating level. Solar cells may be switched out by disconnecting them from the photovoltaic system and switched back by reconnecting them into the photovoltaic system. Solar cells may also be switched out by shorting them out of the photovoltaic system and switched back in by removing the short.