Abstract: AC module makers must prepare two types of AC modules for the 100-V and 200-V outputs only for domestic supply. For foreign countries, the makers must manufacture AC modules compatible with more system voltages. To solve these problems, the control circuit of an AC module controls the operation of an inverter circuit and/or the transformation ratio of a transforming circuit, and ON/OFF-controls a switch on the basis of the system voltage and connection state of an electric power system.

Abstract: A solar cell assembly including a plurality of solar cells is formed on a common substrate, and a DC/DC converter which converts the output from the solar cell is connected to each solar cell to constitute a solar power generation apparatus. The output from the solar power generation apparatus is converted into an AC power by an inverter and supplied to a load or commercial AC power system. Since the arrangement is simplified, the manufacturing cost can be reduced, and the influence of partial shade or a variation in characteristic decreases.

Abstract: An electric power control apparatus outputs output from a power generation apparatus to a power system has a power converter that converts power output from the power generation apparatus and a power storage apparatus that stores output from the power generation apparatus or output from the power converter as well as discharges stored electric power as necessary detects an amount of electric power generated at the power generation apparatus within a predetermined time period, sets an output pattern of the electric power control apparatus in a next predetermined time period based on the amount of electric power of each predetermined time period, and controls the output of the electric power control apparatus in accordance with the output pattern.

Abstract: An electric power control apparatus outputs output from a power generation apparatus to a power system has a power converter that converts power output from the power generation apparatus and a power storage apparatus that stores output from the power generation apparatus or output from the power converter as well as discharges stored electric power as necessary detects an amount of electric power generated at the power generation apparatus within a predetermined time period, sets an output pattern of the electric power control apparatus in a next predetermined time period based on the amount of electric power of each predetermined time period, and controls the output of the electric power control apparatus in accordance with the output pattern.

Abstract: An electric power control apparatus outputs output from a power generation apparatus to a power system has a power converter that converts power output from the power generation apparatus and a power storage apparatus that stores output from the power generation apparatus or output from the power converter as well as discharges stored electric power as necessary detects an amount of electric power generated at the power generation apparatus within a predetermined time period, sets an output pattern of the electric power control apparatus in a next predetermined time period based on the amount of electric power of each predetermined time period, and controls the output of the electric power control apparatus in accordance with the output pattern.

Abstract: A method of controlling a semiconductor device using a microcomputer having a timer is provided. An interrupting step interrupts the semiconductor device using the timer, by generating a control signal for controlling a timing of turning on/off the semiconductor device. The interrupting step is performed in accordance with an interrupting signal which is input to the microcomputer at every occurrence of a predetermined period. The interrupting step comprises a setting step of giving a set value to the timer and a calculating step of determining a set value for a subsequent interrupting step, such that the set value determined in the calculating step is given to the timer in the setting step of the subsequent interrupting step. Therefore, a longer time can be allowed for determining a set value for the timer, and the processing speed required for the microcomputer can be reduced.

Abstract: AC module makers must prepare two types of AC modules for the 100-V and 200-V outputs only for domestic supply. For foreign countries, the makers must manufacture AC modules compatible with more system voltages. To solve these problems, the control circuit of an AC module controls the operation of an inverter circuit and/or the transformation ratio of a transforming circuit, and ON/OFF-controls a switch on the basis of the system voltage and connection state of an electric power system.

Abstract: When a measuring system for a solar battery is operated and controlled by one execution program, the execution program is roughly divided into a program portion corresponding to measurement of a sunshine time in one day and a program portion corresponding to measurement for several to about 20 years. In this case, even a small error in part of the program may stop the entire measuring system. To prevent this, the program is divided into an execution program for acquiring data, an execution program for generating information to be displayed, on the basis of the acquired data, and an execution program for recording the acquired data in a recording medium. Interprocess communication is used to exchange data between the execution programs.

Abstract: In a power generation system of this invention, the outputs from power generation layers electrically connected in series are input to corresponding power conversion devices, and boosted outputs are connected in parallel and fed to a load. Alternatively, the output from one of power generation layers electrically connected in series is input to a first power conversion device, and the serial output and the boosted output from the first power conversion device are connected in parallel, input to a second power conversion device, boosted, and fed to the load. Since the two power generation layers can be individually output-controlled, each power generation layer can be optimized basically without considering current balance. Since the optical spectrum utilization efficiency increases, the power generation efficiency increases. In addition, since the power can be fed not to separate loads but to one load, the convenience largely increases.

Abstract: The object is to reliably detect a ground fault of a solar battery. To detect a ground fault position to take an efficient measure against the ground fault, DC power input from a solar battery is converted into AC power and supplied to a system. In a system interconnection inverter (utility connected inverter) having non-insulated input and output, the input voltage of a converter circuit and/or the intermediate voltage between the converter circuit and an inverter circuit are varied to control the potential to ground at each portion of the solar battery to a value other than a value close to zero.

Abstract: A power source apparatus comprising: a direct current power source to output a first voltage; a load driven with a second voltage higher than the first voltage; a booster converter to boost an output from the direct current power source to the second voltage; and a control circuit, arranged to operate at a voltage higher than the first voltage, to control the booster converter. A power storage unit for storing an output from the booster converter is provided, and a reverse current blocking unit is provided between the power storage unit and the load, for preventing supply of electric power stored in the power storage unit to the load. When the booster converter is started, the electric power is supplied from the power storage unit to the control circuit, and when the booster converter has started, the electric power is supplied from the booster converter to the control circuit.

Abstract: A gate driving circuit having: a direct current power source; a driving signal source for outputting signal; a main switch device, having a gate terminal in which the signal outputted from the driving signal source is inputted, for controlling a conduction state between a source terminal and a drain terminal; a load energized when the conduction state between the source and drain terminals becomes a conductive state; a reverse current blocking unit, connected between the driving signal source and the gate terminal; and a regenerative unit, connected between the gate terminal and a high potential side of the power source, which becomes a conductive state when the conduction state between the source and drain terminals is a non-conductive state. A gate-source threshold voltage to obtain the conductive state between the source and drain terminals is set higher than an output voltage of the power source.

Abstract: Control means is provided, in which the whole of the phase difference of a power waveform of each phase is matched to a value dividing a cycle of the power waveform into n-equal portions, and at the same time, the whole of the power value of each phase is controlled to be identical, so that the power conversion unit having a n-alternating current output (n is an integer numeral serving as n?2) connected to the direct current power source and smoothing means provided between the direct current power source and the power conversion unit are made small in capacity.

Abstract: An electric power control apparatus outputs output from a power generation apparatus to a power system has a power converter that converts power output from the power generation apparatus and a power storage apparatus that stores output from the power generation apparatus or output from the power converter as well as discharges stored electric power as necessary detects an amount of electric power generated at the power generation apparatus within a predetermined time period, sets an output pattern of the electric power control apparatus in a next predetermined time period based on the amount of electric power of each predetermined time period, and controls the output of the electric power control apparatus in accordance with the output pattern.

Abstract: In a solar power generation system which causes a non-insulated type inverter to convert DC power generated by a solar battery into AC power and outputs the AC power to a commercial power system, in detecting a ground fault, the differential current between the output lines of the solar battery is detected, an AC leakage current component due to the capacitance to ground of the solar battery is removed from the differential current, and it is determined whether a ground fault state has occurred by comparing a current value after removal of the AC leakage current component with a predetermined threshold value. With this arrangement, a false ground fault state determination that is caused by the influence of the AC leakage current component due to the electrostatic capacitance although the DC current path can be prevented, and a ground fault state can accurately be determined.

Abstract: In a power conversion system having a DC power supply which has an almost fixed DC voltage to ground and a predetermined stray capacitance to ground and outputs a DC power, and a power converter which converts the DC power output from the DC power supply into an AC power by switching, the phase of an AC voltage to ground generated in the DC power supply by switching is detected, the phase of an AC ground fault current that flows through the stray capacitance to ground and the ground fault resistance of the DC power supply is detected, and the difference between the two detected phases is compared with a predetermined threshold value, thereby determining a DC ground fault in the DC power supply. With this arrangement, the ground fault state of the DC power supply can more accurately be detected. In addition, the operation efficiency of the power conversion system can be increased.

Abstract: A solar cell assembly including a plurality of solar cells is formed on a common substrate, and a DC/DC converter which converts the output from the solar cell is connected to each solar cell to constitute a solar power generation apparatus. The output from the solar power generation apparatus is converted into an AC power by an inverter and supplied to a load or commercial AC power system. Since the arrangement is simplified, the manufacturing cost can be reduced, and the influence of partial shade or a variation in characteristic decreases.

Abstract: In an AC module, if an interconnection relay is provided in an inverter, the inverter increases in size, and disconnection status between the AC module and a system upon occurrence of abnormal condition cannot be easily checked by a user. Accordingly, a plug is connected to an outlet, thereby an output of the inverter is supplied to the system or a load via a coupler. If leakage of direct current, ground fault of a solar cell or the like, a fault or abnormal condition of the inverter, or an abnormal condition of the system is detected, the inverter outputs a signal to separate the plug from the coupler.

Abstract: Along with the expansion of the application range of solar power generation systems, connection to a single-phase 100-V system is required. To most easily meet this requirement, a non-insulated inverter with a single-phase two-wire 100-V output is used. It is preferable to use an inverter with a single-phase two-wire 200-V output, i.e., a most popular commercially available inverter. For this purpose, a power supplied from a solar battery is converted into a single-phase three-wire 200-V AC power form by the inverter. The output from the inverter with non-insulated inputs and outputs is supplied to a system through a transformer arranged to connect the line of the single-phase three-wire 200-V AC power to a single-phase two-wire 100-V system with one line grounded. To make a ground fault sensor incorporated in the inverter function, the median potential line of the single-phase three-wire 200-V AC power is connected to the ground line of the system.

Abstract: A general abnormal heating detection method in an electronic device is limited to an object to be monitored, and cannot cope with heating of an object of which overheating is unexpected. To correct this problem, temperature data are acquired from a plurality of temperature sensors distributed in the device to be protected, the parameter indicating temperature distribution pattern in the device is calculated on the basis of the acquired temperature data, and an alarm signal is output when the calculated parameter indicating temperature distribution pattern deviates from a predetermined reference.