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US 10,651,647 B2Granted
Bypass mechanism
AssigneeSolaredge Technologies Ltd.
InventorsMeir Gazit, Israel Gershman, Ehud Kirmayer, Leon Kupershmidt, Meir Adest
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A bypass mechanism for a photovoltaic module which switches out the electronics and switches in a bypass mechanism.
Claims20
An apparatus, comprising:
- a junction box comprising a plurality of terminals, the plurality of terminals comprising:
- a first terminal configured to be connected to one or more photovoltaic cells;
- a second terminal;
- a third terminal;
- and
- a fourth terminal;
- electronics electrically coupled in series between the third terminal and the fourth terminal;
- and
- a bypass device comprising one or more protrusions, wherein the one or more protrusions are configured to selectively either cause the apparatus to be in a first state by shorting together the first terminal and the second terminal, or to cause the apparatus to be in a second state by electrically shorting together the first terminal and the third terminal and electrically shorting together the second terminal and the fourth terminal, depending upon whether the bypass device is plugged into the junction box.
6 more elements
An apparatus, comprising:
- a junction box comprising:
- a first terminal configured to be connected to one or more photovoltaic cells;
- a second terminal;
- a third terminal;
- and
- a fourth terminal;
- electronics electrically coupled in series between the third terminal and the fourth terminal;
- a first bypass device comprising a first protrusion, wherein the first protrusion is configured to cause the apparatus to be in a first state when plugged into the junction box by shorting together the first terminal and the second terminal;
- and
- a second bypass device comprising second and third protrusions, wherein the second and third protrusions are configured to cause the apparatus to be in a second state by electrically shorting together the first terminal and the third terminal and electrically shorting together the second terminal and the fourth terminal.
7 more elements
A method, comprising:
- bypassing electronics of a photovoltaic module by causing the photovoltaic module to be in a first state;
- flash testing photovoltaic cells of the photovoltaic module while the electronics are bypassed;
- and
- reconnecting the electronics by causing the photovoltaic module to be in a second state,
- wherein the photovoltaic module is in the first state or the second state depending upon whether one or more electrically isolating protrusions of a bypass device are inserted into a junction box of the photovoltaic module to cause at least some spring-loaded terminals of the junction box to move into electrical contact with other terminals of the junction box.
2 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.