Arrangement for determining the position of a light source

• US 6,717,662 B2
• Filed: 10/23/2001
• Issued: 04/06/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 10/23/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: EADS Deutschland GmbH (Airbus SE)
• Original Assignee: EADS Deutschland GmbH (Airbus SE)
• Inventors: Rieger, Rolf, Lange, Guenther
• Primary Examiner(s): Font, Frank G.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Nguyen, Sang H.
• Application Number:
  US09/983,094
• Publication Number:
  US 20020048017A1
• Time in Patent Office: 896 Days
• Field of Search: 356/121, 356/123, 356/139.01, 356/139.03, 356/139.05, 356/141.4, 356/141.5, 356/614, 356/638, 356/318, 250/216, 250/237.R, 250/203.4, 250/203.6, 250/231.R
• US Class Current: 356/121
• CPC Class Codes: G01J 1/0266 Field-of-view determination; Aiming or pointing of a photometer; Adjusting alignment; Encoding angular position; Size of the measurement area; Position tracking; Photodetection involving different fields of view for a single detector
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 3/781 Details
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 3/784 using a mosaic of detectors

Abstract

An arrangement for determining the position of a light source includes a light-sensitive detector device and an arrangement for casting a shadow onto part of the light of the light source shining onto the detector device. The shadowing arrangement is formed by at least one rotationally symmetrical body.

Claims

1. An arrangement for determining the position of a light source, comprising:

a light-sensitive detector device; and

a shadowing arrangement for blocking a portion of light from the light source shining onto the detector device;

wherein

the light source is arranged in a first plane that is spaced from the detector device,

the shadowing arrangement comprises a pair of elongate bodies, which are disposed in a second plane situated at a distance from the light sensitive detector, said elongate bodies having respective longitudinal axes which intersect with each other at an angle in said second plane, and each of said elongate bodies having a circular cross section in a plane perpendicular to the longitudinal axis thereof.

2. The arrangement according to claim 1, wherein the shadowing arrangement comprises a pair of wires.

3. The arrangement according to claim 1, wherein the detector device comprises a two-dimensional detector array.

4. A solar sensor for determining the incidence angle of sunlight, comprising:

a light-sensitive detector device; and

a shadowing arrangement for blocking a portion of sunlight shining onto the detector device;

wherein

the shadowing arrangement comprises a pair of elongate bodies, which are disposed in a plane situated at a distance from the light sensitive detector, said elongate bodies having respective longitudinal axes which intersect with each other at an angle in said second plane, and each of said elongate bodies having a circular cross section in a plane perpendicular to the longitudinal axis thereof.

5. The arrangement according to claim 4, wherein the pair of elongate bodies comprises a pair of wires.

6. The arrangement according to claim 4, wherein the detector device comprises a two-dimensional detector array.

8. The method according to claim 6, wherein said pair of elongate bodies comprises a pair of wires.

9. The method according to claim 8, wherein:

said light sensitive detector device comprises a two dimensional planar array; and

each wire of said pair of wires intersects with a central normal axis of the two dimensional planar array.

10. The method according to claim 9, wherein:

said wires intersect with each other at an angle of approximately 90°

.

7. A method for determining the position of a light source, comprising:

providing a light sensitive detector device;

interposing a light blocking element between the light source and the light sensitive detector device, at a set distance from the detector device; and

determining a location of a shadow cast on said light sensitive detector device by said light blocking element, based on signals output from said light sensitive detector device;

wherein the light blocking element comprises a pair of elongate bodies, which are disposed in a plane situated at a distance from the light sensitive detector, said elongate bodies having respective longitudinal axes which intersect with each other at an angle in said second plane, and each of said elongate bodies having a circular cross section in a lane perpendicular to the longitudinal axis thereof.