MECHANICAL IMAGE MOTION STABILIZER WITH ROTATION RATE COMPARISON SYSTEM

• US 3,591,250 A
• Filed: 04/08/1968
• Issued: 07/06/1971
• Est. Priority Date: 04/08/1968
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Feinstein Herbert William, Morse Edward Paul
• Original Assignee: Feinstein Herbert William, Morse Edward Paul
• Inventors: FEINSTEIN HERBERT WILLIAM, MORSE EDWARD PAUL
• Application Number:
  US04/719,658
• Time in Patent Office: 1,184 Days
• US Class Current: 359/556
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 27/644 compensating for large deviations, e.g. maintaining a fixed line of sight while a vehicle on which the system is mounted changes course

Abstract

Apparatus is disclosed for stabilizing image motion in optical instruments due to instrument motions normal to the line of sight by driving reflection means in the optical path of the instrument to compensate for image motion normal to the line of sight in response to rotations of the instrument about axes normal to the line of sight.

Claims

2. Apparatus as set forth in claim 1 further including mode selector means for enabling the instrument to be operated in a pan mode without compensation for image motion in the optical instrument due to instrument rotation below a predetermined rate of rotation including first means, interposed between said means for producing a third electrical signal and said means for adjusting the position of said first radiation reflection means, for preventing the passage of electrical signals indicative of instrument rotation below said predetermined rate to said means for adjusting the position of said first radiation reflection means, and second means, interposed between said means for producing a sixth electrical signal and said means for adjusting the position of said second radiation reflection means, for preventing the passage of electrical signals indicative of instrument rotations below a predetermined rate to said means for adjusting the position of said second radiation reflection means,

3. Apparatus as set forth in claim 2 wherein said means for sensing the rate of rotation of said instrument about said first axis includes a rate gyro responsive to rotation about said first axis, and said means for sensing the rate of rotation of said instrument about said second axis includes a rate gyro responsive to rotation about said second axis.

4. Apparatus as set forth in claim 3 further including an objEctive lens positioned at the forward portion of said optic axis between the viewed object and said image motion stabilizer apparatus.

5. Apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein said means for sensing the rate of rotation of said instrument about said first axis includes a rate gyro responsive to rotation about said first axis, and said means for sensing the rate of rotation of said instrument about said second axis includes a rate gyro responsive to rotation about said second axis.

6. Apparatus as set forth in claim 1 further including an objective lens positioned at the forward portion of said optic axis between the viewed object and said image motion stabilizer apparatus.