Abstract: A dual-channel sunload sensor capable of sensing the intensity and directionality of the solar radiative power entering the cabin of a car through the windshield, for the purpose of providing information to the data processing system of the car that enables a control of the air conditioning system that optimizes the comfort of the driver and of the front passenger. Signals from the sensor offer reliable indications of the solar load power and directionality for a wide range of angular positions of the sun. The sensor includes two convex transparent parts collecting light each toward a respective photodiode, the transparent parts being separated by an opaque portion.

Abstract: The invention concerns an optocoupler. The optocoupler includes a substrate made of optically opaque electrically insulating material metallized to provide conductive traces on a top surface thereof which are electrically linked to metal pads on a bottom surface. A cadmium sulfoselenide photoresistor having an active surface is placed over the substrate with the active surface facing the substrate where the photoresistor has two electrodes. Metal leads connect each of the two electrodes of the photoresistor to two metallized traces on the substrate. A light emitting diode (LED) chip is mounted on the substrate facing the active surface of the photoresistor. The LED chip has a top and bottom electrode, where the bottom electrode is electrically attached to a third metallized trace and the top electrode is wire bonded to a fourth metallized trace. A cover made of optically opaque material is fixed to the substrate so as to enclose the photoresistor and the LED chip in a light tight enclosure.

Abstract: The invention concerns an optocoupler. The optocoupler includes a substrate made of optically opaque electrically insulating material metallized to provide conductive traces on a top surface thereof which are electrically linked to metal pads on a bottom surface. A cadmium sulfoselenide photoresistor having an active surface is placed over the substrate with the active surface facing the substrate where the photoresistor has two electrodes. Metal leads connect each of the two electrodes of the photoresistor to two metallized traces on the substrate. A light emitting diode (LED) chip is mounted on the substrate facing the active surface of the photoresistor. The LED chip has a top and bottom electrode, where the bottom electrode is electrically attached to a third metallized trace and the top electrode is wire bonded to a fourth metallized trace. A cover made of optically opaque material is fixed to the substrate so as to enclose the photoresistor and the LED chip in a light tight enclosure.

Abstract: A dual-channel sunload sensor capable of sensing the intensity and directionality of the solar radiative power entering the cabin of a car through the windshield, for the purpose of providing information to the data processing system of the car that enables a control of the air conditioning system that optimizes the comfort of the driver and of the front passenger. Signals from the sensor offer reliable indications of the solar load power and directionality for a wide range of angular positions of the sun. The sensor includes two convex transparent parts collecting light each toward a respective photodiode, the transparent parts being separated by an opaque portion.