Title :
A ±60° Field-of-View, highly compact, 3×3 integrated photo-diode array sensor for dual-axis solar tracking
Author :
Tosanguan, Thanut ; Supadech, Jakrapong ; Jantawong, Jirawat ; Hruanun, Chamdet ; Poyai, Amporn
Author_Institution :
Thai Microeletronics Center, Nat. Electron. & Comput. Technol. Center, Chachoengsao, Thailand
Abstract :
Solar energy production via photovoltaic (PV) cells has witnessed over 500% growth in cumulative installed capacity between 2006-2010 [1]. With this significant investment, there is a financial need to maximize the system´s power output, which can be achieved via a solar tracking system. The objective of this paper is to introduce a new, highly compact, integrated sensor consisting of 9 photo-diodes arranged in a 3×3 grid with 4 light windows in a 2×2 grid. The design allows simultaneous dual-axis solar tracking to take place with a single solid state sensor. Field-of-Views of ±58° azimuth and ±52° elevation and sensor calibrated errors of ±1° and ±0.3° in the azimuth and elevation direction, respectively, were obtained.
Keywords :
photodiodes; sensor arrays; solar cells; dual-axis solar tracking; highly compact integrated sensor; integrated photodiode array sensor; photovoltaic cells; solar energy production; Arrays; Azimuth; Computers; Green products; Instruments; Microelectronics; Sun; highly compact; micro-sensors; photodiode array; photovoltaic system; solar tracking;
Conference_Titel :
Electronic Measurement & Instruments (ICEMI), 2013 IEEE 11th International Conference on
Conference_Location :
Harbin
Print_ISBN :
978-1-4799-0757-1
DOI :
10.1109/ICEMI.2013.6743027
