MUMBAI, India, Sept. 14 -- Intellectual Property India has published a patent application (202641079875 A) filed by Vipin A M on June 29, 2026, for A Compact Equatorial Mount For Astronomical Tracking And Astrophotography.
Inventor includes Vipin A M.
The application for the patent was published on September 11, 2026, under issue no. 37/2026.
Abstract: The present invention relates to the field of astronomical instrumentation and, more particularly, to an improved equatorial mount system configured to support and rotate an astronomical payload comprising one or more cameras, telescopes, lenses, and related optical devices about a right ascension (RA) axis at one or more selectable tracking rates for astronomical observation and astrophotography. The mount utilizes an electric motor or a bearing assembly that functions as the mount housing and as a primary load-bearing member supporting a payload assembly configured to rotate about the right ascension (RA) axis. The mount housing is further supported by an elevation adjustment mechanism comprising a screw jack mechanism and a pivotable support stand. The screw jack mechanism provides structural support for the mount housing and facilitates precise declination axis adjustment during polar alignment, thereby eliminating the need for a conventional tripod and equatorial wedge. The mount is configured such that the centre of gravity is substantially aligned with the screw jack mechanism to facilitate substantially vertical load transfer. The resulting load path improves structural stability and reduces susceptibility to wind-induced vibrations during tracking operations. The mount is configured to enable smartphone-assisted and/or polar-scope-assisted polar alignment, wherein the smartphone or polar scope may remain mounted following the initial polar alignment to allow continuous monitoring, verification, and adjustment of the polar alignment during tracking operations. In an alternative embodiment, the mount further comprises an azimuth adjustment mechanism including a rotating platform configured to facilitate precise azimuth alignment. The disclosed equatorial mount provides a compact, portable, scalable, and cost-effective tracking system suitable for astronomical observation and long-exposure astrophotography.
Disclaimer: Curated by HT Syndication.
