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.

Date of Patent:
Aug. 30, 2016

Filed:

Jan. 09, 2012
Applicants:

Shmuel Arditi, Los Gatos, CA (US);

Ron Hadar, Cupertino, CA (US);

Jeff Krisa, Granite Bay, CA (US);

James Bickford, Tacoma, WA (US);

Inventors:

Shmuel Arditi, Los Gatos, CA (US);

Ron Hadar, Cupertino, CA (US);

Jeff Krisa, Granite Bay, CA (US);

James Bickford, Tacoma, WA (US);

Assignee:

TIGO ENERGY, INC., Los Gatos, CA (US);

Attorney:
Primary Examiner:
Int. Cl.
CPC ...
H02J 1/00 (2006.01); H02J 1/10 (2006.01); H02J 3/38 (2006.01); H02J 13/00 (2006.01); H02M 1/00 (2006.01);
U.S. Cl.
CPC ...
H02J 1/10 (2013.01); H02J 3/383 (2013.01); H02J 3/385 (2013.01); H02J 13/0003 (2013.01); H02M 2001/007 (2013.01); Y02E 10/563 (2013.01); Y02E 40/72 (2013.01); Y04S 10/123 (2013.01); Y10T 307/685 (2015.04);
Abstract

Apparatuses and methods for configuring and managing solar panels to form strings of photovoltaic energy generators with improved performance and reduced cost. The photovoltaic energy generators are connected via one or more combined local management units (CLMUs), each having a plurality of direct current converters connected to and configured to receive direct current power from a respective solar panel. A controller unit shared by the CLMU's direct current converters is utilized to separately control the operation of each converter such that the power extracted from the solar panels is maximized. A communications unit coupled with the controller unit is utilized to facilitate communications between the controller unit and a system unit remote from the CLMU to report measurements and receive control signals.


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