IP Library Granted Patent US 9,940,412
Granted Patent B2
US 9,940,412 · App. 14/148,081 · Granted Apr 10, 2018

Method and apparatus for managing installation information

Inventor: Chris Eich (Sebastopol, CA)
Assignee: Enphase Energy, Inc.
G06F17/50G06Q10/087G01S19/49Y04S10/56
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 9,940,412
App. No.
14/148,081
Granted
Apr 10, 2018
Kind
B2
Abstract

A method and apparatus for generating an array layout template. In one embodiment the method comprises scanning, using an installation application on a mobile device comprising at least one processor, a tag coupled to a splice box that is coupled to a trunk cable in a solar installation; and generating, via the installation application and based on information obtained by scanning the tag, a template that shows a physical layout of the splice box and a plurality of solar array components that are coupled to the trunk cable.

Claims (25)

1. An apparatus for generating an array layout template, comprising:

a mobile device comprising an installation application for (i) scanning a tag coupled to a splice box that is coupled to a trunk cable in a solar installation, and (ii) generating, based on information obtained by scanning the tag, a template that shows a physical layout of the splice box and a plurality of solar array components that are coupled to the trunk cable.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of solar array components comprises a plurality of power converters.

3. The apparatus of claim 2 , wherein the template shows the relative positions along the trunk cable for the splice box and the plurality of power converters.

4. The apparatus of claim 2 , wherein the template shows the absolute positions for the splice box and the plurality of power converters.

5. The apparatus of claim 2 , wherein the template identifies which AC phase each power converter of the plurality of power converters is coupled to on the trunk cable.

6. The apparatus of claim 2 , wherein the plurality of solar array components further comprises a plurality of splice boxes and a plurality of photovoltaic (PV) modules.

7. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the template shows an identification number for the splice box and for each solar array component in the plurality of solar array components.

8. A method for generating an array layout template, comprising:

scanning, by an installation application on a mobile device comprising at least one processor, a tag coupled to a splice box that is coupled to a trunk cable in a solar installation; and

generating, by the installation application and based on information obtained by scanning the tag, a template that shows a physical layout of the splice box and a plurality of solar array components that are coupled to the trunk cable.

9. The method of claim 8 , wherein the plurality of solar array components comprises a plurality of power converters.

10. The method of claim 9 , wherein the template shows the relative positions along the trunk cable for the splice box and the plurality of power converters.

11. The method of claim 9 , wherein the template shows the absolute positions for the splice box and the plurality of power converters.

12. The method of claim 9 , wherein the template identifies which AC phase each power converter of the plurality of power converters is coupled to on the trunk cable.

13. The method of claim 9 , wherein the plurality of solar array components further comprises a plurality of splice boxes and a plurality of photovoltaic (PV) modules.

14. The method of claim 8 , wherein the template shows an identification number for the splice box and for each solar array component in the plurality of solar array components.

15. A computer readable medium for storing a program that, when executed by a processor, causes the processor to perform a method for generating an array layout template, the method comprising:

obtaining information via scanning a tag coupled to a splice box that is coupled to a trunk cable in a solar installation; and

generating, based on the information, a template that shows a physical layout of the splice box and a plurality of solar array components that are coupled to the trunk cable.

16. The computer readable medium of claim 15 , wherein the plurality of solar array components comprises a plurality of power converters.

17. The computer readable medium of claim 16 , wherein the template shows the relative positions along the trunk cable for the splice box and the plurality of power converters.

18. The computer readable medium of claim 16 , wherein the template shows the absolute positions for the splice box and the plurality of power converters.

19. The computer readable medium of claim 16 , wherein the template identifies which AC phase each power converter of the plurality of power converters is coupled to on the trunk cable.

20. The computer readable medium of claim 15 , wherein the template shows an identification number for the splice box and for each solar array component in the plurality of solar array components.

Assignments (8)
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded May 5, 2026
From: OBSIDIAN AGENCY SERVICES, INC.
To: ENPHASE ENERGY, INC.
Reel/Frame 075546/0734 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Feb 26, 2020
From: FLEXTRONICS INDUSTRIAL, LTD.; FLEXTRONICS AMERICA, LLC
To: ENPHASE ENERGY, INC.
Reel/Frame 052022/0954 →
CORRECTIVE ASSIGNMENT TO CORRECT THE RECEIVING PARTY NAME PREVIOUSLY RECORDED AT REEL: 041936 FRAME: 0109. ASSIGNOR(S) HEREBY CONFIRMS THE SECURITY INTEREST. Recorded Apr 17, 2017
From: ENPHASE ENERGY, INC.
To: FLEXTRONICS INDUSTRIAL, LTD; FLEXTRONICS AMERICA, LLC
Reel/Frame 043339/0856 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Dec 30, 2016
From: ENPHASE ENERGY, INC.
To: OBSIDIAN AGENCY SERVICES, INC.
Reel/Frame 041225/0509 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Dec 30, 2016
From: ENPHASE ENERGY, INC.
To: FLEXTRONICS AMERICA, LLC
Reel/Frame 041936/0109 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Dec 30, 2016
From: ENPHASE ENERGY, INC.
To: FLEXTRONICS INDUSTRIAL, LTD
Reel/Frame 041958/0820 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Dec 28, 2016
From: ENPHASE ENERGY, INC.
To: WELLS FARGO BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, AS AGENT
Reel/Frame 041210/0283 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jan 21, 2014
From: EICH, CHRIS
To: ENPHASE ENERGY, INC.
Reel/Frame 032007/0188 →
Continuity (3)
Continuation 13065879 · Mar 31, 2011
Provisional Application 61341538 · Apr 1, 2010
Related Publication 20140195206A1 · Jul 10, 2014