Method of automatically tracking and photographing celestial objects and camera employing this method
US8717441B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | May 17, 2011 |
| Grant date | May 6, 2014 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Jun 20, 2032 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
- CPC primaryH04N23/6812
- WIPO fieldAudio-visual technology
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
A method of automatically tracking and photographing a celestial object so that the celestial object image, which is formed on an imaging surface of an image sensor via a photographing optical system, becomes stationary relative to a predetermined imaging area of the imaging surface of the image sensor during a tracking and photographing operation. The method includes performing a preliminary photographing operation at a predetermined preliminary-photographing exposure time with the photographic apparatus directed toward the celestial object and with a celestial-body auto tracking action suspended to obtain a preliminary image before automatically tracking and photographing the celestial object, calculating a moving direction and a moving speed of the celestial object image from the preliminary image that is obtained by the preliminary photographing operation, and automatically tracking and photographing the celestial object based on the moving direction and the moving speed of the celestial object image.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.