Non-circular continuous variable aperture or shutter for infrared cameras
First Claim
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1. A continuous variable aperture for an infra-red camera, comprising:
- a pair of positionable blade members for defining an aperture, said aperture being of an area that is selectively adjustable in size and, when said aperture is open, is of a generally rectangular shape, the size of said area being a function of the position of said positionable blade members relative to one another; and
an actuator for selectively positioning said positionable blade members relative to one another to any position within a continuum of positions to selectively adjust said area of said adjustable aperture,wherein said generally rectangular shape of said aperture further comprises a rectangle to define a rectangular aperture; and
further comprising;
a plurality of additional positionable curved blade members for rounding the corners of said rectangular aperture, irrespective of the size of said aperture, to produce a generally race track shaped aperture, said additional positionable curved blade members including a curved edge; and
wherein said actuator controls positioning said plurality of additional curved blade members concurrently in synchronism with the positioning of said pair of positionable blade members.
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Abstract
A continuous variable non-circular aperture for an infra-red camera is formed by a plurality of positionable metal blades arranged to define there between an aperture of non-circular shape. A rotatable actuator plate positions the blades. Actuator rotation in one direction moves the metal blades to increase the size of the non-circular aperture without changing the non-circular shape of the aperture and vice-versa when the actuator plate is rotated in the opposite direction also maintaining the non-circular aperture shape. A preferred non-circular shape for a continuous variable aperture now possible is a rectangle; another is configured as a racetrack.
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Citations
17 Claims
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1. A continuous variable aperture for an infra-red camera, comprising:
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a pair of positionable blade members for defining an aperture, said aperture being of an area that is selectively adjustable in size and, when said aperture is open, is of a generally rectangular shape, the size of said area being a function of the position of said positionable blade members relative to one another; and an actuator for selectively positioning said positionable blade members relative to one another to any position within a continuum of positions to selectively adjust said area of said adjustable aperture, wherein said generally rectangular shape of said aperture further comprises a rectangle to define a rectangular aperture; and
further comprising;a plurality of additional positionable curved blade members for rounding the corners of said rectangular aperture, irrespective of the size of said aperture, to produce a generally race track shaped aperture, said additional positionable curved blade members including a curved edge; and wherein said actuator controls positioning said plurality of additional curved blade members concurrently in synchronism with the positioning of said pair of positionable blade members. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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Specification