IP Library › Granted Patent US 8,471,408
Granted Patent B2
US 8,471,408 · App. 13/705,240 · Granted Jun 25, 2013

Photovoltaic array systems, methods, and devices with bidirectional converter

Inventors: Paul Bundschuh (Austin, TX); William C. Alexander (Spicewood, TX)
Assignee: Ideal Power Converters, Inc.
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 8,471,408
App. No.
13/705,240
Granted
Jun 25, 2013
Kind
B2
Abstract

Devices, systems and methods for operating, monitoring and diagnosing photovoltaic arrays used for solar energy collection. The system preferably includes capabilities for monitoring or diagnosing an array, under some circumstances, by using a bidirectional power converter not only to convert the DC output of the array to output power under some conditions, but also, for diagnostic operations, applying a back-converted DC voltage to the array.

Claims (6)

1. A method for operating a photovoltaic array comprising:

in a first mode, providing DC current from photovoltaic cells, with a first voltage polarity, to a bidirectional power converter, and operating said bidirectional power converter to provide an AC power output onto an AC connection;

in a second mode, operating said bidirectional converter in reverse, to apply a DC potential to the string of photovoltaic cells, with a voltage polarity which is opposite to said first voltage polarity; and varying said DC potential, while measuring electric current through said string of photovoltaic cells, to thereby obtain an I-V profile; and using said I-V profile to evaluate the string of photovoltaic cells.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein, in said second mode, said bidirectional converter is powered from said AC connection.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein said second mode is initiated automatically, from time to time, during normal operation.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein said second mode is initiated automatically, from time to time, during dark conditions.

Assignments (8)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jun 2, 2020
From: CE+T ENERGY SOLUTIONS INC.
To: CE+T GROUP SA
Reel/Frame 052810/0773 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Nov 25, 2019
From: IDEAL POWER INC.
To: CE+T ENERGY SOLUTIONS INC.
Reel/Frame 051112/0840 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Sep 11, 2019
From: PATHION HOLDINGS, INC.; PATHION, INC.
To: IDEAL POWER INC.
Reel/Frame 050341/0761 →
COURT ORDER Recorded Sep 4, 2019
From: PATHION, INC.; PATHION HOLDINGS, INC.
To: IDEAL POWER INC.
Reel/Frame 050270/0702 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Aug 1, 2019
From: IDEAL POWER INC.
To: PATHION HOLDINGS, INC.
Reel/Frame 049934/0768 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Jan 13, 2014
From: DIGIANDOMENICO, ANTHONY; GRUNFELD, AARON A; ESTRIN, ALLEN; WANG, AMY EN-MEI; DESAI, ANKUR V; BELL FAMILY TRUST DATED 2/2/95, AS AMENDED; PADNOS, BENJAMIN L; BENNETT LIVING TRUST, MICHAEL BENNETT, TRUSTEE U/A 3-12-1992; BIBICOFF FAMILY TRUST; CAUSEWAY BAY CAPITAL, LLC; JENNINGS, CHRISTOPHER; LANDRY, DANIEL PATRICK; PADNOS, DANIEL; SANKER, DANIEL; MOSSBERG, DAVID M; PARK, EDGAR; EQUITY TRUST COMPANY, CUSTODIAN FBO ROBERT C. CLIFFORD IRA, 6.67% UNDIVIDED INTEREST; RICHARDSON, ERICK; SCHUMAN, GARY; SUESS, GREG; HANDLER REVOCABLE TRUST, BRAD HANDLER, TRUSTEE; KESNER, HARVEY; TIERNEY, JAMES P; DEGIAN, JANE; PADNOS, JEFFREY S.; ELWAY, JOHN A; PADNOS, JONATHAN J; MDB CAPITAL GROUP, LLC; CAVALIER, MICHAEL JOSEPH, JR.; KELLY, MICHAEL; TOBIN, MORRIE; LEWIN, NICHOLAS; PATEL, NIMISH; TESKE, PAUL; APPEL, PATER A; PIERCE FAMILY TRUST DTD 9-13-2000, MITCHELL D. PIERCE, TRUSTEE; R&A CHADE FAMILY TRUST, RICHARD CHADE, TRUSTEE; FERRARA, RALPH P; GREENBERG, SANDORD DEAN; SERIES E-1 OF THE LARREN SMITTY, LLC; CASPI, SILVAN PADNOS; THE JOHN STANLEY REVOCABLE TRUST UAD 8-4-2006, JOHN STANLEY, TRUSTEE; WALLACE, THOMAS L, SR.; PICKETT, WILEY; LIU, XIN; YKA PARTNERS, LTD.; JEFFREY AND MARGARET GENERATION TRUST F/B/O REBECCA PADNOS; JEFFREY AND MARGARET GENERATION TRUST F/B/O JOSHUA PADNOS; JEFFREY AND MARGARET GENERATION TRUST F/B/O SAMUEL PADNOS; JEFFREY AND MARGARET GENERATION TRUST F/B/O BENJAMIN PADNOS; CAISSON BREAKWATER FUND, LP; CAISSON BREAKWATER FUND, LTD.; HAYDEN, MATTHEW; MERGE CAPITAL, LLC; HORWITZ, GREGORY ADAM; JENNINGS, KAREN; PADNOS, MARGARET M.; TESKE, RIVERS
To: IDEAL POWER, INC.
Reel/Frame 031997/0361 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Nov 12, 2013
From: ALEXANDER, WILLIAM C; BUNDSCHUH, PAUL A
To: IDEAL POWER INC.
Reel/Frame 031625/0418 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Jul 29, 2013
From: IDEAL POWER INC.
To: GRUNFELD, AARON A; ESTRIN, ALLEN; AMY EN-MEI WANG AND GREGORY ADAM HORWITZ; DESAI, ANKUR V; DIGIANDOMENICO, ANTHONY; BELL FAMILY TRUST DATED 2/2/95, AS AMENDED; PADNOS, BENJAMIN L; BENNETT LIVING TRUST, MICHAEL BENNETT, TRUSTEE U/A 3-12-1992; BIBICOFF FAMILY TRUST; CAUSEWAY BAY CAPITAL, LLC; CHRISTOPHER JENNINGS AND KAREN JENNINGS; LANDRY, DANIEL PATRICK; PADNOS, DANIEL; SANKER, DANIEL; MOSSBERG, DAVID M; PARK, EDGAR; EQUITY TRUST COMPANY, CUSTODIAN FBO ROBERT C. CLIFFORD IRA, 6.67% UNDIVIDED INTEREST; RICHARDSON, ERICK; SCHUMAN, GARY; SUESS, GREG; HANDLER REVOCABLE TRUST, BRAD HANDLER, TRUSTEE; KESNER, HARVEY; TIERNEY, JAMES P; DEGIAN, JANE; JEFFREY S. PADNOS AND MARGARET M. PADNOS; ELWAY, JOHN A; PADNOS, JONATHAN J; MDB CAPITAL GROUP, LLC; CAVALIER, MICHAEL JOSEPH, JR; KELLY, MICHAEL; TOBIN, MORRIE; LEWIN, NICHOLAS; PATEL, NIMISH; PAUL TESKE AND RIVERS TESKE; APPEL, PATER A; PIERCE FAMILY TRUST DTD 9-13-2000, MITCHELL D. PIERCE, TRUSTEE; R&A CHADE FAMILY TRUST, RICHARD CHADE, TRUSTEE; FERRARA, RALPH P; GREENBERG, SANDORD DEAN; SERIES E-1 OF THE LARREN SMITTY, LLC; CASPI, SILVAN PADNOS; THE JOHN STANLEY REVOCABLE TRUST UAD 8-4-2006, JOHN STANLEY, TRUSTEE; WALLACE, THOMAS L, SR; PICKETT, WILEY; LIU, XIN; YKA PARTNERS, LTD.; JEFFREY AND MARGARET GENERATION TRUST F/B/O REBECCA PADNOS; JEFFREY AND MARGARET GENERATION TRUST F/B/O JOSHUA PADNOS; JEFFREY AND MARGARET GENERATION TRUST F/B/O SAMUEL PADNOS; JEFFREY AND MARGARET GENERATION TRUST F/B/O BENJAMIN PADNOS; CAISSON BREAKWATER FUND, LP; CAISSON BREAKWATER FUND, LTD.; HAYDEN, MATTHEW; MERGE CAPITAL, LLC
Reel/Frame 030892/0645 →
Continuity (4)
Continuation PCTUS2011062710 · Nov 30, 2011
Provisional Application 61480048 · Apr 28, 2011
Provisional Application 61418144 · Nov 30, 2010
Related Publication 20130114303A1 · May 9, 2013