Conductor temperature detector

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11062588-B2
Application number	US-201615078450-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Mar 23, 2016
Priority date	Mar 23, 2016
Publication date	Jul 13, 2021
Grant date	Jul 13, 2021

Abstract

Various implementations described herein are directed to a method for detecting, by a device, an increase in temperature at certain parts of an electrical system, and taking appropriate responsive action. The method may include measuring temperatures at certain locations within the system and estimating temperatures at other locations based on the measurements. Some embodiments disclosed herein include an integrated cable combining electrical conduction and heat-detection capabilities.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An apparatus including a power device, the apparatus comprising:
an electronic circuit in an enclosure;
a first output conductor extending from the enclosure, the first output conductor having a first end and a second end, wherein the first end of the first output conductor is electrically connected to the electronic circuit and the second end is connected to a first mechanical connector;
a second output conductor adjacent the first output conductor and extending from the enclosure, the second output conductor having a first end and a second end, wherein the first end of the second output conductor is electrically connected to the electronic circuit and the second end is connected to a second mechanical connector;
a first temperature sensing device adjacent to the first end of the first output conductor and adjacent to the first end of the second output conductor, and configured to sense an overheating condition at the first mechanical connector and at the second mechanical connector; and
a controller in the power device configured to receive a measurement from the first temperature sensing device and to trigger an overheating response in response to the measurement indicating overheating.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the electronic circuit further includes a first conducting path and a second conducting path, and wherein the first temperature sensing device is adjacent to the first conducting path and the apparatus further includes a second temperature sensing device adjacent to the second conducting path and configured to sense an increase in temperature on or near at least one conductor coupled to the second conducting path.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the first output conductor is longer than the second output conductor, and wherein the second mechanical connector is the same type as the first mechanical connector.

4. The apparatus of claim 3 wherein the first mechanical connector is female, and the second mechanical connector is male.

5. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the electronic circuit is configured to receive power from a power source.

6. The apparatus of claim 5 , wherein the electronic circuit comprises a power converter configured to be coupled to the power source, and wherein the power source comprises a direct current (DC) power source.

7. The apparatus of claim 5 , wherein the electronic circuit is configured to be coupled to the power source, and wherein the power source comprises an alternating current (AC) power source.

8. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the overheating response comprises disconnecting paths carrying current from one or more portions of the electronic circuit.

9. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the second mechanical connector is configured to be mated with the first mechanical connector.

10. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the first output conductor is a cable having insulation.

11. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the first output conductor and the second output conductor are both cables having insulation.

12. The apparatus of claim 11 and further comprising a second apparatus of the same type as the apparatus of claim 11 .

13. The apparatus of claim 12 wherein the first mechanical connector of the apparatus is connected to a second mechanical connector of the second apparatus.

14. The apparatus of claim 13 , wherein the first temperature sensing device of the apparatus is configured to detect a faulty connection between the first mechanical connector of the apparatus and the second mechanical connector of the second apparatus.

15. A method comprising:
coupling a second end of a first output conductor to a first connector, wherein the first output conductor extends from an enclosure;
coupling a second end of a second output conductor to a second connector, wherein the second output conductor extends from the enclosure;
wherein the first output conductor is adjacent the second output conductor;
configuring a temperature sensing device to sense a temperature condition at the first connector and the second connector, wherein the temperature sensing device is deployed near a first end of the first output conductor and a first end of the second output conductor;
determining if the sensed temperature condition is above a threshold; and
in response to determining that the sensed temperature condition is above the threshold, triggering an overheating response by a controller in a power device configured to receive one or more measurements from the temperature sensing device and to trigger the overheating response in response to a measurement indicating overheating from the one or more measurements from the temperature sensing device.

16. The method of claim 15 , further comprising coupling an electronic circuit to a direct current power source.

17. The method of claim 16 , further comprising converting, with a DC-to-DC converter of the electronic circuit, power drawn from the direct current power source.

18. The method of claim 16 , wherein triggering the overheating response includes disconnecting a portion of the electronic circuit from a path carrying current.

19. The method of claim 16 , wherein triggering the overheating response includes reducing input power drawn by the electronic circuit.

20. The method of claim 16 , wherein triggering the overheating response includes reducing input current drawn by the electronic circuit.

21. The method of claim 15 , wherein the first connector is configured to connect to a connector of a same type as the second connector, the second connector being configured to connect to a second circuit.

22. The method of claim 15 , wherein triggering the overheating response includes sending a message to a central server, and wherein the method further comprises determining, by the central server, a controlling action to be taken.

23. The method of claim 22 , wherein sending the message comprises displaying the message on a computer monitor, television, smartphone or tablet.

24. The method of claim 15 , wherein triggering the overheating response includes sending a message to a remote server, and wherein the method further comprises determining, by the remote server, a controlling action to be taken.

25. The method of claim 15 , wherein triggering the overheating response includes sending a message to a central server, and wherein the method further comprises transmitting, by the central server, a condition message to a user interface, thereby enabling a user of the user interface to determine a controlling action to be taken.

26. A system including a power device, the system comprising:
a plurality of photovoltaic devices, wherein each of the plurality of photovoltaic devices includes:
one or more photovoltaic panels;
a circuit terminal in an enclosure;
a first output conductor coupled to the circuit terminal at a first end in the enclosure thereof; and
a first connector coupled to a second end of the first output conductor,
a second output conductor coupled to the circuit terminal at a first end in the enclosure thereof; and
a second connector coupled to a second end of the second output conductor;
wherein the second output conductor is adjacent the first output conductor;

wherein the first connector is configured to connect to a second connector of a second adjacent photovoltaic device;
one or more temperature sensing devices adjacent to the first end of the

Assignees

• Solaredge Technologies Ltd

Inventors

• Galin Yoav
• Adest Meir
• Gershman Israel
• Sella Guy

Classifications

• H02J2101/30

  Fuel cells · CPC title

• H02J2101/25

  involving maximum power point tracking control for photovoltaic sources · CPC title

• G08B25/00 Primary

  Alarm systems in which the location of the alarm condition is signalled to a central station, e.g. fire or police telegraphic systems · CPC title

• G01K3/005 Primary

  Circuits arrangements for indicating a predetermined temperature (fire detection G08B17/00) · CPC title

• H02J3/381

  Dispersed generators · CPC title