Patent ID: 6369462
Filing Date: 2002-04-09
Classification: G05F,H02J,Y02E

Abstract:
A system for providing power from a plurality of sources providing respective source powers at respective source currents at respective source voltages to a load receiving respective load powers at respective load currents at a load voltage, the load having variable amounts of load demand for the load powers, the sources providing variable amounts of the respective source powers, the system comprising,a plurality of converters respectively coupled between the sources and the load, the converters for converting the respective source powers into the respective load powers, and a plurality of maximum power trackers respectively connected to the converters for respectively controlling the source powers and the load powers, the maximum power trackers sensing the respective load currents and source voltages and respectively controlling the converters for maximizing the respective source powers to respective peak power points at respective peak power source voltages when the load demand exceeds the source powers, maximum power tracker increasing the source voltage for increasing the source power toward the peak power point when the source power is below the peak power point and when the source voltage is below the peak power source voltage and when the load demand exceeds the source power, the maximum power tracker decreasing the source voltage for increasing the source power toward the peak power point when the source power is below the peak power point and when and the source voltage is above the peak power source voltage and when the load demand exceeds the source power, the maximum power tracker maintaining the source voltage constant at the peak power source voltage when the source power is at peak power point and when the load demand exceeds the source power, the maximum power tracker generating a control signal for controlling the converter to control the source voltage for operating the source at the peak power point when the load demand exceeds the source power, maximum power tracker controlling the converter for peak power tracking when increasing or decreasing or maintaining the source voltage when the load demand exceeds the source power, the maximum power tracker regulating the load voltage at a regulated load voltage when the source power available from the source exceeds the load demand.