Patents by Inventor Thomas Bleisteiner

Thomas Bleisteiner 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).

  • Method for optimizing the yield of a partially shaded photovoltaic array
    Patent number: 9608439
    Abstract: A method for optimizing the yield of a photovoltaic array with an inverter is provided. The method includes: a) cyclically measuring a current (Igiv) and a DC link voltage (U) when controlling the inverter by a MPP method (Maximum Power Point) and storing a measured current value, b) lowering the DC link voltage (U) to a value that exceeds by no more than 100% a minimum DC link voltage (Umin) admissible for operation of the inverter, c) measuring a current (Ired) with a reduced DC link voltage and comparing it with a previously stored value at a given time for the current (Igiv), d) if a prescribed threshold for a difference between the two currents (Ired, Igiv) is exceeded, a searching process for a global MPP (Maximum Power Point) is initiated, e) otherwise, operation is continued at a power maximum (MPP) with a last-stored current value for the current (Igiv).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 18, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2017
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Thomas Bleisteiner, Marc Haug, Karsten Reiher
  • METHOD FOR OPTIMIZING THE YIELD OF A PARTIALLY SHADED PHOTOVOLTAIC ARRAY
    Publication number: 20140232206
    Abstract: A method for optimizing the yield of a photovoltaic array with an inverter is provided. The method includes: a) cyclically measuring a current (Igiv) and a DC link voltage (U) when controlling the inverter by a MPP method (Maximum Power Point) and storing a measured current value, b) lowering the DC link voltage (U) to a value that exceeds by no more than 100% a minimum DC link voltage (Umin) admissible for operation of the inverter, c) measuring a current (Ired) with a reduced DC link voltage and comparing it with a previously stored value at a given time for the current (Igiv), d) if a prescribed threshold for a difference between the two currents (Ired, Igiv) is exceeded, a searching process for a global MPP (Maximum Power Point) is initiated, e) otherwise, operation is continued at a power maximum (MPP) with a last-stored current value for the current (Igiv).
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 18, 2014
    Publication date: August 21, 2014
    Applicant: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Thomas Bleisteiner, Marc Haug, Karsten Reiher