Apparatus and methods for focusing and collimating telescopes

• US 7,277,223 B2
• Filed: 01/27/2006
• Issued: 10/02/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 07/26/2004
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Meade Instruments Corporation
• Original Assignee: Meade Instruments Corporation
• Inventors: El-Khatib, Ghassan, Baun, Kenneth W., Tingey, Brian
• Primary Examiner(s): Robinson; Mark A.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Fineman; Lee
• Application Number:
  US11/341,790
• Publication Number:
  US 20060132908A1
• Time in Patent Office: 613 Days
• Field of Search: 359/399
• US Class Current: 359/399
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 17/0808 on-axis systems with at least one of the mirrors having a central aperture
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 17/0888 the corrector having at least one aspheric surface, e.g. Schmidt plates
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 23/06 having a focussing action, e.g. parabolic mirror
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 23/16 Housings; Caps; Mountings; Supports, e.g. with counterweight
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 7/1827 Motorised alignment

Abstract

A telescope capable of motorized focus and/or collimation. The telescope includes control electronics capable of correcting the focus and/or collimation based on identified information, such as, for example, information about optical or other elements of the telescope, information about a user or imaging device, or the like. In various embodiments, such identified information is acquired through radio frequency identification (RFID) technologies. In other embodiments, an automated system controls the actuators based at least in part upon identification information, such as through user or device recognition.

Claims

1. A telescope capable of adjusting its optical properties based on recognized data, the telescope comprising:

a least one optical lens;

an actuator operatively coupled to the optical lens and capable of adjusting the optical lens to a first focused position;

a radio frequency identification (RFID) reader device configured to receive identification information from at least one RFID information element, the RFID reader device further configured to output a first signal based at least upon the identification information; and

control electronics capable of receiving the first signal and outputting one or more control signals causing the actuator to adjust the optical lens to a second focused position based at least in part on the identification information.

2. The telescope of claim 1, further comprising a database capable of storing focus adjustment data indicative of the identification information.

3. The telescope of claim 2, wherein the identification information is associated with at least one user profile.

4. The telescope of claim 2, wherein the identification information is associated with at least one eyepiece.

5. The telescope of claim 2, wherein the identification information is associated with at least one imaging device.

6. The telescope of claim 1, further comprising an eyepiece.

7. The telescope of claim 6, wherein the RFID information element is attached to the eyepiece.

8. The optical system of claim 1, wherein the at least one RFID information element comprises a RFID tag.

9. A method of providing an optical system capable of identification recognition, the method comprising:

providing a telescope;

providing one or more electronically-controlled actuators capable of adjusting the telescope to a first focus;

providing a controller module capable of receiving identification information, wherein the controller module comprises a radio frequency identification (RFID) reader configured to receive at least a portion of the identification information from at least one RFID tag; and

providing an electronic module capable of outputting one or more control signals causing the one or more actuators to correct the focus of the telescope to a second focus based at least upon the identification information received by the controller module.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the identification information further comprises biometric information.

11. The method of claim 9, wherein the identification information corresponds to a user.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the identification information corresponds to a group of users having a predetermined similar characteristic.

13. The method of claim 9, wherein the identification information corresponds to an imaging device usable with the telescope.

14. The method of claim 9, wherein the identification information corresponds to an eyepiece usable with the telescope.

15. The method of claim 9, wherein the identification information corresponds to a predetermined focal length.

16. The method of claim 9, further comprising providing a memory capable of storing focus adjustment data associated with the identification information.

17. A system for adjusting the optical properties of a telescope based on recognized data, the system comprising:

means for adjusting at least one optical lens, wherein the means for adjusting is capable of adjusting the at least one optical lens to a first focused position;

means for receiving identification information from at least one radio frequency identification (RFID) tag, the means for receiving capable of outputting a first signal based at least upon the identification information; and

means for receiving the first signal and outputting one or more control signals causing the means for adjusting to adjust the at least one optical lens to a second focused position based at least upon the first signal.

18. A telescope capable of adjusting its focus based on information obtained about a user of the telescope, the telescope comprising:

an electronic focusing mechanism capable of adjusting the telescope to move a focal point of the telescope; and

control electronics capable of receiving information from a radio frequency identification (RFID) information element associated with at least one of a user and an optical element, the control electronics further capable of directing the electronic focusing mechanism to move the focal point based on the information.

19. The telescope of claim 18, further comprising:

an elongated tube with proximal and distal ends;

a primary optical element disposed at the proximal end of the elongated tube;

a corrector plate disposed at the distal end of the tube assembly; and

a secondary optical element affixed to the corrector plate.

20. The telescope of claim 19, wherein the electronic focusing mechanism comprises at least one actuator capable of moving the corrector plate and the secondary optical element with respect to the primary optical element to move the focal point of the telescope.

21. The telescope of claim 20, wherein the at least one actuator is coupled to the corrector plate.

22. The telescope of claim 21, wherein the at least one actuator is coupled to a periphery of the corrector plate.

23. The telescope of claim 19, wherein at least one of the primary and secondary optical elements comprises a mirror.