US5779817A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Circuit arrangement of solar cells
Assignee: Webasto-Schade GmbH
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Filing: 1996-05-31
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Granted: 1998-07-14
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Expires: 2016-05-31
Abstract
Abstract A circuit arrangement with a first string of solar cells which are connected together in series and a second string of solar cells which are connected together in series, the electric power generated by the solar cells being used to operate an ohmic or inductive load. In contrast to known circuits, in which series-connected strings of solar cells are connected in parallel and have roughly identical no-load voltages, it is provided according to the invention that the strings of series-connected solar cells generate different no-load voltages to adapt to the current/voltage characteristic of the load. Preferably, at least one reverse-current blocking diode is connected in series with the string which generates a lower no-load voltage than the other. The series connection with a lower no-load voltage can be selectively formed with solar cells of the same no-load voltage by a smaller number of solar cells, or with solar cells of different power by the same number of solar cells with a lower no-load voltage. Furthermore, in one embodiment, the circuit arrangement is constructed for selective operation of a fan arrangement or for charging a battery by switching several strings of solar cells from a parallel interconnection to a series interconnection.
Inventors
- 👤 Reinhard Wecker
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-27 08:06
CPC Classifications
G; G05; G05F; G05F1/00; G05F1/66; G05F1/67; B; B60; B60J; B60J7/00; B60J7/02; B60J7/04; H; H02; H02J; H02J7/00; H02J7/34; H02J7/35; H02S; H02S10/00; H02S10/40; H02S40/00; H02S40/30; H02S40/38; H10; H10F; H10F19/00; H10F19/80; H10F77/00; H10F77/95; H10F77/953; H10F77/955; B60R; B60R16/00; B60R16/02; B60R16/03; H02J2105/00; H02J2105/30; H02J2105/33; Y; Y02; Y02B; Y02B10/00; Y02B10/10; Y02E; Y02E10/00; Y02E10/50; Y02E70/00; Y02E70/30; Y10; Y10S; Y10S323/00; Y10S323/906; Y10S388/00; Y10S388/923; Y10S388/933; Y10S454/00; Y10S454/90; Y10T; Y10T29/00; Y10T29/49; Y10T29/4935; Y10T29/49355
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 20
Claim 1
Independent Claim
138 words
A circuit arrangement comprising: first string of solar cells which are connected together in series; and at least one second string of solar cells which are connected together in series, the first and second strings being connected in parallel to an ohmic or inductive load as a means for supplying electric power generated by the solar cells thereto for operation thereof; wherein the first string forms a means for generating a first no-load voltage and the second string forms a means for generating a second no-load voltage that is significantly! different from said first no-load voltage for adapting the electric power generated by the solar cells to changing current/voltage characteristics of the load, and wherein one of the first and second no-load voltages is at least approximately 60 percent greater than the other of said no load voltages.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
138 words
A circuit arrangement comprising: first string of solar cells which are connected together in series; and at least one second string of solar cells which are connected together in series, the first and second strings being connected in parallel to an ohmic or inductive load as a means for supplying electric power generated by the solar cells thereto for operation thereof; wherein the first string forms a means for generating a first no-load voltage and the second string forms a means for generating a second no-load voltage that is significantly! different from said first no-load voltage for adapting the electric power generated by the solar cells to changing current/voltage characteristics of the load, and wherein one of the first and second no-load voltages is at least approximately 60 percent greater than the other of said no load voltages.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
32 words
Circuit arrangement according to claim 1, wherein at least one reverse-current blocking diode is connected in series with a one of said strings which generates a lower no-load voltage than the other.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
43 words
Circuit according to claim 2, wherein each of said strings is composed of the same numbers of solar cells, each of the solar cells of the first string having a lower no-load voltage than that of the solar cells of the second string.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
27 words
Circuit arrangement according to claim 2, wherein each of said strings is composed of different numbers of solar cells, each solar cell having the same no-load voltage.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
14 words
Circuit arrangement according to claim 2, wherein reverse-current blocking diode is a Schottky diode.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
29 words
Circuit arrangement according to claim 1, further comprising a transfer switching means for switching the strings from said parallel connection into a series connection for producing a higher voltage.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
39 words
Circuit arrangement according to claim 6, wherein the solar cells are located in an area of a cover of an openable vehicle roof; and wherein the load is formed by a motor of a fan located in a vehicle.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
50 words
Circuit arrangement according to claim 7, wherein one of the first and second no-load voltages is at least approximately 60 percent greater than the other of the first and second no-load voltages, and wherein the load formed by the fan motor changes by at least approximately a factor of 10.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
22 words
Circuit arrangement according to claim 7, wherein said series connection is connected to a battery located in the vehicle for charging thereof.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
49 words
Circuit arrangement according to claims 9, wherein the solar cells of the first string are amorphous solar cells which are located in a central area of the cover; and wherein the solar cells of the second string are crystalline solar cells which are located in edge area of cover.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
43 words
Circuit according to claim 10, wherein each of said strings is composed of the same numbers of solar cells, each of the solar cells of the first string having a lower no-load voltage than that of the solar cells of the second string.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
49 words
Circuit arrangement according to claim 9, wherein the solar cells of the first string are amorphous solar cells which are located in a central area of the cover; and wherein the solar cells of the second string are crystalline solar cells which are located in edge area of cover.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
43 words
Circuit according to claim 9, wherein each of said strings is composed of the same numbers of solar cells, each of the solar cells of the first string having a lower no-load voltage than that of the solar cells of the second string.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
27 words
Circuit arrangement according to claim 9, wherein each of said strings is composed of different numbers of solar cells, each solar cell having the same no-load voltage.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
43 words
Circuit according to claim 1, wherein each of said strings is composed of the same numbers of solar cells, each of the solar cells of the first string having a lower no-load voltage than that of the solar cells of the second string.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
27 words
Circuit arrangement according to claim 1, wherein each of said strings is composed of different numbers of solar cells, each solar cell having the same no-load voltage.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
28 words
Circuit arrangement according to claim 1, wherein one of the first and second no-load voltages is approximately three times greater than the other of said no load voltages.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
131 words
A circuit arrangement comprising: a first string of solar cells which are connected together in series; at least one second string of solar cells which are connected together in series the first and second strings being located in an area of a cover of an openable vehicle roof and connected in parallel to a load formed by a motor of a fan located in the vehicle as a means for supplying electric power generated by the solar cells thereto for operation thereof; wherein the first string forms a means for generating a first no-load voltage and the second string forms a means for generating a second no-load voltage different from said first no-load voltage for adapting the electric power generated by the solar cells to changing current/voltage characteristics of the load.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
131 words
A circuit arrangement comprising: a first string of solar cells which are connected together in series; at least one second string of solar cells which are connected together in series the first and second strings being located in an area of a cover of an openable vehicle roof and connected in parallel to a load formed by a motor of a fan located in the vehicle as a means for supplying electric power generated by the solar cells thereto for operation thereof; wherein the first string forms a means for generating a first no-load voltage and the second string forms a means for generating a second no-load voltage different from said first no-load voltage for adapting the electric power generated by the solar cells to changing current/voltage characteristics of the load.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2001-07-13 | 2002-01-12 | 2002-07-14 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2005-07-13 | 2006-01-12 | 2006-07-14 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2009-07-13 | 2010-01-12 | 2010-07-14 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |