Abstract: A method for controlling a switching circuit including an input port electrically coupled to a photovoltaic device and an output port electrically coupled to a load includes (1) entering a voltage limiting operating mode and (2) in the voltage limiting operating mode (i) causing a control switching device of the switching circuit to repeatedly switch between its conductive and non-conductive states in a manner which limits magnitude of an output voltage to a maximum voltage value, the output voltage being a voltage across the output port, and (ii) varying the maximum voltage value as a function of magnitude of an output current, the output current being a current flowing through the output port.

Abstract: A method for communicating an event occurrence among a plurality of photovoltaic assemblies of a photovoltaic system includes the following steps: (1) in response to the event occurrence, injecting a first signal onto a power line at a first photovoltaic assembly of the plurality of photovoltaic assemblies, (2) detecting the first signal on the power line at a second photovoltaic assembly of the plurality of photovoltaic assemblies, and (3) in response to detecting the first signal on the power line at the second photovoltaic assembly, injecting a second signal onto the power line at the second photovoltaic assembly.

Abstract: A method for controlling a switching circuit including an input port electrically coupled to a photovoltaic device and an output port electrically coupled to a load includes (1) entering a voltage limiting operating mode and (2) in the voltage limiting operating mode (i) causing a control switching device of the switching circuit to repeatedly switch between its conductive and non-conductive states in a manner which limits magnitude of an output voltage to a maximum voltage value, the output voltage being a voltage across the output port, and (ii) varying the maximum voltage value as a function of magnitude of an output current, the output current being a current flowing through the output port.

Abstract: A method for controlling a switching circuit including an input port electrically coupled to a photovoltaic device and an output port electrically coupled to a load includes (1) entering a voltage limiting operating mode and (2) in the voltage limiting operating mode (i) causing a control switching device of the switching circuit to repeatedly switch between its conductive and non-conductive states in a manner which limits magnitude of an output voltage to a maximum voltage value, the output voltage being a voltage across the output port, and (ii) varying the maximum voltage value as a function of magnitude of an output current, the output current being a current flowing through the output port.

Abstract: A method for direct current power line communication in a photovoltaic system includes (a) transferring power between a photovoltaic device and a load using a power line, (b) detecting a change in operation of the power line, and (c) in response to the detected change in operation of the power line, decoding operating state of the power line to obtain information. A method for direct current power line communication in a photovoltaic system includes (a) transferring power between a photovoltaic device and a load using a power line, (b) changing operation of the power line, and (c) encoding operating state of the power line to represent information to be communicated.

Abstract: A method for direct current power line communication in a photovoltaic system includes (a) transferring power between at least one photovoltaic device and a load using a power line, (b) maintaining a magnitude of a current flowing through the power line above a threshold value in a normal operating mode of the photovoltaic system, (c) detecting a change in operation of the power line in response to magnitude of a direct current component of the current flowing through the power line falling below the threshold value, and (d) in response to the detected change in operation of the power line, decoding operating state of the power line to obtain information.

Abstract: A method for direct current power line communication in a photovoltaic system includes (a) transferring power between at least one photovoltaic device and a load using a power line, (b) maintaining a magnitude of a current flowing through the power line above a threshold value in a normal operating mode of the photovoltaic system, (c) detecting a change in operation of the power line in response to magnitude of a direct current component of the current flowing through the power line falling below the threshold value, and (d) in response to the detected change in operation of the power line, decoding operating state of the power line to obtain information.

Abstract: A method for direct current power line communication in a photovoltaic system includes (a) transferring power between a photovoltaic device and a load using a power line, (b) detecting a change in operation of the power line, and (c) in response to the detected change in operation of the power line, decoding operating state of the power line to obtain information. A method for direct current power line communication in a photovoltaic system includes (a) transferring power between a photovoltaic device and a load using a power line, (b) changing operation of the power line, and (c) encoding operating state of the power line to represent information to be communicated.

Abstract: A method for controlling a switching circuit including an input port electrically coupled to a photovoltaic device and an output port electrically coupled to a load includes (1) entering a voltage limiting operating mode and (2) in the voltage limiting operating mode (i) causing a control switching device of the switching circuit to repeatedly switch between its conductive and non-conductive states in a manner which limits magnitude of an output voltage to a maximum voltage value, the output voltage being a voltage across the output port, and (ii) varying the maximum voltage value as a function of magnitude of an output current, the output current being a current flowing through the output port.