Global solar spectrum devices and methods

A device comprising:

• a plurality of first photodetectors, each first photodetector receiving a predetermined wavelength range of the ambient optical environment via an optical path comprising a diffuser element, a bandpass filter, and an optical collimator to limit the angle of incident ambient light to within a predetermined range;
• a plurality of second photodetectors arranged radially around a post projecting above the upper surface of the plurality of second photodetectors;
• and
• an electronic circuit comprising a first portion for digitizing a photocurrent for each first photodetector of the plurality of first photodetectors, a second portion for digitizing a photocurrent for each second photodetector of the plurality of second photodetectors, and a third portion for at least one of generating a reconstructed solar spectrum in dependence upon at least the digitized photocurrents of the plurality of first photodetectors, the digitized photocurrents of the plurality of second photodetectors, and a model of the solar spectrum with no atmosphere.

A device comprising:

• a plurality of wavelength filtered photodetectors each receiving light from the ambient environment within a predetermined wavelength range and within a predetermined angle of incidence to the normal of the photodetector;
• a plurality of second photodetectors each receiving light from the ambient environment;
• a shadow pole disposed with respect to the plurality of second photodetectors;
• and
• an optical element disposed on a front face of the device comprising:
• a first uniform transparent region disposed in front of the plurality of second photodetectors and a second diffuser region comprising a plurality of features, each feature designed in dependence upon a predetermined wavelength associated with a wavelength filtered photodetector and the material from which the optical element is formed;
• a transparent dome that sits above the front surface of the device and protects the diffuser, shadow pole and second plurality of photodiodes from the elements.