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| Number | Title | Issue Date |
| 7866054 | Apparatus and method for indicating direction A pointing device adapted to allow a user to set a pointing arrow to point towards another location, such as a city in another country. The pointing arrow is adapted to not point in a direction along the surface of the earth but to point accurately through the Earth... | 01/11/2011 |
| 7861422 | Skyline imaging system for solar access determination A skyline imaging system includes an image sensor and an inclination reference coupled to the image sensor. The inclination reference provides a righting moment for the image sensor and establishes a predetermined orientation for the image sensor relative to the Ear... | 01/04/2011 |
| 7832110 | Quasi-uniaxial solar trajectory tracking transit system The present invention relates to a quasi-uniaxial solar trajectory tracking transit system including a canopy, a case, a first positioning ring, a second positioning ring and a positioning pole. The canopy is a transparent hemisphere marked with a graduation line in... | 11/16/2010 |
| 7690123 | Skyline imaging system for solar access determination A skyline imaging system includes an image sensor and an inclination reference coupled to the image sensor. The inclination reference provides a righting moment for the image sensor and establishes a predetermined orientation for the image sensor relative to the Ear... | 04/06/2010 |
| 7506449 | Measurement device A measurement device comprising a horizontal track, at least one self-leveling foot coupled to the horizontal track, a hemispherical track coupled to the horizontal track, a movable sensor unit coupled to the hemispherical track, and a connector disposed on the hemi... | 03/24/2009 |
| 7428780 | Viewing and display apparatus position determination algorithms Celestial object location devices with sensor arrays of having less that one sensor for each of three orthogonal components of gravity and magnetic field vectors. The accuracy of position sensing is enhanced by estimating “missing” sensor input based on input fr... | 09/30/2008 |
| 7411512 | Tracking the geographic location of an animal Systems and techniques for tracking the geographic location. In one aspect, a method includes receiving timed magnetic field information descriptive of a magnetic field to which a magnetometer was subject, the magnetic field information having been collected while t... | 08/12/2008 |
| 7292319 | Optical tracking device employing a three-axis gimbal An optical tracking device, includes an azimuth sub-assembly providing a 360-degree range of motion and a transducer sensing the azimuth position within this range of motion; and an elevation sub-assembly coupled to the azimuth sub-assembly and providing at least a ... | 11/06/2007 |
| 7270304 | Isolating positioning boom for instrument platform A positioning boom disposed between a space-based observatory platform and its instrument payload provides thermal and dynamic isolation as well as fine pointing and momentum control. The inventive system isolates a sensitive payload from a warm, dynamically noisy s... | 09/18/2007 |
| 7222430 | Object locator sight An object locator sight aiding a first person to communicate the location of a distant object to a second person provides a laterally elongate base, carrying upstanding forward and spacedly adjacent rearward panels. The forward panel is perpendicular to the base and... | 05/29/2007 |
| 7197829 | Laser guided celestial identification device Disclosed is a celestial identification device. According to some embodiments, the device includes a housing, a positioning sensor, and a light generator structured to generate an indicator beam that can be pointed at celestial objects. The positioning sensor can in... | 04/03/2007 |
| 7197381 | Navigational system and method utilizing sources of pulsed celestial radiation A system and method for navigation utilizing sources of pulsed celestial radiation are provided. A spacecraft, satellite, or other vehicle (12) has a pulse sensor (22) mounted thereto for detecting signal pulses (14) generated by a plurality of ... | 03/27/2007 |
| 7190515 | Solar telescope with integrated alignment mechanism A targeting unit is incorporated into the main body of a solar telescope. The targeting image is provided by an aperture facing the sun in the housing of the telescope through which sunlight is received and directed to a transmissive viewing screen placed in the hou... | 03/13/2007 |
| 7155833 | Viewing and display apparatus position determination algorithms Celestial object location devices with sensor arrays of having less that one sensor for each of three orthogonal components of gravity and magnetic field vectors. The accuracy of position sensing is enhanced by estimating “missing” sensor input based on input fr... | 01/02/2007 |
| 7155031 | Moving object detection method From a plurality of pictures 1-1 through 1-3 captured at successive time intervals, pictures 2-1 through 2-3 of regions determined in accordance with the movement of the celestial object are cut out. By derivin... | 12/26/2006 |
| 7114262 | Sundial with standard time display A horizontal sundial (1) that can be used to find standard time accurately and be manufactured on a commercial basis for any specific location, incorporating a gnomonic projection map (1M), a wire gnomon (1a) to indicate the time on a sca... | 10/03/2006 |
| 7095378 | Satellite dish sighting apparatus and alignment system An apparatus and method for setting up a satellite dish to receive satellite signals, including television satellite signals, with precise positioning and aiming of the satellite dish, including determination of a clear line of sight, azimuth orientation, elevation ... | 08/22/2006 |
| 7068180 | Celestial object location device A hand-held electronic celestial object-locating device assists in identifying a celestial object or directing a user to a desired celestial object. The device is useful for locating or identifying any celestial object including stars, constellations, planets, comet... | 06/27/2006 |
| 7010862 | Viewing and display apparatus position determination algorithms Celestial object location devices with sensor arrays of having less that one sensor for each of three orthogonal components of gravity and magnetic field vectors. The accuracy of position sensing is enhanced by estimating “missing” sensor input based on input fr... | 03/14/2006 |
| 6526667 | Satellite spacecraft targeting device and method A device for determining the suitability of a communications satellite antenna reception device site has a bubble level and inclinometer for orienting the device vertically and horizontally. The device also carries a magnetic compass and an azimuth dial f... | 03/04/2003 |
| 6490801 | Sun sensors using multi-pinhole overlays Sun sensors or position sensors may be used to determine the angular location of the sun or other object with respect to the sensor. The sun sensor provides high resolution over a wide field of regard. A position or sun sensor comprises a sensor housing, ... | 12/10/2002 |
| 6449854 | Universal solar chart shadow plotter and method for plotting a shadow An apparatus for estimating a shadow on a scaled figure is presented herein. The apparatus includes a circular disk with a lines corresponding to the declination angle of the earth with respect to the sun at particular dates of the year. The apparatus als... | 09/17/2002 |
| 6366212 | Celestial object location device A hand-held electronic celestial object locating device assists in identifying a celestial object or directing a user to a desired celestial object. The device is useful for locating or identifying any celestial object including stars, constellations, pla... | 04/02/2002 |
| 6339885 | Astrolabe having rotating rete and plate In the astrolabe herein, both the rete and the plate rotate, although around different centers. The stars are drawn onto the plate, and the coordinate system is represented by the rete. In contrast to the conventional astrolabe, where the stars and the co... | 01/22/2002 |
| 6308427 | Horizontal sundial adjustable for accurate reading at multiple latitudes A horizontal sundial constructed to accurately tell time at a specific latitude having female threads incorporated into both the north (10) and south (12) sides of the dial plate (6). Threadedly matched male gnomon angle-adjusting bolts (18) serve to rais... | 10/30/2001 |
| 6237241 | Suspended object cable-suspension orienting system An orienting device controls two tilt degrees of freedom of one or more suspended objects by raising supporting cables on one or two sides of the objects while lowering the cables on the opposite sides. Two separately controlled sets of tilt cables adjust... | 05/29/2001 |
| 6038777 | Method and apparatus for sight reduction A sight reduction apparatus includes a sextant, a processor, and a nautical almanac, preferably all provided in an unitary housing. The sextant includes a fixed telescope which is pointed at a known celestial body, and a radial arm is moved against an arc... | 03/21/2000 |
| 5970619 | Device for guiding alignment in trailer hitching A device for guiding alignment in trailer hitching with a trailer cup attachment and a towing vehicle attachment. The trailer cup attachment adjustably clips over the trailer cup on the drawbar of the trailer. The trailer cup attachment has at least one v... | 10/26/1999 |
| 5704653 | System for identifying stars, planets, deep sky objects and constellations A system to help a viewer find stars, planets, deep sky objects and constellations is disclosed. The system has a series of sky maps showing different views of the sky. One or more tables is provided for each map. The tables assist in corresponding the sk... | 01/06/1998 |
| 5701678 | Space-time tracker A space-time tracker for announcing the time and tracking the celestrial bodies on the spot of observation comprises a clock mechanism with clock hands on a dial of 24 hours and a synchronic motor for driving a star atlas and a plurality of planet driving... | 12/30/1997 |
| 5450674 | Multipotent astrolabe A multipotent astrolabe is used to determine the positions of various celestial bodies by applying the circular star atlas and taking into account ephemeral time and the porjections of the relative positions of the moon, the sun and the stars as viewed fr... | 09/19/1995 |
| 5425178 | Solar compass An accurate, easy to use solar compass which permits a user to locate true north or to locate azimuth lines. The user calculates the solar time and determines the declination of the sun from the emphrimis. The user adjusts the compass to compensate for th... | 06/20/1995 |
| 5396709 | Method and apparatus for precise calibration of magnetic compass and preparation of deviation tables An apparatus and method for compensating for the measured variation in bearing between magnetic north as read on a compass and true north as may be determined by juxtaposition with the sun at a given time. Such apparatus and method is particularly useful ... | 03/14/1995 |
| 5276972 | Satellite locator An apparatus which can be carried to a field sight to locate current and future positions of geosynchronous satellites orbiting the equator in the Clark Belt Altitude. The apparatus corrects the error in viewing angle by providing corrections in longitude... | 01/11/1994 |
| 5274926 | Antenna aiming instrument The instrument comprises a sphere mounted in a holder between two rings, so that the sphere is held in specific spatial relationship to holes in the holder which define a line of sight of the instrument. A flat cylindrical assembly comprising a bubble lev... | 01/04/1994 |
| 5181324 | Sundial A sundial including a strip-shaped body with surfaces substantially in the form of helicoids. The body is made of a rather thin material. At least one of the helicoids is provided with time markings. As a result, the sundial is very simple to manufacture,... | 01/26/1993 |
| 5161242 | Automated repeating sextant (ARS) The automated repeating sextant (ARS) is a navigational instrument suitable for air, sea and land use. The ARS uses an electronic artificial horizon, an A/D conversion board and either microchips or a computer, with software, to read a celestial body's al... | 11/03/1992 |
| 5003698 | Apparatus for viewing a representation of the celestial vault An apparatus for viewing a representation of the celestial vault including a tube bearing a ring of graduations that indicate the dates of the days of a year, and a tube bearing a ring of graduations that indicate the hours of a day. The tubes are axially... | 04/02/1991 |
| 4970793 | Method and apparatus for determining the position of stars An astronomical correlator for determining the position of the stars and method of using the same includes a transparent hollow globe having phosphorescent indicia. A horizon ring member and a latitude scale member can be utilized for defining the field o... | 11/20/1990 |
| 4956920 | Device for determining true bearing during daytime There is proposed an instrument for determining true bearing during daytime using the sun as a reference preferably for use together and as an attachment to known angular measuring instruments, such as geniometers, the instrument consisting of a shadow pr... | 09/18/1990 |
