Optical: systems and elements – Compound lens system – Telescope
Reexamination Certificate
2000-05-08
2001-11-13
Spyrou, Cassandra (Department: 2872)
Optical: systems and elements
Compound lens system
Telescope
C359S400000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06317262
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The following invention relates to a telescope having provision for injecting an auxiliary image into the focal plane of the telescope and more particularly for modifying a telescope in order to provide a projected image which may be superimposed over the image captured in the telescope's field of view.
In classical Newtonian and Cassegrainian telescopes, there is a shadow in the center of the telescope due to light which is vignetted or obstructed by the telescope's secondary mirror. This spot is a shadow that incoming light causes to fall on the primary mirror of the telescope. It therefore represents an unused portion of the aperture of the telescope.
In the past, systems have been proposed for injecting an image which can be a data image, such as a star map, into the field-of-view of the telescope. This image is injected into the telescope's field-of-view by beam-splitting mirrors, prisms and the like, and the image appears as one which is superimposed over the primary image gathered through the lens of the telescope.
The problem with such systems is that the beam-splitting mirrors or lenses reduce the intensity of the primary image and are complex to construct.
It would be very useful to be able to project data, such as the telescope's current position coordinates, as well as wide-angle graphics of the field-of-view at which the telescope is pointed, into the focal plane for viewing, in order to make the finding of other objects outside the field-of-view of the optical telescope easier.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention provides a telescope having a focal plane into which an image of a distant object is focused. It includes a primary mirror and a secondary mirror wherein the secondary mirror is positioned to cast a shadow on a portion of the primary mirror. A data image projecting device projects a data image from the portion of the primary mirror which lies in the shadow of the secondary mirror. The data image is focused in the focal plane of the telescope and is superimposed on the image of the distant object.
The data image projecting device may be located within an aperture formed in the primary mirror. In one form of the invention, an enclosure such as a tube extends through the aperture in the primary mirror. The tube has an electronic image screen at one end and a lens at an opposite end for projecting an image onto the secondary mirror.
The foregoing and other objectives, features, and advantages of the invention will be more readily understood upon consideration of the following detailed description of the invention, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.
REFERENCES:
patent: 5355224 (1994-10-01), Wallace
patent: 5579165 (1996-11-01), Michel et al.
patent: 5825480 (1998-10-01), Udegawa
patent: 5892617 (1999-04-01), Wallace
Chernoff Vilhauer McClung & Stenzel LLP
Hardin Optical Co.
Robinson Mark A.
Spyrou Cassandra
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