Inertially stabilized optical system for missiles

Claim 1

In an optical system for ascertaining the presence of a source of radiant energy, the combination of: an energy-collection unit having a predetermined field of view for intercepting energy radiated from a source within said field of view and for bringing such intercepted energy to a focal point, all of the focal points representing different locations of energy-emitting sources within said field of view defining a portion of the surface of a sphere, and a detector of radiant energy arranged for movement relative to said energy-collection unit, said detector being solely pivotable about a point coinciding with the center of the sphere a portion of the surface of which is defined by all said focal points, with said detector lying on such surface, torqueing means for causing said detector to scan the portion of spherical surface defined by all said focal points representing different locations of energy-emitting sources within said field of view, gyro means for gyroscopically stabilizing said detector and tending to preclude movement thereof when acted upon by inertial forces, any scan action of the detector occurring against the action of said gyro means and upon termination of scan action the gyro means acting to hold the detector in the position it then occupies, whereby pivotal movement of said detector relative to said energy-collection unit will cause said detector to tRace a path lying on the surface of said sphere, with any instantaneous position of said detector essentially coinciding with at least one of the points to which the energy intercepted by said unit may be focused, and wherein when said detector is fixed in inertial space on a radiant energy source similarly fixed in space said radiant energy-collection unit can roll through an appreciable angle without the radiant energy source image leaving the detector.