Orientation indicating apparatus, solar power generation apparatus, and program

Abstract

To facilitate an adjustment operation for orienting an adjustment target part to directly face, at a target time, an orientation of a target object whose orientation changes over time.SOLUTION: The present invention relates to an orientation indicating apparatus 1 in which an orientation indicating unit 2 is supported so as to be relatively movable with respect to a support unit 3. The apparatus includes: an adjustment target part 4 adjusted to directly face an orientation of a target object whose orientation changes over time; and a plurality of time indication parts 5 respectively representing two or more different times, the adjustment target part 4 and the plurality of time indication parts 5 being provided on the support unit 3 with a positional relation therebetween fixed. The plurality of time indication parts 5 are respectively arranged at indication positions indicated by the orientation indicating unit 2 when the support unit 3 is moved such that the adjustment target part 4 directly faces the orientation of the target object at the corresponding times.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a direction indicating device, a solar power generation device, and a program. [Background technology]

[0002] Patent Document 1 discloses a solar cell device in which the installation orientation of a solar cell (adjustment target part) can be determined by a magnetic needle (orientation indicator). This device has a magnetic needle and a direction scale provided on part of the cover, and the solar cell is attached to the cover so that the solar cell faces the sun (target) when the magnetic needle is aligned with the direction scale. Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0003] However, conventional devices have a problem in that it can be difficult to adjust the solar cell so that it faces the direction of the sun depending on the time of day. This problem can occur widely when performing adjustment work to face the adjustment target part directly to the direction of a target object whose orientation changes over time. [Means for solving the problem]

[0004] The present invention is an orientation indicating device in which an orientation indicating unit is supported so as to be movable relative to a support unit, and is characterized in that an adjustment target unit, which is adjusted to face the orientation of a target object whose orientation changes over time, and a plurality of time display units, each representing two or more different times, are provided on the support unit with their relative positions fixed, and the plurality of time display units are each disposed at an indication position indicated by the orientation indicating unit when the support unit is moved so that the adjustment target unit faces the orientation of the target object at the corresponding time. [Effects of the Invention]

[0005] According to the present invention, it is possible to facilitate the adjustment work of orienting the adjustment target part at a target time so that it faces the orientation of a target object whose orientation changes over time. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0006] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is an explanatory diagram showing the configuration of a direction indicating device according to a first embodiment. [Figure 2] An explanatory diagram showing the positional relationship between the sun's direction and the installation reference line when the rotational position of the dial is adjusted so that the end of the magnetic needle coincides with the time marking corresponding to 9 o'clock. [Figure 3] FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of a solar power generation panel whose orientation is adjusted by the orientation indicating device. [Figure 4] FIG. 10 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of a solar power generation device according to a second embodiment. [Figure 5] FIG. 10 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of a fixing means for detachably fixing an orientation indicating device to a solar power generation panel, as a modified example of the solar power generation device. [Figure 6] FIG. 10 is an explanatory diagram illustrating an example of a screen displayed on a display of a smartphone that executes a program according to an embodiment. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0007] [Embodiment 1] An embodiment (first embodiment) of a direction indicating device according to the present invention will be described below. In this embodiment 1, an orientation indicating device used to adjust the orientation of a portable solar power generation device so that the solar power generation panel of the solar power generation device faces the orientation of the target object, the sun, at a target time will be described as an example. However, the present invention can be widely applied to cases where an adjustment target part is adjusted so that it faces the orientation of a target object whose orientation changes over time.

[0008] FIG. 1 is an explanatory diagram showing the configuration of the direction indicating device according to the first embodiment. The direction indicating device 1 of this embodiment 1 is mainly composed of a magnetic needle 2 as the direction indicating part, a dial 3 as the support part, an installation reference line 4 as the part to be adjusted, and a time marking print 5 as the time marking part.

[0009] The magnetic needle 2 is a long member made of a magnet supported on the dial 3 so that it can move (rotate) relative to the axis, and due to the action of the earth's magnetic field, the indicator end 2a, which is one end in the longitudinal direction (the end on the south pole side), functions as a direction indicator that points to the specified direction, south.

[0010] The dial 3 has a surface that is perpendicular to the axis of rotation of the magnetic needle 2, and the installation reference line 4 and the time marking print 5 are printed on the surface of the dial. Therefore, the installation reference line 4 and the time marking print 5 are provided on the dial 3 with their relative positions fixed.

[0011] The installation reference line 4 functions as an adjustment target that is adjusted to face the solar direction. In the first embodiment, the installation reference line 4 facing the solar direction means that the direction perpendicular to the installation reference line 4 faces the solar direction or faces within a predetermined direction range that includes the solar direction. This predetermined direction range can be set appropriately, and may be set, for example, to cover differences in the movement of the sun depending on the time of year (differences in the pattern of change over time in the solar direction).

[0012] The time indicator printout 5 is made up of a plurality of numbers each representing two or more different times, but may be any other type of letter, symbol, mark, or the like as long as the marking allows the user to recognize the time. In this embodiment 1, 13 numbers ("6" to "18") indicating the time at one-hour intervals over the approximate time range when the sun is up in Japan (the time range from 6:00 to 18:00) are printed on the dial 3 as the time indicator printout 5. These time indicator printouts 5 are arranged in an arc of approximately 180° along the path that the indicating end (south pole end) 2a of the rotating magnetic needle 2 can follow as the magnetic needle rotates.

[0013] Specifically, these time markings 5 ​​are arranged at the positions indicated by the indicator end 2a of the magnetic needle 2 when the dial 3 is moved (rotated) so that the installation reference line 4 is directly facing the direction of the sun at the corresponding time. As a result, these time markings 5 ​​are arranged in a counterclockwise order (so that the numbers representing the time increase) as shown in Figure 1.

[0014] Figure 2 is an explanatory diagram showing the positional relationship between the sun's direction and the installation reference line 4 when the rotational position of the dial 3 is adjusted so that the indicating end 2a of the magnetic needle 2 is aligned with the time marking print 5-9 of "9", which corresponds to 9 o'clock. 2 shows the orientation indicating device 1 of this embodiment 1, as well as time displays 21 (numbers "6" to "18") indicating the time at the orientation where the sun is located at each time. Therefore, these time displays 21 are arranged so that the time advances (the hour numbers increase) in clockwise order in accordance with the direction of change over time of the sun's orientation (the direction shown by the arrow in FIG. 2).

[0015] At 9 o'clock, the sun is located in the direction of the 9 o'clock time display 21-9 (roughly in the southeast direction) relative to the direction indicating device 1, as indicated by the reference symbol 20-9 in Fig. 2. At this time, if the dial 3 of the direction indicating device 1 is rotated and adjusted so that the indicator end 2a of the magnetic needle 2 is aligned with the 9 o'clock time marking print 5-9 on the dial 3 as shown in Fig. 2, the installation reference line 4 on the dial 3 will face directly in the direction of the sun 20-9, that is, the direction perpendicular to the installation reference line 4 will face the direction of the sun 20-9.

[0016] The direction indicating device 1 of this embodiment 1 is not limited to 9 o'clock, and is similar to other times. That is, if the user rotates the dial 3 and aligns the indicating end 2a of the magnetic needle 2 with the time marking print 5 corresponding to the target time at which the user wants the installation reference line 4 to be directly aligned with the direction of the sun, the installation reference line 4 can be directly aligned with the direction of the sun at that target time.

[0017] The direction indicating device 1 of the first embodiment is used, for example, to adjust the orientation of a solar power generation panel (hereinafter also simply referred to as "panel") 11 of a solar power generation device 10 as shown in FIG. 3 so that the panel 11 faces the direction of the sun at a target time. In a specific adjustment operation, for example, a user places the direction indicating device 1 on the installation surface (e.g., the ground) of the panel 11 and rotates the dial 3 (or, if the dial 3 is integrated with the housing of the direction indicating device 1, rotates the housing of the direction indicating device 1 itself) so that the indicating end 2a of the magnetic needle 2 is aligned with the time marking print 5 corresponding to the target time. The target time may be the current time or a future time at which the user wants the panel 11 to face the direction of the sun.

[0018] Thereafter, the user installs the panel 11 so that the installation reference line 4 of the adjusted orientation indicating device 1 is parallel to the reference line 11a (for example, the bottom side of the panel 11) of the panel 11. By installing the panel 11 in this manner, the panel 11 faces the direction of the sun at the target time, and the panel 11 can generate power with maximum efficiency at the target time.

[0019] The direction indicating device 1 of this embodiment 1 is particularly suitable for use in cases where power is generated by the panel 11 for only a limited time of the day, rather than when power is generated by the panel 11 all day long. For example, if the solar power generation panel 11 is to be used for only one hour around 9:00 in the morning, the indicating end 2a of the magnetic needle 2 is adjusted to match the 9:00 time marking 5-9 on the dial 3 of the direction indicating device 1, and the panel 11 is installed in line with the installation reference line 4 on the dial 3, allowing the panel 11 to generate power with high efficiency close to maximum efficiency, ensuring a large amount of power generation even in a short period of time.

[0020] Furthermore, if the panel 11 is left unattended without readjusting the installation direction of the panel 11 using the direction indicating device 1 during the period in which the panel 11 is used, a larger amount of power can be generated by setting the target time for installing the panel 11 to be, for example, the midpoint of the period in which the panel 11 is used (for example, 10:00 if the period in which the panel 11 is used is between 9:00 and 11:00).

[0021] [Embodiment 2] Next, a second embodiment of the solar power generation device according to the present invention will be described. FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of a solar power generation device 10′ according to the second embodiment, in which a direction indicating device 1′ is mounted on a panel 11. As shown in FIG.

[0022] In the solar power generation device 10' of the second embodiment, the dial 3 of the direction indicating device 1' is provided integrally with the panel 11. Therefore, the installation reference line 4 in the first embodiment described above is not necessary, and the installation reference line 4 is not provided on the dial 3 in the direction indicating device 1' of the solar power generation device 10' of the second embodiment.

[0023] On the other hand, the multiple time indicator printouts 5 provided on the dial 3 of the orientation indicating device 1' are similar to those of the above-mentioned orientation indicating device 1. That is, the time indicator printouts 5 of the orientation indicating device 1' are each arranged at the position indicated by the indicating end 2a of the magnetic needle 2 when the panel 11 is moved (rotated) so that the panel 11 faces the direction of the sun at the corresponding time.

[0024] In the above-described first embodiment, the orientation indicating device 1 is adjusted so that the indicating end 2a of the magnetic needle 2 is aligned with the time marking print 5 corresponding to the target time, and then the panel 11 is installed in alignment with the installation reference line 4 of the orientation indicating device 1. In contrast, in the second embodiment, the installation of the panel 11 is completed at the same time as the adjustment work is completed so that the indicating end 2a of the magnetic needle 2 is aligned with the time marking print 5 corresponding to the target time, so there are fewer work steps than in the first embodiment.

[0025] The dial 3 of the direction indicating device 1 and the panel 11 may be integrated using a fixing means (for example, a clip 30 as shown in FIG. 5) that detachably fixes the direction indicating device 1 in a predetermined position relative to the panel 11. In this case, too, the number of work steps can be reduced, as in the second embodiment.

[0026] [Embodiment 3] Next, an embodiment (third embodiment) of the program according to the present invention will be described. FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of a screen displayed on a display (display means) 43 of a smartphone (direction indicating device) 40 that executes a program according to the third embodiment. The program (application program) in the third embodiment functions as a control means that causes a computer installed in the smartphone 40 to realize the same functions as those of the direction indicating device 1 in the first embodiment described above.

[0027] The program of the third embodiment displays an orientation indication image 42 indicating a predetermined orientation ("east" in the illustrated example) on the display 43 so as to move according to the direction of the predetermined orientation. In the example of Fig. 6, the top end of the smartphone 40 (the top end in the figure) is facing east, and therefore the orientation indication image 42 is displayed on the top end side of the smartphone 40 on the display 43.

[0028] Furthermore, the program of the present embodiment 3 displays, on the display 43 of the smartphone 40, an installation reference line image 44 as an adjustment target image to be adjusted so as to face the azimuth of the target sun 20-12, and a plurality of time marker images 45, with their relative positions fixed. In the present embodiment 3, seven numbers ("6," "8," . . . , "18") indicating times at two-hour intervals over a time range from 6:00 to 18:00 are displayed on the display 43 as time marker images 45. These time marker images 45 are respectively arranged at positions indicated by the azimuth indicating image 42 when the display 43 of the smartphone 40 is moved (rotated) so that the installation reference line image 44 faces the azimuth of the sun at the corresponding times. As a result, these time marker images 45 are also arranged side by side so that the time advances counterclockwise (so that the numbers representing the time increase).

[0029] In the third embodiment, for example, as shown in Fig. 6, the display 43 of the smartphone 40 is rotated and adjusted so that the orientation indication image 42 matches the 12 o'clock time mark image 45-9 displayed on the display 43. As a result, the installation reference line image 44 displayed on the display 43 faces the orientation of the sun 20-9 at 12 o'clock, that is, the direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the installation reference line image 44 faces the orientation of the sun 20-12 at 12 o'clock (approximately "south"). Of course, this is not limited to 12 o'clock, and is similar for other times.

[0030] According to the third embodiment, a computer device such as a smartphone 40 carried by a user is used as an orientation indicating device, and the installation reference line image 44 can be made to face the sun's orientation at the target time, similar to the orientation indicating device 1 of the first embodiment described above. Therefore, by installing the panel 11 in accordance with the installation reference line image 44 displayed on the display 43 of the adjusted smartphone 40, the panel 11 will face the sun's orientation at the target time, enabling the panel 11 to generate power at maximum efficiency at the target time.

[0031] The above description is merely an example, and the present invention provides unique effects for each of the following aspects. [First aspect] The first embodiment is an orientation indicating device 1 in which an orientation indicating section (e.g., a magnetic needle 2) is supported so as to be movable relative to a support section (e.g., a dial 3), and an adjustment target section (e.g., an installation reference line 4) that is adjusted to face the orientation of a target object (e.g., the sun) whose orientation changes over time, and a plurality of time display sections (e.g., time display print 5) that respectively represent two or more different times are provided on the support section with their relative positions fixed, and the plurality of time display sections are each positioned at the indicated positions indicated by the orientation indicating section when the support section is moved so that the adjustment target section faces the orientation of the target object at the corresponding time. In conventional devices, there is only one compass scale to which the magnetic needle (compass indicator) is aligned, and therefore when the device is set up so that the magnetic needle is aligned with the compass scale, the solar cell (the part to be adjusted) faces only one direction (for example, southward). Therefore, when the sun (target object), whose orientation changes over time, is located in that one direction, the solar cell faces directly in the direction of the sun, but at times other than that, the solar cell does not face directly in the direction of the sun but faces in a direction that is offset from the sun. Therefore, the adjustment process of aligning the magnetic needle with the compass scale does not allow the solar cell to face directly in the direction of the sun at times other than the time when the solar cell is located in that one direction. Furthermore, in conventional devices, when adjusting the solar cell to face the sun's direction at a time that deviates from the time when the solar cell is located in that one direction, it is possible to consider adjusting the magnetic needle to match a position that is deviated from the direction scale, taking into account that aligning the magnetic needle with the direction scale will cause the solar cell to face a direction that is deviated from the sun. However, the user must have knowledge of how far the magnetic needle should be deviated from the direction scale to face the solar cell to the sun's direction at that time, making such adjustments difficult for the average user. The problems with such conventional devices are not limited to adjustments to ensure that the solar cell faces directly in relation to the direction of the sun, but can also arise in any case where adjustments are made to ensure that the part to be adjusted faces directly in relation to the direction of a target object whose orientation changes over time. In this embodiment, when the support unit is moved so that the orientation indicator aligns with the time display unit corresponding to the target time at which the adjustment target unit is to be aligned with the target orientation, the adjustment target unit supported by the support unit is adjusted to be aligned with the target orientation at the target time. In this embodiment, multiple time display units are provided, each representing two or more times. Therefore, at least for these two or more times, the adjustment target unit can be aligned with the target orientation at the time by simply aligning the orientation indicator with the time display unit corresponding to the time. Furthermore, even for times other than the two or more times, the user can easily determine (estimate) the position outside the time display units to which the orientation indicator should be aligned to align the adjustment target unit with the target orientation, based on the arrangement of the multiple time display units. Even users without special knowledge can easily perform the adjustment to align the adjustment target unit with the target orientation at times other than the two or more times.

[0032] [Second mode] The second aspect is a solar power generation device comprising a solar power generation panel 11 and an orientation indicating device 1' in which an orientation indicating unit (e.g., a magnetic needle 2) is supported so as to be relatively movable on a support unit (e.g., a dial 3) integrally provided on the solar power generation panel, and the support unit is provided with a plurality of time display units (e.g., time display print 5) each representing two or more different times, and the plurality of time display units are each positioned at the indicated positions indicated by the orientation indicating unit when the solar power generation panel is moved so as to face the sun's orientation at the corresponding time. In this aspect, the solar power generation panel can be made to face the solar azimuth at at least two or more times simply by performing a simple adjustment of aligning the azimuth indicator with the time indicator corresponding to the time. Also, in this aspect, even a user without special knowledge can easily make an adjustment to face the solar power generation panel to face the solar azimuth at a time that is different from the two or more times.

[0033] [Third aspect] The third aspect is a program executed by a computer of an orientation indicating device (e.g., smartphone 40) equipped with a display means (e.g., display 43), which causes the display means to display an orientation indicating image 42 indicating a predetermined orientation (e.g., "east") so that it moves according to the direction of the predetermined orientation, and causes the display means to display an adjustment target image (e.g., installation reference line image 44) that is adjusted to face the orientation of a target object (e.g., the sun) whose orientation changes over time, and multiple time marker images 45 that each represent two or more different times, with their relative positions fixed, and causes the computer to function as control means that displays the multiple time marker images at the positions indicated by the orientation indicating image when the display means is moved so that the adjustment target image faces the orientation of the target object at the corresponding time. In this aspect, the solar power generation panel can be made to face the solar azimuth at at least two or more times simply by performing a simple adjustment of aligning the azimuth indicator with the time indicator corresponding to the time. Also, in this aspect, even a user without special knowledge can easily make an adjustment to face the solar power generation panel to face the solar azimuth at a time that is different from the two or more times. [Explanation of symbols]

[0034] 1,1': Compass indicator 2: Magnetic needle 3: Dial 4: Installation reference line 5: Time marking print 10,10': Solar power generation device 11: Solar power generation panel 11a: Reference line 30: Clip 40: Smartphone 42: Compass indicator image 43: Display 44: Installation reference line image 45: Time marking image [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0035] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Utility Model Application Publication No. 59-132656

Claims

1. An azimuth indicating device in which an azimuth indicating section is supported so as to be relatively movable with respect to a support section, an adjustment target section that is adjusted so as to face the direction of a target object whose direction changes over time, and a plurality of time display sections that respectively indicate two or more different times, are provided on the support section with their relative positions fixed; The plurality of time indicating units are each disposed at a position indicated by the orientation indicating unit when the support unit is moved so that the adjustment target unit faces the orientation of the target object at the corresponding time.

2. A solar power generation system including a solar power generation panel and an orientation indicating device in which an orientation indicating unit is supported on a support unit integrally provided on the solar power generation panel so as to be relatively movable, The support portion is provided with a plurality of time display portions each representing two or more different times, The solar power generation device is characterized in that the multiple time display units are each positioned at the indicated positions indicated by the orientation indication unit when the solar power generation panel is moved so that it faces the sun's orientation at the corresponding time.

3. A program executed by a computer of a direction indicating device having a display means, A program that causes the computer to function as control means for displaying on the display means an orientation indication image that indicates a predetermined orientation so that it moves in accordance with the direction of the predetermined orientation, and for displaying on the display means an adjustment target image that is adjusted to face the orientation of a target object whose orientation changes over time, and a plurality of time marker images that each represent two or more different times, with their relative positions fixed, and for displaying the plurality of time marker images at the positions indicated by the orientation indication image when the display means is moved so that the adjustment target image faces the orientation of the target object at the corresponding time.

Images