Viewing device synchronizer

• US 8,830,576 B1
• Filed: 03/22/2005
• Issued: 09/09/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 03/22/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: University of Wyoming
• Original Assignee: University of Wyoming
• Inventors: Morton, Scott A., Marcy, Samuel J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Lavarias, Arnel C
• Application Number:
  US11/086,098
• Time in Patent Office: 3,458 Days
• Field of Search: 359/429
• US Class Current: 359/429
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 23/18 for binocular arrangements focusing binocular pairs G02B7/06; adjusting pupillary distance of binocular pairs G02B7/12
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 27/648 for automatically maintaining a reference alignment, e.g. in self-levelling surveying instruments surveying instruments per se G01C

Abstract

A viewing device synchronizer includes a viewing mechanism for viewing an object and a linking mechanism for linking a plurality of viewing mechanisms so that each is capable of viewing the object simultaneously. A movement mechanism moves a single viewing mechanism in any direction in order to view an object. A control mechanism moves any of the plurality of viewing mechanisms if the single viewing mechanism is moved. A directional pointing mechanism controls one or a plurality of the viewing mechanisms. A communication mechanism sends directional information for controlling the operation of the plurality of viewing mechanism from a single viewing mechanism.

Claims

1. A viewing device synchronizer for finding a position of an object remote from the viewing device synchronizer, the viewing device synchronizer comprising:

at least one viewing device;

an electronic compass for indicating direction from the viewing device to the remote object;

an electronic level for indicating an angle of direction from the viewing device to the remote object as measured from horizontal;

an electronic range finder for indicating a distance to the remote object from the viewing device, the compass, level and rangefinder determining a vector from the viewing device to the remote object;

a global positioning unit for obtaining a position of the viewing device;

a microcontroller for calculating the position of the remote object by vector algebra;

a power supply;

a network communication link;

at least one second viewing device separately mounted from the at least one viewing device; and

at least one servomotor for positioning each of the at least one second viewing device responsive to position calculations of the remote object by the microcontroller transmitted over the network communication link such that each of the at least one second viewing device is directed towards the position of the remote object.

2. The viewing device synchronizer of claim 1 wherein the network communication link is selected from the group consisting of a wireless link, a coaxial communications network, a fiber optic network connection, and a phone line network connection for sending information selected from the group consisting of a direction, global positioning unit reading, angle, and distance to the at least one second viewing device.

3. The viewing device synchronizer of claim 1 wherein the power supply is selected from the group consisting of a battery, fuel cell, solar panel, wind turbine, and low voltage direct current connection.

4. The viewing device synchronizer of claim 1 wherein the microcontroller includes a memory device for storing a direction, altitude, distance, angle, and approximate global positioning unit position for returning to view an object.

5. The viewing device synchronizer of claim 1 wherein the viewing device synchronizer is an autonomous device capable of viewing an object with or without an instruction from a user or over the network communication link.

6. The viewing device synchronizer of claim 1, wherein the at least one second viewing device is interconnected by the network communication link in order to view a single remote object simultaneously.

7. The viewing device synchronizer of claim 6 wherein any one of the at least one viewing device or the at least one second viewing device can control the other of the at least one viewing device or the at least one second viewing device by sending information necessary to view an object.