# US 12,224,706 B2 · Pairing of components in a direct current distributed power generation system

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- Number: US 12,224,706 B2
- Document ID: US12224706B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 18/338,527
- Filed: 2023-06-21
- Published: 2024-02-08
- Granted: 2025-02-11
- Earliest claimed: 2006-12-06
- Assignees: Solaredge Technologies Ltd.
- Applicants: Solaredge Technologies Ltd.
- Inventors: Guy Sella; Meir Adest; Lior Handelsman; Yoav Galin; Amir Fishelov; Meir Gazit; Ilan Yoscovich; Yaron Binder
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12224706B2

## CPC

- H02S 50/00: Monitoring or testing of PV systems, e.g. load balancing or fault identification
- G06Q 30/0242: Determining effectiveness of advertisements
- G06Q 30/0273: Determination of fees for advertising
- H02J 1/10: Parallel operation of DC sources
- H02J 1/102: being switching converters (H02J1/108, H02J1/12 take precedence)
- H02S 40/34: comprising specially adapted electrical connection means to be structurally associated with the PV module, e.g. junction boxes
- H10F 77/955: {for photovoltaic devices}
- H02J 3/381: {Dispersed generators}
- H02J 7/35: with light sensitive cells
- H02J 2101/10: Dispersed power generation using fossil fuels, e.g. diesel generators
- H02J 2101/20: Dispersed power generation using renewable energy sources
- H02J 2101/24: Photovoltaics
- H02J 2101/28: Wind energy
- H02J 2101/30: Fuel cells
- Y02E 10/56: Power conversion systems, e.g. maximum power point trackers
- Y02E 10/76: Power conversion electric or electronic aspects
- 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)
- G06Q: INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY [ICT] SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR ADMINISTRATIVE, COMMERCIAL, FINANCIAL, MANAGERIAL OR SUPERVISORY PURPOSES; SYSTEMS OR METHODS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR ADMINISTRATIVE, COMMERCIAL, FINANCIAL, MANAGERIAL OR SUPERVISORY PURPOSES, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
- H02J: ELECTRIC POWER NETWORKS; CIRCUIT ARRANGEMENTS OR SYSTEMS FOR SUPPLYING OR DISTRIBUTING ELECTRIC POWER; SYSTEMS FOR STORING ELECTRIC ENERGY
- H10F: INORGANIC SEMICONDUCTOR DEVICES SENSITIVE TO INFRARED RADIATION, LIGHT, ELECTROMAGNETIC RADIATION OF SHORTER WAVELENGTH OR CORPUSCULAR RADIATION
- Y02E: REDUCTION OF GREENHOUSE GAS [GHG] EMISSIONS, RELATED TO ENERGY GENERATION, TRANSMISSION OR DISTRIBUTION

## Abstract

A method of signaling between a photovoltaic module and an inverter module. The inverter module is connected to the photovoltaic module. In an initial mode of operation an initial code is modulated thereby producing an initial signal. The initial signal is transmitted from the inverter module to the photovoltaic module. The initial signal is received by the photovoltaic module. The operating mode is then changed to a normal mode of power conversion, and during the normal mode of operation a control signal is transmitted from the inverter to the photovoltaic module. A control code is demodulated and received from the control signal. The control code is compared with the initial code producing a comparison. The control command of the control signal is validated as a valid control command from the inverter module with the control command only acted upon when the comparison is a positive comparison.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A method comprising:
receiving, by a photovoltaic module coupled to a photovoltaic panel and from a communication module, an initial signal;
retrieving an initial code from the initial signal;
pairing the photovoltaic module to the communication module;
receiving, by the photovoltaic module, a control signal;
retrieving a control code from the control signal;
comparing the control code to the initial code;
determining, based on the comparing, that the control signal is valid; and
operating, based on the determining that the control signal is valid, the photovoltaic module to output power from the photovoltaic panel.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein the determining comprises, based on a determination that the comparing is resulting in a positive comparison, determining that the control signal is valid.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, further comprising:
excluding, based on the pairing, the photovoltaic module from validating commands signaled by devices other than the communication module.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein the receiving the initial signal comprises receiving a wireless signal.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein the receiving the initial signal comprises receiving a signal modulated over a power line coupled to an output of the photovoltaic module.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein the receiving the initial signal comprises receiving a source identification code identifying the communication module as a source of the initial signal.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein the determining comprises validating, based on the control code matching a source identification code of the initial signal, the control code retrieved from the control signal.

### Claim 8 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein the control signal comprises a keep-alive signal.

### Claim 9 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein the comparing the control code to the initial code comprises comparing a signal strength of the control signal to a signal strength of the initial signal.

### Claim 10 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein the operating the photovoltaic module to output power from the photovoltaic panel comprises converting power, using maximum peak power tracking (MPPT), from the photovoltaic panel to an output of the photovoltaic module.

### Claim 11 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein the communication module is coupled to a load via a control line.

### Claim 12 (depends on 11)

The method of claim 11, wherein the load is a direct current (DC)/alternating current (AC) converter.

### Claim 13 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein the communication module is integrated in a direct current (DC)-to-alternating current (AC) converter.

### Claim 14

A method comprising:
operating a photovoltaic module in an initial mode;
receiving a control signal from a communication module;
determining whether the communication module is paired to the photovoltaic module; and
based on the determining and the control signal, determining whether to operate the photovoltaic module in a power production mode.

### Claim 15 (depends on 14)

The method of claim 14, wherein the operating the photovoltaic module in the initial mode is for a period of time and wherein the method further comprises, based on a determination that the communication module is not paired to the photovoltaic module, operating the photovoltaic module in the initial mode for another period of time.

### Claim 16 (depends on 14)

The method of claim 14, wherein the power production mode comprises operating a direct current (DC)-to-DC converter to convert power from an input of the photovoltaic module to an output of the photovoltaic module.

### Claim 17 (depends on 14)

The method of claim 14, wherein the initial mode is a safety mode of operation.

### Claim 18

A method comprising:
operating a photovoltaic module in a power production mode for a first period of time;
receiving a control signal from a communication module; and
determining, for a second period of time, whether the communication module is paired to the photovoltaic module, wherein the determining comprises:
based on a determination that the communication module is paired to the photovoltaic module and based on a determination that the control signal comprises a keep-alive signal, operating the photovoltaic module in the power production mode for the second period of time; or
based on a determination that the communication module is not paired to the photovoltaic module, transitioning the photovoltaic module from the power production mode to an initial mode and operating in the initial mode for the second period of time.

### Claim 19

A method comprising:
receiving, by a photovoltaic module coupled to a photovoltaic panel and from a communication module, an initial signal;
retrieving an initial code from the initial signal;
pairing the photovoltaic module to the communication module;
receiving, by the photovoltaic module, a control signal;
retrieving a control code from the control signal;
comparing the control code to the initial code;
determining, based on the comparing, that the control signal is invalid; and
operating, based on the determining that the control signal is invalid, the photovoltaic module in a safety mode of operation.

### Claim 20 (depends on 19)

The method of claim 19, wherein the determining comprises, based on a determination that the comparing is not resulting in a positive comparison, determining that the control signal is invalid.

### Claim 21 (depends on 19)

The method of claim 19, wherein the determining comprises setting an alert condition.

### Claim 22 (depends on 19)

The method of claim 19, wherein the safety mode of operation is a current limited mode of operation.

### Claim 23 (depends on 19)

The method of claim 19, wherein the determining comprises invalidating, based on the control code mismatching a source identification code of the initial signal, the control code retrieved from the control signal.

### Claim 24 (depends on 19)

The method of claim 19, further comprising:
excluding, based on the pairing, the photovoltaic module from validating commands signaled by devices other than the communication module.

### Claim 25 (depends on 19)

The method of claim 19, wherein the receiving the initial signal comprises receiving a wireless signal.

### Claim 26 (depends on 19)

The method of claim 19, wherein the receiving the initial signal comprises receiving a signal modulated over a power line coupled to an output of the photovoltaic module.

### Claim 27 (depends on 19)

The method of claim 19, wherein the receiving the initial signal comprises receiving a source identification code identifying the communication module as a source of the initial signal.

### Claim 28 (depends on 19)

The method of claim 19, wherein the control signal comprises a keep-alive signal.

### Claim 29 (depends on 19)

The method of claim 19, wherein the comparing the control code to the initial code comprises comparing a signal strength of the control signal to a signal strength of the initial signal.

### Claim 30 (depends on 19)

The method of claim 19, wherein the communication module is coupled to a load via a control line.

### Claim 31 (depends on 30)

The method of claim 30, wherein the load is a direct current (DC)/alternating current (AC) converter.

### Claim 32 (depends on 19)

The method of claim 19, wherein the communication module is integrated in a direct current (DC)-to-alternating current (AC) converter.