Patent ID: 8619447

Claim:
An apparatus comprising: a DC source port comprising: a first DC source terminal; and a second DC source terminal; a first switch; a second switch; a third switch wherein first terminals of the first, second, and third switches are coupled together; a fourth switch between the first switch and the second DC source terminal; a fifth switch between the second switch and the second DC source terminal; a sixth switch between the third switch and the second DC source terminal; a first inductor coupled between the first DC source terminal and the first terminals of the first, second, and third switches; a power grid port comprising: a first power grid terminal; and a second power grid terminal; a first electrical path between a second terminal of the first switch and the first power grid terminal; a second electrical path between a second terminal of the second switch and the second power grid terminal; a first capacitor; a third electrical path through the first capacitor and between a second terminal of the third switch and the second power grid terminal; a second inductor between the first switch and the first power grid terminal and between the fourth switch and the first power grid terminal; and a second capacitor between the first switch and the second power grid terminal and between the fourth switch and the second power grid terminal; wherein: the first, second, and third switches are configured to distribute portions of a DC link current through the apparatus; the first capacitor is larger than the second capacitor; the first inductor is larger than the second inductor; power ratings of the first and second switches are greater than a power rating of the third switch; power ratings of the fourth and fifth switches are greater than a power rating of the sixth switch; at least one of the first, second, third, fourth, fifth, or sixth switches comprises at least one of a GTO switch, an IGBT switch, a BJT switch, a bipolar transistor switch, a field effect transistor switch, or a MOSFET switch; the first inductor comprises an inductance of between approximately 1 millihenry and approximately 10 millihenries; the first capacitor comprises a capacitance of between approximately 100 microfarads and approximately 200 microfarads; and the third switch is configured to route an alternating current portion of the DC link current through the first capacitor to attenuate a current ripple effect of the DC link current and improve a maximum power point tracking of the apparatus.