SOLAR SENSOR FOR THE DETECTION OF THE DIRECTION OF INCIDENCE AND THE INTENSITY OF SOLAR RADIATION

摘要

Disclosed is a solar sensor for detecting the direction of incidence and the intensity of solar radiation. Said solar sensor comprises a housing (12) made of a plastic material that is permeable to at least some of the solar radiation. The housing (12) has a curved side (14) facing the incident solar radiation, optically acts as a lens, and has an internal focal plane (26) defined by the lens characteristics thereof. The solar sensor further comprises at least two photosensors (16) that are embedded in the plastic material of the housing (12) and each have a sensor area (18) sensitive at least to the part of the radiation to which the plastic material is permeable. The sensor areas (18) of the photosensors (16) are disposed substantially parallel to the focal plane (26) in front of or behind the focal plane (26) from the perspective of the side (14) facing the incident solar radiation. The direction of incidence of the solar radiation can be determined based on the intensities of the solar radiation received by the sensor areas (18) of the photosensors (16).