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:
Aug. 22, 2000
Filed:
May. 01, 1998
Canon Kabushiki Kaisha, Tokyo, JP;
Abstract
A solar cell array used in a photovoltaic power generation apparatus for housing covers a relatively large outside area for installation, and a considerably large earth capacitance Ca exists between the solar cell array and the ground. Further, as an inverter for converting direct-current electric power generated by the solar cell array into alternating-current electric power, a transless-type inverter is used for reducing cost. Therefore, a slight leak current flows via the earth capacitance Ca, which may cause undesirable operation of an earth leakage circuit breaker inserted between the inverter and a commercial AC power system. In the photovoltaic power generation apparatus of the present invention, by designing it so that the relationship between the earth capacitance Ca[.mu.F] and leak current detection sensitivity EL[mA] of the earth leakage circuit breaker is Ca<EL/3, the undesirable operation of the earth leakage circuit breaker due to the leak current is prevented.