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).
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Patent number: 11095249Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: April 6, 2020Date of Patent: August 17, 2021Assignee: Enphase Energy, Inc.Inventors: Miles Bintz, Patrick L. Chapman, Jonathan L. Ehlmann, Julianne Frances Haugh, Dale Herman, Brian Kuhn, Kelly Mekechuk, Eric Roesinger
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Patent number: 10998761Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: July 16, 2019Date of Patent: May 4, 2021Assignee: SunPower CorporationInventors: Zachary S. Judkins, Jonathan L. Ehlmann
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Patent number: 10972046Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: August 31, 2018Date of Patent: April 6, 2021Assignee: SunPower CorporationInventors: Jonathan L. Ehlmann, Lee J. Gorny, Thierry H. Nguyen, David C. Okawa
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Publication number: 20200235699Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: April 6, 2020Publication date: July 23, 2020Inventors: Miles Bintz, Patrick L. Chapman, Jonathan L. Ehlmann, Julianne Frances Haugh, Dale Herman, Brian Kuhn, Kelly Mekechuk, Eric Roesinger
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Patent number: 10615742Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: June 11, 2018Date of Patent: April 7, 2020Assignee: Enphase Energy, Inc.Inventors: Miles Bintz, Patrick L. Chapman, Jonathan L. Ehlmann, Julianne Frances Haugh, Dale Herman, Brian Kuhn, Kelly Mekechuk, Eric Roesinger
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Publication number: 20190341806Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: July 16, 2019Publication date: November 7, 2019Applicant: SunPower CorporationInventors: Zachary S. JUDKINS, Jonathan L. EHLMANN
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Patent number: 10396593Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: July 5, 2017Date of Patent: August 27, 2019Assignee: SUNPOWER CORPORATIONInventors: Zachary S. Judkins, Jonathan L. Ehlmann
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Publication number: 20190074795Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: August 31, 2018Publication date: March 7, 2019Applicant: SUNPOWER CORPORATIONInventors: Jonathan L. Ehlmann, Lee J. Gorny, Thierry H. Nguyen, David C. Okawa
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Publication number: 20180294772Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: June 11, 2018Publication date: October 11, 2018Applicant: SunPower CorporationInventors: Miles Bintz, Patrick L. Chapman, Jonathan L. Ehlmann, Julianne Frances Haugh, Dale Herman, Brian Kuhn, Kelly Mekechuk, Eric Roesinger
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Patent number: 10003300Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: October 9, 2015Date of Patent: June 19, 2018Assignee: SunPower CorporationInventors: Miles Bintz, Patrick L Chapman, Jonathan L Ehlmann, Julianne Frances Haugh, Dale Herman, Brian Kuhn, Kelly Mekechuk, Eric Roesinger
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Publication number: 20170104447Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: October 9, 2015Publication date: April 13, 2017Applicant: SunPower CorporationInventors: Miles Bintz, Patrick L. Chapman, Jonathan L. Ehlmann, Julie Haugh, Dale Herman, Brian Kuhn, Kelly Mekechuk, Eric Roesinger
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Publication number: 20170063094Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: August 27, 2015Publication date: March 2, 2017Applicant: SunPower CorporationInventors: Patrick L. Chapman, Jonathan L. Ehlmann