Electronic Polar Scope for Telescope Axis Calibration
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing polar axis calibration methods for equatorial instruments are limited by low accuracy due to reliance on optical methods, difficulty in achieving parallelism between the optical axis of the polar scope and the polar axis, and challenges in precise horizontal adjustment, leading to suboptimal celestial pole alignment.
Innovation Solution
A polar axis calibration system incorporating an electronic polar scope with an image sensor and a calibration control device that determines the celestial pole position and rotation center of the polar axis using constellation images, allowing for automatic alignment and reducing the need for precise optical axis alignment with the polar axis.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If optical methods are used for polar axis calibration, then the device complexity is low, but the measurement precision is insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the traditional optical mechanical calibration system with an electronic imaging system. Instead of using optical axes and mechanical alignment, the system uses image sensors to capture constellation images and electronically calculates the celestial pole position and polar axis rotation center, thereby achieving higher precision without significant increases in mechanical complexity
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates an electronic copy of the celestial sphere through image sensors that capture constellation images. This digital representation allows for precise measurement and calculation of star positions, enabling accurate polar axis calibration through computational methods rather than direct optical measurement
2Measurement precision
If the optical axis of the polar scope is required to be parallel with the polar axis, then the alignment accuracy is improved, but the ease of manufacture deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent eliminates the mechanical parallelism requirement by substituting it with an electronic calculation system. The image sensor captures star positions, and the control device computationally determines the rotation center and celestial pole position, removing the need for precise mechanical alignment between optical axes and polar axis
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces image sensors and control devices as intermediaries between the polar scope and the calibration process. These intermediaries capture optical information and perform computational processing to determine alignment parameters, thereby decoupling the optical system from mechanical alignment requirements
3Ease of operation
If the field of view of the polar scope is increased, then the ease of operation is improved, but the manufacturing precision deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses image sensors to create detailed digital copies of the sky field, capturing both the overall constellation layout and precise star positions. This allows the system to maintain a wide field of view for easy star finding while preserving measurement precision through digital image processing and coordinate calculation
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The system enhances accuracy and field of view by using image sensors to collect and analyze constellation images, enabling precise alignment of the polar axis with the celestial pole, improving both accuracy and ease of use compared to traditional methods.
Implementation Method 1
an electronic polar scope with an image sensor and a calibration control device that determines the celestial pole position and rotation center of the polar axis using constellation images
Data Source
AI summary
A polar axis calibration system (100) comprises: a polar scope (10), a polar axis calibration control device (20) and a display device (30). The polar scope comprises an optical lens (11) and an image sensor (12) for collecting constellation images (IM); the polar axis calibration control device receives the constellation images from the polar scope and determines the position (P1) of the rotation center of the polar axis and the celestial pole position (P2), the position of the rotation center of the polar axis means the position of the rotation center (R0) of the polar axis (510) of the equatorial instrument in the plane of the constellation image, and the celestial pole position means the position of the celestial pole in the plane of the constellation image; and the display device is coupled to the polar axis calibration control device and used to display the constellation image, the celestial pole position and the position of the rotation center of the polar axis. The present invention also provides a polar scope, a polar axis calibration control device, as well as an equatorial instrument (500) and an astronomical telescope comprising the aforesaid polar scope or polar axis calibration system. According to the present disclosure, it is possible to align the celestial pole position directly with the rotation center of the polar axis, thus improving the calibration accuracy. Furthermore, it is possible to lower the requirements for the installation accuracy of the polar scope.