{
  "patent_number": "US 12738888",
  "country": "US",
  "title": "How Solar Panel Safety Switches Automatically Disconnect Power",
  "original_title": "Safety switch for photovoltaic systems",
  "summary": "This patent describes a safety switch for solar panel systems that automatically disconnects or short-circuits parts of the electrical system when it detects unsafe conditions, and then reconnects them when it's safe.",
  "what_it_does": "This patent describes methods and devices for automatically disconnecting elements within a photovoltaic electrical system. The system works by either measuring operational parameters, such as voltage or current, at various points, or by receiving messages from other control devices that signal a potentially unsafe condition. In response to detecting an unsafe condition, the device then disconnects and/or short-circuits the affected system elements to prevent hazards. Once the system determines it is safe again, it can reconnect these elements. A key aspect also involves providing continuous operational power to the safety switches themselves, ensuring they can function reliably across different system states.",
  "what_it_does_not_cover": [
    "Does not cover safety mechanisms for non-photovoltaic electrical systems, focusing specifically on solar applications.",
    "Does not cover manual safety switches that require human intervention to disconnect power.",
    "Does not cover systems that only provide warnings or alerts without automatically disconnecting or short-circuiting components.",
    "Does not cover safety switches that mechanically isolate components without also performing electrical disconnection or short-circuiting."
  ],
  "filed": "2023-03-16",
  "granted": "2026-09-15",
  "expires": null,
  "status": "active",
  "holder": null,
  "holder_url": null,
  "inventors": [],
  "times_cited": 0,
  "tags": [
    "energy",
    "consumer_electronics",
    "software",
    "semiconductors"
  ],
  "abstract": "Various implementations described herein are directed to a methods and apparatuses for disconnecting, by a device, elements at certain parts of an electrical system. The method may include measuring operational parameters at certain locations within the system and/or receiving messages from control devices indicating a potentially unsafe condition, disconnecting and/or short-circuiting system elements in response, and reconnection the system elements when it is safe to do so. Certain embodiments relate to methods and apparatuses for providing operational power to safety switches during different modes of system operation.",
  "url": "https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/12738888/safety-switch-for-photovoltaic-systems",
  "markdown_url": "https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/12738888/safety-switch-for-photovoltaic-systems/md",
  "google_patents_url": "https://patents.google.com/patent/US12738888",
  "relatedPatents": [
    {
      "patentNumber": "9219171",
      "countryCode": "US",
      "title": "Solar Cells with Built-in Bypass Switches",
      "url": "https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/9219171/systems-and-methods-for-monolithically-integrated-bypass-switches-in-photovoltai"
    },
    {
      "patentNumber": "9293619",
      "countryCode": "US",
      "title": "Solar Cells with Built-in Smart Electronics on the Back",
      "url": "https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/9293619/smart-photovoltaic-cells-and-modules"
    },
    {
      "patentNumber": "12288901",
      "countryCode": "US",
      "title": "How a Battery Automatically Disconnects Itself During Overheating",
      "url": "https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/12288901/draco-thrusters"
    },
    {
      "patentNumber": "12387890",
      "countryCode": "US",
      "title": "How Medium Voltage Power Switches Safely Direct Electricity",
      "url": "https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/12387890/raptor-reliability"
    },
    {
      "patentNumber": "12738887",
      "countryCode": "US",
      "title": "Portable Solar Panel That Folds and Attaches to Gear",
      "url": "https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/12738887/foldable-solar-panel"
    }
  ]
}