General line of sight stabilization system
First Claim
1. A compact line of sight stabilization system for use with an imaging system located about an unstable carrier platform, said stabilization system comprising:
- at least two mirrors, each of said mirrors being mounted to a fixed platform by aiming means and in a plane substantially parallel to a target to provide substantially orthogonal observation of a ground position;
said aiming means allowing independent rotation of said mirrors about at least one of the axes in the plane of said mirrors;
at least one of said mirrors being mounted by aiming means allowing rotation about at least two of said axes;
a hardware control means for directing said aiming means in response to measurements taken from three orthogonally positioned gyrometers that measure a rotation rate of the unstable carrier platform about the at least two of said axes;
wherein the aiming means occurs without reorientation of the fixed platform relative to the unstable carrier platform; and
wherein movement of the at least one of said mirrors occurs in a substantially continuous pattern that predicatively mirrors motion of and approximately angular velocities and accelerations of the unstable carrier platform;
said stabilization system being mounted in a line of sight of said imaging system; and
said stabilization system providing at least one of pitch, row, yaw, and forward motion compensation corrections while maintaining consistent image orientation, for said imaging system.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A line of sight stabilization system using two mirrors pivotally mounted to a fixed platform that can be used with existing imaging systems to provide pitch, roll, and yaw compensation while maintaining image orientation. By deflecting only the photons, the inventive system avoids the need to stabilize the entire imaging sensor and optics system. The only mass to move is that of the two imaging system mirrors. By monitoring attitude changes via an inertial measurement system, proceeding platform positions can be estimated for subsequent image acquisitions, and efficient mirror positioning can provide optimal image orientation and stabilization. This approach requires small motors with low torque, providing a less expensive, lightweight, and small image orientation and stabilization system.
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Citations
18 Claims
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1. A compact line of sight stabilization system for use with an imaging system located about an unstable carrier platform, said stabilization system comprising:
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at least two mirrors, each of said mirrors being mounted to a fixed platform by aiming means and in a plane substantially parallel to a target to provide substantially orthogonal observation of a ground position; said aiming means allowing independent rotation of said mirrors about at least one of the axes in the plane of said mirrors; at least one of said mirrors being mounted by aiming means allowing rotation about at least two of said axes; a hardware control means for directing said aiming means in response to measurements taken from three orthogonally positioned gyrometers that measure a rotation rate of the unstable carrier platform about the at least two of said axes;
wherein the aiming means occurs without reorientation of the fixed platform relative to the unstable carrier platform; and
wherein movement of the at least one of said mirrors occurs in a substantially continuous pattern that predicatively mirrors motion of and approximately angular velocities and accelerations of the unstable carrier platform;said stabilization system being mounted in a line of sight of said imaging system; and said stabilization system providing at least one of pitch, row, yaw, and forward motion compensation corrections while maintaining consistent image orientation, for said imaging system. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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Specification