Granted Patent B2

US 9,407,169 · App. 14/289,404 · Granted Aug 2, 2016

Abstract

Claims (24)

1. Apparatus for generating AC power, comprising:

a DC/AC inversion stage capable of generating at least two of a single-phase output power, a two-phase output power, and a three-phase output power; and

a conversion control module, coupled to the DC/AC inversion stage, for driving the DC/AC inversion stage to (i) generate the single-phase output power while an input power is less than a first threshold, and (ii) operate in burst mode while the input power satisfies a burst mode threshold.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the burst mode threshold is less than the first threshold.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein during the burst mode, energy is stored during a cycle of an AC power grid and, subsequent to the cycle, the DC/AC inversion stage couples the stored energy to the AC power grid as the single-phase output power.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein during the burst mode, energy is stored during a plurality of cycles of an AC power grid and, subsequent to the plurality of cycles, the DC/AC inversion stage couples the stored energy to the AC power grid as the single-phase output power.

5. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the input power is DC power.

6. The apparatus of claim 5 , wherein the input power is from a photovoltaic (PV) module.

7. A method for generating AC power, comprising:

determining an input power to a DC/AC inversion stage, wherein the DC/AC inversion stage is capable of generating at least two of a single-phase output power, a two-phase output power, and a three-phase output power; and

driving the DC/AC inversion stage to (i) generate the single-phase output power while an input power is less than a first threshold, and (ii) operate in burst mode while the input power satisfies a burst mode threshold.

8. The method of claim 7 , wherein the burst mode threshold is less than the first threshold.

9. The method of claim 7 , wherein during the burst mode, energy is stored during a cycle of an AC power grid and, subsequent to the cycle, the DC/AC inversion stage couples the stored energy to the AC power grid as the single-phase output power.

10. The method of claim 7 , wherein during the burst mode, energy is stored during a plurality of cycles of an AC power grid and, subsequent to the plurality of cycles, the DC/AC inversion stage couples the stored energy to the AC power grid as the single-phase output power.

11. The method of claim 7 , wherein the input power is DC power.

12. The method of claim 11 , wherein the input power is from a photovoltaic (PV) module.

13. A system for generating AC power, comprising:

a DC power source; and

an inverter, coupled to the DC power source, wherein the inverter comprises (a) a DC/AC inversion stage capable of generating at least two of a single-phase output power, a two-phase output power, and a three-phase output power; and (b) a conversion control module, coupled to the DC/AC inversion stage, for driving the DC/AC inversion stage to (i) generate the single-phase output power while an input power is less than a first threshold, and (ii) operate in burst mode while the input power satisfies a burst mode threshold.

14. The system of claim 13 , wherein the burst mode threshold is less than the first threshold.

15. The system of claim 13 , wherein during the burst mode, energy is stored during a cycle of an AC power grid and, subsequent to the cycle, the DC/AC inversion stage couples the stored energy to the AC power grid as the single-phase output power.

16. The system of claim 13 , wherein during the burst mode, energy is stored during a plurality of cycles of an AC power grid and, subsequent to the plurality of cycles, the DC/AC inversion stage couples the stored energy to the AC power grid as the single-phase output power.

17. The system of claim 13 , wherein the input power is DC power.

18. The system of claim 13 , wherein the DC power source is a photovoltaic (PV) module.

Assignments (7)