The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
May. 15, 2012
Filed:
Oct. 07, 2008
Russell M. Taylor, Ii, Pittsboro, NC (US);
Charles R. Evans, Ii, Chapel Hill, NC (US);
John A. Crain, Durham, NC (US);
Russell M. Taylor, II, Pittsboro, NC (US);
Charles R. Evans, II, Chapel Hill, NC (US);
John A. Crain, Durham, NC (US);
Megawatt Solar, Inc., Hillsborough, NC (US);
Abstract
The subject matter described herein includes methods, systems, and computer readable media for controlling orientation of a photovoltaic collection system to track apparent movement of the sun. According to one aspect, a method for controlling orientation of a photovoltaic collection system to track apparent movement of the sun using a photovoltaic-collection-system-derived tracking algorithm is provided. The method includes determining an initial orientation of a photovoltaic collection system. The method further includes automatically deriving, using output from the photovoltaic collection system as it tracks apparent movement of the sun across the sky caused by spinning of the earth on its axis and its orbit around the sun, a tracking algorithm for controlling orientation of the photovoltaic collection system to track the apparent movement of the sun. The method further includes controlling orientation of the photovoltaic collection system to track apparent movement of the sun using the photovoltaic-collection-system-derived tracking algorithm.