Pulse modulated automatic light control utilizing gated image intensifier

• US 4,872,057 A
• Filed: 01/03/1989
• Issued: 10/03/1989
• Est. Priority Date: 11/21/1986
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Sperry Marine, Inc. (Northrop Grumman Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Sperry Marine, Inc. (Northrop Grumman Corporation)
• Inventors: Woolfolk, Thomas M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Lev, Robert
• Application Number:
  US07/293,557
• Time in Patent Office: 273 Days
• Field of Search: 358/213.19, 358/211, 358/228, 372/29, 372/43-50, 372/38
• US Class Current: 348/217.1
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/75 by influencing optical camera components

Abstract

Automatic light control apparatus for a television camera system utilizing a gated image intensifier wherein a pair of laser diodes illuminate, respectively, a pair of avalanche photodiodes to apply switching voltages to the image intensifier. Low-level gating signals are utilized to activate the laser diodes. The laser diodes are gated on and off in complementary fashion whereby the image intensifier is turned on for pulse intervals inversely proportional to the brightness of the scene being televised.

Claims

1. Light control apparatus for a television camera comprising:

image intensifier means for amplifying light from a scene incident to said camera;

means for providing a brightness signal in accordance with brightness levels of said light from said scene;

pulse modulator means responsive to said brightness signal for generating pulses having durations in accordance with said brightness signal;

gating means responsive to said pulses for providing first and second gating pulses, said first gating pulses having pulse durations in accordance with said durations of said pulses, said second gating pulses provided at expirations of said durations of said first gating pulses; and

control means responsive to said first and second gating pulses for providing on and off voltages to respectively turn said image intensifier means on and off.

2. The light control apparatus of claim 1 wherein said control means includes;

means for providing supply voltages; and

switch means responsive to said first gating pulses for coupling said on voltages from said supply means to said image intensifier means for time intervals equal to said pulse durations of said first gating pulses and responsive to second gating pulses for coupling said off voltages from said supply means to said image intensifier means, said off voltages remaining applied to said image intensifier means until a pulse of said first gating pulses is coupled to said switch means.

3. The light control apparatus of claim 1 wherein said first and second gating pulses are complementary, said second gating pulses being at a low level when said first gating pulses are at a high level and said second gating pulses being at a high level when said first gating pulse are at a low level, and wherein said control means includes:

means for providing supply voltages; and

switch means constructed and arranged for providing voltages from said supply means to said image intensifier means that turn-on said image intensifier means when said first and second gating pulses are at a first permutation of high and low levels and for providing voltages to said image intensifier means that turn-off said image intensifier means when said first and second gating pulses are at a second permutation of high and low levels.