One embodiment provides a pyranometer, including: a dome; a thermopile-based sensor comprising a receiving surface; a diffusor configured to diffuse radiation external to the pyranometer and passing through the dome, toward the receiving surface of thermopile-based sensor; and at least one optical filter arranged in an optical path of the radiation in front of the receiving surface of the thermopile-based sensor so as to modify the spectral composition of the radiation measured by the thermopile-based sensor. Other aspects are described and claimed.

One embodiment provides a pyranometer, including: a dome enclosing a cavity; at least one light emitting source arranged such that light exterior to the dome does not directly impinge on the at least one light emitting source; a diffusor; wherein the at least one light emitting source is configured to emit light substantially directed to a portion of the diffusor, and wherein the diffusor is configured to diffuse the light emitted from the at least one light emitting source on an inner surface of the dome; and one or more first light detecting sensors arranged in the cavity and configured to measure an intensity of the light reflected from the dome and impinging on the one or more first light detecting sensors. Other aspects are described and claimed.

The present invention relates to alternative equipment for solar energy prospecting with a focus on low cost, low complexity in installation, operation and maintenance, and high reliability. A low-cost solarimetric station consists of compact equipment capable of providing global irradiance measurements and estimates for direct and diffuse components, as well as hemispheric photographs, with acceptable levels of uncertainty. The pyranometer periodically provides global irradiance information to the system, and the camera records photos of the sky. Using machine learning algorithms, and based on that information, the equipment provides estimates for direct and diffuse irradiance components. The equipment has other meteorological sensors, GPS, and wireless communication facilities. The equipment has an energy supply and management system consisting of a photovoltaic module, charge controller, and battery, which provide the energy necessary for the station to operate.

An ultraviolet light radiation sensing device to be wearable by a human being is provided, the device including a front part and a rear part, an ultraviolet light radiation sensor with associated microprocessor on a printed circuit board, a battery, and a wireless communication unit, e.g. for Bluetooth communication. If the front and rear part are made from a metal or metal alloy, and are interconnected by a middle member made from electrically insulating polymer material, the front and rear parts constitute antenna elements of the wireless communication unit. The device is intended to enable interaction with application data of a smartphone, a method being provided to establish recommended UV-dose and related exposure time by the sun onto the skin of the human being.

A wearable UV sensor includes a UV pass filter; a UV phosphor material; and a visible light sensing device, wherein the UV sensor is configured to receive light including visible light and UV light, wherein the UV pass filter directs the UV light to the UV phosphor material and the UV phosphor material fluoresces visible light in proportion to the UV light from the UV pass filter, and the visible light sensing device measures the visible light fluorescing from the UV phosphor material to determine the amount of the UV light entering the sensor, which correlates to the UV exposure of a subject wearing the UV sensor.

A sensor and/or system controller may process an image multiple times at multiple resolutions to detect glare conditions. A glare condition threshold used to determine whether a glare condition exists may be based on the resolution of the image. When the resolution of the image is higher, the glare condition threshold may be higher. The sensor and/or system controller may organize one or more adjacent pixels having similar intensities into pixel groups. The pixel groups may vary in size and/or shape. The sensor and/or system controller may determine a representative group luminance for the pixel group (e.g., an average luminance of the pixels in the group). The sensor and/or system controller may determine a group glare condition threshold, which may be used to determine whether a glare condition exists for the group of pixels and/or may be based on the size of the group.

A sensor and/or system controller may process an image multiple times at multiple resolutions to detect glare conditions. A glare condition threshold used to determine whether a glare condition exists may be based on the resolution of the image. When the resolution of the image is higher, the glare condition threshold may be higher. The sensor and/or system controller may organize one or more adjacent pixels having similar intensities into pixel groups. The pixel groups may vary in size and/or shape. The sensor and/or system controller may determine a representative group luminance for the pixel group (e.g., an average luminance of the pixels in the group). The sensor and/or system controller may determine a group glare condition threshold, which may be used to determine whether a glare condition exists for the group of pixels and/or may be based on the size of the group.

Certain aspects pertain to a combination sensor comprising a set of physical sensors facing different directions proximate a structure, and configured to measure solar radiation in different directions. The combination sensor also comprises a virtual facade-aligned sensor configured to determine a combi-sensor value at a facade of the structure based on solar radiation readings from the set of physical sensors.

The sun safety display and dispenser is a rugged outdoor device designed to measure the direct and scattered UV radiation in the atmosphere; to calculate and display a sun safety awareness index warning of the time to skin burn and or potential damage; to provide a personalized sun safety awareness index reading to help the user determine the appropriate SPF sunscreen, manually or automatically; and, to dispense sunscreen generally or by specific SPF as correlated with the user's personalized sun safety awareness index reading.

The present invention concerns an add-on system, method, device and computer readable code for determining soiling of photovoltaic (PV) modules (10) of a PV installation (20). In preferred embodiments, the invention encompasses receiving first data related to a first solar irradiation determined at the site of said installation (20), and receiving second data related to a second solar irradiation at a geographic area where said installation (2) is located, said second data being derived from information provided by a satellite. If the solar irradiation as determined at the site of the installation is lower compared to the solar irradiation as determined from satellite data, the system is configured to find soiling.