JPH0524165Y2 - - Google Patents

Description

[Detailed description of the invention] "Industrial application field" This invention relates to a solar tracking sensor, and in particular,
The present invention relates to a tracking sensor suitable for use in a sunlight tracking device such as a sunlight lighting device.

"Prior art" In general, solar lighting devices, for example, solar panels that guide sunlight to places where sunlight does not directly hit (for example, underground facilities such as underground malls and basements, or the inside of houses in densely populated residential areas). In the case of lighting devices, the lighting efficiency is improved by performing posture control that follows the movement of the sun.

In order to perform this type of attitude control, conventionally, the sun's movement trajectory is calculated by a computer based on information such as the latitude and longitude of the location where the solar lighting device is installed and the calendar, and the attitude of the solar lighting device is controlled using this calculated movement trajectory as a control factor.

"Problems to be Solved by the Invention" The present invention attempts to solve the following problems in the conventional technology described above.

That is, according to the conventional attitude control method described above, it is necessary to change the computer program each time the installation location is changed;
When installing the sunlight daylighting device, highly accurate positioning with respect to meridians and latitudes is required, and as a result, the installation cost of the solar daylighting device as a whole increases.

"Means for Solving the Problems" The present invention aims to provide a sunlight tracking sensor that can effectively solve the above-mentioned conventional problems. 1 tracking sensor, a second tracking sensor for fine adjustment,
A control unit that sends an attitude control signal to the daylighting device based on signals from the first and second tracking sensors, and the first tracking sensor includes a first main body formed in a columnar shape; a pair of first photoelectric elements that are respectively provided on opposing side surfaces of the first body and output signals corresponding to the amount of received light; a main body, a flange provided at the base end of the second main body, a second photoelectric element provided at the top of the second main body and outputting a signal corresponding to the amount of received light; a third photoelectric element that is provided on the flange in close proximity to a side surface of the main body and outputs a signal corresponding to the amount of received light; the third photoelectric element is spaced apart from each other in the circumferential direction of the second main body; A plurality of the second and third photoelectric elements are provided at intervals, and the center line of each of the second and third photoelectric elements in the light receiving direction is parallel to the axis of the second body, and the second body A guide groove having the same cross-sectional shape over the entire length of the second body and having a width approximately equal to the width of the third photoelectric element is provided in the second body so as to extend approximately half of each of the third photoelectric elements. A plurality of guide grooves are formed along the axis of the second body so as to be sunk into the guide grooves, and these guide grooves extend along the length of the second body. It is characterized by the presence of

"Operation" The sunlight tracking sensor according to the present invention uses the difference in the amount of light received due to the shadow of the first body between the pair of first photoelectric elements included in the first tracking sensor to control the lighting device. The attitude of the second photoelectric element is roughly adjusted, and the amount of light received by the second photoelectric element, which is provided on the top of the second body of the second tracking sensor and does not cause a shadow by the second body, is used as a reference. The posture of the daylighting device is finely adjusted based on the difference in the amount of light received due to the shadow of the second main body between the second main body and each of the third photoelectric elements. At this time, even if the angle of intersection between the axis of the main body and the sun's rays is small, the amount of light received by each of the third photoelectric elements provided close to the side surface of the second main body is The amount of light received by the second photoelectric element and each of the third photoelectric elements becomes significant, and based on this difference, the second main body The intersecting angle between the sun's rays and the sun's rays can be detected with high precision in one go, and the posture control of the solar lighting system can be adjusted with high precision based on this.

"Example" Hereinafter, an example of this invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 6.

Reference numeral 1 in FIG. 5 indicates a sunlight daylighting device (hereinafter abbreviated as daylighting device) equipped with the sunlight tracking sensor according to this embodiment, and as shown in FIG. A light condensing unit 2 installed on a rooftop or the like,
The light guiding section 3 is installed above the outside of the bay window W of the building B.

First, the lighting device 1 will be explained as follows.

The light collecting unit 2 of the daylighting device 1 includes a plane mirror 5 that is installed facing the sun and bends the sunlight S in the guiding direction, and supports the plane mirror 5 and swings it in both meridian and latitude directions. a control mechanism 6;
A link mechanism 7 is provided between the control mechanism 6 and the plane mirror 5, and adjusts the swinging position of the plane mirror 5 to always guide the bent sunlight S in a constant direction. Therefore, it is roughly structured.

The control mechanism 6 includes a base 10 attached to the building B, as shown in FIGS. 5 and 6;
an outer frame 24 placed on the base 10; a first rotating member 11 rotatably attached to the base 10 and the outer frame 24; and the first rotating member 11.
, second rotating members 12, 12 (one of the second rotating members 12 is not shown) are rotatably attached along a plane passing through the center line of rotation;
Drive mechanism 1 that rotates the first rotating member 11
3. Further, the second rotating member 1
2 and 12, the plane mirror 5 is fixed so that the center lines of rotation thereof are the same, and the plane mirror 5 has a plane opposite to the reflection surface of the sunlight S, so that the rotation of the plane mirror 5 is fixed to the plane opposite to the reflection surface of the sunlight S. A drive mechanism 14 is attached. Since the second rotating members 12, 12 and the plane mirror 5 are fixed to each other, the drive mechanism 14 moves the plane mirror 5 and the second rotating member 1.
2 and 12 are rotated together.

One drive mechanism 13 that rotates the first rotating member 11 includes a gear 16 that is integrally attached to the first rotating member 11 and a gear 16 that is attached to the outer frame 24. and an electric motor 17 that engages with the electric motor 17 to rotate the electric motor 17.
The other drive mechanism 14 rotates the plane mirror 5.
An electric motor 18 is attached so that its rotation center line is parallel to the plane mirror 5, and a drive rod 19 is a drive shaft of the electric motor 18 and has a threaded portion 19a carved at its tip. The stay 20 is attached to the first rotating member 11 and screws into the threaded portion 19a of the drive rod 19 to reciprocate the drive rod 19 in its length direction.

The control mechanism 6 having such a configuration
is installed such that the rotation axis of the first rotation member 11 is located in a plane passing through the meridian, and the first rotation member 11 is rotated by the one drive mechanism 13; The plane mirror 5 is moved along the latitude direction, and the plane mirror 5 is moved along the meridian direction by the other drive mechanism 14, thereby causing the plane mirror 5 to follow the sun as it moves over time. I'm starting to let them do it.

Further, as shown in FIG. 6, the link mechanism 7 includes sliders 21, 21 attached to both ends (one not shown) of the plane mirror 5;
The slider 21 and the first and second rotating members 1
A pair of links 2 rotatably connecting 1 and 12
2, 22. The link mechanism 7 is connected to the second rotating member 12 so as to always form a constant angle with respect to the reflecting surface of the plane mirror 5.
and adjust the rotational position of the second rotational member 12.
so that the angle between the direction in which it faces and the preset light guide direction (direction of arrow S′ in FIG. 8) is always divided into two equal parts by an imaginary line along the reflective surface of the plane mirror 5.
The rotational position of the plane mirror 5 is adjusted.

On the other hand, the light guide section 3 of the daylighting device 1 is installed above the exterior of the bay window W of the building B, as shown in FIG.

The light guide section 3 includes a plurality of rectangular plane mirrors 3a, 3.
a, . . . and a frame 3b that supports the plane mirrors 3a, 3a, . The plane mirror 3a is provided with mounting shafts 3c, 3c extending in the length direction of the plane mirror 3a at both ends thereof, and the mounting shafts 3c, 3c are pivotally supported by the frame 3b, so that mounting is possible. It is rotatably supported around a shaft 3c. Further, the plane mirrors 3a, 3a, . . . are arranged parallel to each other to form a set of louvers, and furthermore, the two sets of plane mirrors 3a, 3a, . , are assembled so that their axes are orthogonal to each other, so that the entire structure is attached to the frame 3b in a lattice shape in plan view. With the above configuration, the plane mirror 3
By adjusting the rotational positions of a, 3a, . . . , the light guide direction of the entire light guide section 3 can be bent. That is, in FIG. 5, the plane mirrors 3a, 3
The rotational positions of a,... have been adjusted.

Here, the mechanism for adjusting the rotational position of the plane mirrors 3a, 3a is arbitrary, but as an example, an electric motor for driving the mounting shaft 3b, which supports the plane mirror 3a, is attached to the mounting shaft 3b. Just adjust the rotation position.

A tracking sensor for fine adjustment of this embodiment (a second
tracking sensor) 25, and a rough adjustment tracking sensor (first tracking sensor) 26 are provided.

The tracking sensors 25 and 26 are connected to both drive mechanisms 1
3 and 14 in accordance with the movement of the sun to adjust the rotating position of the plane mirror 5,
It is provided for the purpose of obtaining the control information, and an example of its structure will be described below.

The sunlight tracking sensors 25 and 26 are one of the two
6 is attached to the top of the first rotating member 11 for coarse adjustment, and the other 25 is attached to the tip of the second rotating member 12 for fine adjustment at different mounting heights. There is.

As shown in FIG. 4, the one tracking sensor 26 includes a rectangular parallelepiped-shaped base 27a and a rectangular parallelepiped-shaped convex portion (first body) 27 protruding from the base 27a.
b, and a main body 27 formed in a T-shape in plan view as a whole, and a set of photoelectric elements (first photoelectric elements) 28 attached so as to sandwich the convex portion 27b.
(One photoelectric element 28 is not shown). That is, the photoelectric elements 28 are arranged with their light receiving directions spaced apart by 180 degrees when the tracking sensor 26 is viewed from above. Further, the convex portion 27b is provided to protrude toward the front of the reflecting surface of the plane mirror 5.

On the other hand, as shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, the other tracking sensor 25 includes a prismatic main body (second main body) 30, a flange 31 provided at the base end of the main body 30, A photoelectric element (second photoelectric element) 32 attached to the tip of the main body 30, and a plurality of photoelectric elements (third photoelectric element) 3 attached to the joint side of the flange 31 with the main body 30.
It is composed of 3. Here, the main body 30
The axial center line of is parallel to the length direction of the second rotating member 12.

Further, each of the sunlight tracking sensors 25 and 26 is attached with a control unit 34 that outputs a drive signal to the drive mechanisms 13 and 14 based on the signals from the photoelectric elements 28, 32 and 33. The photoelectric elements 28, 32, and 33 output an electric signal corresponding to the amount of sunlight received to the control unit 34, and are preferably a phototransistor as an example, but may also be a photoconductive cell, a thermopile, or the like. It may be hot.

To explain the other tracking sensor 25 in more detail, the main body 30 has the same cross-sectional shape over its entire length, and each side of the main body 30 has a width equal to that of the second photoelectric sensor. A semicircular guide groove 35 having a width approximately equal to the width of the element 33 is provided in the main body 3.
These guide grooves 35 extend along the entire length of the main body 30 in the longitudinal direction. Further, the second photoelectric element 3
3 is attached so that half of it is sunk in the guide groove 35, so that it extends 90 degrees in the circumferential direction of the main body 30.
The photoelectric elements 33 are provided at intervals of about 100 degrees, and the center line of the photoelectric elements 33 in the light receiving direction is aligned with the main body 3.
It is parallel to the zero axis.

The arrangement of the photoelectric elements 28 of the rough adjustment tracking sensor 26 as described above is such that when the direction of sunlight S is inclined with respect to the protrusion direction of the convex portion 27b of the main body 27, the photoelectric element 28 located at the rear in the direction of inclination is 28 is covered by the shadow of the main body 27 to create a difference in the amount of light received between the photoelectric elements 28, and the arrangement of the photoelectric elements 33 of the fine adjustment tracking sensor 25 is different from sunlight. When the main body 30 is tilted with respect to S, the photoelectric element 33 located at the rear in the tilting direction is
6 (see FIG. 3), each photoelectric element 3
Furthermore, even when the inclination angle is small, the difference in the amount of light received between the photoelectric elements 33 is made noticeable by the shadow created by the guide groove 35, thereby reducing the shadow of the main body 30. A large difference in the amount of light received is created between the photoelectric element 32, which is not affected by the shadows of the guide groove 36 and the guide groove 35, and each photoelectric element 33.
The difference in the amount of light received between the three is used as a control signal for roughly and finely adjusting the inclination angle between the main bodies 27 and 30, that is, the light collecting section 2 and the sunlight S.

As shown in FIG.
S′ direction) By installing the light condensing part 2 so that the light guide part 3 is located in front, it is put into use condition,
and the direction of incidence of sunlight S and the second rotating member 1
By adjusting the rotational positions of the first and second rotational members 11 and 12 so that the two directions coincide with each other, the sunlight S is focused by the plane mirror 5 and its direction is bent. By irradiating the light guiding portion 3, the sunlight S can be guided into the building B. Since the light guide section 3 is configured such that its light guide direction can be bent, adjusting the rotational position of the plane mirrors 3a, 3a, . . .
It is possible to freely diffuse and aperture the sunlight S' bent by the light guiding section 3 and guide it toward any desired position. The plane mirror 5 is maintained by the action of the link mechanism 7 such that a virtual line along the reflection surface of the plane mirror 5 always bisects the angle between the incident direction of the sunlight S and the light guide direction. Therefore, even if the incident angle of sunlight S changes over time, the direction of the reflected light is kept constant in the light guiding direction.

Furthermore, in this embodiment, the sunlight tracking sensor 2
5 and 26, the position of the plane mirror 5 is automatically adjusted. Here, the operation of the sunlight tracking sensors 25 and 26 will be explained together with the adjustment operation of the light condensing section 2.

In the daylighting device 1 set to the standby state as described above, the sunlight tracking sensor 2 for coarse adjustment is installed.
When sunlight S of a light amount that can be tracked is irradiated on 6,
Since a pair of photoelectric elements 28 are provided in the tracking sensor main body 27 with their light receiving directions different by 180 degrees, when the main body 27 is tilted with respect to sunlight S, each photoelectric element 28 A difference occurs between the amount of light received. These photoelectric elements 28 output electric signals corresponding to the amount of light received to the control unit 34, and the control unit 34
By comparing the amount of light received by each photoelectric element 28 and outputting a drive signal from the control unit 34 to the drive mechanism 13, the drive mechanism 13 is adjusted so that the difference between the photoelectric elements 28 is minimized. , thereby causing the first
The rotating member 11 is rotated to move the main body 27 of the sunlight tracking sensor 26 in a direction that reduces the angle of intersection with the sunlight S. Here, since the convex portion 27b of the tracking sensor 26 is provided to protrude toward the front of the reflecting surface of the plane mirror 5, the plane mirror 5 also has a direction in which the direction of the reflecting surface and the direction of incidence of the sunlight S in the latitude direction are different. It will be moved in the direction of decreasing the intersection angle, thereby performing rough adjustment of the light condensing section 2.

Then, this rough adjustment ends when the above-mentioned difference in the amount of received light falls within an allowable range, and the process proceeds to a fine adjustment operation based on information from the fine adjustment tracking sensor 25.

This fine adjustment operation can be performed even if each photoelectric element 33 is installed close to the side wall of the main body 30 and the angle of intersection between the axis of the main body 30 and the sunlight S is minute. The shadow 36 or the shadow caused by the guide groove 35 can affect the light receiving function of any of the photoelectric elements 33, causing a large difference in the amount of light received between the photoelectric elements 33 or between the photoelectric elements 32 and 33. Based on the fact that each photoelectric element 32, 33 is based on the photoelectric element 32,
By rotating the first and second rotating members 11 and 12 so that the amount of light received at Highly accurate position adjustment is performed.

Through the above operations, the light collecting section 2 of the daylighting device 1 is made to constantly follow the direction of incidence of sunlight S as the sun moves over time, and thereby the posture of the daylighting device 1 as a whole is controlled. In such a tracking operation, the tracking sensor 26 performs coarse adjustment, and then the tracking sensor 25 performs fine adjustment, so that the tracking operation can be performed efficiently. In addition, in this tracking operation, each drive unit is controlled by tracking sensors 25 and 2.
6, the configuration of the tracking sensors 25, 26 themselves is simple, and
In addition, the entire control system is simplified, and even if the angle of intersection between the axis of the main body 30 of the tracking sensor 25 and the sunlight S is small, the shadow created by the guide groove 35 will cause the space between each photoelectric element 32 and 33 to be reduced. Since the difference in the amount of received light is greatly changed, highly accurate tracking is possible by direct positional control between the incident direction of sunlight S and the light condensing section 2. Further, the intersection angle is detected from the difference in the amount of light received between each photoelectric element 33 based on the photoelectric element 32 which is not affected by the shadow 36 of the main body 30 and the shadow by the guide groove 35, and fine adjustment of the daylighting device 1 is made at once. Therefore, tracking operations can be performed efficiently. Furthermore, even if the installation accuracy of the solar lighting device 1 is rough, the installation error is automatically corrected and the tracking accuracy described above is maintained.
The installation work becomes easy, and together with the simplification of the control system, the cost of the entire device is reduced.

Note that the shapes, dimensions, and numbers of each component shown in each of the above embodiments are merely examples, and can be variously changed based on the installation location, type of facility, design requirements, etc.

"Effects of the Invention" As explained in detail above, the sunlight tracking sensor according to the present invention performs rough adjustment with the first tracking sensor when controlling the attitude of the daylighting device.
Since the second tracking sensor performs fine adjustment, the posture of the daylighting device can be controlled efficiently. Also,
Since the control of each drive unit for attitude control is performed based on the difference in the amount of light received between the first to third photoelectric elements provided in the first and second tracking sensors, these The configuration of the tracking sensor itself is simple, and the entire control system thereof is simplified. Furthermore, even if the angle of intersection between the axis of the body of the second tracking sensor and the sunlight is minute, the difference in the amount of light received by each of the third photoelectric elements is caused by the shadow caused by the guide groove formed in the second body. Since this becomes a significant issue, it becomes possible to perform highly accurate tracking by directly controlling the direction of sunlight incidence and the position of the sunlight lighting device.
In addition, the crossing angle is detected from the difference in the amount of light received between the third photoelectric elements based on the second photoelectric element which is not affected by the shadow of the second main body and the shadow of the guide groove, and the lighting device is installed at once. Since it is possible to make fine adjustments, tracking operations can be performed efficiently. In addition, even if the installation accuracy of the solar lighting device is rough, the installation error is automatically corrected and the tracking accuracy described above is maintained, making the installation work easier, which goes hand in hand with the simplification of the control system. This provides excellent effects such as reducing the cost of the entire device.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

1 to 3 are views showing one embodiment of the present invention, in which FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a sunlight tracking sensor which is an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a front view of the same, Fig. 3 is a plan view of the same, Fig. 4 is a perspective view showing a sunlight tracking sensor for rough adjustment, Fig. 5 is a schematic diagram of a sunlight lighting device to which one embodiment is applied, and Fig. 6 is one implementation. It is an external front view of the light collection part of the solar lighting device to which the example is applied. 1...Solar lighting device, 2...Light collecting section, 3...
Light guiding section, 5... plane mirror, 6... control mechanism, 7...
Link mechanism, 11... first rotating member, 12...
Second rotating member, 25... sunlight tracking sensor, 3
0...Main body, 31...Flange, 32, 33...
Photoelectric element, 34...Control unit, 35
...Guide groove, 37...fin.

Claims (1)

[Scope of utility model registration request] A sunlight tracking sensor is attached to a sunlight lighting device and outputs a signal for attitude control of the lighting device, and the sunlight tracking sensor includes a first tracking sensor for rough adjustment and a first tracking sensor for fine adjustment. and a control unit that sends an attitude control signal to the daylighting device based on signals from the first and second tracking sensors, and the first tracking sensor has a columnar shape. and a pair of first photoelectric elements that are respectively provided on opposing side surfaces of the first body and output signals corresponding to the amount of received light, and the second tracking The sensor includes a second main body formed in a columnar shape, a flange provided at the base end of the second main body, and a flange provided at the top of the second main body, and outputs a signal corresponding to the amount of received light. a second photoelectric element; and a third photoelectric element provided on the flange adjacent to a side surface of the second body and outputting a signal corresponding to the amount of received light, the third photoelectric element: A plurality of photoelectric elements are provided at intervals in the circumferential direction of the second body, and the center line of each of the second and third photoelectric elements in the light receiving direction is parallel to the axis of the second body. and the second body has the same cross-sectional shape over its entire length,
Further, a guide groove having a width approximately equal to the width of the third photoelectric element is provided in the second body, and the axis of the second body is arranged such that approximately half of each of the photoelectric elements is sunk into the guide groove. Multiple pieces are formed along the heart, and
The sunlight tracking sensor is characterized in that these guide grooves extend along the length of the second main body.