US3594556A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Optical sight with electronic image stabilization
Assignee: United States Department of the Navy
•
Filing: 1969-01-08
•
Granted: 1971-07-20
•
Expires: 1989-01-08
Abstract
Abstract This invention is directed to an electrically augmented sight particularly adapted for use in aerial reconnaissance. The sight locates and fixes the position of an object viewed from the air. A wide-angle optical viewer is used to locate and hold the object in sight. An electron image motion-stabilizing system in the sight provides a stable view of the object. When the stable view is obtained, computer operation is initiated to make two consecutive measurements of the bearing angle of the target relative to the flight path of the aircraft. After the aircraft has traveled a predetermined distance, usually 1,000 yards, the second measurement is made. The bearing angle at the point of the second measurement is recorded and the computer utilizing the sine law calculates the range of the target at the recorded bearing.
Inventors
- 👤 William R Edwards
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 03:12
CPC Classifications
G; G02; G02B; G02B27/00; G02B27/64; G02B27/644; F; F41; F41G; F41G3/00; F41G3/22; G01; G01S; G01S11/00; G01S11/12; G06; G06G; G06G7/00; G06G7/48; G06G7/78
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 12
Claim 1
Independent Claim
122 words
An optical sight for identifying an object from an aircraft and measuring the range and bearing to the object from the aircraft comprising: a cabinet; an optical viewer mounted in said cabinet for use in locating an object; image stabilization means mounted in said cabinet and operable to produce a stabilized identifiable image of the object located and positioned with respect to said viewer such that the stabilized image may be observed through said viewer; means mounted in said cabinet for measuring the bearing to the object as sighted through said viewer from the aircraft; and means mounted in said cabinet and connected to said bearingmeasuring means for calculating the range to the object from the aircraft after two successive bearing measurements.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
122 words
An optical sight for identifying an object from an aircraft and measuring the range and bearing to the object from the aircraft comprising: a cabinet; an optical viewer mounted in said cabinet for use in locating an object; image stabilization means mounted in said cabinet and operable to produce a stabilized identifiable image of the object located and positioned with respect to said viewer such that the stabilized image may be observed through said viewer; means mounted in said cabinet for measuring the bearing to the object as sighted through said viewer from the aircraft; and means mounted in said cabinet and connected to said bearingmeasuring means for calculating the range to the object from the aircraft after two successive bearing measurements.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
18 words
An optical sight for identifying an object, as in claim 1, wherein said bearing-measuring means comprises a potentiometer
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
18 words
An optical sight for identifying an object, as in claim 1, wherein said bearing-measuring means comprises a gyroscope.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
32 words
An optical sight for identifying an object, as in claim 1, wherein said image stabilization means utilizes a closed-circuit television system for presenting an electronically enhanced stabilized image of the object identified.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
21 words
An optical sight for identifying an object, as in claim 4, further comprising a dichroic mirror mounted in said optical viewer
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
21 words
An optical sight for identifying an object, as in claim 5, wherein said optical viewer has a wide angle of view.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
36 words
An optical sight for identifying an object, as in claim 6, wherein said image stabilization means utilizes first and second gyroscopes for stabilizing the optical image of the object sighted about the x and y axis.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
18 words
An optical sight for identifying an object, as in claim 7, wherein said range-calculating means is a computer.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
135 words
An optical sight for identifying an object, as in claim 8, wherein said computer comprises: means connected to said bearing-measuring means for obtaining the sine of angle A, where A is a first bearing from the aircraft to the object sighted; means connect to said bearing means for obtaining the sine of angle B-A where B is a second bearing from the aircraft to the object sighted taken after the aircraft has flown a distance Z from the point at which the first bearing was taken; means for multiplying the sine of angle A by the distance Z; dividing means connected to said multiplying means and said means for obtaining the sine of the angle B-A to divide Z sin A by sin (B-A) to obtain the range of the object identified to the target.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
18 words
An optical sight for identifying an object as in claim 4, wherein said range-calculating means is a computer.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
136 words
An optical sight for identifying an object, as in claim 5, wherein said computer comprises means connected to said bearing-measuring means for obtaining the sine of angle A, where A is a first bearing from the aircraft to the object sighted; means connected to said bearing-measuring means for obtaining the sine of angle B-A, where B is a second bearing from the aircraft to the object sighted taken after the aircraft has flown a distance Z from the point at which the first bearing was taken; means for multiplying the sine of angle A by the distance Z; dividing means connected to said multiplying means and said means for obtaining the sine of the angle B-A to divide Z sin A by the sin (B-A) to obtain the range of the object identified to the target.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US2405051A
Cited
US2792989A
Cited
US2930894A
Cited
US3098933A
Cited
US2937559A
Cited
US2986966A
Cited
US3393320A
Cited
US3515881A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1974-07-19 | 1975-01-18 | 1975-07-20 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1978-07-19 | 1979-01-18 | 1979-07-20 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1982-07-19 | 1983-01-18 | 1983-07-20 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |