The precise location of a target, viewed from an observation position on or near the surface of the earth can be made with the measurement of three coordinates; elevation (i.e. the direction of the vertical of the observation position, azimuth (i.e. the horizontal direction to the target, and range (i.e. the distance to the target). Elevation at the observation position can easily be found by using an inclinometer. Inclinometers with accuracies of about 10 micro-radians are available from suppliers such as Jewell Instruments with offices in Manchester, N.H. The cost of these inclinometers typically are in the range of about $2,000. Range can be determined with a laser rangefinder. Laser rangefinders with accuracies in the range of about 1 meter are available from suppliers such as Ratheon and the cost of these instruments is in the range of about $5,000. The true azimuth position is more difficult, if high precision is required. Magnetic compasses are typically accurate to only one degree, and the presence of steel or other local disturbances will often reduce accuracy to several degrees. Therefore, if positioning of a target depends on the use of a magnetic compass, substantial position errors would likely result.
The position of celestial objects at any time at any place on earth is known with extremely high accuracy. These celestial objects include all recognizable stars and planets, the sun and the moon. Celestial objects also include visible man-made satellites. Computer programs with astronomical algorithms are available that can be used to calculate the positions of any of these celestial objects at anytime for any position on or near the surface of the earth. Star pattern recognition computer programs are available in the prior art.
Accurate positioning of the celestial objects depends only on a precise knowledge of the latitude and longitude position and on the date and the precise time of observation. Latitude and longitude generally can be determined easily with precision of less than one meter with available maps or with global positioning equipment. These computer programs are described in several good text books including Astronomical Algorithms by Jean Meeus, published by Willmann-Bell with offices in Richmond Va. Techniques for using the programs to determine the positions of the celestial objects are clearly described in this reference. Programs such as these are used to provide planetarium programs such as “The Sky” available from Software Bisque and “Guide” available from Project Pluto.
Fisheye lenses are lenses with a highly curved protruding front that enables it to cover a solid angle of about 180 degrees. It provides a circular image with barrel distortion.
In many situations knowledge of the true azimuth to a target with precision of much better than 1 degree is needed. What is needed is a device that can measure the true azimuth to within about 1/10th to 1/20th of a degree.
The present invention provides a celestial compass. A preferred embodiment includes a camera a wide angle lens suitable for viewing almost an entire hemisphere of the sky and a 6-million pixel sensor for collecting images of celestial objects such as stars, planets, the moon and the sun. The compass also includes a computer programmed with an (1) astronomical algorithm for providing the precise position of celestial objects based on precise input of time (date and time of day) and observation position (latitude and longitude), (2) celestial navigation software and (3) coordinate transformation software to correct distortion, convert pixel image data to astronomical coordinates and determine the instruments azimuth. The system includes provisions for the input of precise time and location information.
A wide angle lens used with a high resolution camera is used to accurately determine the azimuth of an instrument by measuring the position of celestial targets. During the day, the image of the sun or moon can be used, along with the observer's precise time, latitude, longitude. At nighttime, the moon, bright stars, or planets can be used. Measurements of celestial objects are known to very high precision, so the azimuth precision is limited mainly by the precision of the optics used to view them. The best instrument will depend on the time of measurement—day or night. Fully automatic operation requires that the imaged targets are identified. Based on the shape, brightness, and the time of day, the sun or moon is easily identified. In the case of stars, pattern recognition software is required to identify the stars based on their relative spacing. Once the target is identified, additional software determines the orientation of the camera. Celestial navigation software is well known that performs this function.
The Celestial Compass
A first preferred embodiment of the present invention is shown in
The Camera
As shown in
Positions of celestial objects are known to very high precision, so the azimuth precision is limited mainly by the precision of the optics used to view them. A fisheye lens, can view nearly an entire hemisphere. If such a lens is attached to a camera that is looking precisely in the vertical direction, then the sun, the moon, or some bright stars or planets will nearly always be visible. The image formed by the lens will be captured by a high resolution digital camera, so that the location of the celestial target can be determined to high accuracy. In a test by Applicants, a 10.5 mm focal length lens connected to a camera with approximately six million pixels was able to provide target location accuracy more precise than 1/20th degree. Each pixel measured about 1/20th of a degree, and stars measured about 2 pixels across, due to imperfections in the lens. Determining the target centroid to less than one half of its diameter is possible if the signal to noise ratio is high enough. For bright celestial targets, this is normally true.
Converting the pixel location to celestial altitude is performed by measuring the distortion in the camera and using a pixel scale factor in degrees per pixel. To determine the accurate celestial location of a small target requires only a centroid measurement. To determine the accurate celestial location of the sun or moon requires finding the edges of the target and then calculating the true center based on the size and shape of the target at the time of the observation. The software for this conversion of image data into astronomical coordinates is shown in
To make an azimuthal determination an operator of the device shown in
Boresighting the camera with other optical instruments requires a single calibration. A target at a known azimuth is imaged by the other optical instruments at the same time that a celestial measurement is made. The azimuth reported by the celestial measurements is then rotated to agree with the other optical instruments. With elevation and azimuth determined by
During the day, the image of the sun or moon can be used, along with the observer's precise time, latitude, longitude.
An alternate design uses the same wide angle lens and camera, but slightly different software. If the instrument is stationary for a period of time, for example a few minutes, then target identification is not required. The motion of any celestial target over a short period will describe an arc across the sky. The arcs that are directly North or South of the observer will be horizontal and parallel to the horizon, but travel in opposite directions. Arcs directly East or West will be vertical to some extent, depending on the observer's latitude. By calculating the arc's direction, the target does not need to be identified. This allows the instrument to calculate its orientation based on only a single unidentified star at night.
There are many variations to the above specific embodiments of the present invention. Many of these will be obvious to those skilled in the art. For example in many embodiments focal plane arrays with only 4 million pixels will be adequate. So the scope of the present invention should be determined by the appended claims and their legal equivalence.
The present invention claims the benefit of Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 60/739,350, filed Nov. 23, 2005.
Number | Date | Country | |
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60739350 | Nov 2005 | US |