Patents by Inventor Oliver Arend

Oliver Arend 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: 8482936
    Abstract: A method of connecting a photovoltaic device to an AC power grid through an inverter includes monitoring a DC voltage at an input of an inverter, and activating the inverter when the monitored DC voltage exceeds a first predetermined threshold. The method further includes synchronizing an output voltage of the inverter with a grid voltage, connecting an output of the inverter to the AC power grid upon synchronization if the monitored DC voltage exceeds second predetermined threshold, and deactivating the inverter if a detected power being fed through the inverter falls below a predetermined power threshold while maintaining the connection between the output of the inverter and the AC power grid. Lastly, the method includes disconnecting the output of the deactivated inverter from the grid if the monitored DC voltage falls below a third predetermined threshold. Further, an apparatus that performs such functionality is also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 9, 2013
    Assignee: SMA Solar Technology AG
    Inventors: Andreas Falk, Joachim Laschinski, Oliver Arend, Peter Simon, Wolfgang Reichenbaecher, Frank Greizer
  • Publication number: 20120039101
    Abstract: A method of connecting a photovoltaic device to an AC power grid through an inverter includes monitoring a DC voltage at an input of an inverter, and activating the inverter when the monitored DC voltage exceeds a first predetermined threshold. The method further includes synchronizing an output voltage of the inverter with a grid voltage, connecting an output of the inverter to the AC power grid upon synchronization if the monitored DC voltage exceeds a second predetermined threshold, and deactivating the inverter if a detected power being fed through the inverter falls below a predetermined power threshold while maintaining the connection between the output of the inverter and the AC power grid. Lastly, the method includes disconnecting the output of the deactivated inverter from the grid if the monitored DC voltage falls below a third predetermined threshold. Further, an apparatus that performs such functionality is also provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 14, 2011
    Publication date: February 16, 2012
    Applicant: SMA Solar Technology AG
    Inventors: Andreas Falk, Joachim Laschinski, Oliver Arend, Peter Simon, Wolfgang Reichenbaecher, Frank Greizer
  • Patent number: 7564013
    Abstract: A method of matching the power of a photovoltaic system producing electric energy by which a working point at which the system produces maximum power is set by changing the working point in an MPP matching process and by comparing the system power, which changes as a result thereof, is intended to be suited both for stationary characteristic curves and for non stationary generator characteristic curves and to be easy to carry out so that the best working point is always set, even when the system is subjected to external interfering factors. This is achieved in that one or several additional control steps or control cycles are performed in order to track during the matching process a power point changing under external impact for a working point of even higher power to be set.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 7, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 21, 2009
    Assignee: SMASolar Technology AG
    Inventors: Gerald Leonhardt, Christian Kühnel, Joachim Ralf Laschinski, Sven Bremicker, Oliver Arend, Gerd Bettenwort, Wolfgang Kurt Reichenbächer
  • Patent number: 7471073
    Abstract: A method of finding a power maximum of a photovoltaic generator using an MPP regulator of a photovoltaic current converter by means of which a maximum generator power is set at an operating point of the generator's characteristic curve is intended to supply improved efficiency when the generator is partially shadowed. This is achieved by switching the MPP regulator off in order to next load and/or unload the generator to allow a new operating point of the generator's characteristic curve to set and by next switching the MPP regulator on again.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 30, 2008
    Assignee: SMA Technologie AG
    Inventors: Gerd Bettenwort, Christian Kühnel, Oliver Arend, Joachim Ralf Laschinski, Gerald Alexander Leonhardt, Wolfgang Kurt Reichenbächer
  • Publication number: 20080290252
    Abstract: A method of matching the power of a photovoltaic system producing electric energy by which a working point at which the system produces maximum power is set by changing the working point in an MPP matching process and by comparing the system power, which changes as a result thereof, is intended to be suited both for stationary characteristic curves and for non stationary generator characteristic curves and to be easy to carry out so that the best working point is always set, even when the system is subjected to external interfering factors. This is achieved in that one or several additional control steps or control cycles are performed in order to track during the matching process a power point changing under external impact for a working point of even higher power to be set.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 7, 2008
    Publication date: November 27, 2008
    Applicant: SMA Technologie AG
    Inventors: Gerald Leonhardt, Christian Kuhnel, Joachim Laschinski, Sven Bremicker, Oliver Arend, Gerd Bettenwort, Wolfgang Kurt Reichenbacher
  • Publication number: 20070027644
    Abstract: A method of finding a power maximum of a photovoltaic generator using an MPP regulator of a photovoltaic current converter by means of which a maximum generator power is set at an operating point of the generator's characteristic curve is intended to supply improved efficiency when the generator is partially shadowed. This is achieved by switching the MPP regulator off in order to next load and/or unload the generator to allow a new operating point of the generator's characteristic curve to set and by next switching the MPP regulator on again.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 11, 2006
    Publication date: February 1, 2007
    Inventors: Gerd Bettenwort, Christian Kuhnel, Oliver Arend, Joachim Laschinski, Gerald Leonhardt, Wolfgang Reichenbacher
  • Patent number: RE43719
    Abstract: A method of matching the power of a photovoltaic system producing electric energy by which a working point at which the system produces maximum power is set by changing the working point in an MPP matching process and by comparing the system power, which changes as a result thereof, is intended to be suited both for stationary characteristic curves and for non stationary generator characteristic curves and to be easy to carry out so that the best working point is always set, even when the system is subjected to external interfering factors. This is achieved in that one or several additional control steps or control cycles are performed in order to track during the matching process a power point changing under external impact for a working point of even higher power to be set.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 21, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 9, 2012
    Assignee: SMA Solar Technology AG
    Inventors: Gerald Leonhardt, Christian Kuehnel, Joachim Ralf Laschinski, Sven Bremicker, Oliver Arend, Gerd Bettenwort, Wolfgang Kurt Reichenbacher