Celestial object location device
OwnerMichael Lempinventor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
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.
Claims42
A device for viewing from a location at a time and date comprising:
- a. viewing means to observe along a viewing axis defined by an azimuth angle and a nadir angle;
- b. a processor;
- c. a 3-axis magnetic sensor adapted to provide the processor with azimuth data representing the azimuth angle;
- d. a 3-axis gravitational sensor adapted to provide the processor with nadir data representing the nadir angle;
- e. location means for providing location data representing the location to the processor;
- f. time means for providing time and date data representing the time and date to the processor;
- and
- g. a database adapted to be accessed by the processor and provide data such that the processor determines celestial coordinates of right ascension and declination corresponding to the viewing axis based on the azimuth data, the nadir data, the location data, and the time and date data.
A celestial object location device for use from a location at a time and a date comprising:
- a. a housing comprising a viewing channel adapted for a user to observe through the viewing channel and along a viewing axis to a position in the sky aligned with the viewing axis, wherein the housing is adapted to be held by the user while the user is observing through the viewing channel;
- b. a processor;
- c. a 3-axis magnetic sensor adapted to provide the processor with azimuth data representing an azimuth angle of the viewing axis;
- d. a 3-axis gravitational sensor adapted to provide the processor with nadir data representing a nadir angle of the viewing axis;
- e. a location data input device adapted to provide the processor with location data representing the location of the celestial object location device;
- f. a time data input device adapted to provide the processor with time and date data representing the time and date of a use of the device;
- g. a user interface for inputting user data to the processor and announcing information to the user;
- h. a direction indicator adapted for the processor to announce through the direction indicator to the user directions for changing the angular orientation of the viewing axis;
- and
- i. a database adapted to be accessed by the processor such that the processor, based on the azimuth data, the nadir angle, the location data, the time and date data, the user data, and the database, announces to the user:
- i) through the user interface an identification of a celestial object aligned with the viewing axis;
- ii) through the user interface celestial coordinates aligned with the viewing axis;
- or
- iii) through the direction indicator directions for the user to change the viewing axis based on user data comprising identification of a celestial object or a celestial coordinate.
A process for observing celestial objects comprising the steps of:
- a. providing a user with a device for observing the celestial objects along a viewing axis;
- b. identifying an azimuth angle of the viewing axis via a 3-axis magnetic sensor adapted to determine the azimuth angle;
- c. identifying a nadir angle of the viewing axis via a 3-axis gravitational sensor adapted to determine the nadir angle;
- and
- d. determining celestial coordinates of right ascension and declination based on the azimuth angle, the nadir angle, a location of the device, and a current time and date.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.