초록 ▼

An optical head for attachment to an optical system, such as a telescope, is shown. The optical head in a housing includes a first sensor for imaging an object in a field of view and a second sensor for tracking a star or other celestial body which is off axis to the field of view of the first senso

An optical head for attachment to an optical system, such as a telescope, is shown. The optical head in a housing includes a first sensor for imaging an object in a field of view and a second sensor for tracking a star or other celestial body which is off axis to the field of view of the first sensor. The second sensor is rigidly supported and positioned a selected distance from and adjacent to the first sensor and is adapted to generate correction signals which are used to control a drive system of the optical system or telescope. The correction signals are representative of desired changes in the relative position of the optical system or telescope to the star being tracked. The correction signals are applied to the drive system to maintain, during imaging, optical alignment of the first sensor with an object in the field of view. In the preferred embodiment, the optical head is used for astronomical imaging and tracking wherein the first sensor is an imaging CCD and the second sensor is a tracking CCD. A method for tracking and imaging for a telescope is also shown.

대표청구항 ▼

An optical head for attachment to a platform comprising a housing; a first sensor for imaging an object in a field of view and a second sensor for tracking a star off axis to the field of view of said first sensor each of which are located in said housing, said second sensor being rigidly supported

An optical head for attachment to a platform comprising a housing; a first sensor for imaging an object in a field of view and a second sensor for tracking a star off axis to the field of view of said first sensor each of which are located in said housing, said second sensor being rigidly supported and positioned a selected distance from and adjacent to said first sensor and being adapted to generate signals for a drive system representative of changes in relative position of the platform to a star being tracked to maintain optical alignment of the first sensor with the object in the field of view as corrections are made by the drive system to positions of the platform.