Sensor for an air-conditioning system in a vehicle

A sensor for an air-conditioning system and a control unit operated by the sensor all in a vehicle for controlling the air-conditioning system as a function of the solar radiation, the vehicle including a window;

• the sensor comprising:
• a measuring head inside the vehicle behind the window, the measuring head having a plurality of solar cells arranged in a defined pattern;
• a dome over the measuring head and covering the solar cells, the dome being transparent only to heat radiation from the sun;
• and each solar cell being positioned for receiving radiation through the dome, the solar cells being arrayed for determining the intensity of the radiation and the position of the sun with respect to the measuring head in terms of the altitude angle and the azimuth angle;
• the measuring head having an upper surface, at least a first one of the solar cells being arranged on the upper surface of the measuring head, the first solar cell being oriented such that it is essentially horizontal, with the sensor mounted on the vehicle;
• attachment elements on the sensor for attachment of the sensor to the vehicle only at a predetermined orientation behind the window in the vehicle so that the solar cells can determine the altitude angle and azimuth angle of the sun;
• the control unit for controlling operation of the air conditioning system being dependent upon the measured radiation on the solar cells, and means connected between the solar cells and the control unit for communicating a signal responsive to the detected radiation to the control unit.