US 8842454B2

Here is a concise summary of US patent 8842454B2:

Title: Inverter array with localized inverter control

Assignee: GRIDSCALE SOLUTIONS, LLC

Inventors: Brian Johnson, Philip Krein, Alexander Gray, Patrick L. Chapman

Filing Date: 2011-02-17

Issue Date: 2014-09-23

Abstract: An apparatus for delivering AC power to an AC load may include a plurality of inverters configured to receive direct current (DC) power from a respective DC power source and respectively provide AC power to an AC load. The apparatus may further include a first controller configured to generate a first control signal based on total AC current and total AC voltage being delivered to the AC load by the plurality of inverters. The apparatus may also include a plurality of secondary controllers, each configured to receive the first control signal and produce a respective secondary control signal based on it. The respective secondary control signal for each secondary controller controls a corresponding one of the inverters to provide a portion of the AC power.

Plain-Language Overview of Independent Claims:

• Independent Claim 1 (Apparatus): This claim describes a system for providing AC power to a load. It consists of multiple inverters, each taking DC power from its own source and converting it to AC power for the load. A main (primary) controller generates an overall control signal based on the total AC current and voltage going to the load. Each individual inverter also has a secondary controller. These secondary controllers receive the primary control signal and use it to create their own specific control signals. These individual control signals then manage the respective inverter to produce its share of the AC power.

• Independent Claim 10 (Method): This claim outlines a process for controlling AC power supplied to a load. The method involves an array of inverters generating AC power from received DC power. A first control signal is created based on the total AC power. Then, multiple second control signals are generated, each in response to the first control signal. Each of these second control signals is used to control the AC power output of a corresponding inverter in the array, with the overall AC power being the combined output of all inverters.

• Independent Claim 17 (Computer-readable medium): This claim covers a computer-readable medium (like software or firmware) containing instructions for a processor to perform the control method. The instructions direct an array of inverters to generate AC power from received DC power, generate a first control signal based on the AC power, generate a plurality of second control signals in response to the first control signal, and control the respective AC power output of each inverter using a corresponding second control signal, where the AC power is the combination of individual inverter outputs.

CAFC 2026 Dockets:
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