Digitally-controlled photovoltaic power converters, advanced energy harvesting technologies and developments in power supply in package/power supply on chip (PSiP/ PwrSoC) devices were all reviewed on Tuesday at Darnell’s Power Forum. Presenters included Dave Freeman from Texas Instruments, Lonnie Johnson from Johnson Research and Development, Harry Ostaffe from Powercast and Arnold Alderman from Anagenesis Inc..
Freeman presented multiple opportunities for applying digital power technologies in photovoltaic inverters including, inverters, distributed dc-dc converters, battery management and (wireless and powerline) communications/control. He reviewed seven different maximum power point tracking (MPPT) algorithms and the applicability of digital power.