Celestial object location device

• US 6,844,822 B2
• Filed: 05/23/2003
• Issued: 01/18/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 03/03/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Yamcon Inc.
• Original Assignee: Yamcon Inc.
• Inventors: Lemp, III, Michael
• Primary Examiner(s): GOINS, DAVETTA WOODS
• Application Number:
  US10/444,788
• Publication Number:
  US 20030218546A1
• Time in Patent Office: 606 Days
• Field of Search: 340/815.4, 340/999, 701/13, 701/207, 701/226, 701/222, 701/300, 356/145, 356/146, 356/147, 356/139.04, 356/139.01, 332/68, 333/20, 333/23, 250/203.1, 434/284, 434/289
• US Class Current: 340/815.4
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 23/06 for physics
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 27/00 Planetaria; Globes
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 27/04 Star maps

Abstract

A hand-held electronic celestial object-locating device assists in identifying a celestial object or directing a user to a desired celestial object. The device is useful for locating or identifying any celestial object including stars, constellations, planets, comets, asteroids, artificial satellites, and deep sky objects to name a few. The device utilizes sensors for 3-axis magnetic field and 3-axis gravitational field detection. The device utilizes a processor and an electronic database to perform the required calculations. The device'"'"'s database may be updated through access to the Internet through which the updates may be purchased.

Claims

1. A device for viewing an object, where the device is at a particular position on the Earth, at a particular time and on a particular date, said device comprising:

a means for viewing the object, said means for viewing having a viewing axis;

a processor operably connected to the means for viewing;

a magnetic sensor, operably connected to the means for viewing and to the processor, said magnetic sensor adapted to provide the processor with azimuth data representing the azimuth angle of the means for viewing;

a gravitational sensor, operably connected to the means for viewing and to the processor, said gravitational sensor adapted to provide the processor with nadir data representing the nadir angle of the means for viewing;

a means for providing position data, representing the position of the means for viewing on the Earth, to the processor, said means for providing position data operably connected to the means for viewing and to the processor;

a means for providing time and date data, representing the time and date, to the processor, said means for providing time and date data operably connected to the means for viewing and to the processor;

a database operatively connected to the processor, said database containing data representing the azimuth angle and the nadir angle of each of a plurality of objects when observed from a particular position on the Earth, at a particular time and on a particular date; and

a means for receiving a reference value of the magnetic field of the Earth at the particular position, said means for receiving operably connected to the processor.

2. The device of claim 1 wherein:

the processor is programmed to compare the reference value of the magnetic field of the Earth to the measured magnetic field; and

the processor is further programmed to prompt a user when the reference value of the magnetic field of the Earth differs from the measured value of the magnetic field by more than a pre-determined amount.

3. The device of claim 1 wherein the database further contains data representing at least one fact regarding each of the plurality of objects, wherein the device further comprises a means of conveying the at least one fact to the user and wherein the processor is programmed to:

receive the measured values of the azimuth angle, the nadir angle and the position of the means for viewing and to receive the time and date;

compare the measured values of the azimuth angle, the nadir angle and the position of the means for viewing at the time and date with corresponding values in the database of the azimuth angle, the nadir angle and the position of a plurality of objects at the time and date;

select an object in the database that has an azimuth angle, nadir angle, position, time and date that most closely matches the corresponding measured values; and

convey to the user at least one fact regarding the selected object.

4. The device of claim 1 further comprising a means for providing user input to the processor, said means for providing user input operably connected to the processor and to the means for viewing.

5. The device of claim 4 wherein means for providing user input comprises a button disposed on the means for viewing, said button providing user input to the processor when the button is operated.

6. The device of claim 5 wherein said button is capable of being operated while the user is observing an object through the means for viewing.

7. The device of claim 1 further comprising a means for prompting the user to change the orientation of the means for viewing, wherein the orientation of the means for viewing comprises the azimuth angle and the nadir angle of the means for viewing, and wherein said means for prompting is operably connected to the means for viewing and to the processor.

8. The device of claim 7 further comprising a means for providing user input to the processor, said means for providing user input operably connected to the processor and to the means for viewing, and wherein the processor is programmed to:

receive the measured values of the orientation and position of the means for viewing and to receive the time and date;

receive input from the user, said input comprising the identity of a particular object that the user desires to find;

compare the identity of the particular object to the identity of objects in the database;

select the orientation of the means for viewing that is needed to align the viewing axis with the particular object when the means for viewing is at a particular place, time and date;

prompt the user to change the orientation of the means for viewing towards the particular object; and

prompt the user that the viewing axis is aligned with the particular object when the viewing axis and the particular object are aligned along the same line.

9. The device of claim 1 further comprising:

a means for providing input to the processor, said means for providing input operably connected to the processor and to the means for viewing;

wherein the processor is programmed to adjust the calculated values of the azimuth angle and the nadir angle of the means for viewing based on input provided by the user while observing an object.

10. The device of claim 1 wherein the processor is programmed to calibrate the means for viewing by determining, with respect to the Earth, the azimuth angle, the nadir angle and the location of the means for viewing.

11. The device of claim 1 further comprising a second database, said second database capable of being operably connected to the processor, said second database containing data representing the azimuth angle and the nadir angle of each of a plurality of additional objects when observed from a particular location on the Earth, at a particular time and on a particular date.

12. The device of claim 11 wherein the second database is disposed in a plug-in card that is capable of being connected to the means for viewing.

13. The device of claim 11 wherein the second database is capable of being downloaded from the Internet.

14. The device of claim 1 further comprising a non-volatile memory storage unit operably connected to the means for viewing, wherein the processor is programmed to store in the non-volatile memory storage unit a log containing information regarding observations of the user.

15. The device of claim 1 wherein the processor is programmed to play a game using the means for viewing.

16. A method of observing an object comprising the steps of:

providing a device for viewing an object, where the device is at a particular position on the Earth, at a particular time and on a particular date, said device comprising;

a means for viewing the object, said means for viewing having a viewing axis;

a processor operably connected to the means for viewing;

a magnetic sensor, operably connected to the means for viewing and to the processor, said magnetic sensor adapted to provide the processor with azimuth data representing the azimuth angle of the means for viewing;

a gravitational sensor, operably connected to the means for viewing and to the processor, said gravitational sensor adapted to provide the processor with nadir data representing the nadir angle of the means for viewing;

a means for providing position data, representing the position of the means for viewing on the Earth, to the processor, said means for providing position data operably connected to the means for viewing and to the processor;

a means for providing time and date data, representing the time and date, to the processor, said means for providing time and date data operably connected to the means for viewing and to the processor;

a database operatively connected to the processor, said database containing data representing the azimuth angle and the nadir angle of each of a plurality of objects when observed from a particular position on the Earth, at a particular time and on a particular date;

observing the object with the device.

17. A method of identifying an object observed from a distance, said method comprising the steps of:

providing a device for viewing an object, where the device is at a particular position on the Earth, at a particular time and on a particular date, said device comprising;

a means for viewing the object, said means for viewing having a viewing axis;

a processor operably connected to the means for viewing;

a magnetic sensor, operably connected to the means for viewing and to the processor, said magnetic sensor adapted to provide the processor with azimuth data representing the azimuth angle of the means for viewing;

a gravitational sensor, operably connected to the means for viewing and to the processor, said gravitational sensor adapted to provide the processor with nadir data representing the nadir angle of the means for viewing;

a means for providing position data, representing the position of the means for viewing on the Earth, to the processor, said means for providing position data operably connected to the means for viewing and to the processor;

a means for providing time and date data, representing the time and date, to the processor, said means for providing time and date data operably connected to the means for viewing and to the processor;

a database operatively connected to the processor, said database containing data representing the azimuth angle and the nadir angle of each of a plurality of objects when observed from a particular position on the Earth, at a particular time and on a particular date, said database also containing data representing at least one fact regarding each of the plurality of objects;

a means for conveying the at least one fact to a user, said means for conveying operably connected to the processor and to the means for viewing;

measuring the azimuth angle, the nadir angle, the position, the time and the date of the means for viewing;

comparing the measured values of the azimuth angle, the nadir angle and the position of the means for viewing at the time and date with corresponding values in the database of the azimuth angle, the nadir angle and the position of a plurality of objects at the time and date;

selecting an object in the database that has an azimuth angle, nadir angle, position, time and date that most closely matches the corresponding measured values; and

conveying to the user at least one fact regarding the selected object.

18. A method of finding an object located a distance from a user, said method comprising the steps of:

providing a device for viewing an object, where the device is at a particular position on the Earth, at a particular time and on a particular date, said device comprising;

a means for viewing the object, said means for viewing having a viewing axis;

a processor operably connected to the means for viewing;

a magnetic sensor, operably connected to the means for viewing and to the processor, said magnetic sensor adapted to provide the processor with azimuth data representing the azimuth angle of the means for viewing;

a gravitational sensor, operably connected to the means for viewing and to the processor, said gravitational sensor adapted to provide the processor with nadir data representing the nadir angle of the means for viewing;

a means for providing position data, representing the position of the means for viewing on the Earth, to the processor, said means for providing position data operably connected to the means for viewing and to the processor;

a means for providing time and date data, representing the time and date, to the processor, said means for providing time and date data operably connected to the means for viewing and to the processor;

a database operatively connected to the processor, said database containing data representing the azimuth angle and the nadir angle of each of a plurality of objects when observed from a particular position on the Earth, at a particular time and on a particular date, said database also containing data representing at least one fact regarding each of the plurality of objects;

a means for providing user input to the processor, said means for providing user input operably connected to the processor and to the means for viewing;

a means for prompting the user to change the azimuth angle and the nadir angle of the means for viewing, and wherein said means for prompting is operably connected to the means for viewing and to the processor;

providing to the processor the identity of a particular object that the user desires to find;

selecting, with the processor, the azimuth angle and the nadir angle of the means for viewing that is needed to align the viewing axis with the particular object when the means for viewing is at a particular place, time and date;

prompting the user to change the azimuth angle and the nadir angle of the means for viewing towards the particular object; and

prompting the user that the viewing axis is aligned with the particular object when the viewing axis and the particular object are aligned along the same line.

19. The method of claim 18 wherein the step of a providing a device further comprises providing a device wherein the processor is programmed to calibrate the means for viewing by calculating the location and the orientation, with respect to the Earth, of the means for viewing and wherein the method comprises the further step of:

automatically calibrating the means for viewing by using the processor to calculate, with respect to the Earth, the azimuth angle, the nadir angle and the location of the means for viewing;

whereby the device will accurately locate objects without requiring the user to calibrate the means for viewing.

20. A method of calibrating a device for locating objects where the device has located an object and the object is observed with the means for viewing in a location other than along the line of the viewing axis, wherein the orientation of the device comprises the azimuth angle and the nadir angle of the device, said method comprising the steps of:

providing a device for viewing an object, where the device is at a particular position on the Earth, at a particular time and on a particular date, said device comprising;

a means for viewing the object, said means for viewing having a viewing axis;

a processor operably connected to the means for viewing;

a magnetic sensor, operably connected to the means for viewing and to the processor, said magnetic sensor adapted to provide the processor with azimuth data representing the azimuth angle of the means for viewing;

a gravitational sensor, operably connected to the means for viewing and to the processor, said gravitational sensor adapted to provide the processor with nadir data representing the nadir angle of the means for viewing;

a means for providing position data, representing the position of the means for viewing on the Earth, to the processor, said means for providing position data operably connected to the means for viewing and to the processor;

a means for providing time and date data, representing the time and date, to the processor, said means for providing time and date data operably connected to the means for viewing and to the processor;

a database operatively connected to the processor, said database containing data representing the azimuth angle and the nadir angle of each of a plurality of objects when observed from a particular position on the Earth, at a particular time and on a particular date, said database also containing data representing at least one fact regarding each of the plurality of objects;

a means for conveying to the user the at least one fact, said means for conveying operably connected to the means for viewing and to the processor;

a means for providing user input to the processor, said means for providing user input operably connected to the processor and to the means for viewing;

identifying an object with the device, wherein the identified object is observed at a position other than along the line of the viewing axis, and wherein the means for viewing is oriented towards a first orientation when the identified object is observed at a position other than along the line of the viewing axis;

providing input to the processor that informs the processor that calibration of the device is to begin;

thereafter adjusting the orientation of the means for viewing until the viewing axis is aligned with the identified object, wherein the means for viewing is oriented toward a second orientation when the viewing axis is aligned with the identified object;

thereafter providing input to the processor that informs the processor that the adjustment in orientation of the means for viewing is complete;

calculating a change in orientation between the first orientation and the second orientation; and

adjusting the measured value of the orientation of the means for viewing based on the change in orientation.

21. The method of claim 20 comprising the further steps of:

identifying a second object with the device, wherein the second identified object is observed at a position other than along the line of the viewing axis, and wherein the means for viewing is oriented towards a third orientation when the second identified object is observed at a position other than along the line of the viewing axis;

providing input to the processor that informs the processor that calibration of the device is to begin;

thereafter adjusting the orientation of the means for viewing until the viewing axis is aligned with the second identified object, wherein the means for viewing is oriented toward a fourth orientation when the viewing axis is aligned with the identified object;

thereafter providing input to the processor that informs the processor that the adjustment in orientation of the means for viewing is complete;

calculating a second change in orientation between the third orientation and the fourth orientation; and

adjusting the measured value of the orientation of the means for viewing based on the second change in orientation.

22. The method of claim 21 comprising the further step of adjusting the measured value of the orientation of the means for viewing based on a combination of the first change in orientation and the second change in orientation.