US5898585A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Apparatus and method for providing supplemental alternating current from a solar cell array
Assignee: PREMIER TDO Co Ltd
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Filing: 1997-05-29
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Granted: 1999-04-27
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Expires: 2017-05-29
Abstract
Abstract A novel solar inverter circuit is used to connect a solar photovoltaic (PV) array with an alternating current (AC) voltage source to convert direct current (DC) power from the PV array to AC power. The solar inverter circuit employs the current-voltage (I-V) characteristic of the PV or solar cell, and an H-Bridge circuit with gate controller. The gate controller synchronizes the H-bridge with the AC voltage source. The PV array and the solar inverter circuit can plug directly into a residential AC plug and provides electrical power as a supplementary AC supply. Electrical energy required by the home appliances is supplied by the municipal AC line and solar energy concurrently. Advantages of the solar inverter circuit of the present invention include the flexibility of using the solar inverter circuit with any number of solar cell panels through the implementation of an impedance transformer, and the implementation of an additional, optional output for DC battery charging.
Inventors
- 👤 Wichit Sirichote
- 👤 Wirojana Tantraporn
- 👤 Narong Saengkaew
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-05 11:45
CPC Classifications
H; H02; H02J; H02J7/00; H02J7/34; H02J7/35; H02J3/00; H02J3/38; H02J3/381; H02J3/40; H02J3/44; H02J2101/00; H02J2101/20; H02J2101/22; H02J2101/24; Y; Y02; Y02A; Y02A30/00; Y02A30/60; Y02B; Y02B10/00; Y02B10/10; Y02E; Y02E10/00; Y02E10/50; Y02E10/56
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 35
Claim 1
Independent Claim
114 words
A circuit for converting direct current (DC) power to alternating current (AC) power based on a reference AC voltage signal, comprising: a first circuit coupled to receive DC power; a transformer having a first side and a second side, said first side being coupled to receive the reference AC voltage signal; and a second circuit coupled to the second side of said transformer and said first circuit, said second circuit generating a pulse based on the reference AC voltage signal, said second circuit controlling a conversion of the DC power to AC power, wherein an AC current of said converted AC power is opposite in phase with respect to the reference AC voltage signal.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
114 words
A circuit for converting direct current (DC) power to alternating current (AC) power based on a reference AC voltage signal, comprising: a first circuit coupled to receive DC power; a transformer having a first side and a second side, said first side being coupled to receive the reference AC voltage signal; and a second circuit coupled to the second side of said transformer and said first circuit, said second circuit generating a pulse based on the reference AC voltage signal, said second circuit controlling a conversion of the DC power to AC power, wherein an AC current of said converted AC power is opposite in phase with respect to the reference AC voltage signal.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
36 words
The circuit as recited in claim 1, wherein said first circuit comprises a first and a second pair of switching devices, said first pair of switching devices being complementary of said second pair of switching devices.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
15 words
The circuit as recited in claim 2, wherein said switching devices are field effect transistors.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
17 words
The circuit as recited in claim 2, wherein said switching devices are insulated gate bipolar transistor (IGBTs).
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
15 words
The circuit as recited in claim 2, wherein said switching devices are gate-turn-off thyristors (GTOs).
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
16 words
The circuit as recited in claim 2, wherein said switching devices are bipolar junction transistors (BJTs).
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
14 words
The circuit as recited in claim 2, wherein said switching devices are silicon-controlled-rectifiers (SCRs).
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
13 words
The circuit as recited in claim 2, wherein said switching devices are TRIACs.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
15 words
The circuit as recited in claim 2, wherein said switching devices are MOS-controlled thyristors (MCTs).
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
22 words
The circuit as recited in claim 1, further comprising an array of solar cells that generates the DC power from solar energy.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
19 words
The circuit as recited in claim 1, wherein said converted AC power is supplementary to an existing AC power.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
14 words
The circuit as recited in claim 1, wherein said transformer is an isolation transformer.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
64 words
The circuit as recited in claim 12, further comprising an array of solar cells that generates the DC power from solar energy; and wherein said transformer has a turn ratio that provides an AC voltage on said second side such that an open-circuit voltage of said array of solar cells is 5%-20% larger than an amplitude of the AC voltage on said second side.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
46 words
The circuit as recited in claim 1, wherein said second circuit is a gate controller that generates a first pulse during a first half cycle of the reference AC voltage signal, and a second pulse during a second half cycle of the reference AC voltage signal.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
30 words
The circuit as recited in claim 14, wherein said gate controller circuit includes a control circuit that controls a predetermined time interval between said first pulse and said second pulse.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
26 words
The circuit as recited in claim 15, wherein said predetermined time interval is between 1% to 99% of a period of said reference AC voltage signal.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
18 words
The circuit as recited in claim 15, wherein during said predetermined time interval, said switching devices are non-conducting.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
44 words
The circuit as recited in claim 15, further comprising a connecting circuit and a storage cell, said connecting circuit being coupled to receive said DC power, said connecting circuit providing said DC power to said storage cell for storage during said predetermined time interval.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
14 words
The circuit as recited in claim 15, wherein said storage cell is a battery.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
49 words
The circuit as recited in claim 18, further comprising an array of solar cells that generates the DC power from solar energy, wherein said storage cell comprises a plurality of batteries having a total charged voltage that is less than an open-circuit voltage of the array of solar cells.
Claim 22
Independent Claim
117 words
A method for converting DC power to alternating current (AC) power based on an reference AC voltage signal, comprising the steps of: (a) providing a first circuit coupled to receive DC power; (b) providing a transformer having a first side and a second side, said first side being coupled to receive the reference AC voltage signal; and (c) providing a second circuit coupled to the second side of said transformer and said first circuit, said second circuit generating a pulse based on the reference AC voltage signal, said second circuit controlling a conversion of the DC power to AC power, wherein a converted AC current is opposite in phase with respect to the reference AC voltage signal.
Claim 23
Independent Claim
117 words
A method for converting DC power to alternating current (AC) power based on an reference AC voltage signal, comprising the steps of: (a) providing a first circuit coupled to receive DC power; (b) providing a transformer having a first side and a second side, said first side being coupled to receive the reference AC voltage signal; and (c) providing a second circuit coupled to the second side of said transformer and said first circuit, said second circuit generating a pulse based on the reference AC voltage signal, said second circuit controlling a conversion of the DC power to AC power, wherein a converted AC current is opposite in phase with respect to the reference AC voltage signal.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
39 words
The method as recited in claim 21, wherein in step (a), said first circuit comprises a first and a second pair of switching devices, said first pair of switching devices being complementary of said second pair of switching devices.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
20 words
The method as recited in claim 22, wherein in step (a), said switching devices are insulated gate bipolar transistor (IGBTs).
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
18 words
The method as recited in claim 22, wherein in step (a), said switching devices are gate-turn-off thyristors (GTOs).
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
19 words
The method as recited in claim 22, wherein in step (a), said switching devices are bipolar junction transistors (BJTs).
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
17 words
The method as recited in claim 22, wherein in step (a), said switching devices are silicon-controlled-rectifiers (SCRs).
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
16 words
The method as recited in claim 22, wherein in step (a), said switching devices are TRIACs.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
18 words
The method as recited in claim 22, wherein in step (a), said switching devices are MOS-controlled thyristors (MCTs).
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
18 words
The method as recited in claim 21, further comprising the step of generating DC power from solar energy.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
48 words
The method as recited in claim 21, wherein in step (c), said second circuit is a gate controller that generates a first pulse during a first half cycle of the reference AC voltage signal, and a second pulse during a second-half cycle of the reference AC voltage signal.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
24 words
The method as recited in claim 30, further comprising the step controlling a predetermined time interval between said first pulse and said second pulse.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
31 words
The method as recited in claim 31, wherein in the step of controlling said predetermined time interval is between 1% to 99% of a period of said reference AC voltage signal.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
39 words
The method as recited in claim 30, further comprising the step of providing a connecting circuit and a storage cell, said connecting circuit providing said direct current power to said storage cell for storage during said predetermined time interval.
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| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
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| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2002-04-26 | 2002-10-26 | 2003-04-27 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2006-04-26 | 2006-10-26 | 2007-04-27 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2010-04-26 | 2010-10-26 | 2011-04-27 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |