394results about "Photometry for measuring solar light" patented technology

A Solar Access Measurement Device (“SAMD”) located at a predetermined position is disclosed. The SAMID may include a skyline detector enabled to detect a skyline of a horizon relative to the SAMD, an orientation determination unit enabled to determine the orientation of the skyline detector, and a processor in signal communication with the skyline detector and orientation determination unit.

Energy converters are monitored to ensure that they are operating at acceptable levels. An expected output is predicted using mathematical modeling and compared to the actual output generated by the energy converter. When the difference is above a predetermined threshold, the level of underperformance, along with other parameters, are used to determine a possible cause of underperformance and actions that can be taken to increase the output to acceptable levels. The cause and actions are transmitted to personnel, who are dispatched to service the underperforming energy converter. By centrally locating the mathematical modeling, monitoring, and dispatching, multiple PV modules can be managed from a remote location. When monitoring photovoltaic modules, an irradiation sensor employs multiple photosensors oriented to detect not only the normal components of sunlight but also directional, diffused components of sunlight, thereby increasing the accuracy of the mathematical modeling.

A hand-held mobile communication device, such as smart telephone, alone or in protective case, incorporating sensors and signal conditioning modules for measuring signals from external sources of electromagnetic radiation (EMR) in different spectral ranges. These include detector monitoring EMR that pose potential health hazards or may interfere with various electronic devices. Other integrated EMR sensor is a photodiode for the ultraviolet detection to monitor the user's sun exposure and a thermal infrared detector for non-contact measurement of temperature of humans or inanimate objects. This detector in combination with a digital camera and a pattern recognition signal processing allows accurate non-contact measuring temperatures at specific location.

A UV exposure dosimetry system includes at least one UV sensor that accurately measures the UV irradiance intensity. The system can generate extrapolated UV intensity data based on measured UV intensity data to correct unreliable UV measurement due to inconsistent irradiation of UV light. The UV dosimetry system integrates the extrapolated UV intensity data over time to calculate the real-time UV dosage and the vitamin D production by taking into account factors comprising UV sensor location, body surface area, clothing coverage, and sunscreen usage. Based on the measurement, the system can predict the time remaining to skin burn and the time remaining to reach daily goal of vitamin D production. The UV dosimetry system supports multi-user control through an advanced and user friendly input and output interface.

A method for calibrating irradiance sensors is performed by an irradiance analysis computing device in communication with a memory. The method includes receiving an irradiance estimate representing an expected amount of irradiance, receiving a first irradiance value associated with at least one irradiance sensor, processing the irradiance estimate and the first irradiance value to generate at least one irradiance metric, and determining a condition of said irradiance sensor based at least in part on the at least one irradiance metric.

An insolation sensor is disclosed and is used to determine a solar light intensity as a basis for evaluating electric power generated by solar modules exposed to the solar light intensity. The insolation sensor includes an outer surface including a light entrance window, and at least one photo sensor configured to measure the solar light intensity. The at least one photo sensor is arranged behind the light entrance window. The insolation sensor further includes a detector device configured to detect precipitation and / or a resulting deposit on the surface which both affects the insolation sensor and the solar modules.

A light source estimating device includes a light receiving section for receiving visible light and invisible light radiated from a light source, and a light source estimating section for estimating a type of the light source on the basis of an intensity of the received visible light and an intensity of the received invisible light.

A system is provided for determining personal ultra-violet (UV) radiation measurements, comprising: a measurement device configured to measure UV irradiation; and a terminal device configured to receive or capture an output of the measured UV irradiation from the measurement device and to determine a specific user's personal UV exposure risk level based on at least the measured sun irradiation and information of a skin type of the specific user. The measurement device configured to measure UV radiation exposure includes a surface that includes a plurality of different sections that each have a different sensitivity to UV radiation exposure, and each of the plurality of different sections are configured to display a different color in response to the UV radiation exposure.

The invention discloses a calibration method for digital sun sensor, comprising following procedures. According to outer and inner parameters of sun sensor calibration system, unified mathematical model of sun sensor imaging is built. Two rotary shafts of rotary table are rotated to different angle so as to obtain data of calibration point and they are transmitted to processing computer by interface circuit. Processing computer sends said data of calibration point to the unified mathematical model and calibration parameters are calculated by two-step method. The invention also relates to the device applying the method. The device supplies illumination by sun simulator and data of different points can be obtained by rotating two-shaft rotary table. Processing computer is used to record data of calibration point and calculate corresponding calibration parameter. The method and the device are suitable for multiple digital sun sensors. The invention adopts unified building method of inner and outer parameters and improves calibration accuracy. At the same time because installing aligning accuracy is not required strictly the whole calibration process is simple.

A UV exposure dosimetry system includes at least one UV sensor that accurately measures the UV irradiance intensity. The UV dosimetry system integrates the measured UV irradiance intensity over time to calculate the real-time UV dosage and the vitamin D production by taking into account factors comprising UV sensor location, body surface area, clothing coverage, and sunscreen usage. Based on the measurement, the system can predict the time remaining to skin burn and the time remaining to reach daily goal of vitamin D production. The system also calculates the UV index in real-time, and can crowd source the measured data in a network. The UV dosimetry system supports multi-user control through an advanced and user friendly input and output interface.

A pyranometer for measuring solar irradiance at a selected site comprises a light detector adapted to produce an output signal in response to incident solar radiation, a reversible motor having a curved shadowband attached to its output shaft, means for mounting the light detector and motor so that the shadowband is at a fixed distance from the light detector; and a motor controller that is adapted to periodically cause the motor to rotate the shadowband from one to the other of two limit positions, with the shadowband acting to momentarily shadow the light detector during its movement between its two limit positions. A datalogger stores and processes the light detector's signal output to provide a measure of total horizontal, direct normal and horizontal diffuse solar irradiance.

A sunlight measuring device that quantifies the accumulation of light at a particular site. The sunlight measuring device is a battery-operated device mounted on a stake for easy insertion into the ground. The device is placed at the intended site for growing a plant. The light that falls on the sunlight measuring device over a period of time is accumulated and the light accumulation is represented by a visual signal that indicates one of four light conditions: full sun, partial sun, partial shade, full shade.

A UV exposure dosimetry system includes at least one UV sensor that accurately measures the UV irradiance intensity. The UV dosimetry system integrates the measured UV irradiance intensity over time to calculate the real-time UV dosage and the vitamin D production by taking into account factors comprising UV sensor location, body surface area, clothing coverage, and sunscreen usage. Based on the measurement, the system can predict the time remaining to skin burn and the time remaining to reach daily goal of vitamin D production. The system can also provide feedback to the user of the device based on a composite metric assessing the degree of balance between the risk of UV exposure and the benefit of UV exposure. The UV dosimetry system supports multi-user control through an advanced and user friendly input and output interface.

A system is provided for determining personal ultra-violet (UV) radiation measurements, comprising: a measurement device configured to measure UV irradiation; and a terminal device configured to receive or capture an output of the measured UV irradiation from the measurement device and to determine a specific user's personal UV exposure risk level based on at least the measured sun irradiation and information of a skin type of the specific user. The measurement device configured to measure UV radiation exposure includes a surface that includes a plurality of different sections that each have a different sensitivity to UV radiation exposure, and each of the plurality of different sections are configured to display a different color in response to the UV radiation exposure.

An intelligent umbrella includes a light sensor to generate a light intensity measurement, a motor to move the light sensor about an azimuth axis, the light sensor generating a plurality of light intensity measurements and associated locations. The intelligent umbrella also includes a controller to receive the plurality of light intensity measurements from the light sensor, and to identify a highest light sensor measurement of the plurality of light sensor measurements and an associated location. The controller generates and communicates a command including the associated location to a motor, which receives the command and moves the light sensor to the associated location. The controller moves a light sensor about an elevation axis, determines a peak intensity value and corresponding elevation location, and moves the light sensor to the corresponding elevation location.

A UV exposure dosimetry system includes at least one UV sensor that accurately measures the UV irradiance intensity. The UV dosimetry system integrates the measured UV irradiance intensity over time to calculate the real-time UV dosage and the vitamin D production by taking into account factors comprising UV sensor location, body surface area, clothing coverage, and sunscreen usage. Based on the measurement, the system can predict the time remaining to skin burn and the time remaining to reach daily goal of vitamin D production. The system can also estimate UV intensity for a time in the future at a geographic location based on the forecast UV index data, and predict UV dose and vitamin D generation for the user corresponding to user defined scenarios. The UV dosimetry system supports multi-user control through an advanced and user friendly input and output interface.

A signal (Snormal) is provided to a heat element of a temperature sensor, which is recorded as a step response (Lruh, Lbew). From the difference of the step response compared with the reaction adaptively determined with the temperature sensor at zero air circulation, air flow or no air flow is determined.

A method and an electronic device for measuring illuminance are provided. An operating method of the electronic device includes identifying time intervals when a display of the electronic device operates in a deactivated state, and determining illuminance using at least one sensing value measured through an illuminance sensor during the identified time intervals. The illuminance sensor may be disposed under the display.

Under one aspect of the present invention, a monolithic sun sensor includes a photosensor; a spacer material disposed over the photosensor; and a patterned mask disposed over the spacer material and defining an aperture over the photosensor. The spacer material has a thickness selected such that the patterned mask casts a shadow onto the photosensor that varies as a function of the monolithic sun sensor's angle relative to the sun. The sun sensor may further include a substrate in which the photosensor is embedded or on which the photosensor is disposed. The spacer material may be transparent, and may include a layer of inorganic oxide, or a plurality of layers of inorganic oxide. The patterned mask may include a conductive material, such as a metal. The aperture may be lithographically defined, and may be square. The sun sensor may further include a transparent overlayer disposed over the patterned mask.

A pest surveillance system comprising at least one pest monitoring apparatus and a main server is provided. The pest monitoring apparatus comprises an image capturing device, an environmental status sensing device, a controller and a network transmitter. The at least one pest monitoring apparatus is disposed in at least one space. The image capturing device is used for capturing an image of a pest catcher and generating an original image. The environmental status sensing device is used for detecting environmental status and generating an environmental parameter. The network transmitter is coupled to a network. The main server is connected to the network and receives the at least one original image and the at least one environmental parameter. An image processor of the main server calculates each original image according to each environmental parameter and generates a pest status data.

A photodetector having directional characteristics is obtained by arranging a photosensitive element for a solar radiation sensor, a photosensitive element for an illuminance sensor, and a light shielding part in the same package constructed by a case and an optical lens as a cap. The photosensitive element for a solar radiation sensor has two photosensitive parts which are formed apart from each other on the same plane, and outputs a detection signal according to an amount of solar radiation incident on the two photosensitive parts. The photosensitive element for an illuminance sensor is disposed apart from the two photosensitive parts in the photosensitive element for a solar radiation sensor, is formed in a region different from a border region of the two photosensitive parts, and detects illuminance above a vehicle. The light shielding part is provided above at least the border region of the two photosensitive parts.

Detectors and methods for gathering, detecting and analyzing electromagnetic radiation are disclosed. A radiation detector includes one or more positive lenses to direct radiation to mirrors or to a photodetector. Coordinates of directed radiation are measured and interpreted to determine the angle of arrival. A color filter mosaic may be present to determine wavelengths of detected radiation. Temporal characteristics of the radiation may be measured.

A method and apparatus are provided to control artificial lighting using accurate geographical location, date and time, in order to activate such electrical activity only during needed periods of actual terrestrial darkness related to sun elevation. Accurate, real-time calculation of sun elevation relative to geographical location and date / time allow natural lighting characteristics such as natural light spectrum and intensity to be matched to artificial lighting, in order to provide a smooth transition in ambient lighting and to save energy. An apparatus according to the invention comprises a global positioning system (GPS) element for determining latitude, longitude, altitude, date and time and a calculation element for determining sun elevation angle accurately. A specific embodiment requires only desired sun elevation angle inputs from the user for controlling electrical switches in a control system.

A solar energy absorption plate with an angle adjusting assembly comprises a solar energy plate; a first light sensing element and a second light sensing element at two symmetrical opposite sides; a control unit connected to each of the first light sensing element and second light sensing element; an angle adjusting unit connected to the control unit; and the angle adjusting unit being interactive with the solar energy plate. The control unit calculates a brightness difference between a brightness of the first light sensing element and a brightness of the second light sensing element so as to drive the angle adjusting unit to cause that the first and second light sensing element in the solar energy plate have the same brightness and the solar energy plate facing to sun. Furthermore a third and a fourth light sensing elements can be used further.

A UV exposure dosimetry system includes at least one UV sensor that accurately measures the UV irradiance intensity. The system can generate extrapolated UV intensity data based on measured UV intensity data to correct unreliable UV measurement due to inconsistent irradiation of UV light. The UV dosimetry system integrates the extrapolated UV intensity data over time to calculate the real-time UV dosage and the vitamin D production by taking into account factors comprising UV sensor location, body surface area, clothing coverage, and sunscreen usage. Based on the measurement, the system can predict the time remaining to skin burn and the time remaining to reach daily goal of vitamin D production. The UV dosimetry system supports multi-user control through an advanced and user friendly input and output interface.

The present invention relates to a measurement method to determine the magnitude and intensity of solar radiation / collected by a photovoltaic solar panel, without the need of using specific sensors for this purpose—With the present method̂ the power conditioning systems used in small photovoltaic panels to charge small rechargeable batteries, will now be able to provide an electrical signal, in the form of a pulse sequence or in any other electrical signal, that represents the value of the quantity that generates the available energy. The present method enables the monitoring the energy transfer between the solar panel and a rechargeable battery using a switched, voltage converter; additionally it indicates the magnitude of the solar radiation falling on the solar panel. It is based on the adaptation of a direct voltage to direct voltage boost converter circuit in. order to provide an electrical signal which is correlated to the magnitude of the solar irradiance falling on the solar panel, which in turn powers the voltage converter circuit. The invention also relates to a device for implementing this method.

Apparatus and method, as may be used to acquire different components of solar irradiance in a solar-based power generation system or as may be used in a sky imager, are provided. A filter matrix (12) may be arranged to receive incident solar irradiance. The filter matrix may include an array of pixels (20) controllable to selectively acquire different components of the solar irradiance. A module, such as a photosensor (22) or calculator module (29) may be configured to determine a spatial location of at least one of the irradiance components relative to the array of pixels of the filter matrix. A controller (26) may be electrically coupled to the module to supply a control signal to the filter matrix based on the determined location of the irradiance component to pass a selected one of the irradiance components.

The inventive sensor device includes a support structure, a sensing element mounted on the support substrate for sensing optical radiation and generating an electrical output signal in response thereto, and an encapsulant encapsulating the sensing element on the support structure. The encapsulant being configured to define a lens portion for focusing incident optical radiation onto an active surface of the sensing element, and an optical radiation collector portion surrounding the lens portion for collecting and redirecting optical radiation that is not incident the lens portion onto the active surface of the sensing element. The collector portion may be a parabolic reflector that reflects incident light by total internal reflection. The sensor device may be incorporated into an assembly including a diffuser positioned across an aperture, and / or may be incorporated into a vehicle accessory such as a rearview mirror assembly.