Image stabilization system
First Claim
1. An image stabilization system, comprising:
- an image detector;
a primary mirror configured to receive incoming image data representing an image and reflect the image data toward a secondary mirror;
a secondary mirror positioned to receive image data reflected by the primary mirror and reflect the image data toward a tertiary mirror;
a tertiary mirror positioned to receive image data reflected by the secondary mirror and reflect the image data toward the image detector;
a positioner configured to adjust position and orientation of at least one of the primary, secondary, or tertiary mirrors;
an electronic controller configured to control motions of the positioner to compensate in real time for vibration of a platform to which the system is mounted; and
a non-imaging detector configured to sense vibration and to transmit data corresponding to the vibration to the controller, the controller being further configured to respond by compensating in real time for the vibration by controlling the motions of the positioner;
wherein the primary mirror defines a first axis, and wherein the secondary mirror defines a second axis forming a nonzero intersecting angle with the first axis.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Imaging systems in which an undedicated optical component—i.e., a component that would be present in the system even in the absence of image stabilization—is configured to undergo corrective motion and/or other correction of image data, and thus to function as a stabilization component. The stabilization component may be a mirror and/or a lens, and a positioner may be provided to tilt, rotate, and/or otherwise precisely adjust the position and orientation of the stabilization component to improve image resolution, compensate for platform motions such as platform vibration, and/or improve image tracking. Because an undedicated optical component functions as the stabilization component, the stabilization occurs upstream, rather than downstream, from separation (if any) of the incoming image data into two or more beams. As a result, only one stabilization component is required regardless of whether the system is configured to split the image data into multiple data channels, and imaging systems as described herein therefore may be particularly well-suited for integration into a shared-aperture imaging system. In some embodiments, the coefficients of thermal expansion of selected system components—including optics, optical support structures, and/or positioners—may be substantially the same or closely matched.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. An image stabilization system, comprising:
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an image detector; a primary mirror configured to receive incoming image data representing an image and reflect the image data toward a secondary mirror; a secondary mirror positioned to receive image data reflected by the primary mirror and reflect the image data toward a tertiary mirror; a tertiary mirror positioned to receive image data reflected by the secondary mirror and reflect the image data toward the image detector; a positioner configured to adjust position and orientation of at least one of the primary, secondary, or tertiary mirrors; an electronic controller configured to control motions of the positioner to compensate in real time for vibration of a platform to which the system is mounted; and a non-imaging detector configured to sense vibration and to transmit data corresponding to the vibration to the controller, the controller being further configured to respond by compensating in real time for the vibration by controlling the motions of the positioner; wherein the primary mirror defines a first axis, and wherein the secondary mirror defines a second axis forming a nonzero intersecting angle with the first axis. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification