Patents by Inventor Ravindranath Naiknaware
Ravindranath Naiknaware 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: 11527964Abstract: A distributed energy conversion system may include one or more DC power sources and two or more inverters to convert DC power from the power sources to AC power. The AC power from the two or more inverters may be combined to provide a single AC output. A module may include one or more photovoltaic cells and two or more inverters. An integrated circuit may include power electronics to convert DC input power to AC output power and processing circuitry to control the power electronics. The AC output power may be synchronized with an AC power distribution system.Type: GrantFiled: February 22, 2017Date of Patent: December 13, 2022Assignee: Enphase Energy, Inc.Inventors: Ravindranath Naiknaware, Triet Tu Le, Terri Fiez, Kartikeya Mayaram
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Patent number: 10681829Abstract: An electrical assembly may include an enclosure having a base portion to attach the enclosure to a panel and a heat dissipating portion opposite the base portion, a circuit board having a first thermal interface on a first side of the board, a second thermal interface on a second side of the board, and a thermally conductive portion to provide enhanced thermal conduction between the first thermal interface and the second thermal interface, a power electronic device having a thermal interface coupled to the first thermal interface of the circuit board, a heat spreader arranged to transfer heat to the heat dissipating portion of the enclosure, and a thermally conductive pad coupled between the second thermal interface of the circuit board and the heat spreader.Type: GrantFiled: August 22, 2017Date of Patent: June 9, 2020Assignee: SunPower CorporationInventors: James Dorenkamp, Henry F. Pruett, Ravindranath Naiknaware
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Publication number: 20180097360Abstract: A photovoltaic system may include a first photovoltaic component having local power optimization functionality to process power at a first level, a second photovoltaic component to process power at a second level, and optimization logic to command the first photovoltaic component to accommodate system-level power optimization. The first component may be reconfigurable to accommodate the system-level optimization. The entire system may be dynamically reconfigured to continuously operate at the highest overall level of system efficiency.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 1, 2017Publication date: April 5, 2018Applicant: SunPower CorporationInventors: Robert Batten, Ravindranath Naiknaware
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Publication number: 20170354057Abstract: An electrical assembly may include an enclosure having a base portion to attach the enclosure to a panel and a heat dissipating portion opposite the base portion, a circuit board having a first thermal interface on a first side of the board, a second thermal interface on a second side of the board, and a thermally conductive portion to provide enhanced thermal conduction between the first thermal interface and the second thermal interface, a power electronic device having a thermal interface coupled to the first thermal interface of the circuit board, a heat spreader arranged to transfer heat to the heat dissipating portion of the enclosure, and a thermally conductive pad coupled between the second thermal interface of the circuit board and the heat spreader.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 22, 2017Publication date: December 7, 2017Applicant: SunPower CorporationInventors: James Dorenkamp, Henry F. Pruett, Ravindranath Naiknaware
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Patent number: 9830301Abstract: A method of determining whether service is needed on a solar array includes gathering current data with regard to current solar array performance and environmental conditions, collecting weather data, accessing a storage for historical performance data, using the current data, weather data and historical data to generate a predicted performance, comparing the predicted performance to the current solar array performance data to determine if service is needed and generate comparison data, and analyzing the comparison data to determine a type of service needed, if service is needed.Type: GrantFiled: October 4, 2012Date of Patent: November 28, 2017Assignee: SunPower CorporationInventors: Robert Batten, Ravindranath Naiknaware
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Patent number: 9819182Abstract: A photovoltaic system may include a first photovoltaic component having local power optimization functionality to process power at a first level, a second photovoltaic component to process power at a second level, and optimization logic to command the first photovoltaic component to accommodate system-level power optimization. The first component may be reconfigurable to accommodate the system-level optimization. The entire system may be dynamically reconfigured to continuously operate at the highest overall level of system efficiency.Type: GrantFiled: January 12, 2011Date of Patent: November 14, 2017Assignee: SunPower CorporationInventors: Robert Batten, Ravindranath Naiknaware
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Patent number: 9763360Abstract: An electrical assembly may include an enclosure having a base portion to attach the enclosure to a panel and a heat dissipating portion opposite the base portion, a circuit board having a first thermal interface on a first side of the board, a second thermal interface on a second side of the board, and a thermally conductive portion to provide enhanced thermal conduction between the first thermal interface and the second thermal interface, a power electronic device having a thermal interface coupled to the first thermal interface of the circuit board, a heat spreader arranged to transfer heat to the heat dissipating portion of the enclosure, and a thermally conductive pad coupled between the second thermal interface of the circuit board and the heat spreader.Type: GrantFiled: July 31, 2015Date of Patent: September 12, 2017Assignee: SunPower CorporationInventors: James Dorenkamp, Henry F. Pruett, Ravindranath Naiknaware
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Patent number: 9735730Abstract: A method for testing a photovoltaic (PV) module having an integrated power converter includes: obtaining a reference output signature of a PV module design in response to a flash pattern; applying the flash pattern to a PV module under test; acquiring an observed output signature of the PV module under test in response to the flash pattern; and comparing the observed output signature of the PV module under test to the reference output signature. Second reference output and observed output signatures may be obtained in response to a second flash pattern. The output signatures may be combined using various techniques. One or more parameters of the integrated power converter may be preset to one or more predetermined states prior to applying a flash pattern.Type: GrantFiled: March 20, 2015Date of Patent: August 15, 2017Assignee: SunPower CorporationInventor: Ravindranath Naiknaware
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Publication number: 20170163042Abstract: A distributed energy conversion system may include one or more DC power sources and two or more inverters to convert DC power from the power sources to AC power. The AC power from the two or more inverters may be combined to provide a single AC output. A module may include one or more photovoltaic cells and two or more inverters. An integrated circuit may include power electronics to convert DC input power to AC output power and processing circuitry to control the power electronics. The AC output power may be synchronized with an AC power distribution system.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 22, 2017Publication date: June 8, 2017Inventors: Ravindranath Naiknaware, Triet Tu Le, Terri Fiez, Kartikeya Mayaram
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Patent number: 9660451Abstract: A method for synchronizing distributed generation power sources during an islanding event may include synchronizing a first one of the islanded local power sources to a master local reference, and synchronizing a second one of the islanded local power sources to the master local reference. In-rush current may be controlled by energizing the local load sequentially in stages when a utility grid is connected to the point of common connection. The local loads may also be selectively energized in response to the amount of available local power generating capacity in an islanding situation. A method for controlling a system having local loads and local power sources may include evaluating the power available from local power sources, adaptively controlling the local loads in response to the power available from the local power sources, and operating the local loads and local power sources as an independent system during an islanding event.Type: GrantFiled: October 3, 2011Date of Patent: May 23, 2017Assignee: SunPower CorporationInventor: Ravindranath Naiknaware
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Patent number: 9608448Abstract: A distributed energy conversion system may include one or more DC power sources and two or more inverters to convert DC power from the power sources to AC power. The AC power from the two or more inverters may be combined to provide a single AC output. A module may include one or more photovoltaic cells and two or more inverters. An integrated circuit may include power electronics to convert DC input power to AC output power and processing circuitry to control the power electronics. The AC output power may be synchronized with an AC power distribution system.Type: GrantFiled: January 5, 2016Date of Patent: March 28, 2017Assignee: SunPower CorporationInventors: Ravindranath Naiknaware, Triet Tu Le, Terri Fiez, Kartikeya Mayaram
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Hierarchical fault prediction, detection and localization in PV systems with distributed electronics
Patent number: 9547033Abstract: A method of detecting faults in a solar power system includes monitoring at least one operating parameter including outputs from a solar module, inputs and outputs to a microinverter, and inputs and outputs of a power optimizer, comparing the operating parameter to at least one of an expected value or another operating parameter, using results of the comparing to determine if there is a fault event, analyzing a location of an entity in the system that generated the operating parameter to localize the fault event, and performing remedial action on a location of the fault event.Type: GrantFiled: November 12, 2012Date of Patent: January 17, 2017Assignee: SunPower CorporationInventors: Robert Batten, Ravindranath Naiknaware -
Publication number: 20160359454Abstract: A method for testing a photovoltaic (PV) module includes applying a test sequence to the integrated power converter, reversing the integrated power converter in response to the test sequence, and obtaining test results from the PV module in response to the test sequence. The test sequence may include applying reverse excitation power to output terminals of the reversible integrated power converter. The reverse excitation power may provide bootstrap power to one or more components of the integrated power converter. The test method may include activating substantially the entire reversible drive train, testing the drive train and characterizing the PV cells in the module in response to the reverse excitation power.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 22, 2016Publication date: December 8, 2016Applicant: SunPower CorporationInventor: Ravindranath Naiknaware
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Patent number: 9423448Abstract: A method for testing a photovoltaic (PV) module includes applying a test sequence to the integrated power converter, reversing the integrated power converter in response to the test sequence, and obtaining test results from the PV module in response to the test sequence. The test sequence may include applying reverse excitation power to output terminals of the reversible integrated power converter. The reverse excitation power may provide bootstrap power to one or more components of the integrated power converter. The test method may include activating substantially the entire reversible drive train, testing the drive train and characterizing the PV cells in the module in response to the reverse excitation power.Type: GrantFiled: January 9, 2012Date of Patent: August 23, 2016Assignee: SunPower CorporationInventor: Ravindranath Naiknaware
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Patent number: 9419438Abstract: In some embodiments, a system includes a power system coupled to a power bus, and a power line communication (PLC) gateway coupled in series with the power bus. In other embodiments, a system includes first and second power circuits coupled in series with a power bus, and first and second power-line communication circuits coupled in series with the power bus. In additional embodiments, a system includes a power converter coupled to a power bus and having one or more switching frequencies, and a power-line communication circuit coupled to the power bus and having one or more communication frequencies, where at least one of the switching frequencies is substantially greater than at least one of the communication frequencies.Type: GrantFiled: October 14, 2014Date of Patent: August 16, 2016Assignee: SunPower CorporationInventors: Henry F. Pruett, Vincenzo DiTommaso, Ravindranath Naiknaware, Jorell A. Olson
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Publication number: 20160211672Abstract: A distributed energy conversion system may include one or more DC power sources and two or more inverters to convert DC power from the power sources to AC power. The AC power from the two or more inverters may be combined to provide a single AC output. A module may include one or more photovoltaic cells and two or more inverters. An integrated circuit may include power electronics to convert DC input power to AC output power and processing circuitry to control the power electronics. The AC output power may be synchronized with an AC power distribution system.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 5, 2016Publication date: July 21, 2016Inventors: Ravindranath Naiknaware, Triet Tu Le, Terri Shreeve Fiez, Kartikeya Mayaram
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Patent number: 9263895Abstract: A distributed energy conversion system may include one or more DC power sources and two or more inverters to convert DC power from the power sources to AC power. The AC power from the two or more inverters may be combined to provide a single AC output. A module may include one or more photovoltaic cells and two or more inverters. An integrated circuit may include power electronics to convert DC input power to AC output power and processing circuitry to control the power electronics. The AC output power may be synchronized with an AC power distribution system.Type: GrantFiled: December 20, 2008Date of Patent: February 16, 2016Assignee: SUNPOWER CORPORATIONInventors: Ravindranath Naiknaware, Triet Tu Le, Terri Shreeve Fiez, Kartikeya Mayaram
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Publication number: 20150342084Abstract: An electrical assembly may include an enclosure having a base portion to attach the enclosure to a panel and a heat dissipating portion opposite the base portion, a circuit board having a first thermal interface on a first side of the board, a second thermal interface on a second side of the board, and a thermally conductive portion to provide enhanced thermal conduction between the first thermal interface and the second thermal interface, a power electronic device having a thermal interface coupled to the first thermal interface of the circuit board, a heat spreader arranged to transfer heat to the heat dissipating portion of the enclosure, and a thermally conductive pad coupled between the second thermal interface of the circuit board and the heat spreader.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 31, 2015Publication date: November 26, 2015Applicant: SUNPOWER CORPORATIONInventors: James Dorenkamp, Henry F. Pruett, Ravindranath Naiknaware
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Patent number: 9136710Abstract: A method for converting power from a photovoltaic (PV) panel having substrings of PV cells, the method includes converting power from a first substring of the PV panel to generate a first DC output having a fixed portion and a variable portion, converting power from a second substring of the PV panel to generate a second DC output having a fixed portion and a variable portion, and combining the first and second DC outputs to generate a combined DC output. A power converter may include an open-loop switching stage to receive DC power, a transformer having a primary winding coupled to the open-loop switching stage, and first and second secondary windings, a first rectifier bridge coupled to the first secondary winding, a second rectifier bridge coupled to the second secondary winding, and a regulator coupled to the second rectifier bridge.Type: GrantFiled: February 13, 2012Date of Patent: September 15, 2015Assignee: SunPower CorporationInventors: Gary B. Baker, Triet Tu Le, Ravindranath Naiknaware
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Patent number: 9101082Abstract: An electrical assembly may include an enclosure having a base portion to attach the enclosure to a panel and a heat dissipating portion opposite the base portion, a circuit board having a first thermal interface on a first side of the board, a second thermal interface on a second side of the board, and a thermally conductive portion to provide enhanced thermal conduction between the first thermal interface and the second thermal interface, a power electronic device having a thermal interface coupled to the first thermal interface of the circuit board, a heat spreader arranged to transfer heat to the heat dissipating portion of the enclosure, and a thermally conductive pad coupled between the second thermal interface of the circuit board and the heat spreader.Type: GrantFiled: May 3, 2011Date of Patent: August 4, 2015Assignee: SunPower CorporationInventors: James Dorenkamp, Henry F. Pruett, Ravindranath Naiknaware