# US 12,015,265 B2 · Autonomous detection of rapid shutdown condition > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 12,015,265 B2 - Document ID: US12015265B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 18/114,500 - Filed: 2023-02-27 - Published: 2023-08-31 - Granted: 2024-06-18 - Earliest claimed: 2022-02-28 - Assignees: Lunar Energy, Inc. - Applicants: Lunar Energy, Inc. - Inventors: Mark Holveck - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12015265B2 ## CPC - H02H 7/20: for electronic equipment (for converters H02H7/10; for electric measuring instruments G01R1/36; for DC voltage or current semiconductor regulators G05F1/569; for amplifiers H03F1/52; for electronic switching circuits H03K17/08) - H02H 3/202: {for DC systems} - H02M 1/36: Means for starting or stopping converters - H02H 5/042: {using temperature dependent resistors} - H02M 1/0077: {Plural converter units whose outputs are connected in series} - H02M 3/04: by static converters - Y02E 10/56: Power conversion systems, e.g. maximum power point trackers - H02H: EMERGENCY PROTECTIVE CIRCUIT ARRANGEMENTS (indicating or signalling undesired working conditions G01R, e.g. G01R31/00, G08B; locating faults along lines G01R31/08; emergency protective devices H01H) - H02M: APPARATUS FOR CONVERSION BETWEEN AC AND AC, BETWEEN AC AND DC, OR BETWEEN DC AND DC, AND FOR USE WITH MAINS OR SIMILAR POWER SUPPLY SYSTEMS; CONVERSION OF DC OR AC INPUT POWER INTO SURGE OUTPUT POWER; CONTROL OR REGULATION THEREOF (transformers H01F; dynamo-electric converters H02K47/00; controlling transformers, reactors or choke coils, control or regulation of electric motors, generators or dynamo-electric converters H02P) - Y02E: REDUCTION OF GREENHOUSE GAS [GHG] EMISSIONS, RELATED TO ENERGY GENERATION, TRANSMISSION OR DISTRIBUTION ## Abstract A rapid shutdown system includes a PV (photovoltaic) generator. It further includes a DC (Direct Current)-DC converter receiving power from the PV generator and outputting power. The DC-DC converter outputs power at a high voltage state or a low voltage state. It further includes a DC bus coupled to the DC-DC converter to receive the power outputted by the DC-DC converter. The DC bus is coupled to a system comprising a load. The DC-DC converter transitions from the high voltage state to the low voltage state based at least in part on an output current of the DC-DC converter transitioning below a threshold. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A rapid shutdown system comprising: a plurality of PV (photovoltaic) generators; a plurality of DC (Direct Current)-DC converters that are connected in series, wherein each DC-DC converter in the plurality of DC-DC converters receives power from a PV generator in the plurality of PV generators and outputs power, wherein each DC-DC converter outputs power at a high voltage state or a low voltage state; and a DC bus coupled to the plurality of DC-DC converters to receive power outputted by the plurality of DC-DC converters; wherein the DC bus is coupled to a system comprising a load; and wherein each individual DC-DC converter in the plurality of DC-DC converters is configured to autonomously transition from operating in the high voltage state to the low voltage state based at least in part on local detection of both first and second conditions comprising, respectively: an output current of a DC-DC converter being below a threshold current for at least a threshold amount of time; and an output voltage of the DC-DC converter, measured relative to a node common to the plurality of DC-DC converters, meeting a voltage limit of the high voltage state. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The rapid shutdown system of claim 1, wherein the DC bus is coupled to the system comprising the load by a switch, and wherein opening of the switch causes the output current of the DC-DC converter to transition below the threshold current. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The rapid shutdown system of claim 1, wherein transitioning from the high voltage state to the low voltage state comprises deactivating the DC-DC converter. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The rapid shutdown system of claim 1, wherein the DC-DC converter comprises an optimizer or a maximizer. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The rapid shutdown system of claim 1, wherein the DC-DC converter transitions from the low voltage state to the high voltage state based at least in part on a voltage measured relative to an output of the DC-DC converter exceeding a voltage limit of the low voltage state. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The rapid shutdown system of claim 1, wherein the DC-DC converter comprises a positive output terminal, a negative output terminal, and a connection to the node common to the plurality of DC-DC converters, and wherein the output voltage of the DC-DC converter is measured between the common node and one of the positive and negative output terminals. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The rapid shutdown system of claim 1, wherein the DC-DC converter transitions from the low voltage state to the high voltage state based at least in part on a voltage measured relative to an output of the DC-DC converter remaining above a threshold voltage level of the low voltage state after a second threshold amount of time. ### Claim 8 A method, comprising: receiving, by a DC (Direct Current)-DC converter in a plurality of DC-DC converters that are connected in series, power from a PV (photovoltaic) generator in a plurality of PV generators; outputting power by the DC-DC converter, wherein the DC-DC converter outputs power at a high voltage state or a low voltage state; wherein a DC bus is coupled to the plurality of DC-DC converters to receive power outputted by the plurality of DC-DC converters, and wherein the DC bus is coupled to a system comprising a load; and autonomously transitioning, by the DC-DC converter from operating in the high voltage state to the low voltage state based at least in part on local detection of both first and second conditions comprising, respectively: an output current of the DC-DC converter being below a threshold current for at least a threshold amount of time; and an output voltage of the DC-DC converter, measured relative to a node common to the plurality of DC-DC converters, meeting a voltage limit of the high voltage state. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The method of claim 8, wherein the DC bus is coupled to the system comprising the load by a switch, and wherein opening of the switch causes the output current of the DC-DC converter to transition below the threshold current. ### Claim 10 (depends on 8) The method of claim 8, wherein transitioning from the high voltage state to the low voltage state comprises deactivating the DC-DC converter. ### Claim 11 (depends on 8) The method of claim 8, wherein the DC-DC converter comprises an optimizer or a maximizer. ### Claim 12 (depends on 8) The method of claim 8, wherein the DC-DC converter transitions from the low voltage state to the high voltage state based at least in part on a voltage measured relative to an output of the DC-DC converter exceeding a voltage limit of the low voltage state. ### Claim 13 (depends on 8) The method of claim 8, wherein the DC-DC converter comprises a positive output terminal, a negative output terminal, and a connection to the node common to the plurality of DC-DC converters, and wherein the output voltage of the DC-DC converter is measured between the common node and one of the positive and negative output terminals. ### Claim 14 (depends on 8) The method of claim 8, wherein the DC-DC converter transitions from the low voltage state to the high voltage state based at least in part on a voltage measured relative to an output of the DC-DC converter remaining above a threshold voltage level of the low voltage state after a second threshold amount of time.