Patents by Inventor Philip Rothblum

Philip Rothblum 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: 11784555
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for converting DC power to AC power. For example, apparatus for converting DC power to AC power comprises an input adapted to be coupled to a high-powered distributed generator having a maximum voltage at a first voltage and an arc fault mitigation device, coupled to the input, for providing a second voltage at the input that is lower than the first voltage, where a difference between the first voltage and the second voltage is not large enough to cause an arc.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 10, 2023
    Assignee: Enphase Energy, Inc.
    Inventors: Patrick L. Chapman, John Scott Berdner, Mark Baldassari, Raghuveer R. Belur, Donald H. Scrutchfield, Rian van der Colff, Phillip Mark Hunter, Philip Rothblum
  • Patent number: 11699973
    Abstract: A metering and control subsystem for a photovoltaic solar system is configured for metering the photovoltaic solar system using current measurement devices and individually controlling relays to selectively energize photovoltaic branch circuits. In some examples, the metering and control subsystem includes photovoltaic branch connectors, a relay matrix, current measurement devices, and a metering and relay control circuit. The metering and control circuit is configured for metering the photovoltaic solar system using current measurement data from the current measurement devices and individually controlling the relays to selectively energize each photovoltaic branch circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 23, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 11, 2023
    Assignee: SunPower Corporation
    Inventors: Kevin C. Fischer, Philip Rothblum, Donald H. Scrutchfield, Dylan W. Benjamin
  • Publication number: 20220103060
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for converting DC power to AC power. For example, apparatus for converting DC power to AC power comprises an input adapted to be coupled to a high-powered distributed generator having a maximum voltage at a first voltage and an arc fault mitigation device, coupled to the input, for providing a second voltage at the input that is lower than the first voltage, where a difference between the first voltage and the second voltage is not large enough to cause an arc.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 20, 2021
    Publication date: March 31, 2022
    Inventors: Patrick L. Chapman, John Scott Berdner, Mark Baldassari, Raghuveer R. Belur, Donald H. Scrutchfield, Rian van der Colff, Phillip Mark Hunter, Philip Rothblum
  • Patent number: 11088548
    Abstract: A photovoltaic (PV) system includes a system control module that determines the presence of a microinverter chain termination end cap. The end cap includes an embedded circuit. The embedded circuit includes components having resistive, reactive, or impedance values. A signal source provides a signal through the microinverter chain. A parameter for a sensed signal detected by the system control module is used to determine the presence of the end cap using a change between the parameter for the sense signal and a reference parameter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 10, 2021
    Assignee: SunPower Corporation
    Inventors: Patrick L. Chapman, Philip Rothblum
  • Publication number: 20190363672
    Abstract: A metering and control subsystem for a photovoltaic solar system is configured for metering the photovoltaic solar system using current measurement devices and individually controlling relays to selectively energize photovoltaic branch circuits. In some examples, the metering and control subsystem includes photovoltaic branch connectors, a relay matrix, current measurement devices, and a metering and relay control circuit. The metering and control circuit is configured for metering the photovoltaic solar system using current measurement data from the current measurement devices and individually controlling the relays to selectively energize each photovoltaic branch circuit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 23, 2018
    Publication date: November 28, 2019
    Inventors: Kevin C. Fischer, Philip Rothblum, Donald H. Scrutchfield, Dylan W. Benjamin
  • Patent number: 10447043
    Abstract: A photovoltaic (PV) system includes a system control module that determines the presence of a microinverter chain termination end cap. The end cap includes an embedded circuit. The embedded circuit includes components having resistive, reactive, or impedance values. A signal source provides a signal through the microinverter chain. A parameter for a sensed signal detected by the system control module is used to determine the presence of the end cap using a change between the parameter for the sense signal and a reference parameter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 15, 2019
    Assignee: SunPower Corporation
    Inventors: Patrick L Chapman, Philip Rothblum
  • Publication number: 20190260207
    Abstract: A photovoltaic (PV) system includes a system control module that determines the presence of a microinverter chain termination end cap. The end cap includes an embedded circuit. The embedded circuit includes components having resistive, reactive, or impedance values. A signal source provides a signal through the microinverter chain. A parameter for a sensed signal detected by the system control module is used to determine the presence of the end cap using a change between the parameter for the sense signal and a reference parameter.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 30, 2019
    Publication date: August 22, 2019
    Applicant: SunPower Corporation
    Inventors: Patrick L. Chapman, Philip Rothblum
  • Patent number: 10230325
    Abstract: Electrical component location is provided. Employed location techniques may include providing a cycling signal, having components to be located sense the cycling signal at the same time, report back the sensed signal, and determining relative locations for one or more of the components using the sensed signals reported by the components.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2019
    Assignee: Enphase Energy, Inc.
    Inventors: Patrick L Chapman, Fernando Rodriguez, Philip Rothblum, Anant K Singh
  • Publication number: 20180109224
    Abstract: Electrical component location is provided. Employed location techniques may include providing a cycling signal, having components to be located sense the cycling signal at the same time, report back the sensed signal, and determining relative locations for one or more of the components using the sensed signals reported by the components.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 14, 2016
    Publication date: April 19, 2018
    Applicant: SunPower Corporation
    Inventors: Patrick L. Chapman, Fernando Rodriguez, Philip Rothblum, Anant K. Singh
  • Patent number: 9843358
    Abstract: A device, system, and method for communicating with a power inverter of an array of inverters includes transmitting a relay message from an inverter array controller to a relay inverter in response to failing to receive a response from at least one power inverter of the array. The relay inverter is configured to retransmit a message from the inverter array controller to a non-responsive power inverter of the array of inverters in response to receiving the relay message. The relay inverter may subsequently retransmit a reply received from the non-responsive power inverter to the inverter array controller or to another power inverter of the array of inverters.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 12, 2017
    Assignee: SunPower Corporation
    Inventors: Philip Rothblum, Brian T. Kuhn, Jonathan Ehlmann, Patrick L. Chapman
  • Publication number: 20170346293
    Abstract: A photovoltaic (PV) system includes a system control module that determines the presence of a microinverter chain termination end cap. The end cap includes an embedded circuit. The embedded circuit includes components having resistive, reactive, or impedance values. A signal source provides a signal through the microinverter chain. A parameter for a sensed signal detected by the system control module is used to determine the presence of the end cap using a change between the parameter for the sense signal and a reference parameter.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 24, 2016
    Publication date: November 30, 2017
    Applicant: SunPower Corporation
    Inventors: Patrick L. Chapman, Philip Rothblum
  • Publication number: 20160142100
    Abstract: A device, system, and method for communicating with a power inverter of an array of inverters includes transmitting a relay message from an inverter array controller to a relay inverter in response to failing to receive a response from at least one power inverter of the array. The relay inverter is configured to retransmit a message from the inverter array controller to a non-responsive power inverter of the array of inverters in response to receiving the relay message. The relay inverter may subsequently retransmit a reply received from the non-responsive power inverter to the inverter array controller or to another power inverter of the array of inverters.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 22, 2016
    Publication date: May 19, 2016
    Inventors: Philip Rothblum, Brian T. Kuhn, Jonathan Ehlmann, Patrick L. Chapman
  • Patent number: 9276635
    Abstract: A device, system, and method for communicating with a power inverter of an array of inverters includes transmitting a relay message from an inverter array controller to a relay inverter in response to failing to receive a response from at least one power inverter of the array. The relay inverter is configured to retransmit a message from the inverter array controller to a non-responsive power inverter of the array of inverters in response to receiving the relay message. The relay inverter may subsequently retransmit a reply received from the non-responsive power inverter to the inverter array controller or to another power inverter of the array of inverters.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 1, 2016
    Assignee: SUNPOWER CORPORATION
    Inventors: Philip Rothblum, Brian T. Kuhn, Jonathan Ehlmann, Patrick L. Chapman
  • Publication number: 20140003110
    Abstract: A device, system, and method for communicating with a power inverter of an array of inverters includes transmitting a relay message from an inverter array controller to a relay inverter in response to failing to receive a response from at least one power inverter of the array. The relay inverter is configured to retransmit a message from the inverter array controller to a non-responsive power inverter of the array of inverters in response to receiving the relay message. The relay inverter may subsequently retransmit a reply received from the non-responsive power inverter to the inverter array controller or to another power inverter of the array of inverters.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 29, 2012
    Publication date: January 2, 2014
    Inventors: Philip Rothblum, Brian T. Kuhn, Jonathan Ehlmann, Patrick L. Chapman