APPARATUS FOR AUTOMATIC TRACKING OF PUPIL OF EYE

• US 3,806,725 A
• Filed: 01/15/1973
• Issued: 04/23/1974
• Est. Priority Date: 01/18/1972
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Ludwig Leitz
• Original Assignee: Ludwig Leitz
• Inventors: Leitz, Ludwig
• Primary Examiner(s): Borchelt, Archie R.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Grigsby, T. N.
• Application Number:
  US05/323,343
• Time in Patent Office: 463 Days
• Field of Search: 250/201,203,221
• US Class Current: 250/203.1
• CPC Class Codes: F41G 3/225 Helmet sighting systems

Abstract

An improved apparatus for the automatic tracking of the pupil of an optical device upon a relative lateral movement between the pupil of an observer'"'"''"'"'s eye and the pupil of the optical device, wherein a sighting mechanism (23,24) is effective between the observer (22) and the optical device (20) and operates on the basis of photoelectric scanning, the electrical output signals of the sighting mechanism (23) supply a servo drive system (25) which is connected after the sighting mechanism for tracking the pupil (21) of the optical device (20).

Claims

1. In an apparatus for the automatic tracking of the pupil of an optical device upon the relative movement between the pupil of an observer'"'"''"'"'s eye and said pupil of the optical device the improvement comprising:

a. the optical device having a pupil and said observer establishing a first line of sight;

b. means for sighting, fixedly joined to said optical device and to the head of said observer establishing a second line of sight;

c. means producing a beam of light between said means fixedly joined and operating on the basis of photoelectric scanning to produce position defining output signals; and

d. a servo drive system activated by said output signals for tracking said pupil of the optical device in alignment with said second line of sight.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said means for sighting is a collimator.

3. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein said collimator is an autocollimator.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said means for sighting is a grating functioning as an optical correlator and photoelectric receiver means actuated by said grating to produce said position defining output signals.