General line of sight stabilization system
First Claim
1. A compact line of sight stabilization system for use with an imaging system located about an unstable carrier platform, said stabilization system comprising at least two mirrors, each of said mirrors being mounted to a fixed platform by aiming means;
- said aiming means allowing independent rotation of said mirrors about at least one of the axes in the plane of said mirrors;
at least one of said mirrors being mounted by aiming means allowing rotation about at least two of said axes;
a hardware control means for directing said aiming means;
said stabilization system being mounted in the line of sight of said imaging system;
said stabilization system providing at least one of pitch, roll, yaw, and forward motion compensation corrections while maintaining consistent image orientation, for said imaging system.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A line of sight stabilization system using two mirrors pivotally mounted to a fixed platform that can be used with existing imaging systems to provide pitch, roll, and yaw compensation while maintaining image orientation. By deflecting only the photons, the inventive system avoids the need to stabilize the entire imaging sensor and optics system. The only mass to move is that of the two imaging system mirrors. By monitoring attitude changes via an inertial measurement system, proceeding platform positions can be estimated for subsequent image acquisitions, and efficient mirror positioning can provide optimal image orientation and stabilization. This approach requires small motors with low torque, providing a less expensive, lightweight, and small image orientation and stabilization system.
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Citations
27 Claims
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1. A compact line of sight stabilization system for use with an imaging system located about an unstable carrier platform, said stabilization system comprising
at least two mirrors, each of said mirrors being mounted to a fixed platform by aiming means; -
said aiming means allowing independent rotation of said mirrors about at least one of the axes in the plane of said mirrors;
at least one of said mirrors being mounted by aiming means allowing rotation about at least two of said axes;
a hardware control means for directing said aiming means;
said stabilization system being mounted in the line of sight of said imaging system;
said stabilization system providing at least one of pitch, roll, yaw, and forward motion compensation corrections while maintaining consistent image orientation, for said imaging system. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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- 20. Hardware control means for a compact line of sight stabilization system, said stabilization system comprising at least two mirrors in the line of sight of an imaging system for use on a carrier platform capable of being unstable, said mirrors capable of being aimed, said hardware control means receiving movement data from at least one of pitch rate, roll rate, yaw rate, and forward motion rate sensors, said hardware control means aiming said mirrors as required providing at least one of pitch, roll, yaw, and forward motion compensation.
Specification