A system and method for combining power from DC power sources. Each power source is coupled to a converter. Each converter converts input power to output power by monitoring and maintaining the input power at a maximum power point. Substantially all input power is converted to the output power, and the controlling is performed by allowing output voltage of the converter to vary. The converters are coupled in series. An inverter is connected in parallel with the series connection of the converters and inverts a DC input to the inverter from the converters into an AC output. The inverter maintains the voltage at the inverter input at a desirable voltage by varying the amount of the series current drawn from the converters. The series current and the output power of the converters, determine the output voltage at each converter.

Distributed Power Harvesting Systems Using DC Power Sources

A wide-angle image capture system for providing a wide-angle field of view of an area immediately exteriorly of a vehicle. The system includes a convex aspheric, asymmetric reflective surface which reflects an image toward an image capture device, via a substantially flat mirrored surface, both of which are compactly packaged within a panel of the vehicle. The shape of the convex reflector provides a reflected image that has a minimal amount of distortion in critical areas of the image immediately adjacent to the vehicle, so that additional processing of the image prior to it being displayed to a vehicle operator is minimized.

Wide angle image capture system for vehicle

A monitoring system and method for monitoring performance of individual powers sources in a distributed power source system A monitoring module is coupled to each of the power sources, or to each string of serially connected power sources, to monitor and collect data regarding current, voltage, temperature and other environmental factors at the power source The collected data is transmitted over a power line to a central analysis station for analysis Data collected from each source indicates malfunction or degradation at the source Comparison of data collected from adjacent sources filters for environmental factors impacting neighboring sources such as cloudy days for a solar panel Comparison of data collected from the same source at different times indicates soiling or degradation of the source with time or periodic events such as a moving shade from an adjacent building

Monitoring of Distributed Power Harvesting Systems Using DC Power Sources

A modular apparatus for and method of alternating current photovoltaic power generation comprising via a photovoltaic module, generating power in the form of direct current; and converting direct current to alternating current and exporting power via one or more power conversion and transfer units attached to the module, each unit comprising a unitary housing extending a length or width of the module, which housing comprises: contact means for receiving direct current from the module; one or more direct current-to-alternating current inverters; an alternating current bus; and contact means for receiving alternating current from the one or more inverters.

Alternating current photovoltaic building block

Method for distributed power harvesting using DC power sources

AC module, integrating a solar battery and an inverter, can easily be connected with other plural AC modules in parallel by way of cascade connections However, when the number of AC modules connected is improvidently increased, the current flowing through the current path or connector of the AC module exceeds a rated current In view of this, the current detector detects a current in the collective-power current path of the AC module, and when the detected current value exceeds a value set in the reference current setting circuit, the current detector stops the inverter

Solar battery module and power generation apparatus

In an AC module, if an interconnection relay is provided in an inverter, the inverter increases in size, and disconnection status between the AC module and a system upon occurrence of abnormal condition cannot be easily checked by a user. Accordingly, a plug is connected to an outlet, thereby an output of the inverter is supplied to the system or a load via a coupler. If leakage of direct current, ground fault of a solar cell or the like, a fault or abnormal condition of the inverter, or an abnormal condition of the system is detected, the inverter outputs a signal to separate the plug from the coupler.

Power generation apparatus and its control method

An automobile mirror assembly improves safety during driving of a car by widening the visual field of the driver with little distortion. The mirror is mounted on a car with a support member and a holding member to be adjustable in its position. A gradually changing mirror section is provided on at least one of an upper, lower and side edges of a main mirror section of the mirror. A surface of a gradually changing mirror section is defined by a plurality of intersections between curved surfaces provided in at least one of a vertical and horizontal directions with hyperbolic curves provided in a direction perpendicular to one of the vertical and horizontal directions. Each respective curved surface passes through circular arcs, the radii of curvatures of the circular area being calculated from Equation 1 indicated below. The radii of curvatures of the circular arcs gradually become smaller in an extending direction. The intersection of the hyperbolic curves and the curved surfaces define the surface of the gradually changing mirror. The Equation 1 is as follows: ##EQU1## where: A1, A2, . . . An-1, An are asphericity factors representing asphericity at respective portions in the at least one of the horizontal and the vertical directions, n is any integer, K=0, and C=1/r0, and wherein r0 represents a radius of curvature at a starting position of the gradually changing mirror section.

Automobile mirror assembly

In a solar power generation system which causes a non-insulated type inverter to convert DC power generated by a solar battery into AC power and outputs the AC power to a commercial power system, in detecting a ground fault, the differential current between the output lines of the solar battery is detected, an AC leakage current component due to the capacitance to ground of the solar battery is removed from the differential current, and it is determined whether a ground fault state has occurred by comparing a current value after removal of the AC leakage current component with a predetermined threshold value. With this arrangement, a false ground fault state determination that is caused by the influence of the AC leakage current component due to the electrostatic capacitance although the DC current path can be prevented, and a ground fault state can accurately be determined.

Apparatus and method of detecting ground fault of solar power generation system

A photovoltaic power generation apparatus having a plurality of power converters, respectively connected to a plurality of solar battery arrays, for converting direct-current power generated by the solar battery arrays to alternating-current power so as to provide the alternating-current power to a commercial power system. The photovoltaic power generation apparatus is so constructed that the plurality of power converters do not simultaneously suspend operation when an abnormal state is detected, in order to prevent generation of an electrical stress or reduction of the power generation amount caused by simultaneous operation suspension of the power converters or repeated operation suspension and operation resume. When the power generation amount of each solar battery array is different, a power converter connected to the solar battery array of the smallest power generation amount is set in the first-to-suspend condition.

Hiroshi Kondo

Papers

Solar battery module and power generation apparatus

Power generation apparatus and its control method

Automobile mirror assembly

Apparatus and method of detecting ground fault of solar power generation system

Photovoltaic power generation apparatus and control method thereof