Heat-distribution sensor and solar tracker having same

• US 8,253,088 B2
• Filed: 08/07/2009
• Issued: 08/28/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 06/18/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.
• Inventors: Chen, Hsiang-Hung
• Primary Examiner(s): Epps, Georgia Y
• Assistant Examiner(s): Wyatt, Kevin
• Application Number:
  US12/537,364
• Publication Number:
  US 20100319679A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,117 Days
• Field of Search: 250/203.4, 126/573, 126/574, 136/208, 356/236, 374/32
• US Class Current: 250/203.4
• CPC Class Codes: G01J 5/08 Optical arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: G01J 5/0831 Masks; Aperture plates; Spatial light modulators
• CPC Class Codes: G01J 5/12 using thermoelectric elements, e.g. thermocouples
• CPC Class Codes: G01K 17/003 for measuring the power of light beams, e.g. laser beams
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 3/784 using a mosaic of detectors
• CPC Class Codes: G01W 1/12 Sunshine duration recorders measuring intensity of sunshine G01J

Abstract

An exemplary heat-distribution sensor includes a base and a number of thermocouples. The base includes a spherical surface and defines a number of receiving holes in the spherical surface. Each thermocouple has a sensing end which is received in a corresponding receiving hole and is configured for sensing heat generated by sunlight rays impinging on the sensing end.

Claims

1. A heat-distribution sensor comprising:

a base comprising a spherical surface and defining a plurality of receiving holes in the spherical surface; and

a plurality of thermocouples, each of which comprises a sensing end received in a corresponding receiving hole but with an extremity thereof protruding outside the spherical surface, and each of which is configured for sensing heat generated by sunlight rays impinging on the sensing end.

2. The heat-distribution sensor of claim 1, wherein the base is made from an opaque, thermally isolative material.

3. The heat-distribution sensor of claim 2, wherein the base is made from foam.

4. The heat-distribution sensor of claim 1, wherein the base comprises a spherical shell and an assembling platform positioned under the spherical shell, and the spherical shell comprises the spherical surface.

5. The heat-distribution sensor of claim 1, wherein the height of the spherical shell is substantially equal to half the diameter thereof.

6. The heat-distribution sensor of claim 2, wherein the base comprises an assembling platform, and bottoms of the thermocouples are attached to the assembling platform.

7. The heat-distribution sensor of claim 6, wherein each thermocouple further comprises a wire-shaped body and a bottom constant-temperature end, the constant-temperature end being embedded in the assembling platform, and the wire-shaped body extending toward the corresponding receiving hole.

8. The heat-distribution sensor of claim 7, wherein the constant-temperature end is embedded in the assembling platform in a position corresponding to the position of the respective receiving hole, and the wire-shaped body extends perpendicularly from the assembling platform.

9. The heat-distribution sensor of claim 4, wherein the assembling platform comprises a bottom disk and an upper disk, the upper disk being disposed on the bottom disk, the spherical shell covering the upper disk and being sealed by the bottom disk.

10. The heat-distribution sensor of claim 1, wherein the spherical surface defines a plurality of parallels of latitude and a plurality of half-meridians of longitude, and each receiving hole is located at an intersection of a corresponding parallel of latitude and a corresponding half-meridian of longitude.

11. The heat-distribution sensor of claim 1, wherein the receiving holes are evenly spaced apart from each other on the spherical surface.

12. The heat-distribution sensor of claim 1, further comprising a transparent cover, the transparent cover covering the base and the sensing ends of the thermocouples.

13. The heat-distribution sensor of claim 12, wherein the transparent cover is made from a material of low refractive index.

14. The heat-distribution sensor of claim 13, wherein the transparent cover is made from silicon dioxide.

15. The heat-distribution sensor of claim 12, wherein the transparent cover is a spherical shell.

16. A solar tracker comprising:

a heat-distribution sensor comprising;

a base comprising a spherical surface and defining a plurality of receiving holes in the spherical surface; and

a plurality of thermocouples, each of which comprises an end received in a corresponding receiving hole but with an extremity thereof slightly protruding out of the spherical surface, and each of which is configured for sensing heat generated by sunlight rays impinging on the end and generating a corresponding electrical signal; and

a processor configured for determining a location of the sun based upon the electrical signals generated by the thermocouples.

17. The solar tracker of claim 16, further comprising a plurality of wires and a wire receiver, the heat-distribution sensor being connected to the processor via the wires, the wires being received by the wire receiver.