US 11,748,946 B2
Solar access measurement
Willard MacDonald, Lehi, UT (US); and Robert MacDonald, Sebastopol, CA (US)
Assigned to SUNRUN INC., Lehi, UT (US)
Filed by Sunrun Inc., Lehi, UT (US)
Filed on Jun. 16, 2020, as Appl. No. 16/946,311.
Application 16/946,311 is a continuation of application No. 15/611,419, filed on Jun. 1, 2017, granted, now 10,692,278.
Application 15/611,419 is a continuation of application No. 14/197,210, filed on Mar. 4, 2014, granted, now 9,697,644, issued on Apr. 4, 2017.
Application 14/197,210 is a continuation in part of application No. 12/952,101, filed on Nov. 22, 2010, granted, now 8,386,179, issued on Feb. 26, 2013.
Application 12/952,101 is a continuation of application No. 11/321,294, filed on Dec. 28, 2005, granted, now 7,873,490, issued on Jan. 18, 2011.
Prior Publication US 2020/0334903 A1, Oct. 22, 2020
This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.
Int. Cl. G01B 11/26 (2006.01); G06T 17/05 (2011.01); G01S 3/786 (2006.01); G01W 1/12 (2006.01); G01J 1/42 (2006.01); G01J 1/02 (2006.01)
CPC G06T 17/05 (2013.01) [G01J 1/0266 (2013.01); G01J 1/4228 (2013.01); G01S 3/7868 (2013.01); G01W 1/12 (2013.01); Y02B 10/10 (2013.01)] 20 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A method of determining solar access at a predetermined position within a 3D CAD model utilizing a Solar Access Measurement Device (SAMD), the method comprising:
tracing a ray from the predetermined position of the SAMD to the sun at a location;
determining whether the ray intersects an obstruction; and
repeating the tracing and the determining for at least one additional sun location to determine solar access associated with the predetermined position.