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. 09, 2013
Filed:
Oct. 14, 2011
Andreas Falk, Kassel, DE;
Joachim Laschinski, Kassel, DE;
Oliver Arend, Lohfelden, DE;
Peter Simon, Hessisch Lichtenau, DE;
Wolfgang Reichenbaecher, Staufenberg, DE;
Frank Greizer, Kaufungen, DE;
Andreas Falk, Kassel, DE;
Joachim Laschinski, Kassel, DE;
Oliver Arend, Lohfelden, DE;
Peter Simon, Hessisch Lichtenau, DE;
Wolfgang Reichenbaecher, Staufenberg, DE;
Frank Greizer, Kaufungen, DE;
SMA Solar Technology AG, Niestetal, DE;
Abstract
A method of connecting a photovoltaic device to an AC power grid through an inverter includes monitoring a DC voltage at an input of an inverter, and activating the inverter when the monitored DC voltage exceeds a first predetermined threshold. The method further includes synchronizing an output voltage of the inverter with a grid voltage, connecting an output of the inverter to the AC power grid upon synchronization if the monitored DC voltage exceeds second predetermined threshold, and deactivating the inverter if a detected power being fed through the inverter falls below a predetermined power threshold while maintaining the connection between the output of the inverter and the AC power grid. Lastly, the method includes disconnecting the output of the deactivated inverter from the grid if the monitored DC voltage falls below a third predetermined threshold. Further, an apparatus that performs such functionality is also provided.