Solar tracking control system

A solar tracking control system for use in controlling the position of a pivotable solar panel connected to a motor by selectively energizing and de-energizing the motor, said control system comprising:

• time controlled signal programmer means for generating a plurality of time dependent signals;
• means connected to said signal programmer means for generating periodic motor energizing signals;
• means for detecting degrees of pivot of the solar panel and for providing a motor de-energizing signal in response to detecting a preselected degree of pivot, said means for detecting including a hall sensor connected to the motor having a hall sensor output in response to the motor operation and a counter connected to said hall sensor, said counter providing said de-energizing signal in response to said hall sensor output;
• and,
• latch means connected to said detecting means and said motor energizing signal generating means and to the motor for retaining the motor energized in response to a motor energizing signal and retaining the motor de-energized in response to a de-energizing signal.

A method for controlling the position of a pivotable solar panel connected to a motor and having a pivot axis substantially parallel to the earth s axis of rotation, said method comprising the steps of:

• (a) energizing a solar tracking control system with a switch actuated in response to a time dependent power signal and generating a plurality of time dependent signals through a signal programmer;
• (b) generating a motor energizing signal in response to said time dependent signals and thereby energizing the motor and causing the solar panel to pivot about the pivot axis;
• (c) detecting the degree of pivot caused through said step b;
• (d) generating a motor de-energizing signal in response to detecting a preselected degree of pivot in said step c thereby causing the motor and solar panel to stop;
• (e) repeating said steps b, c, and d in a time dependent manner thereby causing the solar panel to continually pivot and be substantially perpendicular to the sun;
• and,
• (f) de-energizing the solar tracking control system in response to the time dependent power signal.

A solar tracking control system for use in controlling the position of a pivotable solar panel connected to a motor by selectively energizing and de-energizing the motor, said control system comprising:

• means for generating periodic motor energizing signals;
• means for detecting the degree of pivot of the solar panel and for providing a motor de-energizing signal in response to detecting a preselected degree of pivot;
• latch means connected to said detecting means and said generating means and to the motor for retaining the motor energized in response to a motor energizing signal and retaining the motor de-energized in response to a de-energizing signal;
• and,
• wherein said means for detecting is a hall sensor connected to the motor and a counter connected to said hall sensor said counter providing said de-energizing signal in response to said hall sensor output.

A solar tracking control system for use in controlling the position of a pivotable solar panel connected to a motor by selectively energizing and de-energizing the motor, said control system comprising:

• means for generating periodic motor energizing signals;
• means for detecting the degree of pivot of the solar panel and for providing a motor de-energizing signal in response to detecting a preselected degree of pivot;
• latch means connected to said detecting means and said generating means and to the motor for retaining the motor energized in response to a motor energizing signal and retaining the motor de-energized in response to a de-energizing signal;
• and,
• wherein said latch means is a cross coupled NAND gate cell having two inputs and one output.

A solar tracking control system for use in controlling the position of a pivotable solar panel connected to a motor by selectively energizing and de-energizing the motor, said control system comprising:

• means for generating periodic motor energizing signals;
• means for detecting the degree of pivot of the solar panel and for providing a motor de-energizing signal in response to detecting a preselected degree of pivot;
• latch means connected to said detecting means and said generating means and to the motor for retaining the motor energized in response to a motor energizing signal and retaining the motor de-energized in response to a de-energizing signal;
• means for generating a fixed automatic signal;
• and,
• gate means receiving said fixed automatic signal and said motor energizing signals and having an output connected to said latch means for providing said motor energizing signals to said latch means in response to said fixed automatic signal and said motor energizing signals.