# US 12,184,055 B2 · Arc detection device, solar inverter, indoor wiring system, breaker, solar panel, solar panel- attached module, and junction box

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- Number: US 12,184,055 B2
- Document ID: US12184055B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 17/908,987
- Filed: 2021-03-03
- Published: 2023-03-30
- Granted: 2024-12-31
- Earliest claimed: 2020-03-11
- Assignees: Panasonic Intellectual Property Management Co., Ltd.
- Applicants: Panasonic Intellectual Property Management Co., Ltd.
- Inventors: Tatsuo Koga; Yoshio Mitsutake; Keita Kanamori
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12184055B2

## CPC

- H02H 1/0015: {Using arc detectors}
- H02S 50/10: Testing of PV devices, e.g. of PV modules or single PV cells (testing of semiconductor devices during manufacturing {H10P74/00})
- G01R 31/1263: {of solid or fluid materials, e.g. insulation films, bulk material; of semiconductors or LV electronic components or parts; of cable, line or wire insulation}
- G01R 31/14: Circuits therefor {, e.g. for generating test voltages, sensing circuits (G01R31/1209 - G01R31/1227 take precedence; for testing switches G01R31/327)}
- G01R 31/40: Testing power supplies (testing photovoltaic devices H02S50/10)
- H02H 3/50: responsive to the appearance of abnormal wave forms, e.g. AC in DC installations
- 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 7/268: {for DC systems}
- H02S 40/30: Electrical components
- H02H 7/1213: {for DC-DC converters}
- H02S 50/00: Monitoring or testing of PV systems, e.g. load balancing or fault identification
- Y02E 10/50: Photovoltaic [PV] energy
- 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)
- H02S: GENERATION OF ELECTRIC POWER BY CONVERSION OF INFRARED RADIATION, VISIBLE LIGHT OR ULTRAVIOLET LIGHT, e.g. USING PHOTOVOLTAIC [PV] MODULES (obtaining electrical energy from radioactive sources G21H1/12; light sensitive inorganic semiconductor devices H10F; light sensitive organic semiconductor devices H10K30/00; thermoelectric devices H10N10/00; pyroelectric devices H10N15/00)
- G01R: MEASURING ELECTRIC VARIABLES; MEASURING MAGNETIC VARIABLES (indicating correct tuning of resonant circuits H03J3/12)
- Y02E: REDUCTION OF GREENHOUSE GAS [GHG] EMISSIONS, RELATED TO ENERGY GENERATION, TRANSMISSION OR DISTRIBUTION

## Abstract

An arc detection device includes a voltage detector connected between a first wire and a second wire to detect a voltage between the first wire and the second wire, the first wire connecting a positive electrode of a DC/DC converter and a plurality of DC/DC converters and branching from the positive electrode of the DC power source into the plurality of DC/DC converters, the second wire connecting a negative electrode of the DC/DC converter and the plurality of DC/DC converters and branching from the negative electrode of the DC/DC converter into the plurality of DC/DC converters; and an arc determiner that determines an occurrence of an arc based on the voltage detected by the voltage detector.

## Claims

### Claim 1

An arc detection device comprising:
a voltage detector connected between a first wire and a second wire to detect a voltage between the first wire and the second wire, the first wire connecting a positive electrode of a direct current (DC) power source and a plurality of devices and branching from the DC power source into the plurality of devices, the second wire connecting a negative electrode of the DC power source and the plurality of devices and branching from the DC power source into the plurality of devices; and
an arc determiner that determines an occurrence of an arc based on the voltage detected by the voltage detector.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

A solar inverter comprising:
the arc detection device according to claim 1; and
a converter that converts electric power output from the DC power source.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

An indoor wiring system comprising:
the arc detection device according to claim 1;
the first wire;
the second wire; and
the plurality of devices placed indoors.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

A breaker comprising the arc detection device according to claim 1, wherein
the breaker blocks a current flowing through each of the first wire and the second wire, when an occurrence of an arc is determined.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

A solar panel comprising the arc detection device according to claim 1, wherein
the solar panel generates electricity from sunlight.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

A solar panel-attached module comprising the arc detection device according to claim 1, wherein
the solar panel-attached module converts a signal output from a solar panel.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

A junction box comprising the arc detection device according to claim 1, wherein
the junction box connects a solar panel and a solar inverter.