US4580090A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Maximum power tracker
Assignee: Motorola Solutions Inc
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Filing: 1983-09-16
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Granted: 1986-04-01
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Expires: 2003-09-16
Abstract
Abstract A buck regulator or impedance converter is disclosed for operating a current limited power supply such as a photovoltaic array at or near its maximum power point. The maximum power point for such a supply is achieved at the compliance voltage which is an almost constant voltage. Means are provided for sensing the voltage at the input of the regulator and for using this sensed voltage to control a logic circuit which, in turn, controls the duty cycle of a switching transistor. The output from the switching transistor is coupled to an LC filter and from there to the load. The logic circuitry, responsive to the sensed voltage, controls the duty cycle of the switching transistor in such a manner as to maintain the input voltage approximately constant and thus to maintain the power supply at or near its peak power operating point.
Inventors
- 👤 William L. Bailey
- 👤 Robert J. Haver
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-28 06:35
CPC Classifications
H; H02; H02M; H02M3/00; H02M3/02; H02M3/04; H02M3/10; H02M3/145; H02M3/155; H02M3/156; G; G05; G05F; G05F1/00; G05F1/66; G05F1/67; Y; Y02; Y02E; Y02E10/00; Y02E10/50; Y02E10/56; Y10; Y10S; Y10S323/00; Y10S323/906
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 15
Claim 1
Independent Claim
75 words
An impedance converter for use with a current limited electrical supply which comprises: an input for coupling to said supply; an output for coupling to a load; switching means coupling said input and said output; voltage sensing means for detecting voltage at said input; circuit means responsive only to said voltage sensing means for controlling said switching means and for maintaining said voltage at said input substantially constant; and filter means coupled across said output.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
75 words
An impedance converter for use with a current limited electrical supply which comprises: an input for coupling to said supply; an output for coupling to a load; switching means coupling said input and said output; voltage sensing means for detecting voltage at said input; circuit means responsive only to said voltage sensing means for controlling said switching means and for maintaining said voltage at said input substantially constant; and filter means coupled across said output.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
31 words
The impedance converter of claim 1 wherein said voltage sensing means comprises a voltage divider including first and second resistors in series across said input and having a common node therebetween.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
39 words
The impedance converter of claim 2 wherein said circuit means comprises an operational amplifier and a reference voltage wherein said operational amplifier generates a control voltage responsive to inputs from said reference voltage and voltage at said common node.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
39 words
The impedance converter of claim 3 wherein said circuit means further comprises a comparator and an oscillator wherein said comparator generates a square wave having a duty cycle responsive to said control voltage and the output of said oscillator.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
26 words
The impedance converter of claim 4 wherein said square wave generated by said comparator is coupled to said switching means to control the duty cycle thereof.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
49 words
The impedance converter of claim 5 further comprising current sense means for detecting current flowing in said output; signal generator means for generating a feedback signal responsive to said current sense means; and feedback means for coupling said feedback signal to said comparator to selectively override said square wave.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
23 words
The impedance converter of claim 2 further comprising a thermistor in series with said second resistor to temperature compensate said voltage sensing means.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
14 words
The impedance converter of claim 1 wherein said filter comprises an LC averaging filter.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
14 words
The impedance converter of claim 1 wherein said switching means comprises a PNP transistor.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
14 words
The impedance converter of claim 1 further comprising a capacitor coupled across said input.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
77 words
Power supply means for powering a load which comprises: a photovoltaic array; a power tracker coupled across said array; output terminals from said power tracker for coupling to said load; wherein said power tracker comprises switching means coupling said array and said output, voltage sense means for detecting voltage level supplied by said array, and circuit means responsive only to said voltage sense means for controlling said switching means and for maintaining said voltage level substantially constant.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
77 words
Power supply means for powering a load which comprises: a photovoltaic array; a power tracker coupled across said array; output terminals from said power tracker for coupling to said load; wherein said power tracker comprises switching means coupling said array and said output, voltage sense means for detecting voltage level supplied by said array, and circuit means responsive only to said voltage sense means for controlling said switching means and for maintaining said voltage level substantially constant.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
130 words
A photovoltaic power supply which comprises: a plurality of photovoltaic arrays; and a plurality of power trackers, each having an input, an output, and a switching device coupling said input and said output, and each power tracker having one of said plurality of photovoltaic arrays coupled to said input, said outputs coupled in parallel, each of said power trackers characterized by means interacting with said switching device for maintaining said photovoltaic array coupled to said input substantially at the maximum power point of said array and further characterized by current sense means for detecting current flowing in said output, signal generator means for generating a feedback signal responsive to said current sense means, and feedback means for coupling said feedback signal and overriding said means interacting with said switching device.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
130 words
A photovoltaic power supply which comprises: a plurality of photovoltaic arrays; and a plurality of power trackers, each having an input, an output, and a switching device coupling said input and said output, and each power tracker having one of said plurality of photovoltaic arrays coupled to said input, said outputs coupled in parallel, each of said power trackers characterized by means interacting with said switching device for maintaining said photovoltaic array coupled to said input substantially at the maximum power point of said array and further characterized by current sense means for detecting current flowing in said output, signal generator means for generating a feedback signal responsive to said current sense means, and feedback means for coupling said feedback signal and overriding said means interacting with said switching device.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1989-03-31 | 1989-09-30 | 1990-04-01 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1993-03-31 | 1993-09-30 | 1994-04-01 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1997-03-31 | 1997-09-30 | 1998-04-01 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |