Patents by Inventor Wolfgang Höft

Wolfgang Höft 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).

  • Publication number: 20230082734
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a DC generator that has at least one string, wherein the at least one string is formed by modules which are series-connected by a string line so as to generate a string voltage; and a switching device which is connected in series in the string line, in order to switch on and off the at least one string using the switching device. The switching device comprises a hybrid switch including a relay and a semiconductor switching device connected in parallel to the relay, wherein the semiconductor switching device includes at least one semiconductor switch. The switching device comprises a current sensor which is adapted to measure a negative current flow.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 18, 2022
    Publication date: March 16, 2023
    Inventors: Wolfgang Höft, Andreas Stefan Ende
  • Patent number: 11538943
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a photovoltaic system comprising a switching device for switching on and off at least one photovoltaic string, to an electronically controlled direct current hybrid switching device for switching on and off at least one photovoltaic string, in a user-controlled manner, to the use of a hybrid switch for switching a photovoltaic string, and to a method for switching off and back on at least one photovoltaic string of the photovoltaic system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2022
    Assignee: Phoenix Contact GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Wolfgang Höft, Andreas Stefan Ende
  • Publication number: 20190363200
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a photovoltaic system comprising a switching device for switching on and off at least one photovoltaic string, to an electronically controlled direct current hybrid switching device for switching on and off at least one photovoltaic string, in a user-controlled manner, to the use of a hybrid switch for switching a photovoltaic string, and to a method for switching off and back on at least one photovoltaic string of the photovoltaic system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 8, 2017
    Publication date: November 28, 2019
    Inventors: Wolfgang Höft, Andreas Stefan Ende
  • Patent number: 10389299
    Abstract: A photovoltaic system includes at least one string of solar modules and a system for individually disconnecting the solar modules and for safely connecting or reconnecting the disconnected solar modules to the string. At least some of the solar junction boxes are “smart” and have a safety circuit that defines an operating state and a safe state. The solar junction boxes are switched from the safe state to the operating state, i.e. are activated, by injecting a starting current.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 11, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 20, 2019
    Assignee: Phoenix Contact GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Wolfgang Höft, Martin Jankowski
  • Patent number: 10355639
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a photovoltaic system comprising at least one string of series-connected solar modules and an inverter, a test circuit which can be connected between the string and the inverter in at least one string line, and a testing method in particular for checking whether the inverter-side section of the string lines is closed and whether the inverter is connected.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 16, 2019
    Assignee: Phoenix Contact GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventor: Wolfgang Höft
  • Publication number: 20180248513
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a photovoltaic system comprising at least one string of series-connected solar modules and an inverter, a test circuit which can be connected between the string and the inverter in at least one string line, and a testing method in particular for checking whether the inverter-side section of the string lines is closed and whether the inverter is connected.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 31, 2016
    Publication date: August 30, 2018
    Inventor: Wolfgang Höft
  • Patent number: 9960732
    Abstract: A fault detection system in a photovoltaic system 1, is able to identify a system state on the basis of a first and optionally a second measured data profile and is thus able to distinguish error states from the operating state of the system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 11, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2018
    Assignee: Phoenix Contact GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventor: Wolfgang Höft
  • Publication number: 20160006392
    Abstract: The invention provides a fault detection system in a photovoltaic system 1, which is able to identify a system state on the basis of a first and optionally a second measured data profile and is thus able to distinguish error states from the operating state of the system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 11, 2014
    Publication date: January 7, 2016
    Inventor: Wolfgang Höft
  • Publication number: 20150381108
    Abstract: The invention relates to a photovoltaic system comprising at least one string of solar modules and a system for individually disconnecting the solar modules and for safely connecting or reconnecting the disconnected solar modules to the string. At least some of the solar junction boxes are “smart” and have a safety circuit that defines an operating state and a safe state. The solar junction boxes are switched from the safe state to the operating state, i.e. are activated, by injecting a starting current.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 11, 2014
    Publication date: December 31, 2015
    Inventors: Wolfgang Höft, Martin Jankowski