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:
Jul. 14, 1998
Filed:
May. 31, 1996
Reinhard Wecker, Eichenau, DE;
Webasto-Schade GmbH, Stockdorf, DE;
Abstract
A circuit arrangement with a first string of solar cells which are connected together in series and a second string of solar cells which are connected together in series, the electric power generated by the solar cells being used to operate an ohmic or inductive load. In contrast to known circuits, in which series-connected strings of solar cells are connected in parallel and have roughly identical no-load voltages, it is provided according to the invention that the strings of series-connected solar cells generate different no-load voltages to adapt to the current/voltage characteristic of the load. Preferably, at least one reverse-current blocking diode is connected in series with the string which generates a lower no-load voltage than the other. The series connection with a lower no-load voltage can be selectively formed with solar cells of the same no-load voltage by a smaller number of solar cells, or with solar cells of different power by the same number of solar cells with a lower no-load voltage. Furthermore, in one embodiment, the circuit arrangement is constructed for selective operation of a fan arrangement or for charging a battery by switching several strings of solar cells from a parallel interconnection to a series interconnection.