Communications: electrical – Condition responsive indicating system – Specific condition
Reexamination Certificate
2001-10-29
2003-07-01
Wu, Daniel J. (Department: 2632)
Communications: electrical
Condition responsive indicating system
Specific condition
C340S636210, C340S687000, C340S693100, C340S693300, C340S693400, C307S064000, C307S066000, C307S117000, C363S056030, C323S299000, C323S906000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06587051
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a power converting apparatus and burglarproof method therefor and, more particularly, to a power converting apparatus for a power generation apparatus installed outdoors and a burglarproof method therefor.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
As the practical use of home solar power generation systems is making quick progress, many solar power generation systems are currently in operation.
FIG. 1
is a block diagram showing the arrangement of such a solar power generation system.
DC power output from a solar battery
1
is input, through a blocking diode
4
, to a system interconnection (to be referred to as “interconnection” hereinafter) power converting apparatus (to be referred to as an “inverter” hereinafter)
2
for supplying AC power to a commercial electric power system (to be referred to as a “system” hereinafter). The inverter
2
converts DC power to AC power and supplies it to a system
3
through a breaker S.
The inverter
2
has a primary-side capacitor
21
such as an electrolyte capacitor, a switching circuit
22
, interconnection reactors
23
, and a control section
24
. The control section
24
has a function of controlling the entire inverter
2
. The control section
24
generates a gate pulse signal to be supplied to the switching circuit
22
on the basis of signals obtained from a DC voltage detector
25
, DC current detector
26
, AC voltage detector
27
, and AC current detector
28
, thereby realizing DC/AC converting operation. In many cases, the control section
24
has a protective function of detecting an abnormality in system voltage on the basis of the detection signals and stopping the power converting operation of the inverter
2
.
As the application range of solar power generation systems widens, a number of relatively compact and lightweight inverters must be installed outdoors. However, an inverter has no burglarproof means at all and therefore may be stolen. A solar power generation plant using a lot of inverters is probably operated assuming that the investment should be recovered by operating a solar power generation apparatus for a long time. If such a solar power generation plant suffers a burglary, not only the apparatus (asset) but also generated power is lost, and the investment recovery period considerably prolongs.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention has been made to solve the above problems individually or altogether, and has as its object to prevent any burglary of a power converting apparatus.
In order to achieve the above object, according to a preferred aspect of the present invention, a power converting apparatus having a burglarproof function, comprising: a switch, arranged to switch an alarm state; a sensor, arranged to detect a connection state of a power supply and/or a load; and an alarm, arranged to give an alarm when the power supply and/or the load is disconnected in the alarm state is disclosed.
In addition, a burglarproof method for a power converting apparatus, comprising the steps of: setting an alarm state; detecting a connection state of a power supply and/or a load; and giving an alarm when the power supply and/or the load is disconnected in the alarm state is disclosed.
Other features and advantages of the present invention will be apparent from the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which like reference characters designate the same or similar parts throughout the figures thereof.
REFERENCES:
patent: 5892354 (1999-04-01), Nagao et al.
patent: 6084785 (2000-07-01), Kunisada et al.
patent: 6093885 (2000-07-01), Takehara et al.
patent: 6191501 (2001-02-01), Bos
patent: 6252785 (2001-06-01), Hagihara et al.
patent: 6320769 (2001-11-01), Kurokami et al.
Manabe Naoki
Takehara Nobuyoshi
Goins Davetta W.
Wu Daniel J.
LandOfFree
Power converting apparatus and burglarproof method therefor does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with Power converting apparatus and burglarproof method therefor, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Power converting apparatus and burglarproof method therefor will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-3090087