Abstract: A converter unit to improve overall recovered power in a photovoltaic array configuration. Each photovoltaic panel in the photovoltaic array may be coupled to a respective converter unit, which may include a controller to sense an output voltage and output current produced by the solar panel, and manage the output voltage of a corresponding power converter to optimize and regulate the resultant bus voltage to a point which reduces overall system losses, maintains a low loss condition, and removes series-string non-idealities when the panels are series connected. The controller may also adapt to output condition constraints. Instead of single-port regulation, a combination of input voltage and output voltage management and regulation may be performed within the converter. The source voltage and current characteristic may be shaped to correspond to an optimized power curve at the desired bus voltage to allow MPPT tracking according to the DC voltage bus.

Abstract: A converter unit configured to couple to a photovoltaic panel (PV) may include a controller to sense an output voltage and output current produced by the photovoltaic panel, and manage the output voltage of a corresponding power converter coupled to a DC bus to regulate the resultant bus voltage to a point that reduces overall system losses, and removes non-idealities when the panels are series connected. The controller may also adapt to output condition constraints, and perform a combination of input voltage and output voltage management and regulation, including maximum power point tracking (MPPT) for the PV. The output voltage and output current characteristic of the power converter may be shaped to present a power gradient—which may be hysteretically controlled—to the DC bus to compel an inverter coupled to the DC bus to perform its own MPPT to hold the DC-bus voltage within a determinate desired operating range.

Abstract: A converter unit to improve the response dynamics and overall recovered power in a photovoltaic array configuration. Each photovoltaic panel in the photovoltaic array may be coupled to a respective converter unit, which may include a controller to sense an output voltage and output current produced by the solar panel, and control operation of a power converter to output modified voltage and current corresponding to the solar panel onto a bus coupling the converter units. The controller may operate as an analog or (digital) firmware control system to regulate the input voltage of each power converter unit under indirect guidance of a Maximum Power Point Tracking (MPPT) controller to optimize and regulate the resultant power, and achieve very fast dynamic response to environmental transients.

Abstract: A converter unit configured to couple to a photovoltaic panel (PV) may include a controller to sense an output voltage and output current produced by the photovoltaic panel, and manage the output voltage of a corresponding power converter coupled to a DC bus to regulate the resultant bus voltage to a point that reduces overall system losses, and removes non-idealities when the panels are series connected. The controller may also adapt to output condition constraints, and perform a combination of input voltage and output voltage management and regulation, including maximum power point tracking (MPPT) for the PV. The output voltage and output current characteristic of the power converter may be shaped to present a power gradient—which may be hysteretically controlled—to the DC bus to compel an inverter coupled to the DC bus to perform its own MPPT to hold the DC-bus voltage within a determinate desired operating range.

Abstract: A converter unit to improve overall recovered power in a photovoltaic array configuration. Each photovoltaic panel in the photovoltaic array may be coupled to a respective converter unit, which may include a controller to sense an output voltage and output current produced by the solar panel, and manage the output voltage of a corresponding power converter to optimize and regulate the resultant bus voltage to a point which reduces overall system losses, maintains a low loss condition, and removes series-string non-idealities when the panels are series connected. The controller may also adapt to output condition constraints. Instead of single-port regulation, a combination of input voltage and output voltage management and regulation may be performed within the converter. The source voltage and current characteristic may be shaped to correspond to an optimized power curve at the desired bus voltage to allow MPPT tracking according to the DC voltage bus.

Abstract: A converter unit to improve the response dynamics and overall recovered power in a photovoltaic array configuration. Each photovoltaic panel in the photovoltaic array may be coupled to a respective converter unit, which may include a controller to sense an output voltage and output current produced by the solar panel, and control operation of a power converter to output modified voltage and current corresponding to the solar panel onto a bus coupling the converter units. The controller may operate as an analog or (digital) firmware control system to regulate the input voltage of each power converter unit under indirect guidance of a Maximum Power Point Tracking (MPPT) controller to optimize and regulate the resultant power, and achieve very fast dynamic response to environmental transients.

Abstract: The present invention is a technique to select an input port. A database stores records of input ports for a plurality of communication channels. Each of the records includes a timestamp and a ready status. The timestamp indicates a most recent service time. A selector selects one of the input ports based on the timestamp and the ready status. A listener updates the records.

Abstract: One embodiment of the present invention performs peripheral operations in a multi-thread processor. A peripheral bus is coupled to a peripheral unit to transfer peripheral information including a command message specifying a peripheral operation. A processing slice is coupled to the peripheral bus to execute a plurality of threads. The plurality of threads includes a first thread sending the command message to the peripheral unit.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for adaptive buffer sizing adjusts the size of the buffer at different levels using a “high water mark” to different levels for different system conditions. The high water mark is used by the buffer logic as an indication of when to assert the buffer “Full” flag. In turn, the full flag is used by the instruction fetch logic as an indication of when to stop fetching further instructions.

Abstract: One embodiment of the present invention performs peripheral operations in a multi-thread processor. A peripheral bus is coupled to a peripheral unit to transfer peripheral information including a command message specifying a peripheral operation. A processing slice is coupled to the peripheral bus to execute a plurality of threads. The plurality of threads includes a first thread sending the command message to the peripheral unit.

Abstract: The present invention is a technique to perform field operations. A shifter to shift an operand. A register stores the shifted operand. A shift post processor processes the shifted operand based on at least a control signal and an offset parameter.

Abstract: An apparatus for shifting data is disclosed. The apparatus includes a shifter, a register, and a shift post processor. The shifter shifts an operand according to an offset parameter, thereby generating a shifted operand. The register is coupled to the shift post processor to transfer a shift carry operand stored in the register to the shift post processor, and coupled to the shifter to store the shifted operand after any transfer of the shift carry operand. The shift post processor is coupled to the shifter and the register to process the shifted operand to generate an output based on at least a control signal and a mask field. The shift post processor comprises a decoder to decode the offset parameter into the mask field, the mask field having a plurality of mask bits, each of the mask bits corresponding to a bit position of the shifted operand.

Abstract: The present invention is a technique to perform field operations. A shifter to shifts an operand. A register stores the shifted operand. A shift post processor processes the shifted operand based on at least a control signal and an offset parameter.

Abstract: The present invention is a technique to perform field operations. A mask generator generates a mask field for an operand having a word length. The mask field defines an operand field within the operand to be operated by the operation. The operand field has a field length. The execution unit executes the operation on the operand field.

Abstract: The present invention is a technique to select an input port. A database stores records of input ports for a plurality of communication channels. Each of the records includes a timestamp and a ready status. The timestamp indicates a most recent service time. A selector selects one of the input ports based on the timestamp and the ready status. A listener updates the records.