Patents by Inventor Alexander W. Au
Alexander W. Au has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).
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Publication number: 20240152169Abstract: Solar power systems and methods utilize DC power transmission and centralized power inversion. The solar power systems include a photovoltaic (PV) bus system and a fixed bus system. The PV system utilizes a control mode handoff control method, which includes determining that a local maximum power point tracking (MPPT) control is enabled; in response to determining that the local MPPT control is enabled, starting an MPPT mode timer; performing local MPPT; determining that the MPPT mode timer is greater than a predetermined period; and, in response to determining that the MPPT mode timer is greater than a predetermined period, handing off MPPT control to the next MPPT controller. The distributed MPPT control method may include sequential MPPT control, adaptive ?V MPPT control, and/or power limiting control. The fixed bus system includes PV string-level MPPT controllers and a fixed DC input central inverter or multiple fixed DC modular inverters.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 10, 2024Publication date: May 9, 2024Inventors: Yang LIU, Alexander W. AU, Fei GU
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Patent number: 11967921Abstract: A solar tracker apparatus includes an adjustable hanger assembly that has a clam shell hanger assembly. The clam shell hanger assembly may hold a torque tube comprising a plurality of torque tubes configured together in a continuous length from a first end to a second end. A center of mass of the solar tracker apparatus may be aligned with a center of rotation of the torque tubes, in order to reduce a load of a drive device operably coupled to the torque tube. Solar modules may be coupled to the torque tubes. The solar tracker includes an energy system that includes solar panel, a DC to DC converter, a battery, and a micro-controller. The energy system may facilitate full operation movement of the tracker apparatus without any external power lines.Type: GrantFiled: August 9, 2022Date of Patent: April 23, 2024Assignee: NEXTRACKER LLCInventors: Yang Liu, Alexander W. Au
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Patent number: 11962268Abstract: In an example, a clamp assembly for a glass on glass solar module for a tracker is included. The assembly has a lower clamp structure characterized by a top-hat shaped rail structure having a length extending from a first end to a second end. In an example, the assembly has an upper clamp structure configured to sandwich a pair of edges of a pair of solar modules with a portion of the lower clamp structure. In an example, the assembly has a locking spacer configured to the pair of edges of the pair of solar modules. In an example, the pair of edges comprises substantially glass material. In an example, the assembly has a pair of key structures configured with the locking spacer. Each of the key structures is affixed to each of the solar modules to physically lock each of the solar modules to the upper clamp structure.Type: GrantFiled: May 11, 2023Date of Patent: April 16, 2024Assignee: NEXTRACKER LLCInventor: Alexander W. Au
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Patent number: 11955923Abstract: A solar tracker including at least one pair of piers configured to be secured in the ground and defining a span between the pair, a bearing supported on the pier, and a torque tube supported in the bearing such that the bearing enables rotation of the torque tube, the torque tube including a double wall thickness area, wherein the double wall thickness area limits deflection of the torque tube along the span.Type: GrantFiled: August 17, 2021Date of Patent: April 9, 2024Assignee: NEXTRACKER LLCInventors: Ricardo Delgado-Nanez, Jacob Mark Morin, Alexander W. Au, Samuel Heller
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Patent number: 11949370Abstract: A pier for a solar tracking system includes a bearing housing assembly, a frame, the frame defining an A-profile having a pair of legs and a crown at a center portion thereof, and a mounting bracket, the mounting bracket coupled to a portion of the crown of the frame at a first portion thereof and coupled to a portion of the bearing housing assembly at a second portion thereof.Type: GrantFiled: September 14, 2021Date of Patent: April 2, 2024Assignee: NEXTRACKER LLCInventors: Phani Kumar, Abhimanyu Sable, Jitendra Morankar, Alexander W. Au, David Kresse
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Patent number: 11907000Abstract: Solar power systems and methods utilize DC power transmission and centralized power inversion. The solar power systems include a photovoltaic (PV) bus system and a fixed bus system. The PV system utilizes a control mode handoff control method, which includes determining that a local maximum power point tracking (MPPT) control is enabled; in response to determining that the local MPPT control is enabled, starting an MPPT mode timer; performing local MPPT; determining that the MPPT mode timer is greater than a predetermined period; and, in response to determining that the MPPT mode timer is greater than a predetermined period, handing off MPPT control to the next MPPT controller. The distributed MPPT control method may include sequential MPPT control, adaptive ?V MPPT control, and/or power limiting control. The fixed bus system includes PV string-level MPPT controllers and a fixed DC input central inverter or multiple fixed DC modular inverters.Type: GrantFiled: May 4, 2020Date of Patent: February 20, 2024Assignee: NEXTRACKER LLCInventors: Yang Liu, Alexander W. Au, Fei Gu
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Patent number: 11881534Abstract: A solar module configured in a frame assembly with multi-configuration attachment member(s), which has locking and unlocking characteristics.Type: GrantFiled: December 22, 2022Date of Patent: January 23, 2024Assignee: NEXTRACKER LLCInventor: Alexander W. Au
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Publication number: 20240019175Abstract: A solar tracker system comprising a plurality of on sun trackers and a plurality of off sun tracker. Each tracker is selectively adjusted to achieve a desired power output of the solar power plant system in an example.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 4, 2023Publication date: January 18, 2024Inventors: Yu Dong Ma, Yang Lui, Francesco Borrelli, Allan Daly, Ricardo Delgado-Nanez, Alexander W. Au
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Publication number: 20240014751Abstract: A parallel inverter system for solar tracker systems minimizes circulating currents, mitigates ripple, and increases efficiency. The parallel inverter system includes inverters coupled together in parallel, a common DC bus coupled between a DC load and inputs of the inverters, a common AC bus coupled between outputs of the inverters and an electrical power grid, and a common-mode filter coupled to the output of each of the inverters. The parallel inverter system also includes controllers coupled to the inverters, respectively, the controllers configured to generate interleaved pulse width modulation (PWM) signals, respectively. The PWM signals are synchronized with each other. The PWM signals may be synchronized with each other via the EtherCAT protocol.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 10, 2023Publication date: January 11, 2024Inventors: Matthias Preindl, Yang Liu, Alexander W. AU
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Publication number: 20230318524Abstract: In an example, the solar tracker has a clamp assembly configured to pivot a torque tube. In an example, the assembly has a support structure configured as a frame having configured by a first and second anchoring region. In an example, the support structure is configured from a thickness of metal material. In an example, the support structure is configured in an upright manner, and has a major plane region. In an example, the assembly has a pivot device configured on the support structure, a torque tube suspending on the pivot device and aligned within an opening of the support, and configured to be normal to the plane region. In an example, the torque tube is configured on the pivot device to move about an arc in a first direction or in a second direction such that the first direction is in a direction opposite to the second direction.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 27, 2023Publication date: October 5, 2023Applicant: Nextracker LLCInventor: Alexander W. AU
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Publication number: 20230308046Abstract: In an example, a clamp assembly for a glass on glass solar module for a tracker is included. The assembly has a lower clamp structure characterized by a top-hat shaped rail structure having a length extending from a first end to a second end. In an example, the assembly has an upper clamp structure configured to sandwich a pair of edges of a pair of solar modules with a portion of the lower clamp structure. In an example, the assembly has a locking spacer configured to the pair of edges of the pair of solar modules. In an example, the pair of edges comprises substantially glass material. In an example, the assembly has a pair of key structures configured with the locking spacer. Each of the key structures is affixed to each of the solar modules to physically lock each of the solar modules to the upper clamp structure.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 11, 2023Publication date: September 28, 2023Applicant: Nextracker LLCInventor: Alexander W. AU
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Publication number: 20230283228Abstract: A pier for a solar tracking system includes a bearing housing assembly, a frame, the frame defining an A-profile having a pair of legs and a crown at a center portion thereof, and a mounting bracket, the mounting bracket coupled to a portion of the crown of the frame at a first portion thereof and coupled to a portion of the bearing housing assembly at a second portion thereof.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 12, 2023Publication date: September 7, 2023Applicant: Nextracker LLCInventors: Phani Kumar, Abhimanyu Sable, Jitendra Morankar, Alexander W. AU, David Kresse
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Patent number: 11739986Abstract: A solar tracker system comprising a plurality of on sun trackers and a plurality of off sun tracker. Each tracker is selectively adjusted to achieve a desired power output of the solar power plant system in an example.Type: GrantFiled: February 25, 2021Date of Patent: August 29, 2023Assignee: NEXTRACKER LLCInventors: Yu Dong Ma, Yang Liu, Francesco Borrelli, Allan Daly, Ricardo Delgado-Nanez, Alexander W. Au
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Publication number: 20230216300Abstract: A common enclosure includes a housing, inverter input connectors and an inverter output connector coupled to the housing, a common DC bus mechanically coupled to the housing and electrically coupled to the inverter input connectors, a common AC bus mechanically coupled to the housing and electrically coupled between the inverter output connector and a power grid connector, a controller mechanically coupled to the housing and electrically coupled to the common DC and AC buses, local controllers coupled to the inverters, decentralized controllers coupled to the local controllers, and a centralized controller in communication with the local controllers. The decentralized controllers generate decentralized control signals for the local controllers based on measured voltages and currents of the electrical power grid and the inverters. The centralized controller transmits centralized control signals to the local controllers to maintain a constant voltage on the common DC bus based on a predicted DC load.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 2, 2022Publication date: July 6, 2023Applicant: Nextracker LLCInventors: Yang Liu, Alexander W. AU, Sandeep Sanjiva Lele
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Patent number: 11689150Abstract: In an example, a clamp assembly for a glass on glass solar module for a tracker is included. The assembly has a lower clamp structure characterized by a top-hat shaped rail structure having a length extending from a first end to a second end. In an example, the assembly has an upper clamp structure configured to sandwich a pair of edges of a pair of solar modules with a portion of the lower clamp structure. In an example, the assembly has a locking spacer configured to the pair of edges of the pair of solar modules. In an example, the pair of edges comprises substantially glass material. In an example, the assembly has a pair of key structures configured with the locking spacer. Each of the key structures is affixed to each of the solar modules to physically lock each of the solar modules to the upper clamp structure.Type: GrantFiled: August 20, 2019Date of Patent: June 27, 2023Assignee: NEXTRACKER LLCInventor: Alexander W. Au
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Publication number: 20230170841Abstract: A solar tracking system includes a solar array, a support structure configured to support the solar array, a driveshaft coupled to the support structure, a base configured to rotatably support the driveshaft, and an articulation system coupled to the driveshaft and configured to articulate the driveshaft relative to the base. The articulation system includes a gearbox coupled to the driveshaft. The solar tracking system also includes a motor mechanically operably coupled to the gearbox to cause the driveshaft to rotate, and a controller that determines a fault caused by the winding up of the driveshaft, and, in response to determining the fault, shorting the windings of the motor and/or providing power, which is generated by the motor when the unwinding driveshaft drives the rotation of the motor, to a load, such as an energy storage device, a resistive load, and/or a heating element.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 30, 2022Publication date: June 1, 2023Applicant: Nextracker LLCInventors: Chen Li, Yang Liu, Alexander W. AU
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Publication number: 20230137644Abstract: A solar module configured in a frame assembly with multi-configuration attachment member(s), which has locking and unlocking characteristics.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 22, 2022Publication date: May 4, 2023Inventor: Alexander W. AU
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Patent number: 11616467Abstract: In an example, the solar tracker has a clamp assembly configured to pivot a torque tube. In an example, the assembly has a support structure configured as a frame having configured by a first and second anchoring region. In an example, the support structure is configured from a thickness of metal material. In an example, the support structure is configured in an upright manner, and has a major plane region. In an example, the assembly has a pivot device configured on the support structure, a torque tube suspending on the pivot device and aligned within an opening of the support, and configured to be normal to the plane region. In an example, the torque tube is configured on the pivot device to move about an arc in a first direction or in a second direction such that the first direction is in a direction opposite to the second direction.Type: GrantFiled: May 4, 2021Date of Patent: March 28, 2023Assignee: NEXTRACKER LLCInventor: Alexander W. Au
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Publication number: 20230050774Abstract: A solar tracker apparatus includes an adjustable hanger assembly that has a clam shell hanger assembly. The clam shell hanger assembly may hold a torque tube comprising a plurality of torque tubes configured together in a continuous length from a first end to a second end. A center of mass of the solar tracker apparatus may be aligned with a center of rotation of the torque tubes, in order to reduce a load of a drive device operably coupled to the torque tube. Solar modules may be coupled to the torque tubes. The solar tracker includes an energy system that includes solar panel, a DC to DC converter, a battery, and a micro-controller. The energy system may facilitate full operation movement of the tracker apparatus without any external power lines.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 9, 2022Publication date: February 16, 2023Inventors: Yang Liu, Alexander W. Au
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Patent number: 11563401Abstract: In an example, the system has a mechanical isolator comprising an elastic material configured to separate the panel rail from the torque tube cause destructive interference with a natural resonant frequency of the system without the mechanical isolator to reduce a mechanical vibration of the system.Type: GrantFiled: March 24, 2020Date of Patent: January 24, 2023Assignee: NEXTRACKER LLCInventor: Alexander W. Au