STRING INVERTER SYSTEM
Granted: May 14, 2020
Application Number:
20200153357
A multi-inverter system with at least a string of inverters sharing a DC bus and outputting to a shared AC bus. Inverters are hot-swappable and configured to be turned on or off during powered cycles. Central control may comprise reducing power point tracking redundancies or promoting other operational changes at individual inverters of a group.
Plug-In Distributed Energy Resource
Granted: May 7, 2020
Application Number:
20200144821
Systems and methods regarding distributed energy resource systems (DERs) are described. Configurations and employed methods may include sending a command to a DER system to place the DER system in one or more of a charge state, a discharge state, an idle state, or a reactive power state. These DER systems may include an energy storage circuit, a dc/ac converter configured to receive a DC voltage from the storage circuit and convert the received DC voltage for receipt by an external AC…
STRUCTURES AND METHODS FOR FORMING ELECTRODES OF SOLAR CELLS
Granted: April 23, 2020
Application Number:
20200127150
Solar cells are attached together to form a plating assembly. The plating assembly is attached to a belt, which transports the plating assembly through a plating chamber where metal is electroplated on the solar cells. The electroplated metal is patterned to form metal contact fingers. After the metal is electroplated, the plating assembly is singulated to separate the two solar cells.
MICROINVERTER SYSTEMS AND SUBSYSTEMS
Granted: April 16, 2020
Application Number:
20200119567
An alternating current (AC) module system includes branch circuits and a main service panel to receive power from the branch circuits. A photovoltaic (PV) supervisor is located between the branch circuits and the panel. The PV supervisor aggregates the power from the branch circuits. The PV supervisor also performs a nonredundant operational function for one or more of the branch circuits. The PV supervisor includes a gateway device to permit control of the operational functions.
SYSTEMS AND APPARATUSES FOR CARPORT WITH INTEGRATED PRECIPITATION AND CABLE MANAGEMENT
Granted: April 16, 2020
Application Number:
20200115917
A solar power generation assembly includes a vertical support column; a canopy including a plurality of solar modules for solar power generation; a first brace and a second brace on a first side of the support column to support the canopy; a third brace and a fourth brace on a second side of the support column to support the canopy; and a gutter system integrated into the canopy and directing precipitation along one or more of the second brace and the fourth brace to the support column.…
SOLAR MODULE SKIRT ASSEMBLY
Granted: March 26, 2020
Application Number:
20200099332
A solar module skirt assembly includes a skirt that is attached to a frame of a solar module, and a clip to attach the skirt to the solar module. The clip includes a first portion to attach to a frame of the solar module and to the skirt, a second portion to hold a portion of the frame of the solar module and a portion of the skirt, and a fastener to affix the clip to the frame of the solar module and the portion of the skirt.
SYSTEMS AND METHOD FOR DETERMINING SOLAR PANEL PLACEMENT AND ENERGY OUTPUT
Granted: March 26, 2020
Application Number:
20200097620
Determining solar panel placement enables sales representatives and homeowners to modify a solar power system by adding or removing solar panels or arrays of solar panels, or changing module type. The user sees the corresponding solar energy production update instantly in a user interface. Determining solar panel placement includes receiving data corresponding to an installation location. A maximum solar panel design is determined based on the installation location. Energy production is…
FRONT CONTACT SOLAR CELL WITH FORMED ELECTRICALLY CONDUCTING LAYERS ON THE FRONT SIDE AND BACKSIDE
Granted: February 13, 2020
Application Number:
20200052140
A bipolar solar cell includes a backside junction formed by a silicon substrate and a first doped layer of a first dopant type on the backside of the solar cell. A second doped layer of a second dopant type makes an electrical connection to the substrate from the front side of the solar cell. A first metal contact of a first electrical polarity electrically connects to the first doped layer on the backside of the solar cell, and a second metal contact of a second electrical polarity…
PHOTOVOLTAIC MODULES
Granted: January 30, 2020
Application Number:
20200036326
A modular photovoltaic (PV) system can include a PV cell, a frame coupled to the PV cell, and a converter. The frame is configured to support a plurality of pairs of externally accessible connectors, each pair having a positive voltage connector and a negative voltage connector, the positive voltage connector of each pair of the plurality electrically connected to each other and the negative voltage connector of each pair of the plurality electrically connected to each other. The…
FRONT CONTACT SOLAR CELL WITH FORMED EMITTER
Granted: December 26, 2019
Application Number:
20190393368
A bipolar solar cell includes a backside junction formed by an N-type silicon substrate and a P-type polysilicon emitter formed on the backside of the solar cell. An antireflection layer may be formed on a textured front surface of the silicon substrate. A negative polarity metal contact on the front side of the solar cell makes an electrical connection to the substrate, while a positive polarity metal contact on the backside of the solar cell makes an electrical connection to the…
SYSTEMS AND APPARATUSES FOR PRECIPITATION MANAGEMENT IN SOLAR ASSEMBLIES
Granted: December 19, 2019
Application Number:
20190386601
A solar assembly includes a single-slope crossbeam, a plurality of clip angle brackets, and a plurality of photovoltaic (PV) modules. Each PV module is supported by at least two of the plurality of clip angle brackets, and a height of the plurality of angle brackets differ from each other in order to allow the PV modules to be shingled.
SYSTEMS AND APPARATUSES FOR CARPORT WITH INTEGRATED PRECIPITATION AND CABLE MANAGEMENT
Granted: December 19, 2019
Application Number:
20190383051
A solar power generation assembly includes a vertical support column; a canopy including a plurality of solar modules for solar power generation; a first brace and a second brace on a first side of the support column to support the canopy; a third brace and a fourth brace on a second side of the support column to support the canopy; and a gutter system integrated into the canopy and directing precipitation along one or more of the second brace and the fourth brace to the support column.…
TRENCH PROCESS AND STRUCTURE FOR BACKSIDE CONTACT SOLAR CELLS WITH POLYSILICON DOPED REGIONS
Granted: December 12, 2019
Application Number:
20190378947
A solar cell includes polysilicon P-type and N-type doped regions on a backside of a substrate, such as a silicon wafer. A trench structure separates the P-type doped region from the N-type doped region. Each of the P-type and N-type doped regions may be formed over a thin dielectric layer. The trench structure may include a textured surface for increased solar radiation collection. Among other advantages, the resulting structure increases efficiency by providing isolation between…
Commanding Distributed Energy Resources
Granted: December 5, 2019
Application Number:
20190372347
Computer systems and methods regarding distributed energy resource systems (DERs) re described. Configurations and employed methods may include sending a command to a DER system to place the DER system in one or more of a charge state, a discharge state, an idle state, or a reactive power state. these DER systems may include a rechargeable battery, a dc/ac converter configured to receive a DC voltage from the battery and convert the received DC voltage for receipt by an external AC…
DIODE-INCLUDED CONNECTOR, PHOTOVOLTAIC LAMINATE AND PHOTOVOLTAIC ASSEMBLY USING SAME
Granted: November 28, 2019
Application Number:
20190363671
One embodiment relates to a connector that includes a diode. The diode has an anode and a cathode. The connector further includes a first electrical connection which connects to the anode, a second electrical connection which also connects to the anode, and a third electrical connection which connects to the cathode. Another embodiment relates to a photovoltaic laminate which includes a string of photovoltaic cells and three electrical conductors extending out of two discrete…
CLAMPS FOR SOLAR SYSTEM
Granted: November 28, 2019
Application Number:
20190363667
A solar power system can include a rail and a solar module disposed on the rail. A clamp assembly can couple the solar module to the rail. The clamp assembly can have a clamped configuration in which the solar module is secured to the rail and an unclamped configuration. The clamp assembly can comprise an upper clamp member, a lower clamp member coupled to the rail, and a stabilization member mechanically engaging the upper clamp member and the lower clamp member. The stabilization…
RAPID SHUTDOWN OF PHOTOVOLTAIC SYSTEMS
Granted: November 7, 2019
Application Number:
20190341806
A photovoltaic system includes groups of solar cells that can be switched in and out of the photovoltaic system. In response to detecting initiation of rapid shutdown, a control circuit controls a switch device to switch out a group of solar cells to lower the output voltage of the photovoltaic system below a safety level. In response to detecting a release trigger that indicates resumption of normal operation, the control circuit controls the switch device to switch back the group of…
METHOD AND APPARATUS OF FABRICATING A SOLAR CELL DEVICE
Granted: October 17, 2019
Application Number:
20190319151
Solar cell devices as well as method and apparatus for producing solar cell devices are disclosed. Aspects of the disclosure provide a solar cell device that includes a string of solar cells. The string of solar cells are conductively connected in series and arranged in a shingled manner with sides of adjacent solar cells being overlapped. A first metal ribbon segment is conductively bonded to a front surface of an end cell, the front surface being configured to face a light incoming…
RECONFIGURABLE PHOTOVOLTAIC LAMINATE(S) AND PHOTOVOLTAIC PANEL(S)
Granted: October 10, 2019
Application Number:
20190312159
Reconfigurable PV panels can have features that include cut lines for separating full panels into smaller subpanels, connector ribbons for assembling several reconfigurable PV panels into a one-dimensional or two-dimensional array and can be stacked upon each other and unstacked by rotating them about a shared connection.
SOLAR DEVICE WITH INSULATED INTERCONNECTORS
Granted: October 10, 2019
Application Number:
20190312165
Aspects of the disclosure provide a solar device and a method for making the solar device. The solar device can include solar cells configured to form a solar cell string with at least a string terminal, and an insulated interconnector including two conductive ends configured to connect the string terminal to peripheral circuitry of the solar device. The method can include disposing the solar cells to form a solar cell string with at least a string terminal, and disposing an insulated…
