JPH0843543A - Method for judging weather - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To obtain a method by which whether the weather is sunny, cloudy or rainy is judged accurately and automatically. CONSTITUTION:The sunshine is made incident on an optical-axis sensor 7. When an optical axis can be detected by the optical-axis sensor 7, the weather is judged to be sunny. In addition, when the optical axis cannot be detected, the weather is judged to be cloudy or rainy. Alternatively, an optical-axis sensor is constituted in such a way that a plurality of detection regions 4a to 4d composed of optical sensors installed at the bottom part of the optical-axis sensor 7 are irradiated with incident light so as to decide an optical-axis. When the optical-axis sensor is used and the difference in an output value between the respective detection regions 4a to 4d is within a prescribed range or within a prescribed ratio, the weather is judged to be cloudy or rainy. In addition, when the difference in the output value is outside the prescribed range or outside the prescribed ratio, the weather is judged to be sunny. In this case, as a condition under which the weather is judged to be sunny, it is desirable to add a condition under which the output value of every output region is at a prescribed level or higher. In addition, the weather may be judged in such a way that the sum of output values of adjacent detection regions is taken into consideration.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an improvement of a method for discriminating weather using an optical axis sensor of a solar lighting control device.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A conventional solar lighting control device is constructed as shown in FIG.

In FIG. 1, reference numeral 11 denotes a flat plate prism which serves as a light-collecting portion. A plurality of triangular minute prism portions 11a are formed on the lower surface of the prism, and the outer peripheral portion of the prism is engaged with a gear 13 which will be described later. It is assumed that teeth are formed. Reference numeral 12 is a motor, and 13 is a gear for rotating the flat plate prism 11 by the driving force of the motor 12. 14
Is a central processing unit such as a microcomputer (hereinafter CPU)
It is). Reference numeral 15 is an input device for inputting required data to the CPU 14. Further, 16 is a connecting shaft of the gear 13 and the motor 12, and 17 and 18 are conducting wires.

In the above structure, the CPU 14 is provided with the input device 15 as the initial setting, the time data of the day and time of the day and the data regarding the altitude and direction of the sun at that time, and the CPU 14 performs the necessary arithmetic processing to perform the flat prism. 11 was controlled so that the sun would be tracked and sunlight would be taken indoors.

[0005]

By the way, the conventional device has the following problems. (1) Although the sun tracking control is performed as described above,
Since the weather is not detected and the correction control based on the optical axis or the light amount of the incident light of sunlight is not performed, the precision of the lighting control cannot be improved very much. (2) In particular, even on a rainy day with a small amount of daylighting, the daylighting control is automatically performed in the same manner as on a sunny day, so that there is a problem that the efficiency of control of the daylighting device deteriorates.

In order to improve this point, by visual inspection,
It may be possible to perform switching such as manually stopping daylighting on a rainy day, but if a part of manual operation is required in this way, it will not be a problem with the daylighting control device that is required to be automated. there were.

The present invention has the above-mentioned problems (problems) of the conventional ones.
It is an object of the present invention to provide a weather determination method using an optical axis sensor designed to solve the above problem.

[0008]

In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, the method of judging the weather using the optical axis sensor of the present invention is
Sunlight is incident on the optical axis sensor, and when the optical axis can be detected by the optical axis sensor, the weather is determined to be fine, and when the optical axis cannot be detected, the weather is determined to be cloudy or rainy.

Further, an output value output from the optical axis sensor is used by using an optical axis sensor which determines the optical axis by irradiating incident light to a detection area formed by the optical sensor provided at the bottom of the optical axis sensor. It may be determined that the weather is sunny when the level is equal to or higher than a predetermined level, and cloudy or rainy when the level is lower than the predetermined level.

Further, the bottom detection area is divided into a plurality of areas, and light is guided in each of the plurality of detection areas, so that the difference between the output values of the respective detection areas is reduced within a predetermined time. It is also possible to determine that the weather is cloudy or rain when it is within a predetermined range or a predetermined ratio, and that the weather is fine when the difference between the output values is outside the predetermined range or the predetermined ratio. In this case, the output value of each detection area is equal to or higher than a predetermined level under the condition that the difference between the output values of the detection areas is within a predetermined range or within a predetermined ratio within a predetermined time as a condition for determining whether it is sunny. It is desirable to add the condition.

Further, the detection area at the bottom is divided into three or more areas, and light is guided in each of the plurality of detection areas, so that the output values of the adjacent detection areas within a predetermined time It is also possible to determine that the weather is cloudy or rain when the sum is within a predetermined range or a predetermined ratio, and that the weather is clear when the sum of the output values is outside the predetermined range or the predetermined ratio.

[0012]

In the basic method of determining the weather using the optical axis sensor of the present invention, the weather is fine when the optical axis can be detected by the optical axis sensor, and the optical axis cannot be detected. At this time, the weather is determined to be cloudy or rain, and the weather can be determined by simple and clear logic.

Instead of this, in the case of looking at the output value of the detection area composed of the optical sensor arranged at the bottom of the optical axis sensor, the output of the detection area depends on the difference in the amount of light applied to the detection area of the optical axis sensor. If the value is below a predetermined level, the weather is cloudy, and if it is above a predetermined level, the weather is clear. In this case, since the illuminance changes depending on the month, day, time, etc., the predetermined level may be a value appropriately set according to these.

Further, as a criterion for determining the weather, light is guided to a plurality of detection areas provided in the detection area at the bottom of the optical axis sensor, and whether or not the difference between the output values of the detection areas is within a predetermined range or within a predetermined ratio. If the determination is performed for a certain period of time, even if the cloud temporarily crosses the sun, it can be determined as clear without being mistaken as cloudy.

Further, if the output values of the adjacent areas of the respective detection areas are taken into consideration as the output values to be discriminated, the influence of the error of the output values in the detection of the optical axis becomes small, and it is possible to discriminate between clear, cloudy or rain. It can be detected more accurately.

As described above, under the condition that the difference between the output values of the respective detection areas is within the predetermined range or within the predetermined ratio within the predetermined time, the output value of each output area is equal to or higher than the predetermined level. If conditions are also added to determine whether it is sunny or not, since the direct light hits each detection area vertically because the detection time is around noon, it will be cloudy or rainy even if there is no difference in the output values of adjacent detection areas. It is possible to prevent the wrong determination. In this case, since the illuminance changes depending on the month, day, time, etc., the predetermined level may be a value appropriately set according to these.

[0017]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS A weather discriminating method using an optical axis sensor according to the present invention will be described below with reference to FIGS.

First, before explaining the weather determination method of the present invention, first and second methods used for implementing the determination method of the present invention.
The configuration of the optical axis sensor will be described. First optical axis sensor: FIG. 1 shows the configuration of the first optical axis sensor. FIG. 1A is an overall perspective view, FIG. 1B is a vertical sectional front view, and FIG. 1C is the same. It is a cross-sectional view of the bottom of FIG.

In FIG. 1, 1 is a metal tube made of aluminum or the like, 2 is a hole provided in the closed top surface of the metal tube 1, 3 is a bottom wall of the metal tube 1, and this bottom wall 3 Is provided with a plurality of, for example, four detection regions 4a to 4d each including an optical sensor. Further, as shown in FIG. 3C, four light guide resins 5a to 5d corresponding to the respective four detection regions 4a to 4d are arranged on the inner circumference of the cylinder 1. Reference numeral 6 is a light-shielding body that serves as the body of the cylinder 1. The first optical axis sensor 7 is configured by the above 1 to 6.

In the optical axis sensor 7, the sunlight incident from the hole 2 is guided to the detection regions 4a to 4d in the cylinder 1 directly or via the light guide resins 5a to 5d. Therefore 4
The optical axis of sunlight is calculated based on the difference between the output signals output from the respective detection areas 4a to 4d composed of individual photosensors. Second Optical Axis Sensor: FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing the configuration of the second optical axis sensor 7A used when carrying out the determination method of the present invention.

As shown in the figure, for example, a partition 8 preferably made of a reflection plate such as stainless steel is erected and the bottom wall 9 is formed by 4.
Along with the division, detection areas 10a to 10d each including an optical sensor divided into four are provided.

Therefore, when the light hits the screen 8, it creates a shadow,
The detection areas 10a to 10d generate different outputs according to their respective irradiation doses.

That is, when the optical axis of the incident light is at a small angle with respect to the bottom wall 9, the shadow becomes long, and when it is close to the vertical, the shadow becomes short. Further, the output of the detection areas 10a to 10d is the partition 8
By using a reflection plate made of stainless steel or the like, the light reflected by the screen 8 also varies.

Therefore, if the optical axis is the vertical direction, the output values of the four detection areas 10a to 10d become equal,
In addition, each detection area 10a-
The output value of 10d becomes a different value, whereby the optical axis of the incident ray can be identified.

In the case of the first optical axis sensor 7 of FIG. 1, sunlight is incident from the hole 2 provided on the top surface of the closed cylinder 1 and the detection regions 4a to 4d composed of a plurality of optical sensors. However, in the case of the second optical axis sensor 7A in FIG.
It shows a configuration in which sunlight is directly incident on a plurality of detection areas 10a to 10d partitioned by, and even if an optical axis sensor of any of these configurations is used, the weather condition of the present invention will be described below. A determination method can be implemented.

Next, each embodiment of the method of the present invention applied to the first and second solar lighting control devices shown in FIGS. 3 and 4 will be described with reference to the flowcharts of FIGS. 5 to 8.

It should be noted that, in the configuration of the sunlight collecting control device shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the same components as those of the conventional sunlight collecting control device are designated by the same reference numerals as those in FIG. 9, and the description thereof is omitted.

That is, in the first and second solar lighting control devices shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the optical axis sensors 7 and 7A are provided so as to face the flat plate prism 11, and the output signals of these are provided to the respective conducting wires. The structure is characterized in that it is transmitted to the CPU 14 via 20 and 22 to cause the CPU 14 to perform the following calculation, and the other points are the same as those in FIG. 9 of the conventional example.

Further, the difference between the first and second solar lighting control devices is that the installation positions of the respective optical axis sensors 7 and 7A are the flat prism 11 as shown in FIG. 3 in the first device. 4 and in the second apparatus, as shown in FIG. 4, the flat prism 11 is provided so as to face each other.

As the optical axis sensors 7 and 7A in each case, for example, one of the first or second optical axis sensors shown in FIG. 1 or 2 may be used.

Next, referring to the flow charts of FIGS. 5 to 8, the first to fourth embodiments of the method for discriminating weather according to the present invention, which are applied to the first and second solar lighting control devices, will be described. Explain. First Embodiment of Discrimination Method of the Present Invention: This embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS.

FIG. 5 is a flow chart showing the operation of the first embodiment of the weather discriminating method of the present invention using the above-mentioned optical axis sensor 7 or 7A, and ST1 to ST4 are reference numerals indicating the respective steps.

For example, when the first optical axis sensor 7 is arranged above the flat plate prism 1 as shown in FIG. 3, if sunlight is incident on the optical axis sensor 7, the presence or absence of the optical axis is checked. (ST2), it is determined that the weather is fine by detecting the output signal from the detection areas 4a to 4d of the optical axis sensor 7 (ST3).

Similarly, when the second optical axis sensor 7A is used, fineness is detected by detecting the output signals from the detection areas 10a to 10d.

Next, in the case of cloudy weather or rain, the scattered light is input to the optical axis sensor 7 or 7A, but since the direct light contains only a small amount of light, the optical axis is not detected, so that the cloudy or It can be distinguished from rain (ST4).

Further, as shown in FIG. 4, the optical axis sensor 7 or 7
When A is arranged below the flat plate prism 1, when the optical axis is vertical, the respective regions 4a to 4 of the optical axis sensor 7 or 7A.
The output values of d or 10a to 10d become equal.

However, if the outputs of the respective areas are equal, it is impossible to determine whether the optical axis is vertical or cloudy or rainy. At this time, a predetermined level may be set as the output value of the optical axis sensor on the basis of the cloudiness, or the light collecting section may be driven and slightly shifted to determine whether the output values of the optical axis sensor become equal.

When the weather is determined to be fine, a fine control signal is sent to the CPU 14, and a fine control command is issued from the CPU 14 (ST3), while a cloudy or rain determination signal is sent to the CPU 14. Then, the command issued from the CPU 14 becomes a cloudy or rain control command (ST
4).

Further, instead of the first embodiment, the weather may be discriminated in this modified embodiment.

That is, when the first or second optical axis sensor 7 or 7A is used and the output value output from the optical axis sensor 7 or 7A is above a predetermined level, the weather is fine and below the predetermined level. In this case, the weather is determined to be cloudy or rain, and since each optical axis sensor 7 or 7A is used as a light amount sensor, a light amount sensor may be used.

As described above, the first embodiment or the first embodiment
In the case of the weather determination method which is a modified example of the above embodiment, since the weather is determined based on the presence or absence of the optical axis or the level of the light quantity, the optical axis sensor 7 shown in FIG.
Alternatively, as in 7A, an optical axis sensor having a single detection area in which the detection area is not divided / divided into a plurality may be used.

Second Embodiment of Discrimination Method of the Present Invention: This embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. 1, 2 and 6.

FIG. 6 is a flow chart showing the operation of the second embodiment of the weather discriminating method, and ST11 to ST22 are symbols showing respective steps.

When the discriminating method of this embodiment is carried out, the optical axis sensor must be an optical axis sensor having a plurality of detection regions divided as shown in FIG. 1 or 2. In the following description, for simplification, the case where the first optical axis sensor 7 of FIG. 1 is applied will be described.

First, the outline of the flow chart of FIG. 6 will be described.
In the figure, for example, in the case of the optical axis sensor 7 of FIG. 1, four detection regions 4a to 4d made of optical sensors are provided at the bottom of the cylinder 1, but in FIG.
The output values of these detection areas are represented by a to d.
The subscript number is added to the symbol of the following standard. That is, a3 is the latest output value of the area a, a2 is the previous output value of the area a, and a1 is the output value of the area a two times before. The display format is output in the other areas b to d. The values are also applied and displayed in the same manner.

Further, in ST13, in order to eliminate the error due to the detection of the light in each area, it is represented by the temporal average value of each output.

For example, when the discrimination method of this embodiment is carried out in the sunlight collecting control device of FIG. 3, first, when the weather is fine, each detection region 4a at the bottom of the tube 1 of the optical axis sensor 7 is detected.
The direct light hits differently in 4d to 4d, and each detection area 4a
There is a difference in the output value of ~ 4d, and the difference in this output value is ST16.
Since it is outside the predetermined range shown by, it is determined that the weather is fine (S
T22).

However, in the case of cloudy weather, the incident light becomes scattered light, so that the areas 4a to 4 at the bottom of the barrel 1 of the optical axis sensor 7 are used.
Light is applied to d at substantially the same rate, and the output values are also substantially equal. From this, the difference between the output values of the detection areas 4a to 4d stays within the predetermined range of ST16, for example, for a certain period of time, and therefore the weather is determined to be cloudy or rain, and the cloudy or rain control is performed. Naru (ST16 ~
ST20).

As described above, the weather is determined for a certain period of time (ST18 to ST19). Therefore, for example, even when the cloud temporarily blocks the sun, it is not determined as cloudy but can be accurately determined as clear. .

Third Embodiment of Discrimination Method of the Present Invention: Also in the case of the present embodiment, the first optical axis sensor 7 is used and will be described with reference to FIG.

FIG. 7 is a flow chart showing the operation of the third embodiment of the weather discriminating method of the present invention, and ST31 to ST42 are symbols showing respective steps.

In this embodiment, during those steps, ST
As can be seen by comparing 33 with ST13 of FIG. 6, not only the regions 4a to 4d of the optical axis sensor 7 but also the output values of the respective adjacent regions are added as comparison targets, and A feature is that an averaged output value in the regions 4a to 4d is used as comparison data, and as a result, the detection error can be reduced.

Fourth Embodiment of Discrimination Method of the Present Invention: This embodiment will be described with reference to FIG.

FIG. 8 is a flow chart showing the operation of the fourth embodiment of the method for discriminating weather according to the present invention, and ST51 to ST63 are symbols showing respective steps.

This embodiment is characterized in that step ST60 shown in FIG. 8 is added to the steps of the second embodiment, as can be seen by comparing FIGS. 6 and 8.

As a result of the addition of step ST60, when the weather is fine and the direct light is vertically incident on the first optical axis sensor 7 of FIG. 1, the detection areas 4a to 4d of the optical axis sensor 7 are detected. Are substantially equal to each other, and at this time, the output difference between the detection regions 4a to 4d is almost eliminated, and it is determined to be cloudy by the determination methods used so far.

However, according to the discrimination method of the present embodiment, the detection area 4 of the optical axis sensor 7 is present due to the presence of ST60 in FIG.
It is checked that each output value of a to 4d is large, and the weather is determined to be fine depending on the condition that each output value is equal to or higher than a predetermined level within a range where there is a difference between the output values (ST.
63).

[0058]

According to the method of judging the weather using the optical axis sensor of the present invention, since the weather is judged as described above, it has the following excellent effects. (1) In the basic determination method, when the optical axis can be detected by the optical axis sensor, the weather is fine, and when the optical axis cannot be detected, the weather is cloudy or rain. The weather can be determined with clear logic. (2) Alternatively, in the case of looking at the output value of the detection area composed of the optical sensor arranged at the bottom of the optical axis sensor, the output of the detection area is changed due to the difference in the amount of light irradiated on the detection area of the optical axis sensor. If the value is below a certain level, the weather is cloudy,
If it is above a certain level, the weather is judged to be fine,
Also in this case, the weather is accurately determined. (3) Further, as a criterion for determining the weather, light is guided in a plurality of detection areas of the optical axis sensor, and it is determined whether or not the difference between the output values of the detection areas is within a predetermined range or a predetermined ratio. If it is carried out over a certain period of time, even when the cloud temporarily crosses the sun, it can be determined as clear without being mistaken as cloudy.

Therefore, the detection accuracy is improved as compared with the cases (1) and (2). (4) Further, when the output values of the adjacent detection areas are taken into consideration as the output value of the discrimination target, the influence of the error caused by the variation of the output values of the detection areas at the time of detecting the optical axis is corrected. Therefore, it is possible to more accurately determine whether it is sunny, cloudy, or rain. (5) As described above, the condition that the output value of each detection region is equal to or higher than a predetermined level is also required on the condition that the difference between the output values of each detection region is within a predetermined range or within a predetermined ratio within a predetermined time. In addition, if it is decided to determine whether it is sunny or not, since the detection time is around noon, the direct light hits each detection area vertically, so even if the difference in the output value of the adjacent detection areas disappears It is possible to determine that the weather is fine without making a determination.

[Brief description of drawings]

1A and 1B show a configuration of a first optical axis sensor used in a weather determination method of the present invention, where FIG. 1A is a perspective view, FIG. 1B is a vertical sectional front view, and FIG. Is a cross section of the bottom of FIG.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing a configuration of a second optical axis sensor used in the weather determination method of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a schematic configuration diagram of a first sunlight lighting control device to which the present invention is applied.

FIG. 4 is a schematic configuration diagram of a second sunlight lighting control device to which the present invention is applied.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing the operation of the first embodiment of the weather determination method of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing the operation of the second embodiment of the weather determination method of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a flow chart showing the operation of the third embodiment of the weather determination method of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing the operation of the fourth embodiment of the weather determination method of the present invention.

FIG. 9 is a schematic configuration diagram of a conventional sunlight lighting control device.

[Explanation of symbols]

 4a to 4d; 10a to 10d: detection area 7; 7A: optical axis sensor 14: central processing unit (CPU)

Claims (5)

[Claims] 1. Injecting sunlight into the optical axis sensor,
A weather discriminating method characterized in that when the optical axis can be detected by the optical axis sensor, the weather is determined to be fine, and when the optical axis cannot be detected, the weather is determined to be cloudy or rainy. 2. An output value output from the optical axis sensor by using an optical axis sensor configured to determine an optical axis by irradiating a detection region including the optical sensor provided on the bottom of the optical axis sensor with incident light. The method for determining the weather is characterized in that the weather is determined to be clear when is above a predetermined level, and is determined to be cloudy or rain when below the predetermined level. 3. An optical axis sensor is provided which determines the optical axis by irradiating incident light to a detection area formed of an optical sensor provided at the bottom of the optical axis sensor, and the detection area at the bottom has a plurality of areas. The light is guided in each of the divided detection areas, and when the difference between the output values of the detection areas within a predetermined time is within a predetermined range or a predetermined ratio, the weather is cloudy or rainy. Further, when the difference between the output values is outside a predetermined range or a predetermined ratio, the weather is determined to be fine, and the weather determining method is characterized. 4. An optical axis sensor, which is provided at the bottom of the optical axis sensor, is arranged to irradiate incident light to a detection area to determine the optical axis, and the bottom detection area is three or more. The light is guided in each of the detection areas divided into a plurality of areas, and the weather is cloudy when the sum of the output values of the adjacent detection areas within a predetermined time is within a predetermined range or a predetermined ratio. Alternatively, it is determined that the weather is fine and the weather is fine when the sum of the output values is out of a predetermined range or a predetermined ratio. 5. An optical axis sensor is provided which determines the optical axis by irradiating incident light to a detection area formed by an optical sensor provided at the bottom of the optical axis sensor, and the detection area at the bottom is divided into a plurality of areas. The light is guided in each of the detection areas that are divided into a plurality of divisions, and the difference between the output values of the detection areas within a predetermined time is within a predetermined range or a predetermined ratio, and When the output value is equal to or higher than a predetermined level, the weather is determined to be fine, and the weather determination method is characterized.