SYSTEMS AND METHODS TO PROVIDE ENHANCED DIODE BYPASS PATHS

摘要

Systems and methods for efficiently allowing current to bypass a group of solar cells having one or more malfunctioning or shaded solar cells without overwhelming a bypass diode. This can be done using a switch (e.g., a MOSFET) connected in parallel with the bypass diode. By turning the switch on and off, a majority of the bypass current can be routed through the switch, which is configured to handle larger currents than the bypass diode is designed for, leaving only a minority of the current to pass through the bypass diode.

主权项

1. A system comprising:
one or more bypass diodes connected in series with one another and connected in parallel with a group of series-connected solar cells; and one or more bypass transistors connected in parallel with the one or more bypass diodes and configured to turn on for a predetermined time period, in response to a bypass current passing through the one or more bypass diodes, and to reroute the bypass current from the one or more bypass diodes to the one or more bypass transistors.