Sun-tracker

Description: In solar cell array applications and solar instrumentation, it is desirable to monitor the approximate position of the sun to allow efficient automatic alignment. The L14G11ens can provide about 15° of accuracy in a simple level sensing circuit, and a full hemisphere can be monitored with about 150 phototransistors. The sun provides approximately 80 mW/cm² to the L14G1 when on the centerline. This will keep the output down to about 0.5 V for angles up to 7.5°. The sky provides approximately 0.5 mW/cm² to the L14G1 and will keep the output greater than 10 V when viewed. White clouds viewed from above can lower this voltage to about 5 V on some devices. This circuit can directly drive TTL logic by using the 5-V supply and changing the load resistor to 430 Ω. Different bright objects can also be located with the same type of circuitry simply by adjusting the resistor values to provide the desired sensitivity.

In solar energy applications, the ability to accurately track the sun's position is crucial for maximizing the efficiency of solar panels and instrumentation. The L14G11ens sensor system is designed to achieve approximately 15° of angular accuracy, utilizing a configuration of around 150 phototransistors arranged to cover a full hemisphere. This configuration allows the system to effectively detect and respond to varying solar conditions.

When the sun is directly aligned with the sensor, it generates a significant output of approximately 80 mW/cm², resulting in an output voltage that can drop to about 0.5 V when the angle is within 7.5°. In contrast, ambient sky conditions contribute a much lower energy density of around 0.5 mW/cm², allowing the output voltage to remain above 10 V under typical viewing scenarios. However, the presence of white clouds can significantly affect this output, potentially reducing the voltage to approximately 5 V on certain devices.

The circuit is designed to interface seamlessly with TTL logic circuits, leveraging a 5-V power supply. By modifying the load resistor to 430 Ω, the circuit can be optimized for direct logic-level interfacing. Additionally, the system can be adapted for detecting other bright objects in the environment. This adaptability is achieved by adjusting the resistor values within the circuit, allowing for the fine-tuning of sensitivity to meet specific application requirements. This flexibility makes the L14G11ens sensor not only suitable for solar tracking but also versatile for a range of optical detection tasks.In solar cell array applications and solar instrumentation, it is desirable to monitor the approximate position of the sun to allow efficient automatic alignment. The Ll4Gllens can provide about 15° of accuracy in a simple level sensing circuit, and a full hemisphere can be monitored with about 150 phototransistors.

The sun provides "" 80 mW/cm2 to the L14Gl when on the centerline. This will keep the output down to,; 0.5 V for f),; 7.5°. The sky provides "" 0.5 mW/cm2 to the Ll4G1 and will keep the output greater than 10 V when viewed. White douds viewed from above can lower this voltage to "" 5 Von some devices. This circuit can directly drive TTL logic by using the 5-V supply and changing the load resistor to 430 0. Different bright objects can also be located with the same type of circuitry simply by adjusting the resistor values to provide the desired sensitivity.