SOLAR ACCESS MEASUREMENT DEVICE
First Claim
Patent Images
1. an apparatus, comprising:
- an image sensor enabled to capture an image of a horizon;
an orientation determination unit enabled to establish at least one of a magnetic orientation and an inclination of a captured image of the horizon, within a designated window; and
a processor in signal communication with the image sensor and the orientation determination unit, enabled to determine solar access based on a skyline within the captured image of the horizon, an established at least one of the magnetic orientation and the inclination of the captured image of the horizon, and a provided location.
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Abstract
A Solar Access Measurement Device (“SAMD”) located at a predetermined position is disclosed. The SAMD may include a skyline detector enabled to detect a skyline of a horizon relative to the SAMD, an orientation determination unit enabled to determine the orientation of the skyline detector, and a processor in signal communication with the skyline detector and orientation determination unit.
54 Citations
20 Claims
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1. an apparatus, comprising:
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an image sensor enabled to capture an image of a horizon; an orientation determination unit enabled to establish at least one of a magnetic orientation and an inclination of a captured image of the horizon, within a designated window; and a processor in signal communication with the image sensor and the orientation determination unit, enabled to determine solar access based on a skyline within the captured image of the horizon, an established at least one of the magnetic orientation and the inclination of the captured image of the horizon, and a provided location. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. An apparatus, comprising:
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an image sensor enabled to capture a wide-angle image of a horizon that includes a skyline; an orientation determination unit enabled to measure at least one of a magnetic orientation and an inclination of the image sensor; and a processor in signal communication with the image sensor and the orientation determination unit, enabled to determine solar access based on detecting the skyline within the image of the horizon, a measured at least one of the magnetic orientation and the inclination, and a provided location. - View Dependent Claims (11)
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12. An apparatus, comprising:
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a skyline detector enabled to reflect a wide-angle image of a skyline onto a narrow field-of-view lens of an image sensor, the skyline including a boundary between unobstructed sky and one or more solar obstacles; an orientation determination unit including at least one of a compass and a level, enabled to establish an orientation for the wide-angle image; and a processor in signal communication with the image sensor, enabled to determine solar access based on the skyline and a provided location. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15)
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16. A computer-readable medium encoded with executable instructions configured to enable a method, the method comprising:
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capturing an image of a horizon that includes a skyline; measuring at least one of a magnetic orientation and an inclination of the captured image; and determining solar access based on the skyline within the captured image, the measured at least one of the magnetic orientation and the inclination of the captured image, and a provided location. - View Dependent Claims (17)
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18. A computer-readable medium encoded with executable instructions configured to enable a method, the method comprising:
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capturing a plurality of images of a horizon that includes a skyline; recording orientation of two or more individual images in the plurality of captured images; and determining solar access based on the skyline within the plurality of captured images of the horizon, the recorded orientation of the two or more individual images in the plurality of captured images, and a provided location. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20)
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Specification