Switching devices for a power converter

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12375033-B2
Application number	US-202217591889-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Feb 3, 2022
Priority date	Sep 22, 2016
Publication date	Jul 29, 2025
Grant date	Jul 29, 2025

Abstract

Mounting an agent on a cover of on an enclosure of an electronic device such that changing a physical location of the cover changes a location of the agent. In response to a change in the physical location of the cover, detecting a change in location of the agent with a sensor. Reading a transmitted signal from the sensor by a controller and changing a status of the electronic device according to instructions from the controller, the instructions being configured according to the transmitted signal of the sensor.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A method comprising:
mounting at least one reflective agent on a door;
connecting the door to a cover on an exterior of a power device enclosure using a connecting mechanism, wherein the door is movable from an open position to a closed position such that:
when the door is in the open position, the at least one reflective agent is in a detection range of a radiation sensor positioned on an interior of the power device enclosure and outside of the cover; and
when the door is in the closed position, the at least one reflective agent is outside of the detection range of the radiation sensor;

transmitting a beam using the radiation sensor;
in response to a change in position of the door, detecting a change in location of the surface at least one reflective agent with the radiation sensor;
reading a signal from the radiation sensor by a controller; and
changing a state of a power device according to instructions from the controller, said instructions being configured according to the signal of the radiation sensor.

2. The method of claim 1 , further comprising setting, by the controller, the power device to an ON state or an OFF state depending on the signal from the radiation sensor.

3. The method of claim 1 , further comprising setting, by the controller, the power device to a SAFE MODE or to a NON-SAFE MODE depending on the signal from the radiation sensor.

4. The method of claim 1 , further comprising setting the power device enclosure to a locked state or an unlocked state, wherein the setting is performed by a locking mechanism.

5. The method of claim 4 , wherein the locking mechanism includes a latch.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the power device is a direct current (DC) to alternating current (AC) converter or a DC to DC converter.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein the power device is configured to perform Maximum Power Point Tracking (MPPT).

8. An apparatus comprising:
a power device enclosure;
a power device enclosed by the power device enclosure;
a cover, mounted on an exterior of the power device enclosure;
a door comprising:
at least one reflective agent, and
a connecting mechanism,
wherein the door is connected to the cover with the connecting mechanism and wherein the door is movable from an open position to a closed position such that:
when the door is in the open position, the at least one reflective agent is in a detection range of a radiation sensor positioned on an interior of the power device enclosure and outside of the cover; and
when the door is in the closed position, the at least one reflective agent is outside of the detection range of the radiation sensor;
the radiation sensor configured to detect a change in location of the at least one reflective agent and output a signal depending on the change in location of the at least one reflective agent; and
a controller configured to change a state of the power device according to the signal.

9. The apparatus of claim 8 , wherein the radiation sensor is positioned on a side of the door proximate to the power device enclosure.

10. The apparatus of claim 8 , wherein the power device comprises a power converter for coupling to a photovoltaic system, and wherein the power converter is selected from a DC/DC converter or a DC/AC inverter.

11. The apparatus of claim 8 , wherein the controller is configured to set the power device to an ON state or an OFF state depending on the signal from the radiation sensor.

12. The apparatus of claim 8 , wherein the contoller is configured to set the power device to a SAFE MODE or to a NON-SAFE MODE depending on the signal from the radiation sensor.

13. The apparatus of claim 8 , further comprising a locking mechanism configured to set the power device enclosure to a locked state or an unlocked state.

14. The apparatus of claim 13 , wherein the locking mechanism includes a latch.

15. The apparatus of claim 8 , wherein the power devices is configured to perform Maximum Power Point Tracking (MPPT).

16. The apparatus of claim 8 , wherein the exterior of the power device enclosure comprises a plurality of connectors to which a plurality of conductors is connected, and wherein the plurality of conductors include:
a safety mechanism configured to prevent accidentally disconnecting the plurality of conductors from the plurality of connectors, wherein the safety mechanism comprises a click lock.

17. The apparatus of claim 8 , wherein the exterior of the power device enclosure comprises a plurality of connectors to which a plurality of conductors is connected; and wherein, when the door is in the closed position, the plurality of conductors and the plurality of connectors are inaccessible from the exterior of the power device enclosure and, when the door is in the open position, the plurality of conductors and the plurality of connectors are accessible from the exterior of the power device enclosure.

18. The apparatus of claim 8 ,
wherein the radiation sensor comprises a transmitting part and a receiving part,
wherein the transmitting part transmits a beam of radiation at a specific wavelength or across a spectrum of wavelengths, and
wherein the at least one reflective agent is configured to at least partially reflect back the beam of radiation transmitted by the transmitting part of the radiation sensor.

19. The apparatus of claim 8 , wherein the connecting mechanism comprises at least one of: a set of hinges, joints, and a sliding door.

20. The apparatus of claim 8 , wherein the at one reflective agent includes a plurality of reflective agents, and wherein the apparatus further comprises a plurality of radiation sensors.

Assignees

• Solaredge Technologies Ltd

Inventors

• Sella Guy
• Galin Yoav
• Adest Meir
• Yoscovich Ilan
• Rubinshtein Avi
• Braginsky David
• Jamal Naseem
• Savitzky Reuven
• Cohen Ariel

Classifications

• H02S50/15

  using optical means, e.g. using electroluminescence · CPC title

• H03K2217/94068

  with magnetic detection · CPC title

• H03K2217/94063

  with optical detection · CPC title

• H03K17/97

  using a magnetic movable element · CPC title

• H03K17/968 Primary

  using opto-electronic devices · CPC title