US 12,276,997 B2
Distributed power harvesting systems using DC power sources
Meir Adest, Modiin (IL); Lior Handelsman, Givatayim (IL); Yoav Galin, Raanana (IL); Amir Fishelov, Tel Aviv (IL); Guy Sella, Bitan Aharon (IL); and Yaron Binder, Shoham (IL)
Assigned to Solaredge Technologies Ltd., Herzeliya (IL)
Filed by Solaredge Technologies Ltd., Herzeliya (IL)
Filed on Apr. 17, 2023, as Appl. No. 18/301,383.
Application 18/301,383 is a continuation of application No. 17/514,139, filed on Oct. 29, 2021, granted, now 11,687,112.
Application 17/514,139 is a continuation of application No. 16/545,361, filed on Aug. 20, 2019, granted, now 11,183,922, issued on Nov. 23, 2021.
Application 16/545,361 is a continuation of application No. 15/641,553, filed on Jul. 5, 2017, granted, now 10,447,150, issued on Oct. 15, 2019.
Application 15/641,553 is a continuation of application No. 14/183,214, filed on Feb. 18, 2014, granted, now 9,853,538, issued on Dec. 26, 2017.
Application 14/183,214 is a continuation of application No. 13/743,581, filed on Jan. 17, 2013, granted, now 8,659,188, issued on Feb. 25, 2014.
Application 13/743,581 is a continuation of application No. 13/186,601, filed on Jul. 20, 2011, granted, now 8,384,243, issued on Feb. 26, 2013.
Application 13/186,601 is a continuation in part of application No. 11/950,271, filed on Dec. 4, 2007, granted, now 9,088,178, issued on Jul. 21, 2015.
Claims priority of provisional application 60/916,815, filed on May 9, 2007.
Claims priority of provisional application 60/908,095, filed on Mar. 26, 2007.
Claims priority of provisional application 60/868,962, filed on Dec. 7, 2006.
Claims priority of provisional application 60/868,893, filed on Dec. 6, 2006.
Claims priority of provisional application 60/868,851, filed on Dec. 6, 2006.
Prior Publication US 2023/0367354 A1, Nov. 16, 2023
Int. Cl. G05F 5/00 (2006.01); H01L 31/02 (2006.01); H02J 1/08 (2006.01); H02J 1/10 (2006.01); H02J 7/35 (2006.01); H02M 3/04 (2006.01); H02M 7/44 (2006.01)
CPC G05F 5/00 (2013.01) [H01L 31/02021 (2013.01); H02J 1/08 (2013.01); H02J 1/102 (2013.01); H02M 3/04 (2013.01); H02M 7/44 (2013.01); H02J 1/108 (2013.01); H02J 7/35 (2013.01); H02J 2300/24 (2020.01); Y02E 10/56 (2013.01)] 19 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A system comprising:
a plurality of direct current (DC) power sources;
a plurality of power converters, wherein each power converter of the plurality of power converters comprises:
converter output terminals,
converter input terminals coupled to a respective DC power source of the plurality of DC power sources,
a converter controller configured to set an input voltage and an input current at the converter input terminals to maximize power harvested from the respective DC power source,
a power conversion circuit configured to convert the power harvested from the respective DC power source to an output power at the converter output terminals, and
a safety module configured to limit the output power at the converter output terminals to a preset value until a predetermined event has occurred;
a battery bank configured to store power; and
a load controller configured to:
receive combined power from the plurality of power converters;
provide the combined power to a load; and
charge the battery bank with a portion of the combined power received from the plurality of power converters and not used by the load.