Method of automatically tracking and photographing celestial objects and photographic apparatus employing this method
US9069064B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | May 27, 2011 |
| Grant date | Jun 30, 2015 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Feb 29, 2032 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG01S3/7864
- WIPO fieldMeasurement
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
A method of automatically tracking and photographing a celestial object, is provided, which moves relative to a photographic apparatus due to diurnal motion so that the celestial object image formed on an image sensor becomes stationary during a celestial-object auto-tracking photographing operation. The method includes inputting photographing azimuth angle and elevation angle information of the photographic apparatus; calculating preliminary-tracking drive control data based on the photographing azimuth angle and elevation angle information; obtaining first and second preliminary images corresponding to commencement and termination points of the preliminary tracking operation; calculating a deviation amount between a celestial object image in the first preliminary image and a corresponding celestial object image in the second preliminary image; calculating, from the deviation amount, actual-tracking drive control data with the deviation amount cancelled; and performing the celestial-object auto-tracking photographing operation based on the actual-tracking drive control data.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.