# US 2013/0154394 A1 · Method and device for controlling an electric current generation of a submodule in a photovoltaic system > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2013/0154394 A1 - Document ID: US20130154394A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 13/702,960 - Filed: 2011-04-15 - Published: 2013-06-20 - Earliest claimed: 2010-06-08 - Inventors: Tobias Mildenstein; Karsten Funk - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20130154394A1 ## CPC - G05F 1/46: wherein the variable actually regulated by the final control device is DC (G05F1/625 takes precedence) - H02J 7/35: with light sensitive cells - H10F 77/955: {for photovoltaic devices} - Y02E 10/56: Power conversion systems, e.g. maximum power point trackers - G05F: SYSTEMS FOR REGULATING ELECTRIC OR MAGNETIC VARIABLES - 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 for controlling current generation in a photovoltaic system having at least one submodule connected to the photovoltaic system. The method includes an alternating switching of the submodule taking place in a changeover time clock pulse between a switching-on state and a bypass switching state, the submodule being interconnected during the switching-on state of the photovoltaic system and being bridged in the bypass switching state. During the bypass switching state, an overall current strength of the photovoltaic system is measured and a setpoint value ascertained from this is stored temporarily. During the switching-on state, a submodule current strength is measured and compared to the setpoint value, and upon a dropping off of the submodule current strength below the setpoint value, a resetting, taking place independently of the switchover time clock pulse, of the submodule to the bypass switching state is carried out. ## Claims ### Claim at position 1 1-14. (canceled) ### Claim 15 A method for controlling current generation in a photovoltaic system having at least one submodule connected into the photovoltaic system, comprising: switching of the submodule at a switchover time clock pulse alternately between a switching-on state and a bypass switching state, the submodule being interconnected during the switching-on state of the photovoltaic system and being bridged in the bypass switching state; during the bypass switching state, measuring an overall current strength of the photovoltaic system, and ascertaining a setpoint value from the overall current strength, and temporarily storing the ascertained set point value, and, during the switching-on state, measuring a submodule current strength and comparing the submodule current strength to the setpoint value; and resetting the submodule into the bypass switching state independently of the switchover time clock pulse in response to a drop in the submodule current strength below the setpoint value. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The method as recited in claim 15, wherein the resetting is carried out at a switching time which is a function of a magnitude of a deviation between the setpoint value and the submodule current strength. ### Claim 17 (depends on 15) The method as recited in claim 15, wherein the switching time of the resetting is influenced by a discharge behavior of a capacitor connected to the submodule. ### Claim 18 (depends on 15) The method as recited in claim 15, wherein switching time of the resetting is influenced by a discharge behavior of at least one inherent illumination-dependent capacitance of a solar cell of the submodule. ### Claim 19 (depends on 15) The method as recited in claim 15, wherein the switchover time clock pulse has a value that is a function of the submodule current strength. ### Claim 20 (depends on 15) The method as recited in claim 15, wherein the switchover time clock pulse is able to be set externally at will via an interface. ### Claim 21 A device for controlling current generation in a photovoltaic system having at least one submodule connected to the photovoltaic system, the device comprising: a control circuit having a first current measuring device to measure a strength of a current generated by the submodule, a second current measuring device to measure a strength of a current generated in the photovoltaic system, a changeover switch to set the submodule alternately to a switching-on state or a bypass switching state, and a timer unit that sets the changeover switch. ### Claim 22 (depends on 21) The device as recited in claim 21, wherein the submodule has an energy store in a form of a capacitor that is connected in parallel. ### Claim 23 (depends on 21) The device as recited in claim 21, wherein the submodule has an energy store in a form of an inherent diode capacitance of the solar cells. ### Claim 24 (depends on 21) The device as recited in claim 21, wherein the timer unit has a timer capacitor that is fed by at least one of the submodule and the photovoltaic system. ### Claim 25 (depends on 21) The device as recited in claim 21, wherein the current measuring device includes a system of switching transistors that is situated in a measuring shunt. ### Claim 26 (depends on 21) The device as recited in claim 21, wherein the control circuit has an interface for carrying out a forced switching of the submodule to a switching-on state or a bypass switching state. ### Claim 27 (depends on 26) The device as recited in claim 26, wherein the interface is connected to a communications unit for the forced switching which, in the case of at least one of danger and of maintenance, transfers the at least one submodule to the bypass switching state. ### Claim 28 (depends on 26) The device as recited in claim 26, wherein, for a transport, the at least one submodule is able to be transferred to the bypass switching state for the forced switching via the interface.