# US 2009/0261802 A1 · Simulator system and method for measuring acceptance angle characteristics of a solar concentrator

> Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt

- Number: US 2009/0261802 A1
- Document ID: US20090261802A1
- Status: Published application
- Kind: A1
- Application number: 12/202,378
- Filed: 2008-09-01
- Published: 2009-10-22
- Earliest claimed: 2008-04-22
- Assignees: SolFocus, Inc.
- Inventors: Steve Askins; Sean Taylor
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20090261802A1

## CPC

- G01B 21/22: for measuring angles or tapers; for testing the alignment of axes
- H10F 77/42: directly associated or integrated with photovoltaic cells, e.g. light-reflecting means or light-concentrating means
- G01B: MEASURING LENGTH, THICKNESS OR SIMILAR LINEAR DIMENSIONS; MEASURING ANGLES; MEASURING AREAS; MEASURING IRREGULARITIES OF SURFACES OR CONTOURS
- H10F: INORGANIC SEMICONDUCTOR DEVICES SENSITIVE TO INFRARED RADIATION, LIGHT, ELECTROMAGNETIC RADIATION OF SHORTER WAVELENGTH OR CORPUSCULAR RADIATION

## Abstract

A simulator system for simulating operation of a solar module comprises a frame for holding the solar module in a testing position, a light source positioned adjacent to the solar module for directing light from the light source to the solar module, and a movable assembly for simulating movement of a solar tracker system, wherein the movable assembly moves in two axes to change an incident angle of the light with respect to the testing position of the solar module.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A system for simulating operation of a solar module, the system comprising:
a frame for holding the solar module in a testing position;
a light source positioned adjacent to the solar module for directing light from the light source to the solar module; and
a movable assembly for simulating movement of a solar tracker system, wherein the movable assembly moves in two axes to change an incident angle of the light with respect to the testing position of the solar module.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1, further comprising a collimating optic positioned adjacent to the solar module, wherein divergent light from the light source is transformed into collimated light that is directed to the solar module.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1, wherein the movable assembly moves the frame.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1, wherein the movable assembly moves the light source.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1, wherein the movable assembly is capable of rotating in a vertical axis and a horizontal axis.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1, wherein the movable assembly is an X-Y robot device.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1, wherein the movable assembly is capable of moving the light source from a first position to a second position and the system further comprising a circuit for measuring a first characteristic of a solar module with the assembly in the first position and a second characteristic with the assembly in the second position.

### Claim 8 (depends on 7)

The system of claim 7, wherein the first characteristic is an acceptance angle.

### Claim 9 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1 further comprising a circuit for measuring a characteristic of the solar module, and wherein the characteristic is power produced by reflected light on the solar module.

### Claim 10 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1, wherein the movable assembly comprises a movable inner frame and a movable outer frame.

### Claim 11 (depends on 10)

The system of claim 10, wherein the movable inner frame comprises a clamping assembly for mounting the solar module.

### Claim 12 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1, wherein the movable assembly is capable of moving the solar module from a first position to a second position, and the system further comprising a circuit for measuring a first characteristic of the solar module with the movable assembly in the first position and a second characteristic of the solar module with the movable assembly in the second position.

### Claim 13 (depends on 12)

The system of claim 12, wherein the first characteristic is an acceptance angle.

### Claim 14

A method for simulating operation of a solar module, the method comprising the steps of:
providing a frame for holding the solar module in a testing position;
positioning a light source adjacent to the frame for directing light from the light source to the solar module; and
providing a movable assembly to simulate movement of a solar tracker system, wherein the assembly moves in two axes to change an incident angle of the light with respect to the testing position of the solar module.

### Claim 15 (depends on 14)

The method of claim 14 further comprising the step of positioning a reflector across from the solar module, wherein light is directed from the light source to the reflector for reflecting light to the solar module.

### Claim 16 (depends on 14)

The method of claim 14 further comprising the step of moving the frame.

### Claim 17 (depends on 14)

The method of claim 14 further comprising the step of moving the light source.

### Claim 18 (depends on 14)

The method of claim 14 further comprising the step of moving the movable assembly for translating the light source from a first position to a second position and providing a circuit for measuring a first characteristic of the solar module with the movable assembly in the first position and a second characteristic of the solar module with the movable assembly in the second position.

### Claim 19 (depends on 18)

The method of claim 18, wherein the first characteristic is an acceptance angle.

### Claim 20 (depends on 18)

The method of claim 18, wherein the second characteristic is an acceptance angle.