Patent US4591965A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US4591965A
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Inverter for use with solar arrays
Assignee: Individual
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Filing: 1984-10-19
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Granted: 1986-05-27
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Expires: 2004-10-19
Abstract
Abstract A controlled switching system for converting the output of several photovoltaic solar arrays into a polyphase alternating electric current. Each array is utilized 100% of the time, and at any particular instant only one array or no array is feeding a particular phase. The specific line to which an array is connected is altered in a cyclic manner by the switching system to synthesize the polyphase current. Energy is not stored in the switching system, but instead is made available as polyphase electric current as soon as it is generated by the photovoltaic arrays. Each phase approximates a sine wave to an extent that is limited by the number of arrays. For the closest approximation, the arrays must be configured to have prescribed voltages and currents. Alternatively, a single array may be partitioned electrically in such a way that the desired voltages and currents are attained.
Inventors
- 👤 Arthur F. Dickerson
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-28 03:18
CPC Classifications
H; H02; H02M; H02M7/00; H02M7/42; H02M7/44; H02M7/48; H02M7/483; H02M7/49; Y; Y02; Y02E; Y02E10/00; Y02E10/50; Y02E10/56; Y10; Y10S; Y10S323/00; Y10S323/906
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 18
Claim 1
Independent Claim
182 words
In a system for generating an N phase alternating electric current by using switching means controlled by a controller to intermittently connect a number M of solar arrays (listed in order of decreasing output voltage as D 1 , D 2 , . . . D i . . . D M ) to the lines L 1 , L 2 , . . . L k . . . L N where N is an odd number equal to or greater than M, the improvement comprising: control means for controlling the switching means to connect D i to L k in a positive sense for an interval of duration 90°/N beginning at ##EQU10## where δ is any constant angle, and for controlling the switching means to connect D i to L k in a negative sense for an interval of duration 90°/N beginning at ##EQU11## for all values of i and k, where 1<i≦M and 1<k≦N, whereby at any particular instant no more than one array is feeding a particular line, and whereby each array is utilized 100% of the time.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
182 words
In a system for generating an N phase alternating electric current by using switching means controlled by a controller to intermittently connect a number M of solar arrays (listed in order of decreasing output voltage as D 1 , D 2 , . . . D i . . . D M ) to the lines L 1 , L 2 , . . . L k . . . L N where N is an odd number equal to or greater than M, the improvement comprising: control means for controlling the switching means to connect D i to L k in a positive sense for an interval of duration 90°/N beginning at ##EQU10## where δ is any constant angle, and for controlling the switching means to connect D i to L k in a negative sense for an interval of duration 90°/N beginning at ##EQU11## for all values of i and k, where 1<i≦M and 1<k≦N, whereby at any particular instant no more than one array is feeding a particular line, and whereby each array is utilized 100% of the time.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
7 words
The improvement of claim 1 wherein N=3.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
7 words
The improvement of claim 2 wherein M=3.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
7 words
The improvement of claim 2 wherein M=2.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
284 words
In a system for generating a 2N-phase electric current by switching means controlled by a controller to intermittently connect M pairs of solar arrays, each pair consisting of two identical arrays and listed in order of decreasing output voltage as (D 1 , D 1 ') . . . (D i , D i ') . . . (D M , D M ') where 1≦i≦M and where each array has a positive terminal and a negative terminal, to the lines L l , . . . L k , . . . L N and to the lines L l ', . . . L k ' . . . L N ', where 1≦k≦N and where 1≦M≦N, the improvement comprising: grounding means connecting the negative terminals of D 1 , D 2 , . . . D M and the positive terminals of D 1 ', D 2 ' . . . D M ' to ground; and, control means for controlling the switching means to connect the positive terminal of D i to L k and simultaneously to connect the negative terminal of D i ' to L k ' for an interval of 90°/N beginning at ##EQU12## and for controlling the switching means to connect the negative terminal of D i ' to L k and simultaneously to connect the positive terminal of D i to L k ' for an interval of 90°/N beginning at ##EQU13## for all values of i and k, where 1≦i≦M and 1≦k≦N and where δ is any constant angle, whereby at any particular instant no more than one array is feeding a particular line, and whereby each array is utilized 100% of the time.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
284 words
In a system for generating a 2N-phase electric current by switching means controlled by a controller to intermittently connect M pairs of solar arrays, each pair consisting of two identical arrays and listed in order of decreasing output voltage as (D 1 , D 1 ') . . . (D i , D i ') . . . (D M , D M ') where 1≦i≦M and where each array has a positive terminal and a negative terminal, to the lines L l , . . . L k , . . . L N and to the lines L l ', . . . L k ' . . . L N ', where 1≦k≦N and where 1≦M≦N, the improvement comprising: grounding means connecting the negative terminals of D 1 , D 2 , . . . D M and the positive terminals of D 1 ', D 2 ' . . . D M ' to ground; and, control means for controlling the switching means to connect the positive terminal of D i to L k and simultaneously to connect the negative terminal of D i ' to L k ' for an interval of 90°/N beginning at ##EQU12## and for controlling the switching means to connect the negative terminal of D i ' to L k and simultaneously to connect the positive terminal of D i to L k ' for an interval of 90°/N beginning at ##EQU13## for all values of i and k, where 1≦i≦M and 1≦k≦N and where δ is any constant angle, whereby at any particular instant no more than one array is feeding a particular line, and whereby each array is utilized 100% of the time.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
7 words
The improvement of claim 5 wherein N=3.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
7 words
The improvement of claim 6 wherein M=3.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
7 words
The improvement of claim 6 wherein M=2.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
7 words
The improvement of claim 6 wherein M=1.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
7 words
The improvement of claim 5 wherein N=6.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
7 words
The improvement of claim 10 wherein M=6.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
7 words
The improvement of claim 10 wherein M=5.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
7 words
The improvement of claim 10 wherein M=4.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
7 words
The improvement of claim 10 wherein M=3.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
7 words
The improvement of claim 10 wherein M=2.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
7 words
The improvement of claim 10 wherein M=1.
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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) | 1989-05-26 | 1989-11-25 | 1990-05-27 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1993-05-26 | 1993-11-25 | 1994-05-27 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1997-05-26 | 1997-11-25 | 1998-05-27 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |