US4244651A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Impersonal eyepiece for astronomic positioning
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1979-02-21
•
Granted: 1981-01-13
•
Expires: 1999-02-21
Abstract
Abstract An improved impersonal eyepiece for astronomic positioning is affixed to an optical viewing device to provide a means for observing the position of a celestial object at timed intervals. The viewing device produces a source image of the celestial object and a light source in the eyepiece is energized at timed intervals by a control circuit to illuminate a reticle mask and to thereby superimpose a reticle reference image on the source image during each of the timed intervals. The position of the celestial object with respect to the illuminated reticle is noted during each timed interval and the data so obtained is used to define a reference position.
Inventors
- 👤 Edward F. Roof
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 17:36
CPC Classifications
G; G02; G02B; G02B27/00; G02B27/32; G02B27/34
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 31
Claim 1
Independent Claim
87 words
An astronomical positioning apparatus of a type wherein an optical viewing device is used to continuously produce a source image of a celestial object to observe the object and the position of said celestial object is measured periodically once each period T for a time interval t, comprising: projection means for superimposing the image of a spatial reference pattern reticle on said source image during said time intervals to display the position of said celestial object with respect to said reference reticle image during said time intervals.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
87 words
An astronomical positioning apparatus of a type wherein an optical viewing device is used to continuously produce a source image of a celestial object to observe the object and the position of said celestial object is measured periodically once each period T for a time interval t, comprising: projection means for superimposing the image of a spatial reference pattern reticle on said source image during said time intervals to display the position of said celestial object with respect to said reference reticle image during said time intervals.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
48 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said projection means includes: reticle mask means for defining a fixed reference pattern; light source means for illuminating said reticle mask means to form said superimposed reference reticle image; and control means for energizing said light source means during said time intervals.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
15 words
The apparatus of claim 2, wherein said light source means includes a light emitting diode.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
25 words
The apparatus of claim 2 wherein said light source means includes means for generating light at a wavelength that produces a red reference reticle image.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
62 words
The apparatus of claim 2 wherein said control means includes: multivibrator means for receiving timing signals having a period T and generating corresponding strobe pulses having a period T and pulse width t; and amplifier means for receiving said strobe pulses and generating corresponding amplified pulses to energize said light source means for said time intervals corresponding to the pulse width t.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
26 words
The apparatus of claim 5 wherein said multivibrator means includes means for defining an adjustable pulse width t in the range of 20 to 100 milliseconds.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
41 words
The apparatus of claim 5 wherein said multivibrator means includes means for receiving timing signals having a period of at least two seconds and generating corresponding strobe pulses having an adjustable pulse width in the range of 20 to 100 milliseconds.
Claim 9
Independent Claim
102 words
An apparatus for observing the position of a celestial object comprising: viewing means for continuously generating a source image of said celestial object for observation; reticle means for defining a spatial reference pattern; light source means for illuminating said reticle means to form a corresponding reference reticle image having a color contrasting to the color of said source image and superimposed on said source image; and control means for energizing said light source means periodically once each period T for a time interval t to display the position of said celestial object with respect to said reference pattern during said time interval.
Claim 10
Independent Claim
102 words
An apparatus for observing the position of a celestial object comprising: viewing means for continuously generating a source image of said celestial object for observation; reticle means for defining a spatial reference pattern; light source means for illuminating said reticle means to form a corresponding reference reticle image having a color contrasting to the color of said source image and superimposed on said source image; and control means for energizing said light source means periodically once each period T for a time interval t to display the position of said celestial object with respect to said reference pattern during said time interval.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
12 words
The apparatus of claim 8 wherein said viewing means is an astrolabe.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
12 words
The apparatus of claim 8 wherein said viewing means is a theodolite.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
15 words
The apparatus of claim 8, wherein said light source means includes a light emitting diode.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
24 words
The apparatus of claim 8 said light source means includes means for generating light at a wavelength that produces a red reference reticle image.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
16 words
The apparatus of claim 8 wherein said period T is at least two seconds in duration.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
18 words
The apparatus of claim 13 of wherein said time interval is from 20 to 100 milliseconds in duration.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
17 words
The apparatus of claim 8 wherein said time interval is from 20 to 100 milliseconds in duration.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
63 words
The apparatus of claim 8 wherein said control means includes: multivibrator means for receiving timing signals having said period T and generating corresponding strobe pulses having said period T and a pulse width t; and amplifier means for receiving said strobe pulses and generating corresponding amplified pulses to energize said light source means for said time interval corresponding to the pulse width t.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
25 words
The apparatus of claim 8 wherein said multivibrator means includes means for defining adjustable pulse width t in the range of 20 to 100 milliseconds.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
41 words
The apparatus of claim 8 wherein said multivibrator means includes means for receiving timing signals having a period of at least two seconds and generating corresponding strobe pulses having an adjustable pulse width in the range of 20 to 100 milliseconds.
Claim 21
Independent Claim
111 words
An apparatus for observing the position of a celestial object comprising: (a) a viewing instrument having a focal plane for continiously generating a source image of said celestial object for observation; (b) a reticle defining a spatial reference pattern disposed in said focal plane; (c) a light source having a color contracting to the color of said source image for illuminating said reticle thereby superimposing said spatial reference pattern upon said source image; and (d) control means for energizing said light source periodically once each period T for a time interval t to display the position of said celestial object with respect to said spatial reference pattern during said time interval.
Claim 22
Independent Claim
111 words
An apparatus for observing the position of a celestial object comprising: (a) a viewing instrument having a focal plane for continiously generating a source image of said celestial object for observation; (b) a reticle defining a spatial reference pattern disposed in said focal plane; (c) a light source having a color contracting to the color of said source image for illuminating said reticle thereby superimposing said spatial reference pattern upon said source image; and (d) control means for energizing said light source periodically once each period T for a time interval t to display the position of said celestial object with respect to said spatial reference pattern during said time interval.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
19 words
The apparatus of claim 19 wherein said reticle comprises a transparent plate having said spatial reference pattern etched thereon.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
14 words
The apparatus of claim 19 wherein said light source includes a light emitting diode.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
24 words
The apparatus of claim 19 wherein said light source includes means for generating light at a wavelength that produces a red spatial reference pattern.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
16 words
The apparatus of claim 19 wherein said period T is at least two seconds in duration.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
18 words
The apparatus of claim 23 wherein said time interval is at least 20 to 100 milliseconds in duration.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
18 words
The apparatus of claim 19 wherein said period T is from 20 to 100 milliseconds seconds in duration.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
65 words
The apparatus of claim 19 wherein said control means includes: (a) multivibrator means for receiving timing signals having said period T and generating corresponding strobe pulses having said period T and a pulse width t; and (b) amplifier means for receiving said strobe pulses and generating corresponding amplified pulses to energize said light source means for said time interval corresponding to the pulse width t.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
26 words
The apparatus of claim 26 wherein said multivibrator means includes means for defining an adjustable pulse width t in the range of 20 to 100 milliseconds.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
41 words
The apparatus of claim 26 wherein said multivibrator means includes means for receiving timing signals having a period of at least two seconds and generating corresponding strobe pulses having an adjustable pulse width in the range of 20 to 100 milliseconds.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US2874605A
Cited
US2837958A
Cited
US3958885A
Cited
US3963356A
Cited
US3960453A
Cited
US3912398A
Cited
US3925704A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1984-01-13 | 1984-07-14 | 1985-01-13 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1988-01-13 | 1988-07-14 | 1989-01-13 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1992-01-13 | 1992-07-14 | 1993-01-13 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |