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.

Date of Patent:
Jan. 05, 2016

Filed:

Dec. 14, 2012
Applicant:

International Business Machines Corporation, Armonk, NY (US);

Inventors:

Peter D. Kirchner, Putnam Valley, NY (US);

Dennis F. Manzer, Bedford Hills, NY (US);

Theodore G. van Kessel, Millbrook, NY (US);

Attorneys:
Primary Examiner:
Int. Cl.
CPC ...
G01P 3/42 (2006.01); H01L 31/052 (2014.01); F24J 2/38 (2014.01);
U.S. Cl.
CPC ...
H01L 31/0522 (2013.01); F24J 2/38 (2013.01); H02S 20/32 (2014.12); Y02E 10/40 (2013.01); Y02E 10/50 (2013.01);
Abstract

A method of tracking the sun is disclosed. A measurement of a gravity vector is obtained in a frame of reference of a solar collector rotatable with respect to an earth center of reference. A measurement of a magnetic direction vector is obtained in the frame of reference of the solar collector. The orientation of the solar collector is determined from the obtained measurement of the gravity vector and the obtained measurement of the magnetic direction. The orientation of the solar collector is altered in order to track the sun.


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