Self-aligning telescope
US7339731B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Apr 20, 2005 |
| Grant date | Mar 4, 2008 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Apr 20, 2025 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG02B23/16
- WIPO fieldOptics
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
Embodiments of the present disclosure include self-aligning telescope control systems and self-alignment methods. In an embodiment, a telescope control system orients a telescope with respect to the celestial sphere by pointing the telescope in the direction of an alignment star or alignment area of the sky. The telescope control system images a field of view in the alignment area, and processes the images to determine the celestial coordinates of a center of the filed a field of view the alignment area. The telescope control system then maps the telescope's coordinate system to the celestial coordinate system. Once mapped, the telescope control system can advantageously slew the telescope to any desired celestial object in the viewable sky based on, for example, user selection, system recommendations, combinations of the same, or the like.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.