# US 2017/0288408 A1 · Solar Panel Disconnect and Reactivation System > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2017/0288408 A1 - Document ID: US20170288408A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 15/087,216 - Filed: 2016-03-31 - Published: 2017-10-05 - Earliest claimed: 2016-03-31 - Assignees: Texas Instruments Incorporated - Applicants: Texas Instruments Incorporated - Inventors: Il Han Kim; Xiaolin Lu - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20170288408A1 ## CPC - H02S 50/00: Monitoring or testing of PV systems, e.g. load balancing or fault identification - H02J 3/38: Arrangements for feeding a single network from two or more generators or sources in parallel; Arrangements for feeding already energised networks from additional generators or sources in parallel - H02J 3/381: {Dispersed generators} - H02J 3/388: Arrangements for the handling of islanding, e.g. for disconnection or for avoiding the disconnection of power - H02J 3/466: Scheduling or selectively controlling the operation of the generators or sources, e.g. connecting or disconnecting generators to meet a demand - H02S 40/32: comprising DC/AC inverter means associated with the PV module itself, e.g. AC modules - H02S 40/34: comprising specially adapted electrical connection means to be structurally associated with the PV module, e.g. junction boxes - H02J 2101/25: {involving maximum power point tracking control for photovoltaic sources} - Y02E 10/56: Power conversion systems, e.g. maximum power point trackers - Y02E 60/00: Enabling technologies; Technologies with a potential or indirect contribution to GHG emissions mitigation - Y04S 40/121: using the power network as support for the transmission - 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) - H02J: ELECTRIC POWER NETWORKS; CIRCUIT ARRANGEMENTS OR SYSTEMS FOR SUPPLYING OR DISTRIBUTING ELECTRIC POWER; SYSTEMS FOR STORING ELECTRIC ENERGY - Y02E: REDUCTION OF GREENHOUSE GAS [GHG] EMISSIONS, RELATED TO ENERGY GENERATION, TRANSMISSION OR DISTRIBUTION - Y04S: SYSTEMS INTEGRATING TECHNOLOGIES RELATED TO POWER NETWORK OPERATION, COMMUNICATION OR INFORMATION TECHNOLOGIES FOR IMPROVING THE ELECTRICAL POWER GENERATION, TRANSMISSION, DISTRIBUTION, MANAGEMENT OR USAGE, i.e. SMART GRIDS ## Abstract A photovoltaic system with an inverter, at least one solar panel for providing electrical power, and electrical wiring for coupling electrical power from the at least one solar panel to the inverter. Also included is a transmitter for transmitting a messaging protocol along the electrical wiring, where the protocol includes a multibit wireline signal. Also included is circuitry for selectively connecting the electrical power from the at least one solar panel along the electrical wiring to the inverter in response to the messaging protocol. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A photovoltaic system, comprising: an inverter; at least one solar panel for providing electrical power; electrical wiring for coupling electrical power from the at least one solar panel to the inverter; a transmitter for transmitting a messaging protocol, comprising a multibit wireline signal, along the electrical wiring; and circuitry for selectively connecting the electrical power from the at least one solar panel along the electrical wiring to the inverter in response to the messaging protocol. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The photovoltaic system of claim 1 wherein the circuitry for selectively connecting comprises a receiver associated with the at least one solar panel. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The photovoltaic system of claim 2 wherein the circuitry for selectively connecting further comprises a maximum power point tracker associated with the at least one solar panel, wherein the receiver is operable to communicate a control signal to the maximum power point tracker for disconnecting the electrical power from the at least one solar panel to the inverter. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The photovoltaic system of claim 1: wherein the messaging protocol comprises a plurality of alike multibit signals; and wherein the circuitry for selectively connecting is for disconnecting the electrical power in response to an absence of detecting an alike multibit signal during a period of time. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The photovoltaic system of claim 1: wherein the messaging protocol comprises a plurality of alike multibit signals; wherein each of the alike multibit signals is communicated over a predetermined period of time; and wherein the circuitry for selectively connecting is for disconnecting the electrical power in response to an absence of detecting an alike multibit signal during the predetermined period of time. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The photovoltaic system of claim 1: wherein the messaging protocol comprises a plurality of alike multibit signals; wherein each of the alike multibit signals is communicated in a respective predetermined period of time so that multiple signals are communicated over a plurality of predetermined periods of time; and wherein the circuitry for selectively connecting is for disconnecting the electrical power in response to an absence of detecting an alike multibit signal during a single one of the predetermined periods of time. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The photovoltaic system of claim 1: wherein the messaging protocol comprises a plurality of alike multibit signals; wherein each of the alike multibit signals is communicated in a respective predetermined period of time so that multiple signals are communicated over a plurality of predetermined periods of time; and wherein the circuitry for selectively connecting is for disconnecting the electrical power in response to an absence of detecting an alike multibit signal in a majority of predetermined periods of time in the plurality of predetermined periods of time. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The photovoltaic system of claim 7 wherein each of the alike multibit signals is selected from a set of pseudo-orthogonal signals. ### Claim 9 (depends on 7) The photovoltaic system of claim 7 wherein the plurality of predetermined periods of time comprise at least seven predetermined periods of time. ### Claim 10 (depends on 7) The photovoltaic system of claim 7 wherein the plurality of predetermined periods of time comprise at least nine predetermined periods of time. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The photovoltaic system of claim 1: wherein the messaging protocol comprises a plurality of alike multibit signals; wherein each of the alike multibit signals is communicated over a predetermined period of time; and wherein the circuitry for selectively connecting is for connecting the electrical power in response to detecting an alike multibit signal during the predetermined period of time. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The photovoltaic system of claim 1: wherein the messaging protocol comprises a plurality of alike multibit signals; wherein each of the alike multibit signals is communicated in a respective predetermined period of time so that multiple signals are communicated over a plurality of predetermined periods of time; and wherein the circuitry for selectively connecting is for connecting the electrical power in response to detecting an alike multibit signal during a single one of the predetermined periods of time. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) The photovoltaic system of claim 1: wherein the messaging protocol comprises a plurality of alike multibit signals; wherein each of the alike multibit signals is communicated in a respective predetermined period of time so that multiple signals are communicated over a plurality of predetermined periods of time; and wherein the circuitry for selectively connecting is for connecting the electrical power in response to detecting an alike multibit signal in a majority of predetermined periods of time in the plurality of predetermined periods of time. ### Claim 14 (depends on 1) The photovoltaic system of claim 1 wherein the inverter further comprises a portion of the circuitry for selectively connecting, the portion comprising an actuator. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The photovoltaic system of claim 14 wherein the actuator is user-operated. ### Claim 16 (depends on 14) The photovoltaic system of claim 14 wherein the actuator is operable in response to detecting an electrical spike. ### Claim 17 (depends on 1) The photovoltaic system of claim 1 and further comprising: a plurality of solar panels, the plurality of solar panels comprising the at least one solar panel for providing electrical power; electrical wiring for coupling electrical power from the plurality of solar panels to the inverter; and circuitry for selectively connecting electrical power from any solar panel in the plurality of solar panels along the electrical wiring in response to the messaging protocol. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The photovoltaic system of claim 17 wherein the circuitry for selectively connecting electrical power is operable to connect electrical power from a first subset of the plurality of solar panels along the electrical wiring to the inverter in response to the messaging protocol while at a same time to disconnect a second subset of the plurality of solar panels from the electrical wiring in response to the messaging protocol. ### Claim 19 (depends on 17) The photovoltaic system of claim 17 wherein the circuitry for selectively connecting electrical power is operable to connect electrical power from a first subset of the plurality of solar panels along the electrical wiring to the inverter in response to a first pseudo-orthogonal bit sequence in the messaging protocol while at a same time to disconnect a second subset of the plurality of solar panels from the electrical wiring in response to a second pseudo-orthogonal bit sequence in the messaging protocol. ### Claim 20 A method of operating a photovoltaic system, the system comprising an inverter, at least one solar panel for providing electrical power, and electrical wiring for coupling electrical power from the at least one solar panel to the inverter, the method comprising: transmitting a messaging protocol, comprising a multibit wireline signal, along the electrical wiring; and selectively connecting the electrical power from the at least one solar panel along the electrical wiring to the inverter in response to the messaging protocol.