US 12,444,952 B2
Switched capacitor based DC optimizer for PV module level energy harvesting
Mudhafar Hassan-Ali, Menlo Park, CA (US)
Assigned to Hanwha Solutions Corporation, Seoul (KR)
Filed by HANWHA SOLUTIONS CORPORATION, Seoul (KR)
Filed on Oct. 23, 2023, as Appl. No. 18/492,071.
Prior Publication US 2025/0132570 A1, Apr. 24, 2025
Int. Cl. H02J 3/38 (2006.01); H02M 3/07 (2006.01)
CPC H02J 3/381 (2013.01) [H02M 3/07 (2013.01); H02J 2300/24 (2020.01)] 20 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A photovoltaic (PV) system comprising:
a plurality of PV modules connected in series, each PV module of the plurality of PV modules is configured to,
harvest solar energy, and
output the harvested solar energy as direct current (DC);
at least one inverter connected to the plurality of PV modules, the at least one inverter configured to,
receive the DC output by the plurality of PV modules, and
convert the DC output into alternating current (AC);
each PV module of the plurality of PV modules includes at least one capacitor configured to store the harvested solar energy and at least one switch, the at least one switch is configured to form a first path through a PV cell of the PV module or a second path bypassing the PV cell, for an input current to the PV module; and
processing circuitry configured to,
monitor a charging voltage of the at least one capacitor, and
control the DC output of the PV module by controlling the at least one switch based on the monitored charging voltage of the at least one capacitor.