SUPPLEMENTAL
`SUPPLEMENTAL
`APPENDIX D
`APPENDIX D
`PART 19 OF 27
`PART 19 OF 27
`
`

`

`Europaisches
`Patentamt
`European
`
`Patent Office Office européen
`
`des brevets
`
`Application No.:
`
`17 150 670.2
`
`Consultation by telephone with the applicant / representative
`
`Despatch with a time limit of 1 month(s)
`
`European Patent Office
`Postbus 5818
`2280 HV Rijswijk
`NETHERLANDS
`Tel: +31 70 340 2040
`Fax: +31 70 340 3016
`
`.
`
`agore® Patenr,me
`
`AMPT, LLC
`
`Kador & Partner PartG mbB
`
`Van der Meer, Paul
`
`Participants
`
`Applicant:
`
`Representative:
`
`Member(s) of the
`Examining Division:
`
`Result of consultation
`
`See Separate Sheet
`
`29.10.2019
`
`Enclosure(s):
`
`Dde
`%,%>wore
`avetsgo&y,x
`yeedo™
`
`s
`
`Fn ea\0"
`
`Van der Meer, Paul
`
`Examiner
`
`EPO Form 2036 12.07TRI
`
`
`
`

`

`Anmelde-Nr:
`Blatt
`Datum
`Application No:
`Sheet
`Date
`Demanden°:
`Feuille
`Date
`
`
`17 150 670.2
`
`05.11.2019
`
`1
`
`The examining division discussed minor outstanding issues with Dr. Eger of Kador &
`Partner legal representative of AMPT LLC.
`
`1
`
`Embodiment versus example
`
`The description refers on page 11 lines 1 and 2 to embodiments disclosed in
`figures 4 and 7, andrefers to figures 9a and 9b as some examplesofthis
`common timing signal for the embodimentof this embodiment,i.e. figure 7. The
`timing signals of figures 9a and 9b are strongly linked to the switchesin
`example of figure 7 through their reference numbers (43-46). Since, figure 7 is
`disclosedin figure 1 of prior-art document D1, and figures 9a and 9b are
`disclosedin figures 2A-2C of prior-art document D1, to both of these figures can
`only be referred to as examples,since their subject matter falls outside the
`scope of the claims.
`
`2
`
`Time limit
`
`lt was agreed uponto set a 1 month timelimit to finalize the required
`amendments to the description and the claims.
`
`aSEUUEEEUEEEEEEEEESEEEEESESE
`
`EPO Form 2906 01.91TRI
`
`
`
`

`

`European Patent Office
`Postbus 5818
`2280 HV Rijswijk
`NETHERLANDS
`Tel: +31 70 340 2040
`Fax: +31 70 340 3016
`
`Formalities Officer
`
`Tel: +31 70 340 - 3584
`or call
`PesiedO ee eee
`
`— 09. Dez. 2019
`
`
`
`PoeaD
`Ky
`Cn/aepPAace)
`
`
`
`
`
`
`atentOffice
`i
`iawn
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`Kador & Partner PartG mbB
`CorneliusstraBe 15
`80469 Munchen
`ALLEMAGNE
`
`Europaisches
`Patentamt
`
`EP
`
`lication No.
`App!
`17 150 670.2 - 1201
`Applicant
`AMPT, LLC
`
`Ret.
`| K64917/A4sw
`
`Date
`05.12.2019
`
`|
`
`Communication under Rule 71(3) EPC
`
`1.
`
`Intention to grant
`
`You are informed that the examining division intends to grant a European patent on the basis of the above
`application, with the text and drawings andthe related bibliographic data as indicated below.
`
`A copyof the relevant documentsis enclosed.
`
`1.1.
`
`In the text for the Contracting States:
`AL AT BE BG CH CY CZ DE DK EE ES FI FR GB GR HR HU IE IS IT LI LT LU LV MC MK MT NL NO PL PT
`RO RS SE SISK SMTR
`
`Description, Pages
`la
`
`received on
`
`30-11-2017 with letter of
`
`1-15, 46-48
`
`filed in electronic form on
`
`Claims, Numbers
`1-21
`
`Drawings, Sheets
`18-99
`
`filed in electronic form on
`
`filed in electronic form on
`
`30-11-2017
`
`11-11-2019
`
`11-11-2019
`
`27-08-2019
`
`With the following amendments to the above-mentioned documents proposed by the division
`
`Description, Pages
`
`Claims, Numbers
`
`1,12
`
`Delete Previous: 16-45, 49-57
`
`Registeredletter
`EPO Form 2004C 12 17CXP
`
`
`
`

`

`Date 05.12.2019
`
`Sheet 2
`
`Application No.: 17 150 670.2
`
`Comments
`
`DESCRIPTION
`Pages 16-45: Description adapted to amended claims (Art. 84 EPC); removed examplesof
`alternative claims since these render the scope of protection unclear.
`Pages 49-57: (PAGE DELETED)-Deletionof irrelevant andor superfluous information (Rule
`48(1)(c) EPC, Guidelines F-ll, 7.4)
`CLAIMS
`Pages 1, 3, CLAIMS 1, 12: Scope of claim unclear- clarified (Art. 84 EPC); missing essential
`feature: clarified how the magnetically coupled inductors (56) are connected to their respective DC-
`DC converter.
`Page 1, Claim 1: Error(s) in spelling, grammar, typography corrected
`Page 1, Claim 1: Insertion of reference signs in claims (Rule 43(7) EPC)
`
`1.2
`
`Bibliographic data
`
`Thetitle of the invention in the three official languages of the European Patent Office, the international patent
`classification, the designated contracting states, the registered name(s) of the applicant(s) and the other
`bibliographic data are shown on EPO Form 2056 (enclosed).
`
`2.
`
`Invitation
`
`You are invited, within a non-extendable period of four monthsofnotification of this communication,
`
`2.1.
`
`to EITHER approvethe text communicated aboveandverify the bibliographic data (Rule 71(5) EPC)
`
`(1)_by filing a translation of the claim(s) in the other two official languages of the EPO
`
`(2a)
`
`by paying the fee for grant including the fee
`for publication:
`minus any amount already paid (Rule 71a(5) EPC):
`
`Fee code
`
`EUR
`
`007
`
`925.00
`0.00
`
`Total amount:
`
`925.00
`
`(3)
`
`by paying additional claims fees under Rule 71(4) EPC;
`numberof claims fees payable: 0
`minus any amountalready paid (Rule 71a(5) EPC):
`
`016
`
`Total amount:
`
`0.00
`0.00
`
`0.00
`
`Important: If the translations of the claims and fees have already beenfiled and paid respectively in reply to a
`previous communication under Rule 71(3) EPC, e.g. in the case of resumption of examination after approval
`(see Guidelines C-V, 6), agreement as to the text to be granted (Rule 71a(1) EPC) must be expressed
`within the sametimelimit (e.g. by approving the text and verifying the bibliographic data, by confirming that
`grant proceedings can go ahead with the documentsonfile and/or by stating which translations of the claims
`already on file are to be used).
`
`Note 1: See "Notes concerning fee payments” below.
`Note 2: Any overpaid "minus" amountswill be refunded when the decision to grant (EPO Form
`2006A) has been issued.
`
`Registeredletter
`EPO Form 20040 12.17CXP
`
`
`
`

`

`Date 05.12.2019
`
`Sheet 3
`
`Application No.: 17 150 670.2
`
`Note 3: For the calculation of the grant fee under Article 2(2), No. 7, RFees (old fee structure), the
`numberof pages is determined on the basis of a clean copy of the application documents,in
`which text deleted as a result of any amendments by the examining division is not shown.
`Such clean copy is made available via on-line file inspection only.
`
`2.2
`
`OR,in the case of disapproval, to request reasoned amendmentsorcorrectionsto the text
`communicated aboveor keepto the latest text submitted by you (Rule 71(6) EPC).
`
`In this case the translations of the claims and fee payments mentioned under point 2.1 above are NOT due.
`
`The terms "“amendment(s)" and "correction(s)" refer only to amendments or corrections of the application
`documents and not of other documents (e.g. bibliographic data, the designation of the inventor, etc.).
`
`If filing amendments, you mustidentify them and indicate the basis for them in the application asfiled. Failure
`to meet either requirement may lead to a communication from the examining division requesting that you
`correct this deficiency (Rule 137(4) EPC).
`
`2.3
`
`Bibliographic data
`
`Where you request a changeorcorrection of bibliographic data in response to the Rule 71(3) communication,
`this will not cause the sending of a further communication under Rule 71(3) EPC. Youwill still have to pay the
`fees andfile translations in reply to the Rule 71(3) communication in the case of 2.1 above, unless youalsofile
`a reasoned request for amendments or corrections in response to the Rule 71(3) communication (see case 2.2
`above).
`
`3._Loss of rights
`
`If neither of the two possible actions above (see points 2.1 or 2.2) is performed in due time, the European
`patent application will be deemed to be withdrawn (Rule 71(7) EPC).
`
`4.
`
`Further procedure
`
`4.1.
`
`In the case of point 2.1 above
`
`4.1.1. The decision to grant the European patent will be issued, and the mention of the grant of the patent will be
`published in the European Patent Bulletin, if the requirements concerning the translation of the claims and the
`paymentofall fees arefulfilled and there is agreementasto the text to be granted (Rule 71a(1) EPC).
`
`Note on paymentof the renewal fee:
`If a renewal fee becomesduebefore the next possible date for publication of the mention of the grant of the
`Europeanpatent, publication will be effected only after the renewal fee and any additional fee have been paid
`(Rule 71a(4) EPC).
`
`UnderArticle 86(2) EPC, the obligation to pay renewal fees to the European Patent Office terminates with the
`paymentof the renewal fee due in respectof the year in which the mention of the grant of the European patent
`is published.
`
`Note on paymentof the designation fee(s):
`If the designation fee(s) become(s) due after the communication under Rule 71(3) EPC, the mention of the
`grant of the European patent will not be published until these fees have been paid (Rule 71a(3) EPC).
`
`4.1.2 After publication, the European patent specification can be downloaded free of charge from the EPO
`publication server https:/data.epo.org/publication-server.
`
`Registeredletter
`EPO Form 2004C 12.17CXP
`
`
`
`

`

`Date 05.12.2019
`
`Sheet 4
`
`Application No.: 17 150 670.2
`
`4.1.3 Filing of translations in the contracting states
`
`As regardstranslation requirements prescribed by the contracting states underArticle 65(1) EPC, please
`consult the website of the European Patent Office
`www.epo.org Law & practice “Legal texts, National law relating to the EPC
`www.epo.org “Law & practice ~All Legal texts London Agreement
`
`In the case of a valid extensionor validation
`
`As regards translation requirements prescribed by the extension orvalidation states, please consult the
`website of the European Patent Office
`www.epo.org “Law & practice “Legal texts, National law relating to the EPC
`
`Failure to supply a prescribed translation in a contracting state, or in an extension orvalidation state
`may result in the patent being deemed to be void abinitio in the state concerned (Art. 65(3) EPC).
`
`4.2
`
`Inthe case of 2.2 above
`
`If the present communication under Rule 71(3) EPC is based on an auxiliary request and,within the timelimit,
`you maintain the main requestor a higher ranking request whichis not allowable, the application will be
`refused (Art. 97(2) EPC).
`
`lf the examining division gives its consent to the requested amendments orcorrections,it will issue a new
`communication under Rule 71(3) EPC; otherwise, it shall resume the examination proceedings
`(Rule 71(6) EPC).
`
`5.
`
`Filing of a divisional application
`
`Any divisional application relating to this European patent application mustbefiled directly with the European
`Patent Office in Munich, The Hague or Berlin and will be in the language of the proceedings for the present
`application, orif the latter was not in an official language of the EPO,the divisional application maybefiled in
`the language of the present application asfiled (see Article 76(1) and Rule 36(2) EPC). Any such divisional
`application mustbefiled while the present application is still pending (Rule 36(1) EPC; Guidelines A-IV, 1.1.1).
`
`6.
`
`Notes concerning fee payments
`
`6.1 Making payments
`
`For payments made via deposit account, please note that as from 1 December 2017 debit orders will only be
`carried outif filed in an electronically processable format (xml), using an accepted meansoffiling as laid down
`in the Arrangements for deposit accounts (ADA), published in the Supplementary publication in the Official
`Journal.
`
`All relevant information related to the modes of paymentof fees to the EPO can beretrieved from the EPO
`website at "Making Payments".
`
`6.2.
`
`Information concerning fee amounts
`
`Procedural fees are usually adjusted every two years, on even years,with effect from 1 April. Therefore,
`before making a payment, parties should verify the amounts actually due on the date of payment using the
`applicable version of the Schedule of fees and expenses, published as a Supplementto the Official Journal of
`the EPO,available on the EPO website (www.epo.org) at www.epo.org/schedule-of-fees. The “Schedule of
`fees” table allows the viewing, downloading and searchingof individual fee amounts, both current and
`previous.
`
`6.3 Note to users of the automatic debiting procedure
`
`Registered letter
`EPO Form 2004C 12.17CXP
`
`
`
`

`

`Date 05.12.2019
`
`Sheet 5
`
`Application No.: 17 150 670.2
`
`The fee for grant, including the fee for publication, and any additional claims fees due under Rule 71(4) EPC
`will be debited automatically on the date offiling of the translations of the claims, or on the last day of the
`period of this communication. However,if the designation fee(s) become(s) due as set out in Rule 71a(3) EPC
`and/or a renewal fee becomes due as set out in Rule 71a(4) EPC, these should be paid separately by another
`permitted way of paymentin order not to delay the publication of the mention of the grant. The sameapplies in
`these circumstancesto the payment of extension and validation fees. The same applies in these
`circumstances to the payment of extension and validation fees.
`
`Note: If a waiver is expressed in response to a Rule 71(3) communication (see OJ EPO 2015, A52), the fee for
`grant, including the fee for publication/printing, and any additional claims fees will not be debited automatically.
`These fees must be paid separately by another means of paymentallowed underthe Rules relating to Fees.
`
`Examining Division:
`
`Chairman:
`2nd Examiner:
`1st Examiner:
`
`Standaert, Frans
`Zeljkovic, Sandra
`Van der Meer, Paul
`
`seers Paten;’m,
`o
`
`.
`
`S,<>Were,
`uead™
`
`@.%
`
`vetsaeprebun,
`
`a
`ing gor\0
`
`.
`
`Dubret, Francoise
`For the Examining Division
`Tel. No.: +31 70 340 - 3584
`
`Branch at The Hague
`
`Enclosures:
`
`Text intended for grant
`
`EPO Form 2056
`
`Registered letter
`EPO Form 20046 1217CXP
`
`
`
`

`

`des brevets
`
`Europaisches
`Patentamt
`Europe:
`Patent Office
`Office européen
`
`European Patent Otfice
`Postbus 5818
`2280 HV Rijswijk
`NETHERLANDS
`Tel: +31 70 340 2040
`Fax: +31 703403016
`
`Annex to EPO Form 2004, Communication pursuant to Rule 71(3) EPC
`
`Bibliographical data of European patent application No. 17 150 670.2
`
`For the intended grant of the European patent, the bibliographical data are set out below,for information:
`
`Title of invention:
`
`- HOCHEFFIZIENTES UND VERSCHACHTELTES
`SOLARSTROMVERSORGUNGSSYSTEM
`- HIGH EFFICIENCY INTERLEAVED SOLAR POWER SUPPLY SYSTEM
`— SYSTEME D'ALIMENTATION ELECTRIQUE SOLAIRE ENTRELACE DE
`HAUT RENDEMENT
`
`Classification:
`
`INV. HO2M100 H02J388 H02M749 ADD. H02N1000 H02M3/158
`
`Date offiling:
`
`Priority claimed:
`
`Contracting States*
`for which fees have
`been paid:
`
`Extension States*
`for which fees have
`been paid:
`
`Validation States*
`for which fees have
`been paid:
`
`Applicant(s)**:
`
`15.03.2013
`
`AL AT BE BG CH CY CZ DE DK EE ES FI FR GB GRHR HUIE IS IT LILT LU
`LV MC MK MT NL NO PL PT RORS SE SISK SMTR
`
`AMPT, LLC
`4850 Innovation Drive
`Fort Collins, CO 80525
`US
`
`Inventor(s):
`
`Ledenev, Anatoli
`719 Parliament Ct.
`Fort Collins, CO Colorado 80525
`US
`
`| *)
`
`If the time limit for the payment of designation fees according to Rule 39(1) EPC hasnotyet
`expired and the applicant has not withdrawn any designation, all Contracting
`States/Extension States/Validation States are currently still deemed to be designated.
`See also Rule 71a(3) EPC and,if applicable, the above Note to users of the automatic debiting
`procedure.
`
`**)
`
`If two or more applicants have designated different Contracting States, this is indicated here.
`
`EPO Form 2056 (Sheet!) 14.07TRI
`
`

`

`1 1(a)
`DESCRIPTION (11.11.2019)
`/
`EP 17 150670.2
`
`
`WO 2014/143021
`
`PCT/US2013/032410
`
`HIGH EFFICIENCY INTERLEAVED SOLAR POWER SUPPLY SYSTEM
`
`1,
`
`TECHNICAL FIELD
`
`The present invention focuses on the field of providing solar power including but notlimited to
`
`residential and commercial power systems and arrays.
`
`In particular it relates to processes,
`
`devices, and circuitry that can provide such powerin a more efficient manner.
`
`It also can find
`
`application in general power systems that have some of the more fundamentalattributes of solar
`
`powersources with the sameeffects.
`
`10
`
`Il.
`
`BACKGROUND
`
`The value of solar power for society has been known for manyyears. It offers clean energy but
`
`requires harnessing the energy and feeding it into electrical grid or other load. Efficiency in
`
`generation is of particular interest. One aspect that has proven particularly challenging is the
`ability to harvest the energy efficiently across the entire power spectrum desired. Because the
`
`15
`
`influx of solar energy can vary and because the photovoltaic effect itself can vary, electrical
`
`challenges exist that to some degree remain. In addition to the technical issues, regulatory limits
`
`such as desirable for safety and the like can also pose challenges. In addition, the combination of
`
`photovoltaic sources such as in the strings of panels or the like combines to make efficient
`harvesting of the energy an issue. As an example, an interesting fact that is frequently under the
`
`20
`
`current technology the most efficient generation of power (likely at the highest voltage after
`
`conversion) is a situation where no substantial poweris delivered. This seeming paradox is an
`
`issue that remains challenging for those in the field. Similarly the desire to generate more and
`
`more powersuch as through larger strings of panels has become an issue due to regulatory limits
`
`andthelike.
`
`25
`
`The presentinvention provides circuits and methods through which manyofthese challenges can
`
`be reduced or even eliminated. It provides designs with unusual efficiency in power generation
`
`and provides considerable value to those desiring to utilize solar or other power sources
`
`efficiently.
`
`
`
`

`

`EP 17 150 670.2
`
`DESCRIPTION (30.11.2017)
`
`
`1(a) +2
`
`EP 2 515 424 A2 is concerned with a DC-DC converter. The converter has a
`primary half-bridge which is connected in parallel to a primary terminal and is
`provided with a series circuit comprising switching elements. A secondary half-
`bridge is connected in parallel to a secondary terminal and is provided with a
`series circuit comprising switching elements.
`
`from an electric power source is
`Switching circuits for extracting power
`disclosed in US 2012/0043818 A1. Each switching circuit includes an input port
`electrically coupled to a respective one of an electric power source, an output
`port, and a first switching device adapted to switch between its conductive and
`non-conductive states to transfer power from the input port to the output port.
`
`US 2003/0218449 discloses methods and circuitry for combining the outputs of
`multiphase power converters.
`
`A control device for a switching arrangement with a direct current source
`feeding a load through a semiconductor rectifier regulator unit having two
`controllable semiconductor rectifier elements of identical conductance direction
`
`as part of the regulator unit is disclosed in US 4,634,943.
`
`Solar power circuits seeking to reduce or eliminate the risk of damage to
`components of photovoltaic power circuits are disclosed in US 2011/0210611
`A1. In certain embodiments, diodes are used to prevent reverse current flow.
`
`EP 0 383 971 relates to a supply circuit for a multi-system locomotive. The
`supply circuit contains a first and second power converter which are each
`connectedin an electrically conductive manner to a first and second inverter by
`meansof a first and second intermediate circuit capacitor.
`
`Different systems to achieve solar power conversion with circuitry that can be
`used to harvest maximum power from a solar source or strings of panels for DC
`or AC use are disclosed in TW 2010037958.
`
`in “High Efficiency Power Factor Correction Using Interleaving
`Miwa et. Al
`Techniques”, Proceedings of the Annual Applied Power Electronics Conference
`and Exhibition, Feb. 23-27, 1992, p. 557-568 studies a highly efficient power
`factor correction converter for computer applications.
`
`1a
`
`

`

`’
`
`|
`
`EP 17 1506702
`
`DESCRIPTION (11.11.2019)
`
`7
`
`
`
`233.
`
`WO 2014/143021
`
`PCT/US2013/032410
`
`Ill.
`
`DISCLOSURE OF INVENTION
`
`Accordingly, the present invention includes a variety of aspects, circuits, and processes in varied
`
`embodiments which may be selected in different combinations to suit differing needs and
`
`achieve various goals.
`
`It discloses devices and methods to achieve unusually high efficiency
`
`solar and other power delivery in a way that is more beneficial
`
`to a variety of loads. The
`
`embodiments present some initial ways to achieve high efficiency power delivery or generation
`
`and show the general understandings which may be adapted andaltered to achieve the following
`
`and other goals. Of course, further developments and enhancements may be possible within
`
`keeping of the teachings of the present invention.
`
`10
`
`As stated, one of the basic goals of embodiments of the invention is to provide highly efficient
`
`solar and other power generation.
`
`It can provide efficient power converters and other circuitry
`
`which can achieve this goal in multiple ways.
`
`Another goal of embodiments of the invention is to be able to provide enhancedstrings of power
`
`sources such as may be found in a power array or other solar installation or the like.
`
`15
`
`Yet another goal of embodiments of the invention is to provide better operational efficiency over
`
`all power generation regimes. In keeping with this goal, another aspect is to provide higher
`
`operational voltage that can be closer to, but not exceeding, the regulatory or other limit across
`
`all power generationssituations.
`
`Still another goal of embodiments of the invention is to provide lower inductance,
`
`low
`
`20
`
`capacitance, and lower energy storage both at the input and output levels. A similar goal is to
`
`provide lesser ripple in outputs for electrical circuitry operating on solar and other power
`sources.
`
`Naturally other goals of the invention are presented throughoutthe specifications and claims.
`
`IV.
`
`BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS
`
`25
`
`Figure | is a schematic of circuitry as configured for a phased interleave embodiment of the
`
`present invention.
`
`Figures 2a and 2b are timing diagramsto achieve control according to various embodiments of
`
`the present invention.
`
`Figure 3 is an efficiency related type of value diagram conceptually comparing several
`
`30
`
`operational modesof the present invention with sometraditional systems.
`
`
`
`

`

`EP 17 150 670.2
`
`
`
`DESCRIPTION (11.11.2019) 3434—
`
`*
`
`WO 2014/143021
`
`PCT/US2013/032410
`
`Figure 4 is a schematic of circuitry as configured for a tapped coupled inductor embodiment of
`
`a phasedinterleave design for the present invention.
`
`Figure 5 is a schematic of tapped coupled inductor circuitry as configured for a portion of an
`
`additive string voltage embodimentof the present invention.
`
`Figure 6 is a schematic of circuitry as configured for one interpanel configuration embodiment
`
`of the present invention.
`
`Figure 7 is a schematic of circuitry as configured for one more phasedstring example.
`
`Figure 8 is a conceptual diagram of boundary controlled modesof the present invention.
`
`V.
`
`MODE(S) FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
`
`As mentioned earlier,
`
`the present
`
`invention includes a variety of aspects, which may be
`
`combined in different ways. The following descriptions are provided to list elements and
`
`describe some of the embodiments of the present invention. These elements are listed with
`
`initial embodiments, howeverit should be understood that they may be combined in any manner
`
`and in any numberto create additional variations. The variously described examples and
`
`preferred embodiments should not be construed to limit
`
`the present
`
`invention to only the
`
`explicitly described systems, techniques, and applications. Further, this description should be
`
`10
`
`15
`
`understood to support and encompass descriptions and claims of all the various embodiments,
`
`20
`
`systems,
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`techniques, methods, devices, and applications with any number of the disclosed
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`elements, with each element alone, and also with any and all various permutations and
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`combinationsofall elements in this or any subsequentapplication.
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`As shownin figure 1, solar power generation can involve accepting one more sources of power
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`(1) such as may be generated by one or moreindividual photovoltaic sources (2). As is well
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`25
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`known, the photovoltaic source can be a solar panel (19)(as shownin figure 6) or even individual
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`solar cells (20)(also as shownin figure 6). In figure 1, the sources (2) can be aggregated to create
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`one conceptual photovoltaic source of power (1). The individual output (3) from one of the
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`photovoltaic sources (2) may be a DC poweroutput. This DC poweroutput (3) can be converted
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`into a modified version of DC power. This may, but need not occurat the module level, such as
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`30
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`by a module or other type of converter which is not shown but which could, but need not exist
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`for each panel (19) or each photovoltaic source (2). Such a converter may be configured to
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`operate on or with individual panels or modules and can control power harvesting to achieve
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`individual maximum powerpoint operation as is known.
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`As mentioned, in an embodiment of the present invention such as shownin figure |, the output
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`of a collection of solar panels or more generally sources (2) can be aggregated to create one
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`conceptual photovoltaic source of power (1). This, perhaps aggregated, source of power, also a
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`DC poweroutput, and here considered a first photovoltaic source of power (5), may be further
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`handled or converted by a DC-DC photovoltaic converter, perhaps here shown as a base phase
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`DC-DCphotovoltaic converter (6) to provide a base phase switched output(71).
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`Similarly, another aggregated source of power, here considered a second photovoltaic source of
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`10
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`power(7), may also be converted by a DC-DC photovoltaic converter, here shown as an altered
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`phase DC-DC photovoltaic converter (8) to provide an altered phase switched output (72). Both
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`the base phase DC-DC photovoltaic converter (6) and the altered phase DC-DC photovoltaic
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`converter (8) can have their outputs combined through combiner circuitry (9),
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`to provide a
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`conversion combined photovoltaic DC output (10).
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`In addition, both the base phase DC-DC
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`15
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`photovoltaic converter (6) and the altered phase DC-DC photovoltaic converter (8) can be
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`similarly controlled, such as through a synchronous phase control (11) that synchronously
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`operates switches or the like in the two converters so their operations are switch timing
`responsive in sync with each other, whether opposing or otherwise. Both the base phase DC-DC
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`photovoltaic converter (6) and the altered phase DC-DC photovoltaic converter (8) can be
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`20
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`considered combined as together presenting a low photovoltaic energy storage DC-DC
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`photovoltaic converter (15) which can act on two sources or power (1) and can provide a low
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`photovoltaic energy storage DC output (65). These outputs may be combined to present an array
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`or other enhanced low photovoltaic energy storage DC output(66).
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`In typical applications, it is commonfor the conversion combined photovoltaic DC output (10) to
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`25
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`be provided as an input to a load, shown as a photovoltaic DC-AC inverter (12) as but one
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`possibility. The photovoltaic DC-AC inverter (12) can provide a photovoltaic AC power output
`(13). This may be connected to a grid or the like. As also shown,strings of such power can be
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`connected in parallel (14) to provide greater power to the photovoltaic DC-AC inverter (12).
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`It
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`is also possible to provide an integrated system such as by having both the low photovoltaic
`energy storage DC-DC photovoltaic converter (15) and the photovoltaic DC-AC inverter (12)
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`30
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`integrated to present a combined high efficiency DC-DC-AC photovoltaic converter (16).
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`In operation, the system can accept first power from the first photovoltaic source of power(5),
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`accomplish base phase DC-DC conversion to create a base phase DC powerdelivery through the
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`base phase DC-DC photovoltaic converter (6).
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`In similar fashion accepted power from a second
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`source of power such as the second photovoltaic source of power (7) can be converted through
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`an altered phase DC-DC converting process to provide and create an altered phase DC power
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`delivery. Both the base phase DC-DC photovoltaic converter (6) and the altered phase DC-DC
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`photovoltaic converter (8) can have switches to achieve their operations. These switches can be
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`controlled by some type of controller perhaps a synchronous phase control (11). The output of
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`the altered phase DC powerdelivery and the base phase DC powerdelivery can be combined to
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`10
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`achieve the mentioned conversion combined photovoltaic DC output (10).
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`To allow for greater power generation,it is possible that the process of combining the different
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`power deliveries can involve the process of series combining the power deliveries. The
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`combinercircuitry (9) can be configured as series power configured circuitry so that voltage or
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`the like of the two powergenerators are added. As discussed later in reference to figures 4, 6,
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`15
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`and 7, it can be understood that the combinercircuitry (9) can involve one or more of either or
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`both an inductance and/or a capacitance. These elements can be configured to have unusually
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`low energy storage requirements for a photovoltaic system, and so the present invention can
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`achieve unusually low input and output converter energy storage as discussed later.
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`In such a
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`configuration, the circuitry can be considered as involving a low photovoltaic energy storage
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`20
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`inductor (17) and/or a low photovoltaic storage capacitor (18) of which the low photovoltaic
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`energy storage DC-DC converter (59) is comprised. When configured as a series power
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`combining circuit, the combinercircuitry (9) can present additive voltage circuitry that adds the
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`output voltage of one power supply such as the base phase switched output to the output voltage
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`of another powersupply such asthe altered phase switched output. The step of adding voltage
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`25
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`can allow greater power generation or delivery efficiency while not exceeding the regulatory
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`limits as mentioned earlier. It can also be achieved by low inductance adding of the voltages
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`through the teachings of the present invention.
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`As mentioned, the converters can be based on a switch-mode type of operation. Such converters
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`can have a number ofdifferent switches through which operations can achieve the desired goals.
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`30
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`Varying types of converters are shown in different embodiments of the present invention. As
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`shown in figures 4, 5, 6, and 7, the converters can have switches (e.g., 21-46) that can be
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`controlled to achieve the desired goals. This control can be specific to embodiments of the
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`present invention and can be an important aspect in achieving the goals as desired as well as an
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`important difference in operation as compared to previous similar circuitries. Further, some of
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`the switches such as those labeled (44 & 45 and the like) can be active switches, diodes, or even
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`a combination of diodes with an active switch. The affirmative control of the switches can be by
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`the synchronous phase control (11) as mentioned earlier. As shown in Figure 1, one literal or
`conceptual synchronous control can activate multiple converters so that
`their switches are
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`synchronous in operation. Naturally, two or more separate controls with a common timing can
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`be used as long as their clock cycles are commonso that the two converters are operated under
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`10
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`one timing mode.
`Control can be by duty cycle controlling the switches in the converters. A duty cycle controller
`(51) can be provided common to both converters as shown, and as such it can be considered a
`common duty cycle controller to achieve the step of common duty cycle control so that switches
`in the two converters can be operated synchronously according to desired schedules. By
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`15
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`synchronously controlling the converters,
`least
`at
`providing a common controller or
`embodimentsof the invention can be considered as providing a commontiming signal for switch
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`operation. This commontiming signal can specifically cause modes of operation in accordance
`with the invention. For example, figures 2a and 2b show some examples of this commontiming
`signal for the tapped magnetically coupled inductor embodiments of the invention such as shown
`in figure 4.
`In these figures, a roughly 25% (figure 2b) and 122% (figure 2a) duty cycle
`operation is conceptually presented showing the operation of switches (21-28) as indicated.
`Although not shown,operation from 0% to 100% is possible, of course. As may be understood
`in the context of comparing the operations of switches (21 & 24), switches (26 & 27), switches
`(22 & 23), and switches (25 & 28) the synchronous and opposing modesof control can be seen.
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