Telescope Relative Position Tracking Without GPS
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Solution Overview
Problem
Telescopes often struggle to efficiently find previously aimed objects, especially when the user has moved away from the original observation position, due to the complexity and technical requirements of absolute position determination, which can be exacerbated by the lack of GPS reception.
Innovation Solution
A method and telescope design that determine and store the relative position of the object to the telescope, allowing users to easily re-aim at the object by displaying directional arrows and adjusting the sharpness setting, without the need for GPS or absolute position determination, even when the telescope has been moved.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If absolute position determination with GPS is used to find previously aimed objects, then the object can be located accurately, but the device complexity increases and power consumption rises
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts and eliminates the GPS subsystem from the telescope system, replacing absolute position determination with relative position tracking. By removing the GPS reception and processing components, the system achieves the same functional goal (finding previously aimed objects) with significantly reduced device complexity and power consumption.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of using GPS to obtain absolute position data, the system creates a simplified copy of the position information by storing only the relative angular position of objects with respect to the telescope's optical axis. This relative position data is sufficient for re-aiming and eliminates the need for complex absolute position systems.
2Measurement precision
If GPS reception and processing is implemented for object location, then accurate object finding is achieved, but power consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes the power-intensive GPS signal reception and processing subsystem from the telescope. By replacing it with a passive relative position tracking system that uses only the telescope's inherent angular measurements, the system maintains object location accuracy while dramatically reducing power consumption.
3Device complexity
If relative position tracking is used instead of absolute position determination, then device complexity and power consumption are reduced, but the system must handle telescope movement from different positions
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a dynamic relative position tracking system that continuously monitors and records the telescope's angular orientation changes. By storing a sequence of angular positions and using the current angular offset from the stored position, the system automatically adapts to telescope movements to any location, maintaining accurate object re-aiming capability without requiring absolute position data.
Data Source
AI summary
A method for supporting a user aiming at an object with a telescope includes determining and storing a first object position of the object relative to the telescope when a user aims at the object with the telescope and the telescope is located at a first telescope position, and supporting a user when aiming at the object again with the same telescope based on the stored first object position relative to the telescope.