Telescope utilizing global positioning system (GPS)

• US 6,233,094 B1
• Filed: 01/16/1998
• Issued: 05/15/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 01/17/1997
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: PENTAX RICOH IMAGING COMPANY, LTD.
• Original Assignee: Asahi Kogaku Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
• Inventors: Tsuda, Koji
• Primary Examiner(s): Spyrou, Cassandra
• Assistant Examiner(s): Robinson, Mark A.
• Application Number:
  US09/008,568
• Time in Patent Office: 1,215 Days
• Field of Search: 359/159, 359/172, 359/399, 359/400, 359/407, 359/408, 359/409, 359/410, 359/411, 359/412, 359/418, 359/480, 250/203.1
• US Class Current: 359/400
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 3/04 Adaptation of rangefinders for combination with telescopes or binoculars
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 19/51 Relative positioning
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 5/0027 of actual mobile position, i.e. position determined on mobile
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 5/0072 Transmission between mobile stations, e.g. anti-collision systems
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 23/18 for binocular arrangements focusing binocular pairs G02B7/06; adjusting pupillary distance of binocular pairs G02B7/12

Abstract

A telescope includes a position determining system for receiving positioning signals from GPS satellites to obtain the present position of the binocular. A relative-position calculation system provides for calculating a distance, an altitude difference, and an azimuth angle between the telescope and an external device based on the present position of the telescope and the position information of the external device. The telescope further includes an indication system which indicates, by a displaying device, the values of the distance, altitude difference and azimuth angle.

Claims

1. A telescope having a main body, said telescope expanding a visual angle of a remote object and allowing observation of an object image in a field of view of said telescope, said main body comprising:

a position determining system which receives a position signal from GPS (global positioning system) satellites to calculate a present position of said telescope;

a communication system which communicates with an external device which is capable of transmitting information regarding a position of said external device;

a relative position determining system which determines a relative position of said external device with respect to said telescope based on said present position obtained by said position determining system and position information received from said external device; and

an indication system which indicates information regarding said relative position of said external device relative to said telescope.

2. The telescope according to claim 1, wherein said relative position determining system obtains, by calculation, a distance, an altitude difference, and an azimuth angle between said telescope and said external device.

3. The telescope according to claim 1, wherein said relative position determining system obtains said relative position based on said present position and said position information which have been obtained at the same point of time.

4. The telescope according to claim 1, wherein said indication system comprises a displaying device which indicates said relative position to a user of said telescope within a view of said user.

5. The telescope according to claim 4, wherein said displaying device displays said relative position in an observation field of view of said telescope.

6. The telescope according to claim 1, wherein said telescope is a binocular.

7. The telescope according to claim 1, wherein said telescope comprises date transmission system for transmitting said present position obtained by said position determining system, to said external device.

8. The telescope according to claim 1, wherein said indication system indicates said present position obtained by said position determining system, in addition to said relative position between said telescope and said external device.

9. The telescope according to claim 8, wherein said indication system comprises a display device which indicates said present position to a user within a view of said user.

10. The telescope according to claim 9, wherein said display device displays said present position in an observation view field of said telescope.

11. The telescope according to claim 1, wherein said indication system further indicates position information of said external device received from said external device.

12. A telescope that provides an enlarged image of a remote object and allows observation of an object image in a field of view of the telescope, the telescope including a main body, said main body comprising:

a first position determining system which receives a position signal from global positioning system satellites to calculate a present position of said telescope;

a communication system which communicates with an external device, said external device being capable of transmitting information regarding a position of said external device to said telescope;

a second position determining system which determines the position of said external device in accordance with information transmitted from said external device; and

an indication system which indicates information regarding the position of said external device.

13. The telescope according to claim 12, said indication system comprising a display device which indicates said position of the external device to a user of said telescope within a view of said user.

14. The telescope according to claim 13, said displaying device displaying said position of the external device in an observation field of view of said telescope.

15. The telescope according to claim 12, wherein said telescope comprises a binocular.

16. The telescope according to claim 12, further comprising a data transmission system that transmits position data obtained by said first position determining system to said external device.

17. The telescope according to claim 12, said indication system indicating a present position of said telescope.

18. The telescope according to claim 12, said indication system indicating position information of said external device received from said external device.

19. The telescope according to claim 12, said external device having a communication system capable of transmitting information regarding a position of said external device to said second position determining system of said telescope via said communication system of said main body.

20. A telescope that provides an enlarged image of a remote object and allows observation of an object image in a field of view of the telescope, the telescope including a main body, said main body comprising:

a first position determining system which receives a position signal from global positioning system satellites to calculate a present position of said telescope;

a communication system which communicates with an external device, said external device being capable of transmitting information regarding a position of said external device to said telescope;

a second position determining system which determines the position of said external device; and

an indication system which indicates information regarding the position of said external device received from said external device.