# US 2019/0173422 A1 · Solar Panel Junction Boxes having Integrated Function Modules > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2019/0173422 A1 - Document ID: US20190173422A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 16/270,475 - Filed: 2019-02-07 - Published: 2019-06-06 - Earliest claimed: 2014-12-02 - Assignees: Tigo Energy, Inc. - Applicants: Tigo Energy, Inc. - Inventors: Zvi Alon; Ron Hadar; Mordechay Avrutsky - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20190173422A1 ## CPC - H02S 40/34: comprising specially adapted electrical connection means to be structurally associated with the PV module, e.g. junction boxes - 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 3/40: Synchronisation of generators for connection to a network or to another generator - H02S 10/00: PV power plants; Combinations of PV energy systems with other systems for the generation of electric power - H02S 50/00: Monitoring or testing of PV systems, e.g. load balancing or fault identification - H02J 2101/25: {involving maximum power point tracking control for photovoltaic sources} - Y02E 10/56: Power conversion systems, e.g. maximum power point trackers - 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 ## Abstract A connection box for solar panels to enable the use of multiple types of passive and active covers for different functionalities in the junction box built into the panel to which the connection box is fixedly attached. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A solar panel junction box, comprising: an identification module having: a memory chip configured to store identification information of a solar panel to which the junction box is fixedly attached; and first contacts connected to the memory chip; a base having second contacts configured for connection with sections of photovoltaic cells of a solar panel and with wires linking the solar panel to a string of solar panels; a cover having: a printer circuit board having a circuit; first connectors configured on the printed circuit board and configure to form electronic connections with the first contacts when the cover is attached to the base to close the junction box; and second connectors configured on the printed circuit board and configure to form electronic connections with the second contacts when the cover is attached to the base to close the junction box. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The solar panel junction box of claim 1, wherein the cover is selected from a plurality of different covers having different functions implemented on printer circuit boards of the covers. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The solar panel junction box of claim 2, further comprising: a receptacle configured to hold the memory chip. ### Claim 4 (depends on 2) The solar panel junction box of claim 2, wherein the base further includes a plurality of receptacles to receive snap-in tongues of the cover to lock the cover onto the base. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The solar panel junction box of claim 4, wherein at least one of the snap-in tongues have a pin that is mechanically coded for mating with one of the plurality of receptacles of the base for receiving the snap-in tongues of the cover. ### Claim 6 (depends on 4) The solar panel junction box of claim 4, wherein at least one latch for the snap-in tongues is configured to require a matching tool to open the latch. ### Claim 7 (depends on 2) The solar panel junction box of claim 2, wherein the base has plastic receptacles configured to hold the second contacts in the base. ### Claim 8 (depends on 2) The solar panel junction box of claim 2, wherein the memory chip is configured to be programmed during a manufacturing process of the solar panel with a serial number of the solar panel and characteristics data of the solar panel. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The solar panel junction box of claim 8, wherein a controller installed in the cover is configured to read the memory chip during operation of the solar panel when the cover is attached to the base. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The solar panel junction box of claim 9, wherein if the controller does not recognize the solar panel from the data stored in the memory chip, the controller is configured to discontinue the operation of the solar panel. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The solar panel junction box of claim 10, wherein the circuit in the printer circuit board is configured to recognize the solar panel from the data stored in the memory chip based on data stored in a central registry to help reduce theft of panels. ### Claim 12 (depends on 2) The solar panel junction box of claim 2, further comprising: an electrically non-functional pin configured for mechanical coding. ### Claim 13 (depends on 2) The solar panel junction box of claim 2, wherein the base is capable of receiving covers and form connections with circuits having different function in the received covers, including a first cover having a passive module and a second cover having an active function module. ### Claim 14 (depends on 2) The solar panel junction box of claim 2, wherein each of the second connectors include a zig-zag shaped blade. ### Claim 15 A cover of a solar panel junction box, comprising: a printer circuit board having a circuit; first connectors configured on the printed circuit board and configure to form electronic connections with first contacts configured in a base of the solar panel junction box when the cover is attached to the base to close the junction box, wherein the first contacts in the base are connected to a memory chip storing identification information of a solar panel on which the junction box is mounted; second connectors configured on the printed circuit board and configure to form electronic connections with second contacts configured in the base of the solar panel when the cover is attached to the base to close the junction box, wherein the second contacts in the base are connected with sections of photovoltaic cells of the solar panel and with wires linking the solar panel to a string of solar panels. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The cover of claim 15, wherein the circuit includes bypass diodes for the sections of the photovoltaic cells. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The cover of claim 16, wherein the circuit further includes a microprocessor configured to read the memory chip during operation of the solar panel.