# US 12,184,225 B2 · Systems and methods to increase the reliability and the service life time of photovoltaic (PV) module > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 12,184,225 B2 - Document ID: US12184225B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 18/464,424 - Filed: 2023-09-11 - Published: 2023-12-28 - Granted: 2024-12-31 - Earliest claimed: 2018-05-10 - Assignees: Solaredge Technologies Ltd. - Applicants: Solaredge Technologies Ltd. - Inventors: Ilan Yoscovich; Liron Har-Shai; Amir Grossberg; Matan Atias - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12184225B2 ## CPC - H02S 40/30: Electrical components - H02J 1/08: Three-wire DC power distribution systems; Systems having more than three wires - H02J 1/082: DC supplies with two or more different DC voltage levels - H02J 3/381: {Dispersed generators} - H02J 3/40: Synchronisation of generators for connection to a network or to another generator - H02J 3/466: Scheduling or selectively controlling the operation of the generators or sources, e.g. connecting or disconnecting generators to meet a demand - H02J 2101/24: Photovoltaics - H02M 1/322: {Means for rapidly discharging a capacitor of the converter for protecting electrical components or for preventing electrical shock} - H02M 7/5395: by pulse-width modulation - Y02E 10/56: Power conversion systems, e.g. maximum power point trackers - 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) - H02J: ELECTRIC POWER NETWORKS; CIRCUIT ARRANGEMENTS OR SYSTEMS FOR SUPPLYING OR DISTRIBUTING ELECTRIC POWER; SYSTEMS FOR STORING ELECTRIC ENERGY - 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 An apparatus may determine a parameter related to a voltage value at a midpoint terminal of a system power device, and may adjust a voltage applied to a second terminal of the system power device based on the parameter and a reference value. The second terminal may be different from the midpoint terminal. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An apparatus comprising: converter circuitry configured to convert input voltage to output voltage; a switch comprising a first switch terminal and a second switch terminal, wherein the first switch terminal is connected to a terminal of the converter circuitry, the switch is configured to connect between the terminal of the converter circuitry and a terminal of a system power device and to apply the output voltage from the converter circuitry to the terminal of the system power device when the switch is controlled to connect the first switch terminal to the second switch terminal; and controller circuitry configured to obtain a first parameter and to control, based on the first parameter, the switch to connect the first switch terminal to the second switch terminal or disconnect the first switch terminal from the second switch terminal, wherein the first parameter comprises a time value related to a time of day. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the converter circuitry is configured to connect to a power supply. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the converter circuitry is configured to connect to a ground potential. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the second switch terminal is configured to be connected to a terminal of a second system power device. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the second switch terminal is configured to be connected to a terminal of a series string of power devices. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the second switch terminal is configured to be connected to a terminal of a series string of power sources. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The apparatus of claim 6, wherein the power sources are photovoltaic power sources. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the controller circuitry is further configured to obtain a second parameter and to control, based on the second parameter, the switch to connect the first switch terminal to the second switch terminal or disconnect the first switch terminal from the second switch terminal, and wherein the second parameter comprises at least one of: an irradiance value, a temperature value, a current value, a voltage value, or a power value. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first parameter is compared to a daytime threshold value to determine a daytime mode of operation. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first parameter is compared to a nighttime threshold value to determine a nighttime mode of operation. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a clock configured to determine the first parameter. ### Claim 12 (depends on 8) The apparatus of claim 8, further comprising a sensor to determine the second parameter, wherein the sensor comprises at least one of: an irradiance sensor, a temperature sensor, a current sensor, a voltage sensor, or a power sensor. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising second converter circuitry, wherein the controller circuitry is configured to connect the second converter circuitry to apply voltage based on the first parameter. ### Claim 14 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the converter circuitry is configured to operate in a daytime mode of operation and a nighttime mode of operation, and the output voltage in the nighttime mode of operation is greater than the output voltage in the daytime mode of operation. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The apparatus of claim 14, wherein the output voltage in the nighttime mode of operation is 100 volts or greater, and the output voltage in the daytime mode of operation is less than 100 volts. ### Claim 16 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the controller circuitry is configured to alleviate, based on the output voltage, Potential Induced Degradation (PID). ### Claim 17 A system comprising: converter circuitry comprising a terminal connected to a first switch terminal of a switch, the converter circuitry configured to convert input voltage to output voltage; a system power device comprising a terminal connected to a second switch terminal of the switch; the switch configured to be controlled, by controller circuitry, to connect the first switch terminal to the second switch terminal or disconnect the first switch from the second switch terminal; and the controller circuitry configured to: obtain a first parameter; and based on the first parameter, control the switch to connect the first switch terminal to the second switch terminal such that the output voltage is applied to the terminal of the system power device, wherein the first parameter comprises a time value related to a time of day. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The system of claim 17, wherein the converter circuitry is configured to convert direct current (DC) to DC current. ### Claim 19 (depends on 17) The system of claim 17, wherein the system power device is configured to convert alternating current (AC) to direct current (DC). ### Claim 20 A method comprising: obtaining, by controller circuitry, a first parameter, wherein the first parameter comprises a time value related to a time of day; controlling, based on the first parameter, a switch to connect a terminal of converter circuitry to a terminal of a system power device; and applying output voltage of the converter circuitry to the terminal of the system power device via the connection.