Electronic Devices With Multi-Function Environmental Sensors

    公开(公告)号:US20240085223A1

    公开(公告)日:2024-03-14

    申请号:US18321456

    申请日:2023-05-22

    Applicant: Apple Inc.

    CPC classification number: G01D21/02 G01J1/44 G01K17/00 G01P5/12 G01J2001/4266

    Abstract: An electronic device may include an environmental sensor. In particular, the sensor may include a layer of metal and be operable as an anemometer, a thermometer, a bolometer, and/or a heat flux sensor. To operate as an anemometer or thermometer, circuitry may heat the layer of metal and calculate an air speed based on a decay of the metal temperature. To operate as a bolometer, a first portion of the metal may have a first optical absorption/insulation (e.g., be insulated), while a second portion may have a second optical absorption/insulation (e.g., be uncoated). Differences in heating/cooling of the first and second portions may be used to measure solar radiation. To operate as a heat flux sensor, different metals may be used, and Seebeck voltages between the different metals may be measured. The metal may be deposited on the housing or may be incorporated into a mesh on the device.

    Systems and methods for array level terrain based backtracking

    公开(公告)号:US11888435B2

    公开(公告)日:2024-01-30

    申请号:US18172462

    申请日:2023-02-22

    CPC classification number: H02S20/32 G01J1/42 G01S3/7862 G01J2001/4266

    Abstract: A system and method for array level terrain based backtracking includes a tracker configured to collect solar irradiance and attached to a rotational mechanism for changing a plane of the tracker and a controller in communication with a rotational mechanism. The controller is programmed to determine a position of the sun at a first specific point in time, retrieve height information, execute a shadow model based on the retrieved height information and the position of the sun, determine a first angle for the tracker; collect an angle for each tracker in a plurality of trackers in an array; adjust the first angle based on executing the shadow model with the first angle and the plurality of angles associated with the plurality of trackers; transmit instructions to the rotational mechanism to change the plane of the tracker to the adjusted first angle.

    System, Device and Method for Determining Soiling of PV Modules

    公开(公告)号:US20230275544A1

    公开(公告)日:2023-08-31

    申请号:US17998444

    申请日:2021-05-11

    Applicant: Thomas FRIESEN

    Inventor: Thomas FRIESEN

    CPC classification number: H02S50/00 G01J1/42 G01K1/026 G01J2001/4266

    Abstract: The present invention concerns an add-on system, method, device and computer readable code for determining soiling of photovoltaic (PV) modules (10) of a PV installation (20). In preferred embodiments, the invention encompasses receiving first data related to a first solar irradiation determined at the site of said installation (20), and receiving second data related to a second solar irradiation at a geographic area where said installation (2) is located, said second data being derived from information provided by a satellite. If the solar irradiation as determined at the site of the installation is lower compared to the solar irradiation as determined from satellite data, the system is configured to find soiling.

    SOLAR LOAD FEEDBACK FOR CLIMATE CONTROL
    5.
    发明公开

    公开(公告)号:US20230226882A1

    公开(公告)日:2023-07-20

    申请号:US17577750

    申请日:2022-01-18

    Inventor: Lee Foster

    CPC classification number: B60H1/0075 G01J1/42 G01J2001/4266

    Abstract: Methods and systems are described for vehicle range predictors. The system determines a change in mass to a vehicle while driving and calculates a vehicle load in response to determining the change in mass. The system then adjusts a vehicle range in response to calculating the vehicle load. The vehicle range is indicative of a distance in which the vehicle is predicted to travel with a remaining fuel. The adjusted vehicle range is based on the vehicle load.

    ULTRAVIOLET RADIATION MONITORING APPARATUS, SYSTEM HAVING THE SAME, AND METHOD THEREOF

    公开(公告)号:US20180202858A1

    公开(公告)日:2018-07-19

    申请号:US15560876

    申请日:2017-04-12

    Inventor: Jian GAO

    Abstract: The present application discloses a UV radiation monitoring apparatus, method, and system. The monitoring apparatus includes a case, an authenticator disposed on the case and configured to identify a user, a controller in the case coupled to the authenticator to enable a first mode for an authenticated user, a detector on the case coupled to the controller and configured to measure an intensity of ultraviolet radiation and generate ultraviolet index (UVI) value at the present time, a memory coupled to the controller and configured to store the UVI values over an exposure time added into historical UVI data for the authenticated user, and a display unit to display the UVI value at the present time and the personal health instructions on UV protection for the authenticated user. The monitoring apparatus further is configured to be paired with a mobile terminal for providing updated personal health instructions.

    INTEGRATED RAIN AND SOLAR RADIATION SENSING MODULE

    公开(公告)号:US20180128942A1

    公开(公告)日:2018-05-10

    申请号:US15805230

    申请日:2017-11-07

    Abstract: An integrated rain and solar radiation sensing module including at least two light emitting elements, a plurality of input lenses, wherein at least two of the plurality of input lenses are configured to receive and collimate light emitted by each of the light emitting elements, a plurality of output lenses numbering at least twice as many as the plurality of input lenses, wherein each output lens is configured to receive and focus light that is collimated by at least one of the plurality of input lenses and reflected off of a transparent substrate, and a plurality of light receiving elements, wherein each light receiving element configured to receive focused light from at least one of the output lenses and to convert the received light into an electrical output signal proportional to the received light.

    Multi-sensor
    10.
    外观设计

    公开(公告)号:USD816518S1

    公开(公告)日:2018-05-01

    申请号:US29560076

    申请日:2016-04-01

    Applicant: View, Inc.

    Abstract: Various implementations relate generally to a multi-sensor device. Some implementations more particularly relate to a multi-sensor device including a ring of radially-oriented photosensors. Some implementations more particularly relate to a multi-sensor device that is orientation-independent with respect to a central axis of the ring. Some implementations of the multi-sensor devices described herein also include one or more additional sensors. For example, some implementations include an axially-directed photosensor. Some implementations also can include one or more temperature sensors configured to sense an exterior temperature, for example, an ambient temperature of an outdoors environment around the multi-sensor. Additionally or alternatively, some implementations can include a temperature sensor configured to sense an interior temperature within the multi-sensor device. Particular implementations provide, characterize, or enable a compact form factor. Particular implementations provide, characterize, or enable a multi-sensor device requiring little or no wiring, and in some such instances, little or no invasion, perforation or reconstruction of a building or other structure on which the multi-sensor device is mounted.

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