US 12,191,671 B2
System for balancing and converting voltage output for photovoltaic modules
Linda Stacey Irish, Burlingame, CA (US); Sierra Rae King, Burlingame, CA (US); and Kevin Rodriguez, Burlingame, CA (US)
Assigned to Optivolt Labs, Inc., San Francisco, CA (US)
Filed by Optivolt Labs, Inc., Burlingame, CA (US)
Filed on Dec. 15, 2023, as Appl. No. 18/541,636.
Application 18/541,636 is a continuation in part of application No. 18/211,974, filed on Jun. 20, 2023.
Application 18/211,974 is a continuation of application No. 17/484,615, filed on Sep. 24, 2021, granted, now 11,728,656, issued on Aug. 15, 2023.
Claims priority of provisional application 63/465,706, filed on May 11, 2023.
Claims priority of provisional application 63/434,426, filed on Dec. 21, 2022.
Claims priority of provisional application 63/083,817, filed on Sep. 25, 2020.
Prior Publication US 2024/0178671 A1, May 30, 2024
Int. Cl. H02J 3/38 (2006.01); G01R 19/165 (2006.01); G05F 1/67 (2006.01); H02J 3/26 (2006.01); H02J 7/00 (2006.01); H02S 40/34 (2014.01); H02S 40/36 (2014.01)
CPC H02J 3/381 (2013.01) [G01R 19/16538 (2013.01); G05F 1/67 (2013.01); H02J 3/26 (2013.01); H02J 7/0016 (2013.01); H02S 40/34 (2014.12); H02S 40/36 (2014.12); H02J 2300/26 (2020.01)] 20 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A system for balancing and converting output voltage for photovoltaic modules comprising:
a first set of solar substrings;
a power conversion circuit comprising:
a balancing section comprising:
a first set of windings arranged in parallel to the first set of solar substrings; and
a first set of switches coupled to the first set of solar substrings and the first set of windings; and
a voltage control section comprising:
a second set of windings:
coupled to a voltage output terminal; and
arranged parallel to the first set of windings to form a first transformer;
a second transformer comprising:
a third set of windings arranged in series to the second set of windings; and
a fourth set of windings arranged in parallel to the third set of windings;
an output capacitor arranged in series to the third set of windings; and
a second set of switches coupled to an output of the first set of solar substrings and the fourth set of windings; and
a controller configured to, in response to a first output voltage at the voltage output terminal deviating from a target output voltage:
drive a first modulation signal to the first set of switches to:
balance voltage output from the first set of solar substrings across the first set of windings; and
induce a first alternating voltage polarity across the first transformer; and
drive a second modulation signal to the second set of switches to:
induce a second alternating voltage polarity across the second transformer; and
modify the first output voltage toward the target output voltage by transferring electrical energy from the output capacitor to the voltage output terminal.