Drive with integrated inclination sensor
AssigneeSunPower Corporation
InventorsRyan Linderman, Nicholas Barton
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A drive can include a positional sensor within an outer housing of the drive so as to provide an output indicative of a position of the drive. The positional sensor can be an inclinometer. The inclinometer can be used for feedback control of an inclination of the drive. The drive can further include control electronics within the same housing, so as to provide feedback control of a motor of the drive. The control electronics can include an input for receiving a requested inclination and can be configured to drive the motor until the inclinometer outputs a signal indicative of the requested angle.
Claims19
An apparatus for a solar energy collection system, the apparatus comprising:
- an inclination sensor configured to detect an inclination of at least one solar energy collection device and output a signal indicative of inclination detected by the inclination sensor;
- and
- only one processor, the processor being in electrical communication with both the inclination sensor and a motor and configured to control the motor to cause the at least one solar energy collection device to pivot about a pivot axis to provide a desired inclination of the at least one solar energy collection device based on the signal output by the inclination sensor, wherein
- the inclination sensor and the processor are provided on a single circuit board and enclosed in a cylindrical housing that is attached to and co-axial with the motor, and the housing and motor are configured to be attached to a frame configured to pivot relative to the Earth about the pivot axis and support at least one solar energy collection device.
An apparatus for a solar energy collection system, the apparatus comprising:
- a motor;
- a cylindrical housing configured to be attached to and be co-axial with the motor, the motor and the cylindrical housing being attached to a structure that pivots relative to the Earth about a pivot axis, the cylindrical housing comprising
- an inclination sensor disposed inside the housing such that the inclination sensor pivots with the cylindrical housing about the pivot axis, the inclination sensor configured to detect an inclination of at least one solar energy collection device and output a signal indicative of inclination detected by the inclination sensor;
- and
- only one processor, the processor being in electrical communication with both the inclination sensor and the motor and configured to control the motor to cause the at least one solar energy collection device to pivot about the pivot axis to provide a desired inclination of the at least one solar energy collection device based on the signal output by the inclination sensor,
- wherein the processor and the inclination sensor are disposed on a same first circuit board.
A solar energy collection system comprising:
- a frame;
- at least one solar energy collection device supported by the frame;
- a motor;
- a cylindrical housing configured to be attached to and be co-axial with the motor, the motor being configured to be attached to the frame and to pivot with the frame about a pivot axis, the cylindrical housing comprising
- an inclination sensor disposed inside the housing such that the inclination sensor pivots with the cylindrical housing about the pivot axis, the inclination sensor configured to detect an inclination of the at least one solar energy collection device and to output a signal indicative of inclination detected by the inclination sensor;
- and
- only one processor, the processor being in electrical communication with both the inclination sensor and the motor and configured to control the motor to cause the pivoting portion to pivot about the pivot axis to provide a desired inclination of the at least one solar energy collection device based on the signal output by the inclination sensor,
- wherein the processor pivots with the cylindrical housing about the pivot axis.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.