System, method and apparatus for generating layout of devices in solar installations

Abstract

For an array of installed energy harvesting devices, a method of gathering information about individual devices in the array and generating a layout or map of the installed devices based on the gathered information is provided. A communications gateway or a base station gathers the information and determines the positions of individual micro-inverters. The gathered information is used to generate a topological or geometrical map of the installed devices.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A communications gateway for a plurality of energy harvesting devices, the communications gateway comprising:
 a transceiver;   an antenna; and   a processor configured to (1) wirelessly receive information through the transceiver and the antenna from each of the plurality of energy harvesting devices relating to a position of each of the plurality of energy-harvesting devices in a two dimensional array, and (2) generate an installation layout for the plurality of energy-harvesting devices based on the received information.   
     
     
         2 . The communications gateway of  claim 1  wherein each of the plurality of energy harvesting devices includes a micro-inverter configured to convert DC energy from one or more photovoltaic panels into AC energy. 
     
     
         3 . The communications gateway of  claim 1  wherein the wirelessly received information includes a time stamp for each of the plurality of energy harvesting devices indicating a sequence of installation for that energy harvesting device. 
     
     
         4 . The communications gateway of  claim 1  wherein the wirelessly received information includes a signal strength measurement from a common reference node for each of the plurality of energy harvesting devices, and wherein a measured change in signal strength between two sequential energy harvesting devices is used to indicate a change in rows in the installation layout. 
     
     
         5 . The communications gateway of  claim 1  wherein the wirelessly received information includes global positioning system coordinates of each of the plurality of energy-harvesting devices. 
     
     
         6 . The communications gateway of  claim 1  wherein the wirelessly received information includes a serial number for each of the plurality of energy harvesting devices. 
     
     
         7 . The communications gateway of  claim 1  wherein the wirelessly received information includes a first global positioning system (GPS) location from a first anchor node and a second GPS location from a second anchor node. 
     
     
         8 . The communications gateway of  claim 1  wherein the processor is configured to generate a map of the plurality of energy-harvesting devices that identifies locations of each of the plurality of energy-harvesting devices in the two dimensional array. 
     
     
         9 . The communications gateway of  claim 1  further comprising an internet connection and wherein the processor is configured to transmit the wirelessly received information to a server through the internet connection. 
     
     
         10 . A system for collecting information from a plurality of energy harvesting devices, the system comprising:
 a wireless communication system; and   a processor configured to (1) wirelessly receive information through the wireless communication system from each of the plurality of energy harvesting devices, and (2) determine locations for each of the plurality of energy harvesting devices in a two dimensional array based on the wirelessly received information.   
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 10  wherein each of the plurality of energy harvesting devices includes a micro-inverter configured to convert DC energy from one or more photovoltaic panels into AC energy. 
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 10  wherein the wirelessly received information includes a time stamp for each of the plurality of energy harvesting devices indicating a sequence of installation for that energy harvesting device. 
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 10  wherein the wirelessly received information includes a signal strength measurement from a common reference node for each of the plurality of energy harvesting devices, and wherein a measured change in signal strength between two sequential energy harvesting devices is used to indicate a change in rows in the two dimensional array. 
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 10  wherein the wirelessly received information includes global positioning system coordinates of each of the plurality of energy-harvesting devices. 
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 10  wherein the wirelessly received information includes a serial number for each of the plurality of energy harvesting devices. 
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 10  wherein the wirelessly received information includes a first global positioning system (GPS) location from a first anchor node and a second GPS location from a second anchor node. 
     
     
         17 . The system of  claim 10  wherein the processor is configured to generate a map of the plurality of energy-harvesting devices that identifies locations of each of the plurality of energy-harvesting devices in the two dimensional array. 
     
     
         18 . The system of  claim 10  further comprising an internet connection and wherein the processor is configured to transmit the wirelessly received information to a server through the internet connection. 
     
     
         19 . An energy harvesting system comprising:
 a plurality of micro-inverters arranged in a two dimensional array, each micro-inverter including a DC to AC converter and a wireless communication system configured to transmit information that can be used to determine a position of that micro-inverter in the two dimensional array; and   a communications gateway including a processor and a wireless communication system configured to wirelessly receive the transmitted information from each of the plurality of energy harvesting devices.   
     
     
         20 . The energy harvesting system of  claim 19  wherein the communications gateway is configured to use the wirelessly received information to generate an installation layout for the plurality of energy-harvesting devices.