Abstract: This invention relates to a roofing panel for interconnection with one or more additional roofing panels. The roofing panel comprises a PV cell coupled to an inverter, and wireless (or optionally wired) power transfer circuitry for transmitting power to another roofing panel and/or the AC grid and/or to an AC inverter, and/or for receiving power from another roofing panel.

Abstract: This invention relates to a roofing panel for interconnection with one or more additional roofing panels. The roofing panel comprises a PV cell coupled to an inverter, and wireless (or optionally wired) power transfer circuitry for transmitting power to another roofing panel and/or the AC grid and/or to an AC inverter, and/or for receiving power from another roofing panel.

Abstract: The systems, methods, and devices of the various embodiments provide single phase inverters that may be cooperatively controlled to provide one, two, or three phase unipolar electricity. In an embodiment, a solar panel may be connected to a DC to DC converter and a unipolar power converter. In an embodiment, the unipolar power converter output may be a single phase signal approximating a desired voltage waveform and frequency, offset from the ground electrical potential such that the voltage output signal may be always positive, thus “unipolar”. In an embodiment, the unipolar power output of each string of solar panels may be connected to a dedicated, predetermined phase of a load, such as a three phase grid system. In an embodiment, the DC output of a DC to DC converter may be connected in parallel with other DC to DC converters and other unipolar converters.

Abstract: This invention relates to a roofing panel for interconnection with one or more additional roofing panels. The roofing panel comprises a PV cell coupled to an inverter, and wireless (or optionally wired) power transfer circuitry for transmitting power to another roofing panel and/or the AC grid and/or to an AC inverter, and/or for receiving power from another roofing panel.

Abstract: This invention relates to a roofing panel for interconnection with one or more additional roofing panels. The roofing panel comprises a PV cell coupled to an inverter, and wireless (or optionally wired) power transfer circuitry for transmitting power to another roofing panel and/or the AC grid and/or to an AC inverter, and/or for receiving power from another roofing panel.

Abstract: The systems, methods, and devices of the various embodiments provide single phase inverters that may be cooperatively controlled to provide one, two, or three phase unipolar electricity. In an embodiment, a solar panel may be connected to a DC to DC converter and a unipolar power converter. In an embodiment, the unipolar power converter output may be a single phase signal approximating a desired voltage waveform and frequency, offset from the ground electrical potential such that the voltage output signal may be always positive, thus “unipolar”. In an embodiment, the unipolar power output of each string of solar panels may be connected to a dedicated, predetermined phase of a load, such as a three phase grid system. In an embodiment, the DC output of a DC to DC converter may be connected in parallel with other DC to DC converters and other unipolar converters.

Abstract: A direct current to pulse amplitude modulated (“PAM”) current converter, denominated a “PAMCC”, is connected to an individual source of direct current. The PAMCC receives direct current and provides pulse amplitude modulated current at its three output terminals, wherein the current of each terminal is one hundred twenty degrees out of phase with the other two terminals. The pulses are produced at a high frequency relative to the signal modulated on a sequence of pulses. The signal modulated onto a sequence of pulses may represent portions of a lower frequency sine wave or other lower frequency waveform, including DC. When each phased output is connected in parallel with the outputs of similar PAMCCs an array of PAMCCs is formed, wherein each voltage phased output pulse is out of phase with respect to a corresponding current output pulse of the other PAMCCs.

Abstract: Methods, apparatus and systems for controlling a photovoltaic panel while ensuring the power source operates safely include determining a temperature of the photovoltaic panel, determining a voltage provided from the photovoltaic panel, determining a parameter based on the voltage and the temperature and controlling a power converter based on the determined parameter. The power converter may be a pulse amplitude modulated current converter (PAMCC). The PAMCC may be controlled through tables of pulse durations based on the determined parameter. The voltage output may be controlled through a fast control loop and through a slower control loop, and the power demand from the solar panel may be controlled such that the output voltage does not vary from the expected value by more than a predetermined value.

Abstract: A direct current to pulse amplitude modulated (“PAM”) current converter, denominated a “PAMCC”, is connected to an individual source of direct current. The PAMCC receives direct current and provides pulse amplitude modulated current at its three output terminals, wherein the current of each terminal is one hundred twenty degrees out of phase with the other two terminals. The pulses are produced at a high frequency relative to the signal modulated on a sequence of pulses. The signal modulated onto a sequence of pulses may represent portions of a lower frequency sine wave or other lower frequency waveform, including DC. When each phased output is connected in parallel with the outputs of similar PAMCCs an array of PAMCCs is formed, wherein each voltage phased output pulse is out of phase with respect to a corresponding current output pulse of the other PAMCCs.

Abstract: Electrical components which substantially dissipate the power provided them in the form of heat will change temperature in response to self heating, heat transfer to their surroundings, and heat transferred from one component to another. A method is disclosed for calculating the temperature of a component(s) using a thermal model. In one embodiment the power dissipation of each component is controlled to limit the temperature of the component. In one embodiment the temperature of a component is modified by changing the power dissipation of another component. In some embodiments the power dissipation of a component is modified by modifying its performance. In another embodiment power dissipation is modified by selecting one or more programs for modified execution.

Abstract: Methods and devices are disclosed for performing analog to digital signal conversion in shorter time and/or with less power consumption than that of a comparable analog to digital conversion that uses a conventional sequential approximation method based on a binary search. In one embodiment, a predictive guess is supplied as a digital first signal. The digital first signal is converted (D/A) to a counterpart, analog guess signal. A comparison is made between the analog guess signal and a received, analog input sample signal. The result of the comparison is used to improve on the initially supplied guess in a next cycle. Fewer cycles and less power is consumed if the initial guess is within a certain range of the actual magnitude of the analog input sample signal. In one embodiment, a digital modeler is used to model a process underlying the analog input sample signal and to thereby provide fairly good guesses.