Patents by Inventor Andreas Pfahl

Andreas Pfahl has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Method for controlling the alignment of a heliostat with respect to a receiver, heliostat device and solar power plant
    Patent number: 8651100
    Abstract: A method is provided for controlling the alignment of a heliostat with respect to a receiver, wherein an image sensor device is arranged on a mirror device of the heliostat, wherein the heliostat is aligned by the image sensor device using image recognition in such a way that a first angle of a first vector pointing towards the sun, relative to a prescribed vector of the mirror device, and a second angle of a second vector pointing towards a prescribed target area of the receiver, relative to the prescribed vector, are in a relationship to each other which is dependent upon the prescribed vector of the mirror device, and wherein images of the sun and the prescribed target area and their position relative to the prescribed vector are determined.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 6, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 18, 2014
    Assignee: Deutsches Zentrum fuer Luft- und Raumfahrt e.V.
    Inventors: Andreas Pfahl, Reiner Buck, Karsten Rehschuh
  • Method for controlling the alignment of a heliostat with respect to a receiver, heliostat device and solar power plant
    Publication number: 20090249787
    Abstract: A method is provided for controlling the alignment of a heliostat with respect to a receiver, wherein an image sensor device is arranged on a mirror device of the heliostat, wherein the heliostat is aligned by the image sensor device using image recognition in such a way that a first angle of a first vector pointing towards the sun, relative to a prescribed vector of the mirror device, and a second angle of a second vector pointing towards a prescribed target area of the receiver, relative to the prescribed vector, are in a relationship to each other which is dependent upon the prescribed vector of the mirror device, and wherein images of the sun and the prescribed target area and their position relative to the prescribed vector are determined.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 6, 2009
    Publication date: October 8, 2009
    Applicant: Deutsches Zentrum fuer Luft- und Raumfahrt e. V.
    Inventors: Andreas Pfahl, Reiner Buck, Karsten Rehschuh