Title: Solar energy sun tracker

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Abstract: A sun tracking servo system is disclosed in which individual mirrors are tilted to redirect incoming sunlight towards a solar energy receiver. Mirror steering is accomplished by providing the mirror with a central aperture and/or lens to form images of both the sun and receiver behind the mirror and by lining up the IR image of the solar receiver with a reflection of the image of the sun from a reflecting back surface of the mirror by rotating the mirror about its central aperture. Image alignment is detected by a sensor behind the mirror which is in line with the aperture and the receiver. Each mirror is provided with a projection screen type imaging surface affixed to and spaced from the back side of the main mirror onto which an image of the sun is formed. In one embodiment a limited aperture reflector is positioned on the back of the mirror to reflect the sun's image from the projection screen to a stationary combined solar image and receiver image detector only when the mirror is pointed in the proper direction. In another embodiment, the solar/receiver image detector is moved to compensate for motion of the solar energy receiver such as that caused by sway of its supporting tower or shifting of the mirror gimbal supporting structure, thereby keeping the solar/receiver image detector centered along the line between the aperture of the mirror and the instantaneous position of the solar energy receiver.


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