Granted Patent B2

US 12,224,706 · App. 18/338,527 · Granted Feb 11, 2025

Inventors: Guy Sella (Bitan Aharon, IL); Meir Adest (Modiin, IL); Lior Handelsman (Givatayim, IL); Yoav Galin (Raanana, IL); Amir Fishelov (Tel Aviv, IL); Meir Gazit (Ashkelon, IL); Ilan Yoscovich (Givatayim, IL); Yaron Binder (Shoham, IL)

Assignee: Solaredge Technologies Ltd.

H02S50/00H01L31/02021H02J1/10H02J1/102H02S40/34H02J3/381H02J7/35H02J2300/24Y02E10/56Y02E10/76

Abstract

Claims (59)

1. A method comprising:

receiving, by a photovoltaic module coupled to a photovoltaic panel and from a communication module, an initial signal;

retrieving an initial code from the initial signal;

pairing the photovoltaic module to the communication module;

receiving, by the photovoltaic module, a control signal;

retrieving a control code from the control signal;

comparing the control code to the initial code;

determining, based on the comparing, that the control signal is valid; and

operating, based on the determining that the control signal is valid, the photovoltaic module to output power from the photovoltaic panel.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the determining comprises, based on a determination that the comparing is resulting in a positive comparison, determining that the control signal is valid.

3. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

excluding, based on the pairing, the photovoltaic module from validating commands signaled by devices other than the communication module.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the receiving the initial signal comprises receiving a wireless signal.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the receiving the initial signal comprises receiving a signal modulated over a power line coupled to an output of the photovoltaic module.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the receiving the initial signal comprises receiving a source identification code identifying the communication module as a source of the initial signal.

7. The method of claim 1 , wherein the determining comprises validating, based on the control code matching a source identification code of the initial signal, the control code retrieved from the control signal.

8. The method of claim 1 , wherein the control signal comprises a keep-alive signal.

9. The method of claim 1 , wherein the comparing the control code to the initial code comprises comparing a signal strength of the control signal to a signal strength of the initial signal.

10. The method of claim 1 , wherein the operating the photovoltaic module to output power from the photovoltaic panel comprises converting power, using maximum peak power tracking (MPPT), from the photovoltaic panel to an output of the photovoltaic module.

11. The method of claim 1 , wherein the communication module is coupled to a load via a control line.

12. The method of claim 11 , wherein the load is a direct current (DC)/alternating current (AC) converter.

13. The method of claim 1 , wherein the communication module is integrated in a direct current (DC)-to-alternating current (AC) converter.

14. A method comprising:

operating a photovoltaic module in an initial mode;

receiving a control signal from a communication module;

determining whether the communication module is paired to the photovoltaic module; and

based on the determining and the control signal, determining whether to operate the photovoltaic module in a power production mode.

15. The method of claim 14 , wherein the operating the photovoltaic module in the initial mode is for a period of time and wherein the method further comprises, based on a determination that the communication module is not paired to the photovoltaic module, operating the photovoltaic module in the initial mode for another period of time.

16. The method of claim 14 , wherein the power production mode comprises operating a direct current (DC)-to-DC converter to convert power from an input of the photovoltaic module to an output of the photovoltaic module.

17. The method of claim 14 , wherein the initial mode is a safety mode of operation.

18. A method comprising:

operating a photovoltaic module in a power production mode for a first period of time;

receiving a control signal from a communication module; and

determining, for a second period of time, whether the communication module is paired to the photovoltaic module, wherein the determining comprises:

based on a determination that the communication module is paired to the photovoltaic module and based on a determination that the control signal comprises a keep-alive signal, operating the photovoltaic module in the power production mode for the second period of time; or

based on a determination that the communication module is not paired to the photovoltaic module, transitioning the photovoltaic module from the power production mode to an initial mode and operating in the initial mode for the second period of time.

19. A method comprising:

receiving, by a photovoltaic module coupled to a photovoltaic panel and from a communication module, an initial signal;

retrieving an initial code from the initial signal;

pairing the photovoltaic module to the communication module;

receiving, by the photovoltaic module, a control signal;

retrieving a control code from the control signal;

comparing the control code to the initial code;

determining, based on the comparing, that the control signal is invalid; and

operating, based on the determining that the control signal is invalid, the photovoltaic module in a safety mode of operation.

20. The method of claim 19 , wherein the determining comprises, based on a determination that the comparing is not resulting in a positive comparison, determining that the control signal is invalid.

21. The method of claim 19 , wherein the determining comprises setting an alert condition.

22. The method of claim 19 , wherein the safety mode of operation is a current limited mode of operation.

23. The method of claim 19 , wherein the determining comprises invalidating, based on the control code mismatching a source identification code of the initial signal, the control code retrieved from the control signal.

24. The method of claim 19 , further comprising:

excluding, based on the pairing, the photovoltaic module from validating commands signaled by devices other than the communication module.

25. The method of claim 19 , wherein the receiving the initial signal comprises receiving a wireless signal.

26. The method of claim 19 , wherein the receiving the initial signal comprises receiving a signal modulated over a power line coupled to an output of the photovoltaic module.

27. The method of claim 19 , wherein the receiving the initial signal comprises receiving a source identification code identifying the communication module as a source of the initial signal.

28. The method of claim 19 , wherein the control signal comprises a keep-alive signal.

29. The method of claim 19 , wherein the comparing the control code to the initial code comprises comparing a signal strength of the control signal to a signal strength of the initial signal.

30. The method of claim 19 , wherein the communication module is coupled to a load via a control line.

31. The method of claim 30 , wherein the load is a direct current (DC)/alternating current (AC) converter.

32. The method of claim 19 , wherein the communication module is integrated in a direct current (DC)-to-alternating current (AC) converter.

Assignments (1)

Continuity (15)

References Cited (400)