Viewing and display apparatus position determination algorithms

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTIONS FIG.
1 shows a celestial object location device (COL device) 10 is being used by a user 12 to locate a celestial object 14.
The COL device 10 has housing 16 adapted to be hand-held.
Other embodiments of the device may or may not be hand-held.
Non-limiting examples of such embodiments naturally include telescopes, binoculars, eyepieces, headpieces, and any means for viewing objects.
The housing 16 of the COL device 10 has a first view port 18 that is held proximate to the user 12 and a second view port 20 proximate to the celestial object 14.
During use, the view ports 18 and 20 are aligned between the user 12 and the celestial object 14 and the COL device 10 is adapted such that the user views the celestial object through the COL device along a viewing axis 34.
Operation of the system is accomplished through one or more microprocessors operably connected to the sensors, a database, and user input mechanisms, and outputs such as a side panel display, an aperture stop display, images superimposed on the field of view, images communicated to a remote display, or audio segments played on a speaker or headphone or other suitable output means.
The microprocessor may provide images or audio contents containing identifying data or locating instructions (as described in our U.
S.
Pat.
No.
6,366,212, which is hereby incorporated by reference) to the output means.
FIG.
2 illustrates the arrangement of the position sensor arrays in relation to the viewing axis of the celestial object location device.
A magnetic field sensor array 21 and a gravitational sensor array 22 are mounted on the housing 16, in fixed relationship to the viewing axis 34.
The magnetic field sensor array 21 includes one magnetic sensor for each axis associated with a coordinate system defined relative to the device and its viewing axis.
(This coordinate system is defined by the viewing axis, a second axis perpendicular to the viewing axis and initially oriented upward relative to the ground when in use, and a third axis perpendicular to the first and second axes (initially parallel to the ground)