Integration of microinverter with photovoltaic module

Title: Integration of microinverter with photovoltaic module

Abstract

Various technologies for integrating a microinverter with a photovoltaic module are disclosed. An alternating current photovoltaic (ACPV) module includes a photovoltaic module having a frame and a junction box including a direct current (DC) output connector, and a microinverter having a housing coupled to the frame and a DC input connector electrically mated with the DC output connector of the photovoltaic module.

Inventors:: Gilchrist, Phil; Morris, William; Little, Kristine; Chapman, Patrick; Mulligan, William P.; Marroquin, Marco A.

Issue Date:: 2018-06-26

Research Org.:: SunPower Corporation, San Jose, CA (United States)

Sponsoring Org.:: USDOE

OSTI Identifier:: 1459560

Patent Number(s):: 10008979

Application Number:: 14/554,825

Assignee:: SunPower Corporation (San Jose, CA)

Patent Classifications (CPCs):: H - ELECTRICITY H02 - GENERATION H02S - GENERATION OF ELECTRIC POWER BY CONVERSION OF INFRA-RED RADIATION, VISIBLE LIGHT OR ULTRAVIOLET LIGHT, e.g. USING PHOTOVOLTAIC [PV] MODULES

Y - NEW / CROSS SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES Y02 - TECHNOLOGIES OR APPLICATIONS FOR MITIGATION OR ADAPTATION AGAINST CLIMATE CHANGE Y02E - REDUCTION OF GREENHOUSE GAS [GHG] EMISSIONS, RELATED TO ENERGY GENERATION, TRANSMISSION OR DISTRIBUTION

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H - ELECTRICITY H02 - GENERATION H02S - GENERATION OF ELECTRIC POWER BY CONVERSION OF INFRA-RED RADIATION, VISIBLE LIGHT OR ULTRAVIOLET LIGHT, e.g. USING PHOTOVOLTAIC [PV] MODULES
H02S40/34 - comprising specially adapted electrical connection means to be structurally associated with the PV module, e.g. junction boxes

Y - NEW / CROSS SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES Y02 - TECHNOLOGIES OR APPLICATIONS FOR MITIGATION OR ADAPTATION AGAINST CLIMATE CHANGE Y02E - REDUCTION OF GREENHOUSE GAS [GHG] EMISSIONS, RELATED TO ENERGY GENERATION, TRANSMISSION OR DISTRIBUTION
Y02E10/50 - Photovoltaic [PV] energy

H - ELECTRICITY H05 - ELECTRIC TECHNIQUES NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR H05K - PRINTED CIRCUITS
H05K7/02 - Arrangements of circuit components or wiring on supporting structure
H05K3/301 - {by means of a mounting structure

H - ELECTRICITY H01 - BASIC ELECTRIC ELEMENTS H01L - SEMICONDUCTOR DEVICES
H01L31/02013 - {comprising output lead wires elements}

H - ELECTRICITY H05 - ELECTRIC TECHNIQUES NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR H05K - PRINTED CIRCUITS
H05K7/04 - on conductive chassis

H - ELECTRICITY H02 - GENERATION H02S - GENERATION OF ELECTRIC POWER BY CONVERSION OF INFRA-RED RADIATION, VISIBLE LIGHT OR ULTRAVIOLET LIGHT, e.g. USING PHOTOVOLTAIC [PV] MODULES
H02S40/32 - comprising DC/AC inverter means associated with the PV module itself, e.g. AC modules

H - ELECTRICITY H05 - ELECTRIC TECHNIQUES NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR H05K - PRINTED CIRCUITS
H05K7/142 - {Spacers not being card guides}

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DOE Contract Number:: EE0005341

Resource Type:: Patent

Resource Relation:: Patent File Date: 2014 Nov 26

Country of Publication:: United States

Language:: English

Citation Formats


                    Gilchrist, Phil, Morris, William, Little, Kristine, Chapman, Patrick, Mulligan, William P., and Marroquin, Marco A. Integration of microinverter with photovoltaic module.  United States: N. p., 2018. 
        Web.

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                    Gilchrist, Phil, Morris, William, Little, Kristine, Chapman, Patrick, Mulligan, William P., & Marroquin, Marco A. Integration of microinverter with photovoltaic module.  United States.

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                    Gilchrist, Phil, Morris, William, Little, Kristine, Chapman, Patrick, Mulligan, William P., and Marroquin, Marco A. Tue .  
        "Integration of microinverter with photovoltaic module".  United States.  https://www.osti.gov/servlets/purl/1459560.

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@article{osti_1459560,

  title        = {Integration of microinverter with photovoltaic module},

  author       = {Gilchrist, Phil and Morris, William and Little, Kristine and Chapman, Patrick and Mulligan, William P. and Marroquin, Marco A.},

  abstractNote = {Various technologies for integrating a microinverter with a photovoltaic module are disclosed. An alternating current photovoltaic (ACPV) module includes a photovoltaic module having a frame and a junction box including a direct current (DC) output connector, and a microinverter having a housing coupled to the frame and a DC input connector electrically mated with the DC output connector of the photovoltaic module.},

  doi          = {},

  journal      = {},
number       = ,

  volume       = ,

  place        = {United States},

  year         = {2018},

  month        = {6}

}

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Title: Integration of microinverter with photovoltaic module

Abstract

Citation Formats

Integrated photovoltaic system patent, March 2001

Photovoltaic solar module in plate form patent, May 2001

Photovoltaic cell module tile patent, March 2002

Misalignment tolerant connector patent, May 2009

Misalignment tolerant connector patent, May 2010

Socket assembly with backplane patent, May 2010

Apparatus for coupling power generated by a photovoltaic module to an output patent, May 2013

Terminating and connecting device patent, September 2013

Rotatable junction box for a solar module patent, October 2013

Alternating current photovoltaic building block patent-application, June 2013

Methods and Devices for Large-Scale Solar Installations patent-application, February 2008

Power cord having thermochromatic material patent-application, March 2008

Inverter patent-application, November 2008

Multi-Function Frame and Integrated Mounting System for Photovoltaic Power Generating Laminates patent-application, June 2010

Dual Compressive Connector patent-application, November 2010

Power Inverter Docking System for Photovoltaic Modules patent-application, April 2011

Solar Panel Configurations patent-application, February 2012

Clamp Structure patent-application, August 2012

Junction Box for Snap Together Electrical Connections to Photovoltaic Panels patent-application, November 2012

Electrical Connector Assembly patent-application, December 2012

Apparatus for Forming and Mounting a Photovoltaic Array patent-application, June 2013

Power Inverter Docking System for Photovoltaic Modules patent-application, October 2013

Frequency Fine Tuning patent-application, July 2015

Integrated photovoltaic system
patent, March 2001

Photovoltaic solar module in plate form
patent, May 2001

Photovoltaic cell module tile
patent, March 2002

Misalignment tolerant connector
patent, May 2009

Misalignment tolerant connector
patent, May 2010

Socket assembly with backplane
patent, May 2010

Apparatus for coupling power generated by a photovoltaic module to an output
patent, May 2013

Terminating and connecting device
patent, September 2013

Rotatable junction box for a solar module
patent, October 2013

Alternating current photovoltaic building block
patent-application, June 2013

Methods and Devices for Large-Scale Solar Installations
patent-application, February 2008

Power cord having thermochromatic material
patent-application, March 2008

Inverter
patent-application, November 2008

Multi-Function Frame and Integrated Mounting System for Photovoltaic Power Generating Laminates
patent-application, June 2010

Dual Compressive Connector
patent-application, November 2010

Power Inverter Docking System for Photovoltaic Modules
patent-application, April 2011

Solar Panel Configurations
patent-application, February 2012

Clamp Structure
patent-application, August 2012

Junction Box for Snap Together Electrical Connections to Photovoltaic Panels
patent-application, November 2012

Electrical Connector Assembly
patent-application, December 2012

Apparatus for Forming and Mounting a Photovoltaic Array
patent-application, June 2013

Power Inverter Docking System for Photovoltaic Modules
patent-application, October 2013

Frequency Fine Tuning
patent-application, July 2015