Method and system for connecting solar cells or slices in a panel system
A method and system include a plurality of solar cells and a plurality of voltage controllers. Each of the plurality of solar cells is directly coupled to a dedicated one of the plurality of voltage controllers to form unique pairs of solar cells and voltage controllers. Each of a plurality of panels contain a plurality of unique pairs.
1. A system comprising:
a solar panel having
a plurality of solar cells; and
a plurality of voltage controllers, wherein each of the plurality of solar cells is directly coupled to a different one of the plurality of voltage controllers;
wherein each respective voltage controller of the voltage controllers comprises:
a single chip regulator having a buck converter, the single chip regulator having an input terminal and an output terminal;
an external rectifier connected between the input terminal of the single chip regulator and an output of one or more solar cells in the plurality of solar cells;
a capacitor connected to the output terminal of the single chip regulator; and
a diode connected to the output terminal of the single chip regulator.
2. The system of claim 1 , wherein the solar panel has a plurality of slices, each of the slices having multiple solar cells in the plurality of solar cells; and wherein each of the plurality of voltage controllers is connected to control one of the slices of the solar panel.
3. The system of claim 1 , wherein the diode is a Schottky diode.
4. The system of claim 1 , wherein the single chip regulator comprises:
a first transistor connected in parallel with the one or more solar cells in the plurality of solar cells; and
a second diode connected in series with the capacitor, where a series connection from the second diode to the capacitor is connected in parallel with the first transistor and the one or more solar cells in the plurality of solar cells in the solar panel.
5. The system of claim 4 , wherein the single chip regulator further comprises:
a second transistor connected as a controllable switch in parallel with the second diode.
6. The system of claim 5 , further comprising:
a controller chip having a first drive connection and a second drive connection, the first drive connection coupled to the first transistor to control bucking operations of the first transistor, and the second drive connection coupled to the second transistor to control synchronous rectification operations of the second transistor.
7. The system of claim 6 , wherein the controller chip includes a sense pin coupled to the second transistor, the first transistor and the second diode.
8. The system of claim 6 , wherein the controller chip includes a feedback pin coupled to a voltage divider.
9. The system of claim 6 , wherein the respective voltage controller further comprises a capacitor configured to bootstrap the controller chip.
10. A system, comprising:
a solar panel having
a plurality of solar cells; and
a plurality of voltage controllers, wherein each of the plurality of solar cells is directly coupled to a different one of the plurality of voltage controllers;
wherein each respective voltage controller of the plurality of voltage controllers includes:
a first transistor connected as a controllable switch in parallel with one or more of the plurality of solar cells;
a capacitor;
a diode connected in series with the capacitor, where a series connection from the diode to the capacitor is connected in parallel with the first transistor and the one or more of the plurality of solar cells in the solar panel;
a second transistor connected as a controllable switch in parallel with the diode; and
a controller chip having a first drive connection and a second drive connection, the first drive connection coupled to the first transistor to control bucking operations of the first transistor, and the second drive connection coupled to the second transistor to control synchronous rectification operations of the second transistor.
11. The system of claim 10 , wherein the diode is a Schottky diode.
12. The system of claim 10 , wherein the respective voltage controller further comprises a rectifier coupled between the one or more of the plurality of solar cells and the first transistor.
13. The system of claim 12 , wherein the controller chip includes a sense pin coupled to the second transistor, the first transistor and the diode.
14. The system of claim 13 , wherein the controller chip includes a feedback pin coupled to a voltage divider.
15. The system of claim 14 , wherein the respective voltage controller further comprises a second capacitor configured to bootstrap the controller chip.
16. A solar array system comprising:
a plurality of solar panels, each of the plurality of solar panels containing:
a plurality of solar cells; and
a plurality of controllers, each of the plurality of controllers connected directly to at least one of the plurality of solar cells;
wherein each respective controller of the plurality of controllers comprises:
a DC to DC converter;
a controller chip to control the DC to DC converter; and
a first capacitor coupled in series with the controller chip, wherein a series connection from the controller chip to the first capacitor are connected in parallel to the at least one of the plurality of solar cells to bootstrap the controller chip and increase a voltage provided via an input to the DC to DC converter to power the controller chip.
17. The system of claim 16 , wherein the respective controller includes:
a rectifier, coupled between the DC to DC converter and the at least one of the plurality of solar cells;
a second capacitor; and
a Schottky diode connected in series with the second capacitor, wherein a series connection from the Schottky diode to the second capacitor is connected in parallel to the at least one of the plurality of solar cells.
18. The system of claim 16 , wherein the DC to DC converter includes:
a first transistor having a first gate for bucking control; and
a second transistor having a second gate for synchronous rectification control;
wherein the controller chip, having
a first drive pin to drive the first gate to control bucking in the DC to DC converter; and
a second drive pin to drive the second gate to control synchronous rectification in the DC to DC converter.