PV Inverter USB Update Network for Automatic Software Rollout
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional photovoltaic systems face difficulties in simplifying the software update process for inverters, particularly when there is no power supply, requiring cumbersome manual methods or additional interfaces, which increases effort and risk of errors.
Innovation Solution
Incorporating a USB interface in the inverter to connect a USB mass storage device, allowing automatic software updates and configuration block updates, where the connected device assumes a master role in the network to distribute updates to all inverters, reducing manual intervention and ensuring compatibility and security.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a specialized update device with separate interfaces is used for software updates, then software updates can be performed, but device complexity and handling difficulty increase
Solution Approach 1:
The USB interface is designed to serve multiple functions: it acts as both the configuration interface for setting update parameters and the data transfer interface for loading software updates. This eliminates the need for separate specialized interfaces, reducing device complexity while maintaining reliable software update capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent combines the configuration interface and data transfer interface into a single USB interface. The control device integrates both configuration parameter reception and software update data reception through this unified interface, simplifying the overall system architecture and improving ease of operation.
2Reliability
If manual software update methods are used without power supply, then software can be updated, but time consumption and operational effort increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The control device automatically detects the presence of a USB storage device, retrieves configuration parameters, loads the software update, and executes the update process without requiring continuous manual intervention. The system performs self-service operations including automatic update parameter determination, software loading, and update execution, significantly reducing time consumption.
Solution Approach 2:
Configuration parameters are pre-stored on the USB storage device before the update process begins. The control device reads these pre-prepared parameters and uses them to guide the automated update process, eliminating the need for manual configuration during the update operation and reducing overall update time.
3Ease of operation
If standardized USB interfaces are used for software updates, then ease of operation improves, but additional interfaces may be required increasing device complexity
Solution Approach 1:
The USB interface is designed as a multi-functional interface that handles both configuration parameter transmission and software update data transfer. This standardized interface serves dual purposes, improving ease of operation through standardization while avoiding the need for additional specialized interfaces that would increase device complexity.
Data Source
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AI summary
The invention relates to a photovoltaic plant having a plurality of inverters (1) connected to each other by way of a network (12), wherein the inverters (1) comprise a control apparatus (7) having at least one microprocessor (8) and at least one storage, an interface for communicating with the remaining inverters (1), a DC/AC module (3) for converting a direct current supplied from an external energy source into an alternating current, and an input/output unit (9), and to such an inverter (1) and a USB mass storage device (11), as well as to a method for carrying out software updates. According to the invention, a USB interface (10) is arranged on at least one inverter (1) for connecting a USB mass storage device (11), in particular a USB stick, so as to carry out automatic updates in a software running in the microprocessor (8) and/or configuration block updates and/or so as to record logging data of the inverters.