Abstract: Various implementations described herein are directed to determining an order of power devices connected in a serial string to a central power device. The physical order may be stored in a non-volatile computer-readable storage medium.

Abstract: A junction box used for making electrical connections to a photovoltaic panel. The junction box has two chambers including a first chamber and a second chamber and a wall common to and separating both chambers. The wall may be adapted to have an electrical connection therethrough. The two lids are adapted to seal respectively the two chambers. The two lids are on opposite sides of the junction box relative to the photovoltaic panel. The two lids may be attachable using different sealing processes to a different level of hermeticity. The first chamber may be adapted to receive a circuit board for electrical power conversion. The junction box may include supports for mounting a printed circuit board in the first chamber. The second chamber is configured for electrical connection to the photovoltaic panel. A metal heat sink may be bonded inside the first chamber.

Abstract: A method for maintaining reliability of a distributed power system including a power converter having input terminals and output terminals. Input power is received at the input terminals. The input power is converted to an output power at the output terminals. A temperature is measured in or in the environment of the power converter. The power conversion of the input power to the output power may be controlled to maximize the input power by setting at the input terminals the input voltage or the input current according to predetermined criteria. One of the predetermined criteria is configured to reduce the input power based on the temperature signal responsive to the temperature. The adjustment of input power reduces the input voltage and/or input current thereby lowering the temperature of the power converter.

Abstract: A distributed power harvesting system including multiple direct current (DC) power sources with respective DC outputs adapted for interconnection into an interconnected DC power source output. A converter includes input terminals adapted for coupling to the interconnected DC power source output. A circuit loop sets the voltage and current at the input terminals of the converter according to predetermined criteria. A power conversion portion converts the power received at the input terminals to an output power at the output terminals. A power supplier is coupled to the output terminals. The power supplier includes a control part for maintaining the input to the power supplier at a predetermined value. The control part maintains the input voltage and/or input current to the power supplier at a predetermined value.

Abstract: A power system comprising one or more power generators and a combiner. The system may be electrically connected to or include one or more loads. The combiner may have input terminals that are coupled to outputs of the power generators. The combiner may also have output terminals that are coupled to input(s) of the one or more loads. The power generators may be configured to transfer harvested power to the combiner, and the combiner may be configured to transfer the harvested power to the one or more loads.

Abstract: Aspects of the disclosure relate to static configurations and arrangement of substrings of photovoltaic (PV) cell arrays or PV modules to electrically parallelly connect substrings in PV cell arrays mitigating the partial shade and/or mismatch condition. Further aspects relate to PV modules comprising interleaved substrings. Additional aspects relate to incorporation of power electronics with PV modules and PV cell arrays.

Abstract: A system for providing power from a direct current (DC) source and/or alternative current (AC) source to a battery is described. The system may include DC power source terminals configured to connect to a DC power source, AC power source terminals configured to connect to an AC power source, a DC-DC converter configured to charge a battery from the DC power source terminals, an AC-DC converter configured to charge the battery from the AC power source terminals, a first switch connected between the AC power source terminals and the AC-D C converter, a second switch connected between the DC power source terminals and the DC-DC converter, and a controller configured to connect the battery to the DC power source terminals based on an absence of the AC power source, and connect the battery to the AC power source terminals based on an availability of the AC power source.

Abstract: Various implementations described herein are directed to systems, apparatuses and methods for managing one or more loads connected to one or more power sources using one or more smart outlets. Apparatuses described herein may include smart outlets configured to communicate with one or more controllers and responsively connect and disconnect electrical loads connected thereto. Methods described herein may include signaling and/or controlling one or more loads from a group of loads to connect to or disconnect from one or more power sources.

Abstract: Controlling a power converter circuit for a direct current (DC) power source is disclosed. The power converter may be operative to convert input power received from the DC power source to an output power and to perform maximum power point tracking of the power source. The power converter is adapted to provide the output power to a load that also performs maximum power point tracking.

Abstract: A system and method for digital management and control of power conversion from battery cells. The system utilizes a power management and conversion module that uses a CPU to maintain a high power conversion efficiency over a wide range of loads and to manage charge and discharge operation of the battery cells. The power management and conversion module includes the CPU, a current sense unit, a charge/discharge unit, a DC-to-DC conversion unit, a battery protection unit, a fuel gauge and an internal DC regulation unit. Through intelligent power conversion and charge/discharge operations, a given battery type is given the ability to emulate other battery types by conversion of the output voltage of the battery and adaptation of the charging scheme to suit the battery.

Abstract: Various implementations described herein are directed to a method for detecting, by a device, an increase in temperature at certain parts of an electrical system, and taking appropriate responsive action. The method may include measuring temperatures at certain locations within the system and estimating temperatures at other locations based on the measurements. Some embodiments disclosed herein include an integrated cable combining electrical conduction and heat-detection capabilities, or an integrated cable or connector combining electrical conduction with a thermal fuse.

Abstract: A multi-level inverter having one or more banks, each bank containing a plurality of low voltage MOSFET transistors. A processor configured to switch the plurality of low voltage MOSFET transistors in each bank to switch at multiple times during each cycle.

Abstract: An apparatus of a junction box component housed in a junction box and designed to be coupled to a power generator. The junction box component may include one or more bypass mechanisms configured to bypass one or more substrings of the power generator in a case of malfunction or mismatch between the substring and the remainder of the power generators. The one or more bypass mechanisms may generate heat which may be transferred out of the junction box. The junction box component may be designed to conduct the heat towards the base of the junction box and/or the cover of the junction box. A heat dissipation mechanism may be mounted on the base and/or the cover. A bypass mechanism may bypass the entire power generator.

Abstract: A distributed power system wherein a plurality of power converters are connected in parallel and share the power conversion load according to a prescribed function, but each power converter autonomously determines its share of power conversion. Each power converter operates according to its own power conversion formula/function, such that overall the parallel-connected converters share the power conversion load in a predetermined manner.

Abstract: Controlling a power converter circuit for a direct current (DC) power source is disclosed. The power converter may be operative to convert input power received from the DC power source to an output power and to perform maximum power point tracking of the power source. The power converter is adapted to provide the output power to a load that also performs maximum power point tracking.

Abstract: A system for providing power from a direct current (DC) source to the power grid. The system includes a first inverter with an input and an output. The input is adapted to connect to the DC source. A first switch disposed between the output and the power grid. A second inverter with a DC terminal and an AC terminal, the AC terminal is adapted to connect in parallel with the output of the first inverter. A battery adapted to connect to the DC terminal of the second inverter. A second switch connected between the DC terminal of the second inverter and the input of the first inverter. The second switch also operatively connects the DC source to the battery. The system may further include a charging circuit adapted to be disposed between the input and the DC terminal and a load adapted to connect to the output.

Abstract: A distributed power system including multiple (DC) batteries each DC battery with positive and negative poles. Multiple power converters are coupled respectively to the DC batteries. Each power converter includes a first terminal, a second terminal, a third terminal and a fourth terminal. The first terminal is adapted for coupling to the positive pole. The second terminal is adapted for coupling to the negative pole. The power converter includes: (i) a control loop adapted for setting the voltage between or current through the first and second terminals, and (ii) a power conversion portion adapted to selectively either: convert power from said first and second terminals to said third and fourth terminals to discharge the battery connected thereto, or to convert power from the third and fourth terminals to the first and second terminals to charge the battery connected thereto.

Abstract: A method of signaling between a photovoltaic module and an inverter module. The inverter module is connected to the photovoltaic module. In an initial mode of operation an initial code is modulated thereby producing an initial signal. The initial signal is transmitted from the inverter module to the photovoltaic module. The initial signal is received by the photovoltaic module. The operating mode is then changed to a normal mode of power conversion, and during the normal mode of operation a control signal is transmitted from the inverter to the photovoltaic module. A control code is demodulated and received from the control signal. The control code is compared with the initial code producing a comparison. The control command of the control signal is validated as a valid control command from the inverter module with the control command only acted upon when the comparison is a positive comparison.

Abstract: Various implementations described herein are directed to systems, apparatuses and methods for managing one or more loads connected to one or more power sources using one or more smart outlets. Apparatuses described herein may include smart outlets configured to communicate with one or more controllers and responsively connect and disconnect electrical loads connected thereto. Methods described herein may include signaling and/or controlling one or more loads from a group of loads to connect to or disconnect from one or more power sources.

Abstract: Various implementations are directed to a method for detecting, by a device, an increase in temperature at certain parts of an electrical system, and taking appropriate responsive action. The method may include measuring temperatures at certain locations within the system and estimating temperatures at other locations based on the measurements. Some embodiments include an integrated cable combining electrical conduction and heat-detection capabilities, or an integrated cable or connector combining electrical conduction with a thermal fuse.