Apparatus and method for determining an order of power devices in power generation systems

1. A method comprising:

transmitting, to at least one first power device of a plurality of power devices connected in a serial string, a command to change an output electrical parameter;

causing at least one electrical signal to be transmitted from at least one second power device of the plurality of power devices;

receiving, from at least one of the plurality of power devices, at least one measured value responsive to the at least one electrical signal; and

determining, by analyzing the at least one measured value, which ones of the plurality of power devices are ordered in the serial string between the at least one first power device and the at least one second power device.

2. The method of claim 1 , further comprising reverting the output electrical parameter of the at least one first power device to a previous output electrical parameter.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the output electrical parameter is an impedance.

4. The method of claim 3 , wherein the impedance is less than 5,000 ohms.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the transmitting the command, the causing the at least one electrical signal to be transmitted, and the receiving the at least one measured value are performed iteratively until an order of the plurality of power devices is determined, and wherein, during each iteration, the transmitting the command is performed for a different one of the plurality of power devices.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the at least one electrical signal comprises a frequency between 1 kilohertz and 10 megahertz.

7. The method of claim 1 , wherein:

(i) the transmitting the command is performed to the plurality of power devices,

(ii) the at least one measured value is received for the plurality of power devices, and

(iii) the analyzing determines an order of the plurality of power devices by sorting the at least one measured value.

8. The method of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of power devices comprise a direct-current (DC) to alternating-current (AC) power inverter, a DC to DC power converter, a junction box, a bypass diode circuit, a micro-inverter, a photovoltaic panel circuit, or a connector embedded circuit.

9. The method of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of power devices are connected to form a plurality of parallel strings, wherein the determining comprises separating the at least one measured value according to the plurality of parallel strings, and where in the determining is performed for at least one parallel string of the plurality of parallel strings.

10. A power device comprising:

a communication interface configured to receive a command;

at least one hardware controller;

at least two output conductors; and

an adjustment circuit configured to adjust an output electrical parameter of at least one of the at least two output conductors, wherein the adjustment is responsive to the received command, and wherein the at least one hardware controller is configured to (i) perform the adjustment based on the received command, and (ii) measure an electrical signal transmitted on at least one of the at least two output conductors.

11. The power device of claim 10 , further comprising at least one circuit comprising a transmitter, a receiver, or a transceiver, wherein the at least one circuit is configured to transmit or receive the electrical signal.

12. The power device of claim 10 , wherein the at least one hardware controller is further configured to:

initiate a transmission or reception of the electrical signal, and

record a value of the electrical signal strength received by the at least one hardware controller.

13. The power device of claim 10 , wherein the output electrical parameter is an impedance.

14. The power device of claim 13 , wherein the impedance is less than 5,000 ohms.

15. The power device of claim 10 , wherein the power device is serially connected to a plurality of other power devices.

16. The power device of claim 15 , wherein at least one other power device of the plurality of other power devices comprises a transmitter power device.

17. The power device of claim 15 , wherein the plurality of other power devices comprises mostly transmitter power devices, mostly receiver power devices, or mostly transceiver power devices.

18. The power device of claim 10 , wherein the electrical signal comprises a frequency between 1 kilohertz and 10 megahertz.

19. The power device of claim 10 , wherein the power device comprises a DC to AC power inverter, a DC to DC power converter, a bypass diode circuit, a micro-inverter, a junction box, a photovoltaic panel circuit, or a connector embedded circuit.

20. A power generation system comprising:

a plurality of power devices each comprising a plurality of electrical output conductors, wherein each of the plurality of power devices is configured to adjust an electrical output parameter of the plurality of electrical output conductors, wherein the plurality of power devices are connected in a serial string;

at least one transmitting power device of the plurality of power devices configured to transmit an electrical signal;

at least one receiving power device of the plurality of power devices configured to receive the electrical signal and record at least one value of the received electrical signal, wherein the at least one receiving power device comprises a communication interface for sending the at least one value of the received electrical signal; and

at least one hardware processor configured to:

(i) command at least one of the plurality of power devices to adjust the electrical output parameter,

(ii) command the at least one transmitting power device to transmit the electrical signal,

(iii) command the at least one receiving power device to receive the electrical signal, record the at least one value of the received electrical signal, and send the at least one value of the received electrical signal,

(iv) receive the at least one value of the received electrical signal, and

(v) analyze the at least one value of the received electrical signal to determine an order of at least part of the plurality of power devices.