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Solar tracking systemA solar tracker for a solar collector is described in detail. The collector is angularly oriented by a motor wherein the outputs of two side-by-side photodetectors are discriminated as to three ranges: a first corresponding to a low light or darkness condition; a second corresponding to light intensity lying in an intermediate range; and a third corresponding to light above an intermediate range, direct sunlight. The first output drives the motor to a selected maximum easterly angular position; the second enables the motor to be driven westerly at the Earth rotational rate; and the third output, the separate outputs of the two photodetectors, differentially controls the direction of rotation of the motor to effect actual tracking of the Sun.
Document ID
19810015985
Acquisition Source
Legacy CDMS
Document Type
Other - Patent
Authors
White, P. R.
(NASA Marshall Space Flight Center Huntsville, AL, United States)
Scott, D. R.
(NASA Marshall Space Flight Center Huntsville, AL, United States)
Date Acquired
September 4, 2013
Publication Date
April 14, 1981
Subject Category
Energy Production And Conversion
Report/Patent Number
Patent Application Number: US-PATENT-APPL-SN-060435
Patent Number: US-PATENT-4,262,195
Patent Number: NASA-CASE-MFS-23999-1
Accession Number
81N24520
Distribution Limits
Public
Copyright
Work of the US Gov. Public Use Permitted.
Patent
US-PATENT-4,262,195|NASA-CASE-MFS-23999-1
Patent Application
US-PATENT-APPL-SN-060435
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