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. 15, 2017
Filed:
Oct. 15, 2015
Applicant:
Sunpower Corporation, San Jose, CA (US);
Inventors:
Keith Johnston, Palo Alto, CA (US);
Zachary S. Judkins, Berkeley, CA (US);
Assignee:
SunPower Corporation, San Jose, CA (US);
Attorney:
Primary Examiner:
Int. Cl.
CPC ...
H01L 31/042 (2014.01); H02S 50/00 (2014.01); H02H 3/20 (2006.01); H02H 9/04 (2006.01); H01L 31/05 (2014.01); H01L 31/044 (2014.01);
U.S. Cl.
CPC ...
H02S 50/00 (2013.01); H01L 31/0504 (2013.01); H02H 3/20 (2013.01); H02H 9/04 (2013.01); H01L 31/042 (2013.01); H01L 31/044 (2014.12);
Abstract
A photovoltaic string may include an open circuit voltage limiter that conducts current in one direction to provide a limiter voltage less than an open circuit voltage of the photovoltaic string, and that conducts current in the other direction. One or more open circuit voltage limiters may be connected across the photovoltaic string or across selected groups of solar cells of the photovoltaic string. The limiter voltage may be greater than a maximum power point voltage but less than the open circuit voltage of the photovoltaic string.