Gyroscopic image motion compensator for a motion picture camera

Claim 1

In a motion picture camera having a variable focal length lens system including a focal converter and a film exposure window formed therein behind which film to be exposed passes; an image-movement compensation device fOr improving the definition of images recorded by the camera when the camera is subjected to vibrations; said device comprising a reflecting element mounted in said camera to reflect a collimated light beam from said focal converter to the film passing said exposure window; means for mounting said reflecting element in the camera for pivotal movement at the point of incidence of said light beam therewith in the elevation and azimuth planes of said camera; magnetically damped gyroscopic stabilization means for controlling the spatial position of said reflecting element in the camera, and transmission means operatively connected between said stabilization means and said reflecting element for pivoting said reflecting element in response to relative displacement of the stabilization means, whereby the light beam reflected from the reflecting element to the film is substantially unaffected by vibrations to which the camera is subjected and the point of incidence of the reflected light beam on the surface of the film at the exposure window remains substantially constant, said stabilization means comprising an actuating motor having an output shaft, a partly spherical drum operatively connected to said shaft for concentric rotation therewith, a permanent magnet ring shaped gyroscope; means for mounting said gyroscope within said drum for pivotal movement in the elevation and azimuth planes; and means operatively connecting said output shaft to said gyroscope for rotating said gyroscope while allowing movement of the gyroscope in the elevation and azimuth planes independently of said shaft, whereby said gyroscope is magnetically linked to said drum and damped by the effects of eddy currents resulting from its interaction with the drum to thereby maintain a relatively fixed position in the camera when the camera suffers a brusque movement of low amplitude and high frequency.