Patents by Inventor Jonathan L. Ehlmann

Jonathan L. Ehlmann 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).

  • Patent number: 11095249
    Abstract: A photovoltaic (PV) system includes module-level power electronic (MLPE) devices that produce energy. The PV system includes a gateway to receive and send data to MLPE devices. The gateway also connects the PV system with a network, such as a local area network, that allows access to the Internet. The gateway provides functionality within the PV system to perform various processes to improve operation of MLPE devices.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 6, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 17, 2021
    Assignee: Enphase Energy, Inc.
    Inventors: Miles Bintz, Patrick L. Chapman, Jonathan L. Ehlmann, Julianne Frances Haugh, Dale Herman, Brian Kuhn, Kelly Mekechuk, Eric Roesinger
  • Patent number: 10998761
    Abstract: A photovoltaic system includes groups of solar cells that can be switched in and out of the photovoltaic system. In response to detecting initiation of rapid shutdown, a control circuit controls a switch device to switch out a group of solar cells to lower the output voltage of the photovoltaic system below a safety level. In response to detecting a release trigger that indicates resumption of normal operation, the control circuit controls the switch device to switch back the group of solar cells to restore the output voltage of the photovoltaic system to a normal operating level. Solar cells may be switched out by disconnecting them from the photovoltaic system and switched back by reconnecting them into the photovoltaic system. Solar cells may also be switched out by shorting them out of the photovoltaic system and switched back in by removing the short.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 16, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 4, 2021
    Assignee: SunPower Corporation
    Inventors: Zachary S. Judkins, Jonathan L. Ehlmann
  • Patent number: 10972046
    Abstract: A solar device system includes one or more solar devices shingled into an array of solar devices. Each solar device includes one or more current generation cells configured to generate electric current, a plurality of current buses, and a control circuit configured to distribute the generated electric current to the plurality of current buses, and route the generated electric current to an adjacent solar device. Additionally, the solar device system includes an array collector electrically connected to the one or more solar devices, the array collector being configured to collect the generated electrical current from the one or more solar devices and direct the generated electrical current to an inverter or a power grid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 6, 2021
    Assignee: SunPower Corporation
    Inventors: Jonathan L. Ehlmann, Lee J. Gorny, Thierry H. Nguyen, David C. Okawa
  • Publication number: 20200235699
    Abstract: A photovoltaic (PV) system includes module-level power electronic (MLPE) devices that produce energy. The PV system includes a gateway to receive and send data to MLPE devices. The gateway also connects the PV system with a network, such as a local area network, that allows access to the Internet. The gateway provides functionality within the PV system to perform various processes to improve operation of MLPE devices.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 6, 2020
    Publication date: July 23, 2020
    Inventors: Miles Bintz, Patrick L. Chapman, Jonathan L. Ehlmann, Julianne Frances Haugh, Dale Herman, Brian Kuhn, Kelly Mekechuk, Eric Roesinger
  • Patent number: 10615742
    Abstract: A photovoltaic (PV) system includes module-level power electronic (MLPE) devices that produce energy. The PV system includes a gateway to receive and send data to MLPE devices. The gateway also connects the PV system with a network, such as a local area network, that allows access to the Internet. The gateway provides functionality within the PV system to perform various processes to improve operation of MLPE devices.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 11, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 7, 2020
    Assignee: Enphase Energy, Inc.
    Inventors: Miles Bintz, Patrick L. Chapman, Jonathan L. Ehlmann, Julianne Frances Haugh, Dale Herman, Brian Kuhn, Kelly Mekechuk, Eric Roesinger
  • Publication number: 20190341806
    Abstract: A photovoltaic system includes groups of solar cells that can be switched in and out of the photovoltaic system. In response to detecting initiation of rapid shutdown, a control circuit controls a switch device to switch out a group of solar cells to lower the output voltage of the photovoltaic system below a safety level. In response to detecting a release trigger that indicates resumption of normal operation, the control circuit controls the switch device to switch back the group of solar cells to restore the output voltage of the photovoltaic system to a normal operating level. Solar cells may be switched out by disconnecting them from the photovoltaic system and switched back by reconnecting them into the photovoltaic system. Solar cells may also be switched out by shorting them out of the photovoltaic system and switched back in by removing the short.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 16, 2019
    Publication date: November 7, 2019
    Applicant: SunPower Corporation
    Inventors: Zachary S. JUDKINS, Jonathan L. EHLMANN
  • Patent number: 10396593
    Abstract: A photovoltaic system includes groups of solar cells that can be switched in and out of the photovoltaic system. In response to detecting initiation of rapid shutdown, a control circuit controls a switch device to switch out a group of solar cells to lower the output voltage of the photovoltaic system below a safety level. In response to detecting a release trigger that indicates resumption of normal operation, the control circuit controls the switch device to switch back the group of solar cells to restore the output voltage of the photovoltaic system to a normal operating level. Solar cells may be switched out by disconnecting them from the photovoltaic system and switched back by reconnecting them into the photovoltaic system. Solar cells may also be switched out by shorting them out of the photovoltaic system and switched back in by removing the short.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 5, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 27, 2019
    Assignee: SUNPOWER CORPORATION
    Inventors: Zachary S. Judkins, Jonathan L. Ehlmann
  • Publication number: 20190074795
    Abstract: A solar device system includes one or more solar devices shingled into an array of solar devices. Each solar device includes one or more current generation cells configured to generate electric current, a plurality of current buses, and a control circuit configured to distribute the generated electric current to the plurality of current buses, and route the generated electric current to an adjacent solar device. Additionally, the solar device system includes an array collector electrically connected to the one or more solar devices, the array collector being configured to collect the generated electrical current from the one or more solar devices and direct the generated electrical current to an inverter or a power grid.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 31, 2018
    Publication date: March 7, 2019
    Applicant: SUNPOWER CORPORATION
    Inventors: Jonathan L. Ehlmann, Lee J. Gorny, Thierry H. Nguyen, David C. Okawa
  • Publication number: 20180294772
    Abstract: A photovoltaic (PV) system includes module-level power electronic (MLPE) devices that produce energy. The PV system includes a gateway to receive and send data to MLPE devices. The gateway also connects the PV system with a network, such as a local area network, that allows access to the Internet. The gateway provides functionality within the PV system to perform various processes to improve operation of MLPE devices.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 11, 2018
    Publication date: October 11, 2018
    Applicant: SunPower Corporation
    Inventors: Miles Bintz, Patrick L. Chapman, Jonathan L. Ehlmann, Julianne Frances Haugh, Dale Herman, Brian Kuhn, Kelly Mekechuk, Eric Roesinger
  • Patent number: 10003300
    Abstract: A photovoltaic (PV) system includes module-level power electronic (MLPE) devices that produce energy. The PV system includes a gateway to receive and send data to MLPE devices. The gateway also connects the PV system with a network, such as a local area network, that allows access to the Internet. The gateway provides functionality within the PV system to perform various processes to improve operation of MLPE devices.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 9, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 19, 2018
    Assignee: SunPower Corporation
    Inventors: Miles Bintz, Patrick L Chapman, Jonathan L Ehlmann, Julianne Frances Haugh, Dale Herman, Brian Kuhn, Kelly Mekechuk, Eric Roesinger
  • Publication number: 20170104447
    Abstract: A photovoltaic (PV) system includes module-level power electronic (MLPE) devices that produce energy. The PV system includes a gateway to receive and send data to MLPE devices. The gateway also connects the PV system with a network, such as a local area network, that allows access to the Internet. The gateway provides functionality within the PV system to perform various processes to improve operation of MLPE devices.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 9, 2015
    Publication date: April 13, 2017
    Applicant: SunPower Corporation
    Inventors: Miles Bintz, Patrick L. Chapman, Jonathan L. Ehlmann, Julie Haugh, Dale Herman, Brian Kuhn, Kelly Mekechuk, Eric Roesinger
  • Publication number: 20170063094
    Abstract: Differential power processing (DPP) converters are used within circuit architecture of solar power modules to process the mismatched power between solar elements in a power module. The DPP converters use various topologies to process the mismatched power. These topologies can include a housekeeping power supply where the housekeeping power is coupled to the main bus, or, through various other tapping topologies, including to a subset of PV cell substrings.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 27, 2015
    Publication date: March 2, 2017
    Applicant: SunPower Corporation
    Inventors: Patrick L. Chapman, Jonathan L. Ehlmann