Granted Patent B2

US 12,665,546 · App. 19/013,668 · Granted Jun 23, 2026

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 (Rosh Ha'ayin, IL); Ilan Yoscovich (Givatayim, IL); Yaron Binder (Shoham, IL)

Assignee: Solaredge Technologies Ltd.

H02S50/00H02J1/10H02J1/102H02S40/34H10F77/955H02J3/381H02J7/35H02J2101/24Y02E10/56Y02E10/76

Abstract

Claims (67)

1 . A system comprising:

a photovoltaic (PV) module coupled to a photovoltaic (PV) generator; and

a communication module,

wherein the communication module is configured to send an initial signal to the PV module, and the PV module is configured to:

retrieve an initial code from the initial signal;

pair the PV module to the communication module;

receive a control signal;

retrieve a control code from the control signal;

compare the control code to the initial code;

determine, based on the comparison, that the control signal is valid; and

operate, based on a determination that the control signal is valid, the PV module to enable output power from the PV generator according to a maximum power point tracking algorithm.

2 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the PV module is configured to exclude, based on the paired PV module and communication module, the PV module from validating commands signaled by devices other than the communication module.

3 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the initial signal is a wireless signal.

4 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the initial signal is a signal modulated over a power line coupled to an output of the PV module.

5 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the initial signal comprises a source identification code identifying the communication module as a source of the initial signal.

6 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the PV module is configured to determine, based on the comparison, that the control signal is valid by validating, based on the control code matching a source identification code of the initial signal, the control code retrieved from the control signal.

7 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the control signal comprises a keep-alive signal.

8 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the PV module is configured to compare the control code to the initial code by comparing a signal strength of the control signal to a signal strength of the initial signal.

9 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the PV module is configured to output power from the PV generator by converting power, using maximum peak power tracking, from the PV generator to an output of the PV module.

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

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

12 . A method comprising:

operating a photovoltaic (PV) module in an initial mode;

receiving a control signal from a communication module;

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

based on the determining and the control signal, determining whether to operate the PV module in a power production mode, wherein the power production mode comprises enabling transfer of power from an input of the PV module to an output of the PV module according to a maximum power point tracking algorithm.

13 . The method of claim 12 , wherein the operating the PV 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 PV module, operating the PV module in the initial mode for another period of time.

14 . The method of claim 12 , wherein the power production mode comprises operating a direct current (DC)-to-DC converter to convert power from an input of the PV module to an output of the PV module.

15 . A method comprising:

receiving, by a photovoltaic (PV) module coupled to a photovoltaic (PV) generator and from a communication module, an initial signal;

retrieving an initial code from the initial signal;

pairing the PV module to the communication module;

receiving, by the PV 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 PV module in a safety mode of operation, wherein the safety mode of operation comprises a current limited mode of operation or a voltage limited mode of operation.

16 . The method of claim 15 , 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.

17 . The method of claim 15 , wherein the determining comprises setting an alert condition.

18 . The method of claim 15 , 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.

19 . The method of claim 15 , further comprising:

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

20 . The method of claim 15 , wherein the receiving the initial signal comprises receiving a wireless signal.

21 . The method of claim 15 , wherein the receiving the initial signal comprises receiving a signal modulated over a power line coupled to an output of the PV module.

22 . The method of claim 15 , wherein the receiving the initial signal comprises receiving a source identification code identifying the communication module as a source of the initial signal.

23 . The method of claim 15 , wherein the control signal comprises a keep-alive signal.

24 . The method of claim 15 , 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.

25 . The method of claim 15 , wherein the communication module is coupled to a load via a control line.

26 . The method of claim 15 , wherein the communication module is integrated in a direct current (DC)-to-alternating current (AC) converter.

27 . A method comprising:

receiving, by a photovoltaic (PV) module coupled to a photovoltaic (PV) generator and from a communication module, an initial signal;

retrieving an initial code from the initial signal;

pairing the PV module to the communication module;

receiving, by the PV 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

enabling, based on the determining that the control signal is valid, the PV module to output power from the PV generator according to maximum power point tracking.

28 . An apparatus comprising:

a photovoltaic (PV) generator configured to provide electrical power on an output;

a communications device; and

a processor configured to:

limit the electrical power provided from the output of the PV generator;

receive an initial signal through the communications device;

receive a control signal through the communications device;

validate a control code received in the control signal against an initial code received in the initial signal; and

commence, based on validation of the control code, generation of power on the output of the PV generator according to maximum power point tracking.

Assignments (1)

Continuity (6)

References Cited (400)