Long-term meter-recorder for solar cell output power

• US 4,222,665 A
• Filed: 12/12/1978
• Issued: 09/16/1980
• Est. Priority Date: 12/13/1977
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Nippon Electric Company Limited (NEC Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Nippon Electric Company Limited (NEC Corporation)
• Inventors: Tachizawa, Hiroshi, Kawano, Asaji
• Primary Examiner(s): Karlsen, Ernest F.
• Application Number:
  US05/968,705
• Time in Patent Office: 644 Days
• Field of Search: 324/113, 324/158 D, 324/29.5, 73/170 R, 356/218, 356/215
• US Class Current: 356/218
• CPC Class Codes: G01J 1/42 using electric radiation detectors optical or mechanical part G01J1/04; by comparison with a reference light or electric value G01J1/10
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 13/02 for displaying measured electric variables in digital form
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 136/29 Testing, calibrating, treating, e.g. aging

Abstract

A low power consumption solar cell meter-recorder capable of measuring the output power of a solar cell and recordingthe measured data and the date of measurement, all at a remote location using only battery power, is disclosed. The voltage output of the solar cell is converted into a frequency which is counted over a predetermined time to produce the measured data. The measured data is stored in a first address section of a memory. Digital date information is generated and stored in a second address section of the memory. Both the first and the second address sections are addressed by the same address number. When a read out is desired, the measured data and date stored in the memory are displayed.

Claims

1. A meter-recorder for solar cell output power which measures output power of a solar cell and records the measured data and the date of the measurement, comprising:

first means for converting an irradiation intensity of solar rays into a voltage;

second means for converting the converted voltage into a frequency;

third means for counting the converted frequency over a predetermined period to produce measured data;

fourth means for storing said measured data in a first address section;

fifth means for generating a digital date information;

sixth means for storing said digital date information in a second address section;

seventh means for providing a first control signal to designate said predetermined period, and a second control signal to designate an address number in said first and second address sections so that the measured data and the date of the measurement may be stored respectively in the same number of addresses in said first and second address sections; and

eighth means for displaying either the measured data or the date of the measurement in said fourth or sixth means, respectively.

2. A meter-recorder as recited in claim 1 wherein said fourth and sixth means are random access memories.

3. A meter-recorder as recited in claim 1 wherein said eighth means includes switch means for controlling the display of the measured data and date of measurement only on command.

4. A meter-recorder as recited in claim 3 wherein said eighth means further includes a decoder and segment display operable only on command by said switch means.