公开(公告)号：US20210376788A1

公开(公告)日：2021-12-02

申请号：US17263361

申请日：2019-08-27

Applicant: Arizona Board of Regents on behalf of Arizona State University

Inventor： Stuart Bowden ,  Antony Aguilar

IPC: H02S50/10

Abstract: A self-powered voltage ramp for photovoltaic module testing provides a robust circuit for the measurement of current-voltage curves. A resistor and capacitor form a timer circuit to control a gate of a power transistor and give a linear voltage sweep from a short circuit (e.g., zero volts) to an open circuit voltage VOC. The sweep rate can be varied by adjusting the resistor value. Additional enhancements prevent oscillations within the circuit, maintain a voltage of the power transistor within its design specifications, and allow for the measurement of single cell mini-modules. Additional circuitry can characterize the photovoltaic module based on the measurement data. Measurement accuracy is within 1% of a laboratory supply for measurements of maximum power, short circuit current, and open circuit voltage.