Optical Differential Solar Tracking System

摘要

A system and method of using differential optical signals to track the orientation of a solar surface or surfaces is proposed. Two dispersive prisms or gratings arranged in a mirror-symmetric fashion are used to decompose light into its constituent colors, and the gain of a differential amplifier circuit based on the difference of the frequencies of single color collimated light produced by the two prisms or gratings is used to maintain the on-sun orientation of the solar surface or surfaces. The invention provides for a high-precision, low-cost solar tracking system. Preferably, the signal processing and tracking of solar surfaces is performed by a mobile robot that travels to multiple solar surfaces to minimize cost.

主权项

1. An optical differential solar tracking system comprising:
a) an optical dispersion assembly comprising two prisms attached to said optical dispersion assembly in a mirror-symmetric fashion, each said prism having a sunward face aimed at the sun, and an inward face aimed at the inside of said optical dispersion assembly; b) two optical attachments each directed to said inward face of each said prism, each carrying light rays of a single color from the constituent light rays produced by each said prism as a result of dispersion of light incident on said sunward face of each said prism; c) two optical links, each connected to the distal end of each said optical attachment, each carrying said light rays of a single color; d) at least one photosensor operably connected to the distal end of the first of each said optical link; e) at least one photosensor operably connected to the distal end of the second of each said optical link; f) a differential amplifier circuit, with its first input or first set of inputs operably connected to the output of said photosensor(s) of said element (d); g) said differential amplifier circuit, with its second input or second set of inputs operably connected to the output of said photosensor(s) of said element (e); wherein said differential amplifier circuit produces a gain based on the difference in the frequencies of said light rays of a single color carried by said optical links, and wherein said gain is used for controlling at least one axis of orientation of at least one solar surface.