Solar radiation sensor and system including same for measuring solar radiation distribution
First Claim
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1. A system for measuring solar radiation distribution comprising:
- a sensor having a plurality of individual, directional, solar radiation detectors oriented radially around at least one-half of a spherical surface and individually shielded so as to simultaneously intercept only solar radiation progressing along radial lines with respect to said surfaces;
a maximum radiation selector circuit which selects the peak output from all said detectors to provide a measurement of the direct solar radiation; and
means for providing a measurement of the direct solar radiation intensity, comprising, a neighbour selector circuit which selects the detectors nearest to the one having the peak output, an averager circuit which averages the outputs of the detectors selected by said neighbour selector circuit, and a subtractor circuit which subtracts the output of said averager circuit from that of the detector having the peak output.
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Abstract
A solar radiation sensor comprises a semispherical or spherical body member formed with a plurality of radially-extending passageways leading to individual solar-radiation sensors individually oriented and shielded so as to intercept only solar radiation progressing along the radial lines towards the detectors. In one described embodiment, the detectors are recessed within the body member at the bottom of their respective bores, and in a second described embodiment the detectors are all formed in a flat face of the body member and receive the solar radiations by means of fiber optical elements disposed within the bores.
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10 Claims
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1. A system for measuring solar radiation distribution comprising:
- a sensor having a plurality of individual, directional, solar radiation detectors oriented radially around at least one-half of a spherical surface and individually shielded so as to simultaneously intercept only solar radiation progressing along radial lines with respect to said surfaces;
a maximum radiation selector circuit which selects the peak output from all said detectors to provide a measurement of the direct solar radiation; and
means for providing a measurement of the direct solar radiation intensity, comprising, a neighbour selector circuit which selects the detectors nearest to the one having the peak output, an averager circuit which averages the outputs of the detectors selected by said neighbour selector circuit, and a subtractor circuit which subtracts the output of said averager circuit from that of the detector having the peak output. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
- a sensor having a plurality of individual, directional, solar radiation detectors oriented radially around at least one-half of a spherical surface and individually shielded so as to simultaneously intercept only solar radiation progressing along radial lines with respect to said surfaces;
Specification