Class / Patent application number | Description | Number of patent applications / Date published |
033268000 | Celestial | 12 |
20090049702 | Skyline imaging system for solar access determination - A skyline imaging system includes an image sensor and an inclination reference coupled to the image sensor. The inclination reference provides a righting moment for the image sensor and establishes a predetermined orientation for the image sensor relative to the Earth's gravity vector. A heading reference determines an azimuth heading for the image sensor. | 02-26-2009 |
20100139105 | Skyline imaging system for solar access determination - A skyline imaging system includes an image sensor and an inclination reference coupled to the image sensor. The inclination reference provides a righting moment for the image sensor and establishes a predetermined orientation for the image sensor relative to the Earth's gravity vector. A heading reference determines an azimuth heading for the image sensor. | 06-10-2010 |
20120159796 | QUASI-UNIAXIAL SOLAR TRAJECTORY TRACKING TRANSIT SYSTEM - The present invention relates to a quasi-uniaxial solar trajectory tracking transit system including a canopy, a case, a first positioning ring, a second positioning ring and a pole. The canopy is a transparent hemisphere marked with a graduation line indicating elevation angles. The first positioning ring is a hollow body for receiving the second positioning ring. The two sides of the positioning ring have an axle respectively to connect with the case. The second positioning ring is a hollow fan-shape body for receiving the positioning pole. The second positioning ring has an axle perpendicular to the two sides of the axles of the first positioning ring for connecting to the first positioning ring thereby. The flange of the second positioning ring has a groove, and the central of the second positioning ring has an axle. A partial of positioning pole is hollow as a hollow pole and the other partial of the positioning pole is solid as a solid pole. A through hole is formed at the upper flange of the hollow pole and a sight is set at the lower flange thereof. The solid pole is axially connected to the axle of the second positioning ring. | 06-28-2012 |
033269000 | Time computing | 9 |
20090044417 | Omni-directional Lens in Sundials and Solar Compasses - To date, the existing sundials and solar compasses use a gnomon, such as a stylet, to project a shadow under the sun on a marked surface to find the time or the true north. Because of the fussiness of the shadow and the dependence of the position of the sun with the day of the year (equation of time), the accuracy is low. The present invention discloses an omni-directional lens, which can focus the sun beam into a sharp spot with a long depth of field. By projecting the spot on a cylindrical panel, both the day of the year and the time of the day can be read off simultaneously with very high accuracy. Because of the simultaneous displaying of time and date, no equation-of-time correction is required. If the time is known, the true north can be determined with high accuracy, and the device becomes a reliable and easy-to-use solar compass. | 02-19-2009 |
033270000 | Including gnomonic indicator (e.g., sundial, etc.) | 8 |
20090044418 | Automatic Solar Compass - The most accurate method of finding the true north is through astronomical observations, for example, by observing the position of the sun. However, the procedure is complicated. The instantaneous position of the sun must be calculated from astronomical data for each instance of observation, and the operator must wait for the predetermined time to come. Elaborate manual adjustments are required. The present invention discloses an automatic solar compass comprising a cylindrical omni-directional lens, a detection means, and a servomechanism. It is as easy to use as the magnetic compass, but much more accurate and reliable than the magnetic compass. | 02-19-2009 |
20100095538 | Rock Fashionable Calendar Horologe - A calendar indicating device can include easy placement through a north-south block ( | 04-22-2010 |
20100236083 | SUNDIAL - Disclosed are embodiments of a sundial. Various embodiments of the sundial disclosed herein may be used to determine the time of day based on the position of the sun. The sundial may utilize a curved reflector to reflect the image of the sun onto a dial-face. The curved reflector may be disposed, at least in part, behind the dial-face. A portion of the curved reflector behind the dial-face may be used to reflect an image of the sun onto a back surface of the dial-face. The reflected image of the sun received on the back of the dial-face may, in some embodiments, be visible on the front surface of the dial-face. The dial-face may have a plurality of time markings positioned thereon. The position of the image of the sun on the dial-face may be compared to the plurality of time markings to determine at least an approximation of the time of day. | 09-23-2010 |
20110061250 | SUNDIAL WITH DOME AND GRID OF LIGHT - Sundial apparatus with overlying barrier grid. | 03-17-2011 |
20110225835 | SUNDIAL - Disclosed are embodiments of a sundial. Various embodiments of the sundial disclosed herein may be used to determine the time of day based on the position of the sun. The sundial may utilize a curved reflector to reflect the image of the sun onto a dial-face. The curved reflector may be disposed, at least in part, behind the dial-face. A portion of the curved reflector behind the dial-face may be used to reflect an image of the sun onto a back surface of the dial-face. The reflected image of the sun received on the back of the dial-face may, in some embodiments, be visible on the front surface of the dial-face. The dial-face may have a plurality of time markings positioned thereon. The position of the image of the sun on the dial-face may be compared to the plurality of time markings to determine at least an approximation of the time of day. | 09-22-2011 |
20120151784 | SUNDIAL - Various embodiments of the sundials disclosed herein may be used to determine the time of day based on the position of the sun. The sundial may utilize a curved reflector to reflect the image of the sun onto a dial-face. The curved reflector may be disposed, at least in part, behind the dial-face. A portion of the curved reflector behind the dial-face may be used to reflect an image of the sun onto a back surface of the dial-face. The reflected image of the sun received on the back of the dial-face may, in some embodiments, be visible on the front surface of the dial-face. The dial-face may have a plurality of time markings positioned thereon. The position of the image of the sun on the dial-face may be compared to the plurality of time markings to determine at least an approximation of the time of day. | 06-21-2012 |
20130025141 | SUNDIAL WITH ELEVATED GNOMON SUPPORT AVOIDING SHADOW ECLIPSE - A hemispheric armillary with arms and supporting a structure for supporting a gnomon over a time indicating dial plate is constructed to avoid the arms' shadows from eclipsing the gnomon shadow on the dial plate. | 01-31-2013 |
20130199050 | SUNDIAL - Embodiments of a sundial. Various embodiments of the sundial disclosed herein may be used to determine the time of day based on the position of the sun. The sundial may comprise an at least substantially spherical curved reflector that may be at least partially transparent and at least partially reflective such that light from the sun can pass through a surface of the reflector and be reflected off of an internal surface of the reflector to reflect an image of the sun from the internal surface. The sundial may further comprise a dial face for viewing of a reflected image of the sun to provide at least an approximate indication of the time based on the position of the reflected image of the sun on the dial face. | 08-08-2013 |