Systems and methods for automated telescope alignment and orientation
US6922283B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Jan 26, 2001 |
| Grant date | Jul 26, 2005 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Jul 27, 2022 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
- CPC primaryY10S359/90
- WIPO fieldOptics
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
A fully automated telescope system is operable in both alt-az and equatorial modes. In either configuration, the telescope system aligns and orients itself to the celestial coordinate system following a simplified initialization procedure during which the telescope tube is first pointed North and then pointed towards the horizon. A command processor, under application software control, orients the telescope system with respect to the celestial coordinate system given the initial directional inputs. The initial telescope orientation is refined by automatically inputting geographical location data and a timing parameter. A simplified tracking procedure allows tracking of celestial objects after the telescope system has had its axis positions initialized to a horizontal and a vertical index. Object tracking is subsequently performed with no additional orientation procedure required.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.