Solar System Commissioning via Label Imaging

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Solution Overview

Problem

The commissioning of solar power systems, particularly those using microinverter platforms, is time-consuming and error-prone due to electrical noise and low data transmission speed, especially with the migration to less reliable power line communication (PLC) methods, which can lead to incorrect equipment association and increased complexity with larger systems.

Innovation Solution

A mobile device-based system that uses imaging to discover and map electronic components, such as microinverters, by scanning labels associated with each component, allowing for bulk scanning and rapid identification of equipment, reducing errors and commissioning time through explicit association rather than blind broadcast discovery.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If power line communication (PLC) is used for data transmission in solar power systems, then existing power cables can be utilized for communication, but electrical noise and low data transmission speed occur leading to commissioning errors

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveuse of existing power cables for communicationVSAvoidcommissioning accuracy

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces visual labels with unique identifiers as an intermediary medium between the installer and the electronic components. Instead of directly communicating through noisy power lines during commissioning, the system uses visual labels that can be scanned to explicitly identify components, thereby mediating the commissioning process and avoiding PLC-related errors

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent replaces the electrical/communication-based discovery mechanism (PLC over power lines) with a visual/optical-based mechanism (scanning visual labels with camera). This substitution eliminates the harmful electrical noise interference by using a completely different physical domain (optical imaging) for component identification

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

2Ease of operation

If blind broadcast discovery is used to identify electronic components, then automatic component detection is achieved, but incorrect equipment association occurs due to electrical noise

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveautomatic component detectionVSAvoidcomponent identification accuracy

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

Visual labels serve as an intermediary that carries explicit identification information. Instead of relying on noisy broadcast communications to automatically detect and identify components, the labels provide a reliable visual medium that can be scanned to precisely identify each component's location and type

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent uses visual labels that contain copied representation of component identification information. The label is a visual copy or representation of the component's identity that can be captured by imaging and processed to accurately identify the component, replacing the unreliable electrical broadcast discovery

Inventive Principle:

Principle #26Copying

3Quantity of substance

If microinverter platforms are deployed in larger solar systems, then system capacity is increased, but commissioning complexity and error rate increase due to PLC limitations

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesystem capacityVSAvoidcommissioning complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Quantity of substanceVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the commissioning process into discrete steps: placing visual labels on or near each electronic component, capturing an image of the installation area, automatically detecting and reading the labels, and associating components based on label information. This segmentation makes the commissioning of large-scale systems manageable and less error-prone

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent replaces the complex electrical broadcast discovery process with a simpler visual labeling and scanning approach. By using visual labels that can be independently scanned and processed, the system reduces commissioning complexity even as system capacity increases, making scaling easier rather than harder

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Data Source

PatentUS11515837B2Solar power system commissioning

Publication Date: 2022.11.29 UNIRAC INC

AI summary

Commissioning a solar power monitoring system includes imaging a plurality of labels, wherein each label of the plurality of labels is associated with an electronic component. Further, commissioning the solar power monitoring system includes discovering each electronic component at the same time based on the imaging of the plurality of labels, displaying a list of the discovered electronic components, and commissioning a solar power monitoring system including the discovered electronic components for use.