# US 12,184,229 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 12,184,229 B2 - Document ID: US12184229B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 18/106,491 - Filed: 2023-02-07 - Published: 2023-08-24 - Granted: 2024-12-31 - Earliest claimed: 2022-02-22 - Assignees: OMRON Corporation - Applicants: OMRON Corporation - Inventors: Takahiro Takeyama; Ryo Ogura; Jeongho Baik; Jun Nakaichi; Tsuyoshi Uchida; Tomoko Endo; Erica Martin - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12184229B2 ## CPC - H02S 40/36: characterised by special electrical interconnection means between two or more PV modules, e.g. electrical module-to-module connection - 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 13/34: the equipment being switches, relays or circuit breakers - H02S 40/30: Electrical components - H02S 40/32: comprising DC/AC inverter means associated with the PV module itself, e.g. AC modules - H02S 50/00: Monitoring or testing of PV systems, e.g. load balancing or fault identification - H02H 3/05: with means for increasing reliability, e.g. redundancy arrangements {(for logic circuits H03K19/003)} - H02J 1/10: Parallel operation of DC sources - H02J 3/001: Arrangements for handling faults or abnormalities, e.g. emergencies or contingencies - H02J 3/381: {Dispersed generators} - H02J 2101/24: Photovoltaics - 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) - 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) - H02J: ELECTRIC POWER NETWORKS; CIRCUIT ARRANGEMENTS OR SYSTEMS FOR SUPPLYING OR DISTRIBUTING ELECTRIC POWER; SYSTEMS FOR STORING ELECTRIC ENERGY ## Abstract A solar power generation system includes a string, an inverter, a first shutoff device, and a second shutoff device′. The string includes a plurality of solar cell modules connected in series. The first shutoff device cuts off the string and the inverter in response to a first control signal from the inverter. The second shutoff device cuts off a solar cell module group including one or more among the plurality of solar cell modules and either another solar cell module or the inverter in response to a second control signal from the first shutoff device. The second shutoff device includes a first switching unit that includes a first open and close unit and a first semiconductor switching device connected in parallel with the first open and close unit. The first semiconductor switching device is turned ON before the first open and close unit is operated. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A solar power generation system comprising: a string including a plurality of solar cell modules connected in series; an inverter connected to the string and configured to convert DC power output from the string to AC power; a first shutoff device connected between the string and the inverter, the first shutoff device configured to cut off the string and the inverter in response to a first control signal from the inverter; and a second shutoff device connected to an electric path connecting a solar cell module group and either another solar cell module or the inverter, the solar cell module group including one or more among the plurality of solar cell modules connected in series in the string, the second shutoff device configured to cut off the solar cell module group and either the another solar cell module or the inverter in response to a second control signal from the first shutoff device, wherein the second shutoff device is driven by power generated by the one or more among the plurality of solar cell modules connected in series in the solar cell module group, the second shutoff device includes a first switching unit connected to an electric path connecting an anode side terminal of the solar cell module group and either the another solar cell module or the inverter, the first switching unit includes a first open and close unit and a first semiconductor switching device connected in parallel with the first open and close unit, the first semiconductor switching device is turned ON before the first open and close unit is operated, the first shutoff device includes a third switching unit connected to an anode side terminal of the string and an anode side terminal of the inverter, the third switching unit includes a fifth open and close unit and a third semiconductor switching device connected in parallel with the fifth open and close unit, the third semiconductor switching device is turned ON before the fifth open and close unit is operated, the first shutoff device includes a fourth switching unit connected to a cathode side terminal of the string and a cathode side terminal of the inverter, the fourth switching unit includes a seventh open and close unit and a fourth semiconductor switching device connected in parallel with the seventh open and close unit, the fourth semiconductor switching device is turned ON before the seventh open and close unit is operated, and the third switching unit and the fourth switching unit are configured to be turned ON/OFF independently of each other. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The solar power generation system according to claim 1, wherein the first switching unit includes a second open and close unit connected in series with the first semiconductor switching device. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The solar power generation system according to claim 1, wherein the second shutoff device includes a second switching unit connected to an electric path connecting a cathode side terminal of the solar cell module group and either the another solar cell module or the inverter, the second switching unit includes a third open and close unit and a second semiconductor switching device connected in parallel with the third open and close unit, and the second semiconductor switching device is turned ON before the third open and close unit is operated. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The solar power generation system according to claim 3, wherein the second switching unit includes a fourth open and close unit connected in series with the second semiconductor switching device. ### Claim 5 (depends on 3) The solar power generation system according to claim 3, wherein the first switching unit and the second switching unit are configured to be turned ON/OFF simultaneously. ### Claim 6 (depends on 3) The solar power generation system according to claim 3, wherein the first switching unit and the second switching unit are configured to be turned ON/OFF independently of each other. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The solar power generation system according to claim 1, wherein the third switching unit includes a sixth open and close unit connected in series with the third semiconductor switching device. ### Claim 8 A solar power generation system comprising: a string including a plurality of solar cell modules connected in series; an inverter connected to the string and configured to convert DC power output from the string to AC power; a first shutoff device connected between the string and the inverter, the first shutoff device configured to cut off the string and the inverter in response to a first control signal from the inverter; and a second shutoff device connected to an electric path connecting a solar cell module group and either another solar cell module or the inverter, the solar cell module group including one or more among the plurality of solar cell modules connected in series in the string, the second shutoff device configured to cut off the solar cell module group and either the another solar cell module or the inverter in response to a second control signal from the first shutoff device, wherein the second shutoff device is driven by power generated by the one or more among the plurality of solar cell modules connected in series in the solar cell module group, the second shutoff device includes a first switching unit connected to an electric path connecting an anode side terminal of the solar cell module group and either the another solar cell module or the inverter, the first switching unit includes a first open and close unit and a first semiconductor switching device connected in parallel with the first open and close unit, the first semiconductor switching device is turned ON before the first open and close unit is operated, the first shutoff device includes a third switching unit connected to an anode side terminal of the string and an anode side terminal of the inverter, the third switching unit includes a fifth open and close unit and a third semiconductor switching device connected in parallel with the fifth open and close unit, the third semiconductor switching device is turned ON state before the fifth open and close unit is operated, the first shutoff device includes a fourth switching unit connected to a cathode side terminal of the string and a cathode side terminal of the inverter, the fourth switching unit includes a seventh open and close unit and a fourth semiconductor switching device connected in parallel with the seventh open and close unit, the fourth semiconductor switching device is turned ON before the seventh open and close unit is operated, and the fourth switching unit includes an eighth open and close unit connected in series with the fourth semiconductor switching device. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The solar power generation system according to claim 1, wherein the second shutoff device includes a bypass device connected in parallel with the solar cell module group and configured to form an electric path bypassing the solar cell module group. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The solar power generation system according to claim 1, wherein the first shutoff device is driven by power supplied from a commercial power supply. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The solar power generation system according to claim 1, wherein the inverter outputs the first control signal to the first shutoff device by power line communication. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The solar power generation system according to claim 1, wherein the inverter outputs the first control signal to the first shutoff device by wireless communication. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) The solar power generation system according to claim 1, wherein the first shutoff device outputs the second control signal to the second shutoff device by power line communication, upon receipt of the first control signal from the inverter. ### Claim 14 (depends on 1) The solar power generation system according to claim 1, wherein the first shutoff device outputs the second control signal to the second shutoff device by wireless communication, upon receipt of the first control signal from the inverter.