Miniature celestial direction detection system

• US 20100283840A1
• Filed: 08/25/2009
• Published: 11/11/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 11/24/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Trex Enterprises Corporation
• Original Assignee: Trex Enterprises Corporation
• Inventors: Bruns, Donald, Brinkley, Timothy, Belenkii, Mikhail
• Granted Patent: US 8,471,906 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 348/61
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/02 by astronomical means G01C21/24, G01C21/26 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 19/14 specially adapted for specific applications
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 3/7867 Star trackers navigation using star trackers G01C21/025
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/18 Closed-circuit television [CCTV] systems, i.e. systems in which the video signal is not broadcast

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.

Claims

1. A miniature celestial direction detection system comprised of:

A) at least one camera for viewing a large portion of sky, said camera comprising;

1) a wide angle lens and

2) a sensor having a focal plane array of at least about 350,000 pixels; and

B) an inclinometer and

C) a microprocessor programmed with;

1) an astronomical algorithm for defining locations of celestial objects based on known time, and

2) coordinate transformation software for converting pixel image software into astronomical coordinates.

2. The celestial direction detection system as in claim 1 wherein said inclinometer is a MEMS inclinometer.

3. The celestial direction detection system as in claim 1 and further comprising a time means for providing input of time accurate to within three seconds, including date and time of day.

5. The celestial direction detection system as in claim 1 wherein said inclinometer is a MEMS inclinometer, and further comprising a time means for providing input of time accurate to within three seconds, including date and time of day, and a location means for providing input of location of said camera accurate to within two kilometers

6. The celestial direction detection system as in claim 1 wherein the wide angle lens is a fisheye lens.

7. The celestial direction detection system as in claim 3 wherein said location is provided in terms of latitude and longitude.

8. The celestial direction detection system as in claim 3 wherein said location is provided in terms of latitude, longitude and elevation.

9. The celestial direction detection system as in claim 2 wherein said time means includes a time signal transmitted by radio.

10. The celestial direction detection system as in claim 7 wherein the time signal is a time signal transmitted by NIST.

11. The celestial direction detection system as in claim 3 wherein said location means includes a GPS unit.

12. The celestial direction detection system as in claim 5 wherein said direction detection is combined with a telescopic instrument and a range finder.

13. The celestial direction detection system as in claim 12 wherein said system, said telescopic instrument and said range finder are adapted to identify the location of a target.

14. The celestial direction detection system as in claim 13 wherein identification is in terms of a range, an azimuth direction, and an elevation direction relative to the location of said direction detection system.

15. The celestial direction detection system as in claim 13 wherein identification is in terms of latitude, longitude and elevation of the target.

16. The celestial direction detection system as in claim 1 wherein said at least on camera is a single camera.

17. The celestial direction detection system as in claim 16 wherein said single camera defines an optical path and comprises a filter and a means for removing the filter from the optical path.

18. The celestial direction detection system as in claim 16 wherein said single camera comprises a checkerboard filter adapted to permit said camera to images the sun in daytime and stars at nighttime.

19. The celestial direction detection system as in claim 16 wherein said camera is adapted to provide a dynamic range of 10¹¹.

20. The celestial direction detection system as in claim 5 wherein said system is installed on a robotic vehicle.

21. The celestial direction detection system as in claim 20 wherein said robotic vehicle is adapted for surveillance.

23. The celestial direction detection system as in claim 12 wherein said telescopic instrument is a telescope.

24. The celestial direction detection system as in claim 12 wherein said telescopic instrument is binoculars.

25. The celestial direction detection system as in claim 24 wherein said binoculars are gyro stabilized.

26. The celestial direction detection system as in claim 12 wherein said system is mounted directly or indirectly on a tripod.

4. The celestial direction detection system and further comprising a location means for providing input of location of said camera accurate to within two kilometers.

22. The celestial direction detection system as in claim wherein said robotic vehicle comprises at least one weapon.