Sensor for detecting two dimensional angle of incidence of the sun
AssigneeKabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
InventorTsuguhiko Okamoto
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A sun sensor, for detecting an angle of incidence of sunlight, employs a transmitting plane having an opening with first and second linear portions for transmitting the sunlight. A line parallel to the first linear portion crosses a line parallel to the second portion with an acute angle. A single detector having plural detecting elements generates output signals corresponding to the sunlight at least passing through the first and second linear portions. A processor produces data signals corresponding to the angle of incidence of the sunlight in response to the output signals from the detector.
Claims19
A sun sensor for detecting first and second components of an angle of incidence of sunlight, comprising:
- transmitting means having an opening with first and second linear portions for transmitting sunlight, a line parallel to the first linear portion crossing a line parallel to the second linear portion at an angle different from 90 degrees;
- detecting means, having plural detecting elements and disposed along a line, for generating output signals corresponding to sunlight passing through the first and second linear portions;
- and
- processing means for determining and producing data signals corresponding to first and second components of the angle of incidence of the sunlight in response to the output signals from the detecting means.
A sun sensor for detecting first and second components of an angle of incidence of sunlight, comprising:
- transmitting means having an opening with first and second linear portions for transmitting sunlight, a line parallel to the first linear portion crossing a line parallel to the second linear portion at an angle different from 90 degrees;
- detecting means, having plural detecting elements between first and second edges thereof and disposed along a line, for receiving a sun image passing through the first and second linear portions and for generating output signals corresponding to said sun image;
- and
- signal processing means, responsive to the output signals from the detecting means for determining (a) a distance between a first part corresponding to a sun image of said first linear portion, and a second part corresponding to a sun image of said second linear portion, and (b) a distance between one of said edges and a predetermined location of said sun image, and for calculating said first and second components of the angle of incidence of the sunlight from results of said determining.
A method of detecting an angle of incidence of sunlight, comprising the steps of:
- providing an opening having first and second linear portions for transmitting sunlight which have a relation such that a line parallel to the first linear portion crosses a line parallel to the second linear portion at an angle different than 90 degrees;
- providing a detector having a plural detecting elements between first and second edges thereof which are disposed along a line, in a spot where it will receive a sun image which passes through said opening;
- determining positions of said sun image on said respective elements of said detecting means;
- and
- determining first and second components of the angle of incidence from said positions.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.