JPH11149059A - Automatic solar tracking device for solar lighting device and solar lighting device using the device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an automatic solar tracking device for a solar lighting device and a solar lighting device using the tracking device capable of tracking a sun with high accuracy although it is inexpensive constitution and automatically lighting a solar light beam immediately from the sunrise. SOLUTION: This automatic solar tracking device 1 is provided with light receiving bodies 3, 4 arranged on a solar lighting surface body 2, a light shielding means 7 for shielding sunlight projected on the light receiving bodies 3, 4 so as to shield sunlight projected on the light receiving body 3 from the west side and sunlight projected on the light receiving body 4 from the east side and a rotating means 10 for rotating the solar lighting surface body 2 about the vertical axis 8 so as to direct the solar lighting surface body 2 toward the sunlight based on the light receiving signals from the light receiving bodies 3, 4. The rotating means 10 rotates the solar lighting surface body 2 to the initial position at the time of substantially receiving no light receiving signals from a pair of light receiving bodies 3, 4.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a solar automatic tracking device for a solar lighting device and a solar lighting device using the same.

[0002]

There has been proposed a technique for collecting sunlight and using it for lighting or the like. In this technique, in order to collect sunlight efficiently, a sunlight collecting surface body is constantly moved by the sun. Automatic tracking is preferred, and a solar automatic tracking device is used.

As an automatic solar tracking device, a device using a solar cell, a device using a sensor comprising a photodiode and a microcomputer, and a device using a method of calculating a sun's orbit by a program have been proposed. High-accuracy tracking is difficult with solar cells, and with sensors and microcomputers and methods to calculate the orbit of the sun,
Although highly accurate tracking can be performed, it is expensive and not always common.

[0004] In addition, in sunlight lighting, it is preferable that light can be taken immediately after sunrise. However, in a method using a sensor and a microcomputer and a method of calculating a sun's orbit by a program, it is necessary to prepare the program or the like. ,
As above, it is expensive and not always versatile.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned points, and an object of the present invention is to provide an inexpensive configuration, but capable of tracking the sun with high precision, and furthermore, to immediately receive the sun light from sunrise. An object of the present invention is to provide a solar automatic tracking device for a solar lighting device capable of automatically lighting, and a solar lighting device using the same.

[0006]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION According to the present invention, there is provided a solar automatic tracking device for a solar lighting device, comprising: a pair of photoreceptors disposed on a solar light receiving surface; and one of the pair of photoreceptors. A light-shielding means for shielding the sunlight irradiating a pair of light-receiving members, so as to shield the sunlight irradiating from the west, and to shield the other light-receiving member from the east. Based on a light reception signal from the body, so as to direct the sunlight collecting surface body to sunlight, and a rotating means for rotating the solar lighting surface body around a vertical axis, and the rotating means, When the light receiving signals from the pair of light receiving bodies are not substantially received, the sunlight collecting surface body is rotated to the initial position.

The turning means of the present invention includes a difference detector for detecting a difference between the magnitudes of the light receiving signals from the pair of light receiving bodies, and a means for rotating the sunlight collecting surface body about a vertical axis by operation.
An electric motor connected to the sunlight collecting surface body and a drive control circuit for operating the electric motor based on an output signal of the difference detector are provided. As the electric motor, a pulse motor (step motor) is usually used, but another electric motor may be used. Further, the rotating means of the present invention, in order not to substantially receive the light receiving signal from the pair of photoreceptors, to rotate the sunlight collecting surface body to the initial position, one of the pair of photoreceptors There is further provided an addition or subtraction means for adding or subtracting the initial position rotation signal to or from the light reception signal and supplying the signal after the addition or subtraction to the difference detector as the one light reception signal.

[0008] The automatic solar tracking apparatus of the present invention further comprises another pair of photoreceptors arranged on a solar light collecting surface.
Here, the shielding unit may be configured to shield light from sunlight irradiated from the horizon to one of the other pair of light receivers, and to shield light from the zenith to the other light receiver. In addition, it is also configured to perform light shielding for sunlight irradiating the other pair of photoreceptors, and the rotation unit moves the solar light collecting surface to the sun based on a light reception signal from the other pair of photoreceptors. Is configured to rotate the sunlight collecting surface body around a horizontal axis.

In the case where the automatic solar tracking device further includes another pair of photoreceptors disposed on the sunlight collecting surface body, the rotating means detects a difference between magnitudes of light reception signals from the other pair of photoreceptors. Another difference detector, and another electric motor coupled to the solar lighting surface so as to rotate the solar lighting surface around a horizontal axis by operation, and another difference detecting. And another drive control circuit for operating another electric motor based on the output signal of the container.

[0010] In the present invention, the light-shielding means includes a light-shielding plate extending inclining with respect to a vertical axis in the sunlight collecting surface body,
The solar panel includes another light-shielding plate extending across the one light-shielding plate in the sunlight collecting surface body, and each light-receiving body is preferably disposed near the intersection of the light-shielding plate.

A phototransistor, a photodiode, or the like can be used as the photoreceptor. An infrared light emitting diode or a far-infrared light emitting diode, which is often used in a remote control switch of recent home appliances, can be used as the photoreceptor. When these are used as the photoreceptor of the present invention, they can be constructed at a low cost, and the infrared light emitting diode is less liable to malfunction due to artificial light, and the far infrared light emitting diode penetrates the cloud even in cloudy weather. The far infrared rays from the incoming sun enable effective tracking of the sun, which is extremely preferable.

A solar lighting apparatus according to the present invention includes the above-described automatic solar tracking apparatus. In the solar lighting device, one end of each of a large number of optical fibers for transmitting sunlight to a required place may be directly attached to the solar lighting surface body,
In addition, a condensing lens for condensing sunlight, a parabolic mirror, or the like may be attached. In this case, one end of one or a plurality of optical fibers is arranged at a focal point of the condensing lens, a parabolic mirror, or the like. Alternatively, the collected sunlight may be received by this optical fiber and transmitted to a required location. Furthermore, you may comprise a solar-lighting surface body itself with a solar cell, or attach a solar cell to a solar-lighting surface body, and comprise a solar-lighting surface body as a power generation panel.

[0013]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The embodiments of the present invention will be described in more detail with reference to the preferred embodiments shown in the drawings. The present invention is not limited to these embodiments.

[0014]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Referring to FIGS. 1 to 4, an automatic solar tracking apparatus 1 according to the present embodiment includes two pairs of photoreceptors 3 arranged on a sunlight collecting surface body 2. FIG.
, 4, 5 and 6, and light blocking of sunlight irradiating the photoreceptor 3 from the west side, light blocking of sunlight irradiating the photoreceptor 4 from the east side, and sunlight irradiating the photoreceptor 5 from the horizon side And a light-shielding means 7 for shielding light from irradiating the light-receiving members 3 to 6, and light-receiving from the light-receiving members 3 and 4 so as to shield light from the zenith side to the light-receiving member 6. Based on the signal, the sunlight collecting surface body 2 is turned around the vertical axis 8 so as to direct the sunlight collecting surface body 2 toward the sunlight, and based on the light receiving signals from the light receiving bodies 5 and 6, Daylighting surface body 2
And a turning means 10 for turning the sunlight collecting surface body 2 around a horizontal axis 9 so as to direct the light toward the sun.

For each of the photoreceptors 3 to 6, an infrared light emitting diode which is often used for a remote control switch of a home electric appliance is used.

The light-shielding means 7 includes a base 21 fixed to the sunlight-collecting surface side (surface) of the plate-like sunlight-collecting surface 2 and a vertical axis fixed to the base 21 in the sunlight-collecting surface 2. 8
And a light-shielding plate 23 extending at an angle of 45 ° with respect to the vertical axis 8 and intersecting with the light-shielding plate 22 in the sunlight collecting surface body 2. ing. The photoreceptors 3 to 6 are arranged near the intersection of the light shielding plates 22 and 23 and are fixed to the base 21. Note that the base 21 is omitted, and the light shielding plates 22 and 23 and the light receiving bodies 3 to
6 may be directly fixed to the sunlight collecting surface body 2.

The turning means 10 turns the sunlight collecting surface body 2 about the vertical axis 8 by operating a difference detector 31 for detecting a difference between the magnitudes of the light receiving voltage signals from the light receiving bodies 3 and 4. The electric motor 3 connected to the solar lighting surface body 2
2 and the electric motor 3 based on the output signal of the difference detector 31.
2 and a drive control circuit 33 for stopping the operation of the electric motor 32 based on the signal from the prohibition signal generating means 38, and substantially not receiving the light receiving voltage signals from the light receiving bodies 3 and 4 after sunset. In this case, in order to rotate the sunlight collecting surface body 2 to the initial position (sunrise direction), in this example, the initial position rotation voltage signal is added to the light receiving voltage signal from the light receiving body 4 and the added voltage signal is added. A voltage adding means 34 for supplying one of the light receiving voltage signals to the difference detector 31; a difference detector 35 for detecting a difference between the magnitudes of the light receiving voltage signals from the light receiving bodies 5 and 6; The horizontal axis 9
And an electric motor 36 connected to the sunlight collecting surface body 2 so as to rotate the electric motor 36 based on the output signal of the difference detector 35 so that the signal from the prohibition signal generating means 38 The drive control circuit 37 for stopping the operation of the electric motor 36 based on the above, the prohibition signal generating means 38 for generating a signal for prohibiting the rotation of the sunlight collecting surface body 2 beyond a specified value, and the drive control circuits 33 and 37 And a pulse generating means 39 for generating an appropriate driving pulse.

The difference detector 31 includes a subtraction section 51 for subtracting the magnitude of the received light voltage signal from the photoreceptor 4 from the magnitude of the received light voltage signal from the photoreceptor 3, and an amplification section for amplifying the voltage signal from the subtraction section 51. The difference detector 31 may be embodied by a well-known differential (operational) amplifier. When there is a significant difference between the magnitudes of the light receiving signals from the photoreceptors 3 and 4, the difference detector 31 sends a difference detection signal indicating which one is greater to the drive control circuit 33.

The adding means 34 generates a constant negative voltage signal whose absolute value is sufficiently smaller than the magnitude of the light receiving voltage signals from the light receiving members 3 and 4 as the initial position rotation voltage signal, An addition unit 56 is provided for adding the negative voltage signal from the unit 55 and the light reception voltage signal from the photoreceptor 4.

The difference detector 35 has the same configuration as the difference detector 31, and has a subtraction unit 61 for subtracting the magnitude of the received light voltage signal from the photoreceptor 6 from the magnitude of the received light voltage signal from the photoreceptor 5. Amplifying section 6 for amplifying the voltage signal from subtraction section 61
2 comprising a differential (operational) amplifier. When there is a significant difference between the magnitudes of the light receiving voltage signals from the photoreceptors 5 and 6, the difference detector 35 sends a difference detection signal indicating which one is greater to the drive control circuit 37.

The drive control circuit 33 sends a drive pulse from the pulse generator 39 to the electric motor 32 in accordance with a difference detection signal from the difference detector 31. Here, based on the difference detection signal from the difference detector 31, the drive control circuit 33 controls the electric motor when the light reception voltage signal from the light receiver 4 is smaller than the light reception voltage signal from the light receiver 3. 32, the output rotation axis of the electric motor 32 is reversed when the received light voltage signal from the photoreceptor 4 is larger than the received light voltage signal from the photoreceptor 3. The driving pulse is transmitted to the electric motor 32.

The drive control circuit 37 is constructed similarly to the drive control circuit 33, and sends a drive pulse from a pulse generator 39 to the electric motor 36 in response to a difference detection signal from the difference detector 35. ing. Drive control circuit 3
7, the output rotation axis of the electric motor 36 is changed based on the difference detection signal from the difference detector 35 when the light reception voltage signal from the light receiver 6 is smaller than the light reception voltage signal from the light receiver 5. When the light receiving signal from the photoreceptor 6 is larger than the light receiving voltage signal from the photoreceptor 5, a driving pulse for rotating the output rotation shaft of the electric motor 36 in the reverse direction is generated. 36.

In the present embodiment, the electric motor 32 composed of a pulse motor (step motor) is mounted on a frame 65, and its output rotation shaft is connected to the sunlight collecting surface body 2. When the output rotary shaft is rotated by the operation of the electric motor 32, the sunlight collecting surface body 2 is rotated around the vertical axis 8.

In this embodiment, an electric motor 36, which is also a pulse motor (step motor), is mounted on an apparatus frame (not shown), and its output rotating shaft is a frame 65.
It is connected to. When the output rotary shaft is rotated by the operation of the electric motor 36, the sunlight collecting surface body 2 is rotated around the horizontal axis 9 via the frame 65.

The prohibition signal generating means 38 includes limit switches 71 and 72 for detecting the rotation of the sunlight collecting surface body 2 around the vertical axis 8 by a certain degree or more, and a rotation around the horizontal axis 9 of the sunlight collecting surface body 2. And limit switches 73 and 74 for detecting the rotation of a certain amount or more. The limit switches 71 to 74 are arranged behind the sunlight collecting surface body 2. The drive control circuit 33 includes limit switches 71 and 7
2, the transmission of the drive pulse to the electric motor 32 is stopped, and the drive control circuit 37
When the detection signal is received from either of the limit switches 73 and 74,
Stop sending to.

In the present embodiment, the solar lighting device 81 equipped with the above-described automatic solar tracking device 1 has a large number of optical fibers 82, and one end of each of the large number of optical fibers 82 has an It is exposed on the surface side of the daylighting surface body 2 and is attached to the sunlight daylighting surface body 2. Multiple optical fibers 82
The sunlight picked up in the above is guided into a room or the like and used for lighting or the like.

In the automatic solar tracking apparatus 1, during the daytime, the magnitude of the received light voltage signal from the photoreceptor 3 and the magnitude of the received light voltage signal from the photoreceptor 4 are always equal as the sun moves, and The electric motors 32 and 36 are operated so that the magnitude of the light receiving voltage signal from the body 5 and the magnitude of the light receiving voltage signal from the light receiving body 6 are always equal, and the sunlight collecting surface body 2 is substantially orthogonal to the sunlight. Is positioned as follows.
The negative voltage signal from the generating unit 55 is added to the light receiving voltage signal from the photoreceptor 4, but the negative voltage signal from the generating unit 55 is compared with the light receiving voltage signal from the photoreceptor 4 during the daytime. Since the absolute value is extremely small, the positioning error of the sunlight collecting surface body 2 with respect to sunlight due to this is negligible.

After sunset, the magnitude of the received light voltage signal from the photoreceptors 3 and 4 becomes substantially zero, the voltage signal applied to the subtraction unit 51 becomes only the negative voltage signal from the generation unit 55, and the difference detector 33 The drive control circuit 3 determines that the light reception voltage signal from the light receiver 3 is larger than the light reception signal from the light receiver 4.
3 to the drive control circuit 33.
Drives the electric motor 32. By the operation of the electric motor 32, the sunlight collecting surface body 2 is rotated toward the initial position, and finally the limit switch 71 is operated. With the operation of the limit switch 71, the drive control circuit 33 causes the electric motor 32 to operate. Stop operation. In the operation after the sunset, after the limit switch 71 is actuated, the drive control circuit 33 determines that the light reception voltage signal from the photoreceptor 3 is larger than the light reception voltage signal from the photoreceptor 4. Then, after receiving the detection signal from the difference detector 33 that the received light voltage signal from the photoreceptor 4 is larger than the received light voltage signal from the photoreceptor 3, the above operation is performed. repeat. In the initial position of the sunlight collecting surface body 2, more sunlight is irradiated on the light receiving body 4 side at sunrise.

In the above example, the light receiving bodies 3 to 6 and the light shielding means 7 are arranged at the center of the sunlight collecting surface body 2.
6 may be arranged on each edge of the sunlight collecting surface body 2, and the sunlight collecting surface body 2 may be used as a light shielding unit.

[0030]

According to the present invention, the sun can be tracked with high accuracy without performing orbital calculation, and can be constructed at a low cost. In addition, it can be automatically returned to the initial position. Thus, it is possible to provide a solar automatic tracking device for a solar lighting device capable of lighting immediately after sunrise, and a solar lighting device using the same.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is an explanatory perspective view of a preferred embodiment of a solar lighting device using the automatic solar tracking device of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a partial front view of the automatic solar tracking device shown in FIG.

FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken along line III-III shown in FIG. 2;

4 is an electric circuit block diagram of the automatic solar tracking device shown in FIG.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Sun automatic tracking device 2 Sunlight collecting surface body 3, 4 Photoreceptor 7 Light shielding means 10 Rotation means

Claims (7)

[Claims] 1. A pair of photoreceptors arranged on a solar light receiving surface, and a light source for irradiating one of the pair of photoreceptors with light from the west to the other, from the east to the other photoreceptor. A light-shielding means for shielding light from irradiating a pair of light-receiving bodies, and a light-receiving surface of the solar light is directed to sunlight based on a light-receiving signal from the pair of light-receiving bodies so as to block light from irradiating sunlight. A rotating means for rotating the solar lighting surface body around a vertical axis,
The rotating means is a solar automatic tracking device for a solar lighting device that is configured to rotate a solar lighting surface body to an initial position when a light receiving signal from a pair of light receiving bodies is not substantially received. 2. A rotating means, comprising: a difference detector for detecting a difference between magnitudes of light receiving signals from a pair of light receiving bodies; and a sun light so as to rotate the solar light collecting surface body about a vertical axis by operation. The solar automatic tracking device for a solar light collecting device according to claim 1, further comprising an electric motor connected to the light collecting surface body, and a drive control circuit for operating the electric motor based on an output signal of the difference detector. . 3. A rotating means for rotating the sunlight collecting surface body to an initial position when substantially no light receiving signal from the pair of light receiving bodies is received, the rotating means comprising one of the pair of light receiving bodies. Add or subtract the initial position rotation signal to the received light signal of
3. The automatic solar tracking device for a solar light collecting device according to claim 2, further comprising an adding or subtracting unit that supplies the signal after the addition or subtraction to the difference detector as the one light receiving signal. 4. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising another pair of photoreceptors disposed on the sunlight collecting surface, wherein the shielding unit irradiates one of the other pair of photoreceptors from the horizon side. It is also configured to block light against light and block light against sunlight irradiating the other pair of photoreceptors from the zenith side to the other photoreceptor. The means is configured to rotate the sunlight collecting surface body about a horizontal axis so as to direct the solar lighting surface body toward the sun based on a light reception signal from another pair of light receiving bodies. The automatic solar tracking device for a sunlight collecting device according to any one of 1 to 3. 5. A rotating means for rotating a sunlight collecting surface body about a horizontal axis by another difference detector for detecting a difference in magnitude of a light receiving signal from another pair of light receiving bodies. Another electric motor coupled to the sunlight-collecting surface body so as to operate, and another drive control circuit for operating the other electric motor based on an output signal of the other difference detector The automatic solar tracking device for a solar lighting device according to claim 4, comprising: 6. The light-shielding means includes one light-shielding plate extending inclining with respect to a vertical axis in the solar light-receiving surface body and another light-shielding light extending across the one light-shielding plate in the solar light-receiving surface member. A solar automatic tracking device for a solar light collecting device according to any one of claims 1 to 5, further comprising a plate, wherein each of the light receiving bodies is disposed near an intersection of the light shielding plate. 7. A sunlight collecting device comprising the automatic solar tracking device according to claim 1. Description: