Patent ID: 8973570
Filing Date: 2015-03-10
Classification: F24S,Y02E

Abstract:
1. A solar tracking system comprising: a housing configured to rotate only about a single axis, wherein the orientation of the single axis is fixed relative to the housing; a drive mechanism configured to rotate the housing only about the single axis; an inclinometer to output a signal indicative an angle of the housing relative to the gravitational pull of the Earth; a first photosensor and a second photosensor located within the housing, wherein the first photosensor includes a first output and the second photosensor includes a second output, wherein the first photosensor is positioned such that a center point of the first photosensor is a first linear distance from a center point of the second photosensor; a linear slit on one side of the housing positioned parallel to the single axis and perpendicular to the first linear distance, wherein the slit allows solar radiation to pass through the housing and reach the first and second photosensors wherein the linear slit has dimensions allowing solar radiation to reach the first and second photosensors over at least 48 degrees of solar variation along the single axis; a difference calculating module coupled to the first output and the second output, wherein the difference calculating module determines a photosensor difference value using signals from the first output and the second output and has a differential value output to transmit the photosensor difference value, wherein the photosensor difference value includes a magnitude and a sign indicative of a difference between the first output and the second output; and a controller coupled to the inclinometer configured to