US3659494A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Fire control system for use in conjunction with electronic image motion stabilization systems
Assignee: Northrop Grumman Guidance and Electronics Co Inc
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Filing: 1969-07-31
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Granted: 1972-05-02
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Expires: 1989-07-31
Abstract
Abstract An image motion stabilization system for eliminating motion of an image being viewed from an unstable support. The image is viewed through an image converter tube. X and Y rate gyroscopes are mounted on the unstable support to sense motions of the support, and the outputs from the gyroscopes are applied to the deflection coils of the converter tube to compensate for movements of the support. Panning control means are provided to prevent image deflection in the converter tube to allow panning when the support is moved at a slow rate. Embodiments of the invention are disclosed wherein the image motion stabilization system is utilized with a camera or in a fire control system. In the fire control system embodiment a circuit is provided to sense when the weapon is correctly aimed, and to automatically fire the weapon in the correctly aimed position.
Inventors
- 👤 Richard W Philbrick
- 👤 Efraim R Arazi
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-03 19:31
CPC Classifications
G; G02; G02B; G02B27/00; G02B27/64; F; F41; F41G; F41G3/00; F41G3/12; F41G3/14; F41G3/16; F41G3/165; G03; G03B; G03B15/00
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 14
Claim 1
Independent Claim
169 words
A fire control system comprising: a. a weapon having a bore, said bore having a longitudinal axis; b. viewing means for viewing the image of said target; c. photosensitive imaging means fixed with respect to said weapon and movable therewith, for presenting an image of said target to said viewing means; d. indicating means for producing signals indicative of the degree of displacement of the longitudinal axis of said bore away from a given target axis; e. deflection means coupled to said indicating means for the image produced by said photosensitive imaging means in response to said signals indicative of said degree of displacement produced by said indicating means and in a direction tending to cancel a component of image motion caused by the aforesaid motions of said weapon; f. a firing device; and g. means responsive to said signals from said indicating means for actuating said firing device when said signals indicate the lack of displacement of the longitudinal axis of said bore from said given target axis.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
169 words
A fire control system comprising: a. a weapon having a bore, said bore having a longitudinal axis; b. viewing means for viewing the image of said target; c. photosensitive imaging means fixed with respect to said weapon and movable therewith, for presenting an image of said target to said viewing means; d. indicating means for producing signals indicative of the degree of displacement of the longitudinal axis of said bore away from a given target axis; e. deflection means coupled to said indicating means for the image produced by said photosensitive imaging means in response to said signals indicative of said degree of displacement produced by said indicating means and in a direction tending to cancel a component of image motion caused by the aforesaid motions of said weapon; f. a firing device; and g. means responsive to said signals from said indicating means for actuating said firing device when said signals indicate the lack of displacement of the longitudinal axis of said bore from said given target axis.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
44 words
Apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein said fire control system includes means for allowing panning of said weapon at a low frequency without said deflection means deflecting the image produced by said photosensitive image means to compensate for the low frequency panning.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
142 words
A fire control system comprising: a. a movable weapon which may be aligned with a target along a given target axis; b. photosensitive target imaging means fixed with respect to said movable weapon and movable therewith; c. sensor means for producing signals indicative of the degree of displacement of said weapon from said given target; d. deflection means responsive to the production of said indications by said sensor means for deflecting the image produced by said photosensitive imaging means in a direction tending to cancel image motion otherwise caused by motions of said movable weapon away from said given target axis; e. a firing device for firing said weapon; and f. actuating means responsive to said signals from said sensor means for actuating said firing device when said signals indicate the lack of displacement of said weapon from said given target axis.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
142 words
A fire control system comprising: a. a movable weapon which may be aligned with a target along a given target axis; b. photosensitive target imaging means fixed with respect to said movable weapon and movable therewith; c. sensor means for producing signals indicative of the degree of displacement of said weapon from said given target; d. deflection means responsive to the production of said indications by said sensor means for deflecting the image produced by said photosensitive imaging means in a direction tending to cancel image motion otherwise caused by motions of said movable weapon away from said given target axis; e. a firing device for firing said weapon; and f. actuating means responsive to said signals from said sensor means for actuating said firing device when said signals indicate the lack of displacement of said weapon from said given target axis.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
36 words
The combination as set forth in claim 3 wherein said sensor means includes an electrical transducer and said deflection means includes means for producing an electrical field having an intensity proportional to said degree of displacement.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
25 words
The combination as set forth in claim 4 wherein said sensor means produces indications of angular displacement of said weapon from said given target axis.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
17 words
The combination as set forth in claim 4 wherein said target imaging means includes an image intensifier.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
55 words
The combination as set forth in claim 4 further including trigger means having a primed state and an unprimed state; means coupled to said trigger means and responsive to the manifestation of said unprimed state by said trigger means for inhibiting said actuating means as long as said trigger means remains in said unprimed state.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
20 words
The combination as set forth in claim 7 wherein said primed state is manifested as a predetermined minimum trigger pressure.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
34 words
The combination as set forth in claim 4 wherein inhibit means are provided for inhibiting said actuating means as long as said movable weapon is moving at a velocity greater than a predetermined velocity.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
40 words
The combination as set forth in claim 3 wherein said sensor means produces said indications having a frequency of occurrence between N and 100 cycles per second, where N may be any frequency between one and five cycles per second.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
41 words
The combination as set forth in claim 10 further including means for extending the sensing range of said sensor means to produce indications having frequencies below 100 cycles per second, including indications of displacement of zero to N cycles per second.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
45 words
Apparatus as set forth in claim 3 wherein said fire control system includes means for allowing panning of said weapon at a low frequency within said deflection means deflecting the image produced by said photosensitive target imaging means to compensate for the low frequency panning.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1975-05-02 | 1975-11-01 | 1976-05-02 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1979-05-02 | 1979-11-01 | 1980-05-02 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1983-05-02 | 1983-11-01 | 1984-05-02 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |