A sunlight flicker simulation device and control method

Abstract

The application discloses a sunlight flicker simulation device and a control method. The simulation device comprises a light source assembly, a modulation assembly and a control assembly. The light source assembly is used for emitting basic light simulating sunlight. The modulation assembly comprises a rack, a driving member and a rotating member. The driving member is fixed on the rack, and the rotating member is in transmission connection with the driving member. A through hole is formed in the radial surface of the rotating member. The rotating member rotates under the action of the driving member to adjust how much of the basic light passes through the through hole. The control assembly is electrically connected with the light source assembly and the driving member respectively. The application adopts a composite control mode of "mechanical modulation as the main part and light electronic modulation as the auxiliary part", realizes high-precision and high-realistic simulation of slow change and irregular flicker of sunlight, reduces the influence of electromagnetic interference, expands the frequency control range, simplifies the equipment modification process and improves the engineering practicability.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to the field of optical simulation equipment technology, specifically to a solar scintillation simulation device and control method. Background Technology

[0002] Solar scintillation simulation is a crucial step in the research and development and performance testing of optoelectronic equipment. The realism and accuracy of the simulation directly determine the validity of the test results. Currently, most solar scintillation simulation devices employ a single electronic circuit modulation method for control. Their core principle is to simulate the intensity fluctuations and scintillation effects of sunlight caused by cloud cover, atmospheric refraction, etc., by adjusting the power supply of solar scintillation simulation light sources such as halogen lamps or xenon lamps in conjunction with the light transmission adjustment of the electronically controlled aperture. However, electronic modulation is easily affected by electromagnetic interference from high-power light sources, electronic drivers, and communication components within the device, leading to drift in flicker frequency and light intensity fluctuation parameters, and consequently, a decrease in simulation accuracy. This is particularly pronounced in the simulation of slow flickering of sunlight from 0.1 to 5 Hz. Furthermore, the flicker modes of electronic modulation are mostly regular pulses, making it difficult to simulate the irregular, wide-range, slow flickering characteristics of natural sunlight caused by cloud formations and atmospheric motion. This results in insufficient realism in the simulated scenarios and a disconnect from actual application environments. Additionally, the adjustment range of the flicker frequency in electronic modulation is limited by the performance of circuit chips and power devices, exhibiting adjustment dead zones and non-linear control, making precise micro-adjustment across the entire flicker frequency range of sunlight impossible. Therefore, developing a solar flickering simulation device with strong anti-interference capabilities, high simulation realism, and flexible control is an urgent need in this field. Summary of the Invention

[0003] To address the shortcomings of the existing technology, this invention provides a solar scintillation simulation device and control method, which can solve the technical problems of low simulation accuracy, insufficient realism of the simulated scene, and the existence of adjustment dead zone in existing solar scintillation simulation devices that use electronic circuit modulation.

[0004] To achieve the above-mentioned technical objectives, the present invention adopts the following technical solution: In a first aspect, the present invention provides a solar scintillation simulation device, comprising: Light source components, used to emit basic light that simulates sunlight; A modulation assembly includes a frame, a drive component, and a rotating component. The drive component is fixed to the frame, and the rotating component is connected to the drive component in a transmission manner. A through hole is formed on the radial surface of the rotating component, and the rotating component rotates under the action of the drive component to adjust the amount of the basic light passing through the through hole. A control component is electrically connected to both the light source component and the driving component.

[0005] In some embodiments, the rotating component is a target wheel, the driving component is an adjustable speed motor, the central hole of the target wheel is fixedly connected to the output shaft of the adjustable speed motor, and the radial surface of the target wheel has two through holes of equal size.

[0006] In some embodiments, the modulation assembly further includes a field stop, which is disposed between and close to the rotating member, the field stop being aligned with the light-emitting end of the light source assembly and electrically connected to the control assembly.

[0007] In some embodiments, the light source assembly includes a mounting bracket, a halogen lamp, and a light source regulator. The halogen lamp is fixed on the mounting bracket, and the light source regulator is electrically connected to both the halogen lamp and the control component. The control component adjusts the power of the halogen lamp through the light source regulator.

[0008] In some embodiments, the light source assembly further includes a heat sink fixed to the mounting bracket, the heat sink having its heat dissipation end facing the halogen lamp, and the heat sink being electrically connected to the control assembly.

[0009] In a second aspect, the present invention also provides a method for controlling solar scintillation simulation, used to control the solar scintillation simulation device provided in the first aspect of the present invention, comprising the following steps: Input preset simulation parameters into the control component; The light source component is controlled to emit basic light simulating sunlight according to preset simulation parameters; The driving component of the control modulation component drives the rotating component to rotate at a target speed. The amount of basic light passing through the through hole formed on the radial surface of the rotating component is adjusted to achieve modulation of sunlight flicker simulation.

[0010] In some embodiments, the control of the light source assembly to emit basic light simulating sunlight according to preset simulation parameters specifically includes: The halogen lamp is adjusted to a preset power by controlling the light source regulator; Adjust the field stop to the preset basic aperture.

[0011] In some embodiments, the power adjustment range of the halogen lamp by the light source regulator is ±5% of a preset power.

[0012] In some embodiments, the driving member adjusts the rotational speed of the rotating member within a range of 0.5 rpm to 60 rpm from the target rotational speed.

[0013] In some embodiments, the control method further includes using a heat sink to dissipate heat from the light source assembly.

[0014] Compared with the prior art, the beneficial effects of the present invention mainly include: This invention provides a solar scintillation simulation device. It uses mechanical rotation of a rotating component driven by a driving component as a modulation method, which is unaffected by internal electromagnetic interference, thus avoiding drift in scintillation frequency and light intensity parameters and ensuring the simulation accuracy. Simultaneously, the rotation of the rotating component by the driving component alters the amount of fundamental light emitted from the light source component passing through the through-hole, effectively achieving mechanical modulation and blocking of the fundamental light. This perfectly simulates the natural solar scintillation effect caused by cloud cover and atmospheric movement, solving the problem of existing electronic modulation's "regular pulse scintillation" being out of sync with the actual environment and improving simulation realism. Furthermore, this invention achieves stepless adjustment of solar cloud simulation by controlling the start / stop and rotation speed of the rotating component, eliminating adjustment dead zones and providing significantly greater control flexibility than traditional electronic modulation schemes. Attached Figure Description

[0015] To more clearly illustrate the technical solutions in this application, the accompanying drawings used in the embodiments will be briefly described below: Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the overall structure of the solar scintillation simulation device described in this invention; Figure 2 This is a schematic diagram of the modulation component described in this invention; Figure 3 This is another structural schematic diagram of the modulation component described in this invention; Figure 4 This is a flowchart of the solar scintillation simulation control method described in this invention.

[0016] As shown in the figure: 100. Light source assembly; 110. Mounting bracket; 120. Halogen lamp; 200, Modulation component; 210, Frame; 220, Drive component; 230, Rotating component; 231, Through hole; 240, Field aperture. Detailed Implementation

[0017] To make the objectives, technical solutions, and advantages of this invention clearer, the invention will be further described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings and embodiments. It should be understood that the specific embodiments described herein are merely illustrative and not intended to limit the invention.

[0018] This invention addresses the technical problems of existing solar scintillation simulation devices that rely on electronic modulation, such as susceptibility to electromagnetic interference, poor simulation realism, limited frequency control, and high modification costs. It provides a solar scintillation simulation device and control method that replaces traditional electronic modulation with mechanical modulation, enabling high-precision and highly realistic simulation of slow-changing, irregular solar scintillation. At the same time, it avoids the influence of electromagnetic interference, expands the frequency control range, simplifies the modification process of existing devices, and improves engineering practicality.

[0019] like Figures 1-3 As shown, a first aspect of the present invention provides a solar flare simulation device, comprising a light source assembly 100, a modulation assembly 200, and a control assembly. The light source assembly 100 is used to emit basic light simulating sunlight. The modulation assembly 200 includes a frame 210, a drive member 220, and a rotating member 230. The drive member 220 is fixed to the frame 210, and the rotating member 230 is pulsatorically connected to the drive member 220. A through hole 231 is formed on the radial surface of the rotating member 230. The rotating member 230 rotates under the action of the drive member 220 to adjust the amount of basic light passing through the through hole 231. The control assembly is electrically connected to the light source assembly 100 and the drive member 220 respectively.

[0020] This invention provides a solar scintillation simulation device that uses the mechanical rotation of a rotating component 230 driven by a driving component 220 as a modulation method. This method is unaffected by internal electromagnetic interference, thus avoiding drift in scintillation frequency and light intensity parameters and ensuring the simulation accuracy of the device. Simultaneously, by rotating the rotating component 230, the amount of basic light emitted from the light source component passing through the through-hole changes, effectively achieving mechanical modulation and blocking of the basic light. This perfectly simulates the natural solar scintillation effect caused by cloud cover and atmospheric motion, solving the problem of existing electronic modulation's "regular pulse scintillation" being out of sync with the actual environment and improving simulation realism. Furthermore, this invention achieves stepless adjustment of solar scintillation and cloud cover simulations by controlling the start and stop of the rotating component 230 and adjusting its rotation speed, eliminating adjustment dead zones and providing significantly greater control flexibility than traditional electronic modulation schemes.

[0021] In other words, the solar scintillation simulation device provided by this invention abandons the electronic modulation method used in traditional solar scintillation simulation devices, and instead adopts mechanical modulation, thereby avoiding the problems brought about by electronic modulation. Furthermore, to further improve the simulation accuracy of the solar scintillation simulation device of this invention, a small amount of electronic modulation is supplemented while mechanical modulation is the primary method. Specifically: In one preferred embodiment, the light source assembly 100 includes a mounting bracket 110, a halogen lamp 120, and a light source regulator. The halogen lamp 120 is fixed on the mounting bracket 110, and the light source regulator is electrically connected to the halogen lamp 120 and the control component, respectively. The control component adjusts the power of the halogen lamp 120 through the light source regulator.

[0022] In one preferred embodiment, the control component controls the light source adjuster to make a slight electronic fine-tuning of the halogen lamp 120 within a range of ±5%. This modulation method, which is mainly mechanical modulation and supplemented by electronic modulation, can improve the accuracy of sunlight simulation.

[0023] In one preferred embodiment, the halogen lamp 120 is a 1000WG15 type high-power halogen lamp, which is compatible with AC voltage of 220V to 240V, has the characteristics of high stability and high power, conforms to the optical characteristics of steady-state solar radiation, and is equipped with a light source controller to realize the light source power of slight fine adjustment.

[0024] In one preferred embodiment, the light source assembly 100 further includes a heat sink fixed to the mounting bracket 110, with the heat sink's heat dissipation end facing the halogen lamp 120, and the heat sink electrically connected to the control assembly.

[0025] In one preferred embodiment, to meet the heat dissipation requirements of the high-power halogen lamp 120, the heat sink is a high-power cooling fan with a rated voltage of AC220V, which works in conjunction with the mounting cavity of the halogen lamp 120 to effectively dissipate the cavity temperature and avoid equipment failure and decreased simulation accuracy caused by overheating of the light source.

[0026] In one preferred embodiment, the cooling fan has a rated voltage of AC220V, a rated power of 50W, a maximum airflow of 460CFM, and a product speed of 2750r / m.

[0027] In one preferred embodiment, the electronic fine-tuning referred to in this invention also includes adjusting the amount of light transmitted by the basic light emitted by the halogen lamp 120 using an aperture in the prior art.

[0028] In one preferred embodiment, the modulation component 200 further includes a field stop 240, which is disposed between and close to the rotating member 230, specifically between the halogen lamp 120 and the rotating member 230. The field stop 240 is aligned with the light-emitting end of the light source component 100 and is electrically connected to the control component, specifically aligned with the halogen lamp 120.

[0029] In one preferred embodiment, the field of view 240 is a stepper motor driven aperture, which corresponds to the light outlet of the halogen lamp 120. The opening of the stepper motor driven aperture can be controlled to become larger or smaller through the control component, so as to achieve precise adjustment of the light transmission to adapt to the needs of different light intensity levels of sunlight simulation.

[0030] In one preferred embodiment, the rotating component 230 is a target wheel, the driving component 220 is an adjustable speed motor, the center hole of the target wheel is fixedly connected to the output shaft of the adjustable speed motor, and the radial surface of the target wheel has two through holes 231 of equal size.

[0031] In one preferred embodiment, the target wheel is made of a high-shielding aluminum alloy. When the adjustable-speed motor drives the target wheel to rotate, the two through holes 231 block the field aperture 240 in different ways to adapt to the slow and irregular characteristics of natural sunlight flicker and simulate the irregular light intensity changes caused by cloud cover. During this process, the control component accurately transmits control commands to the adjustable-speed motor, achieving precise control of the motor's speed, start / stop, and rotation accuracy. This enables linear stepless adjustment of the target wheel's rotation speed, with the speed adjustment range between 0.5 rpm and 60 rpm.

[0032] In one preferred embodiment, the adjustable speed motor is a 42 series two-phase hybrid stepper motor with a step angle of 1.8°, step accuracy of ±5%, load speed ≤600rpm, insulation resistance of 100Ω / 500V, supports microstepping control, 12-38VDC input voltage, adjustable peak output current of 2A / 4A / 8A, and supports 1-16 microstepping control. It is matched with the 42 series stepper motor to achieve linear stepless adjustment of the target wheel.

[0033] In one preferred embodiment, the control component adopts a composite control mode of "mechanical modulation as the main method and lightweight electronic modulation as the auxiliary method": with mechanical modulation of the target wheel rotation as the core, the main control of the solar flashing frequency and flashing pattern is achieved by periodically blocking the aperture, and the characteristics of mechanical action to resist electromagnetic interference are used to ensure that the flashing parameters do not drift; with the power adjustment of the halogen lamp 120 as the auxiliary method, lightweight electronic fine adjustment within the range of ±5% of the light source power is achieved, solving the problem of fixed light intensity fluctuation amplitude of mechanical modulation, and realizing precise control of light intensity fluctuation.

[0034] In one preferred embodiment, the connection between the control component and the light source component 100 and the modulation component 200 relies on a communication component. Further, the communication component includes a USB to four COM port serial converter and a host computer PC, which can support multiple communication protocols such as RS422, RS232, and Modbus bus, enabling the host computer to remotely set parameters, monitor status, and store data of the analog device.

[0035] In one preferred embodiment, the USB to four COM port serial converter supports baud rates of 300-256.0Kbps and a transmission distance of no more than 15 meters, which can alleviate the problem of insufficient system communication interfaces and simplify the connection between the main control board and the host computer in the control component; the cooling fan has a rated power of 50W, a maximum air volume of 460CFM, and a product speed of 2750r / m, which can quickly dissipate the heat of the light source cavity and ensure the stable operation of the halogen lamp 120 for a long time.

[0036] like Figure 4 As shown, a second aspect of the present invention provides a method for controlling solar scintillation simulation, used to control the solar scintillation simulation device provided in the first aspect of the present invention, comprising the following steps: Step S1: Input preset simulation parameters into the control component; In step S1, the staff inputs preset simulation parameters to the control component through the host computer PC or local control interface. The preset simulation parameters include the target basic light intensity, sunlight flicker frequency, simulation duration and aperture basic opening. The preset simulation parameter data is transmitted to the control component through the communication component and stored.

[0037] Step S2: Control the light source component 100 to emit basic light simulating sunlight according to preset simulation parameters; Step S21: After receiving the preset parameters, the control component starts the halogen lamp 120 and adjusts the light source power to the preset target basic light intensity through the power regulator. In step S22, the control component controls the field stop 240 to adjust the stop to the preset basic aperture, thus completing the output of the basic optical signal.

[0038] Step S3: Control the driving component 220 of the modulation component 200 to drive the rotating component 230 to rotate at a target speed. Adjust the amount of basic light passing through the through hole 231 formed on the radial surface of the rotating component 230 to achieve modulation of sunlight flicker simulation. In step S3, the control component calculates the target speed of the adjustable speed drive motor (i.e., the drive component 220) according to the preset sunlight flicker frequency through an internal algorithm, outputs a control signal to the adjustable speed drive motor, rotates at the target speed at a uniform speed, and drives the target wheel to rotate synchronously, so that the through hole 231 of the target wheel corresponds to the light outlet of the halogen lamp 120. The target wheel rotates at a constant speed following the output shaft of the adjustable speed drive motor. Through the through hole 231 on its surface, it periodically and irregularly blocks the emitted light of the halogen lamp 120, forming a slow-changing flickering light signal that conforms to the characteristics of natural sunlight, thus realizing the core modulation of sunlight flickering. Subsequently, the control component performs a slight electronic fine-tuning of the power of the halogen lamp 120 within a range of ±5% through the power regulator to precisely control the amplitude of light intensity fluctuation. At the same time, it receives real-time status feedback signals of target wheel speed, emitted light intensity, and cavity temperature, compares the feedback parameters with preset parameters, and automatically and dynamically adjusts the speed of the adjustable speed drive motor or the power of the light source if there is a deviation, so as to achieve closed-loop precise control of the simulation parameters.

[0039] In step S3, the rotational speed of the adjustable drive motor is linearly related to the solar flare frequency. Each rotation of the target wheel body realizes a complete irregular light intensity fluctuation. By adjusting the motor speed, the solar flare frequency can be linearly and steplessly adjusted.

[0040] In addition, during the entire operation of the simulation device, the heat sink is a high-power cooling fan that works continuously to dissipate heat from the mounting cavity of the halogen lamp 120; the control component monitors the cavity temperature in real time, and when the temperature exceeds the preset threshold, it automatically reduces the power of the light source and maintains the heat dissipation efficiency. If the temperature continues to rise, it immediately triggers the shutdown protection to ensure stable operation of the equipment and personnel safety.

[0041] In one preferred embodiment, the power adjustment of the halogen lamp 120 by the light source regulator is within ±5% of a preset power.

[0042] In one preferred embodiment, the driving member 220 adjusts the rotational speed of the rotating member 230 within the range of 0.5 rpm to 60 rpm of the target rotational speed.

[0043] Compared with existing technologies, the solar scintillation simulation device and control method provided by this invention have the following advantages: 1. Strong resistance to electromagnetic interference, significantly improving simulation accuracy. Using the mechanical rotation of the target wheel as the core modulation method, the mechanical action is not affected by the electromagnetic interference inside the equipment, and the frequency and shape of the sunlight flicker are drift-free. Combined with lightweight electronic modulation within ±5%, it can achieve precise fine-tuning of light intensity fluctuations, improve the overall simulation accuracy of sunlight flicker, and solve the pain point of accuracy deviation in traditional electronic modulation. 2. High simulation realism In line with the characteristics of natural sunlight, and targeting the slow-changing and irregular flickering characteristics of sunlight, an aperture is designed to replace the traditional regular array. Through mechanical blocking, irregular light intensity fluctuations are achieved, perfectly simulating the flickering effect of natural sunlight caused by cloud cover and atmospheric movement. This solves the problem of existing electronic modulation "regular pulse flickering" being out of touch with the actual environment. 3. Wide frequency control range, achieving linear stepless adjustment. By matching the 42 series stepper motor with the UIM240 series driver, the target wheel speed can be linearly and steplessly adjusted from 0.5RPM to 60RPM, which completely covers the flicker frequency range of natural sunlight, with no adjustment dead zone and a control flexibility far superior to traditional electronic modulation schemes. 4. Composite control mode, balancing stability and accuracy. The composite control mode of "mechanical modulation as the main method and lightweight electronic modulation as the auxiliary method" is adopted. Mechanical modulation ensures the high stability of the flicker frequency and shape, while lightweight electronic modulation enables precise fine-tuning of the light intensity fluctuation amplitude, thus solving the technical problem that "stability and accuracy cannot be achieved simultaneously" in the traditional single modulation method. 5. Low renovation cost, strong practicality and compatibility of the project. This invention can directly reuse the hardware architecture of existing solar simulators (such as halogen lamp light source, stepper motor, main control module), only requiring the addition of a customized target wheel body and simple mechanical assembly, without significantly modifying the original electronic control circuit, reducing equipment modification costs by more than 60%, and is simple to assemble and debug, suitable for upgrading and modifying existing equipment, with strong engineering practicality and industrialization prospects. 6. Closed-loop control + multiple protections ensure high equipment reliability. The main control module enables closed-loop control of parameters such as target wheel speed, light source power, and emitted light intensity to ensure the continuous accuracy of simulation parameters. It is also equipped with a heat dissipation module and temperature and overcurrent protection mechanisms to effectively avoid equipment damage caused by high-power light source overheating and circuit failure, ensuring that the simulator can run continuously and stably for a long time with a continuous working time of not less than 6 hours, meeting the long-term continuous testing requirements of optoelectronic equipment. 7. Remote control operation is simple and improves testing efficiency. By using a USB to quad COM port serial converter to build a remote communication system with a host computer, staff can complete the setting of all simulation parameters, status monitoring and data storage on the host computer without on-site debugging, simplifying the operation process and improving the efficiency of solar environment testing of optoelectronic equipment by more than 60%.

[0044] In summary, this invention addresses the problems of existing solar scintillation simulation technologies, such as susceptibility to electromagnetic interference, poor simulation realism, limited frequency control, and high modification costs. It provides a solar scintillation simulation device and control method that primarily uses mechanical modulation and secondarily uses electronic fine-tuning. The core objective of this invention is to apply the mechanical rotation modulation of a target wheel to solar scintillation simulation. By designing a target wheel aperture adapted to the natural scintillation characteristics of sunlight, and combining it with a composite control mode of "primarily mechanical modulation and secondarily lightweight electronic modulation," high-precision and highly realistic simulation of slowly varying and irregular solar scintillation is achieved. Simultaneously, the impact of electromagnetic interference is reduced, the frequency control range is expanded, the equipment modification process is simplified, and the engineering practicality is improved.

[0045] The specific embodiments of the present invention described above do not constitute a limitation on the scope of protection of the present invention. Any other corresponding changes and modifications made in accordance with the technical concept of the present invention should be included within the scope of protection of the claims of the present invention.

Claims

1. A solar scintillation simulation device, characterized in that, include: Light source components, used to emit basic light that simulates sunlight; A modulation assembly includes a frame, a drive component, and a rotating component. The drive component is fixed to the frame, and the rotating component is connected to the drive component in a transmission manner. A through hole is formed on the radial surface of the rotating component, and the rotating component rotates under the action of the drive component to adjust the amount of the basic light passing through the through hole. A control component is electrically connected to both the light source component and the driving component.

2. The solar scintillation simulation device according to claim 1, characterized in that, The rotating component is a target wheel, the driving component is an adjustable speed motor, the center hole of the target wheel is fixedly connected to the output shaft of the adjustable speed motor, and two through holes of equal size are opened on the radial surface of the target wheel.

3. The solar scintillation simulation device according to claim 2, characterized in that, The modulation component further includes a field stop, which is disposed between the light source component and the rotating component and close to the rotating component. The field stop is aligned with the light-emitting end of the light source component and is electrically connected to the control component.

4. The solar scintillation simulation device according to claim 1, characterized in that, The light source assembly includes a mounting bracket, a halogen lamp, and a light source regulator. The halogen lamp is fixed on the mounting bracket, and the light source regulator is electrically connected to both the halogen lamp and the control component. The control component adjusts the power of the halogen lamp through the light source regulator.

5. The solar scintillation simulation device according to claim 4, characterized in that, The light source assembly also includes a heat sink, which is fixed on the mounting bracket. The heat sink's heat dissipation end faces the halogen lamp, and the heat sink is electrically connected to the control assembly.

6. A method for controlling solar scintillation simulation, used to control the solar scintillation simulation device according to any one of claims 1-5, characterized in that, Includes the following steps: Input preset simulation parameters into the control component; The light source component is controlled to emit basic light simulating sunlight according to preset simulation parameters; The driving component of the control modulation component drives the rotating component to rotate at a target speed. The amount of basic light passing through the through hole formed on the radial surface of the rotating component is adjusted to achieve modulation of sunlight flicker simulation.

7. The method for simulating solar scintillation control according to claim 6, characterized in that, The control light source component emits basic light simulating sunlight according to preset simulation parameters, specifically including: The halogen lamp is adjusted to a preset power by controlling the light source regulator; Adjust the field stop to the preset basic aperture.

8. The method for simulating solar scintillation control according to claim 7, characterized in that, The power adjustment range of the halogen lamp by the light source regulator is ±5% of the preset power.

9. The method for simulating and controlling solar scintillation according to claim 6, characterized in that, The driving component adjusts the rotational speed of the rotating component within a range of 0.5 rpm to 60 rpm from the target rotational speed.

10. The method for simulating solar scintillation control according to claim 6, characterized in that: The control method further includes using a heat sink to dissipate heat from the light source assembly.

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