Systems and methods for remote or local shut-off of a photovoltaic system
AssigneeTigo Energy, Inc.
InventorsMaxym MAKHOTA, Daniel Eizips, Dan Kikinis
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Systems and methods for shut-down of a photovoltaic system. In one embodiment, a method implemented in a computer system includes: communicating, via a central controller, with a plurality of local management units (LMUs), each of the LMUs coupled to control a respective solar module; receiving, via the central controller, a shut-down signal from a user device (e.g., a hand-held device, a computer, or a wireless switch unit); and in response to receiving the shut-down signal, shutting down operation of the respective solar module for each of the LMUs.
Claims20
A local management unit of a solar module, comprising:
- a communication module;
- a controller;
- a circuit path coupled between outputs of the solar module, the circuit path comprising a first switch connected in series with a diode, wherein
- the first switch is controlled by the controller,
- when the switch is a closed state, the diode is forward biased to provide a voltage to the controller using electric power generated by the solar module, and
- when the switch is an open state, the circuit path is open and the diode does not provide the voltage to power the controller;
- and
- at least one second switch connected to an output of the local management unit;
- wherein in response to a shut-down signal received via the communication module, the controller is configured to
- activate the at least one second switch to prevent power generated by the solar module from being outputted from the local management unit, and
- activate the first switch to receive from the diode the voltage for continue operations.
A method implemented in a local management unit of a solar module, the method comprising:
- providing, in the local management unit, a circuit path coupled between outputs of the solar module, the circuit path comprising a first switch connected in series with a diode, wherein
- the first switch is controlled by a controller of the local management unit,
- when the switch is a closed state, the diode is forward biased to provide a voltage to the controller using electric power generated by the solar module, and
- when the switch is an open state, the circuit path is open and the diode does not provide the voltage to power the controller;
- providing, in the local management unit, at least one second switch connected to an output of the local management unit;
- receiving, in the controller, a shut-down signal in the controller;
- activating, by the controller, the at least one second switch to prevent power generated by the solar module from being outputted from the local management unit;
- and
- activating, by the controller, the first switch to receive from the diode the voltage for continue operations of the controller.
A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium storing thereon computer readable instructions configured to instruct a local management unit of a solar module to perform a method, the method comprising:
- providing, in the local management unit, a circuit path coupled between outputs of the solar module, the circuit path comprising a first switch connected in series with a diode, wherein
- the first switch is controlled by a controller of the local management unit,
- when the switch is a closed state, the diode is forward biased to provide a voltage to the controller using electric power generated by the solar module, and
- when the switch is an open state, the circuit path is open and the diode does not provide the voltage to power the controller;
- providing, in the local management unit, at least one second switch connected to an output of the local management unit;
- receiving, in the controller, a shut-down signal in the controller;
- activating, by the controller, the at least one second switch to prevent power generated by the solar module from being outputted from the local management unit;
- and
- activating, by the controller, the first switch to receive from the diode the voltage for continue operations of the controller.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.