US 4,367,403 AGranted

Array positioning system with out-of-focus solar cells

AssigneeRCA Corporation

InventorArthur Miller

Life of this patent

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Abstract

A solar array positioning system includes first light sensor means facing the same direction as the solar array and second light sensor means facing the opposite direction. A third sensor, this one responsive to gravity, is employed to indicate the direction about a diurnal slew axis that the array is tilted. These sensors are employed to determine the initial array slewing direction to insure that during slewing and subsequent tracking, the array never is rotated through more than a given angle, less than 360.degree., between two fixed limits. This permits connection to the array by hard wiring rather than slip rings. The system includes also fourth sensor means for providing fine tracking signals which assume control of the array position during tracking. A vane structure reduces the sensitivity of various of the sensors to obscuration by foreign particles. A low cost uncorrected lens may be used with the fourth.

Claims3

Dependent claims

In a solar tracking system including means responsive to a first signal applied as an input thereto for moving the system about a polar oriented axis and means responsive to a second signal applied as an input thereto for moving the system about a second axis orthogonal to said polar oriented axis,

means for producing said first and second signals, said means for producing said first and second signals including lens means for concentrating solar energy in a given area and a plurality of solar sensor means responsive to the concentrated energy in said given area for producing said first and second signals, said lens means comprising a lens which when partially obscured tends to produce asymmetrically eclipsed concentrated energy in said area to thereby produce an error in said first and second signals, said lens means having a given focal length, the improvement therewith comprising:
said plurality of solar sensor means being spaced at a plane other than at said given focal length, said plane being located between said lens and its focal point so as to receive an image from said lens which compensates for said eclipsed energy to effectively symmetrically concentrate the energy in said given area.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 06/292,017Filed 11 Aug 1981 · division
Priority: 21 Jan 1980
Granted: 4 Jan 1983
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification15 codes

G01S 3/7861
The desired condition being maintained automatically: solar tracking systems
F24S 30/458
With two rotation axes: with inclined primary axis
F24S 50/20
Arrangements for controlling solar heat collectors: for tracking
H02S 20/32
Supporting structures being movable or adjustable, e.g. for angle adjustment: specially adapted for solar tracking