Patents Assigned to James R. Cook
  • Patent number: 4764881
    Abstract: A telescope is supported by an altazimuth mount driven by altitude and azimuth stepper motors. The mount is initially oriented by pointing the telescope at a reference location in the sky such as a known star and inputting its coordinates to a microprocessor-based control system. The telescope is then pointed at a target location such as a second known star and its coordinates are inputted. The microprocessor then executes a stored program that allows it to calculate the zenith coordinates (overhead point) from the coordinates of the reference and target locations, the angles the stepper motors traveled between the two pointings of the telescope, and the elapsed time between the pointings. The observer can then input the coordinates of any selected location and the telescope will automatically point at that selected location so that it can be viewed. The microprocessor also periodically re-positions the telescope to track the selected location and thereby compensate for the earth's rotation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 10, 1986
    Date of Patent: August 16, 1988
    Assignee: James R. Cook
    Inventor: Gilbert H. Gagnon