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).
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Patent number: 11784555Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: September 20, 2021Date of Patent: October 10, 2023Assignee: 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
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Patent number: 11699973Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: May 23, 2018Date of Patent: July 11, 2023Assignee: SunPower CorporationInventors: Kevin C. Fischer, Philip Rothblum, Donald H. Scrutchfield, Dylan W. Benjamin
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Publication number: 20220103060Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: September 20, 2021Publication date: March 31, 2022Inventors: Patrick L. Chapman, John Scott Berdner, Mark Baldassari, Raghuveer R. Belur, Donald H. Scrutchfield, Rian van der Colff, Phillip Mark Hunter, Philip Rothblum
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Patent number: 11088548Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: April 30, 2019Date of Patent: August 10, 2021Assignee: SunPower CorporationInventors: Patrick L. Chapman, Philip Rothblum
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Publication number: 20190363672Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: May 23, 2018Publication date: November 28, 2019Inventors: Kevin C. Fischer, Philip Rothblum, Donald H. Scrutchfield, Dylan W. Benjamin
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Patent number: 10447043Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: May 24, 2016Date of Patent: October 15, 2019Assignee: SunPower CorporationInventors: Patrick L Chapman, Philip Rothblum
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Publication number: 20190260207Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: April 30, 2019Publication date: August 22, 2019Applicant: SunPower CorporationInventors: Patrick L. Chapman, Philip Rothblum
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Patent number: 10230325Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: October 14, 2016Date of Patent: March 12, 2019Assignee: Enphase Energy, Inc.Inventors: Patrick L Chapman, Fernando Rodriguez, Philip Rothblum, Anant K Singh
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Publication number: 20180109224Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: October 14, 2016Publication date: April 19, 2018Applicant: SunPower CorporationInventors: Patrick L. Chapman, Fernando Rodriguez, Philip Rothblum, Anant K. Singh
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Patent number: 9843358Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: January 22, 2016Date of Patent: December 12, 2017Assignee: SunPower CorporationInventors: Philip Rothblum, Brian T. Kuhn, Jonathan Ehlmann, Patrick L. Chapman
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Publication number: 20170346293Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: May 24, 2016Publication date: November 30, 2017Applicant: SunPower CorporationInventors: Patrick L. Chapman, Philip Rothblum
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Publication number: 20160142100Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: January 22, 2016Publication date: May 19, 2016Inventors: Philip Rothblum, Brian T. Kuhn, Jonathan Ehlmann, Patrick L. Chapman
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Patent number: 9276635Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: June 29, 2012Date of Patent: March 1, 2016Assignee: SUNPOWER CORPORATIONInventors: Philip Rothblum, Brian T. Kuhn, Jonathan Ehlmann, Patrick L. Chapman
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Publication number: 20140003110Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: June 29, 2012Publication date: January 2, 2014Inventors: Philip Rothblum, Brian T. Kuhn, Jonathan Ehlmann, Patrick L. Chapman