494 results about "Position of the Sun" patented technology

This invention generally relates to automated shade systems that employ one or more algorithms to provide appropriate solar protection from direct solar penetration; reduce solar heat gain; reduce radiant surface temperatures; control penetration of the solar ray, optimize the interior natural daylighting of a structure and optimize the efficiency of interior lighting systems. The invention additionally comprises a motorized window covering, radiometers, and a central control system that uses algorithms to optimize the interior lighting of a structure. These algorithms include information such as: geodesic coordinates of a building; solar position; solar angle solar radiation; solar penetration angles; solar intensity; the measured brightness and veiling glare across a surface; time, solar altitude, solar azimuth, detected sky conditions, ASHRAE sky models, sunrise and sunset times, surface orientations of windows, incidence angles of the sun striking windows, window covering positions, minimum BTU load and solar heat gain.

A system and methods for the automated display of a borderless sun glare block area and sunshield in a windshield, which can be made of electrochromatic glass, in a motor vehicle driven at any time and at any location on earth is presented. The first method, which accurately calculates the precise position of the sun glare block area, is based on the apparent solar position, the direction of travel relative to the true North, the slope of the road, the windshield tilt angle, and the dynamic position of the driver's eyes. It uses sets of different formulas depending on the position of the sun glare on the windshield and the slope of the road. The second method calculates the changing opacities of the borderless sun glare block area, whose opacity decreases from its center to its edge and matches that of the sunshield, based on the ambient light intensity.

It includes at least one module with a concave reflecting mirror surface which concentrates the light radiation towards certain devices in order to then obtain electrical or other type of energy. It also includes means for orienting that mirror surface according to the position of the sun.It is characterised in principle in that each module comprises a thin lightweight laminar body with an arched structure which incorporates the concave mirror surface, this laminar body being associated with certain stiffening supports which stabilise and stiffen that arched structure in order to maintain this shape, said structure being supported on some ground with the interposition of guide means by which the arched structure at least tilts towards one side or the other depending on the light sensor or timer which activates a device that positions each module in real time with the required orientation according to the position of the sun.

A method, apparatus, and article of manufacture provide the ability to display a sun and shadow simulation in a 3D system. A 3D view of a real world scene is displayed, using a 3D graphics application, on a display device. A plug-in is installed into the application. A calendar period (e.g., a month, day, and year) is defined by the user. A timeline arc is displayed with the calendar period defining a radius of the arc, and starting stopping endpoints of the timeline arc defining an interval of time during the calendar period. A timeline slider is displayed on the arc that indicates a time of day within the calendar period. A visualization is displayed, in the 3D view, of shadows cast by a sun on objects in the 3D view. A position of the sun is based on the calendar period and the time of day.

A mirror or other reflecting surface is used for collecting and reflecting incident solar radiation. The mirror is supported for independent motion about a pair of axes. An accelerometer generates signals representative of an amount and direction of motion of the mirror about each of the axes. Motors or other drive mechanisms independently drive the mirror about each of the axes. A tracking device provides information about the current position of the Sun. A control is connected to the accelerometer, the motors and the tracking device for maintaining a predetermined optimum orientation of the mirror as the Sun moves across the sky.

A vehicle forming a self-balancing human transporter, or “gyropode”, including a photovoltaic module to charge a battery electrically or to partially power an electric motor electrically from solar energy. The photovoltaic module includes a first portion which is fixed and extends along a standing and driving handle, and a second portion which is retractable between an extreme retracted position in which it allows the gyropode to be moved, and an extreme deployed position in which it acts as a stand for holding the gyropode when stopped with a determined inclination enabling optimum efficiency of the photovoltaic module to be obtained relative to a position of the sun.

A polarization camera that can capture polarization images and a color image at the same time is used. Specifically, a clear sky polarization image, which provides information about the polarization of a part of the sky, is captured by a clear sky polarization image capturing section 100. And by reference to the information provided by a sun position determining section 1301 that determines the sun's position at the time of shooting, a camera direction estimating section 101 determines in what direction and in what area of the whole sky the clear sky polarization image is located as a polarization pattern. Finally, information about what direction or orientation on the globe the camera (image capture device) is now facing is output. In this manner, the direction of the camera and the relative position of the camera with respect to the sun can be known without providing a sensor separately and without capturing the whole sky or the sun.

A transportable, self-contained, solar power system comprised of a plurality of individual solar power arrays, each array being contained within a transportable frame. Each array is folded into a frame during transportation. Upon reaching a desired location, the frame is positioned at a desired location. The frame then acts as a base while its solar power array is activated and deployed. The array has the capability of tracking the position of the sun during deployment. Each frame has a global positioning system (GPS) and a controller containing a chart of sun locations for a given location. The controller positions a frame's solar array to maximize the array's exposure to the sun. Each frame has a battery system, enabling a frame's solar array to self-start after a period of darkness.

A vehicle forming a self-balancing human transporter, or “gyropode”, including a photovoltaic module to charge a battery electrically or to partially power an electric motor electrically from solar energy. The photovoltaic module includes a first portion which is fixed and extends along a standing and driving handle, and a second portion which is retractable between an extreme retracted position in which it allows the gyropode to be moved, and an extreme deployed position in which it acts as a stand for holding the gyropode when stopped with a determined inclination enabling optimum efficiency of the photovoltaic module to be obtained relative to a position of the sun.

An automated method causes a terrestrial solar cell array to track the sun. The solar cell system includes motors that adjust a position of the array along different respective axes with respect to the sun, wherein a first motor adjusts the inclination angle of the array relative to the surface of the earth and a second motor rotates the array about an axis substantially perpendicular to that surface. The method includes (a) using a software algorithm to predict a position of the sun at a future time; (b) using a computer model to determine respective positions for the motors corresponding to the solar cell array being substantially aligned with the sun at the future time; and (c) activating and operating the motors at respective particular speeds so that at the future time the solar cell array is substantially aligned with the sun. The future time may correspond to any time during operation. An initial future time may correspond to a start up time after sunrise at which point the solar cell is to begin tracking the sun.

A man-made island [10], adaptable for land-based or sea-based operation, holds an array of photovoltaic solar collectors [421] aligned with an array of linear Fresnel lenses [422], which concentrate solar radiation on the photovoltaic solar collectors [421]. The island [10] is rotatable to optimize the angular orientation thereof relative to the position of the sun. More particularly, the man-made island [10] uses a platform [12] that includes a large outer ring [14] that floats on a fluid, and a flexible cover [16] attached to the ring [14] to define an airtight volume [30] below the cover [16]. A plurality of rows [419] of supports [420] are located above the cover [16], and carry the photovoltaic panels [421]. A compressor or blower [32] creates an over-pressure within the enclosed volume [30] to assist in supporting the cover [16] and the other components mounted thereabove. The supports [420] use brackets [431] to mount the photovoltaic panels [421] in optimum orientation relative to the lenses [422], and also support cooling device, such as fins [433], or a heat exchanger [436], or a fiber-laden conduit [437], thereby to cool the corresponding photovoltaic panels [421] and to optimize efficiency.

A manmade island [10], adaptable for land-based or sea-based operation holds solar energy collection facilities and is rotatable to optimize the angular orientation thereof relative to the position of the sun. More particularly, the man-made island [10] uses a platform [12] that includes a large outer ring [14] that floats on a fluid, and a flexible cover [16] attached to the ring [14] to define an airtight volume [30] below the cover [16]. A plurality of rows [19] of solar radiation collector modules are located above the cover [16], and carry steam generating heat pipes [21]. The rows [19] of modules are supported laterally above the cover [16] by an upper support structure, either a space frame [27], a plurality of cables [46] or a honeycomb [75]. A compressor [32] creates an over-pressure within the enclosed volume [30] to vertically support the cover [16] and the other components mounted thereabove. This structure for supporting the rows [19] of the solar radiation collector modules enables the man-made island [10] to be constructed with a very large surface area, eventually up to several kilometers in diameter, to better utilize the full potential of the solar concentrators [22], thereby to produce electricity at an economically viable cost. The man-made island [10] includes a number of other structural features that enhance the practical application of solar radiation collection technology.

A mirror or other reflecting surface is used for collecting and reflecting incident solar radiation. The mirror is supported for independent motion about a pair of axes. An accelerometer generates signals representative of an amount and direction of motion of the mirror about each of the axes. Motors or other drive mechanisms independently drive the mirror about each of the axes. A tracking device provides information about the current position of the Sun. A control is connected to the accelerometer, the motors and the tracking device for maintaining a predetermined optimum orientation of the mirror as the Sun moves across the sky. Position sensors that sense the position of the mirror relative to the earth's magnetic field may also be employed.

A method uses a smart phone having SMS text and location (GPS) capability for automatically generating messages and contacting emergency services through SMS messaging capability rather a verbal communication along with the vital information related to the caller in an emergency situation. The emergency response center uses the information to parse standardized emergency SMS messages to quickly yield critical information related to the number, priority and the geographical distribution of the emergency cases for planning of the most efficient response with available resources. The data and prioritizing may take into account time of day or night by position of the sun and moon relative to current location of the smart phone.

A dual-channel sunload sensor capable of sensing the intensity and directionality of the solar radiative power entering the cabin of a car through the windshield, for the purpose of providing information to the data processing system of the car that enables a control of the air conditioning system that optimizes the comfort of the driver and of the front passenger. Signals from the sensor offer reliable indications of the solar load power and directionality for a wide range of angular positions of the sun. The sensor includes two convex transparent parts collecting light each toward a respective photodiode, the transparent parts being separated by an opaque portion.

A concentrating solar collector comprises concentrating solar collector modules mounted on a frame. Each concentrating solar collector module comprises a trough with a lens sheet over its open face. The troughs each have a cross section that is substantially V shaped with a truncated (or flattened) base. The lens sheet incorporates a linear array of ten lenses in a row along its length. Each lens of the lens sheet is a circularly symmetric Fresnel lens. The concentrating solar collector modules can each rotate about a rocking axis parallel to their length. The concentrating solar collector modules can also rotate about a pitch axis substantially at their midpoints. This allows the lenses to track the position of the sun in the sky.

The invention discloses a biaxial automatic tracking device and a biaxial automatic tracking method for a maximum power point of a solar panel. The device comprises a pre-starting module, a sun detection module, a position control module, a driving module, a maximum power point control module, a maximum power point tracking module and a power module, wherein both the pre-starting module and the sun detection module consist of optic probe circuits; both the position control module and the maximum power point control module consist of singlechip circuits and 16-bit interruption circuits; the driving module consists of a direct current motor driving circuit; and the maximum power point tracking module consists of a solar cell panel circuit and a circuit with a maximum power point tracking (MPPT) function. In the method, the position of the sun is tracked along the vertical direction and the horizontal direction; a solar cell panel is driven to be perpendicular to light; and the maximum output power point of the solar cell panel is tracked by a perturbation and observation method to utilize converted solar energy to the greatest extent. By the device and the method, the utilization efficiency of the solar energy can be effectively improved; and the device has a simple structure, is low in cost and has great application and popularization values.

The invention discloses a double-direction solar panel control method applicable to an inclined orbit satellite. The double-direction solar panel control method comprises the steps that a mathematic model of the positional relation between the inclined orbit satellite and the sun is built and used for quantitative description of the motion law of the sun relative to the satellite; a solar panel driving error is defined according to the mathematic model and used as input of solar panel driving control; the law of solar panel capture control is determined, so that a solar panel is made to find the sun; the law of solar panel tracing control is determined, so that solar panel sun-targeted orientation is realized through sun tracing. According to the double-direction solar panel control method applicable to the inclined orbit satellite, the solar panel driving law and satellite yawing maneuvering are combined, and the problem that the inclined orbit satellite realizes sun-targeted orientation through a one-dimensional solar panel driving mechanism is solved; judgment and adjustment can be carried out autonomously according to the motion direction of the sun according to the forward flight and inverted flight of the satellite, and correct capture of the sun by the solar panel under different initial conditions is realized; forward driving control and inverted driving control of sun-targeted orientation of the solar panel are realized according to the forward flight and inverted flight of the satellite.

A system for solar energy utilization is described. The system comprises a solar receiver, a solar energy concentrator mounted on a pole extending from the solar receiver along the main axis of the system, and a solar tracking system. The solar receiver is configured for receiving solar energy from the sun and concentrating the received solar energy at a predetermined spot area. The solar receiver includes a plurality of flexible mirrors independent of each other and radially arranged around a main axis of the system. The flexible mirrors are configured to be either deployed for operation or collapsed, for example for transportation or in the cases of possible damage of the system. The solar energy concentrator is located at the predetermined spot area in which the solar energy reflected from said plurality of flexible mirrors is concentrated, and configured for converting the concentrated reflected energy into electric energy. The solar tracking system is configured for sensing position of the sun and tilting the system for directing the solar receiver towards the sun to receive and reflect maximum sunlight onto the predetermined spot area.

A heating and cooling system for an enclosure includes a positionable solar panel assembly that supplies power to all the power consuming components of the system. A mountable sun tracking assembly continuously detects the position of the sun and adjusts the position of the solar panels to follow the movement of the sun during the day and to reposition the solar panels in the evening to receive the morning sun the following day. One or more ventilation assemblies mountable in one or more openings in the enclosure controllably supplies heated or cooled air into the enclosure, evacuating inside air, re-circulating inside air, and / or circulating outside air in response to control signals from the sun tracking assembly. A control box mounted inside the enclosure selectively controls operation and testing of the system. A dome is provided as an aesthetic covering for the ventilation assembly.

A solar tracking system, including: a horizontal support; a panel frame connected to the horizontal support such that the panel frame can be tilted forwards and backwards, with a solar battery installed on the panel frame; a support unit connected both to the horizontal support and to the panel frame such that the support unit in cooperation with the horizontal support and the panel frame forms a triangular arrangement, wherein the support unit is slidably connected to either the horizontal support or the panel frame such that the support unit can slide relative to either the horizontal support or to the panel frame, thus tilting the panel frame forwards and backwards according to variations in a slidable position thereof; and a drive unit for sliding the support unit relative to the horizontal support or the panel frame. The solar tracking system realizes a simple, stable support structure and allows the solar battery panel to track the position of the sun with a low amount of power.

A modular linear solar energy collection system comprises one or more reflector units each having a light-weight generally planar aluminum frame that mounts a number of solar panels in a fixed position at angles which progressively increase from the frame centerline outwardly to its perimeter so as to collectively form a surface having a shape approximating that of a parabola. The focal line of such parabola is coincident with a secondary reflector which receives sunlight incident on the solar panels and reflects such light onto a receiver tube mounted in a fixed position concentric to the centerline of the frame. The frame is connected to a drive mechanism operative to pivot the frame and solar panels in order to track the position of the sun during the course of a day.

The invention belongs to the technical field of solar energy application, in particular relates to an automatic sun tracking system of a solar collector. The system consists of a motor which drives the solar collector to track the sun, a mechanical transmission mechanism and a tracking control circuit which controls the mechanical transmission mechanism to operate; the system is characterized in that a GPS receiver arranged on the solar collector and an attitude sensor are used for outputting the signals of the position, the orientation, and the like, of the collector to a microprocessor; the microprocessor outputs control signals to the motor, so as to control the mechanical transmission mechanism to drive the solar collector to face the sun directly after working out the difference value of the orientation of the collector and the position of the sun. The system can realize the accurate all-round sun tracking in real time by adopting the GPS location finding technique without the influence of weather and environment, and is suitable for the solar collector which has the fixed position on the earth or the solar collector which is arranged on the moving car body and a transocean vessel to track the sun.

A modular linear solar energy collection system comprises one or more reflector units each having a light-weight generally planar aluminum frame that mounts a number of solar panels in a fixed position at angles which progressively increase from the frame centerline outwardly to its perimeter so as to collectively form a surface having a shape approximating that of a parabola. Sunlight incident on the solar panels is reflected by a combination of secondary and tertiary reflectors onto a receiver tube mounted in a fixed position concentric to the centerline of the frame. The frame is connected to a drive mechanism operative to pivot the frame and solar panels in order to track the position of the sun during the course of a day.

The invention relates to a tracking method aiming at single axis solar energy and provides a solar energy tracking method with umbra versa tracking. The solar energy tracking method with the umbra versa tracking accurately calculates positions of the Sun based on modern astronomical algorithms, calculates shadow length of solar panel assemblies and adjusts angles of the solar panel assemblies according to the width of the assemblies and distance between the front and back rows of the solar panel assemblies. Therefore, at any time no shadow can be generated along the east-and-west directions of the front and back rows of the solar panel assemblies, the effects that the sun light is perpendicular to the solar panel assemblies and the light intensity is maximized are achieved, and the photovoltaic conversion rate is increased. The solar energy tracking method with the umbra versa tracking is small in energy consumption, applicable to various latitudes, free from the restraint of the geographical location, capable of being directed at the Sun to the maximum extent and receiving direct solar radiation and capable of effectively avoiding that the east and west assemblies are shaded by the shadow. The technical problems existing in the prior art that the solar panel assemblies shade each other and form the shadows, the sun light receiving is affected, and thereby the photovoltaic conversion rate is affected are solved.

The invention discloses a calculating method for mirror field optical efficiency on the basis of a graphics processing unit (GPU) tower type solar energy thermoelectric system, which comprises requesting mirror plane central coordinate matrix of a mirror field, determining the position of the sun, requesting mirror field cosine and atmosphere transmission efficiency; determining heliostats possibly having blocking and shading (B and S) effects with each mirror, translating the top points of a row of mirrors to the plane where the calculated mirror is arranged, and recording the coordinate after transformation; projecting the coordinate at the top point of an inlet of an absorber to the plane of each heliostat and recording the coordinate data; and utilizing the Monte-Carlo method and Helen theory to calculate B and S and intercept (B and S and Int) efficiency of the heliostats according to the recorded coordinate data, utilizing a compute unified device architecture (CUDA) calculatingplatform and a GPU double-layer parallel structure to accelerate calculation, compositing various efficiency to obtain the total optical efficiency of the mirror field. The method can improve simulation calculating speed of the mirror field optical efficiency of the tower type solar energy power station while ensuring accuracy so as to save optimization cost.

The invention relates to a sunlight-tracking double-shaft device and a control method thereof. The sunlight-tracking double-shaft device comprises a battery board fixing bracket, a support bracket, a pitch angle rotation driving member and a left and right angle rotation driving member, wherein the battery board fixing bracket is connected with the support bracket through a three-dimensional rotating mechanism consisting of a pitch angle rotating shaft and a left and right angle rotating shaft which are distributed in a crisscross shape; and the pitch angle rotation driving member and a left and right angle tracking drive member control the coordinated rotation of the pitch angle and the left and right angles according to a control method, thereby enabling the working surface of a battery board in a tracking device to accurately correspond to the position of the sun and achieving the purpose of sunlight tracking. The sunlight-tracking double-shaft device has the characteristics of simple and reasonable structure, low energy consumption for running, high running precision, simple control program and the like, and is convenient for installation and daily maintenance.

The adjusting device for adjusting a position of a sun roof of a vehicle has one incremental position encoder and two absolute position encoders, with whose aid, at each position of the sun roof, an unambiguous association with the actual position of the sun roof is possible, regardless of whether there has been a failure of the adjusting device or a mechanical change in position of the sun roof. The adjusting device of the invention is intended for a sun roof of a motor vehicle.

The invention provides an automatic control method, device and system for a sun shield. The automatic control method for the sun shield includes the steps that eye position information of a driver and the current sun irradiation angle are obtained; the target position of the sun shield is determined according to the eye position information and the current sun irradiation angle; and the position of the sun shield is controlled to be adjusted according to the obtained target position of the sun shield, so that the sun shield is adjusted to the target position. By the adoption of the method, device and system, the irradiation angle of the sun is analyzed, so that the position of the sun shield of an automobile is controlled to be automatically adjusted, the eyes of the driver are prevented from being directly irradiated by the sunlight, meanwhile, the maximum view of the driver is kept, and the user experience is improved.