System and method for regulating power output of multiple solar cell substrings

Abstract

One variation of a system for regulating power output of a plurality of solar cell substrings includes a set of solar cell substrings and a power regulator. The power conditioner includes: a power source; an adder; a modulation signal generator; a demodulator; and an integrator. The power supply is configured to receive an input voltage from the set of solar cell substrings. The adder is configured to modify a voltage gain of an input voltage at the power supply. A modulation signal generator is coupled to the adder and configured to generate an oscillating power signal at the power supply. The demodulator is configured to demodulate the oscillating power signal output from the power supply. The first integrator is coupled to the demodulator and the adder; and is configured to define a voltage gain step size at the power supply based on the DC signal component output from the demodulator.

Description

[0001] CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

[0002] This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 63 / 326,121, filed on March 31, 2022, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by this reference. Technical Field

[0003] The present invention relates generally to the field of solar power systems, and more particularly to a novel and useful system for regulating the power output of a plurality of solar substrings in the field of solar power systems. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0005] Figure 1A and Figure 1B is a schematic representation of the system;

[0006] Figure 2 is a schematic representation of a variation of the system;

[0007] Figure 3 is a schematic representation of a variation of the system;

[0008] Figure 4 is a schematic representation of a variation of the system; and

[0009] Figure 5 is a schematic representation of a variation of the system.

[0010] Description of Embodiments

[0011] The following description of the embodiments of the present invention is not intended to limit the present invention to these embodiments, but to enable those skilled in the art to make and use the present invention. The variations, configurations, implementations, example implementations, and examples described herein are optional and are not limited to the variations, configurations, implementations, example implementations, and examples they describe. The present invention described herein may include any and all combinations of these variations, configurations, implementations, example implementations, and examples.

[0012] 1. System

[0013] like Figure 1A and Figure 1B As shown, the system 100 for regulating power output of a plurality of substrings includes: a first group of solar cell substrings 110 ; a first power regulator 119 ; and a controller 160 .

[0014] The first power regulator 119 includes: a first power source 120; a first adder 128; a first modulation signal; a first demodulator 124; and a first integrator 126. The first power source 120 is coupled to the first group of solar cell substrings 110 and is configured to receive a first input voltage generated by the first group of solar cell substrings 110. The first adder 128 is coupled to the gain control of the first power source 120 and is configured to modify the voltage gain of the first input voltage. The first modulation signal generator 122 is coupled to the first adder 128 and is configured to modulate the voltage gain of the first input voltage. The first demodulator 124 is coupled to the first modulation signal generator 122 and the first power source 120 and is configured to demodulate the voltage signal output from the first power source 120. The first integrator 126 is coupled to the first demodulator 124 and the first adder 128 and is configured to define a voltage gain step of the first input voltage.

[0015] The controller 160 is configured to: trigger the first modulation signal generator 122 during the first power cycle to modulate the voltage gain of the first input voltage by a first modulation signal having a first phase and a first frequency, thereby inducing a first oscillating power signal to be output from the first power supply 120; and generate a first demodulated signal at the first demodulator 124 based on the first oscillating power signal and the first modulation signal.

[0016] The controller 160 is also configured to: interpret a first voltage power point condition of the first input voltage based on the first demodulated signal during the first power cycle; and modify the voltage gain of the first power source 120 by a first voltage gain step size based on the first power point condition and in response to the first input voltage deviating from the maximum power point voltage of the first group of solar cell substrings 110.

[0017] In one variation of system 100, Figure 2As shown, the system 100 for regulating the power output of multiple substrings includes: a first group of solar cell substrings 110, a first power regulator 119, a second power regulator 139 and a controller 160. The first subset of solar cell substrings 110 includes: a first subset of solar cell substrings 110 connected to the first power regulator 119; and a second subset of solar cell substrings 110, which is connected in series with the first subset of solar cell substrings 110 and connected to the second power regulator 139. The first power regulator 119 includes: a first power supply 120 (e.g., a switch mode power supply), a first modulation signal generator 122, a first adder 128, a first demodulator 124 and a first integrator 126. The first power supply 120 is connected to the first subset of solar cell substrings 110 and is configured to receive a first input voltage generated by the first group of solar cell substrings 110. The first adder 128 is connected to the gain control of the first power supply 120 and is configured to modify the voltage gain of the first input voltage at the first power supply 120. The first modulation signal generator 122 is connected to the first adder 128 and is configured to modulate the voltage gain of the first input voltage received at the first power source 120. The first demodulator 124 is connected to the first modulation signal generator 122 and the first power source 120. The first integrator 126 is connected to the first demodulator 124 and the first adder 128 and is configured to define a first voltage gain step of the first input voltage at the first power source 120. The second power regulator 139 includes: a second power source 140, a second modulation signal generator 142, a second adder 148, a second demodulator 144 and a second integrator 146. The second power source 140 is connected to a second subset of the solar cell substrings 110 and is configured to receive the first input voltage generated by the first group of solar cell substrings 110. The second adder 148 is connected to the gain control of the second power source 140 and is configured to modify the voltage gain of the first input voltage at the second power source 140. The second modulation signal generator 142 is connected to the second adder 148 and is configured to modulate the voltage gain of the first input voltage received at the second power supply 140. The second demodulator 144 is connected to the second modulation signal generator 142 and the first power supply 120. The second integrator 146 is connected to the second demodulator 144 and the second adder 148 and is configured to define a second voltage gain step of the first input voltage at the second power supply 140.Then, the controller 160 may, during the first power cycle: trigger the first modulation signal generator 122 to modulate the voltage gain of the first input voltage by a first modulation signal (e.g., a sine wave, a gold code, a spread spectrum communication signal) having a first phase and a first frequency, thereby inducing a first oscillating power signal from the first power source 120; and trigger the second modulation signal generator 142 to modulate the voltage gain of the first input voltage by a second modulation signal having a second phase and a second frequency, the second modulation signal being different from the first modulation signal. In addition, the controller 160 may: generate a first demodulated signal from the first demodulator 124 based on the first oscillating power signal and the first modulation signal from the first power source 120; generate a second demodulated signal from the second demodulator 144 based on the first oscillating power signal and the second modulation signal from the first power source 120; interpret a first voltage power point condition of the first input voltage based on the first demodulated signal; and interpret a second voltage power point condition of the first input voltage based on the second demodulated signal. In addition, in response to the first input voltage deviating from the maximum power point voltage, the controller 160 can: based on the first voltage power point condition, adjust the voltage gain of the first input voltage at the first power source 120 by a first voltage gain step; and based on the second voltage power point condition, adjust the voltage gain of the first input voltage at the second power source 140 by a second voltage gain step, the first power source 120 and the second power source 140 cooperate to output maximum power from the first group of solar cell substrings 110.

[0018] exist Figure 3 and Figure 4 In a variation of the depicted exemplary embodiment, the system 100 may include a solar panel 170 including a set of solar cell substrings 110 and defining a front side and a back side. The system 100 may also include: a housing structure 172 disposed on the back side of the solar panel 170; and a rod structure extending outward from a side end of the housing and coupled to the solar panel 170. The housing structure 172 may include: a first power regulator 119; and a controller 160 coupled to the first power regulator 119. In the aforementioned exemplary embodiment, each of the first power regulator 119 and the controller 160 is enclosed within the housing structure 172.

[0019] 2. Application

[0020] In general, the system 100 may operate as a power controller 160 configured to connect to and balance the power output by a group of solar cell substrings 110, which may experience uneven illumination and, therefore, uneven power output throughout operation. In order for the system 100 to continuously output maximum power, the group of solar cell substrings 110 must output a maximum power point voltage to achieve maximum power from the system 100. However, during operation of the system 100, several factors (e.g., age of the solar cell substrings, foreign matter covering the solar cell substrings, weather conditions, etc.) may result in uneven illumination of the group of solar cell substrings 110, which in turn causes the output voltage of the group of solar cell substrings 110 to deviate from the maximum power point voltage. Therefore, the system 100 may then continuously adjust the voltage output from the group of solar cell substrings 110 toward the maximum power point voltage (i.e., modify the gain of the voltage) so as to cause the system 100 to output maximum power regardless of the illumination conditions of the group of solar cell substrings 110.

[0021] During operation, the system 100 can output an oscillating power signal from the first power source 120 to explain how modifying the voltage gain of the input voltage adjusts the power output of the system 100. For example, the system 100 can include: a first group of solar cell substrings 110 configured to output a first input voltage under a first illumination condition; a first power source 120 connected to the first group of solar cell substrings 110 and configured to receive the first input voltage output from the first group of solar cell substrings 110; a first modulation signal generator 122 connected to a gain control of the first power source 120 and configured to oscillate the voltage gain of the first power source 120; and a first demodulator 124 connected to the first modulation signal generator 122 and the first power source 120. Then, the system 100 can, during the first power cycle: trigger the first modulation signal generator 122 to modulate the voltage gain of the first power supply 120 by the first modulation signal so as to induce a first oscillating power signal output from the first power supply 120; apply the first demodulator 124 to the first oscillating power signal output from the first power supply 120 to generate a first demodulated signal; and interpret the voltage power point condition that deviates from the maximum power point voltage of the first voltage input based on the first demodulated signal. Therefore, the system 100 can interpret the voltage power point condition to interpret that the first input voltage is lower than the maximum power point voltage or higher than the maximum power point voltage.

[0022] Furthermore, during operation, the system 100 may then adjust the voltage input signal (and thereby the power output) towards the maximum power point voltage based on the voltage power point condition interpreted from the first demodulated signal, so as to achieve the maximum power output of the system 100. For example, the system 100 may include: a first integrator 126 connected to the first demodulator 124; and a first adder 128 connected to the first modulation signal generator 122 and the first power supply 120. The system 100 may then, during a first power cycle: integrate the first demodulated signal to define a first voltage gain step toward the maximum power output voltage of the system 100; and modify the first input voltage based on the first voltage gain step to adjust the first input voltage toward the maximum power point voltage. Thus, the system 100 may perform multiple power cycles to continuously adjust the first input voltage toward the maximum power point voltage to ensure a continuous maximum power output during operation of the system 100.

[0023] 3. Power Regulator

[0024] Generally, the system 100 may include: a first power supply 120 (e.g., a switch mode power supply), which is connected to the first group of solar cell substrings 110 and is configured to receive a first input voltage output by the first group of solar cell substrings 110; and a first modulation signal generator 122, which is connected to a gain control of the first power supply 120 and is configured to modulate the voltage gain of the first input voltage received at the first power supply 120.

[0025] During operation of the system 100, the first group of solar cell substrings 110 generates a voltage, which is then fed to the input of the first power source 120 to define the input voltage of the system 100. The system 100 can then adjust the voltage gain of the input voltage received at the first power source 120 to thereby adjust the power output to the load connected to the first power source 120. In addition, the system 100 can generate a power signal based on the voltage output and the current output from the first power source 120. The system 100 can trigger the first modulation signal generator 122 to generate a first modulation signal having a first phase and a first frequency, the first modulation signal adjusting the gain control of the first power source 120 to modify the input voltage at the first power source 120. Therefore, during operation of the system 100, the gain control of the first power source 120 remains consistent with the first phase and the first frequency of the first modulation signal (i.e., when the amplitude of the modulation signal increases, the voltage gain increases, and when the amplitude of the modulation signal decreases, the voltage gain decreases). The system 100 can then generate a power signal based on the output voltage from the first power source 120 being modified by the first modulation signal. During operation of the system 100, the power signal output by the first power supply 120 will fluctuate (i.e., increase and decrease in amplitude) as the gain control of the first power supply 120 is adjusted by the first modulation signal. The system 100 can then utilize the fluctuating power signal output from the first power supply 120 to account for the power output to the load deviating from the maximum power output of the system 100.

[0026] In one variation of the system 100, the power signal output from the first power supply 120 may be filtered by a bandpass filter 130 to eliminate unwanted noise generated from the first power supply 120. The bandpass filter 130 may define: a high-pass cutoff frequency greater than the first frequency of the first modulation signal; and a low-pass cutoff frequency configured to block a DC component of the power signal.

[0027] Generally, the system 100 may further include a first demodulator 124, which is connected to the first modulation signal generator 122 and the first power supply 120 and is configured to generate a first demodulated signal. The system 100 may input the power signal output from the first power supply 120 and the first modulation signal output from the first modulation signal generator 122 into the first demodulator 124, and then output a demodulated signal based on the power signal and the first modulation signal.

[0028] In one variation, the first demodulator 124 includes a multiplier circuit configured to apply a product operation to the power signal and the first modulation signal and then generate a demodulated signal. In this variation, the system 100 may also include a first low-pass filter 132, which is: connected to the first demodulator 124; defines a first cutoff frequency that is less than the first frequency of the first modulation signal; and is configured to block the AC component of the first demodulated signal. The system 100 can then use the DC component output by the first low-pass filter 132 to interpret the voltage power point condition of the first input voltage. During operation of the system 100, when the first input voltage is operated at the maximum power point voltage, the DC component of the demodulated signal output from the first demodulator 124 will be zero. Therefore, the system 100 can interpret the voltage power point condition of the first input voltage that deviates from the maximum power point voltage in response to observing a non-zero DC component of the first demodulated signal output from the first demodulator 124.

[0029] Typically, the system 100 may also include: a first integrator 126, which is connected to the first demodulator 124 and the first adder 128, and is configured to define a voltage gain step of the first input voltage at the first power supply 120 based on the first demodulated signal; and a first adder 128, which is connected to the first integrator 126 and the gain control of the first power supply 120, and is configured to adjust the first input voltage based on the voltage gain step output by the first integrator 126.

[0030] During operation of the system 100, the first integrator 126 may receive a demodulated signal output by the demodulator and apply an integrator operation to the demodulated signal during power cycling. The system 100 may then define a voltage gain step based on the demodulated signal of the first input voltage that deviates from the maximum power point voltage (i.e., a voltage gain step for increasing the first input voltage in response to the first input voltage being lower than the maximum power point voltage, or a voltage gain for decreasing the first input voltage in response to the first input voltage being higher than the maximum power point voltage). The system 100 may then apply the voltage step gain defined by the first integrator 126 to the gain control of the first power supply 120 via the first adder 128 to adjust the first input voltage toward the maximum power point voltage. Thus, during operation, the system 100 may perform multiple power cycles to adjust the first input voltage until the maximum power point voltage is achieved and the system 100 operates at maximum power output.

[0031] 3.1 Power Regulator: Increasing Voltage Gain

[0032] In one embodiment, when the first input voltage received at the first power supply 120 is lower than the maximum power point voltage, the system 100 can interpret the voltage power point condition of the first input voltage. During the operation of the system 100 under this particular voltage condition, the oscillating power signal output from the first power supply 120 will reflect (mirror) the first phase and the first frequency of the first modulation signal (i.e., as the amplitude of the modulation signal increases, the amplitude of the power signal will increase; and as the amplitude of the modulation signal decreases, the amplitude of the power signal will decrease). Therefore, during the operation of the system 100 under this particular voltage condition, the first demodulated signal output from the first demodulator 124 will always be a positive oscillating signal. In one variation, a low pass filter 132 is applied to the positive oscillating signal received from the first demodulator 124 to block the AC component of the signal, thereby generating a positive DC signal component. In response to interpreting the positive DC signal component, the system 100 can then apply a positive voltage step gain to the gain control of the first power supply 120 to adjust the first input voltage upward toward the maximum power point voltage during the first power cycle. If the system 100 interprets the regulated input voltage as being below the maximum power point voltage after the first power cycle, the system 100 may continue to apply positive voltage steps for subsequent power cycles until the maximum power point voltage is achieved.

[0033] For example, the system 100 may, during a first power cycle: trigger the first modulation signal generator 122 to modulate the voltage gain of the first input voltage by a first modulation signal (e.g., a sine wave, a gold code, a spread spectrum communication signal) having a first phase and a first frequency, thereby inducing a first oscillating power signal from the first power source 120; generate a first demodulated signal from the first demodulator 124 based on the product of the first oscillating power signal from the first power source 120 and the first modulation signal; apply a first low-pass filter to the first demodulated signal to isolate a first DC component of the first demodulated signal; in response to detecting a positive value of the first DC component of the first demodulated signal, interpret that the first input voltage is lower than a maximum power point voltage; apply a first integrator 126 to the first DC component to define a voltage gain step increase of the first input voltage; and increase the voltage gain at the first power source 120 toward the maximum power point voltage of the first group of solar cell strings for the first input voltage by the voltage gain step increase.

[0034] In another example, the system 100 may: generate a first demodulated power signal based on the product of the first oscillating power signal from the first power supply 120 and the first modulation signal; extract a DC component from the first demodulated power signal; and in response to detecting a positive value of the first DC component of the first demodulated power signal, interpret that the first input voltage is below the maximum power point voltage. In this example, since the first oscillating power signal is proportional to the first modulation signal, the demodulated power signal includes an AC component and a positive DC component. Therefore, the system 100 may then: apply the first integrator 126 to the positive DC component to define a positive voltage gain step of the first input voltage; and trigger the first adder 128 to apply a positive voltage gain step at the gain control of the first power supply 120, thereby increasing the first input voltage toward the maximum power point voltage.

[0035] In the aforementioned example, the first modulation signal generator 122 can be configured to output a first modulation signal defining a first sine wave, and is configured to induce the output of a first sinusoidal power signal at a first phase and a first frequency from the first power supply 120. Therefore, the system 100 can then generate a first demodulated power signal based on the product of the first sinusoidal power signal from the first power supply 120 and the sine wave. In this example, the first demodulated power signal will include a DC component and an AC component according to the sine square identity. The system 100 can then isolate the DC component from the first demodulated power signal, for example, by a low pass filter 132, in order to: explain the first input voltage being below the maximum power point voltage; and explain the positive voltage gain step of the gain control applied to the first power supply 120.

[0036] 3.2 Power Regulator: Reducing Voltage Gain

[0037] In one embodiment, when the first input voltage received at the first power supply 120 is higher than the maximum power point voltage, the system 100 can interpret the voltage power point condition of the first input voltage. During the operation of the system 100 under this particular voltage condition, the oscillating power signal output from the first power supply 120 will reflect the first frequency of the first modulation signal. However, the oscillating power signal will not reflect the first phase of the first modulation signal (i.e., as the amplitude of the modulation signal increases, the amplitude of the power signal will decrease; and as the amplitude of the modulation signal decreases, the amplitude of the power signal will increase). Therefore, during the operation of the system 100 under this particular voltage condition, the first demodulated signal output from the first demodulator 124 will always be a negative oscillating signal. In one variation, a low pass filter 132 is applied to the negative oscillating signal received from the first demodulator 124 to block the AC component of the signal, thereby generating a negative DC signal component. In response to interpreting the negative DC signal component, the system 100 can then apply a negative voltage step gain to the gain control of the first power supply 120 to adjust the first input voltage downward toward the maximum power point voltage during the first power cycle. If the system 100 interprets the adjusted input voltage as being above the maximum power point voltage after the first power cycle, the system 100 may continue to apply negative voltage steps for subsequent power cycles until the maximum power point voltage is achieved. Alternatively, if the system 100 interprets the adjusted input voltage as being below the maximum power point voltage after the first power cycle, the system 100 may then apply positive voltage steps for subsequent power cycles until the maximum power point voltage is achieved.

[0038] For example, the system 100 may, during a first power cycle: trigger the first modulation signal generator 122 to modulate the voltage gain of the first input voltage by a first modulation signal (e.g., a sine wave, a gold code, a spread spectrum communication signal) having a first phase and a first frequency, thereby inducing a first oscillating power signal from the first power source 120; generate a first demodulated signal from the first demodulator 124 based on the product of the first oscillating power signal from the first power source 120 and the first modulation signal; apply a first low-pass filter to the first demodulated signal to isolate a first DC component of the first demodulated signal; in response to detecting a negative value of the first DC component of the first demodulated signal, interpret that the first input voltage is higher than a maximum power point voltage; apply a first integrator 126 to the first DC component to define a voltage gain step reduction of the first input voltage; and attenuate the voltage gain at the first power source 120 for the first input voltage toward the maximum power point voltage of the first group of solar cell strings through the voltage gain step reduction.

[0039] In another example, the system 100 may: generate a first demodulated power signal based on the product of the first oscillating power signal from the first power supply 120 and the first modulation signal; extract a DC component from the first demodulated power signal; and in response to detecting a negative value of the first DC component of the first demodulated power signal, interpret that the first input voltage is above the maximum power point voltage. In this example, since the first oscillating power signal is inversely proportional to the first modulation signal, the demodulated power signal includes an AC component and a negative DC component. Therefore, the system 100 may then: apply the first integrator 126 to the negative DC component to define a negative voltage gain step of the first input voltage; and trigger the first adder 128 to apply a negative voltage gain step at the gain control of the first power supply 120, thereby reducing the first input voltage toward the maximum power point voltage.

[0040] 3.3 Power Regulator: Maximum Power Point Voltage

[0041] In one embodiment, when the first input voltage received at the first power supply 120 is at the maximum power point voltage, the system 100 can interpret the voltage power point condition of the first input voltage. During the operation of the system 100 under this particular voltage condition, the oscillating power signal output from the first power supply 120 will not reflect the first phase or the first frequency of the first modulation signal (i.e., when the amplitude of the modulation signal increases, the amplitude of the power signal will decrease; and when the amplitude of the modulation signal decreases, the amplitude of the power signal will decrease). Therefore, during the operation of the system 100 under this particular voltage condition, the first demodulated signal output from the first demodulator 124 will always oscillate at a frequency greater than the first frequency of the first modulation signal. In one variation, a low-pass filter 132 defining a cutoff frequency less than the first frequency of the first modulation signal is applied to the oscillating signal received from the first demodulator 124 to block the AC component of the signal, thereby generating a zero DC signal component. In response to interpreting the zero DC signal component, the system 100 can then apply a zero (null) voltage step gain to the gain control of the first power supply 120 to maintain the first input voltage at the maximum power point voltage during the first power cycle. Alternatively, if system 100 interprets the first input voltage as being above or below the maximum power point voltage after the first power cycle (e.g., system 100 experiences a change in illumination conditions of solar cell subgroup 110), system 100 may then apply voltage steps for subsequent power cycles until the maximum power point voltage is achieved.

[0042] For example, the system 100 may, during a first power cycle: trigger the first modulation signal generator 122 to modulate the voltage gain of the first input voltage by a first modulation signal (e.g., a sine wave, a gold code, a spread spectrum communication signal) having a first phase and a first frequency, thereby inducing a first oscillating power signal from the first power source 120; generate a first demodulated signal from the first demodulator 124 based on the product of the first oscillating power signal from the first power source 120 and the first modulation signal; apply a first low-pass filter to the first demodulated signal to isolate a first DC component of the first demodulated signal; in response to detecting that the first demodulated signal does not have the first DC component, interpret that the first input voltage matches the maximum power point voltage; apply the first integrator 126 to the first DC component to define a zero voltage gain step of the first input voltage; and maintain the voltage gain at the first power source 120 for the first input voltage to maintain the maximum power point voltage of the first group of solar cell strings.

[0043] In another example, the system 100 can: generate a first demodulated power signal based on the product of the first oscillating power signal from the first power supply 120 and the first modulation signal; and in response to detecting the absence of a DC component in the first demodulated power signal, interpret that the first input voltage matches the maximum power point voltage. In this example, the oscillating power signal output from the first power supply 120 will not reflect the first phase or the first frequency of the first modulation signal, resulting in the absence of a DC component in the first demodulated power signal. Therefore, the system 100 can then trigger the first adder 128 to apply a zero voltage gain step at the gain control of the first power supply 120 in response to the first input voltage matching the maximum power point voltage.

[0044] In the above example, since the maximum power point voltage is achieved for the output of the first power regulator 119, the gain control of the first power source 120 does not require further adjustment. However, during operation of the system 100, environmental conditions (e.g., weather patterns) may result in uneven illumination across the group of solar cell substrings 110, which in turn affects the power output from the first power regulator 119. Therefore, the system 100 can continue to perform power cycles at the power regulator to ensure that the voltage output remains at the maximum power point voltage. For example, in response to achieving the maximum power point voltage, the system 100 can then initiate a low power mode to reduce the number of power cycles performed at the power regulator. Subsequently, in response to identifying a deviation of the voltage output from the maximum power point voltage, the system 100 can then terminate the low power mode and initiate a series of power cycles until the maximum power point voltage is achieved from the group of solar cell substrings 110.

[0045] 4. Two-stage power regulator

[0046] In one embodiment, if Figure 2 As shown, the system 100 includes: a first group of solar cell substrings 110, which includes a first subset of solar cell substrings 110 connected in series with a second subset of solar cell substrings 110; a first power regulator 119; and a second power regulator 139. In this embodiment, the first power regulator 119 is connected to the first subset of solar cell substrings 110 and is configured to regulate a first voltage output from the first subset of solar cell substrings 110. In addition, the second power regulator 139: is connected to the second subset of solar cell substrings 110 at a midpoint between the first subset of solar cell substrings 110 and the second subset of solar cell substrings 110; and is configured to regulate a second voltage output from the second subset of solar cell substrings 110. The system 100 can then regulate the first voltage and the second voltage so as to achieve a maximum power point voltage (and therefore a maximum power output) for the first group of solar cell substrings 110.

[0047] In this embodiment, the system 100 includes a first group of solar cell substrings 110, which includes a first solar cell substring 112 and a second solar cell substring 114 arranged in series. The system 100 also includes a first power regulator 119 coupled to the voltage output from the first solar cell substring 112. The second power regulator 139 defines: an output terminal coupled to the midpoint voltage between the first solar cell substring 112 and the second solar cell substring 114; and an input terminal coupled to the voltage output terminal of the first solar cell substring 112.

[0048] In addition, the second power regulator 139 includes: a second power supply 140; a second modulation signal generator 142; a second demodulator 144; and a second integrator 146. The second power supply 140 is configured to receive a first input voltage generated at a second solar cell substring in the solar cell substring. The second modulation signal generator 142: coupled to a second gain control of the second power supply 140; generates a second modulation signal having a second phase and a second frequency (the second phase and the second frequency are different from the first phase and the first frequency of the first modulation signal); and is configured to induce a second oscillating power signal output from the second power supply 140. The second demodulator 144: coupled to the second modulation signal generator 142 and the first power supply 120; and is configured to generate a second demodulated power signal based on the first oscillating power signal and the first modulation signal. The second integrator 146: coupled to the second gain control of the second power supply 140 and the second demodulator 144; and a second voltage gain step defining a voltage midpoint based on the second demodulated power signal.

[0049] Environmental conditions (e.g., weather patterns) may result in uneven illumination across the first solar cell substring 112 and the second solar cell substring 114. Therefore, in the aforementioned embodiment, the system 100 may: modify the voltage output from the group of solar cell substrings 110; and modify the input voltage at the midpoint between the group of solar cell substrings 110 to balance the voltage output across the group of solar cell substrings 110. In this embodiment, as described above, the system 100 may perform power cycling for the first power regulator 119 and the second power regulator 139 to modify the gain control to achieve a maximum power point voltage from the group of solar cell substrings 110. When the maximum power point voltage is achieved, the midpoint voltage between the first solar cell substring 112 and the second solar cell substring 114 should match half of the total voltage output value from the group of solar cell substrings 110.

[0050] In this embodiment, it is expected that the system 100 generates different and distinct modulation signals (e.g., modulation signals with different frequencies, modulation signals with different spread spectrum communication signals) for the first power regulator 119 and the second power regulator 139 to prevent interference between the power regulators.

[0051] In one example, the first modulation signal generator 122 outputs a first modulation signal defining a first sine wave, and is configured to induce output of a first sinusoidal power signal from the first power source 120. In this example, the first sinusoidal power signal includes a first phase and a first frequency of the first sinusoidal wave. In addition, the second modulation signal generator 142: outputs a second modulation signal defining a second sine wave having a second frequency offset from the first frequency (e.g., 20 Hz offset); and is configured to induce output of a second sinusoidal power signal at a second phase and a second frequency from the second power source 140. Thus, the system 100 can perform a series of power cycles across the first power regulator 119 and the second power regulator 139 to achieve a maximum power point voltage from the group of solar cell substrings 110.

[0052] During operation, the system 100 may experience uneven illumination between a first subset of solar cell substrings 110 and a second subset of solar cell substrings 110. In one variation, a first voltage output by the first subset of solar cell substrings 110 operates below a maximum power point voltage, and a second voltage output by the second subset of solar cell substrings 110 operates above a maximum power point voltage. The system 100 may then: adjust a first voltage gain of the first power source 120 to increase the first voltage; and adjust a second voltage gain of the second power source 140 to decrease the second voltage, and thereby achieve a maximum power point voltage of the first group of solar cell substrings 110.

[0053] For example, during a first power cycle, the system 100 may: trigger the first modulation signal generator 122 to modulate a first voltage gain of a first voltage by a first modulation signal (e.g., a sine wave, a gold code, a spread spectrum communication signal) having a first phase and a first frequency, thereby inducing a first oscillating power signal from the first power source 120; and trigger the second modulation signal generator 142 to modulate a second voltage gain of a second voltage by a second modulation signal (e.g., a sine wave, a gold code, a spread spectrum communication signal) having a second phase and a second frequency, the second modulation signal being different from the first modulation signal. In addition, the system 100 may, during the first power cycle: generate a first demodulated signal from the first demodulator 124 based on a product of the first oscillating power signal from the first power source 120 and the first modulation signal; generate a second demodulated signal from the second demodulator 144 based on a product of the first oscillating power signal from the first power source 120 and the second modulation signal; apply a first low pass filter to the first demodulated signal to isolate a first DC component of the first demodulated signal; and apply a second low pass filter to the second demodulated signal to isolate a second DC component of the second demodulated signal. In addition, the system 100 can, during the first power cycle: in response to detecting a positive value of the first DC component of the first demodulated signal, interpret the first voltage as being lower than the maximum power point voltage; in response to detecting a negative value of the second DC component of the second demodulated signal, interpret the second voltage as being higher than the maximum power point voltage; increase the first voltage gain at the first power source 120 for the first voltage by increasing the voltage gain step; and reduce the second voltage gain at the second power source 140 for the second voltage by decreasing the voltage gain step, the first voltage gain and the second voltage gain cooperating to achieve the maximum power point voltage of the first group of solar cell substrings 110.

[0054] 4.1 Maximum power point voltage deviation

[0055] In one embodiment, the system 100 may interpret the output voltage from the group of solar cell substrings 110 as a deviation from the maximum power point voltage, and interpret the midpoint voltage between the first solar cell substring 112 and the second solar cell substring 114 as a deviation from the maximum power point voltage. Therefore, as described above, the system 100 may perform power cycling to balance the voltage output across the group of solar cell substrings 110 to achieve the maximum power point voltage.

[0056] For example, the system 100 may, during a first power cycle: generate a first demodulated power signal based on a product of a first oscillating power signal from the first power source 120 and a first modulation signal; and extract a first DC component from the first demodulated power signal. In this example, due to environmental conditions (e.g., weather), the first solar cell substring 112 may output a voltage output that is less than the maximum power point voltage. Therefore, the system 100 may then: in response to detecting a positive value of the first DC component in the first demodulated power signal, interpret that the first input voltage is less than the maximum power point voltage; and in response to interpreting that the first input voltage is less than the maximum power point voltage, trigger the first adder 128 to apply a positive voltage gain step at the gain control of the first power source 120, thereby increasing the first input voltage toward the maximum power point voltage.

[0057] Then, the system 100 can (sequentially or synchronously with the first power cycle): generate a second demodulated power signal based on the product of the first oscillating power signal and the second modulation signal from the first power supply 120; and extract the second DC component from the second demodulated power signal. In this example, the system 100 can then: in response to detecting a negative value of the first DC component in the second demodulated power signal, interpret that the first input voltage is above the maximum power point voltage; and in response to interpreting that the first input voltage is below the maximum power point voltage, trigger the second adder 148 to apply a negative voltage gain step at the gain control of the second power supply 140 to reduce the midpoint voltage.

[0058] Therefore, regardless of environmental conditions (e.g., weather) that hinder the group of solar cell substrings 110, the system 100 can modify the voltage output across multiple voltage points on the group of solar cell substrings 110 to achieve the maximum power point voltage output from the group of solar cell substrings 110.

[0059] 4.2 Achieving Maximum Power Point Voltage

[0060] In one embodiment, the system 100 may interpret the output voltage from the group of solar cell substrings 110 as deviating from the maximum power point voltage, and interpret the midpoint voltage between the first solar cell substring 112 and the second solar cell substring 114 as matching the maximum power point voltage. Therefore, the system 100 may perform the power cycle as described above to modify the voltage output from the first solar cell substring 112 so as to achieve the maximum power point voltage.

[0061] For example, the system 100 may, during a first power cycle: generate a first demodulated power signal based on a product of a first oscillating power signal from the first power source 120 and a first modulation signal; and extract a first DC component from the first demodulated power signal. In this example, the system 100 may then: in response to detecting a negative value of the first DC component in the first demodulated power signal, interpret that the first input voltage is above the maximum power point voltage; and in response to interpreting that the first input voltage is below the maximum power point voltage, trigger the first adder 128 to apply a negative voltage gain step at a gain control of the first power source 120 to reduce the first input voltage toward the maximum power point voltage.

[0062] Then, the system 100 can (sequentially or synchronously with the first power cycle): generate a second demodulated power signal based on the product of the first oscillating power signal from the first power source 120 and the second modulation signal; and in response to detecting the absence of the second DC component in the second demodulated power signal, interpret that the first input voltage matches the maximum power point voltage. Therefore, in response to the first input voltage matching the maximum power point voltage, the system 100 can trigger the second adder 148 to apply a zero voltage gain step at the second gain control of the second power source 140.

[0063] Therefore, when the maximum power point voltage is achieved at the output voltage from the group of solar cell substrings 110, the system 100 can: maintain the maximum power point voltage at the first power regulator 119 and the second power regulator 139; and, in response to detecting a change away from the maximum power point voltage, initiate power cycling as described above to balance the voltage output across the group of solar cell substrings 110.

[0064] 5. Three-stage power regulator

[0065] In one embodiment, the system 100 includes a third power regulator 149, which is: connected to the group of solar cell substrings 110; and configured to regulate the voltage output across three voltage points in the group of solar cell substrings 110. In this embodiment, the first group of solar cell substrings includes a first solar cell substring 112, a second solar cell substring 114, and a third solar cell substring 116 arranged in series with each other. The third power regulator 149 defines: an output terminal coupled to the second midpoint voltage between the second solar cell substring 114 and the third solar cell substring 116; and an input terminal coupled to the voltage output terminal of the first solar cell substring 112.

[0066] The third power regulator 149 includes: a third power source 150; a third modulation signal generator 152; a third demodulator 154; and a third integrator 156. The third power source 150 is configured to receive the first input voltage generated by the group of solar cell substrings 110. The third modulation signal generator 152: coupled to the third gain control of the third power source 150; generates a third modulation signal having a third phase and a third frequency, which are different from the second phase and the second frequency of the second modulation signal; and is configured to induce a third oscillating power signal output from the third power source 150. The third demodulator 154: coupled to the third modulation signal generator 152 and the first power source 120; and is configured to generate a third demodulated power signal based on the first oscillating power signal and the third modulation signal. The third integrator 156: coupled to the third gain control of the third power source 150 and the third demodulator 154; and defines a third voltage gain step of the second voltage midpoint based on the third demodulated power signal. Additionally or alternatively, the system 100 may include a third adder 158 that is: coupled to the third modulation signal generator 152 and the third integrator 156 ; and configured to modify a third gain control of the third power supply 150 .

[0067] Thus, as described above, the system 100 may perform power cycling (sequentially or synchronously) across the first power regulator 119 , the second power regulator 139 , and the third power regulator 149 to achieve a maximum power point voltage output from the group of solar cell substrings 110 .

[0068] 6. Multi-stage power regulator

[0069] In one embodiment, the system 100 may include: a group of solar cell substrings 110 defining predefined (e.g., more than 2) subsets of solar cell substrings 110; and a group of power regulators configured to adjust voltage gains at a group of voltage points for each subset of solar cell substrings 110 in the group of solar cell substrings 110. During operation, the system 100 may use the above structures and techniques to modify gain controls of a group of power supplies corresponding to each of the group of voltage points to achieve a maximum power point voltage (and therefore maximum power output) for the group of solar cell substrings 110.

[0070] 7. Example: Rooftop Solar Panels

[0071] Typically, a group of solar cell substrings 110 may exhibit non-uniform power output over time due to variations in solar illumination, shading, and local reflectivity (hereinafter referred to as "illumination"). The illumination profile of a group of solar cell substrings may also vary significantly in different geographic locations and at different solar cell substring installation orientations. For example, a group of solar cell substrings may be installed on a flat roof, across multiple non-parallel faces of a sloping roof, on top of a passenger vehicle, or in an open field. Thus, the group of solar cell substrings 110 may be exposed to significantly different illumination profiles over time, and the solar cell substrings in the group of solar cell substrings 110 may be subject to different illumination and shading, and may therefore output significantly different power amplitudes at any given time. In another example, the system 100 includes a solar cell panel 170, which: is arranged on a roof; includes the group of solar cell substrings 110; and defines a front side and a back side. In this example, the system 100 also includes a housing, which: is arranged on the back side of the solar cell panel 170; and includes a first power conditioner 119 and a controller 160 arranged in a cavity of the housing.

[0072] Thus, the system 100 may include a power conditioner configured to regulate the output of the group of solar cell substrings (the output of the group of solar cell substrings may be nearly identical (e.g., all 300 Watts) during certain daily time windings (e.g., noon) and very different (e.g., between 50 Watts and 500 Watts) during other times of the day (e.g., early afternoon)) and to combine the outputs of the solar cell substrings into a common higher voltage, higher current output.

[0073] For example, for a solar cell installation including multiple groups of solar cell substrings arranged on different faces of a sloping roof, from sunrise to mid-morning (e.g., 5 a.m. to 10 a.m.), the solar cell substrings facing east in the solar cell installation may receive the main illumination, the solar cell substrings facing south in the solar cell installation may receive some illumination, and the solar cell substrings facing west in the solar cell installation may receive the minimum illumination (e.g., illumination from reflection). Therefore, in this example, if the groups of solar cell substrings are not connected and operate independently, then: the solar cell substrings facing east may generate a peak power of 200 watts at an average operating voltage of 1.12 volts during the morning time period; the solar cell substrings facing south may generate an average power of 50 watts and a peak power of 200 watts at an average operating voltage of 1.09 volts during the morning time period; and the solar cell substrings facing west may generate an average power of 5 watts and a peak power of 20 watts at an average operating voltage of 1.0 volts during the morning time period.

[0074] In the foregoing example, from mid-afternoon to mid-afternoon (e.g., 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.), the east-facing solar cell substring may receive some illumination (e.g., both from reflected illumination and direct illumination), the south-facing solar cell substring may receive primary illumination, and the west-facing solar cell substring may receive some illumination. Thus, if these groups of solar cell substrings are not connected and operate independently, the east-facing solar cell substring may generate an average of 150 watts and a peak of 300 watts of power at an average operating voltage of 1.15 volts during the midday period; the south-facing solar cell substring may generate an average of 300 watts and a peak of 350 watts of power at an average operating voltage of 1.2 volts during the midday period; and the west-facing solar cell substring may generate an average of 150 watts and a peak of 300 watts of power at an average operating voltage of 1.15 volts during the midday period.

[0075] Furthermore, in this example, from about 3 p.m. to dusk (e.g., 3 p.m. to 8 p.m.), the east-facing solar cell substring may receive minimal illumination (e.g., illumination from reflections), the south-facing solar cell substring may receive some illumination, and the west-facing solar cell substring may receive predominant illumination. Thus, in this example: the east-facing solar cell substring may generate an average of 5 watts and a peak of 20 watts of power at an average operating voltage of 1.0 volts during the evening time period; the south-facing solar cell substring may generate an average of 50 watts and a peak of 200 watts of power at an average operating voltage of 1.09 volts during the evening time period; and the west-facing solar cell substring may generate a peak of 200 watts of power at an average operating voltage of 1.12 volts during the evening time period.

[0076] Thus, the effective operating voltage and power output of the east-facing solar cell substring, the south-facing solar cell substring, and the west-facing solar cell substring may vary significantly over time during a day, and may differ significantly between solar cell substrings (e.g., as much as 200 watts and 0.2 volts between two solar cell substrings at any single moment). Furthermore, under uneven illumination, the difference in output power and current from these solar cell substrings may significantly reduce the total power output of the group of solar cell substrings 110 arranged in series. Thus, the system 100 may include: a group of power conditioners coupled to multiple groups of solar cell substrings arranged on a roof; and perform power cycling as described above to achieve uniform voltage output from the multiple groups of solar cell substrings.

[0077] The systems and methods described herein may be at least partially embodied and / or implemented as a machine configured to receive a computer-readable medium storing computer-readable instructions. Instructions may be executed by a computer-executable component integrated with an application, a small application, a host, a server, a network, a website, a communication service, a communication interface, a user computer or a mobile device's hardware / firmware / software elements, a wristwatch, a smart phone, or any suitable combination thereof. Other systems and methods of embodiments may be at least partially embodied and / or implemented as a machine configured to receive a computer-readable medium storing computer-readable instructions. Instructions may be executed by a computer-executable component integrated with a computer-executable component integrated with the above-mentioned types of devices and networks. The computer-readable medium may be stored on any suitable computer-readable medium, such as a RAM, ROM, flash memory, EEPROM, an optical device (CD or DVD), a hard drive, a floppy disk drive, or any suitable device. The computer-executable component may be a processor, but any suitable dedicated hardware device may (optionally or additionally) execute instructions.

[0078] As those skilled in the art will recognize from the previous detailed description and from the accompanying drawings and claims, modifications and variations may be made to the embodiments of the invention without departing from the scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

Claims

1. A system for regulating power output of a plurality of solar cell substrings, comprising: A first set of solar cell substrings; A first power regulator, the first power regulator comprising: a first power source coupled to the first group of solar cell substrings and configured to receive a first input voltage generated by the first group of solar cell substrings; a first summer coupled to a gain control of the first power supply and configured to modify a voltage gain of the first input voltage; a first modulation signal generator coupled to the first adder and configured to modulate a voltage gain of the first input voltage; a first demodulator coupled to the first modulation signal generator and the first power supply, the first demodulator being configured to demodulate a voltage signal output from the first power supply; and First integrator: The first integrator is coupled to the first demodulator and the first adder; and The first integrator is configured to define a voltage gain step size of the first input voltage; and A controller configured to: triggering the first modulation signal generator to modulate the voltage gain of the first input voltage by a first modulation signal having a first phase and a first frequency, thereby inducing a first oscillating power signal to be output from the first power supply; generating a first demodulated signal at the first demodulator based on the first oscillating power signal and the first modulation signal; interpreting a first voltage power point condition of the first input voltage based on the first demodulated signal; and Based on the first power point condition and in response to the first input voltage deviating from a maximum power point voltage of the first group of solar cell substrings, a voltage gain of the first power source is modified by a first voltage gain step size.

2. The system according to claim 1, wherein: The controller is configured to, during the first power cycle: generating a first demodulated power signal based on a product of the first oscillating power signal from the first power supply and the first modulation signal; extracting a DC component from the first demodulated power signal; responsive to detecting a positive value of the first DC component of the first demodulated power signal, interpreting the first input voltage as being less than the maximum power point voltage; applying the first integrator to the DC component to define a positive voltage gain step of the first input voltage; as well as The first summer is triggered to apply the positive voltage gain step at the gain control of the first power supply to increase the first input voltage toward the maximum power point voltage.

3. The system according to claim 2: in, The first modulation signal generator outputs a first modulation signal defining a first sine wave and is configured to induce output of a first sinusoidal power signal at the first phase and the first frequency from the first power source; and The controller is configured to generate the first demodulated power signal based on a product of the first sinusoidal power signal from the first power supply and the sinusoidal wave, wherein the first demodulated power signal includes the DC component and the AC component.

4. The system according to claim 1, wherein: The controller is configured to, during the first power cycle: generating a first demodulated power signal based on a product of the first oscillating power signal from the first power supply and the first modulation signal; extracting a DC component from the first demodulated power signal; responsive to detecting a negative value of the first DC component of the first demodulated power signal, interpreting the first input voltage as being above the maximum power point voltage; applying the first integrator to the DC component to define a negative voltage gain step size for the first input voltage; as well as The first summer is triggered to apply the negative voltage gain step at the gain control of the first power supply to reduce the first input voltage toward the maximum power point voltage.

5. The system according to claim 1, wherein: The controller is configured to, during the first power cycle: generating a first demodulated power signal based on a product of the first oscillating power signal from the first power supply and the first modulation signal; In response to detecting that a DC component is absent from the first demodulated power signal, interpreting that the first input voltage matches the maximum power point voltage; as well as In response to the first input voltage matching the maximum power point voltage, the first summer is triggered to apply a zero voltage gain step at the gain control of the first power supply.

6. The system according to claim 1: in, The first group of solar cell substrings includes a first solar cell substring and a second solar cell substring arranged in series; Wherein, the first power regulator is coupled to the voltage output terminal of the first solar cell substring; and Also included is a second power regulator: The second power regulator defines: an output terminal coupled to a midpoint voltage between the first solar cell substring and the second solar cell substring; and an input terminal coupled to a voltage output terminal of the first solar cell substring; and The second power regulator comprises: a second power source configured to receive the first input voltage generated by the group of solar cell substrings; Second modulation signal generator: the second modulation signal generator being coupled to a second gain control of the second power supply; the second modulation signal generator generates a second modulation signal having a second phase and a second frequency, the second phase and the second frequency being different from the first phase and the first frequency of the first modulation signal; and The second modulation signal generator is configured to induce a second oscillating power signal to be output from the second power supply; Second demodulator: The second demodulator is coupled to the second modulation signal generator and the first power supply; and The second demodulator is configured to generate a second demodulated power signal based on the first oscillating power signal and the first modulation signal; and Second integrator: the second integrator is coupled to the second gain control of the second power supply and the second demodulator; and The second integrator defines a second voltage gain step size of the voltage midpoint based on the second demodulated power signal.

7. The system according to claim 6, wherein: The controller is configured to: During the first power cycle: generating a first demodulated power signal based on a product of the first oscillating power signal from the first power supply and the first modulation signal; extracting a first DC component from the first demodulated power signal; responsive to detecting a positive value of the first DC component in the first demodulated power signal, interpreting the first input voltage as being less than the maximum power point voltage; as well as in response to interpreting that the first input voltage is below the maximum power point voltage, triggering the first adder to apply a positive voltage gain step at the gain control of the first power supply to increase the first input voltage toward the maximum power point voltage; as well as After said first power cycle, during a second power cycle: generating a second demodulated power signal based on a product of the first oscillating power signal from the first power supply and the second modulated signal; extracting a second DC component from the second demodulated power signal; responsive to detecting a negative value of the first DC component in the second demodulated power signal, interpreting the first input voltage as being above the maximum power point voltage; as well as In response to interpreting that the first input voltage is below the maximum power point voltage, the second summer is triggered to apply a negative voltage gain step at the gain control of the second power supply to reduce the midpoint voltage.

8. The system according to claim 6, wherein: The controller is configured to: During the first power cycle: generating a first demodulated power signal based on a product of the first oscillating power signal from the first power supply and the first modulation signal; extracting a first DC component from the first demodulated power signal; responsive to detecting a negative value of the first DC component in the first demodulated power signal, interpreting the first input voltage as being above the maximum power point voltage; as well as in response to interpreting that the first input voltage is below the maximum power point voltage, triggering the first adder to apply a negative voltage gain step at the gain control of the first power supply to reduce the first input voltage toward the maximum power point voltage; as well as After said first power cycle, during a second power cycle: generating a second demodulated power signal based on a product of the first oscillating power signal from the first power supply and the second modulated signal; In response to detecting that a second DC component is not present in the second demodulated power signal, interpreting that the first input voltage matches the maximum power point voltage; as well as In response to the first input voltage matching the maximum power point voltage, the second summer is triggered to apply a zero voltage gain step at the second gain control of the second power supply.

9. The system according to claim 6: in, The first modulation signal generator outputs a first modulation signal defining a first sine wave and is configured to induce output of a first sinusoidal power signal at the first phase and the first frequency from the first power source; and Wherein, the second modulation signal generator: outputting a second modulated signal, the second modulated signal defining a second sine wave having a second frequency offset by 20 Hz from the first frequency; as well as The method is configured to induce output of a second sinusoidal power signal from the second power source at the second phase and the second frequency.

10. The system of claim 1, further comprising a low pass filter: The low pass filter is coupled to the input of the first integrator and the output of the first demodulator; The low pass filter defines a low pass cut-off frequency greater than the first frequency of the first modulation signal; and The low-pass filter is configured to deliver a DC component of a first demodulated signal output from the first demodulator to the first integrator.

11. The system according to claim 1: Also includes solar panels: The solar panel includes the group of solar cell substrings; and The solar panel defines a front side and a back side; Also includes the housing: The housing is disposed on the back side of the solar cell panel; and The housing includes the first power regulator and the controller disposed within a cavity of the housing.

12. The system of claim 1, further comprising a bandpass filter: The bandpass filter is coupled to the output of the first power supply and the input of the first demodulator; The bandpass filter is defined as: a high-pass cutoff frequency, the high-pass cutoff frequency being greater than the first frequency of the first modulation signal; and a low-pass cutoff frequency, the low-pass cutoff frequency being less than the first frequency of the first modulation signal and configured to block a DC component of the first modulation signal; and The bandpass filter is configured to deliver an AC component of the first modulated signal to the first demodulator.

13. A system for regulating power output of a plurality of solar cell substrings, comprising: A first set of solar cell substrings; First Power Regulator: The first power regulator defines: An output terminal coupled to a load; as well as an input terminal coupled to the voltage output of the set of solar cell substrings; as well as The first power regulator comprises: a first power source including a first gain control and configured to receive the voltage output from the set of solar cell substrings; The first modulation signal generator: the first modulation signal generator being coupled to the first gain control of the first power supply; The first modulation signal generator generates a first modulation signal having a first phase and a first frequency; and The first modulation signal generator is configured to induce a first oscillating power signal to be output from the first power supply; First demodulator: The first demodulator is coupled to the first modulation signal generator and the first power supply; and The first demodulator is configured to demodulate a voltage signal output from the first power supply; and a first integrator coupled to the first demodulator and configured to define a voltage gain step size for a first input voltage; and A controller configured to: generating a first demodulated power signal based on the first oscillating power signal from the first power supply and the first modulation signal; In response to detecting a positive DC component in the first demodulated power signal, interpreting the voltage output as being below a maximum power point voltage; and In response to interpreting the voltage output as being below the maximum power point voltage, a first summer is triggered to apply a positive voltage gain step at the first gain control of the first power supply to increase the first input voltage toward the maximum power point voltage.

14. The system according to claim 13: in, The first modulation signal generator outputs a first modulation signal defining a first sine wave and is configured to induce output of a first sinusoidal power signal at the first phase and the first frequency from the first power source; and The controller is configured to generate the first demodulated power signal based on a product of the first sinusoidal power signal from the first power supply and the sinusoidal wave, wherein the first demodulated power signal includes the DC component and the AC component.

15. The system of claim 13, wherein: The controller is configured to, during a second power cycle after the first power cycle: triggering the first modulation signal generator to modulate the voltage gain of the first input voltage by the first modulation signal, thereby inducing a second oscillating power signal different from the first oscillating power signal at the first power supply; generating a second demodulated power signal based on the second oscillating power signal from the first power supply and the first modulation signal; responsive to detecting a negative DC component in the second demodulated power signal, interpreting the voltage output as being above a maximum power point voltage; as well as In response to interpreting the voltage output as being above the maximum power point voltage, the first summer is triggered to apply a negative voltage gain step at the first gain control of the first power supply to reduce the first input voltage toward the maximum power point voltage.

16. The system of claim 15, wherein: The controller is configured to, after the second power cycle, during a third power cycle: triggering the first modulation signal generator to modulate the voltage gain of the first input voltage by the first modulation signal to induce a third oscillating power signal different from the second oscillating power signal at the first power supply; In response to detecting the absence of a third DC component in the third demodulated power signal, interpreting that the voltage output matches the maximum power point voltage; as well as In response to the voltage output matching the maximum power point voltage, the first summer is triggered to apply a zero voltage gain step at the first gain control of the first power supply.

17. The system of claim 13, further comprising a bandpass filter: The bandpass filter is coupled to the output of the first power supply and the input of the first demodulator; The bandpass filter is defined as: a high-pass cutoff frequency, the high-pass cutoff frequency being greater than the first frequency of the first modulation signal; and a low-pass cutoff frequency, the low-pass cutoff frequency being less than the first frequency of the first modulation signal and being configured to block a DC component of the first modulation signal; and The bandpass filter is configured to deliver an AC component of the first modulated signal to the first demodulator.

18. The system of claim 13, further comprising a low pass filter: The low pass filter is coupled to the input of the first integrator and the output of the first demodulator; The low pass filter defines a low pass cut-off frequency greater than the first frequency of the first modulation signal; and The low-pass filter is configured to deliver a DC component of a first demodulated signal output from the first demodulator to the first integrator.

19. A system for regulating power output of a plurality of solar cell substrings, comprising: A first set of solar cell substrings; as well as First Power Regulator: The first power regulator defines: An output terminal coupled to a load; as well as an input terminal coupled to the voltage output of the set of solar cell substrings; as well as The first power regulator comprises: a first power source including a first gain control and configured to receive the voltage output from the set of solar cell substrings; The first modulation signal generator: the first modulation signal generator being coupled to the first gain control of the first power supply; The first modulation signal generator generates a first modulation signal having a first phase and a first frequency; and The first modulation signal generator is configured to induce a first oscillating power signal to be output from the first power supply; First demodulator: The first demodulator is coupled to the first modulation signal generator and the first power supply; and The first demodulator is configured to generate a first demodulated power signal based on the first oscillating power signal and the first modulation signal; and First integrator: The first integrator is coupled to the first gain control of the first power supply and the first demodulator; and The first integrator defines a first voltage gain step of a voltage output to the load based on the first demodulated power signal.

20. The system of claim 19, further comprising: First bandpass filter: The first bandpass filter is coupled to an output of the first power supply and an input of the first demodulator; The first bandpass filter is defined as: a first high-pass cutoff frequency, wherein the first high-pass cutoff frequency is greater than the first frequency of the first modulation signal; as well as a first low-pass cutoff frequency, the first low-pass cutoff frequency being less than the first frequency of the first modulation signal and configured to block a DC component of the first modulation signal; as well as the first bandpass filter being configured to deliver an AC component of the first modulated signal to the first demodulator; as well as Low pass filter: The low pass filter is coupled to the input of the first integrator and the output of the first demodulator; The low pass filter defines a second low pass cutoff frequency greater than the first frequency of the first modulation signal; as well as The low-pass filter is configured to deliver a DC component of the first demodulated signal output from the first demodulator to the first integrator.

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