US3713740A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Astronomic survey apparatus and method
Assignee: Control Data Corp
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Filing: 1967-09-20
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Granted: 1973-01-30
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Expires: 1987-09-20
Abstract
Abstract A passive star detection device comprising an optical system photodetector means and a transparent slit pattern for receiving the star radiation, and a computer for analyzing the received star radiation and calculating the azimuth and position of the device on the surface of the earth.
Inventors
- 👤 R Lillestrand
- 👤 J Carroll
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-05 03:26
CPC Classifications
G; G01; G01S; G01S3/00; G01S3/78; G01S3/782
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 24
Claim 1
Independent Claim
125 words
An apparatus for determining the astronomic orientation of a sensor placed on the surface of a planetary body comprising: a. support means for mounting the sensor in a fixed relationship relative to the local gravity vector; b. an optical system fixedly mounted within said sensor for detecting star radiation, including a lens having a limited field of view and a focal surface, and a stationary opaque disk having a predetermined pattern of slits, said disk mounted at the focal surface of said lens; c. conversion means connected to said optical system for converting detected star radiation into electrical signals; and d. time recording means responsive to said electrical signals for recording the time at which said detected star radiation is received by said conversion means.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
125 words
An apparatus for determining the astronomic orientation of a sensor placed on the surface of a planetary body comprising: a. support means for mounting the sensor in a fixed relationship relative to the local gravity vector; b. an optical system fixedly mounted within said sensor for detecting star radiation, including a lens having a limited field of view and a focal surface, and a stationary opaque disk having a predetermined pattern of slits, said disk mounted at the focal surface of said lens; c. conversion means connected to said optical system for converting detected star radiation into electrical signals; and d. time recording means responsive to said electrical signals for recording the time at which said detected star radiation is received by said conversion means.
Claim 3
Independent Claim
125 words
An apparatus for determining the astronomic orientation of a sensor placed on the surface of a planetary body comprising: a. support means for mounting the sensor in a fixed relationship relative to the local gravity vector; b. an optical system fixedly mounted within said sensor for detecting star radiation, including a lens having a limited field of view and a focal surface, and a stationary opaque disk having a predetermined pattern of slits, said disk mounted at the focal surface of said lens; c. conversion means connected to said optical system for converting detected star radiation into electrical signals; and d. time recording means responsive to said electrical signals for recording the time at which said detected star radiation is received by said conversion means.
Claim 4
Independent Claim
125 words
An apparatus for determining the astronomic orientation of a sensor placed on the surface of a planetary body comprising: a. support means for mounting the sensor in a fixed relationship relative to the local gravity vector; b. an optical system fixedly mounted within said sensor for detecting star radiation, including a lens having a limited field of view and a focal surface, and a stationary opaque disk having a predetermined pattern of slits, said disk mounted at the focal surface of said lens; c. conversion means connected to said optical system for converting detected star radiation into electrical signals; and d. time recording means responsive to said electrical signals for recording the time at which said detected star radiation is received by said conversion means.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
60 words
An apparatus as claimed in claim 1 further comprising: a. a mechanical rotation means connected to said optical system for rotating said optical system about a rotation axis fixed relative to the direction of the gravitational vector; b. level detection means connected to said optical system for detecting the angular deviation of said rotation axis relative to said gravitational vector.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
44 words
An apparatus as claimed in claim 2 further comprising data processing means electrically connected to said detector means and said time recording means, for identifying the sources of said star radiation and calculating the orientation of said sensor relative to the local gravity vector.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
22 words
An apparatus as claimed in claim 3 wherein the pattern of slits on said opaque disk comprise a plurality of radial slits.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
23 words
An apparatus as claimed in claim 4 wherein the radial slit pattern is positioned at the sagittal image surface of the optical system.
Claim 9
Independent Claim
108 words
An apparatus for determining astronomical position and azimuth orientation on the surface of the earth comprising: a. support means for the mounting of an optical system in a fixed position relative to the earth''s gravitation vector; b. an optical system for detecting star radiation, said optical system being mechanically supported by said support means in a vertical orientation and being nonmoving while said star radiation is detected; c. conversion means connected to said optical system for converting detected star radiation into electrical signals; d. time recording means responsive to said electrical signals for recording the time at which said detected star radiation is received by said conversion means.
Claim 10
Independent Claim
108 words
An apparatus for determining astronomical position and azimuth orientation on the surface of the earth comprising: a. support means for the mounting of an optical system in a fixed position relative to the earth''s gravitation vector; b. an optical system for detecting star radiation, said optical system being mechanically supported by said support means in a vertical orientation and being nonmoving while said star radiation is detected; c. conversion means connected to said optical system for converting detected star radiation into electrical signals; d. time recording means responsive to said electrical signals for recording the time at which said detected star radiation is received by said conversion means.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
48 words
An apparatus as claimed in claim 6 wherein the optical system further comprises: a. a lens having a limited field of view and a uniform focal surface; b. a stationary opaque disk having a predetermined pattern of slits, said disk mounted at the focal surface of said lens.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
59 words
An apparatus as claimed in claim 7 further comprising: a. mechanical rotation means connected to said optical system for rotating said optical system about a rotation axis fixed relative to the direction of the gravitational vector; b. level detection means connected to said optical system for detecting the angular deviation of said rotation axis relative to said gravitational vector.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
44 words
An apparatus as claimed in claim 8 further comprising data processing means electrically connected to said conversion means and said time recording means, for identifying the sources of said star radiation and calculating the orientation of said sensor relative to the local gravity vector.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
46 words
An apparatus as claimed in claim 9 further comprising a variable shutter means mounted adjacent said opaque disk for limiting the amount of light impinging on said opaque disk and controlling the point of incidence where said light is permitted to impinge on said opaque disk.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
22 words
An apparatus as claimed in claim 10 wherein the pattern of slits on said opaque disk comprise a plurality of radial slits.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
23 words
An apparatus as claimed in claim 11 wherein the radial slit pattern is positioned at the sagittal image surface of the optical system.
Claim 17
Independent Claim
168 words
An apparatus for determining latitude and longitude on the surface of the earth and north azimuth orientation comprising: a. an optical system for detecting star radiation, said optical system having a lens, and having mounted at the focal surface of said lens an opaque stationary disk, said disk having a plurality of slits; b. conversion means coupled to said optical system for detecting star radiation passing through said lens and said slits, and converting said star radiation into electrical signals; c. time recording means, activated by said electrical signals from said conversion means, for recording the time at which said star radiation is received; d. data processing means electrically connected to said conversion means and said time recording means, for identifying the source of said star radiation and calculating the latitude and longitude of said optical system, utilizing said star identities and said recorded times ;and e. supporting means connected to said optical system for providing a stable mounting base relative to the local vertical earth''s gravity vector.
Claim 18
Independent Claim
168 words
An apparatus for determining latitude and longitude on the surface of the earth and north azimuth orientation comprising: a. an optical system for detecting star radiation, said optical system having a lens, and having mounted at the focal surface of said lens an opaque stationary disk, said disk having a plurality of slits; b. conversion means coupled to said optical system for detecting star radiation passing through said lens and said slits, and converting said star radiation into electrical signals; c. time recording means, activated by said electrical signals from said conversion means, for recording the time at which said star radiation is received; d. data processing means electrically connected to said conversion means and said time recording means, for identifying the source of said star radiation and calculating the latitude and longitude of said optical system, utilizing said star identities and said recorded times ;and e. supporting means connected to said optical system for providing a stable mounting base relative to the local vertical earth''s gravity vector.
Claim 19
Independent Claim
68 words
A method of determining latitude, longitude, and azimuth on the surface of the earth comprising the steps of: a. observing at least three star transits through a stationary disk having a plurality of slits; b. recording the times of each of the star transits; c. identifying the transiting stars; d. calculating position and azimuth by utilizing the recorded transit times, and the space-position coordinates of the identified stars.
Claim 20
Independent Claim
68 words
A method of determining latitude, longitude, and azimuth on the surface of the earth comprising the steps of: a. observing at least three star transits through a stationary disk having a plurality of slits; b. recording the times of each of the star transits; c. identifying the transiting stars; d. calculating position and azimuth by utilizing the recorded transit times, and the space-position coordinates of the identified stars.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
48 words
A method of determining latitude, longitude, and north azimuth orientation as claimed in claim 14 wherein the step of observing star transits further comprises: a. measuring the time-varying radiation passing through the slits; b. examining the measurements to identify pulse shapes which are characteristic of stars transiting slits.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
50 words
A method of determining latitude, longitude, and north azimuth orientation as claimed in claim 15 wherein the step of recording the times of each of the star transits further comprises: examining the identified pulse shapes characteristic of stars transiting slits to determine the times corresponding to the pulse shape centers.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
95 words
A method of determining latitude, longitude, and north azimuth orientation as claimed in claim 14 wherein the step of identifying the transiting stars further comprises: a. computing a time profile of known stars transiting the slits for a selected latitude, longitude, and north azimuth orientation; b. comparing the computed time profile with the recorded times of star transits to determine whether substantial time coincidence exists; c. varying the selected latitude, longitude, and north azimuth orientation utilized in step (a) by a predetermined amount; d. repeating steps (a), (b), and (c) until substantial time coincidence exists.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
57 words
A method of determining latitude, longitude, and north azimuth orientation as claimed in claim 14 wherein the step of observing star transits further comprises: a. periodically recording digital values representative of instantaneous star intensities and background radiation; b. sensing the recorded values to determine when the values form a pattern characteristic of a star transiting a slit.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1976-01-30 | 1976-07-31 | 1977-01-30 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1980-01-30 | 1980-07-31 | 1981-01-30 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1984-01-30 | 1984-07-31 | 1985-01-30 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |