IP Library Granted Patent US 8,957,544
Granted Patent B2
US 8,957,544 · App. 13/157,016 · Granted Feb 17, 2015

Systems and methods to optimize outputs of static inverters in variable energy generation environments

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 8,957,544
App. No.
13/157,016
Granted
Feb 17, 2015
Kind
B2
Abstract

A system to collect energy from generation systems such as, for example, wind farms or solar farms with distributed energy-generation equipment. The energy is collected and transmitted to a feed-in site. At the feed-in site, static inverters alone or in combination with pulse width modulation inverters may be used to feed the energy to a power grid. In some other cases, back-to-back static inverters create a high-voltage direct current to feed a transmission line.

Claims (37)

1. An energy generation system comprising:

a static inverter to provide an alternating current power to a feeding point; and

a pulse width modulation inverter connected in parallel with the static inverter to correct a power factor error in the alternating current power provided by the static inverter.

2. The system of claim 1 , further comprising a controller in communication with the static inverter and the pulse width modulation inverter wherein the controller coordinates the static inverter and the pulse width modulation inverter to correct a waveform of the alternating current power.

3. The system of claim 1 , further comprising a controller in communication with the feeding point to coordinate the alternating current power with a grid.

4. The system of claim 1 , wherein the static inverter inverts a direct current power to a three-phase form of the alternating current power.

5. The system of claim 1 , further comprising a bus to supply a direct current power to the static inverter and the pulse width modulation inverter.

6. The system of claim 5 , further comprising:

a plurality of variable energy collecting units to produce respective direct current power outputs; and

a plurality of string converters to receive the respective outputs;

wherein the string converters supply the respective outputs to the bus in the form of the direct current power.

7. The system of claim 6 , wherein the units are selected from the group consisting of one or more of solar panels, solar poles, and wind power collectors, or any combination thereof.

8. The system of claim 5 , further comprising:

one or more variable energy collecting units to produce respective direct current power outputs;

one or more respective string converters to receive the respective outputs; and

a controller in communication with the string converters to enable a conversion of the respective outputs to compatible outputs that are compatible with each other on the bus;

wherein the string converters supply the compatible outputs to the bus in the form of the direct current power.

9. The system of claim 8 , wherein the units are selected from the group consisting of solar panels, solar poles, wind power collectors, and any combination thereof.

10. The system of claim 5 , further comprising a capacitor in electrical communication with the bus.

11. The system of claim 10 , wherein the capacitor is a rotary capacitor.

12. A method for converting energy comprising:

providing, via a static inverter, an alternating current power to a feeding point; and

correcting, via a pulse width modulation inverter connected in parallel with the static inverter, a power factor error in the alternating current power provided by the static inverter.

13. The method of claim 12 , further comprising coordinating, via a controller in communication with the static inverter and pulse width modulation inverter, the static inverter and the pulse width modulation inverter, to correct a waveform of the alternating current power.

14. The method of claim 12 , further comprising coordinating the alternating current power with a grid via a controller in communication with the feeding point.

15. The method of claim 12 , wherein the static inverter inverts a direct current power to a three-phase form of the alternating current power.

16. The method of claim 12 , further comprising supplying a direct current power to the static inverter and the pulse width modulation inverter via a bus.

17. The method of claim 16 , further comprising:

producing via one or more variable energy collecting units respective direct current power outputs; and

receiving via one or more respective string converters the respective outputs;

wherein the string converters supply the respective outputs to the bus in the form of the direct current power.

18. The method of claim 16 , further comprising:

producing via one or more variable energy collecting units respective direct current power outputs;

receiving via one or more respective string converters the respective outputs; and

instructing, via a controller in communication with the string converters, the one or more respective string converters to convert the respective outputs to compatible outputs that are compatible with each other on the bus.

19. The method of claim 16 , further comprising a capacitor in electrical communication with the bus.

20. The method of claim 19 , wherein the capacitor is a rotary capacitor.

Assignments (10)
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Mar 31, 2026
From: TIGO ENERGY, INC.
To: WELLS FARGO BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION
Reel/Frame 075306/0414 →
TERMINATION AND RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST IN INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY RECORDED AT REEL 52252, FRAME 0289 Recorded Mar 30, 2026
From: GALLAGHER IP SOLUTIONS LLC, AS SUCCESSOR TO NEWLIGHT CAPITAL, LLC; UMB BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION
To: TIGO ENERGY, INC.
Reel/Frame 075311/0457 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jan 20, 2026
From: TIGO ENERGY, INC.
To: TIGO ENERGY INNOVATIONS LLC
Reel/Frame 074447/0465 →
CORRECTIVE ASSIGNMENT TO CORRECT THE NATURE OF CONVEYANCE PREVIOUSLY RECORDED AT REEL: 58755 FRAME: 516. ASSIGNOR(S) HEREBY CONFIRMS THE ASSIGNMENT. Recorded Oct 2, 2025
From: TIGO ENERGY, INC.
To: NEWLIGHT CAPITAL LLC
Reel/Frame 072868/0423 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Feb 22, 2023
From: NEWLIGHT CAPITAL LLC; UMB BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, AS TRUSTEE
To: TIGO ENERGY, INC.
Reel/Frame 062821/0250 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jan 18, 2022
From: TIGO ENERGY, INC.
To: NEWLIGHT CAPITAL LLC
Reel/Frame 058755/0516 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Apr 7, 2020
From: WESTERN ALLIANCE BANK
To: TIGO ENERGY INC.
Reel/Frame 052329/0758 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Mar 27, 2020
From: TIGO ENERGY, INC.
To: NEWLIGHT CAPITAL, LLC; UMB BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, AS TRUSTEE
Reel/Frame 052252/0289 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Feb 12, 2018
From: TIGO ENERGY, INC.
To: WESTERN ALLIANCE BANK
Reel/Frame 045312/0467 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Aug 23, 2011
From: AVRUTSKY, MORDECHAY; KIKINIS, DAN
To: TIGO ENERGY, INC.
Reel/Frame 026794/0861 →