Optical image stabilizing system

Claim 1

An optical image stabilizing system comprising in combination, a housing having an opening for the transmission of light, a first stationary optical lens component having a straight line optical axis mounted on said housing for transmission of light passing through said housing opening, gimbals mounted in said housing, said gimbals including an inner ring and an outer ring, an inertially stabilized second optical component located on said first optical component optical axis, and forming an imaging system with said first optical lens component, means for mounting said second optical component on said gimbals inner ring, an electric motor including an annular rotor defining an inner space and an annular stator, means for rotatably mounting said rotor on said inner ring, means for fixedly mounting said stator on said inner ring, said rotor providing an inertial means for inertially stabilizing the inner ring of said gimbals, said annular rotor being located in enclosing relationship with said first optical lens component optical axis whereby light rays from said first optical lens component may pass through said annular rotor inner space, and precession effect means for making said inner ring of the gimbals follow a large motion of said housing, said precession effect means comprising an annular magnet fixed to said housing concentrically with said optical axis of said first optical component and an annular member fixed to said rotor concentrically therewith for creating an eddy current resistance between the annular member and said annular magnet when the annular member is rotated together with said rotor.