US3761714A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Stabilized optical tracking device
Assignee: United States Department of the Army
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Filing: 1972-05-16
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Granted: 1973-09-25
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Expires: 1992-05-16
Abstract
Abstract A stabilized optical tracking device is disclosed as capable of assisting an airborne observer in tracking a ground target through highly accurate optical sighting means. A unique feature of the inventive device is the integration into a single optical system of a variety of modular subsystems whereby extreme flexibility in usage is provided. The invention described herein may be manufactured, used and licensed by or for the Government for governmental purposes without the payment to us of any royalty thereon.
Inventors
- 👤 P Fernandez
- 👤 S Rosin
- 👤 W Scidmore
- 👤 G Sigman
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-04 09:19
CPC Classifications
G; G02; G02B; G02B27/00; G02B27/64; G02B27/644
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 15
Claim 1
Independent Claim
237 words
A stabilized optical tracking device for permitting an airborne observer to view and track a ground target, said device comprising the following plurality of elements constructed and arranged to provide an optical path therethrough: a scanning head comprising a 90* bend visual elevation prism and a 90* bend visual azimuth prism, said elevation prism being adapted to receive target light and to rotate about a horizontal axis perpendicular to the line of sight and said azimuth prism being adapted to transmit the optical path from said elevation prism and to rotate about a vertical axis perpendicular to the line of sight when pointing directly ahead, means for folding the optical path from the azimuth prism of said scanning head through an objective to a reticle block, said objective being adjustable to bring light rays in the optical path to a focus at said reticle block, a first 90* bend prism followed by a first relay lens for returning the optical path from said reticle block in a directiOn parallel to its folded path through a derotator prism, said derotator prism being servo driven and arranged and constructed to maintain an erect image as the scanning head rotates, a second 90* bend prism for directing the optical path from said derotator prism downward through a pair of windows, and a third 90* bend prism for directing the optical path from said windows through an eyepiece for visual viewing.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
237 words
A stabilized optical tracking device for permitting an airborne observer to view and track a ground target, said device comprising the following plurality of elements constructed and arranged to provide an optical path therethrough: a scanning head comprising a 90* bend visual elevation prism and a 90* bend visual azimuth prism, said elevation prism being adapted to receive target light and to rotate about a horizontal axis perpendicular to the line of sight and said azimuth prism being adapted to transmit the optical path from said elevation prism and to rotate about a vertical axis perpendicular to the line of sight when pointing directly ahead, means for folding the optical path from the azimuth prism of said scanning head through an objective to a reticle block, said objective being adjustable to bring light rays in the optical path to a focus at said reticle block, a first 90* bend prism followed by a first relay lens for returning the optical path from said reticle block in a directiOn parallel to its folded path through a derotator prism, said derotator prism being servo driven and arranged and constructed to maintain an erect image as the scanning head rotates, a second 90* bend prism for directing the optical path from said derotator prism downward through a pair of windows, and a third 90* bend prism for directing the optical path from said windows through an eyepiece for visual viewing.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
72 words
A device according to claim 1 including a negative objective lens removably insertable in the optical path between the azimuth prism and the folding means and a positive objective lens removably insertable in the optical path between the folding means and the objective to provide a reverse galilean telescope, said device being adapted for search and acquisition when both of said negative and positive objective lenses are inserted in said optical path.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
50 words
A device according to claim 2 including a second relay lens removably insertable in the optical path between said pair of windows and said second 90* bend prism, said device being adapted for target tracking when both of said negative and positive objective lenses are removed from said optical path.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
35 words
A device according to claim 3 which has a level of magnification of about 2.7 power when each of said negative and positive lenses and said second relay lens is inserted in said optical path.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
20 words
A device according to claim 3 wherein said second relay lens has a level of magnification of about 12 power.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
35 words
A device according to claim 3 including a third relay lens removably insertable in the optical path in place of said second relay lens between said pair of windows and said second 90* bend prism.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
35 words
A device according to claim 6 which has a level of magnification of about 1.8 power when each of said negative and positive lenses and said third relay lens is inserted in said optical path.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
20 words
A device according to claim 6 wherein said third relay lens has a level of magnification of about 8 power.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
40 words
A device according to claim 1 wherein said pair of windows are so constructed and arranged that that part of the device comprising the optical path passing therethrough to the eyepiece is foldable about an axis in a plane therebetween.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
51 words
A device according to claim 1 wherein said second 90* bend prism is interchangeable with a beamsplitter, said beamsplitter being adapted to provide two optical paths, the one being coincident with that provided by said second 90* bend prism and the other being directed to a cine camera for damage assessment.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
65 words
A device according to claim 1 including a low light level image intensifier, means insertable into the optical path between the objective and said retical block and adapted to direct the optical path to said intensifier, and means simultaneously insertable into the optical path between said first 90* bend prism and said first relay lens and adapted to direct the intensified image into said eyepiece.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
133 words
A device according to claim 1 wherein said scanning head includes a 90* bend laser azimuth prism, a metal baffle between said laser and visual azimuth prisms and adapted to insure separation of laser and visual optical paths and a 90* bend laser elevation prism, said laser azimuth prism being adapted to receive a laser beam and to rotate about the same axis about which said visual azimuth prism rotates and said laser elevation prism being adapted to transmit the laser beam from said laser azimuth prism along the line of sight to said target and to rotate about the same axis about which said visual elevation prism rotates, and wherein said reticle block includes precisely aligned visual and laser receiver reticles and a dichroic beamsplitter to provide eye protection from leser backscatter.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
30 words
A device according to claim 12 including a laser transmitter for providing said laser beam and a laser receiver for receiving thE target reflected laser beam from said reticle block.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
50 words
A device according to claim 1 wherein said optical path folding means is interchangeable with a spectral beamsplitter, said spectral beamsplitter being adapted to provide two optical paths, the one being coincident with that provided by said optical path folding means and the other being directed to an infrared tracker.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1976-09-24 | 1977-03-26 | 1977-09-25 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1980-09-24 | 1981-03-26 | 1981-09-25 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1984-09-24 | 1985-03-26 | 1985-09-25 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |