# US 12,375,033 B2 · Switching devices for a power converter

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

- Number: US 12,375,033 B2
- Document ID: US12375033B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 17/591,889
- Filed: 2022-02-03
- Published: 2022-05-19
- Granted: 2025-07-29
- Earliest claimed: 2016-09-22
- Assignees: Solaredge Technologies Ltd.
- Applicants: Solaredge Technologies Ltd.
- Inventors: Guy Sella; Yoav Galin; Meir Adest; Ilan Yoscovich; Avi Rubinshtein; David Braginsky; Naseem Jamal; Reuven Savitzky; Ariel Cohen
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12375033B2

## CPC

- H02S 40/30: Electrical components
- H02S 50/15: using optical means, e.g. using electroluminescence
- H03K 17/9505: {Constructional details}
- H03K 17/965: Switches controlled by moving an element forming part of the switch
- H03K 17/968: using opto-electronic devices
- H03K 17/97: using a magnetic movable element
- H03K 2217/94063: with optical detection
- H03K 2217/94068: with magnetic detection
- H03K 2217/96015: Constructional details for touch switches
- H03K 2217/96066: Thumbwheel, potentiometer, scrollbar or slider simulation by touch switch
- H03K 2217/965: Switches controlled by moving an element forming part of the switch
- Y02E 10/50: Photovoltaic [PV] energy
- 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)
- H03K: PULSE TECHNIQUE (measuring pulse characteristics G01R; modulating sinusoidal oscillations with pulses H03C; transmission of digital information H04L; discriminator circuits detecting phase difference between two signals by counting or integrating cycles of oscillation H03D3/04; automatic control, starting, synchronisation or stabilisation of generators of electronic oscillations or pulses where the type of generator is irrelevant or unspecified H03L; coding, decoding or code conversion, in general H03M)
- Y02E: REDUCTION OF GREENHOUSE GAS [GHG] EMISSIONS, RELATED TO ENERGY GENERATION, TRANSMISSION OR DISTRIBUTION

## Abstract

Mounting an agent on a cover of on an enclosure of an electronic device such that changing a physical location of the cover changes a location of the agent. In response to a change in the physical location of the cover, detecting a change in location of the agent with a sensor. Reading a transmitted signal from the sensor by a controller and changing a status of the electronic device according to instructions from the controller, the instructions being configured according to the transmitted signal of the sensor.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A method comprising:
mounting at least one reflective agent on a door;
connecting the door to a cover on an exterior of a power device enclosure using a connecting mechanism, wherein the door is movable from an open position to a closed position such that:
when the door is in the open position, the at least one reflective agent is in a detection range of a radiation sensor positioned on an interior of the power device enclosure and outside of the cover; and
when the door is in the closed position, the at least one reflective agent is outside of the detection range of the radiation sensor;
transmitting a beam using the radiation sensor;
in response to a change in position of the door, detecting a change in location of the surface at least one reflective agent with the radiation sensor;
reading a signal from the radiation sensor by a controller; and
changing a state of a power device according to instructions from the controller, said instructions being configured according to the signal of the radiation sensor.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, further comprising setting, by the controller, the power device to an ON state or an OFF state depending on the signal from the radiation sensor.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, further comprising setting, by the controller, the power device to a SAFE MODE or to a NON-SAFE MODE depending on the signal from the radiation sensor.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, further comprising setting the power device enclosure to a locked state or an unlocked state, wherein the setting is performed by a locking mechanism.

### Claim 5 (depends on 4)

The method of claim 4, wherein the locking mechanism includes a latch.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein the power device is a direct current (DC) to alternating current (AC) converter or a DC to DC converter.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1 wherein the power device is configured to perform Maximum Power Point Tracking (MPPT).

### Claim 8

An apparatus comprising:
a power device enclosure;
a power device enclosed by the power device enclosure;
a cover, mounted on an exterior of the power device enclosure;
a door comprising:
at least one reflective agent, and
a connecting mechanism,
wherein the door is connected to the cover with the connecting mechanism and wherein the door is movable from an open position to a closed position such that:
when the door is in the open position, the at least one reflective agent is in a detection range of a radiation sensor positioned on an interior of the power device enclosure and outside of the cover; and
when the door is in the closed position, the at least one reflective agent is outside of the detection range of the radiation sensor;
the radiation sensor configured to detect a change in location of the at least one reflective agent and output a signal depending on the change in location of the at least one reflective agent; and
a controller configured to change a state of the power device according to the signal.

### Claim 9 (depends on 8)

The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the radiation sensor is positioned on a side of the door proximate to the power device enclosure.

### Claim 10 (depends on 8)

The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the power device comprises a power converter for coupling to a photovoltaic system, and wherein the power converter is selected from a DC/DC converter or a DC/AC inverter.

### Claim 11 (depends on 8)

The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the controller is configured to set the power device to an ON state or an OFF state depending on the signal from the radiation sensor.

### Claim 12 (depends on 8)

The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the contoller is configured to set the power device to a SAFE MODE or to a NON-SAFE MODE depending on the signal from the radiation sensor.

### Claim 13 (depends on 8)

The apparatus of claim 8, further comprising a locking mechanism configured to set the power device enclosure to a locked state or an unlocked state.

### Claim 14 (depends on 13)

The apparatus of claim 13, wherein the locking mechanism includes a latch.

### Claim 15 (depends on 8)

The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the power devices is configured to perform Maximum Power Point Tracking (MPPT).

### Claim 16 (depends on 8)

The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the exterior of the power device enclosure comprises a plurality of connectors to which a plurality of conductors is connected, and wherein the plurality of conductors include:
a safety mechanism configured to prevent accidentally disconnecting the plurality of conductors from the plurality of connectors, wherein the safety mechanism comprises a click lock.

### Claim 17 (depends on 8)

The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the exterior of the power device enclosure comprises a plurality of connectors to which a plurality of conductors is connected; and wherein, when the door is in the closed position, the plurality of conductors and the plurality of connectors are inaccessible from the exterior of the power device enclosure and, when the door is in the open position, the plurality of conductors and the plurality of connectors are accessible from the exterior of the power device enclosure.

### Claim 18 (depends on 8)

The apparatus of claim 8,
wherein the radiation sensor comprises a transmitting part and a receiving part,
wherein the transmitting part transmits a beam of radiation at a specific wavelength or across a spectrum of wavelengths, and
wherein the at least one reflective agent is configured to at least partially reflect back the beam of radiation transmitted by the transmitting part of the radiation sensor.

### Claim 19 (depends on 8)

The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the connecting mechanism comprises at least one of: a set of hinges, joints, and a sliding door.

### Claim 20 (depends on 8)

The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the at one reflective agent includes a plurality of reflective agents, and wherein the apparatus further comprises a plurality of radiation sensors.