| US 9,812,868 B2 | ||
| Smart junction box for photovoltaic solar power modules with safe mode and related method of operation | ||
| Steven Andrew Robbins, Calabasas, CA (US) | ||
| Assigned to Sunfield Semiconductor Inc. | ||
| Filed by Steven Andrew Robbins, Calabasas, CA (US) | ||
| Filed on Dec. 2, 2015, as Appl. No. 14/956,856. | ||
| Claims priority of provisional application 62/087,160, filed on Dec. 3, 2014. | ||
| Prior Publication US 2016/0164457 A1, Jun. 9, 2016 | ||
| Int. Cl. H02J 3/00 (2006.01); H02J 3/38 (2006.01); H02S 40/34 (2014.01); H02J 1/10 (2006.01); H02M 3/04 (2006.01) | ||
| CPC H02J 3/383 (2013.01) [H02J 1/10 (2013.01); H02M 3/04 (2013.01); H02S 40/34 (2014.12); Y02E 10/563 (2013.01); Y02P 80/11 (2015.11); Y02P 80/23 (2015.11)] | 20 Claims |
| 1. A smart junction box for a photovoltaic solar power module, comprising:
a positive terminal and a negative terminal for connecting the solar power module to a solar array;
a transmitter circuit for transmitting at least a shut-down signal and a restart signal;
a receiver circuit for receiving at least the shut-down and restart signals produced by the transmitter circuits in other
smart junction boxes in the solar array;
a nonvolatile memory having at least a first state and a second state and arranged to:
transition to the first state in response to the receiver circuit receiving the shut-down signal; and
transition to the second state in response to the receiver circuit receiving the restart signal;
a plurality of bypass circuits serially connected between the positive and negative terminals, each bypass circuit comprising:
a bypass diode disposed to protect a group of photovoltaic cells from reverse bias,
an electronically controlled switch connected in parallel with the bypass diode, and
a control circuit for at least closing the electronically controlled switch while the nonvolatile memory is in the first state;
and
a power supply circuit arranged to receive power from the positive and negative terminals for providing energy to at least
the transmitter, receiver, nonvolatile memory, and control circuits.
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