Image motion compensation means for camera apparatus

Claim 2

In an aerial photography system including an aerial camera apparatus having image motion compensation means including a film drive means the operation of which may be selectively controlled, an improved image motion compensation means comprising: an optical V/H meter including as an operative component thereof an object scanning mirror apparatus disposed along the optical axis thereof, said mirror being driven by a mirror drive means the operational frequency of which is selective, said V/H meter being of the type that causes the image of a moving object to appear to remain stationary when the angular speed of said scanning mirror has a predetermined relationship to the ratio of the relative speed V, of the meter with respect to the object, and the distance H therebetween; and control means for simultaneously varying the input signals to said mirror drive means and said film drive means in accordance with a predetermined relationship so as to provide accurate image motion compensation for said camera means at any time that said V/H meter is correctly adjusted.

Claim 3

In an aerial photography system as recited in claim 1 wherein said control means includes a pair of potentiometers for respectively controlling the inputs signals to said mirror drive means and said film drive means, the wipers of said potentiometers being ganged together and driven in response to a single control so as to produce proportional changes in the power supplied to said mirror drive means and said camera drive means.

Claim 4

In an aerial photography system as recited in claim 1 wherein said control means includes a variable power supply means the output of which is directly coupled to energize one of said drive means and is coupled through a signal divider means to energize the other of said drive means.

Claim 5

In a photography system having means for compensating for relative motion between the camera and a photographic object, an improved image motion compensation means comprising: a variable control means for developing a first drive signal and a second drive signal proportional thereto; an optical means including, a viewing window, a rotatably mounted mirror for reflecting an image of the relatively moving object into said viewing window, and a mirror drive means responsive to said first drive signal and operative to rotate said mirror at a rate which causes said image to appear stationary when said first drive signal is proportional to the ratio of the velocity of relative movement and the distance betweEn said system and the object; and a camera including, an exposure aperture, and a film drive means responsive to said second drive signal and operative to move a photographic film relative to said exposure aperture at a motion compensated speed.

Claim 6

In a photography system having means for compensating for relative motion between the camera and a photographic object, an improved image motion compensation means comprising: a variable control means for developing a first drive signal and a second drive signal proportional thereto; an optical means including, a viewing window, a rotatably mounted mirror for reflecting an image of the relatively moving object into said viewing window, and a mirror drive means responsive to said first drive signal and operative to rotate said mirror at a rate which causes said image to appear stationary when said first drive signal is proportional to the ratio of the velocity of relative movement and the distance betweEn said system and the object; and a camera including, an exposure aperture, and a film drive means responsive to said second drive signal and operative to move a photographic film relative to said exposure aperture at a motion compensated speed.

Claim 7

In a photography system as recited in claim 4 wherein said variable control means includes a pair of potentiometers for respectively developing said first and second drive signals, the wipers of said potentiometers being ganged together to provide a proportional change in said second drive signal in response to a change in said first drive signal.

Claim 8

In a photography system as recited in claim 4 wherein said mirror drive means includes, an electric motor, and means for maintaining the operational speed of said motor constant for a particular setting of said variable control means.

Claim 9

In a photography system as recited in claim 4 wherein said film drive means includes, an electric motor, and means for maintaining the operational speed of said motor constant for a particular setting of said variable control means.

Claim 10

In a photography system as recited in claim 4 wherein said variable control means includes an adjustable power supply means for developing one of said drive signals and a signal divider responsive to said one drive signal and operative to develop the other of said drive signals.

Claim 11

An image motion compensation means for a photography system designed to photograph objects moving relative thereto and having a film drive means for moving a photographic film past an exposure aperture at a motion compensated speed, comprising: a variable control means for developing a first drive signal and a second drive signal proportionally related thereto, said film drive means being responsive to said second drive signal; and an optical means for developing an image of said object and including a scanning means responsive to said first drive signal and operative to scan said photographic object in a direction parallel to the direction of relative movement, said image appearing stationary when said first drive signal has a predetermined relationship to the ratio between the speed of said system relative to said object and the distance therebetween.

Claim 12

An image motion compensation means for a photography system designed to photograph objects moving relative thereto and having a film drive means for moving a photographic film past an exposure aperture at a motion compensated speed, comprising: a variable control means for developing a first drive signal and a second drive signal proportionally related thereto, said film drive means being responsive to said second drive signal; and an optical means for developing an image of said object and including a scanning means responsive to said first drive signal and operative to scan said photographic object in a direction parallel to the direction of relative movement, said image appearing stationary when said first drive signal has a predetermined relationship to the ratio between the speed of said system relative to said object and the distance therebetween.

Claim 13

An image motion compensation means as recited in claim 9 wherein said scanning means includes a reflector which is caused to rotate at a selected angular velocity omega about an axis transverse to said direction of relative movement.

Claim 14

An image motion compensation means as recited in claim 10 wherein said angular velocity omega may be expressed as omega (V/2H) cos2 theta where V is the relative velocity between said system and said object, H is the distance between said system and said object, and theta is an instantaneous viewing angle measured from a normal to said direction of relative movement.

Claim 15

An image motion compensation means for a photography system as recited in claim 9 wherein said scanning means includes a rotatable mirror and a mirror drive means responsive to said first drive signal and operative to rotate said mirror at an angular velocity omega about an axis transverse to said direction of movement, said angular velocity omega being expressed as omega (V/2H) cos2 theta where V is the relative velocity between said system and said object, H is the separation between said system and said object, and theta is an instantaneous viewing angle measured from a normal to said direction of relative movement.

Claim 16

An image motion compensation means for a photography system as recited in claim 12 wherein said mirror drive means includes an electric motor and means for maintaining the operational speed of said motor constant for a particular setting of said variable control means

Claim 17

In a photography system having means for compensating for relative motion between a camera and an image of an object being photographed, an improved motion compensating means comprising: an optical means including, a viewing window defining an optical axis, a rotatably mounted mirror for reflecting the image of the relatively moving object along said optical axis, and a mirror drive means responsive to a first drive signal for angularly moving said mirror at a rate to maintain the image stationary along said optical axis; control means responsive to an input commensurate with the ratio of the relative lateral velocity of said camera with respect to said object and the distance between said camera and said object, and operative to develop said first drive signal commensurate with said ratio, and a second drive signal which is proportional to said first drive signal; and a camera including a film drive means responsive to said second drive signal and operative to move the film to compensate for the relative motion between the camera and the object being photographed.

Claim 18

In a photography system having means for compensating for relative motion between a camera and an image of an object being photographed, an improved motion compensating means comprising: an optical means including, a viewing window defining an optical axis, a rotatably mounted mirror for reflecting the image of the relatively moving object along said optical axis, and a mirror drive means responsive to a first drive signal for angularly moving said mirror at a rate to maintain the image stationary along said optical axis; control means responsive to an input commensurate with the ratio of the relative lateral velocity of said camera with respect to said object and the distance between said camera and said object, and operative to develop said first drive signal commensurate with said ratio, and a second drive signal which is proportional to said first drive signal; and a camera including a film drive means responsive to said second drive signal and operative to move the film to compensate for the relative motion between the camera and the object being photographed.