AUTOMATIC IMAGE MOTION STABILIZATION SYSTEM

• US 3,577,205 A
• Filed: 11/19/1965
• Issued: 05/04/1971
• Est. Priority Date: 11/19/1965
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Gilbert L. Hobrough
• Original Assignee: Gilbert L. Hobrough
• Inventors: Hobrough, Gilbert L.
• Application Number:
  US04/508,779
• Time in Patent Office: 1,992 Days
• US Class Current: 250/214.0VT
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 27/646 compensating for small deviations, e.g. due to vibration or shake movement of one or more optical elements for control of motion blur in cameras, projectors or printers G03B2205/0007; image stabilisation in cameras peculiar to the presence or use of an electronic image sensor H04N23/68
• CPC Class Codes: H01J 31/503 with an electromagnetic electron-optic system H01J31/52 - H01J31/56 take precedence

Abstract

An image motion stabilization system for use with telescopes, cameras, and the like. An inner casing containing an objective lens and an image converter is mounted within an outer support casing so as to be movable with respect thereto. Displacement of the outer casing with respect to the inner casing caused by vibration or movement produces a corresponding displacement of the electron stream in the image converter such that a stable image of a scene viewed by the objective lens will be presented to an ocular in the outer casing.

Claims

1. An image motion stabilization system comprising:

I. an inner structure, said inner structure including;

a. optical image forming means;

b. photoemissive means for receiving said optical image and generating an electron image representative of said optical image;

c. a luminescent surface for receiving said electron image and reconverting said electron image back into an optical image; and

d. deflection means for deflecting the electron image produced by said photoemissive means;

II. an outer structure having means associated and movable therewith for receiving the image produced by said luminescent surface;

III. means for mounting said inner structure within said outer structure and for allowing said outer structure to be readily angularly displaced with respect to said inner structure; and

IV. variable impedance means coupled between said inner and outer structures and responsive to displacement of said outer structure with respect to said inner structure for controlling said deflection means to deflect said electron image in a direction and to an extent necessary to substantially eliminate image motion which would otherwise be produced at the image receiving means of said outer structure due to said displacement.

2. An image motion stabilization system as recited in claim 1 wherein said mounting means comprises gimbal means and wherein said variable impedance means comprises potentiometer means having a resistance element affixed to said outer structure and a movable brush element affixed to said gimbal.

3. An image motion stabilization system as recited in claim 1 wherein said mounting means mounts said inner structure within said outer structure at the center of gravity of said inner structure.

4. An image motion stabilization system as recited in claim 1 wherein at least one mechanical low pass filter is coupled between said inner and outer structures.

5. An image motion stabilization system as recited in claim 1 wherein said deflection means comprises first and second deflection coil means for deflecting said electron image along first and second directional lines, respectively;

and wherein said variable impedance means comprises first and second potentiometer means responsive to displacement of said outer structure with respect to said inner structure along said first and second directional lines, respectively, for controlling said first and second deflection coil means, respectively.