Image motion compensation for a TV sensor system

• US 4,303,945 A
• Filed: 03/21/1977
• Issued: 12/01/1981
• Est. Priority Date: 03/21/1977
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Northrop Grumman Corporation
• Original Assignee: Westinghouse Electric Company LLC (Brookfield Asset Management Incorporated)
• Inventors: Fawcett, James M., Parrish, William F.
• Primary Examiner(s): Orsino, Jr., Joseph A.
• Application Number:
  US05/779,664
• Time in Patent Office: 1,716 Days
• Field of Search: 358/103, 358/109, 358/222, 358/223, 315/364, 356/28, 250/203 CT, 250/213 VT
• US Class Current: 348/208.14
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/005 using at least one opto-electrical conversion device

Abstract

An image motion compensation arrangement for a TV sensor system having an image intensifier section and a camera tube section, and which moves at a velocity V over a target area at an altitude H. An electron image of the viewed scene is accelerated between electrodes in the image intensifier section and a deflection coil is added to deflect this electron image. The coil is provided with a signal such that the deflection velocity is proportional to the ratio of V/H. With automatic light control provided, the deflection signal is also made a function of a control signal which controls a high voltage power supply to the accelerating electrodes.

Claims

1. Motion compensation apparatus for a TV sensor system adapted for movement relative to a target area to be viewed, comprising:

A. a TV sensor system including

(i) an imaging device section and

(ii) an image intensifier section coupled thereto;

B. said imaging device section being operable to receive an energy image of a scene being viewed to provide a video signal indicative thereof;

C. said image intensifier section including a photocathode which transforms an incident photon image of the viewed scene into an electron image;

D. first and second image intensifier high voltage electrodes;

E. a high voltage power supply connected to said electrodes for accelerating said electron image;

F. means for coupling said image to said imaging device section;

G. means for deriving a first signal indicative of the relative velocity, in a first predetermined direction, between said TV sensor system and said area to be viewed;

H. means for deriving a second signal indicative of the distance from said TV sensor system to said area to be viewed;

I. ramp generator means for providing a third signal whose amplitude periodically varies with time;

J. deflection coil means positioned relative to said image intensifier section to deflect said electron image in a first direction;

K. a control circuit operable to provide an output control signal to control the voltage of said power supply;

L. means for deriving a fourth signal proportional to the square root of said control signal, said fourth signal being indicative of the velocity of said accelerated electron image; and

M. means for combining said first, second, third and fourth signals for deriving a coil drive signal and applying said coil drive signal to said deflection coil means.

2. Motion compensation apparatus for a TV sensor system adapted for movement relative to a target area to be viewed, comprising:

A. a TV sensor system including

(i) a TV camera pick-up tube of the type wherein an electron beam scans a target member which receives an energy image of a scene being viewed to derive a video signal indicative thereof, and which tube exhibits a certain tube lag characteristic and

(ii) an image intensifier section coupled thereto;

B. said image intensifier section including a photocathode which transforms an incident photo image of the viewed scene into an electron image;

C. first and second image intensifier high voltage electrodes;

D. a high voltage power supply connected to said electrodes for accelerating said electron image;

E. means for coupling said image to said imaging device section;

F. means for deriving a first signal indicative of the relative velocity, in a first predetermined direction, between said TV sensor system and said area to be viewed;

G. means for deriving a second signal indicative of the distance from said TV sensor system to said area to be viewed;

H. ramp generator means for providing a third signal whose amplitude periodically varies with time and whose period is a multiple of the TV frame time;

I. deflection coil means positioned relative to said image intensifier section to deflect said electron image in a first direction;

J. means for combining said first, second and third signals for deriving a coil drive signal and applying said coil drive signal to said deflection coil means;

K. said video output signal being comprised of a series of TV frames; and

L. means for displaying only every n^th frame, where n>

1.

3. Motion compensation apparatus for a TV sensor system adapted for movement relative to a target area to be viewed, comprising:

A. a TV sensor system including

(i) an imaging device section and

(ii) an image intensifier section coupled thereto;

B. said imaging device section being operable to receive an energy image of a scene being viewed to provide a video signal indicative thereof;

C. said image intensifier section including a photocathode which transforms an incident photon image of the viewed scene into an electron image;

D. first and second image intensifier high voltage electrodes;

E. a high voltage power supply connected to said electrodes for accelerating said electron image;

F. means for coupling said image to said imaging device section;

G. means for deriving a first signal indicative of the relative velocity, in a first predetermined direction, between said TV sensor system and said area to be viewed;

H. means for deriving a second signal indicative of the distance from said TV sensor system to said area to be viewed;

I. ramp generator means for providing a third signal whose amplitude periodically varies with time;

J. deflection coil means positioned relative to said image intensifier section to deflect said electron image in a first direction;

K. means for deriving a fourth signal indicative of the velocity of said accelerated electron image;

L. means for dividing said first signal by said second signal and multiplying the result of said division by said third signal; and

M. means for multiplying the result of said multiplication by said fourth signal for deriving a coil drive signal; and

N. means for applying said coil drive signal to said deflection coil means.