# US 12,184,226 B2 · Solar power generation system

> Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt

- Number: US 12,184,226 B2
- Document ID: US12184226B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 17/429,629
- Filed: 2019-02-28
- Published: 2022-04-07
- Granted: 2024-12-31
- Earliest claimed: 2019-02-28
- Assignees: OMRON Corporation
- Applicants: OMRON Corporation
- Inventors: Ryo Ogura; Tomoko Endo; Erica Martin; Tsuyoshi Uchida
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12184226B2

## CPC

- H02H 1/00: Details of emergency protective circuit arrangements
- H02S 40/32: comprising DC/AC inverter means associated with the PV module itself, e.g. AC modules
- 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)
- H02J 3/381: {Dispersed generators}
- H02S 40/36: characterised by special electrical interconnection means between two or more PV modules, e.g. electrical module-to-module connection
- H02S 50/00: Monitoring or testing of PV systems, e.g. load balancing or fault identification
- H02J 2101/24: Photovoltaics
- 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)
- 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
- Y02E: REDUCTION OF GREENHOUSE GAS [GHG] EMISSIONS, RELATED TO ENERGY GENERATION, TRANSMISSION OR DISTRIBUTION

## Abstract

The solar power generation system includes a string, an inverter, and shut-off devices. The string includes a plurality of solar cell module groups connected in series with each other. The solar cell module groups each include a plurality of solar cell modules. The inverter is connected to the string and converts DC power output from the solar cell modules to AC power. The shut-off devices are installed respectively in electrical paths connecting between the solar cell module groups and sever the connection between the solar cell module groups in accordance with a control signal from the inverter.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A solar power generation system comprising:
a string including a plurality of solar cell module groups connected in series with each other, each of the solar cell module groups of said plurality of solar cell module groups including a plurality of solar cell modules;
an inverter connected to the string, the inverter configured to convert DC power output from the solar cell modules to AC power; and
shut-off devices respectively installed in electrical paths connecting between the solar cell module groups, the shut-off devices configured to sever a connection between the solar cell module groups in accordance with a control signal from the inverter;
wherein each of the shut-off devices includes a signal receiving unit configured to receive the control signal from the inverter, and a bypass circuit configured to cause the signal receiving unit to receive the control signal from the inverter in a state where the connection between the solar cell module groups is cut off; and
wherein the shut-off devices are further configured to output a voltage signal to the inverter after severing the connection between the solar cell module groups in accordance with the control signal from the inverter.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The solar power generation system according to claim 1, wherein the shut-off devices are driven by electrical power from the solar cell modules.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The solar power generation system according to claim 1, wherein the inverter is further configured to output the control signal to the shut-off devices by power line communication.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The solar power generation system according to claim 1, wherein the shut-off devices are externally attached to the solar cell modules.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The solar power generation system according to claim 1, wherein the total number of shut-off devices installed in said electrical paths is less than the total number of solar cell modules included in the string.