Patent · US Expired

Cloud cover sensor

US4355896A · kind A · utility

54Cited by

3References

10Claims

0Family size

Inventors

Robert A. Administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space Frosch · La Cañada Flintridge, US
Eric G. Laue · San Marino, US

Key dates

Filing date	Jun 27, 1980
Grant date	Oct 26, 1982
Priority date	—
Expiry date	Jun 27, 2000

Classification

Technology area (CPC G)Physics
CPC primaryG01W1/00
WIPO fieldMeasurement
WIPO sectorInstruments

Abstract

An apparatus is described which provides a numerical indication of the cloudiness at a particular time of a day. The apparatus includes a frame (18) holding several light sensors such as photovoltaic cells, with a direct sensor (12) mounted to directly face the sun and indirect sensors (13-16) mounted to face different portions of the sky not containing the sun. A light shield (30) shields the direct sensor from most of the sky except a small portion containing the sun, and also shields each of the indirect sensors from direct sunlight. The relative values of the outputs from the direct and indirect sensors, enables the generation of a numerical indication (56) of the degree of cloudiness at a particular time of day.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.