Abstract: A method for controlling a switching circuit including an input port electrically coupled to a photovoltaic device and an output port electrically coupled to a load includes (1) entering a voltage limiting operating mode and (2) in the voltage limiting operating mode (i) causing a control switching device of the switching circuit to repeatedly switch between its conductive and non-conductive states in a manner which limits magnitude of an output voltage to a maximum voltage value, the output voltage being a voltage across the output port, and (ii) varying the maximum voltage value as a function of magnitude of an output current, the output current being a current flowing through the output port.

Abstract: A maximum power point tracking controller includes an input port for electrically coupling to an electric power source, an output port for electrically coupling to a load, a control switching device, and a control subsystem. The control switching device is adapted to repeatedly switch between its conductive and non-conductive states to transfer power from the input port to the output port. The control subsystem is adapted to control switching of the control switching device to regulate a voltage across the input port, based at least in part on a signal representing current flowing out of the output port, to maximize a signal representing power out of the output port.

Abstract: A method for controlling a switching circuit including an input port electrically coupled to a photovoltaic device and an output port electrically coupled to a load includes (1) entering a voltage limiting operating mode and (2) in the voltage limiting operating mode (i) causing a control switching device of the switching circuit to repeatedly switch between its conductive and non-conductive states in a manner which limits magnitude of an output voltage to a maximum voltage value, the output voltage being a voltage across the output port, and (ii) varying the maximum voltage value as a function of magnitude of an output current, the output current being a current flowing through the output port.

Abstract: A method for controlling a switching circuit including an input port electrically coupled to a photovoltaic device and an output port electrically coupled to a load includes (1) entering a voltage limiting operating mode and (2) in the voltage limiting operating mode (i) causing a control switching device of the switching circuit to repeatedly switch between its conductive and non-conductive states in a manner which limits magnitude of an output voltage to a maximum voltage value, the output voltage being a voltage across the output port, and (ii) varying the maximum voltage value as a function of magnitude of an output current, the output current being a current flowing through the output port.

Abstract: A method for direct current power line communication in a photovoltaic system includes (a) transferring power between at least one photovoltaic device and a load using a power line, (b) maintaining a magnitude of a current flowing through the power line above a threshold value in a normal operating mode of the photovoltaic system, (c) detecting a change in operation of the power line in response to magnitude of a direct current component of the current flowing through the power line falling below the threshold value, and (d) in response to the detected change in operation of the power line, decoding operating state of the power line to obtain information.

Abstract: A method for testing a photovoltaic device electrically coupled to an input port of a maximum power point tracking (MPPT) controller, where the MPPT controller includes a switching circuit adapted to transfer power between the input port and an output port of the MPPT controller, includes the steps of: (a) driving a test current into the output port of the MPPT controller; (b) detecting presence of the test current; and (c) in response to detecting presence of the test current, causing the switching circuit to provide a path for the test current from the output port to the photovoltaic device.

Abstract: A method for direct current power line communication in a photovoltaic system includes (a) transferring power between at least one photovoltaic device and a load using a power line, (b) maintaining a magnitude of a current flowing through the power line above a threshold value in a normal operating mode of the photovoltaic system, (c) detecting a change in operation of the power line in response to magnitude of a direct current component of the current flowing through the power line falling below the threshold value, and (d) in response to the detected change in operation of the power line, decoding operating state of the power line to obtain information.

Abstract: A method for testing a photovoltaic device electrically coupled to an input port of a maximum power point tracking (MPPT) controller, where the MPPT controller includes a switching circuit adapted to transfer power between the input port and an output port of the MPPT controller, includes the steps of: (a) driving a test current into the output port of the MPPT controller; (b) detecting presence of the test current; and (c) in response to detecting presence of the test current, causing the switching circuit to provide a path for the test current from the output port to the photovoltaic device.

Abstract: A method for operating a maximum power point tracking (MPPT) controller including a switching circuit adapted to transfer power between an input port and an output port includes the steps of: (a) in a first operating mode of the MPPT controller, causing a first switching device of the switching circuit to operate at a fixed duty cycle; and (b) in a second operating mode of the MPPT controller, causing a control switching device of the switching circuit to repeatedly switch between its conductive and non-conductive states to maximize an amount of power extracted from a photovoltaic device electrically coupled to the input port.

Abstract: A method for controlling a switching circuit including an input port electrically coupled to a photovoltaic device and an output port electrically coupled to a load includes (1) entering a voltage limiting operating mode and (2) in the voltage limiting operating mode (i) causing a control switching device of the switching circuit to repeatedly switch between its conductive and non-conductive states in a manner which limits magnitude of an output voltage to a maximum voltage value, the output voltage being a voltage across the output port, and (ii) varying the maximum voltage value as a function of magnitude of an output current, the output current being a current flowing through the output port.

Abstract: A maximum power point tracking controller includes an input port for electrically coupling to an electric power source, an output port for electrically coupling to a load, a control switching device, and a control subsystem. The control switching device is adapted to repeatedly switch between its conductive and non-conductive states to transfer power from the input port to the output port. The control subsystem is adapted to control switching of the control switching device to regulate a voltage across the input port, based at least in part on a signal representing current flowing out of the output port, to maximize a signal representing power out of the output port.

Abstract: A maximum power point tracking controller includes an input port for electrically coupling to an electric power source, an output port for electrically coupling to a load, a control switching device, and a control subsystem. The control switching device is adapted to repeatedly switch between its conductive and non-conductive states to transfer power from the input port to the output port. The control subsystem is adapted to control switching of the control switching device to regulate a voltage across the input port, based at least in part on a signal representing current flowing out of the output port, to maximize a signal representing power out of the output port.

Abstract: An electric power system includes a string of N maximum power point tracking (MPPT) controllers having output ports electrically coupled in series, where N is an integer greater than one. At least one of the N MPPT controllers includes respective transistor driver circuitry powered from a power supply rail of an adjacent one of the N MPPT controllers of the string. Another MPPT controller includes an n-channel field effect freewheeling transistor electrically coupled across an output port and a resistive device electrically coupled between an input port and a gate of the freewheeling transistor, such that the freewheeling transistor operates in its conductive state when power is applied to the input port and a control subsystem of the controller is in an inactive state.

Abstract: A method for operating a maximum power point tracking (MPPT) controller including a switching circuit adapted to transfer power between an input port and an output port includes the steps of: (a) in a first operating mode of the MPPT controller, causing a first switching device of the switching circuit to operate at a fixed duty cycle; and (b) in a second operating mode of the MPPT controller, causing a control switching device of the switching circuit to repeatedly switch between its conductive and non-conductive states to maximize an amount of power extracted from a photovoltaic device electrically coupled to the input port.

Abstract: A maximum power point tracking controller includes an input port for electrically coupling to an electric power source, an output port for electrically coupling to a load, a control switching device, and a control subsystem. The control switching device is adapted to repeatedly switch between its conductive and non-conductive states to transfer power from the input port to the output port. The control subsystem is adapted to control switching of the control switching device to regulate a voltage across the input port, based at least in part on a signal representing current flowing out of the output port, to maximize a signal representing power out of the output port.

Abstract: A scalable maximum power point tracking (MPPT) controller includes an input and an output port, a switching circuit adapted to transfer power from the input port to the output port, and a controller core. The controller core is adapted to (a) control the switching circuit to maximize an amount of power extracted from a photovoltaic device electrically coupled to the input port, and (b) set one or more parameters of the MPPT controller based at least in part on a configuration code representing a number of photovoltaic cells of the photovoltaic device electrically coupled in series.