A modulating circuit adapted to modulate between an energy harvesting mode and a wireless transmitter mode is disclosed which includes a solar cell, an energy-harvesting circuit, a first switch coupling the solar cell to the energy harvesting circuit and controlled by a first control line, a second switch coupling the solar cell to a programmable current source and controlled by a second control line, a transmitter/energy harvesting mode circuit adapted to select between a transmitter mode and an energy harvesting mode, and a symbol-to-current mapping circuit adapted to encode data to be communicated by the solar cell, the symbol-to-current mapping circuit adapted to adjust the programmable current source to thereby provide a metered current to the solar cell.

This application relates to the field of power technologies, and provides a photovoltaic system, which can increase a working voltage of a photovoltaic string. The photovoltaic system includes an adapter circuit, a first photovoltaic string, a second photovoltaic string, and a controller. The controller includes an inverter or a combiner box. The first photovoltaic string and the second photovoltaic string are configured to provide electric energy for the controller. The adapter circuit is configured to be connected to the first photovoltaic string in series, and further configured to connect the second photovoltaic string to the first photovoltaic string in series when a voltage of the first photovoltaic string is lower than a preset threshold.

Provided is a photovoltaic system wherein potential induced degradation (PID) is simply and efficiently suppressed. This photovoltaic system is provided with a bypass electric path that connects an inverter and a positive electrode of a solar cell module array to each other by being connected in parallel to a first electric path between the inverter and the solar battery module array. The bypass electric path is provided with a second switching circuit, and a first switching circuit is provided to an electric path between the inverter and a negative electrode of the solar cell module array, the electric path being a part of the first electric path.

A photovoltaic device having a perovskite PV cell wherein the PV device operates, for example during start-up, initially in a bias-voltage operating mode, in which a bias voltage is applied to the perovskite PV cell of the PV device. The bias voltage or the energy needed for same can advantageously be drawn from the power electronics associated with the perovskite PV cell.

A photovoltaic system including an output inverter for connection to a third-party network, and at least one string, each string including at least one module of tandem photovoltaic cells, each module having a first and a second pair of connectors. The modules of a string are connected in series via their first pair of connectors. The strings are connected to the output inverter in parallel to each other via connectors of each string among the first pairs of connectors. Several modules are connected in parallel via their second pairs of connectors so as to form a first group that is coupled, via the second pairs of connectors, upstream of the output inverter, to a second group of module(s) composed of a single module or of a series of modules connected to each other in series by their first pairs of connectors.

Circuits integrated or integrable with a photovoltaic panel to provide built-in functionality to the photovoltaic panel including safety features such as arc detection and elimination, ground fault detection and elimination, reverse current protection, monitoring of the performance of the photovoltaic panel, transmission of the monitored parameters and theft prevention of the photovoltaic panel. The circuits may avoid power conversion, for instance DC/DC power conversion, may avoid performing maximum power tracking to include a minimum number of components and thereby increase overall reliability.

Provided are a protection circuit and a photovoltaic system capable of irreversibly interrupting a current path of photovoltaic units such as solar cells by a signal in an emergency such as a fire. The protection circuit includes: a photovoltaic units 26, a protection element 2 provided on a current path of the photovoltaic units 26, and a switch 3 for activating the protection element 2, wherein the protection element 2 irreversibly interrupts the current path of the photovoltaic units 26.

A system and method for automated shutdown, disconnect, or power reduction of solar panels. A system of solar panels includes one or more master management units (MMUs) and one or more local management units (LMUs). The MMUs are in communication with the LMUs with the MMUs and LMUs “handshaking” when the system is in operation. The MMUs are connected to one or more controllers which in turn are connected to emergency detection sensors. Upon a sensor detection of an emergency, the associated MMU is notified which in turn instructs associated LMUs to take appropriate action. In the event that communication with the MMUs has been cut off, the LMUs take the initiative to shut down, disconnect, or reduce the output of associated string(s) of solar panels.

The present disclosure is directed to a safety device for photovoltaic installations. The safety device includes a first terminal adapted to connect to a first output terminal of a solar panel, a second terminal adapted to connect to a second output terminal of the solar panel, a first switching module connected between the first terminal and the second terminal. The first switching module comprising a first switch and a first impedance connected in series. The first impedance includes one terminal connected to the first terminal and the first switch includes one terminal connected to the second terminal. A control module is adapted to read a control signal and drive the operation of the first switch based on the read value of the control signal. A powersupply means is adapted to supply power to the control module.

A method for maintaining reliability of a distributed power system including a power converter having input terminals and output terminals. Input power is received at the input terminals. The input power is converted to an output power at the output terminals. A temperature is measured in or in the environment of the power converter. The power conversion of the input power to the output power may be controlled to maximize the input power by setting at the input terminals the input voltage or the input current according to predetermined criteria. One of the predetermined criteria is configured to reduce the input power based on the temperature signal responsive to the temperature. The adjustment of input power reduces the input voltage and/or input current thereby lowering the temperature of the power converter.