Miniature celestial direction detection system
US8471906B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Aug 25, 2009 |
| Grant date | Jun 25, 2013 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Apr 29, 2031 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
- CPC primaryH04N7/18
- WIPO fieldAudio-visual technology
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
A celestial direction finding system. The system includes an inclinometer, at least one camera for imaging both the daytime sky and the nighttime sky and a computer programmed with a sun, moon and star catalog and algorithms for automatically determining directions based on positions of celestial bodies imaged by at least one camera and incline positions measured by the inclinometer. In a preferred embodiment all of the above features are combined in a single battery operated miniature celestial direction finding module. Geographical positions of nearby objects can be determined with the addition of a rangefinder and knowledge of the geographical position of the camera. The geographical position of the system in preferred embodiments can be determined with the addition of a GPS unit.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.