Celestial Object Tracking via Electronic Trimming Area Movement
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods for astrophotography using fixed apparatuses without equatorials face challenges in accurately tracking celestial objects, leading to increased CPU burden and difficulty in obtaining clear, stationary images due to diurnal motion, and require precise actuator control.
Innovation Solution
A method that involves obtaining movement information of celestial objects within the imaging area, setting movement data for a trimming area, and moving it based on this data to capture stationary images without using an equatorial or precise actuators, by determining optimal exposure times and trimming area sizes to reduce CPU load.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If multiple continuous photographing operations are performed with a fixed apparatus without an equatorial, then the complexity and cost of the system is reduced, but the CPU burden increases due to unnecessary arithmetic processes and the difficulty of correctly calculating shift amounts increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by pre-calculating and storing the relationship between GPS coordinates and celestial object positions before photographing. This allows the system to directly retrieve shift amounts from pre-computed data tables rather than performing complex real-time calculations, significantly reducing CPU burden while maintaining automated tracking functionality
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses copying by creating a simplified computational model that copies the essential tracking functionality from complex equatorial systems. Instead of implementing full celestial mechanics calculations, the system copies only the necessary shift amount data into pre-computed tables, eliminating unnecessary arithmetic processes while preserving the core tracking function
2Reliability
If multiple continuous photographing operations are performed with a short photographing interval, then more images are captured for superimposition, but the burden on the CPU increases due to processing a large number of similar images
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies partial action by selectively processing only the necessary subset of captured images. Instead of processing all continuous images, the system processes only those images that contain meaningful celestial object data, determined by comparing GPS-derived positions with actual image content. This eliminates processing of redundant similar images while maintaining tracking accuracy
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements feedback by continuously monitoring the position of celestial objects in captured images and comparing it with predicted positions from GPS data. This feedback mechanism allows the system to adjust the photographing interval dynamically, processing images only when actual celestial object positions deviate from predictions, thereby reducing CPU burden while maintaining reliability
3Reliability
If an equatorial with auto tracking system is used to photograph celestial objects while moving the photographing apparatus, then clear stationary images of celestial objects are obtained, but the system becomes expensive, heavy and difficult to handle
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies mechanics substitution by replacing the mechanical equatorial mounting system with an electronic/software-based solution. Instead of using physical mechanisms to track celestial objects, the system uses GPS receivers and image processing algorithms to calculate and compensate for diurnal motion digitally, eliminating the need for complex mechanical tracking apparatus
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses GPS coordinates as an intermediary to bridge the gap between the fixed photographing apparatus and the moving celestial objects. By using GPS-derived position data as an intermediate step, the system can calculate the apparent motion of celestial objects and apply digital corrections without requiring direct mechanical coupling or complex optical tracking mechanisms
4Reliability
If an actuator is used to precisely move the image sensor to track celestial objects, then stationary images are obtained without an equatorial, but the production and control of such actuator becomes difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies mechanics substitution by replacing the physical actuator system with a digital image processing approach. Instead of mechanically moving the image sensor to track celestial objects, the system keeps the sensor fixed and digitally processes the captured images to compensate for motion, using GPS-derived position data to calculate and apply the necessary corrections in software
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2(A)~2(C)
Figure 3~4
AI summary
A method of automatically tracking and photographing celestial objects and a celestial-object auto-tracking photographing apparatus are achieved, in which the burden on the CPU can be reduced by eliminating unnecessary arithmetic processes and can clearly photograph a celestial object (s) so as to appear stationary without using an equatorial, which is expensive, large, heavy and requires complicated adjustments, and without using an actuator, which needs to be precisely controlled. A method of automatically tracking and photographing a celestial object, which moves relative to a photographic apparatus due to diurnal motion, in which, in order to photograph the celestial object, a trimming area that has been electronically trimmed from a part of an imaging area of an image sensor is moved while the celestial object is photographed, the method includes obtaining movement information of a celestial-object image on the imaging area; setting movement data for the trimming area based on the obtained the movement information of the celestial-object image; and carrying out a photographing operation while moving the trimming area based on the movement data of the set the trimming area at each trimming area, upon being moved.