US4367403A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Array positioning system with out-of-focus solar cells
Assignee: RCA Corp
•
Filing: 1981-08-11
•
Granted: 1983-01-04
•
Expires: 2001-08-11
Abstract
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 DEG , 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.
Inventors
- 👤 Arthur Miller
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-28 03:35
CPC Classifications
G; G01; G01S; G01S3/00; G01S3/78; G01S3/782; G01S3/785; G01S3/786; G01S3/7861; F; F24; F24S; F24S30/00; F24S30/40; F24S30/45; F24S30/458; F24S50/00; F24S50/20; H; H02; H02S; H02S20/00; H02S20/30; H02S20/32; H10; H10F; H10F77/00; H10F77/40; H10F77/42; H10F77/484; F24S2030/10; F24S2030/13; F24S2030/136; Y; Y02; Y02E; Y02E10/00; Y02E10/40; Y02E10/47; Y02E10/50; Y02E10/52; Y10; Y10S; Y10S136/00; Y10S136/291
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 4
Claim 1
Independent Claim
200 words
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.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
200 words
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.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
16 words
The lens means of claim 1 wherein said lens means comprises a double convex, spherical lens.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
17 words
The lens means of claim 2 wherein said lens is corrected only at a central portion thereof.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US3954340A
Cited
US4287411A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1986-01-03 | 1986-07-05 | 1987-01-04 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1990-01-03 | 1990-07-05 | 1991-01-04 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1994-01-03 | 1994-07-05 | 1995-01-04 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |