Method of automatically tracking and photographing celestial objects and photographic apparatus employing this method
US9759801B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | Jun 23, 2015 |
| Grant date | Sep 12, 2017 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Jun 23, 2035 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG01S3/7864
- WIPO fieldMeasurement
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
A celestial object is automatically tracked and photographed. Azimuth information of the celestial object is obtained relative to a photographic apparatus. First-tracking drive control data for performing a first-tracking photographing operation is calculated based on the azimuth information. The photographing operation is performed during a predetermined exposure time based on the first-tracking drive control data. After the photographing operation finishes, a first image taken in the photographing operation is obtained upon lapse of a predetermined time, and a second image corresponding to an ending of images taken by the photographing operation is obtained. An amount of deviation between a celestial object image in the first image and a corresponding celestial object image in the second image is calculated. A judgement is made as to whether a second-tracking photographing operation is to be performed based on a comparison between the deviation amount and a predetermined threshold.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.