IP Library Granted Patent US 11,712,970
Granted Patent B2
US 11,712,970 · App. 17/594,375 · Granted Aug 1, 2023

Electric or hybrid means of transport with a solar panel

Inventor: Tom Kooijman (Eindhoven, NL)
Assignee: ATLAS TECHNOLOGIES HOLDING B.V.
B60L8/003B60L1/14B60L3/04B60L58/10H02J7/0013H02J7/0031H02J7/35B60L2210/10H02J2300/26
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 11,712,970
App. No.
17/594,375
Granted
Aug 1, 2023
Kind
B2
Abstract

The invention relates to an electric or hybrid means of transport comprising a high voltage bus and a low voltage bus. The high voltage bus is for delivering energy to at least one propulsion motor. The low voltage bus is for delivering energy to parts operating at low voltage. The electric or hybrid means of transport is equipped with a solar panel, the panel comprising groups of solar cells connected to a primary bus of an associated distributed maximum power point tracker. The distributed maximum power point tracker having a secondary bus to exchange energy with other distributed maximum power point trackers. The secondary bus of at least one of the distributed maximum power point tracker is connected to the low voltage bus, thereby eliminating the need for a DC/DC converter between the high voltage bus and the low voltage bus.

Claims (13)

1. An electric or hybrid means of transport comprising a high voltage bus and a low voltage bus, the high voltage bus for delivering energy to at least one propulsion motor, the low voltage bus for delivering energy to parts operating at low voltage, the electric or hybrid means of transport equipped with a solar panel, the solar panel comprising one or more strings, each string comprising multiple groups of solar cells, the groups connected in series, each group comprising a multitude of solar cells, each group connected to a primary bus of an associated distributed maximum power point tracker, the distributed maximum power point tracker having a secondary bus to exchange energy with other distributed maximum power point trackers, the distributed maximum power point tracker thus capable to vary the current through the group with which it is associated, as a result of which the current through each group can differ from the current through other groups that are part of the same string characterized in that the secondary bus of at least one of the distributed maximum power point tracker is connected to the low voltage bus, thereby enabling a transfer of power from the high voltage bus to the low voltage bus via the secondary bus.

2. The electric or hybrid means of transport according to claim 1 , whereby an output of the one or more strings is connected to a string voltage bus.

3. The electric or hybrid means of transport according to claim 2 , further comprising a DC/DC converter connecting the string voltage bus to the high voltage bus.

4. The electric or hybrid means of transport according to claim 1 , further comprising a Distributed Maximum Power Point Tracker Controller configured to control the distributed maximum power point trackers.

5. The electric or hybrid means of transport according to claim 4 , whereby an output of the one or more strings is connected to a string voltage bus, and further comprising a DC/DC converter connecting the string voltage bus to the high voltage bus, whereby the Distributed Maximum Power Point Tracker Controller is configured to control the DC/DC converter.

6. The electric or hybrid means of transport according to claim 5 , whereby the Distributed Maximum Power Point Tracker Controller is configured to control the transfer of power from the high voltage bus to the low voltage bus.

7. The electric or hybrid means of transport according to claim 5 , further comprising a further DC/DC converter connecting the secondary bus to the low voltage bus.

8. The electric or hybrid means of transport according to claim 7 , whereby the Distributed Maximum Power Point Tracker Controller is further configured to control the further DC/DC converter.

9. The electric or hybrid means of transport of claim 1 , where the parts operating at low voltage comprise parts from the group of low voltage batteries, air conditioning, internal and external illumination, mandatory external lights, car media system, air bags, and seat heaters.

10. The electric or hybrid means of transport of claim 1 , where the high voltage bus is connected via a battery management system to high voltage batteries.

11. The electric or hybrid means of transport of claim 1 , where the high voltage bus is galvanically insulated from the low voltage bus.

12. The electric or hybrid means of transport of claim 1 , in which the circuitry comprising the distributed maximum power point trackers further comprises safety circuitry that disconnects one or more groups and/or strings in error situations.

13. The electric or hybrid means of transport of claim 1 , in which the circuitry comprising the distributed maximum power point trackers further comprises safety circuitry that shorts one or more groups and/or strings in error situations.

Assignments (2)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jun 28, 2023
From: ATLAS TECHNOLOGIES HOLDING B.V.
To: LIGHTYEAR IPCO B.V.
Reel/Frame 064100/0200 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Nov 16, 2021
From: KOOIJMAN, TOM
To: ATLAS TECHNOLOGIES HOLDING B.V.
Reel/Frame 058128/0466 →
Priority Claims (1)
NL 2023114 · May 13, 2019 · national
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20220185119A1 · Jun 16, 2022