ETCHING OF SOLAR CELL MATERIALS
Granted: February 7, 2019
Application Number:
20190044006
A solar cell is fabricated by etching one or more of its layers without substantially etching another layer of the solar cell. In one embodiment, a copper layer in the solar cell is etched without substantially etching a topmost metallic layer comprising tin. For example, an etchant comprising sulfuric acid and hydrogen peroxide may be employed to etch the copper layer selective to the tin layer. A particular example of the aforementioned etchant is a Co-Bra Etch® etchant modified to…
PHOTOVOLTAIC MODULE WITH DISTRIBUTED POWER CONVERSION CIRCUITS
Granted: January 31, 2019
Application Number:
20190036481
A photovoltaic module includes solar cells and a power conversion circuit. The power conversion circuit includes an in-laminate circuit that is disposed with the solar cells within a laminate of the photovoltaic module. The power conversion circuit further includes an external circuit disposed outside of the laminate. The external circuit is in an enclosure, such as a junction box. The external circuit includes magnetic components, such as an inductor or a transformer.
SOLAR MODULE CLEANER
Granted: January 10, 2019
Application Number:
20190013775
A photovoltaic (PV) module cleaning system can include a robotic cleaning device and a support system. The support system can be configured to provide a metered fill to the robotic cleaning device. In some embodiments, the robotic cleaning device and include a curved cleaning head. Various techniques for deploying a robotic cleaning device on PV modules include out-and-back, leapfrog, among others.
SPACER FORMATION IN A SOLAR CELL USING OXYGEN ION IMPLANTATION
Granted: December 13, 2018
Application Number:
20180358490
A solar cell is disclosed. The solar cell has a front side facing the sun during normal operation, and a back side facing away from the sun. The solar cell comprises a silicon substrate, a first polysilicon layer with a region of doped polysilicon on the back side of the substrate. The solar cell also comprises a second polysilicon layer with a second region of doped polysilicon on the back side of the silicon substrate. The second polysilicon layer at least partially covers the region…
HYBRID MANAGEMENT MODULE
Granted: December 6, 2018
Application Number:
20180351504
One or more hybrid management modules for Photovoltaic (PV) systems are provided. These modules may be configured for peer-to-peer communication and may also be configured for cellular communication outside of the PV system. The modules may be coupled or located near individual PV modules and may be configured with or alongside PV inverters or converters. The modules may take the place of a central system manager located beyond a main service panel and may work in conjunction with a…
PHOTOVOLTAIC MODULES
Granted: November 8, 2018
Application Number:
20180323743
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…
INITIALIZING VIRTUAL OSCILLATOR CONTROL
Granted: November 8, 2018
Application Number:
20180323726
A first micro-inverter and a second micro-inverter are arranged to source a load. The micro-inverters include a virtual oscillator control (VOC) to provide voltage commands to an hysteretic current regulator. The hysteretic current regulator provides instructions to the DC/AC inverter to output voltage to the load. When the second micro-inverter is powered on, an initialization process is executed to provide values to its VOC that reduces transients and improves the synchronization…
SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR ESTABLISHING COMMUNICATION WITH AN ARRAY OF INVERTERS
Granted: November 8, 2018
Application Number:
20180323642
A system and method for establishing communication between a controller and a plurality of inverters comprises determining a response time window length and broadcasting a response request to the array of inverters that includes the response time window length. Each inverter, in response to receiving the response requests, transmits a response to the controller at a randomly determined response time within the response time window. In response to receiving an acknowledgement from the…
SNAP-ON RAIL ASSEMBLY
Granted: November 1, 2018
Application Number:
20180316300
A mounting assembly to mount frames on a mounting surface, the mounting assembly having rails that supports the frames, each rail having an internal side adjacent with an internal recess, and an external side opposite to the internal side with lip; and roof mounting assemblies to affix the rails onto the mounting surface. Each mounting assembly having a mounting block that is fixable to the mounting surface, a mounting plate that is fixable to the mounting block, and a pair rail snap…
STRING INVERTER SYSTEM
Granted: October 25, 2018
Application Number:
20180309381
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.
INTEGRATION OF MICROINVERTER WITH PHOTOVOLTAIC MODULE
Granted: October 18, 2018
Application Number:
20180302028
Various technologies for integrating a microinverter with a photovoltaic module are disclosed. An alternating current photovoltaic (ACPV) module includes a photovoltaic module having a frame and a junction box including a direct current (DC) output connector, and a microinverter having a housing coupled to the frame and a DC input connector electrically mated with the DC output connector of the photovoltaic module.
PHOTOVOLTAIC MANAGEMENT AND MODULE-LEVEL POWER ELECTRONICS
Granted: October 11, 2018
Application Number:
20180294772
A photovoltaic (PV) system includes module-level power electronic (MLPE) devices that produce energy. The PV system includes a gateway to receive and send data to MLPE devices. The gateway also connects the PV system with a network, such as a local area network, that allows access to the Internet. The gateway provides functionality within the PV system to perform various processes to improve operation of MLPE devices.
SOLAR COLLECTOR INSTALLATION DESIGN SYSTEM INCLUDING EXCEPTIONAL CONDITION MANAGEMENT AND DISPLAY
Granted: October 11, 2018
Application Number:
20180293335
Embodiments may include systems and methods to create and edit a representation of a worksite, to create various data objects, to classify such objects as various types of pre-defined “features” with attendant properties and layout constraints. As part of or in addition to classification, an embodiment may include systems and methods to create, associate, and edit intrinsic and extrinsic properties to these objects. A design engine may apply of design rules to the features described…
SOLAR POWER GENERATION ASSEMBLY WITH INTEGRATED MOUNTING AND WATER MANAGEMENT AND METHOD FOR PROVIDING SAME
Granted: August 30, 2018
Application Number:
20180248508
A solar power generation assembly includes a first canopy wing positioned at a first predetermined inclination and a second canopy wing positioned at a second predetermined inclination, wherein the first and second canopies form a dual-incline structure and a main gutter is disposed between the first and second canopies. Additionally, at least one mounting rail gutter extends perpendicular to the main gutter and a secondary gutter extends parallel to the main gutter, wherein the…
CONVERTER TOPOLOGIES AND CONTROL
Granted: August 23, 2018
Application Number:
20180241322
An inverter includes a transformer that includes a first winding, a second winding, and a third winding, a DC-AC inverter electrically coupled to the first winding of the transformer, a cycloconverter electrically coupled to the second winding of the transformer, an active filter electrically coupled to the third winding of the transformer. The DC-AC inverter is adapted to convert the input DC waveform to an AC waveform delivered to the transformer at the first winding. The…
TRENCH PROCESS AND STRUCTURE FOR BACKSIDE CONTACT SOLAR CELLS WITH POLYSILICON DOPED REGIONS
Granted: August 23, 2018
Application Number:
20180240927
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…
SYSTEMS AND METHOD FOR DETERMINING SOLAR PANEL PLACEMENT AND ENERGY OUTPUT
Granted: August 23, 2018
Application Number:
20180239841
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…
CONVERTER TOPOLOGIES AND CONTROL
Granted: August 9, 2018
Application Number:
20180226899
Systems, methods, and articles of manufacture are provided wherein inverter topologies and inverter control employ primary and secondary windings with a half-bridge circuit and an unfolding bridge circuit positioned between the second winding and an AC grid. Certain topologies may employ control circuits for controlling the bridges suitable for a phase angle of the AC grid.
THREE-LEVEL INVERTER SWITCHING
Granted: July 5, 2018
Application Number:
20180191273
Inverter circuit operation for managing power factor changes is provided. Various modes of switch timing may be employed near zero-voltage crossings. Inverter switch timing may change during a cycle such that one timing strategy is employed approaching or leaving a zero-voltage crossing while another timing strategy is employed at other times of the cycle.
FILTER COMPONENT REDUCTION
Granted: June 28, 2018
Application Number:
20180183241
Reduction as well as elimination of the use of discrete inductors or other filtering components for photovoltaic (PV) Module-Level Power Electronics (MLPE) is provided. This reduction may serve to promote two-dimensional circuit topology designs of MLPEs as well as promote efficiencies and reliability linked to diminished or eliminated inductor, or other filtering component(s), presence or use in MLPEs or related components or systems.
