US 12,456,948 B2
Solar photovoltaic module remote access module switch and real-time temperature monitoring
Mehrdad M. Moslehi, Los Altos, CA (US)
Assigned to Sigmagen, Inc., Los Altos, CA (US)
Filed by Sigmagen, Inc., Los Altos, CA (US)
Filed on Jan. 9, 2024, as Appl. No. 18/408,099.
Application 18/408,099 is a continuation of application No. 16/984,539, filed on Aug. 4, 2020, granted, now 11,888,441.
Application 16/984,539 is a continuation of application No. 15/405,273, filed on Jan. 12, 2017, granted, now 10,784,815, issued on Sep. 22, 2020.
Application 15/405,273 is a continuation in part of application No. 14/428,598, abandoned, previously published as PCT/US2014/034054, filed on Apr. 14, 2014.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/277,845, filed on Jan. 12, 2016.
Claims priority of provisional application 61/895,326, filed on Oct. 24, 2013.
Claims priority of provisional application 61/811,736, filed on Apr. 13, 2013.
Prior Publication US 2024/0243695 A1, Jul. 18, 2024
Int. Cl. H02S 40/34 (2014.01); H02J 3/38 (2006.01); H02J 13/00 (2006.01); H02S 50/00 (2014.01); H10F 77/00 (2025.01)
CPC H02S 40/34 (2014.12) [H02J 3/381 (2013.01); H02J 13/00002 (2020.01); H02S 50/00 (2013.01); H10F 77/955 (2025.01); G05B 2219/37431 (2013.01); H02J 2300/24 (2020.01); H04Q 2209/30 (2013.01); H04Q 2209/40 (2013.01); Y02E 10/50 (2013.01)] 17 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A remote-access module switch and monitoring circuit having a pair of output electrical leads, and a pair of input electrical leads connected to a pair of electrical power leads of a solar photovoltaic module, comprising:
a. A series switch placed between said pair of output electrical leads and said pair of input electrical leads, said series switch remotely controllable to be in one of two modes: (i) turned on to allow power delivery from said pair of electrical power leads of said solar photovoltaic module to an electrical load and, (ii) turned off to place said solar photovoltaic module in an open-circuit mode with an open-circuit module voltage across said pair of electrical power leads;
b. A module voltage measurement circuit for periodic real-time measurements of a module voltage as measured across one of said pair of input electrical leads and said pair of output electrical leads during a power generation period by said solar photovoltaic module between its daily wakeup time and sleep time, including periodic real-time measurements of: (i) said open-circuit module voltage when said series switch is turned off and, (ii) said module voltage when said series switch is turned on;
c. A module current measurement circuit for periodic real-time measurements of a module current flowing through said pair of electrical power leads during said power generation period, including periodic real-time measurements of said module current when said series switch is turned on and a parallel switch is turned off;
d. A temperature sensor for periodic real-time measurements of a circuit temperature of said remote-access module switch and monitoring circuit, said circuit temperature being the same as a wake-up ambient temperature at the daily wake-up time of said solar photovoltaic module and said remote-access module switch and monitoring circuit, and said circuit temperature being the same as a sleep ambient temperature at the daily sleep time of said solar photovoltaic module and said remote-access module switch and monitoring circuit; and
e. A communication circuit for sending measurement data to a remote receiver.