Control circuit for a DC-to-DC switching converter, and the use thereof for maximizing the power delivered by a photovoltaic generator

1. A control circuit for a switching DC/DC Converter comprising:

an input for an indicator signal indicative of an output current level from said converter;

a peak detector for detecting and storing a maximum value of said indicator signal;

a comparator element for comparing an instantaneous value of said indicator signal with said stored maximum value, and for generating a switching signal when said instantaneous value becomes less than a predetermined fraction of said stored value;

reinitializer means for reinitializing said peak detector in response to said switching signal; and

means for generating a control signal that switches between a state in which it increases over time and a state in which it decreases over time in response to said switching signal.

2. A circuit according to claim 1 , in which said control signal varies linearly with time.

3. A circuit according to claim 1 :

also including an input for an activation and deactivation signal; and

in which, while a deactivation signal is present on said input, said control signal is blocked in a saturated state.

4. A control module for a photovoltaic generator, the module comprising:

a switching DC/DC Converter connecting said photovoltaic generator to a power supply bus bar;

a current detector for generating an indicator signal indicative of an output current from said converter;

a driver circuit connected to said receive a control signal as an input and to generate a signal for driving said DC/DC Converter as a function of said control signal; and

a control circuit according to claim 1 , connected to receive said indicator signal as an input and to generate on its output a first control signal for the driver circuit.

5. A module according to claim 4 , in which said DC/DC Converter is a step-up switching converter.

6. A module according to claim 4 , in which said driver circuit comprises a pulse width modulator for generating a driver signal having a duty cycle determined by said control signal.

7. A module according to claim 4 :

also comprising a current-control circuit for generating a second control signal for said driver circuit such that the output current from said DC/DC Converter is maintained at a target level that increases with decreasing value of the potential of said power supply bus bar; and

in which said control circuit and said current-control circuit are connected to said driver circuit in such a manner as to receive as input that one of said first and second control signals that determines generating the driver signal that corresponds to the higher level for the output current from said DC/DC Converter.

8. A module according to claim 7 , in which said current-control circuit is a conductance control circuit.

9. A module according to claim 7 , in which said current-control circuit includes a limiter circuit for limiting the value of said second control signal for said driver circuit in such a manner that said target level for the output current from the DC/DC Converter cannot exceed a limit value regardless of the value of the potential of said power bus bar.

10. A module according to claim 9 , also including an activator and deactivator circuit for generating a signal for activating said control circuit when the value of the potential of said power supply bus bar drops below an activation threshold, and for generating a signal for deactivating said control circuit when the value of the potential of said power supply bus bar rises above a deactivation threshold, higher than said activation threshold.

11. A photovoltaic generator system comprising a plurality of individual photovoltaic generators isolated from one another and connected to a common power supply bus bar via respective control modules according to claim 10 , in which:

the circuits for activating and deactivating each module present different values for said activation and deactivation thresholds; and

said activation threshold, for all of the modules, is less than the value of the potential of said power supply bus bar at which said target level for the output current from said DC/DC Converter is equal to said predetermined limit value.

12. A method of controlling a switching DC/DC Converter in such a manner that its output current oscillates about its maximum value, the method comprising the following operations:

generating a control signal for controlling said DC/DC Converter, which control signal can present a state in which it increases over time or a state in which it decreases over time;

continuously acquiring an indicator signal indicative of an output current level from said DC/DC Converter;

continuously detecting a peak value of said indicator signal and storing it in a storage element;

continuously comparing the present value of said indicator signal with said stored peak value; and

when said present value is less than a first predetermined fraction of said stored peak value:

reinitializing said storage element; and

switching said control signal between said state of increasing relative to time and said state of decreasing relative to time.