Solar sensor including reflective element to transform the angular response
First Claim
Patent Images
1. An apparatus comprising:
- a photo-sensitive electronic device having an active surface for collection of incident solar radiation;
a generally transparent housing located over said electronic device, said housing including a shadow element located above the active surface and projecting a shadow onto the active surface; and
a reflective surface located between the active surface and the shadow element and reflecting light onto the active surface.
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Abstract
A solar sensor that utilizes a blocking element and curved reflective element between the sun and a photo-sensitive electronic device to provide high signal levels and the ability to shape the angular response of the overall sensor. A particular angular response can be achieved by combining the attenuating affects of the blocking element with the increased response affects of the curved reflector. These two elements may be combined into one physical structure, or may be separate. Further, the present invention contemplates the use of multiple blocking elements and multiple reflectors.
104 Citations
20 Claims
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1. An apparatus comprising:
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a photo-sensitive electronic device having an active surface for collection of incident solar radiation;
a generally transparent housing located over said electronic device, said housing including a shadow element located above the active surface and projecting a shadow onto the active surface; and
a reflective surface located between the active surface and the shadow element and reflecting light onto the active surface. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. An apparatus for collecting solar radiation, comprising:
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a photo-sensitive electronic device having a planar surface for collection of incident solar radiation;
a body located above the planar surface, said body having a substantially opaque portion, said body having a reflecting surface;
wherein the solar radiation is incident upon the planar surface over a first range of angles, a portion of the solar radiation is blocked from the planar surface by the opaque portion over a second range of angles, and a portion of the solar radiation is reflected onto the planar surface by the reflecting surface over a third ranges of angles, the first range is greater than either the second range or the third range, and the second range is different than the third range. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. An apparatus for collecting solar radiation, comprising:
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a housing including a portion which transmits solar radiation incident thereon, said housing having an interior surface, said housing including an opaque portion;
a photo-sensitive electronic device located within said housing and having a photo-responsive surface which receives solar radiation and modifies an electrical signal in response thereto; and
a body located on the interior surface of said housing, said body depending from the interior surface toward the photo-responsive surface, said body having a reflecting surface;
wherein the solar radiation is incident upon the photo-responsive surface over a first range of angles, a portion of the solar radiation is blocked from the photo-responsive surface by the opaque portion over a second range of angles, and a portion of the solar radiation is reflected onto the photo-responsive surface by the reflecting surface over a third ranges of angles, the first range is greater than either the second range or the third range, and the second range is different than the third range. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18)
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19. A method for adjusting the climate controls of a vehicle, comprising:
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providing a sensor in a housing for detecting solar radiation incident upon a vehicle and a controller for adjusting the climate controls of the vehicle in response to a signal from the sensor, the housing including a substantially reflecting surface;
receiving solar radiation upon the housing, a portion of the solar radiation being transmitted at an angle such that the portion does not fall directly incident upon the sensor;
reflecting the portion off of the reflecting surface and onto the sensor;
modifying the output of the sensor in response to the reflected portion;
providing the sensor output to the controller; and
adjusting the climate controls of the vehicle. - View Dependent Claims (20)
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Specification