Method and apparatus for azimuth determination

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United States of America Patent

PATENT NO 8756821
APP PUB NO 20120198710A1
SERIAL NO

13141106

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Abstract

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A method of azimuth determination includes determination of local star time and latitude, where the azimuth determination unit is fixed at an object and oriented relative to the local horizon or the vertical; two or more celestial bodies with known coordinates are selected among visible celestial bodies and the line of sight is aimed at celestial bodies in turn, after that elevations over the horizon or zenith ranges to celestial bodies, horizontal angles between bodies are measured and measured times are recorded; and local star time, site latitude and azimuth are calculated. An apparatus for azimuth determination comprising an orientation unit to orient relative to the local horizon or the vertical line, an optical unit to aim at point light sources, a horizontal angle measurement unit, an elevation measurement unit, a time measurement unit and a computation unit, characterized in that orientation, aiming, angle and time measurement units are connected to a computation unit. The computation unit calculates azimuth, latitude and local star time based on horizontal and elevation angles of point light sources, such as celestial bodies, and measurement times.

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Patent Owner(s)

Patent OwnerAddress
TOPCON POSITIONING SYSTEMS INC7400 NATIONAL DRIVE LIVERMORE CA 94550

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Inventor(s)

Inventor Name Address # of filed Patents Total Citations
Lupovka, Valery Moscow, RU 1 4

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