METHOD OF AUTOMATICALLY TRACKING AND PHOTOGRAPHING CELESTIAL OBJECTS AND CAMERA EMPLOYING THIS METHOD
First Claim
1. A method of automatically tracking and photographing a celestial object which moves relative to a photographic apparatus due to diurnal motion so that a 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 said imaging surface of said image sensor during a tracking and photographing operation, said method comprising:
- performing a preliminary photographing operation at a predetermined preliminary-photographing exposure time with said photographic apparatus directed toward said celestial object and with a celestial-body auto tracking action suspended to obtain a preliminary image before automatically tracking and photographing said celestial object;
calculating a moving direction and a moving speed of the celestial object image from said preliminary image that is obtained by said preliminary photographing operation; and
automatically tracking and photographing said celestial object based on said moving direction and said moving speed of the celestial object image.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
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.
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Citations
13 Claims
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1. A method of automatically tracking and photographing a celestial object which moves relative to a photographic apparatus due to diurnal motion so that a 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 said imaging surface of said image sensor during a tracking and photographing operation, said method comprising:
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performing a preliminary photographing operation at a predetermined preliminary-photographing exposure time with said photographic apparatus directed toward said celestial object and with a celestial-body auto tracking action suspended to obtain a preliminary image before automatically tracking and photographing said celestial object; calculating a moving direction and a moving speed of the celestial object image from said preliminary image that is obtained by said preliminary photographing operation; and automatically tracking and photographing said celestial object based on said moving direction and said moving speed of the celestial object image. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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Specification