Abstract: AC module, integrating a solar battery and an inverter, can easily be connected with other plural AC modules in parallel by way of cascade connections. However, when the number of AC modules connected is improvidently increased, the current flowing through the current path or connector of the AC module exceeds a rated current. In view of this, the current detector detects a current in the collective-power current path of the AC module, and when the detected current value exceeds a value set in the reference current setting circuit, the current detector stops the inverter.

Abstract: A general abnormal heating detection method in an electronic device is limited to an object to be monitored, and cannot cope with heating of an object of which overheating is unexpected. To correct this problem, temperature data are acquired from a plurality of temperature sensors distributed in the device to be protected, the parameter indicating temperature distribution pattern in the device is calculated on the basis of the acquired temperature data, and an alarm signal is output when the calculated parameter indicating temperature distribution pattern deviates from a predetermined reference.

Abstract: In a power conversion apparatus having a plurality of transformers, each of the plurality of transformers includes an input terminal having a first polarity, an input terminal having a second polarity, a wiring unit to connect one end of a primary winding of the transformer to the input terminal having the first polarity and the other end of the primary winding of the transformer to the input terminal having the second polarity, and a switching element which is arranged in series between the wiring unit and the other end to control voltage application to the primary winding of the transformer. Part of the wiring unit is connected to one end or the other end to surround the transformer connected to the wiring unit. A solar power generation system includes a solar cell and the above power conversion apparatus.

Abstract: A power converter includes a transformer, a full-bridge rectifying circuit which is located on the secondary side of the transformer and has at least a pair of self-arc-suppressing elements which are driven while being inverted, connection means which connects the negative-pole-side connection line on the primary side of the transformer to that on the secondary side of the transformer, and a control circuit which is commonly used to drive circuits on the primary and secondary sides of the transformer. The self-arc-suppressing elements are driven by the control circuit.

Abstract: When islanding operation is to be detected in a power conversion apparatus for converting a DC power into an AC power and outputting the AC power to a system power supply, a plurality of variation generation systems for executing, in accordance with different schemes, detection of islanding operation in which power supply from the system power supply is stopped are arranged, and at least one variation generation systems is selected by selection system from the plurality of variation generation systems and operated.

Abstract: Control means is provided, in which the whole of the phase difference of a power waveform of each phase is matched to a value dividing a cycle of the power waveform into n-equal portions, and at the same time, the whole of the power value of each phase is controlled to be identical, so that the power conversion unit having a n-alternating current output (n is an integer numeral serving as n≧2) connected to the direct current power source and smoothing means provided between the direct current power source and the power conversion unit are made small in capacity.

Abstract: In an AC module, if an interconnection relay is provided in an inverter, the inverter increases in size, and disconnection status between the AC module and a system upon occurrence of abnormal condition cannot be easily checked by a user. Accordingly, a plug is connected to an outlet, thereby an output of the inverter is supplied to the system or a load via a coupler. If leakage of direct current, ground fault of a solar cell or the like, a fault or abnormal condition of the inverter, or an abnormal condition of the system is detected, the inverter outputs a signal to separate the plug from the coupler.

Abstract: AC module makers must prepare two types of AC modules for the 100-V and 200-V outputs only for domestic supply. For foreign countries, the makers must manufacture AC modules compatible with more system voltages. To solve these problems, the control circuit of an AC module controls the operation of an inverter circuit and/or the transformation ratio of a transforming circuit, and ON/OFF-controls a switch on the basis of the system voltage and connection state of an electric power system.

Abstract: The present invention provides a solar cell module comprising one or more solar cells, one or more bypass diodes, an electric output connection section, and a weather-resistant enclosure, characterized in that a projecting portion and a hole portion which are to be connected to each other and which have predetermined sizes are provided at predetermined positions, as means for indicating electrical compatibility determined on the basis of the rated current value of the bypass diode and the nominal short-circuit current value of the solar cell module. This allows even a user without any advanced technical knowledge to replace a solar cell module safely and easily.

Abstract: An AC interconnection apparatus has an input terminal for a commercial power system, a connection terminal to a solar cell, an output terminal connected to a load, an inverter for converting the output voltage of the solar cell into an AC voltage, and a current detector arranged on the load side of an AC connection point for connecting the AC output from the inverter and the commercial power. When a power value calculated on the basis of a current detection value by the current detector and the voltage of the commercial power system is less than the output power of the inverter, the output of the inverter is suppressed, thereby suppressing reverse power flow to the commercial power system. When the current value detected by the current detector exceeds a predetermined value, power supply to the load is stopped using a breaker.

Abstract: A manufacturing method for manufacturing a solar panel including a solar cell and an outer housing and an inspection method for inspecting a solar panel generating system, include a step of performing one of a withstand voltage test and an insulation resistance test between a live electrical section electrically connected to the solar cell and a conductor section of the outer housing, and thereafter a step of applying a voltage between the live electrical section and the conductor section. In this way, a residual charge left subsequent to the withstand voltage test or the insulation resistance test is reliably removed within a short period of time.

Abstract: A method of controlling a signal generator using a microcomputer having a timer, the signal generator outputting a control signal for controlling a timing of turning on/off a semiconductor device by means of the timer, the method comprising an interrupting step started by an interrupting signal to the microcomputer every predetermined period, wherein the interrupting step comprises the setting step of setting a set value for the timer, the set value being calculated in a pre-interrupting step preceding the interrupting step, and the calculating step of determining a set value for the timer, the set value being used in a post-interrupting step succeeding the interrupting step, and wherein the setting step is performed before the calculating step in each of the interrupting steps. Therefore, a longer time is allowed for calculating a set value for the timer and a speed required for the microcomputer can be reduced.

Abstract: A power source apparatus comprising: a direct current power source to output a first voltage; a load driven with a second voltage higher than the first voltage; a booster converter to boost an output from the direct current power source to the second voltage; and a control circuit, arranged to operate at a voltage higher than the first voltage, to control the booster converter. A power storage unit for storing an output from the booster converter is provided, and a reverse current blocking unit is provided between the power storage unit and the load, for preventing supply of electric power stored in the power storage unit to the load. When the booster converter is started, the electric power is supplied from the power storage unit to the control circuit, and when the booster converter has started, the electric power is supplied from the booster converter to the control circuit.

Abstract: A gate driving circuit having: a direct current power source; a driving signal source for outputting a high-level or low-level signal; a main switch device, having a gate terminal in which the signal outputted from the driving signal source is inputted, for controlling a conduction state between a source terminal and a drain terminal in correspondence with a level of the signal; a load energized when the conduction state between the source terminal and the drain terminal becomes a conductive state; a reverse current blocking unit, connected between the driving signal source and the gate terminal, to output a signal only in a direction from the driving signal source to the gate terminal; and a regenerative unit, connected between the gate terminal and a high potential side of the direct current power source, which becomes the conductive state when the conduction state between the source terminal and the drain terminal is a non-conductive state.

Abstract: The temperature of a bypass diode of a solar cell module is measured by a temperature detector from the exterior of the solar cell module, and the results of temperature detection of each bypass diode are mutually compared to detect the presence or absence of failure in the solar cell module. Also at least one solar cell in the solar cell module is covered with a light shielding plate, then a current flowing in the bypass diode bypassing to the covered solar cell is detected, and a failed solar cell module is detected from the result of the current detection. Also the solar cell module is provided with a temperature detector capable of detecting the temperature of the bypass diode and the temperature of an internal portion of the solar cell module other than the bypass diode. In this way, it is possible to detect a failure in the solar cell module easily and precisely, and also to detect short circuit failure in the solar cell.

Abstract: In an AC module, if an interconnection relay is provided in an inverter, the inverter increases in size, and disconnection status between the AC module and a system upon occurrence of abnormal condition cannot be easily checked by a user. Accordingly, a plug is connected to an outlet, thereby an output of the inverter is supplied to the system or a load via a coupler. If leakage of direct current, ground fault of a solar cell or the like, a fault or abnormal condition of the inverter, or an abnormal condition of the system is detected, the inverter outputs a signal to separate the plug from the coupler.

Abstract: A power converter is installed for each solar cell, and electric power having a low voltage and a relatively large electric current is input to the power converter, thereby reducing as much as possible the wiring work which greatly raises the cost of an electric power generator. For this purpose, a power converter which has a high operating efficiency and by which a low-cost electric power generator can be constructed when an unstable power source such as a solar cell is used is desired. As this power converter, a DC/DC converter is provided which supplies DC power supplied from the solar cell to a transformer by switching the DC power, thereby boosting the output voltage from the solar cell by a few tens of times to a few hundred times. The number of turns of the primary winding of the transformer is set to 2 or 3.

Abstract: In a solar power generation system having an inverter, if a smoothing capacitor in the inverter degrades, the operation of the inverter is interrupted, and a loss in the amount of power generation occurs inevitably. To prevent this loss, a degradation determination section (211) and output suppressing section (212) are provided in an inverter (2). If the degradation determination section (211) determines a degradation in capacitor (24), the operation of the inverter (2) is continued while suppressing the output current of the inverter (2) by the output suppressing section (212). In addition, a warning section (213) warns the user about the degradation in capacitor (24). With this arrangement, a solar power generation system capable of detecting a degradation in smoothing capacitor in the inverter (2) and appropriately operating the inverter (2) can be provided.

Abstract: In a power generation system of this invention, the outputs from power generation layers electrically connected in series are input to corresponding power conversion devices, and boosted outputs are connected in parallel and fed to a load. Alternatively, the output from one of power generation layers electrically connected in series is input to a first power conversion device, and the serial output and the boosted output from the first power conversion device are connected in parallel, input to a second power conversion device, boosted, and fed to the load. Since the two power generation layers can be individually output-controlled, each power generation layer can be optimized basically without considering current balance. Since the optical spectrum utilization efficiency increases, the power generation efficiency increases. In addition, since the power can be fed not to separate loads but to one load, the convenience largely increases.

Abstract: If an inverter is merely attached to the back side of a solar battery module, the inverter becomes an obstacle to transport and installation, it may be broken if it strikes a building structure at the time of installation and it may malfunction owing to impact with an object. Accordingly, a weather-resistant film, a first filler, a solar battery element, a second filler and a back reinforcing material are stacked in the order mentioned and the fillers are melted using a vacuum laminator to thereby seal the solar battery element in resin between the back reinforcing material and weather-resistant film. At this time an inverter is placed on the surface of the back reinforcing material that opposes the solar battery element.