Patent ID: 7900361

Claim:
A distributed power harvesting system comprising: a plurality of power sources each providing DC power; a plurality of converters, each converter comprising input terminals receiving input voltage from, and coupled to, a respective power source from the plurality of power sources; output terminals for providing an output voltage; circuitry operatively connected to said input terminals and output terminals, wherein said circuitry receives and converts the input voltage to the output voltage; and at least two bypass paths adapted for bypassing at least part of the circuitry; wherein the circuitry comprises a buck portion providing a stepped down output voltage; a boost portion connected to the output of said buck portion and adapted to receive said stepped down output voltage, wherein said boost portion converts said stepped down output voltage to provide a stepped up output voltage; and a controller engaging the buck portion and the boost portion, wherein the at least two bypass paths circumvent the buck portion and the boost portion.